UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant ☒                         Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

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SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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No fee required.

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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

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(2)

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(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
   

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(4)

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Total fee paid:

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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(1)

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October 19, 2017

BUSINESS COMBINATION PROPOSED — YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

Dear Stockholder of Spark Networks, Inc.:

On or about October 5, 2017, Spark Networks, Inc. (“Spark”) mailed to you a proxy statement/prospectus relating to a special meeting of the stockholders of Spark scheduled to be held on November 2, 2017, to consider and vote on the proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 2, 2017, by and among Spark, Affinitas GmbH (“Affinitas”), Spark Networks SE (f/k/a Blitz 17-655 SE) (“New Spark”), and Chardonnay Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Spark (“Merger Sub”), as it may be amended from time to time (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to combine the businesses of Spark and Affinitas under a holding company, New Spark, organized under the laws of Germany.

On October 17, 2017, we filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement on Form F-4, that was previously declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 29, 2017, to primarily update the following sections of the proxy statement/prospectus to include Affinitas’s financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016: (i) Selected Historical Financial Data of Affinitas, (ii) Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data, (iii) Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, and (iv) Affinitas’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We urge all Spark stockholders to read the revised proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes, carefully and in their entirety. In particular, we urge you to read carefully “Risk Factors” beginning on page 30 of the proxy statement/prospectus.

If the transaction is completed under the terms of the Merger Agreement, you will become entitled to receive, for each share of Spark common stock (“Spark Share”) owned by you, a number of American depositary shares (“New Spark ADSs”) equal to the Adjustment Ratio (as defined below), with each New Spark ADS representing 0.1 ordinary shares of New Spark. The “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1, unless prior to the time at which the Merger becomes effective, the warrant to purchase Spark Shares held by PEAK6 Investments, L.P. (“PEAK6”) is exercised in whole or in part, in which case the “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1 multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is (x) the number of Spark Shares plus the number of Spark restricted stock units (“Spark RSUs”) outstanding as of the effective time of the Merger (the “Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number”) minus the (y) aggregate number of Spark Shares issued in connection with the exercise of the warrant, and (b) the denominator of which is the Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number. The warrant gives PEAK6 the ability to acquire up to 7,500,000 Spark Shares at an exercise price of  $1.74 per share.

The special meeting will be held on November 2, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. local time, at 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025. The record date for stockholders entitled to vote at this special meeting remains October 2, 2017.

Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of Spark Shares you own. To ensure your representation at the special meeting, please take time to vote by following the instructions contained in this proxy statement/prospectus and on your proxy card. Please vote promptly whether or not you expect to attend the special meeting. Submitting a proxy now will not prevent you from being able to vote in person at the special meeting.

Spark’s board of directors recommends that Spark stockholders vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.

If you have any questions regarding the proxy statement/prospectus, you may contact Spark at (888) 522-6176.

Brad Goldberg
Chairman of the Board

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this proxy statement/prospectus or determined if this proxy statement/ prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this amended proxy statement/prospectus is October 19, 2017, and it is first being mailed or otherwise delivered to Spark stockholders on or about October 20, 2017.

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON November 2, 2017

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Spark Networks, Inc. (“Spark”) will be held on November 2, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. local time, at 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025, to consider and vote upon the following matters:

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a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 2, 2017, as it may be amended from time to time, by and among Spark, Affinitas GmbH, Spark Networks SE (f/k/a Blitz 17-655 SE), and Chardonnay Merger Sub, Inc. (the “Merger Agreement” and such proposal, the “Merger Agreement Proposal”); and

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a proposal for adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement (the “Adjournment Proposal”).

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These proposals and the Special Meeting are described in further detail in the accompanying amended proxy statement/prospectus (the “proxy statement/prospectus”), which you should read carefully and in its entirety before you vote. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.

The record date for the Special Meeting has been set as October 2, 2017. Only Spark stockholders of record as of the close of business on such record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting or any adjournments and postponements thereof.

Approval of the Merger Agreement Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Spark common stock entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares of Spark common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, whether or not a quorum is present.

SPARK’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED AND APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT, THE MERGER AND THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY, AND DETERMINED THAT THE MERGER AGREEMENT, THE MERGER AND THE OTHER TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY ARE ADVISABLE, FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF SPARK AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS. SPARK’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT SPARK COMMON STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE MERGER AGREEMENT PROPOSAL AND “FOR” THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL.

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF SPARK COMMON STOCK THAT YOU OWN. THE MERGER CANNOT BE COMPLETED UNLESS SPARK’S STOCKHOLDERS ADOPT THE MERGER AGREEMENT.

Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting in person, Spark requests that you complete, sign, date and return, as promptly as possible, the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope or submit your proxy by telephone or Internet prior to the Special Meeting to ensure that your shares of Spark common stock will be represented at the Special Meeting if you are unable to attend. If you hold your shares in “street name” through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you should follow the procedures provided by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares. If you fail to submit a proxy or to attend the Special Meeting in person or do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee

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with instructions as to how to vote your shares, as applicable, your shares of Spark common stock will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting and will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the approval of the Merger Agreement Proposal.

If you have any questions regarding the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus, you may contact Spark, by calling toll-free at (888) 522-6176.

By order of the Board of Directors,

/s/ Robert W. O’Hare
Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary

Dated: October 4, 2017
Los Angeles, California

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The accompanying proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about Spark Networks SE (f/k/a Blitz 17-655 SE), a European stock corporation with corporate seat in Germany (“New Spark”), Affinitas GmbH, a German limited company (“Affinitas”) and Spark from other documents that have not been included in or delivered with this proxy statement/​prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon your request. You may obtain a copy of the registration statement of which this proxy statement/prospectus forms a part (the “Registration Statement”), including the documents filed as exhibits to such Registration Statement, by requesting it in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company at the following addresses:

To obtain timely delivery of the documents in advance of the Special Meeting, you must request the information no later than October 26, 2017 (which is five business days prior to the date of the Special Meeting).

For more information, see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

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ABOUT THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS

This amended proxy statement/prospectus (the “proxy statement/prospectus”), which forms part of a Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Spark Networks SE (f/k/a Blitz 17-655 SE) (“New Spark”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), constitutes a prospectus of New Spark, under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to the ordinary shares of New Spark (the “New Spark Ordinary Shares”) underlying the American depositary shares (“New Spark ADSs”) to be issued in exchange for shares of common stock of Spark (“Spark Shares”) in connection with the Business Combination (as defined elsewhere herein). This proxy statement/​prospectus also constitutes a proxy statement for Spark under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and a notice of meeting with respect to the Special Meeting of holders of Spark Shares (“Spark Stockholders”) to consider and vote upon the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and other matters described herein.

The Bank of New York Mellon, as the depositary that will deliver the New Spark ADSs, has filed a separate registration statement on Form F-6 relating to the New Spark ADSs.

You should rely only on the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this proxy statement/prospectus. This proxy statement/prospectus is dated October 19, 2017, and you should assume that the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate only as of such date. Neither the mailing of this proxy statement/prospectus to Spark Stockholders nor the issuance by New Spark of New Spark Ordinary Shares will create any implication to the contrary.

This proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction in which or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding Spark has been provided by Spark, information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding New Spark has been provided by New Spark, and information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus regarding Affinitas GmbH, a German limited company (“Affinitas”), has been provided by Affinitas.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION
AND THE SPECIAL MEETING

The following are some questions that you, as a Spark Stockholder, may have and the answers to those questions. These questions and answers may not address all the questions that may be important to you. You are urged to read carefully the remainder of this proxy statement/prospectus because the information in this section does not provide all the information that may be important to you with respect to the Business Combination. Additional important information is contained in the remainder of this proxy statement/prospectus, the annexes to this proxy statement/prospectus and the documents referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:

What is the Business Combination?

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A:

On May 2, 2017, Spark entered into the Merger Agreement with Affinitas, New Spark and Chardonnay Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of New Spark (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which the parties agreed to combine the businesses of Spark and Affinitas under a holding company, New Spark, organized under the laws of Germany. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus. The proposed Business Combination will be effected pursuant to the Merger Agreement in three principal transaction steps:

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Each stockholder of Affinitas will purchase such stockholder’s pro rata share of the 120,000 ordinary shares of New Spark (“New Spark Ordinary Shares”) currently owned by Affinitas for a total purchase price among all Affinitas stockholders of  €132,000 (the “Affinitas Share Transfer”).

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Following the Affinitas Share Transfer, New Spark will acquire all of the Affinitas ordinary shares (“Affinitas Shares”) from the Affinitas stockholders in exchange for (i) New Spark Ordinary Shares (and/or American depositary shares (“ADSs”) representing the New Spark Ordinary Shares (“New Spark ADSs”), with each New Spark ADS representing 0.1 New Spark Ordinary Shares) and (ii) a claim for a payment by New Spark to the respective stockholders of Affinitas of up to €5,730,000 in the aggregate, after which (x) Affinitas will be a wholly owned subsidiary of New Spark and (y) the former Affinitas stockholders will own all of the outstanding New Spark Ordinary Shares (the “Affinitas Share Exchange”).

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Immediately after the Affinitas Share Exchange, Merger Sub will merge with and into Spark, with Spark surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Spark (the “Merger”). In the Merger, each outstanding Spark Share will be converted into the right to receive an amount of New Spark ADSs equal to the Adjustment Ratio (as defined below).

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The “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1, unless there is an exercise, in whole or in part, prior to the time at which the Merger becomes effective (the “Effective Time”) of the warrant (the “Spark Warrant”) to purchase Spark Shares pursuant to that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of August 9, 2016, by and between Spark and PEAK6 Investments, L.P. (“PEAK6”), in which case the “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1 multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is (x) the number of Spark Shares plus the number of Spark restricted stock units (“Spark RSUs”) outstanding as of the Effective Time (the “Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number”) minus the (y) aggregate number of Spark Shares issued in connection with the exercise of the Spark Warrant, and (b) the denominator of which is the Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number. The Spark Warrant gives PEAK6 the ability to acquire up to 7,500,000 Spark Shares at an exercise price of  $1.74 per share.

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After the consummation of the Business Combination, Spark Stockholders will hold ADSs in New Spark, which will be a “foreign private issuer.” As a “foreign private issuer,” New Spark will be permitted to comply with the disclosure and corporate governance rules applicable to foreign private issuers, which differ in some respects from the disclosure and corporate governance rules applicable to a domestic company. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to an Investment in New Spark — As a ‘foreign private issuer’ under the rules and regulations of the SEC, New Spark is permitted to, and will, file less information with the SEC than a U.S. issuer.” New Spark intends to comply with NYSE American, LLC (‘‘NYSE American’’) requirements applicable to U.S. issuers. However, in the future, it may choose to follow home country corporate governance practices in lieu of NYSE American

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requirements, in which case it will be required to disclose any significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by U.S. domestic companies under NYSE American rules in its annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC or on its website.

   

The Affinitas Share Transfer, the Affinitas Share Exchange, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and related documents are referred to collectively as the “Business Combination.”

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Q:

What is this document?

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A:

This is a proxy statement/prospectus filed by Spark and New Spark. This is a proxy statement because it will be used by the Spark board of directors (“Spark Board”) to solicit proxies for the Special Meeting at which Spark Stockholders will be asked to vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, among other matters. This is a prospectus because it will be used by New Spark to offer New Spark Ordinary Shares (which will be represented by New Spark ADSs) to Spark Stockholders in exchange for their Spark Shares upon completion of the Merger.

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This document contains important information about the Merger Agreement and Merger, the Affinitas Share Transfer, the Affinitas Share Exchange, the business, results of operations and financial condition of each of Spark and Affinitas, the New Spark Ordinary Shares and the New Spark ADSs to be issued in the Merger, certain risk factors related to the Business Combination and each of Spark, Affinitas and New Spark, and other important matters. All recipients are urged to read this proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes, carefully and in their entirety. In particular, you are urged to read carefully “Risk Factors.”

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Q:

Why did I receive this proxy statement/prospectus and proxy card?

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A:

You are receiving this proxy statement/prospectus and proxy card because you are a Spark Stockholder as of the close of business on the record date, which is October 2, 2017 (the “record date”), and, as such, you are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Spark Stockholders at which Spark Stockholders will be asked to approve the Merger Agreement Proposal.

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Spark Stockholders also are being asked to approve the Adjournment Proposal.

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Q:

What will happen to Spark as a result of the Business Combination?

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A:

If the Business Combination is completed, Merger Sub will merge with and into Spark and Spark, the surviving entity, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of New Spark.

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Q:

What will Spark Stockholders receive in the Merger?

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A:

At the completion of the Merger, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each outstanding Spark Share will be converted into the right to receive a number of New Spark ADSs equal to the Adjustment Ratio (as defined below), with each New Spark ADS representing 0.1 New Spark Ordinary Shares.

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The “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1, unless the Spark Warrant is exercised in whole or in part, at any time prior to the Effective Time, in which case the “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1 multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is (x) the Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number minus the (y) aggregate number of Spark Shares issued in connection with the exercise of the Spark Warrant, and (b) the denominator of which is the Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number.

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Assuming the Spark Warrant is exercised in full in cash prior to the Effective Time, the outstanding number of shares of Spark common stock would be increased by 7,500,000 and the Adjustment Ratio would consequently decrease to 0.081.

Based on the above and assuming the Spark Warrant is not exercised, a Spark Stockholder holding 1,000 shares of Spark common stock at the Effective Time, would receive 100 New Spark ADSs, representing 10 shares of New Spark. If the Spark Warrant is exercised in full in cash prior to the Effective Time, a Spark Stockholder holding 1,000 shares of Spark common stock at the Effective Time would receive 81 New Spark ADSs, representing 8.1 shares of New Spark.

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New Spark will not deliver any fractional New Spark ADSs in the Business Combination. Instead, a holder of Spark Shares who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Spark ADS will receive an amount in cash (without interest and subject to applicable withholding taxes) equal to such holder’s proportionate interest in the sum of  (i) the net proceeds from the sale or sales by the Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC participants of any fractional New Spark ADSs and (ii) the aggregate dividends or other distributions that are payable with respect to such securities. See “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Terms of the Merger — Merger Consideration.”

Q:

What is an American Depositary Share?

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A:

An American Depositary Share is an ownership interest in the securities of a non-U.S. company deposited at a custodian bank. Each New Spark ADS will represent the right to receive one-tenth of a New Spark Ordinary Share. For a description of the New Spark ADSs, see “Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of Spark and Stockholders of New Spark” and “Description of the New Spark American Depositary Shares.”

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Q:

What will holders of Affinitas Shares receive in the Business Combination?

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A:

In the Affinitas Share Transfer, Affinitas stockholders will acquire all of the 120,000 New Spark Ordinary Shares currently owned by Affinitas. To the extent that Affinitas stockholders receive New Spark ADSs instead of directly acquiring the 120,000 New Spark Ordinary Shares, each such ADS will represent 0.1 New Spark Ordinary Shares and 1,200,000 New Spark ADSs will be received by the Affinitas stockholders in the Affinitas Share Transfer. Following the Affinitas Share Transfer, New Spark will acquire all of the Affinitas Shares from the Affinitas stockholders in the Affinitas Share Exchange in exchange for (i) New Spark Ordinary Shares (and/or New Spark ADSs) and (ii) a claim for a payment by New Spark to the respective stockholders of Affinitas of up to €5,730,000 in the aggregate, after which (x) Affinitas will be a wholly owned subsidiary of New Spark and (y) the former Affinitas stockholders will own all of the outstanding New Spark Ordinary Shares. It is expected that the former Affinitas stockholders will be issued approximately 849,861 New Spark Ordinary Shares. To the extent that Affinitas stockholders are issued New Spark ADSs in the Affinitas Share Exchange, each such ADS will represent 0.1 New Spark Ordinary Shares and 8,498,610 New Spark ADSs will be issued to the former Affinitas stockholders in the Affinitas Share Exchange.

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Q:

After consummation of the Business Combination, what are the expected ownership percentages of the Spark Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Affinitas stockholders, on the other hand?

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A:

Based on the number of New Spark Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Business Combination (including New Spark Ordinary Shares represented by New Spark ADSs), New Spark estimates that the former Affinitas stockholders and the former Spark Stockholders will own approximately 75% and 25%, respectively, of New Spark, on a fully diluted basis, upon closing of the Business Combination.

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Q:

What is the purpose of the Lock-up Agreements?

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A:

Concurrently and in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, PEAK6 and each Affinitas stockholder entered into lock-up agreements with Affinitas and New Spark (the “Lock-Up Agreements”). The Lock-up Agreements are intended to minimize downward pressure on the price of the New Spark ADSs following the Business Combination. Pursuant to the Lock-up Agreements, the applicable security holder may not offer, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any swap or other arrangement to transfer the New Spark Ordinary Shares and/or New Spark ADSs covered by the applicable Lock-up Agreement for six months following the date on which the Merger is consummated (the “Closing Date”). The Lock-up Agreements also cover any additional New Spark Ordinary Shares and/or New Spark ADSs acquired by any such security holder during the lock-up period.

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In addition, Lloyd I. Miller, III and entities affiliated with Mr. Miller that collectively beneficially own approximately 17.5% of the outstanding Spark Shares executed a lock up agreement on substantially similar terms in August 2017.

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The Lock-up Agreements will cover all of the New Spark ADSs that PEAK6, Mr. Miller and Mr. Miller's affiliates will receive in the Merger and approximately 16% of New Spark Ordinary Shares (or New Spark ADSs) that will be held by each Affinitas stockholder at the Effective Time. The locked-up percentage for Affinitas stockholders equals the approximate aggregate percentage of Spark shares currently held by PEAK6.

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Q:

When is the Business Combination expected to be completed?

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A:

The Business Combination is currently expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2017; however, the exact timing of completion cannot be predicted. The Business Combination cannot be completed without first receiving the approval of Spark Stockholders as described in this proxy statement/prospectus. In addition to obtaining Spark Stockholder approval, other closing conditions must be satisfied, including approval for listing on the NYSE American of the New Spark ADSs to be issued in connection with the Business Combination and consummation of the Affinitas Share Transfer and Affinitas Share Exchange. For a description of the other closing conditions, see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Conditions to the Merger.”

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Q:

When and where is the Special Meeting being held?

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A:

The Special Meeting will be held at 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025 on November 2, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. local time.

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Q:

Who can vote?

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A:

Holders of record of Spark Shares as of the close of business on the record date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Beneficial owners as of the record date whose Spark Shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm or bank will receive instructions from their broker or bank describing how to vote their shares.

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Q:

What is the quorum requirement for the Special Meeting?

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A:

The presence, in person or represented by proxy, at the Special Meeting of holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the issued and outstanding Spark Shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting will constitute a quorum. All Spark Shares that are present in person or represented by proxy, including abstentions and broker non-votes, will be treated as present for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for all matters voted on at the Special Meeting.

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Q:

What vote is required to approve each proposal at the Special Meeting?

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A:

Approval of the Merger Agreement Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Spark Shares entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of Spark Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, whether or not a quorum is present.

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Q:

How can I vote?

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A:

After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, Spark Stockholders are requested to submit a proxy by mail or attend the Special Meeting and vote in person “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal. If you choose to submit a proxy by mail, you should complete, sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy card. The proxy card will instruct the persons named on the proxy card to vote the Spark Stockholder’s Spark Shares at the Special Meeting as such Spark Stockholder directs. If a Spark Stockholder signs and sends in a proxy card and does not indicate how such Spark Stockholder wishes to vote, the proxy will be voted “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

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Q:

Can I attend the Special Meeting? What do I need for admission?

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A:

You are entitled to attend the Special Meeting if you were a shareholder of record or a beneficial owner of Spark Shares as of the close of business on October 2, 2017, the record date, or you hold a valid legal proxy for the Special Meeting. If you were a shareholder of record, your name will be verified against the list of shareholders of record prior to your being admitted to the Special Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner, you will need to provide proof of beneficial ownership on the record date in order to be admitted to the Special Meeting, such as a brokerage account statement showing that you owned Spark Shares as of the record date, a voting instruction form provided by your bank, broker or other nominee, or other similar evidence of ownership as of the record date, including a valid legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee. You should also be prepared to present photo identification for admission. If you do not provide photo identification or comply with the other procedures outlined above upon request, you may not be admitted to the Special Meeting.

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Q:

If my Spark Shares are held in “street name” by my bank, broker or other nominee, will my bank, broker or other nominee vote my shares for me?

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A:

Only if you instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote your Spark Shares. If you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, they will not be able to vote your shares. Please check with your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and follow the voting procedures they provide.

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If your broker, bank or other nominee does not receive voting instructions from you, they will not have the authority to vote your shares. Under such circumstance, a “broker non-vote” would arise. Broker non-votes, if any, will not be considered present at the Special Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting, will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger Agreement Proposal and will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Thus, for shares of common stock held in “street name,” only shares of common stock affirmatively voted “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal will be counted as a vote in favor of such proposal.

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Q:

How do I vote?

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A:

Holders of record and beneficial holders of Spark Shares may vote in person at the Special Meeting or submit a proxy by the Internet, telephone or mail as follows:

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You will need your control number that appears on the right hand side of your proxy card, voting direction card or voting instruction form.

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If your broker does not use the ProxyVote service, refer to the instructions received from your broker for how to vote.

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Q:

What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card with this proxy statement/prospectus with respect to the Special Meeting?

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A:

It means you have multiple accounts at the transfer agent and/or with brokers. Please sign and return all proxy cards or vote all your shares online or by telephone to ensure that all your shares are voted.

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Q:

What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger and other aspects of the Business Combination to Spark Stockholders?

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A:

Spark Stockholders generally should not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exchange of Spark Shares for New Spark ADSs, except with respect to any cash received in lieu of a fractional New Spark ADS.

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It is important to note that the U.S. federal income tax consequences described above may not apply to certain Spark Stockholders, including certain holders specifically referred to under “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders.” Your tax consequences will depend on your individual situation. Accordingly, you are strongly urged to consult your tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the Business Combination in your particular circumstances, as well as any tax consequences that may arise from the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

​

Q:

What are the material German federal income tax consequences of the Merger and other aspects of the Business Combination to U.S. holders of Spark Shares?

​

A:

The tax consequences to you of the Business Combination under German federal income tax regulations will depend on your individual situation. Please see “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Material German Income Tax Considerations.” You are strongly urged to consult your tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the Business Combination in your particular circumstances, as well as any tax consequences that may arise from the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

​

Q:

What happens if I submit my proxy or voting instruction card without indicating how to vote?

​

A:

If you sign and return your proxy or voting instruction card without indicating how to vote on any particular proposal, your Spark Shares represented by your proxy will be voted as recommended by the Spark Board with respect to that proposal.

​

Q:

What happens if I abstain from voting or do not vote at all?

​

A:

For purposes of the Special Meeting, an abstention occurs when a Spark Stockholder attends the Special Meeting in person and does not vote or returns a proxy with an “abstain” vote. If you respond with an “abstain” vote on any of the proposals to be considered at the Special Meeting, your proxy will have the same effect as a vote cast “AGAINST” the Merger Agreement Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.

​

   

If you fail to vote or fail to instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote on the proposals to be considered at the Special Meeting, it will have the same effect as a vote cast “AGAINST” the approval of the Merger Agreement Proposal and will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal.

​

Q:

How does the Spark Board recommend that I vote on the two proposals?

​

A:

The Spark Board recommends that Spark Stockholders vote “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

​

Q:

Does the Spark Board recommend the adoption of the Merger Agreement?

​

A:

Yes. The Spark Board recommends that Spark Stockholders vote “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal. The Spark Board has determined that the Business Combination and the transactions it contemplates are advisable to, fair to and in the best interests of Spark and its stockholders. For a more complete discussion of why the Spark Board is recommending approval of the Merger Agreement, see “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Spark’s Reasons for the Business Combination; Board Recommendation of the Spark Board of Directors.”

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Q:

Are there any Spark Stockholders who have already committed to vote in favor of the Merger?

​

A:

Yes. Certain Spark Stockholders entered into a Voting Agreement, dated May 2, 2017, with New Spark, Affinitas and Merger Sub (the “Voting Agreement”), whereby they agreed to vote (i) in favor of the Merger and (ii) against any action that would materially impair the Business Combination. Furthermore, each Spark Stockholder party to the Voting Agreement agreed not to transfer Spark Shares prior to the Effective Time, subject to certain limited exceptions. The Voting Agreement will remain in effect until the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of the Merger Agreement. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Merger Agreement — Voting Agreement” for additional information. Spark Stockholders representing approximately 33.97% of the Spark Shares outstanding as of May 2, 2017, the date the Merger Agreement was signed, have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction.

​

Q:

May I change my vote after I have submitted a proxy?

​

A:

Yes. If you have not voted through your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, there are four ways you can change your vote after you have submitted your proxy (whether by mail, telephone or the Internet):

​

•

by sending a notice of revocation to Spark Networks, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025 stating that you would like to revoke your proxy;

​

•

by logging onto the Internet website specified on your proxy card in the same manner you would to submit your proxy electronically or by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card, in each case if you are eligible to do so and following the instructions on the proxy card;

​

•

by sending a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your original proxy card; or

​

•

by attending the Special Meeting and voting in person.

​

   

If you choose either of the first two methods, you must take the described action no later than the beginning of the Special Meeting. If you choose to send a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your original proxy card, the new proxy card must be received before the beginning of the Special Meeting.

​

   

If you have instructed a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your Spark Shares, you must follow the directions you receive from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee in order to change or revoke your vote.

​

Q:

What happens if I sell my shares before the Special Meeting?

​

A:

The record date of the Special Meeting is earlier than the Special Meeting and the date that the Merger is expected to be completed. If you transfer your Spark Shares after the record date but before the Special Meeting, you will retain your right to vote at the Special Meeting but will have transferred the right to receive any consideration in the Merger. In order to receive any consideration in the Merger, you must hold your shares through the Effective Time.

​

Q:

Should I send in my stock certificates now?

​

A:

No. After the Merger is completed, you will receive a transmittal form with instructions for the surrender of your Spark Share certificates. PLEASE DO NOT SEND IN YOUR STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH YOUR PROXY.

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Q:

Who can help answer my questions?

​

A:

If you have any questions about the Business Combination or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy, you should contact Robert O. Hare, the Chief Financial Officer of Spark, at (888) 522-6176.

​

   

You also are urged to consult your own legal, tax and/or financial advisors with respect to any aspect of the Business Combination, the Merger or other matters discussed in this proxy statement/​prospectus.

​

Q:

Are Spark Stockholders entitled to appraisal rights?

​

A:

No. Under applicable Delaware law, Spark Stockholders are not entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger.

​

Q:

If the Business Combination is completed, will my New Spark ADSs be “listed” for trading?

​

A:

Yes. New Spark has applied to have the ADSs listed on the NYSE American and the New Spark ADSs are expected to be approved for listing on the NYSE American, under the trading symbol “LOV.” This listing is a condition of the Merger.

​

Q:

What will I receive as a holder of Spark equity awards if the Merger is completed?

​

A:

If the Merger is completed, upon the consummation of the Merger, Spark equity awards that are outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be treated as follows:

​

•

immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Spark RSU will be accelerated as to vesting and payment (if required) and converted into one Spark Share;

​

•

at the Effective Time, all outstanding awards of Spark restricted stock (“Spark Restricted Stock Awards”) that are unvested will be exchanged for restricted New Spark Ordinary Shares and/or New Spark ADSs with vesting terms identical to the Spark Restricted Stock Awards; and

​

•

at the Effective Time, all options to purchase Spark Shares (“Spark Stock Options”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be exchanged for awards to acquire (on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Spark Stock Options, taking into account the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or in any stock option plans or any award or other agreement), from a trust to be formed by Spark prior to the Effective Time, a number of New Spark ADSs equal to (w) the number of Spark Shares subject to such Spark Stock Option multiplied by (x) the Adjustment Ratio (the result rounded down to the nearest whole New Spark ADS), with an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to (y) the per share exercise price specified in such Spark Stock Option, divided by (z) the Adjustment Ratio (with the result rounded up to the nearest whole cent).

​

   

For more information, see the section entitled “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Treatment of Spark Equity Awards.”

​

Q:

What happens if the Merger is not completed?

​

A:

If the Merger is not completed, holders of Spark Shares will not receive any consideration for their Spark Shares in connection with the Merger. Instead, Spark will remain an independent public company and its common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE American.

​

Q:

What do I need to do now?

​

A:

After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement/prospectus, please vote your shares as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented at the Special Meeting. Please follow the instructions set forth on the proxy card or if your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee, on the voting instruction provided by the record holder.

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SELECTED HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA

Selected Historical Financial Data of New Spark

The following selected historical financial information of New Spark is being provided to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Merger and other aspects of the Business Combination. New Spark derived its selected historical financial information as of March 29, 2017 and June 30, 2017 and for the period from inception (March 29, 2017) to June 30, 2017 from its audited financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy/statement prospectus. New Spark was formed at the end of March 2017 and was acquired by Affinitas in April 2017 for the purpose of becoming the ultimate holding company of Spark and Affinitas following the completion of the Business Combination. To date, New Spark has not conducted any activities other than those incidental to its formation and the implementation of the Business Combination. As such, New Spark’s financial information should be read together with the financial information of Affinitas and Spark, as well as New Spark’s unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The information set forth below is only a summary that you should read together with the audited financial statements of New Spark and the related notes. The selected historical financial information may not be indicative of the future performance of New Spark.

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Selected Historical Financial Data of Affinitas

The following selected historical consolidated financial information of Affinitas is being provided to assist you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Merger and other aspects of the Business Combination. Affinitas derived its selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 from its audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy/statement prospectus. Affinitas derived its selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 from its unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy/statement prospectus which include, in the opinion of management, all normal and recurring adjustments that are considered necessary to a fair statement of the interim periods presented. The information set forth below is only a summary that you should read together with the audited consolidated financial statements of Affinitas and the related notes, as well as “Affinitas’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The selected consolidated historical financial information may not be indicative of the future performance of Affinitas.

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(1)

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, financing, acquisition and severance costs were comprised of transaction and legal fees incurred relating to the Merger of  €2,335 thousand and severance costs of €103 thousand. For the six months ended June 30, 2016, financing, acquisition and severance costs were comprised of severance costs of  €49 thousand. For the year ended December 31, 2016, financing, acquisition and severance costs were comprised of acquisition-related expenses of €162 thousand, restructuring expenses related to restructuring of Samadhi of €642 thousand and termination benefits of €123 thousand. For the year ended December 31, 2015, financing, acquisition and severance costs were comprised of termination benefits of €16 thousand.

​

Affinitas reports Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to its measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is one of the metrics by which Affinitas and its management evaluate the performance of the consolidated business on an annual basis, and not on a day-to-day basis, is used to help prepare consolidated budgets and consolidated forecasts and to compensate management. Affinitas believes Adjusted EBITDA provides management and investors with a consistent view, period to period, of the core earnings generated from ongoing operations and excludes the impact of items that are not considered representative of our ongoing operating performance, including: (i) non-cash items such as share-based compensation, non-cash currency translation adjustments, (ii) other non-operating items such as financing, acquisition and severance costs and (iii) discontinued operations. Adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations in evaluating the performance of Affinitas, including, but not limited to the following:

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash capital expenditures during the measurement period,

​

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any changes in working capital requirements during the measurement period,

​

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash tax or interest payments during the measurement period, and

​

•

Adjusted EBITDA may be calculated differently by other companies in our industry, thus limiting its value as a comparative measure.

​

Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for Profit/(Loss) for the period (as determined in accordance with IFRS) for the purpose of analyzing Affinitas’ operating performance or financial position, as Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by IFRS.

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Selected Historical Financial Data of Spark

The following tables set forth selected historical consolidated financial data of Spark for each of the years during the two-year period ended December 31, 2016 and the selected historical consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, which have been derived from Spark’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The selected historical consolidated financial data for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and as of June 30, 2017, have been derived from Spark’s unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, which include, in the opinion of Spark’s management, all normal and recurring adjustments that are considered necessary to a fair statement of the interim periods presented. The following information should be read in conjunction with Spark’s historical consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, as well as the section titled “Spark’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Historical results for any period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period.

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Selected Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet information provided below of New Spark as of June 30, 2017 reflects pro forma adjustments to the financial position of New Spark to give effect to the formation of New Spark and the combination of Affinitas and Spark as if it had occurred on June 30, 2017. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of comprehensive income information provided below for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the six months ended June 30, 2017 reflect pro forma adjustments to the results of operations of Affinitas to give effect to the formation of New Spark and combination of Affinitas and Spark as if it had occurred on January 1, 2016. New Spark will account for the Merger as an acquisition of Spark, with Affinitas as the accounting acquirer. In addition, the Samadhi Acquisition was consummated on September 30, 2016 and Affinitas began consolidating Samadhi’s financial results on that date. As a result, in addition to the combination of Affinitas and Spark, the selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of comprehensive income information provided below for the year ended December 31, 2016 gives effect to the acquisition of Samadhi as if the Samadhi Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2016. Since the Samadhi Acquisition is already reflected for the full period in Affinitas’s historical unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2017, no pro forma adjustments related to such acquisition have been made to the selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of June 30, 2017 or the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

In the following selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the Business Combination, together with the Samadhi Acquisition, are collectively referred to as the “Transactions.”

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information presented is based on the assumptions and adjustments described in the notes to the pro forma financial information contained in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,” elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes and does not purport to represent what New Spark’s financial position or results of operations would actually have been if the Transactions occurred as of the dates indicated or what financial position or results would be for any future periods.

Affinitas’s historical financial statements were prepared using IFRS, while Spark’s historical financial statements were prepared utilizing U.S. GAAP. In order to prepare New Spark’s unaudited pro forma financial statements adjustments have been made to reconcile Spark’s historical audited financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP to IFRS. See Note 2 to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of New Spark under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.” In addition, the historical audited Spark financial statements included within the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information are denominated in thousands of Euro and converted from U.S. dollars as described in Note 3 to such unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements.

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based upon the respective historical consolidated financial statements of Affinitas, Spark and Samadhi and should be read in conjunction with (1) the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information, (2) the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and notes thereto of Affinitas, (3) the audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and notes thereto of Spark, (4) the audited financial statements for the nine-month period of January 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016 and notes thereto of Samadhi, (5) the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016 and notes thereto of Affinitas and (6) the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and notes thereto of Spark, all of which are included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.

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(1)

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, financing, acquisition and severance costs were comprised of severance costs of  €103 thousand. For the year ended December 31, 2016, financing, acquisition and severance costs contain certain restructuring expenses related to restructuring of Samadhi of €642 thousand, termination benefits of €889 thousand, acquisition-related costs of €58 thousand and legal expenses of €291 thousand.

​

New Spark reports Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure to pro forma measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. This measure is one of the primary metrics by which New Spark will evaluate the performance of its consolidated businesses, and prepare consolidated budgets, forecasts on an annual basis, and not on a day-to-day basis and compensate management. This measure will provide

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management and investors with a consistent view, period to period, of the core earnings generated from ongoing operations and excludes the impact of items that are not considered representative of our ongoing operating performance, including: (i) non-cash items such as share-based compensation, non-cash currency translation adjustments, (ii) non-operating costs such as financing, acquisition and severance and (iii) discontinued operations. Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA has inherent limitations in evaluating the performance, including, but not limited to the following:

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash capital expenditures during the measurement period,

​

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any changes in working capital requirements during the measurement period,

​

•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the cash tax payments during the measurement period, and

​

•

Adjusted EBITDA may be calculated differently by other companies in our industry, thus limiting its value as a comparative measure.

​

Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as a substitute for net loss (as determined in accordance with IFRS) for the purpose of analyzing our operating performance or financial position, as Adjusted EBITDA is not defined by IFRS.

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Comparative Historical Per Share Data

The following tables set forth certain historical and pro forma per share financial information for Affinitas Shares and Spark Shares.

The following information should be read in conjunction with (i) the audited consolidated financial statements of Affinitas included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus, (ii) the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of Spark included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus and (iii) the financial information contained in the “Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information,” section of this proxy statement/prospectus. The unaudited pro forma information below is presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results or financial position that would have occurred if each of the Business Combination and the Samadhi Acquisition had been completed as of the beginning of the periods presented, nor is it necessarily indicative of the future operating results or financial position of the combined company. In addition, the unaudited pro forma information does not purport to indicate balance sheet data or results of operations data as of any future date or for any future period.

Affinitas Per Share Data (IFRS)

(1)

Book value per common share is calculated by dividing the common stockholders’ equity at period end by the total shares outstanding as of such date.

​

Spark Per Share Data (U.S. GAAP)

Pro Forma New Spark per share data (IFRS)(1)

(1)

Each New Spark ADS represents 0.1 New Spark Ordinary Shares.

​

(2)

Book value per common share is calculated by dividing the common stockholders’ equity at period end by the total shares outstanding as of such date.

​

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Pro Forma Equivalent Spark per share data (IFRS)

(1)

Pro forma equivalent book value per common share is calculated by dividing the pro forma common stockholders’ equity at period end by the pro forma total shares outstanding as of such date, assuming the Business Combination was consummated at June 30, 2017.

​

Comparative Per Share Market Price Data

The Affinitas Shares are not listed. Spark’s common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “LOV.” The following table shows the closing sales prices of Spark’s common shares (as reported on the NYSE American) on May 1, 2017, the last trading day before the Merger Agreement was announced, and on October 18, 2017, the last full trading day before the date of this proxy statement/prospectus.

See “Market Price and Dividend Information” for more information.

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EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION

The following table shows, for the periods indicated, information concerning the exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar. The data provided in the following table are expressed in U.S. dollars per Euro and are based on the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the Euro. As used in this document, the term “noon buying rate” refers to the rate of exchange for the Euro, expressed in U.S. dollars per Euro, as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for customs purposes. The exchange rates set forth below demonstrate trends in exchange rates, but the actual exchange rates used throughout this proxy statement/prospectus may vary. This information is provided solely for your information, and Affinitas and Spark do not represent that Euro could be converted into U.S. dollars at these rates or at any other rate. These rates are not the rates used by Affinitas in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements included in this proxy statement/prospectus.

On May 1, 2017, the last trading day before the Merger Agreement was announced, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Euro expressed in U.S. dollars per Euro was 1.0912 (based on the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the Euro). On October 6, 2017, the exchange rate was 1.1732 U.S. dollars for each Euro (based on the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the Euro).

(1)

The period-end rate is the noon exchange rate for the Euro on the last business day of the applicable period, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for customs purposes.

​

(2)

The average rates for the monthly periods were calculated by taking the simple average of the daily exchange rates for the Euro as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for customs purposes. The average rates for the transition periods and annual periods were calculated by taking the simple average of the noon exchange rates on the last business day of each month during the relevant period, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for customs purposes.

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RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information included in this proxy statement/prospectus, including the matters addressed in the section of the proxy statement/prospectus entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information” you should carefully consider the following risks before deciding how to vote on the proposals presented at the Special Meeting. The risk factors related to the Business Combination present the material risks directly related to the Business Combination to the extent presently known, including risks related to the integration of the two companies and risks if the Business Combination is not consummated. Also included are the material risks associated with each of the businesses of Affinitas and Spark presently known, because these risks will also affect New Spark following the closing of the Business Combination. The risks below also include forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties described in this proxy statement/​prospectus are not the only ones Spark, Affinitas and New Spark face or will face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known or that are currently considered immaterial may also impair the business operations of New Spark after the Business Combination. If any of the risks actually occur, business and financial results of both companies could be harmed or the trading price of New Spark’s ADSs could decline. You should also consider the other information in this proxy statement/prospectus, including the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex A. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Risks Relating to the Business Combination

The parties may fail to realize the synergies and benefits anticipated from the acquisition of Spark.

The combination of Affinitas and Spark may not achieve the synergies and benefits anticipated. In particular the online dating industry in which Spark and Affinitas currently operate and in which New Spark will operate may develop in a different direction than anticipated, New Spark may not be able to realize the decrease in operating expenses it expects to receive by operating combined companies, management may experience difficulties in combining and integrating the Affinitas and Spark businesses and operations in an effective and timely manner or at all, the integration of Affinitas and Spark may divert the attention of senior management from the operation of daily business, and, in general, New Spark management may not be able to achieve the economies of scale and increase in revenues expected in connection with the Merger and combination of the companies. In addition, in connection with the Business Combination, New Spark will undertake certain restructuring activities and it is possible that as a result of these activities, New Spark will lose some of the institutional knowledge at either Spark or Affinitas. If the Merger is ultimately approved, management may also encounter additional difficulties in integrating the businesses other than those noted above.

In addition, as a result of the Business Combination, Spark will become a subsidiary of New Spark and New Spark will effectively assume all of its liabilities, whether or not asserted. There could be unasserted claims or assessments that New Spark failed or was unable to discover or identify in the course of performing due diligence investigations of Spark. Furthermore, there may be liabilities that are neither probable nor estimable at this time that may become probable and estimable in the future. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the business of New Spark. New Spark may learn additional information about Spark that adversely affects New Spark, such as unknown, unasserted or contingent liabilities and issues relating to compliance with applicable laws.

The occurrence of any of the difficulties noted above could adversely affect New Spark’s ability to recognize the expected benefits of the Business Combination.

Significant costs are expected to be incurred in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination and integration of Spark and Affinitas into a single business, including legal, accounting, financial advisory and other costs.

If the Business Combination is consummated, Spark and Affinitas expect to incur significant costs in connection with integrating their operations, products and personnel. These costs may include, among others, costs for employee redeployment, relocation or severance and integration of information systems.

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In addition, Spark and Affinitas expect to incur a number of costs associated with combining the operations of the two companies, which cannot be estimated accurately at this time. Although Spark and Affinitas expect that the elimination of duplicative costs, as well as the realization of other synergies related to the integration of the businesses, may offset incremental transaction and transaction-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at all.

If the Business Combination does not qualify as a non-recognition transaction under Section 368(a) or Section 351(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or is otherwise taxable to U.S. holders of Spark Shares, then such holders may be required to pay U.S. federal income taxes as a result of the Business Combination.

It is a condition to the completion of the Business Combination that Spark receive an opinion from its counsel substantially to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) the Merger should either qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or, when integrated with the remaining components of the Business Combination, should be treated as a transaction described in Section 351(a) of the Code, or should qualify under both such provisions and (ii) Section 367(a)(1) of the Code should not apply to a stockholder’s surrender of Spark Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement (except in the case of a Spark Stockholder who is or will be a “five-percent transferee shareholder,” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(5)(ii), and does not enter into a gain recognition agreement in the form provided in Treasury Regulation Section 1.367(a)-8). The conclusions in the tax opinion are not certain, however, because there is no authority directly on point dealing with certain relevant issues. In particular, although the conversion of Spark Shares into the right to receive New Spark ADSs will occur automatically upon completion of the Merger, Spark Stockholders will receive New Spark ADSs only after New Spark has effected the capital increase and share issuance procedures required to issue New Spark Ordinary Shares in compliance with applicable German law, and has deposited such New Spark Ordinary Shares with the New Spark ADS Depositary. Although Spark’s counsel, Morrison & Foerster LLP, believes that the Merger and the receipt of New Spark ADSs by Spark Stockholders should be analyzed as a unified transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes even if the steps do not occur simultaneously, there is no authority directly on point addressing the U.S. tax consequences of a merger featuring the German share issuance process contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Moreover, the conclusions in the tax opinion are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and do not preclude the IRS from taking a different position. For a further discussion, see “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders.”

Spark’s ability to utilize its net operating loss (“NOL”) carry-forwards in the future may be limited as a result of the Business Combination.

Under Section 382 of the Code, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50 percent change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carry-forwards to offset its post-change income may be limited. It is expected that the Business Combination will result in an “ownership change” of Spark. Accordingly, Spark’s ability to utilize its NOL carry-forwards will be limited, which could cause Spark to pay U.S. federal and state income taxes earlier than would otherwise be required if such limitations were not in effect and could cause such NOLs to expire unused.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information included in this proxy statement/​prospectus may not be representative of the combined company’s results after the Business Combination.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus has been presented for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position or results of operations that actually would have occurred had the transactions that are assumed to have been consummated as of the dates indicated been consummated as of such dates, nor is it indicative of the potential future operating results or financial position of New Spark after the transactions that are assumed to have been consummated. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information reflects the adjustments to the historical financial information for Affinitas described in the notes thereto. Certain adjustments in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed

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Combined Financial Information, such as the Spark and Samadhi SAS purchase price allocations, are estimates and therefore subject to revisions once the allocations and other estimates are finalized, which will not occur until sometime after the Business Combination. Some of these revisions could be significant.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information does not reflect future events that may occur, including the costs related to a potential integration and any future nonrecurring charges resulting from the Business Combination, and does not consider potential impacts of current market conditions on revenues or expense efficiencies. The Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information is based in part on certain assumptions that management believes is reasonable under the circumstances that are described in the notes thereto. Such assumptions may not prove to be accurate over time.

The Merger process could adversely affect the business relationships and employee relationships of Spark, Affinitas or their respective subsidiaries as such relationships may be subject to disruptions due to uncertainty associated with the Business Combination, which could have an adverse effect on the operating results, cash flows and financial position of Spark, Affinitas and, following the consummation of the Business Combination, New Spark.

Parties with which Spark, Affinitas or their respective subsidiaries do business may experience uncertainty associated with the Business Combination and related transactions, including with respect to current or future business relationships with Spark, Affinitas, their respective subsidiaries or New Spark. The business relationships of Spark, Affinitas or their respective subsidiaries may be subject to disruption as suppliers and other persons with whom Spark, Affinitas or their respective subsidiaries have a business relationship may delay or defer certain business decisions or might decide to seek to terminate, change or renegotiate their relationships with Spark, Affinitas or their respective subsidiaries, as applicable. In addition, certain pre-Business Combination customers or vendors of Spark and Affinitas may decide to terminate their relationship once the companies are combined for a number of reasons, including the potential that they cannot maintain their relationship with both the combined company and its competitors. Failure to maintain any relationships upon which Spark or Affinitas rely could adversely affect the combined company’s business, financial results and prospects.

The process relating to the Merger could also cause disruptions in the employee relationships of Spark, Affinitas or their subsidiaries, which could have an adverse effect on the operating results, cash flows and financial position of Spark, Affinitas and, following the consummation of the Business Combination, New Spark. Among other things, uncertainty as to whether the Business Combination will be completed may affect Spark and Affinitas’s ability to recruit prospective employees or to retain and motivate existing employees.

The Merger Agreement restricts the parties from taking certain strategic and other actions prior to the consummation of the Business Combination.

The Merger Agreement restricts each of Spark and Affinitas, without the other party’s consent and subject to certain exceptions, from making certain acquisitions and taking other key corporate actions regarding, among other things, dividends and other distributions, issuances of securities, amendments to organizational documents, changes to accounting methods, and arrangements regarding loans and debt, until the Business Combination is consummated. These restrictions may prevent Spark and Affinitas from pursuing otherwise attractive business opportunities and making other changes to their respective businesses that may arise prior to consummation of the Business Combination or termination of the Merger Agreement.

Any delay in completing the Business Combination may reduce or eliminate the benefits expected to be achieved as a result of the Business Combination.

The consummation of the Business Combination is subject to a number of conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, some of which are beyond the control of both Affinitas and Spark, and any of which may prevent, delay or otherwise materially adversely affect the consummation of the Business Combination. The consummation of the Business Combination is conditioned upon, among other conditions, the receipt of the requisite approval of the Spark Stockholders, the absence of any law, or any order, injunction,

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judgment, decree or other action by a governmental entity which would prohibit or make illegal the consummation of the Business Combination in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and consummation of the Affinitas Share Transfer and Affinitas Share Exchange. It cannot be predicted whether or when these conditions will be satisfied. For example, even if Spark Stockholders approve the Merger, any delay in the consummation of the Affinitas Share Transfer and Affinitas Share Exchange, each of which require Affinitas and certain third parties to take specific actions and steps under German law, would delay the completion of the Business Combination. Any delay in completing the Business Combination could prevent or delay the combined company from realizing some of the anticipated cost savings, synergies, growth opportunities and other benefits expected to be achieved, if the Business Combination is successfully completed within the expected time frame. See “The Agreement and Plan of Merger” for more information about the conditions to closing.

Spark’s business and the Spark Shares may be adversely impacted if the Business Combination is not consummated.

There can be no assurance that the Business Combination will occur, as the Business Combination is subject to certain conditions, including those named above. See “— Any delay in completing the Business Combination may reduce or eliminate the benefits expected to be achieved as a result of the Business Combination.” The failure to consummate the Business Combination could cause the price of the Spark Shares to fall after termination of the Merger Agreement to the extent that the current market price of the Spark Shares reflects an assumption that the Business Combination will be completed.

If the Merger Agreement is terminated, Spark’s business may have been adversely affected by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of management on the Merger, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the Merger.

Costs relating to the Merger, such as legal, accounting and financial advisory fees, must be paid even if the Merger is not completed. Further, a failed transaction may result in negative publicity and/or a negative impression of Spark in the investment community and may affect Spark’s relationship with vendors, creditors and other partners in the business community. Employees may similarly be affected by any such negative publicity and/or negative impression of Spark, and Spark may experience an increase in employee departures. If the Merger Agreement is terminated and the Spark Board seeks another merger or business combination, Spark Stockholders cannot be certain that Spark will be able to find a party willing to pay the equivalent or greater consideration than that which Affinitas has agreed to pay with respect to the Merger.

Spark is limited in its ability to require the closure of the Merger by the terms of the Merger Agreement. In addition, under circumstances defined in the Merger Agreement, if the Merger Agreement is terminated, Spark may be required to pay a one-time fee equal to the greater of  $1,500,000 or the fees and expenses of Affinitas related to the Business Combination. See “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Expenses; Termination Fees.” No assurance can be provided that the conditions to the completion of the Merger will be satisfied, and certain conditions to completion of the Merger are outside of Spark’s control. For example, even if Spark Stockholders approve the Merger, Affinitas and certain third parties must take specific actions and steps under German law to effect the Affinitas Share Transfer and Affinitas Share Exchange, which are conditions to completion of the Merger. If the Merger is not completed by January 31, 2018, either Spark or Affinitas may choose to terminate the Merger Agreement.

Officers and directors of Spark may have certain interests in the combination of the companies that may be different from, or in addition to, interests of other Spark Stockholders.

Spark officers and directors may have certain interests in the combination of the companies that may be different from, or in addition to, interests of other Spark Stockholders that may have influenced their decision to approve the Business Combination. These interests may include, but are not limited to, the continued engagement and/or employment, as applicable, of certain executive officers of Spark and the continued positions of certain directors of Spark as board members of New Spark following consummation of the Business Combination. For instance, Robert O’Hare, the current Chief Financial Officer of Spark, will serve as a New Spark executive officer following the Business Combination. These interests also include the treatment in the Business Combination of Spark RSUs, Spark Restricted Stock

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Awards, Spark Stock Options and other equity awards held by these directors and executive officers. Spark Stockholders should be aware of these interests when considering the Spark Board recommendation to adopt the Merger Agreement. See “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Financial Interests of Spark’s Directors and Officers in the Merger and other Aspects of the Business Combination” and ‘‘The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Treatment of Spark Equity Awards’’ for additional information.

The value of the New Spark ADSs received upon the consummation of the Business Combination may be less than the value of the Spark Shares as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus or the date of the Special Meeting.

The consideration that holders of Spark Shares will be entitled to receive per Spark Share is fixed at the Adjustment Ratio and will not be adjusted in the event of any changes in the price of Spark Shares prior to the Business Combination. There may be a significant amount of time between the date when the Spark Stockholders vote on the Merger Agreement at the Special Meeting and the date when the Business Combination is consummated. The price per Spark Share may vary significantly between the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, the date of the Special Meeting and the date of the consummation of the Business Combination. These variations may be caused by, among other things, changes in the businesses, operations, results or prospects of Spark and/or Affinitas, market expectations of the likelihood that the Business Combination will be consummated and the timing of consummation, the prospects of post-Business Combination operations, general market and economic conditions and other factors. In addition, it is impossible to predict accurately the market price of the New Spark ADSs to be received by Spark Stockholders after the consummation of the Business Combination. Accordingly, the price of Spark Shares on the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and on the date of the Special Meeting may not be indicative of the price of Spark Shares immediately prior to consummation of the Business Combination and the price of New Spark ADSs after the Business Combination is consummated.

Investors who own Spark Shares but who do not wish to hold New Spark ADSs may sell the New Spark ADSs they receive or expect to receive in the Business Combination or sell their Spark Shares prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. This may put downward pressure on the market price of the New Spark ADSs that holders of Spark Shares will receive in the Business Combination.

Some Spark Stockholders may wish to sell their Spark Shares prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, or the New Spark ADSs that they will receive in the Business Combination, for any number of reasons, including that the combined business to be operated by New Spark does not fit within their investment strategy. In addition, the market price of the Spark Shares may be adversely affected by arbitrage activities prior to the consummation of the Business Combination. These sales or the prospect of future sales, as well as arbitrage activity, could adversely affect the market price for Spark Shares prior to the Business Combination and New Spark ADSs immediately following the Business Combination.

The opinion of Spark’s financial advisor will not reflect changes in circumstances between the date of the opinion and the completion of the Merger.

The Spark Board received an opinion from B. Riley, its financial advisor, in connection with its determination to approve the Merger. Spark has not obtained an updated opinion from its financial advisor as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and does not expect to receive an updated opinion prior to completion of the Business Combination. Changes in the operations and prospects of Spark or Affinitas, general market and economic conditions and other factors that may be beyond the control of Spark or Affinitas, and on which the financial advisor’s opinion was based, may affect the value of Spark and the price of Spark Shares by the time the Merger is completed. The opinion does not speak as of the time the Merger will be completed or as of any date other than April 30, 2017, which is the date of the opinion. Because the financial advisor will not be updating its opinion, the opinion will not address the fairness from a financial point of view of the Adjustment Ratio to Spark Stockholders at the time the Merger is completed. For a description of the opinion that the Spark Board received from its financial advisor, see “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Opinion of Spark’s Financial Advisor.”

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After the Business Combination, holders of Spark Shares will have a significantly lower ownership and voting interest in New Spark than they currently have in Spark and will exercise less influence over management.

Based on the number of New Spark Ordinary Shares to be issued in the Affinitas Share Transfer and the Affinitas Share Exchange and the number of fully diluted Spark Shares outstanding as of May 1, 2017, the last trading day before the Merger Agreement was announced, New Spark estimates that the former holders of Spark Shares will own approximately 25% of New Spark after the completion of the Business Combination. Consequently, former holders of Spark Shares will have less influence over the management and policies of New Spark than they currently have over the management and policies of Spark. This risk will be exacerbated by the fact that current holders of Spark Shares will not own New Spark Ordinary Shares directly but instead will own New Spark ADSs. See “Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of Spark and Stockholders of New Spark” and “Description of the New Spark American Depositary Shares.”

Shareholder litigation against Spark, its directors and/or Affinitas could delay or prevent the Merger and cause Spark and/or Affinitas to incur significant costs and expenses.

Transactions such as the Merger are often subject to lawsuits by shareholders. Conditions to the closing of the Merger require that no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order shall have been issued by any court or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction and remain in effect that has the effect of prohibiting or preventing or making illegal the consummation of the Merger. No assurance can be provided as to the outcome of any potential lawsuits, including the costs associated with defending any claims or any other liabilities that may be incurred in connection with any litigation or settlement of lawsuits.

Risks Relating to Spark

Spark’s growth rates may continue to decline and its operating margins could deteriorate; its business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by a slowdown or contraction in the economy.

Between 2007 and 2010, and during 2014 through June 30, 2017, Spark’s revenue declined and it may decline again in the future. It is possible that Spark’s operating margins will deteriorate if revenue growth does not exceed planned increases in expenditures for all aspects of the business in an increasingly competitive environment, including sales and marketing, development, technical operations and general and administrative expenses.

Spark’s member and paying subscriber base is composed of individual consumers and in the event of a continued prolonged economic downturn in the United States or in the international markets in which spending by individual consumers drops significantly, Spark’s current and potential subscribers may be unable or unwilling to subscribe to Spark’s services and the business may be negatively affected. In addition, the current or future tightening of credit in financial markets could result in a decrease in demand for Spark’s products and services if subscribers do not have access to credit. To the extent the overall economy deteriorates or does not improve, Spark may lose existing members and paying subscribers and fail to attract new members and paying subscribers, which could adversely affect Spark’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

If Spark does not successfully implement its new information technology platform, Spark’s financial performance could be adversely affected.

Spark has undertaken a process of transforming its technological infrastructure and implementing new systems that will impact its applications and websites. Implementing new systems carries substantial risk, including implementation delays, cost overruns, disruption of operations, potential loss of data or information, and lower customer satisfaction resulting in lost customers or sales. If Spark does not implement these systems successfully, Spark’s ability to perform key business processes could be disrupted and Spark’s financial performance could be adversely affected.

Spark has significant operating losses and may incur additional losses in the future.

Spark has historically generated significant operating losses. As of June 30, 2017, Spark had an accumulated deficit of approximately $(70.5) million. Spark incurred net losses of approximately $(4.6) million and ($3.1) million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. If Spark’s revenue

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does not grow at a substantially faster rate than its operating expenses, or if operating expenses are higher than Spark anticipates, or if revenue continues to decline but operating expenses increase, Spark may not be profitable and may incur additional losses, which could be significant.

Spark needs to maintain or increase the number of average paying subscribers to maintain or increase its current level of revenue.

The majority of Spark’s revenue is generated by internet users that pay Spark a subscription fee. One of Spark’s key performance metrics focuses on the average number of paying subscribers in a given period. The number of monthly average paying subscribers is calculated as the sum of the paying subscribers at the beginning and end of the month, divided by two. Average paying subscribers for periods longer than one month are calculated as the sum of the average paying subscribers for each month, divided by the number of months in the period. Internet users, in general, and users of online personals services specifically, freely navigate and use the services offered by a variety of websites. There can be no assurance that Spark’s monthly average paying subscriber numbers will remain at consistent levels, and they may decrease in the future, thus decreasing Spark’s revenue In the first six months ended June 30, 2017, average paying subscribers decreased 37.0% and revenue decreased 26.7% compared to the first six months ended June 30, 2016. If Spark does not constantly attract new paying subscribers at a faster rate than subscription terminations, Spark’s average paying subscribers will decrease and Spark will not be able to maintain or increase its current level of revenue.

Spark’s business depends on establishing and maintaining strong brands and if Spark is not able to maintain and enhance its brands, it may be unable to expand or maintain its member and paying subscriber bases.

Spark believes that establishing and maintaining its brands is critical to its efforts to attract and expand its member and paying subscriber bases. Spark believes that the importance of brand recognition will continue to increase, given the growing number of Internet sites and the low barriers to entry for companies offering online personals services. To attract and retain members and paying subscribers, and to promote and maintain Spark’s brands in response to competitive pressures, Spark may have to substantially increase its financial commitment to creating and maintaining distinct brand loyalty among these groups. If visitors, members and paying subscribers to Spark websites and affiliate and distribution associates do not perceive the existing services to be of high quality, or if Spark introduces new services or enters into new business ventures that are not favorably received by such parties, the value of the Spark brands could be diluted, thereby decreasing the attractiveness of its websites to such parties. As a result, Spark’s results of operations may be adversely affected by decreased brand recognition.

Spark’s growth and profitability rely, in part, on its ability to attract and retain users through cost-effective marketing efforts. Any failure in these efforts could adversely affect its business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Attracting and retaining users for Spark’s dating products involves considerable expenditures for online and offline marketing. Historically, Spark has had to increase its marketing expenditures over time in order to attract and retain users and sustain growth.

Evolving consumer behavior can affect the availability of profitable marketing opportunities. For example, as traditional television viewership declines and as consumers spend more time on mobile devices rather than desktop computers, the reach of many of Spark’s traditional advertising channels is contracting. Similarly, as consumers communicate less via email and more via text messaging and other virtual means, the reach of email campaigns designed to attract new and repeat users (and retain current users) for Spark dating products is adversely impacted. To continue to reach potential users and grow the businesses, Spark must identify and devote more overall marketing expenditures to newer advertising channels, such as mobile and online video platforms, as well as targeted campaigns in which Spark communicates directly with potential, former, and current users via new virtual means. Generally, the opportunities in and sophistication of newer advertising channels are relatively undeveloped and unproven, and there can be no assurance that Spark will be able to continue to appropriately manage and fine-tune its marketing efforts in response to these and other trends in the advertising industry. Any failure to do so could adversely affect Spark’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.

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Moreover, Spark is currently reworking its technology systems to provide for an ability to enable it to better track the success and profitability of marketing efforts. It may be determined that none of the current or historical marketing channels or efforts are profitable, which would lead Spark to a position where it needs a completely new marketing strategy. There can be no assurances that Spark will be able to identify or implement a marketing strategy that profitably adds customers. In such a case, Spark’s business, operations and prospects would be materially and negatively impacted.

If Spark’s efforts to attract new members, convert members into paying subscribers and retain paying subscribers are not successful, its revenue and operating results will suffer.

Spark’s future growth depends on its ability to attract new members, convert members into paying subscribers and retain paying subscribers. This in turn depends on its ability to deliver a high-quality online personals experience to these members and paying subscribers. As a result, Spark must continue to invest significant resources in order to enhance its existing products and services and introduce new high-quality products and services that people will use. If Spark is unable to predict user preferences or industry changes, or if Spark is unable to modify products and services on a timely basis, Spark may lose existing members and paying subscribers and may fail to attract new members and paying subscribers. Spark’s revenue and expenses will also be adversely affected if its innovations are not responsive to the needs of its members and paying subscribers or are not brought to market in an effective or timely manner.

Subscriber acquisition costs vary depending upon prevailing market conditions and may increase significantly in the future.

Costs for Spark to acquire paying subscribers are dependent, in part, upon its ability to purchase advertising at a reasonable cost. Spark’s advertising costs vary over time, depending upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Spark. Historically, Spark has used online and offline advertising as the primary means of marketing its services. During 2016 and the first six months ended June 30, 2017, Spark’s cost of revenue substantially decreased, primarily as a result of lower direct marketing expenses related to its Christian Networks.

Costs of online and/or offline advertising may continue to increase. If Spark is not able to reduce other operating costs, increase paying subscriber base or increase revenue per paying subscriber to offset these increases, its profitability will be adversely affected.

In addition, costs to acquire subscribers may increase if Spark raises prices on its websites or attempts to further monetize its mobile applications, as potential customers may be slower or more reluctant to purchase higher-priced services.

Efforts to capitalize upon opportunities to expand into new products and services may fail and could result in a loss of capital and other valuable resources.

Spark may decide to expand into new products and services to increase its revenue base. If Spark expands into such offerings, management’s time and attention will be less focused on Spark’s existing businesses and will require it to invest significant capital resources. The results of any expansion efforts into new products and services are unpredictable, and there is no guarantee that any efforts will have a positive effect on Spark’s revenue base. Spark faces many risks associated with any expansion of Spark’s business into new products and services, including but not limited to the following:

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competition from pre-existing competitors with significantly stronger brand recognition in the markets Spark enters;

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improper evaluation of the potential of such products and services;

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diversion of capital and other valuable resources away from Spark’s core business; and

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forgoing opportunities that are potentially more profitable.

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If Spark fails to keep pace with rapid technological change, its competitive position will suffer.

Spark operates in a market characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product and service announcements, enhancements and changing customer

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demands. Accordingly, its performance will depend on its ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies and industry standards, and its ability to continually improve the speed, performance, features, ease of use and reliability of its services in response to both evolving demands of the marketplace and competitive service and product offerings. There have been occasions when Spark has not been as responsive as many competitors in adapting its services to changing industry standards and the needs of its members and paying subscribers. Spark’s industry has been subject to constant innovation and competition. New features are introduced by one competitor, and if they are perceived as attractive to users, other competitors replicate such new features. Over the last few years, such new feature introductions in the industry have included instant messaging, message boards, E-cards, personality profiles and mobile content delivery. Introducing new technologies into Spark’s systems involves numerous technical challenges, substantial amounts of capital and personnel resources and often takes many months to complete. Spark intends to continue to devote efforts and funds toward the development of additional technologies and services. For example, in 2016 and 2015 Spark introduced a number of new features, and Spark anticipates the introduction of additional features in 2017 and beyond. Spark may not be able to effectively integrate new technologies into its websites on a timely basis or at all, which may degrade the responsiveness and speed of such websites. Such technologies, even if integrated, may not function as expected.

The business of Spark depends on its server and network hardware and software and its ability to obtain network capacity; the current safeguard systems may be inadequate to prevent an interruption in the availability of Spark services.

The performance of Spark’s server and networking hardware and software infrastructure is critical to its business and reputation, to its ability to attract visitors and members to its websites, to convert them into paying subscribers and to retain paying subscribers. An unexpected and/or substantial increase in the use of Spark’s websites could strain the capacity of its systems, which could lead to a slower response time or system failures. Although Spark has not recently experienced any significant delays, any future slowdowns or system failures could adversely affect the speed and responsiveness of its websites and would diminish the experience for visitors, members and paying subscribers. Spark faces risks related to its ability to scale up to potential increased customer levels while maintaining superior performance. If the usage of Spark’s websites substantially increases, Spark may need to purchase additional servers and networking equipment and services to maintain adequate data transmission speeds, the availability of which may be limited or the cost of which may be significant. Any system failure that causes an interruption in service or a decrease in the responsiveness of Spark’s websites could reduce traffic on the websites and, if sustained or repeated, could impair the reputation and the attractiveness of the Spark brands as well as reduce revenue and negatively impact operating results.

Spark is also in the process of integrating its hardware systems and software applications between the JDate.com and ChristianMingle.com segments. There can be no assurance that such integration will not cause disruptions in the business, and any such disruption could have a material adverse effect on Spark’s results of operations and financial condition. Further, any delay in the timing could decrease and/or delay expense savings expected in respect of such integration, and any such disruption could have a material adverse effect on Spark’s results of operations and financial condition.

Furthermore, Spark relies on many different hardware systems and software applications, some of which have been developed internally. If these hardware systems or software applications fail, it would adversely affect Spark’s ability to provide services. If Spark is unable to protect its data from loss or electronic or magnetic corruption, or if Spark receives a significant unexpected increase in usage and is not able to rapidly expand its transaction-processing systems and network infrastructure without any systems interruptions, it could seriously harm Spark’s business and reputation. Spark has experienced occasional systems interruptions in the past as a result of unexpected increases in usage, and there can be no assurance that Spark will not incur similar or more serious interruptions in the future. From time to time, Spark and its websites may be subject to delays and interruptions due to software viruses, or variants thereof, such as internet worms.

In addition, Spark does not have a “high availability” disaster recovery system, which means in the event of any catastrophic failure involving its websites, Spark may be unable to serve its web traffic for a significant period of time. Spark websites primarily operate from a single site located in Southern

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California. Any system failure, including network, software or hardware failure, that causes an interruption in the delivery of Spark’s websites and services or a decrease in responsiveness of its services would result in reduced visitor traffic, reduced revenue and would adversely affect Spark’s reputation and brands.

Spark may not be able to protect its systems, infrastructure and technologies from cyber-attacks. In addition, Spark may be adversely affected by cyber-attacks experienced by third parties. Any disruption of Spark’s systems, infrastructure and technologies, or compromise of its user data or other information, due to cyber-attacks could have an adverse effect on Spark’s business, reputation, brands, financial condition and results of operations.

Spark’s reputation and ability to attract, retain and serve its members is dependent upon the reliable performance and security of its computer systems and those of third parties that Spark utilizes in its operations and the protection of confidential information about Spark and sensitive information provided by its members. The incidence of malicious technology-related events, such as cyber-attacks, computer hacking, computer viruses, worms or other destructive or disruptive software, distributed denial of service attacks or other malicious activities (or any combination of these events) is on the rise worldwide and constantly evolving. From time to time, Spark may become the victim of these types of attacks.

Spark’s computer systems and those of third parties it uses in its operations are vulnerable to cybersecurity risks, including cyber-attacks such as computer viruses, denial of service attacks, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions. These systems periodically experience directed attacks intended to lead to interruptions and delays in Spark’s service and operations as well as loss, misuse or theft of data. Any attempt by hackers to obtain Spark’s data, disrupt its service, or otherwise access its systems, or those of third parties Spark uses, if successful, could harm Spark’s business, be expensive to remedy and damage Spark’s reputation. While Spark continuously develops and maintains systems to detect and prevent events of this nature from impacting its various businesses, these efforts are costly and require ongoing monitoring and updating as technologies change and efforts to overcome preventative security measures become more sophisticated. Despite these efforts, there can be no assurances that these events will not occur in the future and if they do occur, will not have an adverse effect on Spark’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Furthermore, Spark may become the victim of security breaches, such as the misappropriation, misuse, leakage, falsification or accidental release or loss of user, customer or vendor data maintained in its information technology systems or those of third parties with whom Spark does business (or upon whom Spark otherwise relies in connection with its day-to-day operations).

Any cyber-attack or security breach Spark experiences could prevent Spark from providing products and services, damage its reputation, erode its brands and/or be costly to remedy, as well as result in a degradation of products and services and/or cause damage to Spark’s systems, infrastructure, technologies and data. Even if Spark does not experience such events, the impact of any such events experienced by third parties with whom Spark does business (or upon whom Spark otherwise relies in connection with its day-to-day operations) could have a similar effect. Moreover, even cyber-attacks and security breaches that do not impact Spark directly may result in a loss of consumer confidence generally, which could result in decreased likelihood of the use of Spark’s products and services.

Spark depends, in part, upon arrangements with third parties to drive traffic to its various websites.

Spark engages in a variety of activities designed to attract traffic to its various websites and convert visitors into members and paying subscribers. How successful Spark is in these efforts depends, in part, upon Spark’s continued ability to enter into arrangements with third parties to drive traffic to its various websites and its oversight of such third parties to ensure that they are appropriately communicating with online users. Pursuant to these arrangements, third parties generally promote Spark services on their websites or through e-mail campaigns and Spark pays them based upon a variety of arrangements (cost per registration, cost per one thousand impressions, a percentage of sales, etc.). Depending on how a third party communicates with online users via email, third-party email service providers could treat such email campaign as spam, and ultimately limit Spark’s ability to communicate with its members and paying subscribers via email.

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These arrangements are generally not exclusive, are short-term in nature and are generally terminable by either party given notice. If existing arrangements with third parties are terminated (or are not renewed upon their expiration) and Spark fails to replace this traffic and related revenues, or if Spark is unable to enter into new arrangements with existing and/or new third parties in response to industry trends, or if such third parties improperly manage email campaigns, Spark’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Spark relies on a number of third-party providers and their failure or unwillingness to continue to perform could harm Spark.

Spark relies on third parties to provide important services and technologies to Spark, including third parties that manage and monitor its offsite data center located in Southern California, ISPs, search engine marketing providers and credit card processors. In addition, Spark licenses technologies from third parties to facilitate its ability to provide services. Any failure on the part of Spark to comply with the terms of these licenses could result in the loss of its rights to continue using the licensed technology, and Spark could experience difficulties obtaining licenses for alternative technologies. Furthermore, any failure of these third parties to provide these and other services, any errors, failures, interruptions or delays associated with licensed technologies and any violations of ISP standards by email providers, could significantly harm Spark’s business. For example, during the first quarter of 2014, some of Spark’s email affiliates conducted their business in violation of Spark’s terms and conditions and in a manner considered unacceptable by certain email internet service providers. As a result, for a significant portion of the first quarter of 2014, certain internet service providers either prevented emails sent by Spark from reaching Spark’s members or placed Spark’s emails into the members’ email spam boxes. The reduction of email communication from Spark to its members negatively affected Spark’s ability to convert non-paying members into paying subscribers and affected Spark’s results of operations for the year. Currently, however, Spark is not aware of any errors, failures, interruptions, delays or violations of its third-party providers that could result in any impact to Spark’s financial position or results of operations. Any financial or other difficulties Spark providers face may have negative effects on Spark’s business, the nature and extent of which cannot be predicted. Except to the extent of the terms of Spark’s contracts with such third party providers, Spark exercises little or no control over them, which increases vulnerability to problems with the services and technologies provided and licensed to Spark. In addition, if any fees charged by third-party providers were to substantially increase, such as if ISPs began charging Spark for emails sent by its paying subscribers to other members or paying subscribers, Spark could incur significant additional losses.

Spark may not be effective in protecting its Internet domain names or proprietary rights upon which its business relies or in avoiding intellectual property infringement claims.

Spark regards substantial elements of its websites and the underlying technology as proprietary, and attempt to protect them by relying on trademark, service mark, copyright, patent and trade secret laws and restrictions on disclosure and transferring title and other methods. Spark also generally enters into confidentiality agreements with Spark employees and consultants, and generally seek to control access to and distribution of Spark’s technology, documentation and other proprietary information. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain and use Spark’s proprietary information without authorization or to develop similar or superior technology independently. Effective trademark, service mark, copyright, patent and trade secret protection may not be available in every country in which Spark services are distributed or made available through the Internet, and policing unauthorized use of Spark’s proprietary information is difficult. Any such misappropriation or development of similar or superior technology by third parties could adversely impact Spark’s profitability and future financial results.

Spark believes that Spark’s websites, services, trademarks, patent and other proprietary technologies do not infringe upon the rights of third parties. However, there can be no assurance that Spark’s business activities do not and will not infringe upon the proprietary rights of others, or that other parties will not assert infringement claims against Spark. Spark is aware that other parties utilize the “Spark” name, or other marks that incorporate it, and those parties may have rights to such marks that are superior to those of Spark. From time to time, Spark has been, and expects to continue to be, subject to claims in the ordinary course of business including claims of alleged infringement of the trademarks, service marks and

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other intellectual property rights of third parties by Spark. Although such claims have not resulted in any significant litigation or had a material adverse effect on Spark’s business to date, any such claims and resultant litigation might subject Spark to temporary injunctive restrictions on the use of its products, services or brand names and could result in significant liability for damages for intellectual property infringement, require Spark to enter into royalty agreements, or restrict Spark from using infringing software, services, trademarks, patents or technologies in the future. Even if not meritorious, such litigation could be time-consuming and expensive and could result in the diversion of management’s time and attention away from Spark’s day-to-day business.

Spark currently holds various web domain names related to its brands and in the future may acquire new web domain names. The regulation of domain names in the United States and in foreign countries is subject to change. Governing bodies may establish additional top level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, Spark may be unable to acquire or maintain relevant domain names in all countries in which it conducts business. Furthermore, the relationship between regulations governing domain names and laws protecting trademarks and similar proprietary rights is unclear. Spark may be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that are similar to, infringe upon or otherwise decrease the value of Spark’s existing trademarks and other proprietary rights or those Spark may seek to acquire. Any such inability to protect such existing trademarks and other proprietary rights could cause Spark to lose a significant portion of its members and paying subscribers to competitors.

Spark may face potential liability, loss of users and damage to its reputation for violation of its privacy policy or privacy laws and regulations or be required to change its business practices in an adverse manner.

Spark’s privacy policy prohibits the sale or disclosure to any third party of any member’s personal identifying information, except to the extent expressly set forth in the policy. Growing public concern about privacy and the collection, distribution and use of information about individuals may subject Spark to increased regulatory scrutiny and/or litigation. In the past, the Federal Trade Commission has investigated companies that have used personally identifiable information without permission or in violation of a stated privacy policy. If Spark is accused of violating the stated terms of its privacy policy, Spark may be forced to expend significant amounts of financial and managerial resources to defend against these accusations and may face potential liability. Spark’s membership database holds confidential information concerning its members, and Spark could be sued if any of that information is misappropriated or if a court determines that Spark has failed to protect that information.

In addition, Spark’s affiliates handle personally identifiable information pertaining to Spark’s members and paying subscribers. Both Spark and its affiliates are subject to laws and regulations related to Internet communications, consumer protection, advertising, privacy, security and data protection. For example, Spark is subject to the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, California’s Information Practice Act, which requires notification to users when there is a security breach of personal data, and other state regulations that impose additional requirements on data protection, such as the requirement to encrypt data sent over the Internet. If Spark or its affiliates are found to be in violation of these laws and regulations, Spark may become subject to administrative fines or litigation or be required to change its data practices, which could materially increase expenses, adversely affect Spark’s results of operations and cause the value of the New Spark ADSs to decline.

Proposed legislation concerning data protection is currently pending at the U.S. federal and state level as well as in certain foreign jurisdiction. In addition, the interpretation and application of data protection laws in Europe, the United States and elsewhere are still uncertain. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with Spark’s data practices. If so, in addition to the possibility of fines, this could result in an order requiring that Spark change its data practices, which could have an adverse effect on Spark’s business. Complying with these laws as they evolve could cause Spark to incur substantial costs or require Spark to change its business practices in a manner adverse to its business.

Spark may be liable as a result of information retrieved from or transmitted over the Internet.

Spark may be sued for defamation, civil rights infringement, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, invasion of privacy, personal injury, product liability or under other legal theories relating to information that is published or made available on its websites and the other sites linked to it. These types

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of claims have been brought, sometimes successfully, against online services in the past. Spark also offers messaging services on its websites and sends emails directly and through third parties, which may subject it to potential risks, such as liabilities or claims resulting from unsolicited email or spamming, lost or misdirected messages, security breaches, illegal or fraudulent use of email or personal information or interruptions or delays in email service. Spark’s insurance does not specifically provide for coverage of these types of claims and, therefore, may be inadequate to protect Spark against them. In addition, Spark could incur significant costs in investigating and defending such claims, even if Spark ultimately is not held liable. If any of these events occurs, Spark’s revenue could be materially adversely affected or Spark could incur significant additional expense, and the market price of the New Spark ADSs may decline.

Spark’s business could be significantly impacted by the occurrence of natural disasters and other catastrophic events.

Spark’s operations depend upon its ability to maintain and protect its network infrastructure, hardware systems and software applications, which are housed primarily at data centers located in Southern California that are managed by a third party. Spark’s business is therefore susceptible to earthquakes, tsunamis and other catastrophic events, including acts of terrorism. Spark currently does not possess a “high availability” disaster recovery system. As a result, outages and downtime caused by natural disasters and other events out of its control, which affect Spark’s systems or data centers, could adversely affect Spark’s reputation, brands and business.

Spark holds a fixed amount of insurance coverage, and if Spark was found liable for an uninsured claim, or claim in excess of its insurance limits, Spark may be forced to expend significant capital to resolve the uninsured claim.

Spark contracts for a fixed amount of insurance to cover potential risks and liabilities, including, but not limited to, cyber liability, property and casualty insurance, general liability insurance and errors and omissions liability insurance. If Spark decides to pursue obtaining additional insurance coverage in the future, it is possible that (1) Spark may not be able to get enough insurance to meet its needs; (2) Spark may have to pay very high premiums for the additional coverage; (3) Spark may not be able to acquire any insurance for certain types of business risk; or (4) Spark may have gaps in coverage for certain risks. This could leave us exposed to potential uninsured claims for which Spark could have to expend significant amounts of capital resources. Consequently, if Spark was found liable for a significant uninsured claim in the future, Spark may be forced to expend a significant amount of operating capital to resolve the uninsured claim.

Spark’s services may not be well-suited to many alternate web access devices, and as a result the growth of its business could be negatively affected.

The number of people who access the Internet through devices other than desktop and laptop computers, including mobile telephones, tablets, and other handheld computing devices, has increased dramatically in the past several years, and Spark expects this growth to continue. The smaller screen and keyboard sizes and reduced functionality currently associated with such devices may make the use of Spark’s services through such devices more difficult and generally impairs the member experience relative to access via desktop and laptop computers. If Spark is unable to attract and retain a substantial number of such device users to its online services or if Spark is unable to develop services that are more compatible with such devices in a timely fashion, Spark’s growth could be adversely affected.

Spark’s network is vulnerable to security breaches and inappropriate use by Internet users, which could disrupt or deter future use of its services.

Concerns over the security of transactions conducted on the Internet and the privacy of users may inhibit the growth of the Internet and other online services generally, and online commerce services, like Spark, in particular. To date, Spark has not experienced any material breach of its security systems; however, a failure by Spark to effectively prevent security breaches could significantly harm Spark’s business, reputation and results of operations and could expose Spark to lawsuits by state and federal consumer protection agencies, by governmental authorities in the jurisdictions in which Spark operates, and by consumers. Anyone who is able to circumvent Spark’s security measures could misappropriate

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proprietary information, including customer credit card and personal data, cause interruptions in Spark’s operations or damage Spark’s brand and reputation. Such breach of Spark’s security measures could involve the disclosure of personally identifiable information and could expose Spark to a material risk of litigation, liability or governmental enforcement proceeding. There can be no assurances that Spark’s financial systems and other technology resources are completely secure from security breaches or sabotage, and Spark has occasionally experienced security breaches and attempts at “hacking.” Spark may be required to incur significant additional costs to protect against security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches. Any well-publicized compromise of Spark’s security or the security of any other Internet provider could deter people from using Spark services or the Internet to conduct transactions that involve transmitting confidential information or downloading sensitive materials, which could have a detrimental impact on Spark’s existing and potential customer base.

Computer viruses may cause delays or other service interruptions and could damage Spark’s reputation, affect Spark’s ability to provide services and adversely affect Spark’s revenue. The inadvertent transmission of computer viruses could also expose Spark to a material risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. Moreover, if a computer virus affecting Spark system was highly publicized, Spark’s reputation could be significantly damaged, resulting in the loss of current and future members and paying subscribers.

Spark faces certain risks related to the physical and emotional safety of its members and paying subscribers.

The nature of online personals services is such that Spark cannot control the actions of its members and paying subscribers in their communication or physical actions. There is a possibility that one or more of Spark’s members or paying subscribers could be physically or emotionally harmed following interaction with another one of the members or paying subscribers. Spark warns its members and paying subscribers that Spark does not conduct background checks on other members and paying subscribers and, given Spark’s lack of physical presence, Spark does not take any action to ensure personal safety on a meeting between members or paying subscribers arranged following contact initiated via its websites. If an unfortunate incident of this nature occurred in a meeting of two people following contact initiated on one of Spark’s websites or a website of a competitors any resulting negative publicity could materially and adversely affect Spark or the online personals industry in general. Any such incident involving one of Spark’s websites or mobile applications could damage Spark’s reputation and brands. This, in turn, could adversely affect Spark’s revenue and could cause the value of the New Spark ADSs to decline. In addition, the affected members or paying subscribers could initiate legal action against Spark, which could cause Spark to incur significant expense, whether Spark is successful or not, and damage Spark Network’s reputation.

Spark is or may be subject to litigation and regulatory actions that may distract management and could have a material adverse effect on Spark’s financial condition and results of operations.

Spark is or has been a party to various litigation claims and legal proceedings, including purported class action lawsuits and litigation involving its business operations and intellectual property. Spark may also be subject to regulatory actions and litigation based on its business operations. For example, Spark supplies online personals services and in many jurisdictions, companies deemed dating service providers are subject to additional regulation, while companies that provide personals services are not generally subject to similar regulation. Because personals services and dating services can seem similar, Spark is exposed to potential litigation, including class action lawsuits, associated with providing personals services. In the past, a small percentage of Spark members have alleged that Spark is a dating service provider, and, as a result, they claim that Spark is required to comply with regulations that include, but are not limited to, providing language in Spark contracts that may allow members to (1) rescind their contracts within a certain period of time, (2) demand reimbursement of a portion of the contract price if the member dies during the term of the contract and/or (3) cancel their contracts in the event of disability or relocation. If a court holds that Spark has provided and is providing dating services of the type the dating services regulations are intended to regulate, Spark may be required to comply with regulations associated with the dating services industry and be liable for any damages as a result of past non-compliance.

Previously, Spark was subject to three separate yet similar class action complaints filed against it in state court alleging violations of dating service statutes — one in each of Illinois, New York and California.

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Although all of the complaints were dismissed and are no longer subject to appeal, the opinion in the Illinois case provided that Spark is subject to the Illinois Dating Services Act and, as such, its subscription agreements violate the act and are void and unenforceable. This ruling may subject Spark to potential liability for claims brought by the Illinois Attorney General or customers that have been injured by such violation of the statute.

On August 6, 2017, UpMarket Projects Ltd (“UpMarket”) filed a civil action (“Complaint”) for breach of contract and unjust enrichment against Spark Networks USA, LLC (“Spark USA”) and against Spark Networks (Israel) Ltd. (“Spark Israel”) in Tel-Aviv District court, pursuant to which UpMarket demanded damages in the amount of 8,037,795 New Israeli Shekels, which is equivalent to approximately $2,282,575 USD as of September 14, 2017. In addition, UpMarket filed a motion for a provisional attachment order (“Motion”) pursuant to which UpMarket asked the court to attach assets and funds in the amount of up to 8,037,795 New Israeli Shekels that are held in Israel by Spark USA and Spark Israel. On August 6, 2017, the court granted UpMarket’s motion for a provisional attachment (“Court’s Order”) pursuant to which the court ordered the freezing of assets and funds in Israel of Spark USA and Spark Israel in the sum of up to 6,000,000 New Israeli Shekels, which is equivalent to approximately $1,703,881 USD as of September 14, 2017. Spark Israel and Spark USA were served with the Complaint, Motion and Court’s Order on August 8, 2017. In the statement of claim, UpMarket alleges that Spark USA materially breached a commercial contract between the parties by terminating such contract in contravention to its terms. On August 14, 2017, Spark Israel moved to remove the asset freeze and, on September 10, 2017 the court ordered the reduction of the asset freeze to 2,500,000 New Israeli Shekels, or approximately $710,000 USD. In addition, Spark USA and Spark Israel intend to file a statement of defense (they can do so until September 30, 2017). UpMarket is entitled to file a rebuttal response to the statement of defense (15 days after it was served with the defense) and then the parties to the Complaint will initiate discovery proceedings and, in parallel, the court will set a pretrial hearing. As of August 12, 2017, Spark is unable to reasonably estimate the possibility of an unfavorable outcome, or the amount of liability that may result from this matter.

The defendants intend to defend vigorously against the above lawsuit. At this time, Spark’s management does not believe the above matter will have a material adverse effect on Spark’s results of operations or financial condition. However, no assurance can be given that this matter will be resolved in favor of the defendants.

Spark reviews the litigation and accrues appropriate amounts where necessary. These assessments and estimates are based on information available to management at the time and involve a significant amount of management judgment. As a result, actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from those envisioned by current assessments and estimates. Spark intends to defend vigorously against any litigation claims. However, no assurance can be given that these matters will be resolved in its favor and, depending on the outcome of these disputes, Spark may choose to alter Spark’s business practices. Our failure to successfully defend or settle litigation claims could result in liability that, to the extent not covered by insurance, could have a material adverse effect on Spark’s financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the defense of litigation claims may also be both time consuming and expensive.

Spark is exposed to risks associated with credit card fraud and credit payment, which, if not properly addressed, could increase its operating expenses.

Spark depends on the continuing availability of credit card usage to process subscriptions and this availability, in turn, depends on acceptable levels of chargebacks and fraud performance. Spark has suffered losses and may continue to suffer losses as a result of subscription orders placed with fraudulent credit card data, even though the associated financial institution approved payment. Under current credit card practices, a merchant is liable for fraudulent credit card transactions when, as is the case with the transactions Spark processes, that merchant does not obtain a cardholder’s signature. Spark’s failure to adequately control fraudulent credit card transactions would result in significantly higher credit card-related costs and, therefore, increase Spark’s operating expenses and may preclude Spark from accepting credit cards as a means of payment.

Spark faces risks associated with its dependence on computer and telecommunications infrastructure.

Spark’s services are dependent upon the use of the Internet and telephone and broadband communications to provide high-capacity data transmission without system downtime. There have been

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instances where regional and national telecommunications outages have caused Spark, and other Internet businesses, to experience systems interruptions. Any additional interruptions, delays or capacity problems experienced with telephone or broadband connections could adversely affect Spark’s ability to provide services to its customers. The temporary or permanent loss of all, or a portion, of the telecommunications system could cause disruption to Spark’s business activities and result in a loss of revenue. Additionally, the telecommunications industry is subject to regulatory control. Amendments to current regulations, which could affect Spark’s telecommunications providers, could disrupt or adversely affect the profitability of Spark’s business.

In addition, if any of Spark’s current agreements with telecommunications providers were terminated, Spark may not be able to replace any terminated agreements with equally beneficial ones. There can be no assurance that Spark will be able to renew any of its current agreements when they expire or, if Spark is able to do so, that such renewals will be available on acceptable terms. Spark also does not know whether it will be able to enter into additional agreements or that any relationships, if entered into, will be on terms favorable to Spark.

Spark’s business depends, in part, on the growth and maintenance of the Internet, and Spark’s ability to provide services to its members and paying subscribers may be limited by outages, interruptions and diminished capacity of the Internet.

Spark’s performance will depend, in part, on the continued growth and maintenance of the Internet. This includes maintenance of a reliable network backbone with the necessary speed, data capacity and security for providing reliable Internet services. Internet infrastructure may be unable to support the demands placed on it if the number of Internet users continues to increase, or if existing or future Internet users access the Internet more often or increase their bandwidth requirements. In addition, viruses, worms and similar programs may harm the performance of the Internet. Spark has no control over the third-party telecommunications, cable or other providers of access services to the Internet that its members and paying subscribers rely upon. There have been instances where regional and national telecommunications outages have caused Spark to experience service interruptions during which its members and paying subscribers could not access services. Any additional interruptions, delays or capacity problems experienced with any points of access between the Internet and Spark’s members could adversely affect Spark’s ability to provide services reliably to its members and paying subscribers. The temporary or permanent loss of all, or a portion, of Spark’s services on the Internet, the Internet infrastructure generally, or members’ and paying subscribers’ ability to access the Internet could disrupt Spark’s business activities, harm its business reputation, and result in a loss of revenue. Additionally, the Internet, electronic communications and telecommunications industries are subject to federal, state and foreign governmental regulation. New laws and regulations governing such matters could be enacted or amendments may be made to existing regulations at any time that could adversely impact Spark’s services. Any such new laws, regulations or amendments to existing regulations could disrupt or adversely affect the profitability of Spark’s business.

Spark relies on third-party platforms such as the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store to distribute its mobile applications and collect revenue. If Spark is unable to maintain a good relationship with such platform providers, if their terms and conditions or pricing changed to Spark’s detriment, if Spark violates, or if a platform provider believes that Spark has violated, the terms and conditions of its platform, or if any of these platforms were unavailable for a prolonged period of time, Spark’s business will suffer.

With the launch of Spark’s portfolio of mobile applications, Spark has recognized an increasing amount of revenue from distribution of its subscriptions on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, where Spark relies on the payments processing systems of these platform providers. Spark is subject to their standard terms and conditions for application developers, which govern the promotion, distribution and operation of applications on their platforms. In addition, if Spark violates, or if a platform provider believes that Spark has violated, its terms and conditions, the particular platform provider may discontinue or limit Spark’s access to that platform, which would harm Spark’s business. Spark’s business would be harmed if they discontinue or limit access to their platforms, if their platforms decline in popularity, if they modify their current discovery mechanisms, communication channels available to developers, respective terms of service or other policies, including fees, or change how the personal information of subscribers is made available to developers or develop their own competitive offerings.

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Spark is subject to burdensome government regulations and legal uncertainties affecting the Internet that could adversely affect Spark’s business.

Spark’s business is regulated by diverse and evolving laws and governmental authorities in the United States and other countries in which Spark operates. Legal uncertainties surrounding domestic and foreign government regulations could increase Spark’s costs of doing business, require Spark to revise its services, prevent Spark from delivering its services over the Internet or slow the growth of the Internet, any of which could increase expenses, reduce revenue or cause revenue to grow at a slower rate than expected and materially adversely affect Spark’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Laws and regulations related to Internet communications, security, privacy, intellectual property rights, commerce, taxation, entertainment, recruiting and advertising are becoming more prevalent, and new laws and regulations are under consideration by the United States Congress, state legislatures and foreign governments. For example, in recent years, legislation related to the use of background checks for users of online personals services was proposed in Ohio, Texas, California, Michigan, New Jersey, Florida and Virginia. The New Jersey legislature enacted such a law in 2008 and other state legislatures may still be considering the implementation of such legislation. The interpretation of the New Jersey statute as well as the enactment of any of these proposed laws could require Spark to alter its service offerings and could negatively impact performance by making it more difficult and costly to obtain new subscribers and may also subject Spark to additional liability for failure to properly screen subscribers. Additionally, statutes have been enacted in at least sixteen states regulating automatic renewals to varying degrees. Generally, these statutes require companies to disclose automatic renewal policies in a clear and conspicuous manner. In California, under California Business and Professions Code Section 17600, et seq., the statute prohibits retailers from charging a consumer’s debit card, credit card, or bank account for ongoing orders without his/her explicit consent. Similar to its interpretation of the New Jersey statute, the interpretation of this statute could require Spark to alter its service offerings and could impact its service. Promulgation of new laws, changes in current laws, the existence of ambiguous laws that are difficult to implement, changes in interpretations by courts and other governments officials of existing laws, Spark’s inability or failure to comply with current or future laws or strict enforcement by current or future government officers of current or future laws could adversely affect Spark by reducing revenue, increasing operating expenses and exposing Spark to significant potential liabilities.

Furthermore, in part as a result of recent economic conditions, some states have begun to, and others may in the future, impose state taxes on services provided through the Internet, such as online personals, which will increase the cost of Spark’s services and could adversely affect Spark’s business. Any legislation and regulations enacted or newly enforced or restrictions arising from current or future government investigations or policy could dampen the growth in use of the Internet, generally, decrease the profitability of Internet related businesses and diminish the acceptance of the Internet as a communications, commercial, entertainment, recruiting and advertising medium. In addition to new laws and regulations being adopted, existing laws that are not currently being applied to the Internet may subsequently be applied to it, in some cases with a retroactive effect or penalty, and, in several jurisdictions, legislatures are considering laws and regulations that would apply to the online personals industry in particular. Many areas of law affecting the Internet and online personals remain unsettled, even in areas where there has been some legislative action. It may take years to determine whether and how existing laws such as those governing consumer protection, intellectual property, libel and taxation apply to the Internet or to Spark’s services. In the normal course of business, Spark handle personally identifiable information pertaining to its members and paying subscribers residing in the United States and other countries. In recent years, many of these countries have adopted privacy, security and data protection laws and regulations intended to prevent improper uses and disclosures of personally identifiable information. In addition, some jurisdictions impose database registration requirements for which significant monetary and other penalties may be imposed for noncompliance. These laws may impose costly administrative requirements, limit Spark’s handling of information, and subject Spark to increased government oversight and financial liabilities. Privacy laws and regulations in the United States and foreign countries are subject to change and may be inconsistent, and additional requirements may be imposed at any time. These laws and regulations, the costs of complying with them, administrative fines for noncompliance and the possible need to adopt different compliance measures in different jurisdictions could materially increase expenses and cause the value of the New Spark ADSs to decline.

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Conflicts involving Israel could have a material adverse impact upon Spark’s business and operating results.

Spark’s Hebrew language sites, JDate.co.il and Cupid.co.il, represent approximately 10% of Spark’s Jewish Networks revenue. As a result, any conflicts involving or attacks against Israel could impact members’ and potential members’ interest in Spark’s services, and may have a material impact upon subscriber and revenue bases as conflict occurs.

Risks Relating to Affinitas

Affinitas’s business depends on establishing and maintaining strong brands, and if Affinitas is not able to maintain and enhance its brands, it may be unable to expand or maintain its member and paying subscriber bases.

Affinitas believes that establishing and maintaining its brands is essential to its efforts to attract and expand its member and paying subscriber bases. It believes that the importance of brand recognition will continue to increase, given the growing number of online dating sites and applications, or “apps,” and the low barriers to entry for companies offering online dating and other types of personals services. As of June 30, 2017, Affinitas’s services were available in 27 countries. To attract and retain members and paying subscribers, and to promote and maintain its brands in response to competitive pressures, Affinitas may have to substantially increase its financial commitment to creating and maintaining its distinct brand. If visitors, members and paying subscribers to its products do not perceive its existing services to be of higher quality, or if it introduces new services or enters into new business ventures that are not favorably received by such parties, the value of its brands could be diluted, thereby decreasing the attractiveness of its websites to such parties. As a result, its results of operations may be adversely affected by decreased brand recognition or negative brand perception.

If Affinitas’s efforts to attract new members, convert members into paying subscribers and retain its paying subscribers are not successful, its revenue and operating results will suffer.

Since it was launched in 2008, Affinitas has had more than 40 million users register with its dating platforms. A registration is deemed complete once a user has inserted an email/password combination, accepted the terms of service and clicked the registration button in order create a profile with the respective site (such user, a “registered user”). For the three months ended June 30, 2017, Affinitas had an average of approximately 366,000 paying members across all of its platforms. Affinitas’s future growth depends on its ability to attract new members that fit within its target audience, convert members into paying subscribers and retain its paying subscribers. This in turn depends on its ability to deliver a relevant, high-quality online personals experience to these members and its ability to remain attractive to its existing and potential paying customers. As a result, it must continue to invest significant resources in order to enhance its existing products and services and introduce new high-quality products and services that people will use. If Affinitas is unable to predict user preferences or industry changes, or if it is unable to modify its products and services on a timely basis, it may lose existing members and paying subscribers and may fail to attract new members and paying subscribers. For example, one of Affinitas’s strategies is to target single people with high socio-economic status who are looking for a serious and long-term relationship. If its user preferences change, or the market for this niche otherwise decreases, or this strategy is otherwise unsuccessful, Affinitas could lose users, including paying subscribers, and its market share and revenues could decrease. Affinitas’s revenue and expenses will also be adversely affected if its innovations are not responsive to the needs of its members and paying subscribers or are not brought to market in an effective or timely manner.

Affinitas revenues could be adversely affected if subscriptions cannot be automatically renewed.

Affinitas generally provides its premium memberships pursuant to 1-month, 3-months, 6-months, 12-months and 24-months subscriptions, which are generally automatically renewed unless cancelled by the subscriber. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, approximately 92%, 83%, 94% and 92%, respectively, of users purchasing a membership to one of Affinitas’s products chose a payment option that allowed for auto-renewal. In each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and in each of the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, membership revenue accounted for 99% of Affinitas’s total revenue. Although Affinitas has historically experienced a high percentage of subscribers that choose an auto-renewal payment option, a significant portion of

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Affinitas’s members may choose not to do so in the future or Affinitas may encounter difficulties during the technical processing of the renewal of credit card processing due to, for instance, the expiration or blocking of the applicable credit card. Affinitas has successfully taken steps to increase renewal rates by, for example, improving the auto-renewal success, but there can be no assurance that these efforts will remain successful in maintaining, and even increasing renewal rates in the future.

The EU has introduced the EU Consumer Rights Directive (the “Directive”), enforced in EU member states since June 2014, that restricts the use of auto-renewals, and Affinitas has implemented a membership subscription model which is compliant with the Directive. Numerous U.S. states also have laws regulating auto-renewal clauses in contracts, and proposals to restrict auto-renewals are also under consideration in the United States. To the extent that Affinitas must reduce or eliminate use of auto-renewals in these or other markets, renewal rates may fall, potentially reducing the number of membership subscription users. Consequently, the growth of subscription revenue will depend significantly on attracting new subscription users, and this dependence could increase due to regulations concerning auto-renewal that are outside of Affinitas’s control. Any failure to maintain or improve the renewal rates of membership subscription users or to attract new subscription users could have a material adverse effect on results of operations.

Moreover, some credit card processors have announced the application of stricter rules for credit card processing in the EU, which will likely require users to take additional steps when paying online. This may have an adverse effect on authorization levels of Affinitas’s users.

Affinitas’s growth strategy includes acquisitions that entail significant execution, integration and operational risks.

Affinitas pursues a growth strategy based in part on acquisitions, with the objective of creating a combined company that Affinitas believes can achieve increased cost savings and operating efficiencies through economies of scale, especially in the integration of administrative services. In addition to the Business Combination, Affinitas will seek to make additional acquisitions in the future to increase its scale and profitability. For instance, on September 30, 2016, Affinitas purchased Samadhi SAS and is in the process of integrating Samadhi SAS’s operations into the operations of Affinitas.

This growth strategy involves significant risks. Affinitas exposes itself to operational and financial risks in connection with historical and future acquisitions if it is unable to:

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properly value prospective acquisitions, especially those with limited operating histories;

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successfully integrate the operations, as well as the accounting, financial controls, management information, technology, human resources and other administrative systems, of acquired businesses with its existing operations and systems;

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successfully identify and realize potential synergies among acquired and existing businesses;

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retain or hire senior management and other key personnel at acquired businesses; and

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successfully manage acquisition-related strain on its management, operations and financial resources and those of the various brands in its portfolio.

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Furthermore, Affinitas may not be successful in addressing other challenges encountered in connection with its acquisitions. The anticipated benefits of one or more of its acquisitions may not be realized or the value of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired could be impacted by one or more continuing unfavorable events or trends, which could result in significant impairment charges. The occurrence of any these events could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. While Affinitas has successfully integrated acquisitions in the past, such as Attractive World (through Samadhi), no assurance can be provided that Affinitas will experience similar success with future acquisitions.

Acquisitions also involve operational risks and uncertainties, such as unknown or contingent liabilities with no available manner of recourse, exposure to unexpected problems, the retention of key employees and customers, and other issues that could negatively affect New Spark’s business. Any such liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on the business of New Spark.

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Affinitas faces significant competition for acquisition opportunities.

There is significant competition for acquisition targets in the markets within which Affinitas operates. Consequently, Affinitas may not be able to identify suitable acquisitions or may have difficulty finding attractive businesses for acquisition at reasonable prices. If Affinitas is unable to identify future acquisition opportunities, reach agreement with such third parties or obtain the financing necessary to make such acquisitions, Affinitas could lose scale relative to competitors who are able to make such acquisitions. This loss of relative scale in the industry could negatively impact Affinitas’s capacity to compete and reduce future growth potential.

In addition, current and potential competitors are making, and are expected to continue to make, strategic acquisitions, or establishing cooperatives and, in some cases, establishing exclusive relationships with significant companies or competitors to expand their businesses or to offer more comprehensive products and services. To the extent these competitors or potential competitors establish exclusive relationships with major portals, search engines and Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”), New Spark’s ability to reach potential members through online advertising may be restricted. Any of these competitors could cause difficulty in attracting and retaining members and converting members into paying subscribers.

Affinitas may fail to adequately protect its intellectual property rights or may be accused of infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties.

Affinitas relies heavily upon its trademarks and related domain names and logos to market its brands and to build and maintain brand loyalty and recognition, as well as upon trade secrets.

In addition, Affinitas relies on a combination of laws, and contractual restrictions with employees, customers, suppliers, affiliates and others, to establish and protect its various intellectual property rights. For example, Affinitas has generally registered, and continues to apply to register and renew, or secure by contract where appropriate, trademarks and service marks as they are developed and used, and reserve, register and renew domain names as it deems appropriate. Effective trademark protection may not be available or may not be sought in every country in which Affinitas’s products are made available, and contractual disputes may affect the use of marks governed by private contract. Similarly, not every variation of a domain name may be available or be registered, even if available.

Despite these measures, Affinitas’s intellectual property rights may still not be protected in a meaningful manner, challenges to contractual rights could arise or third parties could copy or otherwise obtain and use its intellectual property without authorization. In addition, litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce its intellectual property rights, protect its trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of proprietary rights claimed by others. Any litigation of this nature, regardless of outcome or merit, could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and technical resources.

For instance, Affinitas is currently in a dispute with a competitor related to its attempted registration of its figurative trademark for EliteRencontre, one of its French brands. While the European Trademark Authority has initially ruled in favor of Affinitas, Affinitas’s competitor has appealed the ruling. Although Affinitas believes it will ultimately prevail and intends to prosecute and defend its interest vigorously, if Affinitas were to lose the dispute, it may be required to rebrand EliteRencontre, which may have an adverse effect on the performance of EliteRencontre. For the six months ended June 30, 2017, EliteRencontre’s average paying members constituted approximately 9.7% of Affinitas’s overall average paying member count.

The occurrence of any of these events could result in the erosion of Affinitas’s brands and limit its ability to market its brands using its various domain names, as well as impede its ability to effectively compete against competitors with similar technologies, any of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

If Affinitas fails to keep pace with rapid technological change, its competitive position will suffer.

Affinitas operates in a market characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product and service announcements, enhancements and changing customer demands. Accordingly, its performance depends on its ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies and

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industry standards, and the ability to continually improve the speed, performance, features, ease of use and reliability of services in response to both evolving demands of the marketplace and competitive service and product offerings. There have been occasions when Affinitas has not been as responsive as many of its competitors in adapting its services to changing industry standards and the needs of its members and paying subscribers. Affinitas’s industry has been subject to constant innovation and competition. When one competitor introduces new features perceived as attractive to users, other competitors replicate such new features. Over the last few years, such new feature introductions in the industry have included instant messaging, message boards, E-cards, personality profiles, the delivery of content through cell phones and linking of profiles to social media accounts. There have also been subsequent enhancements on new features such as the ability to send videos and photos through instant messaging or customize user experience based on machine learning and artificial intelligence. Integration of new technologies into systems involves numerous technical challenges, substantial amounts of capital and personnel resources, and often takes many months to complete. New Spark intends to continue to devote efforts and funds toward the development of additional technologies and services so that it can both innovate and stay competitive in the competitive landscape in which it operates. For example, in 2015 and 2016, Affinitas introduced a number of new features such as an open search functionality and a new personality test, and it anticipates the introduction of additional features in 2017 and beyond. Affinitas may not be able to effectively integrate new technologies into its websites on a timely basis or at all, which may degrade the responsiveness and speed of its websites. Such technologies, even if integrated, may not function as expected.

Affinitas needs to maintain or increase its number of paying subscribers to maintain or increase its current level of revenue.

The vast majority of Affinitas’s revenue is generated by users that pay it a subscription fee. Internet and app users in general, and users of online personals services specifically, freely navigate and use the services offered by a variety of providers. Affinitas cannot assure that it will be able to grow or even maintain the current size of its subscriber base. If it does not constantly attract new paying subscribers at a faster rate than subscription terminations, it will not be able to maintain or increase its current level of revenue.

Affinitas’s growth and profitability rely, in part, on its ability to attract and retain users through cost-effective marketing efforts. Any failure in these efforts could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Costs for Affinitas to acquire paying subscribers are dependent, in part, upon its ability to purchase advertising at a reasonable cost. Its advertising costs vary over time, depending upon a number of factors, many of which are beyond its control. Historically, Affinitas has used online and offline advertising as the primary means of marketing its services. During 2016, its cost of revenue substantially increased compared to 2015, primarily as a result of growing its newly established North American business under the brand EliteSingles, which was launched in May 2015.

Evolving consumer behavior can affect the availability of profitable marketing opportunities. For example, as traditional television viewership declines and as consumers spend more time on mobile devices rather than desktop computers, the reach of many traditional advertising channels is contracting. To continue to reach potential users and grow its businesses, Affinitas must identify and devote more of its overall marketing expenditures to newer advertising channels, such as mobile and online video platforms, as well as targeted campaigns in which it communicates directly with potential, former and current users via new virtual means. Positive user experiences can provide gratuitous promotional opportunities for Affinitas, as satisfied subscribers can encourage others to join; Affinitas can also capitalize on such success stories in its marketing. Many of its competitors have also engaged in live marketing efforts such as organized social events for its members, an area that Affinitas has not yet tried at scale. Generally, the opportunities in and sophistication of newer advertising channels are relatively undeveloped and unproven, and there can be no assurance that Affinitas will be able to continue to appropriately manage and fine-tune its marketing efforts in response to these and other trends in the advertising industry. Any failure to do so could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the cost of online and/or offline advertising has historically increased over time. If Affinitas is not able to reduce its other operating costs, increase its paying subscriber base or increase revenue per paying subscriber to offset increased marketing costs, its profitability will be adversely affected.

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Communicating with Affinitas’s users is critical to its success, and any erosion in Affinitas’s ability to communicate with its users could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

To be successful, Affinitas must communicate with its subscribers and other users to, among other things, update them on their profile and related activity and to introduce them to new products and services. As a result, Affinitas must ensure that its methodology for communication with its subscribers and other users evolves in step with the communication habits of its consumers. For instance, most of Affinitas’s communications currently take the form of email and push notifications.

Any failure to effectively communicate with current users or develop or take advantage of new means of communication could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Distribution and use of Affinitas’s dating products depends, in significant part, on a variety of third-party publishers, platforms and mobile app stores. If these third parties limit, prohibit or otherwise interfere with the distribution or use of Affinitas’s dating products in any material way, it could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Affinitas markets and distributes its dating products (including related mobile applications) through a variety of third-party publishers and distribution channels. Its ability to market its brands on any given property or channel is subject to the policies of the relevant third party. Certain publishers and channels have, from time to time, limited or prohibited advertisements for dating products for a variety of reasons, including as a result of poor behavior by other industry participants. There is no assurance that Affinitas will not be limited or prohibited from using certain current or prospective marketing channels in the future. If this were to happen in the case of a significant marketing channel and/or for a significant period of time, Affinitas’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Additionally, Affinitas’s mobile applications are accessed through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, among other platforms. Both Apple and Google have broad discretion to change their respective terms and conditions applicable to the distribution of Affinitas’s applications as well as to the pricing of Affinitas’s services, and to interpret their respective terms and conditions in ways that may limit, eliminate or otherwise interfere with Affinitas’s ability to distribute its applications through their stores. There is no assurance that Apple or Google will not limit or eliminate or otherwise interfere with the distribution of Affinitas’s applications. If either or all of them did so, Affinitas’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

As the distribution of Affinitas’s dating products through app stores increases, Affinitas will need to offset increasing app store fees.

As Affinitas’s user base continues to shift to mobile solutions, it increasingly relies on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store to distribute its mobile applications and related in-app products. While its mobile applications are generally free to download from these stores, it offers its users the opportunity to purchase paid memberships through these applications. Affinitas determines the prices at which these memberships and features are sold and, in exchange for facilitating the purchase of these memberships and features through these applications to users who download its applications from these stores, it pays Apple and Google, as applicable, a share (generally 30%) of the revenue it receives from these transactions. As the distribution of its dating products through app stores increases, Affinitas will need to offset these increased app store fees by decreasing traditional marketing costs, or by engaging in other efforts to increase revenue or decrease costs generally, or its business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Affinitas’s success depends, in part, on the integrity of its systems and infrastructure and on its ability to enhance, expand and adapt these systems and infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective manner.

In order for Affinitas to succeed, its systems and infrastructure must perform well on a consistent basis. From time to time, it may experience system interruptions that make some or all of its systems or data unavailable and prevent its products from functioning properly for its users; any such interruption could arise for any number of reasons, including human errors. Further, its systems and infrastructure are vulnerable to damage from fire, power loss, hardware and operating software errors, telecommunications

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failures and similar events. While it has backup systems in place for certain aspects of its operations, its systems and infrastructure are not fully redundant, disaster recovery planning is not sufficient for all eventualities and its property and business interruption insurance coverage may not be adequate to compensate it fully for any losses that it may suffer. Any interruptions or outages, regardless of the cause, could negatively impact its users’ experiences with its products, tarnish its brands’ reputation and decrease demand for its products, any or all of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, even if detected, the resolution of such interruptions may take a long time, during which customers will not be able to access, or will have limited access to, the service.

Affinitas also continually works to expand and enhance the efficiency and scalability of its technology and network systems to improve the experience of its users, accommodate substantial increases in the volume of traffic to its various dating products, ensure acceptable page load times or general accessibility for its dating products and keep up with changes in technology and user preferences. Any failure to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner could adversely affect its users’ experience with its various products and thereby negatively impact the demand for its products, and could increase its costs, either of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Affinitas’s services are highly technical and may contain undetected bugs or errors, which could manifest in ways that could seriously harm its reputation and its business.

Affinitas’s services are highly technical and complex, and any services Affinitas may introduce in the future may contain undetected bugs, errors, and other vulnerabilities. These bugs and errors can manifest in any number of ways in its services, including through diminished performance, security vulnerabilities, malfunctions, or even permanently disabled services. Affinitas has a practice of rapidly updating its services, but some errors in its services may be discovered only after its service is used by users, and may in some cases be detected only under certain circumstances or after extended use. Any such defects discovered in Affinitas’s services after commercial release could result in a loss of sales and users, which could seriously harm its business. Any errors, bugs, or vulnerabilities discovered in its code after release could damage its reputation, drive away users, lower revenue, and expose Affinitas to damages claims, any of which could seriously harm its business.

Affinitas may not be able to protect its systems and infrastructure from cyberattacks and may be adversely affected by cyberattacks experienced by third parties.

Just like any other businesses, there is a risk that Affinitas will experience cyberattacks, computer viruses, worms, hacking, phishing, bot attacks or other destructive or disruptive software, distributed denial of service attacks and attempts to misappropriate customer information. While Affinitas has invested (and continues to invest) heavily in the protection of its systems and infrastructure and in related training, there can be no assurance that its efforts will prevent significant breaches in its systems or other such events from occurring. Any cyber or similar attack it is unable to protect itself against could damage its systems and infrastructure, prevent it from providing its products and services, erode its reputation and brands, result in the disclosure of confidential information of its users and/or be costly to remedy, as well as subject it to investigations by regulatory authorities and/or litigation that could result in liability to third parties. In light of the nature of its business, the unintended disclosure of personal information, whether as a result of a cyber-attack or not, would be particularly damaging to Affinitas’s reputation.

Similarly, online scammers and other similar groups may use Affinitas’s services and products to engage in illegal activities and it is likely that as more people use Affinitas’s services, these groups will increasingly seek to misuse Affinitas’s products. Although Affinitas invests resources to combat these activities, including by suspending or terminating accounts it believes violate its guidelines, Affinitas believes these groups will continue to seek ways to act inappropriately and illegally on its services. Combating these groups requires Affinitas’s engineering and customer service teams to divert significant time and focus from improving its services.

Further, the impact of cyber security events experienced by third parties with whom Affinitas does business (or upon whom it otherwise relies in connection with its day-to-day operations such as credit card processors) could have a similar effect on Affinitas. If breaches, scamming and other similar activities increase at third-parties with whom Affinitas does business, Affinitas’s reputation, business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

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Affinitas relies on a number of third-party providers and their failure or unwillingness to continue to perform could harm it.

Affinitas relies on third parties to provide important services and technologies to it, including third parties that manage and monitor its offsite data center, ISPs, search engine marketing providers and credit card processors, among others. In addition, it licenses technologies from third parties to facilitate its ability to provide its services. Any failure on its part to comply with the terms of these licenses could result in the loss of its rights to continue using the licensed technology, and it could experience difficulties obtaining licenses for alternative technologies. Furthermore, any failure of these third parties to provide these and other services, or errors, failures, interruptions or delays associated with licensed technologies, could significantly harm its business. Any financial or other difficulties its providers face may have negative effects on its business, the nature and extent of which it cannot predict. Except to the extent of the terms of its contracts with such third party providers, Affinitas exercises little or no control over them, which increases its vulnerability to problems with the services and technologies they provide and license to it. In addition, if any fees charged by third-party providers were to substantially increase, Affinitas could incur significant additional losses.

Affinitas depends, in part, upon arrangements with third parties to drive traffic to its various websites.

Affinitas engages in a variety of activities designed to attract traffic to its various websites and convert visitors into members and paying subscribers. How successful it is in these efforts depends, in part, upon its continued ability to enter into arrangements with third parties to drive traffic to its various websites and its oversight of such third parties to ensure that they are appropriately communicating with online users. Pursuant to these arrangements, third parties generally promote Affinitas’s services on their websites or through email campaigns and it pays them based upon a variety of arrangements (cost per registration, cost per one thousand impressions, a percentage of sales, etc.). Depending on how a third party communicates with online users via email, third-party email service providers could treat such email campaign as spam, and ultimately limit Affinitas’s ability to communicate with its members and paying subscribers via email.

These arrangements are generally not exclusive, are short-term in nature and are generally terminable by either party given notice. If existing arrangements with third parties are terminated (or are not renewed upon their expiration) and Affinitas fails to replace this traffic and related revenues, or if it is unable to enter into new arrangements with existing and/or new third parties in response to industry trends, or if such third parties improperly manage email campaigns, its business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

If the security of personal and confidential user information that Affinitas maintains and stores is breached or otherwise accessed by unauthorized persons, it may be costly to mitigate the impact of such an event and Affinitas’s reputation could be harmed.

Affinitas receives, processes, stores and transmits a significant amount of personal user and other confidential information, including credit card information, and enables its users to share their personal information with each other. In some cases, it retains third party vendors to store this information. Affinitas continuously develops and maintains systems to protect the security, integrity and confidentiality of this information, but cannot guarantee that inadvertent or unauthorized, including as a result of cyber-attacks, use or disclosure will not occur or that third parties will not gain unauthorized access to this information despite its efforts. Some advertisers and partners may store information that Affinitas Shares with them. If these third parties fail to implement adequate data-security practices or fail to comply with Affinitas’s terms and policies, its users’ data may be improperly accessed or disclosed. Even if these third parties take all these steps, their networks may still suffer a breach, which could compromise Affinitas’s users’ data. In addition, third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or users to disclose information to gain access to Affinitas’s data or its users’ data. If any such event were to occur, it may not be able to remedy the event, and it may have to expend significant capital and resources to mitigate the impact of such an event, and to develop and implement protections to prevent future events of this nature from occurring. If a breach of its security (or the security of its vendors and partners) occurs, the perception of the effectiveness of its security measures and its reputation may be harmed, it could lose current and potential users and the recognition of its various brands and their competitive positions could be diminished, any or all of which

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could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, affected users or government authorities could initiate legal or regulatory action against Affinitas over those incidents, which could cause Affinitas to incur significant expense and liability or result in orders or consent decrees forcing it to modify its business practices.

Unauthorized access of personal data could give rise to liabilities as a result of governmental regulation, conflicting legal requirements or differing views of personal privacy rights.

Security breaches or other unauthorized access to, or the use or transmission of, personal user information could result in a variety of claims against Affinitas, including privacy-related claims.

In 2016 the European Commission adopted the General Data Protection Act, a comprehensive European Union privacy and data protection reform that becomes effective in May 2018 in all countries of the European Union. Pursuant to Sec. 3 of the European Data Protection Directive and Sec. 3 of the German Telecommunication and Media Act, Affinitas has to comply with the European and German data protection laws regarding all countries in the European Union and with the laws of countries outside of the European Union where Affinitas operates. These rules include rules related to the storage, sharing, use, processing, disclosure and protection of personal data.

In addition, legislation concerning data protection has been enacted or is pending enactment in many other jurisdictions, including the United States and Russia. It is possible that these laws may conflict with Affinitas’s data practices. If so, in addition to the possibility of fines, this could result in an order requiring that Affinitas change its data practices, which could have an adverse effect on its business. Complying with these laws as they evolve could cause it to incur substantial costs or require it to change its business practices in a manner adverse to its business. These laws and regulations are constantly changing, may in some instances be inconsistent with or conflict with each other, and can be subject to differing interpretations.

While Affinitas believes that it complies with industry standards and applicable laws and industry codes of conduct relating to privacy and data protection in all material respects, there is no assurance that it will not be subject to claims that it has violated applicable laws or codes of conduct, that it will be able to successfully defend against such claims or that it will not be subject to significant fines and penalties in the event of non-compliance.

If Affinitas or its affiliates are found to be in violation of these laws and regulations, it may become subject to administrative fines or litigation or be required to change its data practices, which could materially increase its expenses, adversely affect its results of operations and cause the value of New Spark’s ADSs to decline.

Any failure or perceived failure by Affinitas (or the third parties with whom it has contracted to store such information) to comply with applicable privacy and security laws, policies or related contractual obligations, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access to personal information, may result in governmental enforcement actions, significant fines and litigation. In the case of such an event, Affinitas’s reputation may be harmed, it could lose current and potential users and the competitive positions of its various brands could be diminished, any or all of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Affinitas is subject to a number of risks related to credit card payments, including data security breaches and fraud that it or third parties experience or additional regulation, any of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Affinitas accepts payment from its users primarily through credit card transactions and online payment service providers. While Affinitas uses third-parties to handle and process credit card transactions, it still faces risks related to security breaches involving these third-party providers. For instance, a large breach at a third-party credit card processor could cause people to cancel their credit cards, which could affect Affinitas’s ability to process auto-renewals. In addition, breaches at third-party processors could affect consumer confidence in Affinitas because consumers may not distinguish between Affinitas and the third-party when informed of the breach. The occurrence of this or similar events could have a material adverse effect on Affinitas’s business, results of operations, and financial conditions.

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Inappropriate actions by certain of Affinitas’s users could be attributed to Affinitas and damage its brands’ reputation, which in turn could adversely affect its business.

The reputation of Affinitas’s brands may be adversely affected by the actions of its users that are deemed to be hostile, offensive, defamatory, inappropriate or unlawful. While Affinitas monitors and reviews the appropriateness of the content accessible through its dating products and has adopted policies and technical solutions to address and prevent illegal, offensive or inappropriate use of its dating services, its users could nonetheless engage in activities that violate its policies or circumvent the solutions. These safeguards may not be sufficient to avoid harm to Affinitas’s reputation and brands, especially if such hostile, offensive or inappropriate use is well-publicized.

In addition, it is possible that a user of Affinitas’s services could be physically, financially, emotionally or otherwise harmed by an individual that such user met through the use of one of Affinitas’s services. While Affinitas manually checks every new profile, and certain of its services only allow new members who are peer-approved, it is not certain that every harm posed by other individuals can be eliminated. If one or more of Affinitas’s users suffers or alleges to have suffered any such harm, it could experience negative publicity or legal action that could damage its reputation and its brands. Similar events affecting users of Affinitas’s competitors’ dating services could result in negative publicity for the dating industry, which could in turn negatively affect Affinitas’s business. Concerns about such harms and the use of dating services and social networking platforms for illegal conduct, such as romance scams and financial fraud, could produce future legislation or other governmental action that could require changes to Affinitas’s dating services, restrict or impose additional costs upon the conduct of its business generally, subject it to liability for user conduct or cause users to abandon its dating services.

Affinitas may be liable as a result of information retrieved from or transmitted over the Internet.

Affinitas may be sued for defamation, civil rights infringement, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, invasion of privacy, personal injury, product liability or under other legal theories relating to information that is published or made available on its websites and the other sites linked to it. These types of claims have been brought, sometimes successfully, against online services in the past. Affinitas could incur significant costs in investigating and defending such claims, even if it ultimately is not held liable. If any of these events occurs, its revenue could be materially adversely affected or it could incur significant additional expense.

Increases in credit card processing fees and high chargeback costs could increase operating expenses and adversely affect results of operations, and an adverse change in, or the termination of, Affinitas’s relationship with any major credit card company would have a severe, negative impact on its business.

A significant portion of Affinitas’s customers purchase its products using credit or debit cards. The major credit card companies or the issuing banks may increase the fees that they charge for transactions using their cards. An increase in those fees would require Affinitas to either increase the prices it charges for its products, or suffer a negative impact on its profitability, either of which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, Affinitas has potential liability for chargebacks associated with the transactions processed on its behalf. If a customer claims that a subscription to one of Affinitas’s products was purchased fraudulently, the subscription price is “charged back” to Affinitas or its bank, as applicable. If Affinitas or its sponsoring banks are unable to collect the chargeback from the persons processing transactions on its behalf, or, if the credit card processor refuses or is financially unable, to reimburse for the chargeback, Affinitas bears the loss for the amount of the refund paid.

Affinitas is also vulnerable to credit card fraud. Card fraud occurs when a customer uses a stolen card (or a stolen card number in a card-not-present-transaction) to purchase merchandise or services. In a traditional card-present transaction, if the merchant swipes the card, receives authorization for the transaction from the card issuing bank and verifies the signature on the back of the card against the paper receipt signed by the customer, the card issuing bank remains liable for any loss. In a fraudulent card-not-present transaction, even if the processor receives authorization for the transaction, the Affinitas or the card processor are liable for any loss arising from the transaction. Because all of Affinitas’s sales via credit card are card-not-present transactions, Affinitas is more vulnerable to customer fraud.

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Affinitas operates in various international markets, including certain markets in which it has limited experience. As a result, it faces additional risks in connection with certain of its international operations.

Affinitas’s brands are available in 27 countries. Its non-EU revenue represented 36%, 27%, 42% and 39% of its total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Operating internationally exposes it to a number of additional risks, including:

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operational and compliance challenges caused by distance, language and cultural differences;

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difficulties in staffing and managing international operations;

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differing levels of social and technological acceptance of its dating services or lack of acceptance of them generally;

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foreign currency fluctuations;

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restrictions on the transfer of funds among countries and back to Germany and costs associated with repatriating funds to Germany;

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differing and potentially adverse tax laws;

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multiple, conflicting and changing laws, rules and regulations, and difficulties understanding and ensuring compliance with those laws by both Affinitas’s employees and its business partners, over whom it exerts no control;

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compliance challenges due to different laws and regulatory environments, particularly in the case of privacy and data security;

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competitive environments that favor local businesses;

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limitations on the level of intellectual property protection; and

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trade sanctions, political unrest, terrorism, war and epidemics or the threat of any of these events.

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While Affinitas employs people from over 30 nationalities that help to build and maintain knowledge about the geographies, countries and cultures the company operates in, the occurrence of any or all of the events described above could adversely affect Affinitas’s international operations, which could in turn adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Affinitas is subject to litigation and adverse outcomes in such litigation could have an adverse effect on its financial condition.

Affinitas is, and from time to time may become, subject to litigation and various legal proceedings, including litigation and proceedings related to intellectual property matters, privacy and consumer protection laws and other matters that involve claims for substantial amounts of money or for other relief or that might necessitate changes to its business or operations. For example, Affinitas is currently in a dispute with one of its competitors related to the attempted registration of its figurative trademark for one of its French brands, EliteRencontre. In addition, Affinitas, along with approximately 25 other companies including several large U.S. based technology and internet companies, is subject to a potential class action suit in the Superior Court of the Province of Quebec for alleged violations of the consumer protections laws. The defense of these actions may be both time consuming and expensive. Affinitas evaluates litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Based on these assessments and estimates, it may establish reserves and/or disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as and when required or appropriate. These assessments and estimates are based on information available to management at the time of such assessment or estimation and involve a significant amount of judgment. As a result, actual outcomes or losses could differ materially from those envisioned by Affinitas’s current assessments and estimates. Affinitas’s failure to successfully defend or settle any such legal proceedings could result in liability that, to the extent not covered by applicable insurance, could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Affinitas’s business depends, in part, on the growth and maintenance of the Internet, and its ability to provide services to its members and paying subscribers may be limited by outages, interruptions and diminished capacity of the Internet.

Affinitas’s performance will depend, in part, on the continued growth and maintenance of the Internet. This includes maintenance of a reliable network backbone with the necessary speed, data capacity and security for providing reliable Internet services. Internet infrastructure may be unable to support the demands placed on it if the number of Internet users continues to increase, or if existing or future Internet users access the Internet more often or increase their bandwidth requirements. In addition, viruses, worms and similar programs may harm the performance of the Internet. Affinitas has no control over the third-party telecommunications, cable or other providers of access services to the Internet that its members and paying subscribers rely upon. There have been instances where regional and national telecommunications outages have caused it to experience service interruptions during which its members and paying subscribers could not access its services. Any additional interruptions, delays or capacity problems experienced with any points of access between the Internet and its members could adversely affect its ability to provide services reliably to its members and paying subscribers. The temporary or permanent loss of all, or a portion, of its services on the Internet, the Internet infrastructure generally, or its members’ and paying subscribers’ ability to access the Internet could disrupt its business activities, harm its business reputation and result in a loss of revenue. Additionally, the Internet, electronic communications and telecommunications industries are subject to federal, state and foreign governmental regulation, including those related to privacy, rights of publicity, data protection, content regulation, intellectual property, health and safety, competition, protection of minors, consumer protection, employment, and taxation. New laws and regulations governing such matters could be enacted or amendments may be made to existing regulations at any time that could adversely impact Affinitas’s services. Any such new laws, regulations or amendments to existing regulations could disrupt or adversely affect the profitability of its business.

Loss or material modification of Affinitas’s credit card acceptance privileges would have a material adverse effect on its business and operating results.

A significant percentage of Affinitas’s users pay for its services by credit card. The loss of credit card acceptance privileges would significantly limit Affinitas’s ability to renew paying subscribers or secure new paying subscribers.

Most of Affinitas’s users purchase a membership, for which payment is made at the beginning of the term. In addition, almost all membership renewals are paid by auto-renewal, charging the renewal fee to the client’s credit card. There is a risk that, if Affinitas fails to fully perform its obligations under the terms of service or the client objects to the auto-renewal payment made by credit card, the credit card companies could be obligated to reimburse these clients for all or a portion of the membership fee. Affinitas might be obligated to pay all such amounts under its agreements under which it has obtained its credit card acceptance privileges. As a result of this risk, credit card companies may require Affinitas to set aside additional cash reserves, may not renew acceptance privileges or may increase the transaction fees they charge for these privileges.

The card networks, such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express, have adopted rules and regulations that apply to all merchants who process and accept credit cards and include the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (“PCI DSS”). Under the PCI DSS, Affinitas is required to adopt and implement internal controls over the use, storage and security of card data to help prevent credit card fraud. Affinitas assesses its compliance with the PCI DSS on a periodic basis and makes necessary improvements to its internal controls. If Affinitas fails to comply with the rules and regulations adopted by the card networks, including the PCI DSS, it would be in breach of its contractual obligations to payment processors and merchant banks. Such failure to comply may subject it to fines, penalties, damages and civil liability and could eventually prevent it from processing or accepting credit cards. Further, there is no guarantee that, even if it complies with the rules and regulations adopted by the card networks, it will be able to maintain its compliance. It also cannot guarantee that such compliance will prevent illegal or improper use of its payments systems or the theft, loss or misuse of the credit card data of customers or participants.

The loss of, or the significant modification of, the terms under which Affinitas obtains credit card acceptance privileges would have a material adverse effect on its business, revenue and operating results.

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Risks Relating to an Investment in New Spark

The dating industry is competitive, with low barriers to entry, low switching costs and new products and entrants constantly entering the market.

The dating industry is competitive, with new products and entrants constantly being developed and released. Some of Affinitas’s and Spark’s competitors may enjoy better competitive positions in certain geographical regions or user demographics that New Spark will currently serve or may serve in the future. These advantages could enable these competitors to offer products that are more appealing to users and potential users than Affinitas’, Spark’s or New Spark’s products, or to respond more quickly and/or cost-effectively than New Spark to new or changing opportunities. The attractiveness of these products could also allow these companies to sell their products at higher prices and with higher margins.

Each of Spark and Affinitas currently competes, and New Spark will compete, with traditional personals services, as well as newspapers, magazines and other traditional media companies that provide personals services. They also compete with a number of large and small companies, including Internet portals and specialty-focused media companies that provide online and offline products and services to the markets served. Principal online personals services competitors include eHarmony, and various Match Group brands, including Match, Meetic, Tinder, OkCupid, OurTime and PlentyOfFish. In addition, they each face competition from mobile-based apps and social networking sites. Many of Affinitas’s and Spark’s current and potential competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources and larger customer bases than they currently have and New Spark will have. These factors may allow competitors to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer preferences. These competitors may engage in more extensive research and development efforts, undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns and adopt more aggressive pricing policies that may allow them to build larger member and paying subscriber bases. New Spark’s competitors may develop products or services that are equal or superior to its products and services or that achieve greater market acceptance than its products and services. These activities could attract members and paying subscribers away from its websites and reduce its market share. Customers may utilize multiple dating services simultaneously, and cease using a particular service that comparatively lags behind or is duplicative of another service.

In addition, each of Affinitas and Spark currently competes, and New Spark will compete, with other companies that direct all or portions of their websites toward each of their respective targeted and actual subscribers. For example, each of Affinitas and Spark currently competes, and New Spark will compete, with generalist personals services platforms, some of which have substantially greater resources and brand recognition than they do, which, unlike more targeted or segmented personal services platforms, permit customers access to a broad array of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests, as well as personal services platforms focused specifically on the type of clients serviced by them, which tend to be highly educated and desirous of finding a longer term relationship.

In addition, within the dating industry generally, costs to develop new products are comparatively low and costs for consumers to switch between products are low as well, resulting in significant customer churn and low brand loyalty. As a result, new products, entrants and business models are likely to continue to emerge. It is possible that a new product could gain rapid scale at the expense of existing brands through harnessing a new technology or distribution channel, creating a new approach to connecting people or some other means. If New Spark is not able to compete effectively against its current or future competitors, whether or not such competitors operate traditional or non-traditional platforms, the size and level of engagement of its user base may decrease, which could have an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

Each of Affinitas and Spark believes its ability to compete depends upon many factors both within and beyond their respective control, including the following:

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brand strength in the marketplace relative to competitors;

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attractiveness to target niches;

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the size and diversity of member and paying subscriber bases;

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efficacy in user acquisition and marketing optimization;

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the timing and market acceptance of its products and services, including developments and enhancements to products and services relative to those offered by its competitors; and

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customer service and support efforts.

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New Spark’s future results may suffer if it does not effectively manage its expanded operations following the completion of the Business Combination.

Following the completion of the Business Combination, the size of New Spark’s business will increase significantly beyond the current size of either Affinitas’s or Spark’s business. New Spark’s future success depends, in part, upon its ability to manage this expanded business, which will pose substantial challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity. There can be no assurances that New Spark will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings and other benefits currently anticipated from the completion of the Business Combination.

New Spark has no present intention to pay dividends on New Spark Ordinary Shares in the foreseeable future and, consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment during that time is if the price of New Spark ADSs appreciates.

New Spark has no present intention to pay dividends on New Spark ADSs in the foreseeable future. Any recommendation by the Administrative Board to pay dividends will depend on many factors, including financial condition, results of operations, legal requirements and other factors. Accordingly, if the price of New Spark ADSs declines in the foreseeable future, you will incur a loss on your investment, without the likelihood that this loss will be offset in part or at all by potential future cash dividends.

You may experience dilution of your ownership interests because of the future issuance of additional ordinary shares, preferred stock or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for such securities.

In the future New Spark may issue authorized but previously unissued equity securities, resulting in the dilution of the ownership interests of direct or indirect holders of New Spark Ordinary Shares, including New Spark ADSs. New Spark may issue additional New Spark Ordinary Shares or other securities that are convertible into or exercisable for New Spark Ordinary Shares in connection with hiring or retaining employees, future acquisitions, future sales of securities for capital raising purposes, or for other business purposes. The future issuance of any such additional New Spark Ordinary Shares may create downward pressure on the trading price of the New Spark ADSs. New Spark may need to raise additional capital in the near future to meet working capital needs, and there can be no assurance that New Spark will not be required to issue additional New Spark Ordinary Shares in the future in conjunction with these capital raising efforts. While stockholder approval will be needed to issue additional New Spark Ordinary Shares, the approval does not have to authorize a specific use of the shares and management will have broad discretion in determining how, when and for what purpose the shares should be issued.

New Spark will depend on its key personnel.

New Spark’s future success will depend upon its continued ability to identify, hire, develop, motivate and retain highly skilled individuals, with the continued contributions of its senior management being especially critical to its success. In particular, the loss of Jeronimo Folgueira, Michael Schrezenmaier and Herbert Sablotny, current managing directors of Affinitas, Robert O’Hare, the current Chief Financial Officer of Spark, and Benjamin Hoskins, the current Chief Technology Officer for Affinitas, who will be appointed, respectively, as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Technical Officer of New Spark, could materially and adversely affect New Spark. For a discussion of New Spark’s senior management, see ‘‘New Spark’s Business — New Spark Managing Directors and Executive Officers.’’ Its continued ability to compete effectively depends, in part, upon its ability to attract new employees. While it has established programs to provide incentives to retain existing employees, particularly its senior management, it cannot assure you that it will be able to attract new employees or retain the services of its senior management or any other key employees in the future, including following the Business Combination. Effective succession planning is also important to New

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Spark’s future success. If New Spark fails to ensure the effective transfer of senior management knowledge and smooth transitions involving senior management across its various businesses, its ability to execute short and long term strategic, financial and operating goals, as well as its business, financial condition and results of operations generally, could be adversely affected.

New Spark’s business is subject to complex and evolving EU, U.S. and foreign laws and regulations regarding privacy, data protection, competition, consumer protection, and other matters. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and could result in claims, changes to its business practices, monetary penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm its business.

New Spark is subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the EU, the United States and elsewhere that involve matters central to New Spark’s business, including privacy, data protection, and personal data, rights of publicity, content, intellectual property, advertising, marketing, distribution, data security, data retention and deletion, electronic contracts and other communications, competition, protection of minors, consumer protection, telecommunications, taxation, economic or other trade prohibitions or sanctions, securities law compliance, auto-renewals regulation, and online payment services. The introduction of new products, expansion of its activities in certain jurisdictions or other actions that New Spark could take may subject it to additional laws, regulations, or other government scrutiny. In addition, foreign data protection, privacy, competition, and other laws and regulations can impose different obligations than those in the European Union where New Spark is based.

Such EU, German, U.S. federal and state and other jurisdictions’ laws and regulations, which in some cases can be enforced by private parties in addition to government entities, are constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. As a result, the application, interpretation, and enforcement of these laws and regulations are often uncertain, particularly in the new and rapidly evolving industry in which New Spark operates, and may be interpreted and applied inconsistently from country to country and inconsistently with Affinitas’s current policies and practices. For example, regulatory or legislative actions affecting the manner in which New Spark displays content to its users or obtains consent to various practices could adversely affect user growth and engagement. Such actions could affect the manner in which New Spark provide its services or adversely affect its financial results.

Pursuant to Sec. 3 of the European Data Protection Directive and Sec. 3 of the German Telecommunication and Media Act, New Spark has to comply with the European and German data protection laws regarding all countries in the European Union and with the laws of countries outside of the European Union where New Spark operates. These rules include the storage, sharing, use, processing, disclosure and protection of personal data. These laws and regulations are untested and subject to change. For example, in October 2015, the European Court of Justice invalidated the European Commission’s 2000 Safe Harbour Decision as a legitimate basis on which New Spark could rely for the transfer of data from the EU to the United States in order to receive services from U.S. based service providers. The EU and United States recently agreed to an alternative transfer framework for data transferred from the EU to the United States, called the Privacy Shield, but this new framework is subject to an annual review that could result in changes to New Spark’s obligations and also may be challenged by national regulators or private parties. For example, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner is investigating and has challenged the legal grounds for transfers of user data to Facebook, Inc. If one or more of the legal bases for transferring data from Europe to the United States is invalidated, or if New Spark is unable to transfer personal data between and among countries and regions in which it operates, it could affect the manner in which New Spark provides its services or adversely affect its financial results.

Proposed or new legislation and regulations could also significantly affect New Spark’s business. There currently are a number of proposals pending before federal, state, and foreign legislative and regulatory bodies. In addition, the European Commission has approved a data protection regulation, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which has been finalized and is due to come into force in or around May 2018. The GDPR will include operational requirements for companies that receive or process personal data of residents of the European Union, and that will include significant penalties for non-compliance. In addition, some countries (e.g., the Russian Federation) are considering or have passed legislation implementing data protection requirements or requiring local storage and processing of data or similar requirements that could increase the cost and complexity of delivering New Spark’s services.

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Similarly, there are a number of legislative proposals in the United States, at both the federal and state level, that could impose new obligations in areas affecting New Spark’s business, such as liability for copyright infringement by third parties.

These laws and regulations, as well as any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions, may be costly to comply with and may delay or impede the development of new products, result in negative publicity, increase New Spark’s operating costs, require significant management time and attention, and subject New Spark to remedies that may harm its business, including fines or demands or orders that New Spark modify or cease existing business practices.

Changes in tax treatment of companies engaged in e-commerce could materially adversely affect the commercial use of New Spark’s platforms and its business, financial condition and operating results.

Due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that various countries and local jurisdictions might attempt to impose additional or new regulation on New Spark’s business or levy additional or new sales, income or other taxes relating to its activities. Tax authorities at the national and local levels are currently reviewing the appropriate treatment of companies engaged in e-commerce. New or revised tax regulations may subject New Spark or its customers to additional sales, income and other taxes. For example, certain jurisdictions have considered various approaches to legislation that would require companies engaged in e-commerce to collect sales tax on Internet revenue. In January 2015, new regulations entered into effect in the European Union with respect to the collection of value-added tax (a form of sales tax), and the U.S. Congress has in the past considered, and may again consider, similar legislation. New Spark cannot predict the effect of current attempts to impose sales, income or other taxes on e-commerce. New or revised taxes and, in particular, sales taxes, value-added taxes and similar taxes would likely increase the cost of doing business online and decrease the attractiveness of our services.

Adverse capital and credit market conditions could limit New Spark’s access to capital and increase its cost of capital, which may significantly affect its ability to meet liquidity needs.

The capital and credit markets have been experiencing extreme volatility over the last few years. In some cases, the markets have exerted downward pressure on availability of liquidity and credit capacity for certain issuers.

While as of June 30, 2017, New Spark would have had, on a pro forma basis, cash and cash equivalents of  €9.7 million, and New Spark expects to have positive operating cash flow, New Spark may in the future be in need of liquidity to implement its growth strategy, including to raise capital to finance acquisitions. In such a scenario, New Spark may be forced to curtail certain operations and may be unable to operate its business as New Spark deems appropriate. Disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the capital and credit markets may also limit New Spark’s access to capital required to operate its business. Such market conditions may limit its ability to replace, in a timely manner, maturing liabilities and access the capital necessary to operate and grow its business. As such, New Spark may be forced to delay raising capital or bear an unattractive cost of capital which could decrease its profitability and significantly reduce our financial flexibility. New Spark’s results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and capital position could be materially adversely affected by disruptions in the financial markets.

Goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets are subject to impairment risk.

On a pro forma basis, New Spark would have had €25.3 million of goodwill, €2.9 million of licenses and domains and €5.3 million of other intangible assets as of June 30, 2017. New Spark will review the potential impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and test property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.

Indicators that may signal that an asset has become impaired include a significant decline in actual or projected revenue, a significant decline in the market value of the New Spark ADSs, a significant decline in performance of certain acquired companies relative to its original projections, an excess of its net book value over its market value, a significant decline in its operating results relative to its operating forecasts, a

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significant change in the manner of its use of acquired assets or the strategy for its overall business, a significant decrease in the fair value of an asset, a shift in technology demands and development, or a significant turnover in key management or other personnel.

The assessment for potential impairment of goodwill, intangible assets or other long-term assets requires management to make judgments on a number of significant estimates and assumptions, including projected cash flows, discount rates, projected long-term growth rates and terminal values. New Spark may be required to record a significant charge in its consolidated financial statements during the period in which any impairment of its goodwill, intangible assets or other long-term assets is identified and this could negatively impact its financial condition and results of operations. Changes in management estimates and assumptions as they relate to valuation of goodwill, intangible assets or other long-lived assets could affect its financial condition or results of operations in the future.

Failure to comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other applicable anti-corruption legislation could result in fines, criminal penalties and an adverse effect on New Spark’s business.

New Spark will operate in a number of countries throughout the world, including countries known to have a reputation for corruption. New Spark is committed to doing business in accordance with applicable anti-corruption laws. New Spark is subject, however, to the risk that its officers, board members, employees, agents and collaborators may take action determined to be in violation of such anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010 and the European Union Anti-Corruption Act, as well as trade sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Any such violation could result in substantial fines, sanctions, civil and/or criminal penalties or curtailment of operations in certain jurisdictions, and might adversely affect results of operations. In addition, actual or alleged violations could damage its reputation and ability to do business.

New Spark has not previously operated as a public company, and fulfilling its obligations as a U.S. reporting company after the Business Combination may be expensive and time consuming.

As a U.S. reporting company, New Spark will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. While the Chief Financial Officer of New Spark has previously served as an officer of an SEC reporting company, New Spark has not previously been required to prepare or file periodic and other reports with the SEC or to comply with the other requirements of U.S. federal securities laws applicable to public companies, such as Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX 404). In addition, New Spark has not previously been required to establish and maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting as will be required with respect to a public company with securities registered with the SEC. Compliance with reporting and corporate governance obligations from which foreign private issuers and EGCs are not exempt may require members of New Spark’s management and finance and accounting staff to divert time and resources from other responsibilities to ensure these additional regulatory requirements are fulfilled and may increase legal, insurance and financial compliance costs. New Spark cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs New Spark may incur or the timing of such costs. In addition, if New Spark fails to comply with any significant rule or requirement associated with being a public company, such failure could result in the loss of investor confidence and could harm New Spark’s reputation and cause the market price of the New Spark ADSs to decline.

As a “foreign private issuer” under the rules and regulations of the SEC, New Spark is permitted to, and will, file less information with the SEC than a U.S. issuer.

After the consummation of the Business Combination, it is expected that New Spark will be considered a “foreign private issuer” under the Exchange Act and therefore exempt from certain rules under the Exchange Act, including the proxy rules, which impose disclosure and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations for U.S. and other issuers. Moreover, although New Spark currently expects to report results and issue financial statements quarterly, New Spark will not be required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or within the same time frames as U.S. companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act and will be permitted to cease filing quarterly reports. New Spark currently prepares financial statements in accordance with IFRS and will not be required to file

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financial statements prepared in accordance with or reconciled to U.S. GAAP so long as its financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. New Spark is not required to comply with Regulation FD, which imposes restrictions on the selective disclosure of material information to stockholders. In addition, officers, board members and principal stockholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of New Spark Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, after the Business Combination, if you hold New Spark ADSs, you may receive less or different information about New Spark than you currently receive about Spark.

In addition, as a “foreign private issuer” whose ADSs will be listed on the NYSE American, New Spark is permitted to follow certain home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain NYSE American requirements. Such German home country practices may afford less protection to holders of the New Spark ADSs. A foreign private issuer listed on the NYSE American must disclose in its Annual Reports filed with the SEC or on its website significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies pursuant to the NYSE American’s standards. New Spark intends to comply with NYSE American requirements applicable to U.S. issuers. However, as a foreign private issuer incorporated in Germany and listed on the NYSE American, in the future, it may choose to follow home country corporate governance practices in lieu of certain NYSE American requirements.

New Spark could lose its status as a “foreign private issuer” under current SEC rules and regulations if more than 50% of its outstanding voting securities become directly or indirectly held of record by U.S. holders and one of the following is true: (i) the majority of board members or executive officers are U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) more than 50% of assets are located in the United States; or (iii) its business is administered principally in the United States. If New Spark loses its status as a foreign private issuer in the future, it will no longer be exempt from the rules described above and, among other things, will be required to file periodic reports and annual and quarterly financial statements as if it were a company incorporated in the United States, and such financial statements will need to be prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. If this were to happen, New Spark would likely incur substantial costs in fulfilling these additional regulatory requirements, and members of management would likely have to divert time and resources from other responsibilities to ensure these additional regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

New Spark is expected to be an EGC within the meaning of the Securities Act, and New Spark intends to take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to EGCs, which may make it more difficult to compare New Spark’s performance with other public companies.

It is expected that New Spark will be an EGC within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and New Spark intends to advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not EGCs, including, but not limited to, not being required to include in SEC filings detailed information with respect to executive compensation or to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of SOX 404. As a result, holders of New Spark ADSs may not have access to certain information they may deem important. New Spark could be an EGC for up to five years, although circumstances could cause New Spark to lose that status earlier, including if New Spark is deemed to be a large accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act), in which case New Spark would no longer be an EGC as of the following December 31. New Spark cannot predict whether investors will find the New Spark ADSs less attractive because New Spark will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find the New Spark ADSs less attractive as a result of New Spark’s reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of the New Spark ADSs may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for its securities, including the New Spark ADSs, and the trading prices of New Spark’s securities, including the New Spark ADSs, may be more volatile.

Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect New Spark’s results of operations.

New Spark operates in various international markets, primarily in various jurisdictions within the EU, and as a result, is exposed to foreign exchange risk for both the Euro and British Pound (“GBP”). On a pro forma basis, during the year ended December 31, 2016 and the six months ended June 30, 2017, 70% and 72% of New Spark’s total revenues, respectively, would have been revenues derived outside of the Euro-area. New Spark will translate international revenues into Euro-denominated operating results, so during periods

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of a strengthening Euro, New Spark’s international revenues will be reduced when translated into Euro. In addition, as foreign currency exchange rates fluctuate, the translation of international revenues into Euro-denominated operating results affects the period-over-period comparability of such results. New Spark faces similar risks as a result of revenue earned in other currencies.

New Spark will report in Euro going forward. New Spark’s primary exposure to foreign currency exchange risk relates to investments in non-EU subsidiaries that transact business in a functional currency other than the Euro, primarily the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the U.S. dollar continues to strengthen relative to the Euro, the translation of international revenues into Euro will reduce New Spark’s U.S. dollar-denominated operating results and will affect period-over-period comparability.

Fluctuating foreign exchange rates can also result in foreign currency exchange gains and losses. New Spark does not intend to hedge any foreign currency exposures. See “Affinitas’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Foreign Currency Exchange Risk.” The continued growth and expansion of international operations into new countries increases its exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Significant foreign exchange rate fluctuations, in the case of one currency or collectively with other currencies, could adversely affect future results of operations.

U.S. investors may have difficulty enforcing civil liabilities against New Spark or members of its Administrative Board.

Certain of the members of the Administrative Board are non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible, or may be very difficult, to serve process on such persons or New Spark in the United States or to enforce judgments obtained in U.S. courts against them or New Spark based on civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in Germany. An award for monetary damages under the U.S. securities laws would be considered punitive if it does not seek to compensate the claimant for loss or damage suffered and is intended to punish the defendant. The enforceability of any judgment in Germany will depend on the particular facts of the case as well as the laws and treaties in effect at the time. Litigation in Germany is also subject to rules of procedure that differ from the U.S. rules, including with respect to the taking and admissibility of evidence, the conduct of the proceedings and the allocation of costs. Proceedings in Germany would have to be conducted in the German language, and all documents submitted to the court would, in principle, have to be translated into German. For these reasons, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an original action in a German court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against New Spark and the members of its Administrative Board. The United States and Germany do not currently have a treaty providing for recognition and enforcement of judgments (other than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters, though recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in Germany is possible in accordance with applicable German laws. See “Service of Process and Enforceability of Civil Liabilities.”

If New Spark fails to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting in the future, it may not be able to accurately report its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which may adversely affect investor confidence.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that New Spark maintain effective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. New Spark is required, under SOX 404, to perform system and process evaluations and testing of internal controls over financial reporting to allow management to report annually (beginning with the filing of the second Annual Report) on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. This assessment requires disclosure of any material weaknesses in New Spark’s internal control over financial reporting identified by management. SOX 404 also generally requires an attestation from New Spark’s independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. However, for as long as New Spark remains an EGC, it intends to take advantage of the exemption permitting it not to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. At the time when New Spark is no longer an EGC, its independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which New Spark’s controls are documented, designed or operating. Remediation efforts may not enable New Spark to avoid a material weakness in the future.

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Compliance with SOX 404 will require the incurrence of substantial accounting expense and consume significant management efforts. New Spark may not be able to complete evaluation, testing and any required remediation in a timely fashion. During the evaluation and testing process, if New Spark identifies one or more material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, it will be unable to assert that its internal control over financial reporting is effective. New Spark cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in its internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit its ability to accurately report financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If New Spark is unable to conclude that internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if its independent registered public accounting firm determines New Spark has a material weakness or significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting, it could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of its financial reports, the market price of the New Spark ADSs could decline, and New Spark could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the NYSE American, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict future access to the capital markets.

U.S. investors could suffer adverse tax consequences if New Spark is characterized as a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Generally, if, for any taxable year, at least 75% of New Spark’s gross income is passive income, or at least 50% of the gross average quarterly value of New Spark’s assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income, New Spark would be characterized as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If New Spark is characterized as a PFIC, U.S. holders of New Spark Ordinary Shares or ADSs may suffer adverse tax consequences, including having gains realized on the sale of New Spark Ordinary Shares or ADSs treated as ordinary income, rather than capital gain, the loss of the preferential rate applicable to dividends paid by New Spark to individuals who are U.S. holders (as defined in “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders”), and having interest charges apply to distributions by New Spark and the proceeds of sales of New Spark ADSs or shares. See “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders — Ownership and Disposition of New Spark ADSs.”

Risks Relating to the New Spark ADSs

There may be limited trading volume for New Spark’s ADSs, which could reduce liquidity for the holders of New Spark ADSs, and may cause the price of New Spark ADSs to be volatile, all of which may lead to losses by investors.

There may be limited trading volume for New Spark ADSs on the NYSE American, such that trading does not reach the level that enables holders of New Spark ADSs to freely sell their New Spark ADSs in substantial quantities on an ongoing basis and thereby readily achieve liquidity for their investment. In addition, if there is limited trading volume, the New Spark ADSs may experience significant market price and volume fluctuations in the future, in response to factors such as announcements of developments related to New Spark and its subsidiaries, announcements by competitors of New Spark and its subsidiaries, fluctuations in financial results and general conditions in the dating services industry.

Future sales of New Spark ADSs or New Spark Ordinary Shares or securities convertible or exchangeable for New Spark ADSs or New Spark Ordinary Shares, or the perception that such sales might occur, may cause the price of New Spark ADSs to decline and may dilute your voting power and your ownership interest in New Spark.

If existing stockholders or option holders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of New Spark ADSs (or New Spark Ordinary Shares that can be deposited with the New Spark ADS Depositary in exchange for New Spark ADSs) in the public market, the price of New Spark ADSs could decline. The perception in the market that these sales may occur could also cause the price of New Spark

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ADSs to decline. Upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this proxy statement/​prospectus forms a part or other registration statements New Spark could elect to file with respect to any other New Spark ADSs or New Spark Ordinary Shares, any sales of those ADSs or shares, or any perception in the market that such sales may occur, could cause the trading price of New Spark ADSs to decline. As of the date of effectiveness of such registration statement, such shares registered for resale will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act except for shares purchased by affiliates.

The price of New Spark ADSs may fluctuate significantly.

The stock market generally has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of listed companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of New Spark ADSs, regardless of New Spark’s actual operating performance. The market price and liquidity of the market for New Spark ADSs may fluctuate and may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond New Spark’s control. These factors include:

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significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of companies in the sector within which New Spark operates, which is not necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;

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the mix of services that New Spark provides, during any period; delays between its expenditures to develop and market new services and the generation of sales from those services and the related risk of obsolete services;

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•

changes in the amount that New Spark spends to develop, acquire or license new services, technologies or businesses;

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•

changes in New Spark’s expenditures to promote its services;

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•

success or failure of research and development projects of New Spark or its competitors;

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•

announcements of acquisitions by New Spark or one of its competitors;

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the general tendency towards volatility in the market prices of shares of companies that rely on technology and innovation;

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•

changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines;

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changes or perceived changes in earnings or variations in operating results;

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•

any shortfall in revenues or net income from levels expected by investors or securities analysts; and

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•

general economic trends and other factors.

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Certain rights of holders of Spark Shares will change as a result of the Business Combination.

Following completion of the Business Combination, holders of Spark Shares will no longer be holders of Spark Shares, but will instead be holders of New Spark ADSs. Each New Spark ADS will represent 0.1 New Spark Ordinary Shares, and holders of New Spark ADSs will not be direct holders of New Spark Ordinary Shares. As a result, there will be significant differences between your current rights as a holder of Spark Shares, on the one hand, and the rights to which you will be entitled as a holder of New Spark ADSs, on the other hand. See “— Your rights as a holder of ADSs representing ordinary shares of a German corporation organized as a European stock corporation may differ from your rights as a stockholder in a U.S. corporation.” For a more detailed discussion of the differences in the rights of holders of Spark Shares and New Spark ADSs, see “Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of Spark and Stockholders of New Spark” and “Description of the New Spark American Depositary Shares.”

There has been no prior market for the New Spark ADSs.

New Spark plans to apply for listing of the New Spark ADSs and expects that New Spark ADSs will begin trading in the U.S. during NYSE American trading hours on the effective date of the Business Combination. However, given that New Spark is a new entity that has not previously listed its ordinary shares or ADSs, there will be no public market for New Spark ADSs prior to their issuance in connection with the Business Combination. An active public market in the New Spark ADSs may not develop or be sustained after their issuance.

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Your rights as a holder of ADSs representing ordinary shares of a German company organized as a European stock corporation may differ from your rights as a stockholder in a U.S. corporation.

New Spark is organized as a European stock corporation (Societas Europaea, SE) under the laws of Germany. You should be aware that the rights of stockholders under German law differ in important respects from those of stockholders in a U.S. corporation. These differences include, in particular:

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Under German law, certain important resolutions, including, for example, capital decreases, measures under the German Transformation Act (Umwandlungsgesetz), such as mergers, conversions and spin-offs, the issuance of convertible bonds or bonds with warrants attached and the dissolution of the German stock corporation apart from insolvency and certain other proceedings, require the vote of a 75% majority of the capital present or represented at the relevant stockholders’ meeting. Therefore, the holder or holders of a blocking minority of 25% or, depending on the attendance level at the stockholders’ meeting, the holder or holders of a smaller percentage of the shares in a German stock corporation may be able to block any such votes, possibly to New Spark’s detriment or the detriment of other stockholders.

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As a general rule under German law, in the case of a one-tier European stock corporation a stockholder has no direct recourse against the members of the administrative board and managing directors, in the event that it is alleged that they have breached their duty of loyalty or duty of care to the corporation. Apart from insolvency or other special circumstances, only the European stock corporation itself has the right to claim damages from members of the board and executive officers. A European stock corporation may waive or settle these damages claims only if at least three years have passed and the stockholders approve the waiver or settlement at the stockholders’ meeting with a simple majority of the votes cast, provided that a minority holding, in the aggregate, 10% or more of the European stock corporation’s share capital does not have its opposition formally noted in the minutes maintained by a German civil law notary.

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For more information, New Spark has provided summaries of relevant German corporation law and of its articles of association. See “Comparison of Rights of Stockholders of Spark and Stockholders of New Spark.”

The trading price of New Spark ADSs after the consummation of the Business Combination may be affected by factors different from those affecting the price of Spark Shares before the Business Combination.

Upon the consummation of the Business Combination, holders of Spark Shares will be entitled to become holders of New Spark ADSs. The results of operations of New Spark, as well as the trading price of New Spark ADSs, after the Business Combination, may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting Spark’s results of operations and the trading price of Spark Shares. See “— Risks Relating to New Spark — The Price of New Spark ADSs may fluctuate significantly.”

Holders of New Spark ADSs will not have the same voting rights as New Spark stockholders, which may affect the value of New Spark ADSs.

Holders of New Spark ADSs will not be able to directly vote underlying New Spark Ordinary Shares. Holders of New Spark ADSs may instruct the New Spark ADS Depositary how to vote the New Spark Ordinary Shares underlying their ADSs. If New Spark asks it to, the New Spark ADS Depositary will send out information about stockholder meetings and solicit voting instructions and will try to carry out voting instructions it receives. However, New Spark is not required to instruct the New Spark ADS Depositary to take action with respect to stockholder meetings. If it does not do so, holders of New Spark ADSs can still send voting instructions to the New Spark ADS Depositary, and the New Spark ADS Depositary may try to carry out those instructions, but it is not required to do so. However, holders of New Spark ADSs may not become aware of stockholder meetings if the New Spark ADS Depositary does not send out information. Even if the New Spark ADS Depositary does solicit voting instructions, holders of New Spark ADSs may not receive the information in time. Because of these factors, holders of New Spark ADSs may not be able to effectively exercise voting rights that they would have if they held New Spark Ordinary Shares directly.

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The principal stockholders and management of New Spark own a significant percentage of New Spark Ordinary Shares and will be able to exert significant influence over matters subject to stockholder approval.

Members of the Administrative Board and holders of 5% or more of New Spark Ordinary Shares are expected to beneficially own a majority of New Spark Ordinary Shares (including New Spark Ordinary Shares represented by New Spark ADSs). Following the consummation of the Business Combination, the principal stockholders (those stockholders expected to own at least 5% of New Spark Ordinary Shares) and management of New Spark are expected to hold approximately 65% (excluding any shares underlying options or RSUs) of the New Spark Ordinary Shares (which may be held in the form of New Spark ADSs). All Affinitas stockholders entered into the Support Agreement and agreed to vote in favor of any proposal to consummate certain obligations of Affinitas or New Spark and vote against any action that would reasonably be expected to interfere with the Merger or the Affinitas Share Exchange. PEAK6, Osmium Partners, LLC, 402 Capital LLC, the chief financial officer of Spark and all of the members of the Spark Board entered into the Voting Agreement and agreed to vote (i) in favor of the Merger and (ii) against any action that would materially impair the Merger. Each of the Support Agreement and Voting Agreement will terminate upon consummation of the Business Combination and New Spark does not expect its principal stockholders to enter into any stockholders agreements to vote together on certain matters following the Merger. See “Agreements Entered into in Connection with the Merger Agreement.”

These stockholders have significant influence over the outcome of all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, these stockholders may be able to influence the outcome of elections of members of Administrative Board, amendments of New Spark’s organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transactions. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for New Spark ADSs that you may feel are in your best interest as a holder of New Spark ADSs. The interests of this group of stockholders may not always coincide with your interests or the interests of other stockholders, and they may act in a manner that advances their best interests and not necessarily those of other stockholders, including seeking a premium value for their New Spark Ordinary Shares, which might affect the prevailing market price for New Spark ADSs.

You might not receive distributions on New Spark Ordinary Shares represented by the New Spark ADSs or any value for them.

Under the terms of the New Spark Deposit Agreement, the New Spark ADS Depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on the New Spark Ordinary Shares after deducting fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of New Spark Ordinary Shares represented by your New Spark ADSs. However, in accordance with the limitations set forth in the New Spark Deposit Agreement, the New Spark ADS Depositary is not required to make a distribution if it decides it may be unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to holders of New Spark ADSs. See the section entitled “Description of the New Spark American Depositary Shares” for a description of the New Spark ADSs and the New Spark Deposit Agreement.

Certain or all of the holders of New Spark ADSs may be unable to claim tax credits with respect to, or tax refunds to reduce German withholding tax applicable to the payment of dividends, or a dividend may be effectively taxed twice.

New Spark does not anticipate paying dividends on its New Spark ADSs for the foreseeable future. As a German tax resident company, however, if New Spark pays dividends, such dividends will be subject to German withholding tax. Currently, the applicable German withholding tax rate is 26.375% of the gross dividend. This German tax can be reduced to the applicable U.S.-Germany income tax treaty (“Treaty”) rate, which is generally 15%, if the applicable taxpayer is eligible for such Treaty rate and files an application containing a specific German tax certificate with the German Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern). If such a tax certificate cannot be delivered to the New Spark ADS holder due to applicable settlement mechanics or lack of information regarding the New Spark ADS holder, holders of the New Spark ADSs may be unable to benefit from the double tax treaty relief  (including “Eligible U.S. Holders” as defined under the Treaty) and may be unable to file for a credit of such withholding tax in its jurisdiction of residence. Further, the payment made to the New Spark ADS holder equal to the net dividend may, under the tax law applicable to the New Spark ADS holder, qualify as taxable income that is in turn subject to withholding, which could mean that a dividend is effectively taxed twice. There can be no guarantee that the

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information delivery requirement can be satisfied in all cases, which could result in adverse tax consequences for affected New Spark ADS holders. New Spark ADS holders should note that the applicable interpretation circular (Besteuerung von American Depository Receipts (ADR) auf inländische Aktien) issued by the German Federal Ministry of Finance (Bundesministerium der Finanzen), dated May 24, 2013 (reference number IV C 1-S2204/12/10003) (the “ADR Tax Circular”), is not binding on German courts, and there is no certainty as to whether a German tax court will follow the ADR Tax Circular in determining the German tax treatment of the New Spark ADSs. In addition, the ADR Tax Circular does not include details on how an ADR program should be designed. If the New Spark ADSs are determined not to fall within the scope of application of the ADR Tax Circular, or a German tax court does not follow the ADR Tax Circular, and profit distributions made with respect to the New Spark ADSs were not treated as a dividend for German tax purposes, the New Spark ADS holder would not be entitled to a refund of any taxes withheld on the dividends under German tax law and profit distributions made with respect to the New Spark ADSs may be effectively taxed twice.

You may have less access to information about New Spark and less opportunity to exercise your rights as a security holder if you hold New Spark ADSs instead of New Spark Ordinary Shares.

The rights and terms of the New Spark ADSs are designed to replicate, to the extent reasonably practicable, the rights attendant to New Spark Ordinary Shares, for which there is no active trading market in the United States. However, because of aspects of German law, New Spark’s Articles of Association and the terms of the New Spark Deposit Agreement under which the New Spark ADSs are issued, your rights as a holder of New Spark ADSs will differ in various ways from a stockholder’s rights, and you may be affected in other ways, including:

•

you may not be able to participate in rights offerings or dividend alternatives;

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•

the New Spark Deposit Agreement may be amended by New Spark and the New Spark ADS Depositary, or may be terminated by New Spark or the New Spark ADS Depositary, without your consent in a manner that could prejudice your rights; and

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the New Spark Deposit Agreement limits New Spark’s obligations and liabilities and those of the New Spark ADS Depositary.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This proxy statement/prospectus and the documents to which Spark and Affinitas refer herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Affinitas’s, Spark’s, or New Spark’s performance or achievements to be materially different from those of any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and neither New Spark, Affinitas nor Spark assumes any duty to update forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements. Words and expressions reflecting optimism, satisfaction, or disappointment with current prospects, as well as words such as “believes,” “hopes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the Business Combination, statements about the ability to drive superior growth or achieve cost savings, statements about operating a diverse global platform of premium online dating sites, statements about the ability to leverage strengths of each company to provide exceptional user experience and drive stockholder value, statements about the expected size of the combined company, statements about the projected financial results of the combined company for 2018, statements about the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and actual results could differ materially from those contained in such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, the failure to obtain Spark Stockholder approval, or the failure to satisfy the closing conditions; the risk that the benefits from the Business Combination may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; risks related to the degree of competition in the markets in which Spark and Affinitas operate; risks related to disruption of management’s attention from Spark’s or Affinitas’s ongoing business operations due to the transaction; the effect of the announcement of the Business Combination on the ability of Spark and Affinitas to retain and hire key personnel, operating results and business generally; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to continue to control costs and operating expenses; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to achieve the intended cost savings; the ability to promptly and effectively integrate the businesses of Spark and Affinitas; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to generate cash from operations, lower-than-expected revenues, credit quality deterioration or a reduction in net earnings; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to raise outside capital and to repay debt as it comes due; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to introduce new competitive products and the degree of market acceptance of such new products; the timing and market acceptance of new products introduced by Spark’s and Affinitas’s competitors; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to maintain strong relationships with branded channel partners; changes in Spark’s stock price before the Closing, including as a result of the financial performance of Affinitas prior to the Closing, or more generally due to broader stock market movements, and the performance of peer group companies; Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to enforce intellectual property rights and protect their respective intellectual property; general competition and price measures in the market place; general economic conditions; and the other concerns identified in the section titled “Risk Factors.”

Although Spark and Affinitas believe the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect. The underlying expected actions or Spark’s or Affinitas’s results of operations involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of either company’s control, and any one of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect Spark’s and Affinitas’s results of operations and whether the forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were made and neither Spark nor Affinitas undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements made in this proxy statement/prospectus or elsewhere as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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In addition to other factors and matters contained or incorporated in this document, the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

Many of the factors that will determine Spark’s and Affinitas’s future results are beyond Spark’s and Affinitas’s ability to control or predict. Spark and Affinitas cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Readers are cautioned that any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this proxy statement/prospectus, and it should not be assumed that the statements remain accurate as of any future date. Neither Affinitas nor Spark undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Spark and Affinitas caution further that, as it is not possible to predict or identify all relevant factors that may impact forward-looking statements, the foregoing list should not be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.

Readers should carefully consider the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section in connection with any subsequent forward-looking statements that may be issued by Spark or Affinitas or persons acting on behalf of either party.

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THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SPARK STOCKHOLDERS

This section contains information for holders of Spark Shares about the Special Meeting that Spark has called to allow its stockholders to consider and approve the Merger Agreement. Spark is mailing this proxy statement/prospectus to its common stockholders on or about October 5, 2017. Together with this proxy statement/prospectus, Spark is sending a notice of the Special Meeting and a form of proxy that the Spark Board is soliciting for use at the Special Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements of the Special Meeting.

This proxy statement/prospectus is also being furnished by New Spark to stockholders of Spark as a prospectus in connection with the issuance of New Spark ADSs upon completion of the Merger.

Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting

This proxy statement/prospectus is being furnished to Spark Stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by the Spark Board for use at the Special Meeting to be held on November 2, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. local time, at 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025, or at any postponement or adjournment thereof.

At the Special Meeting, Spark Stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

1.   the Merger Agreement Proposal; and

2.   the Adjournment Proposal.

The Merger Agreement Proposal

Spark Stockholders must adopt the Merger Agreement by approving the Merger Agreement Proposal in order for the Merger to occur. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus, and you are encouraged to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its entirety, as well as the other information in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Adjournment Proposal

Spark Stockholders are being asked to grant authority to proxy holders to vote in favor of one or more adjournments of the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement. If this proposal is approved, the Special Meeting could be successively adjourned to any date. In accordance with the Spark Bylaws, a vote on adjournment of the Special Meeting may be taken in the absence of a quorum. Spark does not intend to call a vote on adjournment of the Special Meeting to solicit additional proxies if the Merger Agreement Proposal is approved at the Special Meeting.

Recommendation of the Spark Board of Directors

The Spark Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

Spark Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote

Spark has set the close of business on October 2, 2017, as the record date for the Special Meeting, and only holders of record of Spark Shares on the record date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof. You are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting if you owned Spark Shares, including shares in respect of Spark restricted stock awards, as of the close of business on the record date. You will have one vote on all matters properly coming before the Special Meeting for each Spark Share that you owned as of the close of business on the record date.

As of the record date, October 2, 2017, there were 32,254,862 Spark Shares outstanding and entitled to vote, held by 57 holders of record. As of the record date, the directors and executive officers of Spark and their affiliates beneficially owned and were entitled to vote approximately 7,928,533 Spark Shares representing approximately 24.1% of the Spark Shares outstanding on that date.

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As of the record date, October 2, 2017, Affinitas did not beneficially own any shares of Spark’s common stock.

Quorum Required

The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the issued and outstanding Spark Shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting constitutes a quorum for the purposes of the Special Meeting.

Abstentions, which occur when you vote “ABSTAIN” with respect to one or more proposals, will be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum.

Spark Shares held in “street name” with respect to which the beneficial owner fails to give voting instructions to the broker, bank, nominee or other holder of record, and Spark Shares with respect to which the beneficial owner otherwise fails to vote, will not be considered present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. Failures to vote will not be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum.

Required Vote

The approval of the Merger Agreement Proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Spark Shares entitled to vote thereon. Failures to vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the approval of the Merger Agreement.

The approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of Spark Shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, whether or not a quorum is present. If your Spark Shares are present at the Special Meeting but are not voted on the proposal, or if you vote to abstain on the proposal, each will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the Adjournment Proposal. If you fail to submit a proxy and fail to attend the Special Meeting or if your Spark Shares are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your Spark Shares, your Spark Shares will not be voted, but this will not have an effect on the approval of the Adjournment Proposal.

In connection with the Merger, PEAK6, Osmium Partners, LLC, 402 Capital LLC, the members of the Spark Board and certain members of Spark’s senior management, who collectively held approximately 38.05% of the Spark Shares outstanding as of the record date, entered into a voting agreement (the “Voting Agreement”) with Affinitas in which each has agreed to appear for the purpose of obtaining a quorum at the Spark Stockholders meeting and to vote all Spark Shares or other equity securities owned by such stockholder and entitled to vote, or with respect to which such stockholder has voting power or control, in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement. Each such person also delivered to Affinitas an irrevocable proxy covering the total number of Spark Shares beneficially owned by such stockholder to vote such shares in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement.

How to Vote

Stockholders of Record

If your Spark Shares are registered directly in your name with Computershare, the transfer agent of Spark, you are considered to be, with respect to those Spark Shares, the stockholder of record. If you are a stockholder of record, this proxy statement/prospectus and the enclosed proxy card have been sent directly to you by Spark.

If you are a stockholder of record, you may have your Spark Shares voted on matters presented at the Special Meeting in the following ways:

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by touch-tone telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over

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the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by 11:59 pm, Eastern Time, on the day before the Special Meeting. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible;

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by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope, which must be received before the Spark Shares are voted at the Special Meeting; or

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in person — you may attend the Special Meeting and cast your vote there. Attendance at the Special Meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute a vote or a revocation of a prior proxy.

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Beneficial Holders

If your Spark Shares are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of Spark Shares held in “street name.” In that case, this proxy statement/prospectus has been forwarded to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee who is considered, with respect to those Spark Shares, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee as to how to vote your shares by following their instructions for voting.

In accordance with the rules of the NYSE American, brokers, banks and other nominees who hold shares of common stock in “street name” for their customers do not have discretionary authority to vote the shares with respect to the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies. Accordingly, if brokers, banks or other nominees do not receive specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, they may not vote such shares with respect to these proposals. Under such circumstance, a “broker non-vote” would arise. Broker non-votes, if any, will not be considered present at the Special Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Special Meeting, will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger Agreement Proposal and will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal. Thus, for Spark Shares held in “street name,” only shares of common stock affirmatively voted “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement will be counted as a vote in favor of such proposal.

Other Voting Instructions

Please refer to the instructions on your proxy or voting instruction card to determine the deadlines for voting over the Internet or by telephone. If you submit a proxy by mailing a proxy card, your proxy card should be mailed in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope, and your proxy card must be filed with the Corporate Secretary of Spark by the time the Special Meeting begins. Please do not send in your stock certificates with your proxy card. When the Merger is completed, a separate letter of transmittal will be mailed to you that will enable you to receive the Merger Consideration in your elected form in exchange for your stock certificates.

If you vote by proxy, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card (each of them, with full power of substitution) will vote your Spark Shares in the way that you indicate. When completing the Internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your Spark Shares should be voted “FOR” or “AGAINST” or to “ABSTAIN” from voting on all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the Special Meeting.

If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your Spark Shares should be voted on a matter, the Spark Shares represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

If you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, or if you hold your shares in multiple ways (as a record holder and/or beneficial holder), you may have received more than one set of proxy materials. It is important that you return all proxy cards and voting instruction cards to make sure all your shares are voted.

If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please contact Spark, by calling toll-free at (888) 522-6176.

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Stockholders Sharing an Address

As permitted by the Exchange Act, only one copy of this proxy statement/prospectus is being delivered to Spark Stockholders residing at the same address, unless such Spark Stockholders have notified Spark of their desire to receive multiple copies of this proxy statement/prospectus. This is known as householding. Spark will promptly deliver, upon oral or written request, a separate copy of this proxy statement/​prospectus to any Spark Stockholder residing at an address to which only one copy was mailed. Spark Stockholders who do not receive a separate copy of this proxy statement/prospectus and who want to receive a separate copy may request to receive a separate copy of this proxy statement/prospectus by writing to Spark Networks, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025. Spark undertakes to deliver promptly a copy of this proxy statement/prospectus upon the receipt of such request. Spark Stockholders who share an address and receive multiple copies of this proxy statement/prospectus may also request to receive a single copy by following the instructions above.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE YOUR SHARES OF SPARK COMMON STOCK PROMPTLY.

Revocations

Stockholders of Record

If you are a stockholder of record, you may change your vote at any time before your shares are voted in any of the following ways:

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by voting via Internet or telephone at a later date (in which case only the later-submitted proxy will be counted and the earlier-submitted proxy will be revoked);

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by completing, signing, dating and returning a new proxy card, which must be received before the shares are voted at the Special Meeting (in which case only the later-submitted proxy will be counted and the earlier-submitted proxy will be revoked);

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by filing a timely written notice of revocation with the Corporate Secretary of Spark at Spark Networks, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 11150 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, California 90025; or

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in person — you may attend the Special Meeting and cast your vote there (in which case any earlier-submitted proxy will be revoked). Attendance at the Special Meeting will not, in and of itself, constitute a vote or a revocation of a prior proxy.

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Unless you decide to attend the meeting and vote your shares in person after you have submitted a prior proxy, Spark recommends that you revoke or amend your prior instructions in the same way you initially gave them — that is, by telephone, Internet or in writing. This will help to ensure that your shares are voted the way you have determined you wish them to be voted. If you revoke by mail or by using the telephone or Internet voting options, Spark must receive the revocation before the Special Meeting begins. If you choose to revoke by mail, please make sure you have provided enough time for the replacement proxy to reach Spark. Once the Special Meeting begins, you can only revoke your proxy in person. Once the polls close at the Special Meeting, the right to revoke ends.

Beneficial Holders

If you are a beneficial holder, you may change your vote by following the instructions provided to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and submit new voting instructions to such bank, brokerage firm or other nominee.

Inspector of Election

Spark has appointed Computershare to act as the inspector of election at the Special Meeting.

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Results of the Special Meeting

The preliminary voting results will be announced at the Special Meeting. In addition, within four business days following certification of the final voting results, Spark will file the final voting results with the SEC on Form 8-K.

Solicitation of Proxies; Payment of Solicitation Expenses

Spark will pay for the proxy solicitation costs related to the Special Meeting, except that Spark and Affinitas will share equally the costs and expenses of preparing the proxy statement/prospectus and filing it with the SEC.

Spark has not engaged a proxy solicitor to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Special Meeting. Spark’s directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies.

Spark may reimburse banks, brokerage firms, other nominees or their respective agents for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of Spark Shares.

No Other Business

Under the Spark Bylaws, the business to be conducted at the Spark Special Meeting will be limited to the purposes stated in the notice to Spark Stockholders provided with this proxy statement/prospectus.

Questions and Additional Information

If you have additional questions about the Merger and/or other aspects of the Business Combination, need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your Spark Shares or need additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, please contact Spark, by calling toll-free at (888) 522-6176.

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PROPOSAL ONE — ADOPTION OF THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

The following discussion contains material information about the Merger and certain terms of the Merger Agreement. You should also read in its entirety the section entitled “The Agreement and Plan of Merger” for a discussion of additional material information about the terms of the Merger Agreement. The discussion is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement/prospectus and incorporated herein by reference. You are urged to read carefully this entire proxy statement/prospectus, including the Merger Agreement, for a more complete understanding of the Business Combination.

Terms of the Merger

Transaction Structure

Each of Affinitas’s boards and the Spark Board have approved the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement provides that Merger Sub will be merged with and into Spark, the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease, and Spark will become a wholly owned subsidiary of New Spark.

Merger Consideration

Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, each outstanding Spark Share will be converted into the right to receive a number of New Spark ADSs equal to the Adjustment Ratio, with each New Spark ADS representing 0.1 newly issued New Spark Ordinary Shares (the “Merger Consideration”).

The “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1, unless the Spark Warrant is exercised in whole or in part, in which case the “Adjustment Ratio” means 0.1 multiplied by a fraction, (a) the numerator of which is (x) the Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number minus the (y) aggregate number of Spark Shares issued in connection with the exercise of the Spark Warrant, and (b) the denominator of which is the Post-Warrant Exercise Share Number.

Assuming the Spark Warrant is exercised in full in cash prior to the Effective Time, the outstanding number of shares of Spark common stock would be increased by 7,500,000 and the Adjustment Ratio would consequently decrease to 0.081.

Based on the above and assuming the Spark Warrant is not exercised, a Spark Stockholder holding 1,000 shares of Spark common stock at the Effective Time, would receive 100 New Spark ADSs, representing 10 shares of New Spark. If the Spark Warrant is exercised in full in cash prior to the Effective Time, a Spark Stockholder holding 1,000 shares of Spark common stock at the Effective Time would receive 81 New Spark ADSs, representing 8.1 shares of New Spark.

Immediately following the Business Combination, it is expected stockholders of Affinitas will own approximately 75% of New Spark and Spark Stockholders will own approximately 25% of New Spark.

New Spark will not deliver any fractional New Spark ADSs in the Business Combination. Instead, a holder of Spark Shares who otherwise would have received a fraction of a New Spark ADS will receive an amount in cash (without interest and subject to applicable withholding taxes) equal to such holder’s proportionate interest in the sum of  (i) the net proceeds from the sale or sales by the Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC participants of the Excess Securities (as defined below) and (ii) the aggregate dividends or other distributions that are payable with respect to such Excess Securities (such dividends and distributions being herein called the “Fractional Dividends”). As soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC participants shall determine the excess of  (x) the number of New Spark ADSs into which Spark Shares was converted over (y) the aggregate number of whole New Spark ADSs to which the former holders of Spark Shares are entitled (such excess being herein called the “Excess Securities”). The Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC Participants shall sell the Excess Securities at the prevailing prices on the NYSE American. The sale of the Excess Securities shall be executed on the NYSE American through one or more member firms of the NYSE American and shall be executed in round lots to the extent practicable. The Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC Participants shall deduct from the proceeds of sale of the Excess Securities all commissions, transfer taxes and other out-of-pocket transaction costs, including the expenses and compensation of the Exchange Agent, incurred in connection with such sale of

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Excess Securities. Until the net proceeds of such sale of Excess Securities and the Fractional Dividends have been distributed to the former stockholders of Spark, the Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC Participants will hold such proceeds and dividends for the benefit of such former stockholders. As soon as reasonably practicable after the determination of the amount of cash to be paid to former stockholders of Spark for any fractional interests, the Exchange Agent, DTC, or DTC Participants shall make available such amounts to such former stockholders.

Conversion of Spark Common Stock; Exchange of Certificates

The conversion of Spark Shares into the right to receive the Merger Consideration will occur automatically upon completion of the Merger. As soon as reasonably practicable after completion of the Merger, the Exchange Agent will exchange certificates or book entry shares representing Spark Shares for Merger Consideration to be received by holders of Spark Shares in the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement.

Letter of Transmittal

Soon after the completion of the Merger, the Exchange Agent will send a letter of transmittal to only those persons who were registered holders of Spark Shares in certificated form at the Effective Time. This mailing will contain instructions on how to surrender certificates evidencing Spark Shares (if these shares have not already been surrendered) in exchange for the Merger Consideration that the holder is entitled to receive under the Merger Agreement. If a certificate for Spark Shares has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent will issue the Merger Consideration properly payable under the Merger Agreement upon receipt of appropriate evidence as to that loss, theft or destruction, appropriate evidence as to the ownership of that certificate by the claimant, and appropriate and customary indemnification.

Withholding

New Spark, Spark and the Exchange Agent are entitled to deduct and withhold, or cause the surviving corporation following the Business Combination or the Exchange Agent to deduct and withhold, from the Merger Consideration, such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold under any federal, state, local or foreign tax law. If any such amounts are withheld, these amounts will be treated for all purposes of the Merger as having been paid to the Spark Stockholders from whom they were withheld.

Dividends and Distributions

Until Spark Share certificates or book-entry shares are surrendered for exchange, any dividends or other distributions having a record date after the Effective Time with respect to the New Spark ADSs into which Spark Shares have been converted will accrue but will not be paid. New Spark will pay to former Spark Stockholders any unpaid dividends or other distributions, without interest, only after they have duly surrendered their Spark Share certificates or book-entry shares. After the Effective Time, there will be no transfers on the stock transfer books of Spark of any Spark Shares. If certificates representing Spark Shares are presented for transfer after the completion of the Business Combination, they will be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration.

Background of the Business Combination

The Spark Board has regularly reviewed and discussed Spark’s business, performance, prospects and long-term strategy, the competitive landscape, and its expected growth opportunities. In light of the foregoing, the Spark Board has considered, from time to time, various potential strategic alternatives, including acquisitions or business combinations.

In January 2016, Spark engaged GCA Savvian Advisors, LLC (“GCA”), to serve as its exclusive financial advisor in connection with a potential sale of Spark. GCA contacted approximately 65 financial and strategic buyers as potential acquirors of Spark. Spark entered into several non-disclosure agreements with potential acquirors interested in conducting further due diligence of Spark. One of the potential acquirors that entered into a non-disclosure agreement with Spark as part of this due diligence process was Affinitas. None of these discussions with any such parties resulted in the execution of an acquisition agreement by Spark, and GCA’s engagement was terminated by Spark in June 2016.

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On January 13, 2017, a representative of GCA introduced via email Robert O’Hare, the Chief Financial Officer of Spark, to a representative of a venture capital firm in order to engage in exploratory discussions about how a transaction involving Spark might be structured with the venture capital firm (such firm is referred to herein as the “VC Firm”).

On January 19, 2017, a representative of the VC Firm delivered a draft letter of intent proposing a potential merger of Spark with one of the VC Firm’s portfolio companies.

A teleconference call was held on January 20, 2017, between representatives of the VC Firm, one of the VC Firm’s portfolio companies, and members of management of Spark, including directors John Lewis and Brad Goldberg, Daniel Rosenthal, the Chief Executive Officer of Spark, and Mr. O’Hare. Thereafter, in-person meetings at Spark’s offices were held between representatives of Spark and the VC Firm on February 7, 2017.

On January 4, 2017, Jeronimo Folgueira, the Chief Executive Officer of Affinitas, and Mr. Rosenthal had a telephone conversation to discuss and explore, on a preliminary basis, a potential combination of the businesses of Affinitas and Spark.

On January 16, 2017, Mr. Folgueira provided additional information about Affinitas by email to Mr. Rosenthal and Mr. O’Hare and suggested that an in-person meeting at Spark’s offices be scheduled for the week of January 30, 2017, to further discuss a potential combination of the businesses.

On February 1, 2017, in-person meetings at Spark’s offices were held with Spark’s representatives Mr. Rosenthal, Mr. Goldberg and Mr. O’Hare, and Affinitas’s representatives Mr. Folgueira and Michael Schrezenmaier, the Chief Operating Officer of Affinitas. The meetings included a discussion of cost synergy potential for a transaction between the companies, deal structure, valuation, execution complexity and next steps.

On February 3, 2017, Mr. Folgueira distributed the written material discussed at the February 1st in-person meeting to Mr. Rosenthal, Mr. O’Hare and Mr. Goldberg. On February 8, 2017, Mr. Goldberg discussed with Mr. Folgueira timelines and next steps for a potential combination with Affinitas. Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Folgueira had follow up discussions on each of February 9, 2017 and February 10, 2017.

A meeting of the Spark Board was held by telephone on February 15, 2017. Mr. Turek was absent from the meeting. Mr. O’Hare and representatives of PEAK6 and Morrison & Foerster LLP, Spark’s legal counsel, were also in attendance. The board discussed a potential business combination with Affinitas or with the portfolio company of the VC Firm. Mr. Goldberg reported that Affinitas appeared to make more strategic sense and have less complexity than the proposals put forth by the VC Firm. In particular, the board believed that the business and operations of the VC Firm’s portfolio company were less complementary to Spark’s existing business and operations than the proposed business combination with Affinitas would be. As a result, the board viewed the proposed business combination with Affinitas as having less operational risk and more synergistic qualities than a potential transaction with the VC Firm’s portfolio company. Mr. Goldberg also discussed Affinitas’s potential valuation of Spark. Other members of the board provided their thoughts on the potential valuation. Following a discussion, the board determined to cease further discussions with the VC Firm and to focus discussions with Affinitas on a potential business combination. Mr. Brodsky also requested that Spark obtain a quality of earnings report as part of its due diligence review of Affinitas.

The board then discussed and approved the formation of a transaction committee consisting of Mr. Goldberg, as chairman, Mr. McConnell and Mr. Lewis. The transaction committee was formed for the purpose of addressing some of the day-to-day requirements of the negotiation process under the direction of the Spark Board. The Spark Board and its advisors recognized that a potential transaction would require frequent meetings during the negotiation and due diligence phase of the project. Accordingly, the transaction committee’s role was to receive regular updates from management and advisors, to make recommendations to the full Spark Board relating to any potential transaction, and to inform the full Spark Board of material information and developments for their consideration. The members of the transaction committee were selected based on a number of factors, including prior mergers and acquisitions and related experience and the availability to meet with other members on a frequent basis during the negotiation

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process. The transaction committee subsequently held meetings on a regular basis throughout the process of negotiating the transaction documents with Affinitas. The meetings of the transaction committee primarily focused on the due diligence process for the proposed transaction and the transaction terms, with the transaction committee reporting to the full Spark Board any material developments relating to the transaction and such matters being addressed at the meetings of the Spark Board as described further below.

Mr. Goldberg, Mr. O’Hare and Lisa McLafferty, the Chief Revenue Officer of Spark, met with representatives of Affinitas in Berlin, Germany, on February 21, 2017, February 22, 2017, and February 23, 2017. The discussions focused on the strategic rationale for the business combination, operational issues, structure, valuation and board composition. The representatives of Affinitas used available data for Spark based on Spark’s public filings and their previous experience with earlier transactions to present to the working group at the meeting the combined company’s possible operating and organizational approach. This presentation framed the preliminary discussions during the meeting which covered a variety of topics, including valuation and the relative contribution of each company to the combined company’s future results. When considering the structure of the proposed transaction, the attendees at the meeting focused on the valuation of Affinitas and Spark, as well as their respective markets, and the combined company’s future strategies and growth as well as certain internal financial analyses, estimates and forecasts for Spark and Affinitas and proposed synergies from the Business Combination.

A meeting of the Spark Board was held by telephone on February 27, 2017, to discuss the potential combination with Affinitas. Mr. O’Hare and representatives of PEAK6 and Morrison & Foerster were also in attendance. A representative of Morrison & Foerster discussed the board’s fiduciary duties with respect to the proposed transaction. Mr. Goldberg then discussed the results of recent meetings with members of Affinitas’s management team, including the operational plan for the combined company, growth strategy and technology strategy. Mr. Goldberg also discussed potential transaction terms. Mr. Goldberg then discussed the potential timeline for completing the combination. The board noted the need to complete due diligence reviews and finalize a tax efficient post-closing structure. Mr. O’Hare reported that Spark was engaging a transaction advisor to conduct a quality of earnings review with respect to Affinitas. A representative of Morrison & Foerster reported that Spark was in the process of engaging an investment bank to conduct a fairness evaluation and provide an opinion with respect to the proposed combination with Affinitas. During the meeting of the Spark Board, the board concluded that a business combination with Affinitas could accelerate the accomplishment of a variety of Spark’s strategic priorities, and that such a business combination could benefit Spark’s stockholders by providing them with an interest in the combined company and the ability to participate in the future growth and opportunities of the combined company. The Spark Board believed that Affinitas’s complementary business made the proposed combination a compelling strategic opportunity.

On March 1, 2017, Mr. Goldberg had a telephone call with Martin Weber, general partner of Holtzbrink Ventures and a member of the supervisory board of Affinitas. Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Weber discussed several topics relating to the potential transaction, including the anticipated cash position of the combined company, potential deal timeline and governance structure of the combined company.

On March 3, 2017 Spark received an engagement letter from the transaction advisor for purposes of providing financial and tax due diligence services in connection with the proposed transaction with Affinitas. The engagement letter was executed on March 22, 2017.

A meeting of the Spark Board was held by telephone on March 3, 2017. Mr. O’Hare and representatives of Morrison & Foerster were also in attendance. Mr. Goldberg discussed the status of the proposed combination with Affinitas, including, among other things, potential board composition and potential cash position of the combined company. Mr. Goldberg noted that the next step would be for Spark to prepare a non-binding term sheet for Affinitas’s consideration and an exclusivity agreement. The board then discussed the rationale for the potential transaction with Affinitas, including growth opportunities in the United States, Affinitas’s financial projections and potential valuations. The board also discussed economies of scale in the dating industry and that the combined company had the opportunity to be in a strong strategic position to support revenue generation and cost efficiencies. The board also discussed the potential transaction structure. A representative of Morrison & Foerster noted that a

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structure had not yet been decided, but might involve a non-U.S. holding company. The board also discussed the need to determine what effect the transaction would have on the PEAK6 Master Services Agreement and the impact on the transaction exchange ratio of leaving cash in Spark as opposed to distributing cash to stockholders by way of a dividend. The board then discussed the potential benefits of engaging a financial advisor, noting that Spark recently reviewed market opportunities with the assistance of an investment banker. The board then discussed the terms to be included in a term sheet to be provided to Affinitas, including potential stockholder lock-up agreements which would prohibit such stockholders from selling shares for a fixed period of time following closing. Mr. Goldberg said that he would work with Spark’s management and Morrison & Foerster to prepare a draft term sheet for the board’s review.

A meeting of the Spark Board was held by telephone on March 6, 2017. Mr. Mather was absent from the meeting. Robert O’Hare and representatives of Morrison & Foerster were also in attendance. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the proposed term sheet for the potential transaction with Affinitas. A representative of Morrison & Foerster discussed the proposed terms in the term sheet and the non-binding nature of the term sheet. Mr. Goldberg then discussed in more detail the transaction terms in the term sheet. He noted that Spark was proposing receiving a greater portion of the combined company’s shares than previously discussed with Affinitas in exchange for forgoing a dividend of excess cash pre-closing. The board discussed and agreed upon the exchange ratio to be set forth in the term sheet. The board then discussed the proposed stockholder transfer restrictions, including the stockholders that may be subject to such restrictions, and noted that Spark could not commit to these restrictions on behalf of the subject stockholders. Mr. Goldberg noted the importance of the transfer restrictions for purposes of showing support for the new combined company’s stock. The board then discussed the impact of the proposed transaction on the PEAK6 Master Services Agreement, noting that Affinitas did not want to maintain this agreement for more than six months following the closing of the potential transaction. However, the board recognized that this agreement cannot be unilaterally terminated without consequences, including payment to PEAK6. The board determined to state in the term sheet that this agreement would continue in accordance with its terms. The board then discussed the draft exclusivity agreement. Mr. Goldberg expressed the concern that Affinitas could be in discussions regarding other potential transactions, therefore Spark should negotiate exclusivity with Affinitas in order to minimize risk. The board determined to propose a mutual exclusivity arrangement to show Spark was willing to work toward completing a transaction with Affinitas. The board also discussed the proposed term of the exclusivity period and decided on nine months and a cap for reimbursement of expenses. The board then authorized Mr. Goldberg to finalize the term sheet and exclusivity agreement in accordance with its guidance from this meeting of the board and to submit both documents to Affinitas.

Also on March 6, 2017, Mr. Goldberg had a telephone call with Mr. Folgueira and Mr. Sablotny to provide each other with updates of the recent board meetings held by both Spark and Affinitas regarding the potential transaction. Mr. Folgueira also discussed several topics relating to the transaction, including financial terms, the treatment of employee equity, shareholder agreements, and the PEAK6 agreements with Spark.

On March 7, 2017, Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Weber had a telephone call where they discussed the status of the transaction, the feedback provided form their respective boards, and next steps relating to the transaction.

Also on March 7, 2017, Spark submitted a term sheet setting forth the key terms of the proposed combination and an exclusivity agreement to Affinitas. Affinitas subsequently engaged the law firm of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP (“Milbank”) to serve as its counsel in connection with the transaction.

On March 9, 2017, Mr. Goldberg had a telephone call with Mr. Folgueira and Mr. Sablotny to discuss next steps following Spark’s submission of a term sheet, including various work streams that would be important for Spark to undertake as a public company such as a quality of earnings report on Affinitas and a fairness opinion, as well as shareholder agreements relating to the proposed transaction.

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On March 13, 2017, after interviewing a few potential financial advisors, Spark received an engagement letter from B. Riley & Co., LLC (“B. Riley”) for purposes of rendering a fairness opinion to Spark for the transaction. On March 15, 2017, Mr. Goldberg, Mr. Weber and Mr. Khalil discussed governance topics relating to the combined company, including board composition and board compensation. The engagement letter between B. Riley and Spark was executed on March 16, 2017.

Affinitas provided to Spark a revised draft of the term sheet and exclusivity agreement on March 14, 2017. After review and negotiation of the revised term sheet, the term sheet was finalized and the exclusivity agreement was signed by the parties on March 20, 2017.

On March 16, 2017, representatives of Spark and Affinitas held a kick-off meeting for the transaction to discuss the various ongoing work streams, such as legal, financial, technology and organizational, to be completed in connection with the proposed transaction.

Representatives of Affinitas and Milbank received access to the Spark virtual data room on March 15, 2017 and commenced the legal, financial and tax due diligence review of Spark. Representatives of Spark and Morrison & Foerster received access to the Affinitas virtual data room on March 18, 2017 and commenced the legal, financial and tax due diligence review of Affinitas.

Representatives of Spark and Affinitas had a telephone call on March 19, 2017 to discuss the legal, financial and organizational work streams, transaction structure and the agenda for the next meeting.

A representative of Morrison & Foerster and a representative of Milbank had a telephone call on March 20, 2017 to discuss allocation of tasks and responsibilities, legal due diligence and general transaction timing.

On March 22 and 23, 2017, representatives of Morrison & Foerster and representatives of Milbank discussed tax considerations and possible transaction structure, including the form and domicile of the publicly traded vehicle for the combined company and whether the New Spark company will list its shares on a U.S. stock exchange directly or through ADRs.

On March 22, 2017 and March 24, 2017, representatives of Spark and Affinitas discussed various work streams relating to the transaction.

After review and consultation with the management team at Spark, on March 28, 2017, Morrison & Foerster delivered the draft Merger Agreement to Milbank.

On March 30, 2017, a representative of Morrison & Foerster discussed transaction structure with a representative of Milbank, including board composition and a potential transaction structure whereby the ultimate parent company would be a European stock corporation. Also on March 30, 2017, representatives of Spark and Affinitas discussed various work streams relating to the transaction.

Milbank distributed a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Morrison & Foerster on April 5, 2017, and initial drafts of the Voting Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and lock-up agreement to Morrison & Foerster on April 6, 2017.

Representatives of Spark, Affinitas, Morrison & Foerster and Milbank held a telephone call on April 6, 2017 to discuss, among other things, financial due diligence review, legal due diligence review, the Merger Agreement, transaction structure, the PEAK6 Master Services Agreement, the post-closing stockholder lock-up, future transaction team meetings and preparation for closing.

On April 10, 2017, Mr. O’Hare and representatives of Morrison & Foerster met with Mr. Sablotny and representatives of Milbank to further negotiate the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Voting Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreement. The terms of the Merger Agreement were the focus of these negotiations, particularly the exchange ratio for purposes of determining the number of New Spark ADSs received in exchange for Spark shares in the Merger, the composition of the board and officers following the completion of the Business Combination, and the termination fees. Also discussed during the meeting were the parties that would ultimately be subject to lock-up agreements and the percentage of shares to be subject to the lock-up. Following this meeting, Morrison & Foerster delivered a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Milbank on April 12, 2017.

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Representatives of Spark, Morrison & Foerster and Milbank held a telephone call on April 11, 2017 to discuss follow up questions from Affinitas’s due diligence review of Spark.

On April 17, 2017, Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Folgueira held a telephone call to discuss updates and related matters concerning the potential transaction.

Revisions to the Voting Agreement were distributed by Morrison & Foerster on April 17, 2017. Revisions to the Registration Rights Agreement were distributed by Morrison & Foerster on April 18, 2017, and revisions to the lock-up agreement were distributed by Morrison & Foerster on April 19, 2017.

On April 19, 2017, a representative of Morrison & Foerster and a representative of Milbank had a telephone call to discuss Morrison & Foerster’s revisions to the Merger Agreement. Also on April 19, 2017, representatives of Morrison & Foerster’s Berlin office and Milbank’s Munich office held a telephone call to discuss, among other things, the post-closing structure of the new company and the treatment of Spark Stock Options and RSUs in the transaction, including by having Spark Stock Options exchanged for awards to acquire ADSs from a trust formed to hold such ADSs for such purpose.

On April 20, 2017, representatives of Milbank distributed an initial draft of the Affinitas stockholder support agreement to Morrison & Foerster.

On April 20, 2017, the Spark Board met telephonically. Mr. O’Hare and representatives of Morrison & Foerster, the transaction advisor and B. Riley also attended. The representatives of the transaction advisor presented a preliminary report of their findings for the quality of earnings report they had been preparing and provided an overview of the financial diligence being performed on Affinitas, as well as an overview of the key tax findings. The board of directors discussed the key findings of the transaction advisor. Representatives of B. Riley then provided a high level summary of the preliminary conclusions in the key areas covered by their draft fairness opinion, including a pro forma financial overview of Spark following the Merger. The board of directors and the representatives of B. Riley discussed the valuation methodologies used by B. Riley in preparing their fairness opinion. A representative of Morrison & Foerster discussed the status of principal deal documents and the timing of negotiations to take place in New York City the following week. Mr. O’Hare then provided a summary of the key deal terms, including the structure of the transaction and the pro forma ownership of Spark following the Business Combination, and presented a summary of the transaction valuation. Mr. O’Hare then presented, and the board of directors discussed, alternative scenarios in which Spark would not proceed with the Business Combination with Affinitas and would continue to operate as a standalone entity over the next five years.

On April 21, 2017, representatives of Milbank sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to representatives of Morrison & Foerster, which was shared with the board of directors and management of Spark.

On April 24, 2017, Mr. O’Hare and representatives of Morrison & Foerster met with Mr. Sablotny and representatives of Milbank in New York at the offices of Milbank to discuss and negotiate key outstanding terms in the Merger Agreement. The parties discussed the treatment of outstanding Spark Stock Options, the mechanics of exchanging shares of common stock of Spark for newly listed ADRs of the New Spark company to be formed for the purposes of the Business Combination, the respective covenants of the parties to accomplish such exchange and certain representations in the Merger Agreement regarding intellectual property, employment and tax issues. Representatives of Morrison & Foerster and Milbank also discussed certain changes to the non-solicitation covenants in the Merger Agreement.

On April 25, 2017, Mr. Goldberg, Mr. O’Hare and a representative of Morrison & Foerster met with Mr. Folgueira, Mr. Sablotny, David Khalil, a member of the supervisory board of Affinitas and representatives of Milbank and a representative of Noerr LLP, counsel to Rocket Internet SE, a stockholder of Affinitas, in New York at Milbank’s offices to discuss and negotiate the outstanding business issues between the parties, including the status of negotiations with PEAK6 regarding the Management Services Agreement between PEAK6 and Spark, the parties to the lock-up agreements to be entered into in connection with the transaction and the percentage of shares to be subject to the lock-up, the capitalization of New Spark, termination fees, cash to be held by each of Spark and Affinitas following the Business Combination, retention plans and outstanding diligence and disclosure items.

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On April 26, 2017, the Spark Board met, together with certain members of Spark’s management and representatives of Morrison & Foerster, the transaction advisor and B. Riley, to discuss the status of the negotiations and the progress that had been made during the in-person meetings with representatives of Affinitas over the previous two days. A representative of Morrison & Foerster provided a status update on the documentation for the transaction, indicating that there were only a few outstanding legal issues remaining to be settled in the Merger Agreement, particularly the composition of the board immediately following the Business Combination and the amount of the termination fees. A representative of Morrison & Foerster also explained to the board that the Merger Agreement allowed for the board to review certain unsolicited acquisition proposals and to pursue those proposals and terminate the Merger Agreement in accordance with their fiduciary duties, subject to the conditions in the Merger Agreement and the payment of a termination fee. The board of directors requested clarification on the conditions to the closing of the Business Combination and discussed the board structure of the new company post-closing. The board of directors then discussed the operation of Spark during the interim period between signing and closing of the Merger Agreement and the impact that the transaction might have on the performance of management during the interim period. Representatives of the transaction advisor then provided an update to the presentation they had provided on April 20, 2017. The board of directors discussed their opinions of the report, and a representative of the transaction advisor described the process of converting Spark’s and Affinitas’s financial statements from their respective GAAP standards to IFRS. The board of directors then discussed the new securities to be issued by New Spark and how they would be listed on a securities exchange. Representatives of B. Riley then presented the current status of their fairness opinion and discussed with the board of directors the difference in liquidity that could be expected of a company being listed through an ADS rather than traditionally traded securities. Later that day, representatives of Morrison & Foerster distributed a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to representatives of Milbank, which was shared with the board of directors and management of Spark.

On April 27, 2017, representatives of Morrison & Foerster and Milbank continued negotiations of outstanding legal issues in the draft Merger Agreement. Later that day, representatives of Milbank sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to representatives of Morrison & Foerster, which was shared with the board of directors and management of Spark.

On April 28, 2017, the supervisory board of Affinitas held a teleconference meeting to consider the final terms of the proposed Business Combination with Spark. Later that day, the supervisory board of Affinitas unanimously voted to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement with Spark, and instructed management of Affinitas to finalize, sign and deliver the Merger Agreement on behalf of Affinitas.

On April 30, 2017, the Spark Board met telephonically, together with certain of Spark’s management and representatives of Morrison & Foerster and B. Riley. The representatives of B. Riley provided an overview of the changes they had made to their fairness opinion, indicating that the changes had no impact on their fundamental analysis of the transaction or their conclusion with respect to the Merger Consideration. B. Riley then delivered their fairness opinion orally to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to various assumptions and limitations described in their written fairness opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by the stockholders of Spark was fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of Spark. After discussion among the directors, all members of the board of directors, other than Mr. Mather who abstained, voted to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement with Affinitas, and instructed management to sign and deliver the Merger Agreement on behalf of Spark.

On May 2, 2017, after the closing of the financial markets in the United States, Spark and Affinitas exchanged signature pages to the Merger Agreement and issued a joint press release announcing the proposed Business Combination.

Spark’s Reasons for the Business Combination; Board Recommendation of the Spark Board of Directors

After careful consideration, and in consultation with Spark’s management and external financial and legal advisors, the Spark Board determined that the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Spark and its stockholders and approved and adopted the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, the Spark Board recommends that its stockholders approve and adopt the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

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The Spark Board considered a number of factors in determining to approve the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the following material factors:

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the financial presentations of Spark’s financial advisor, B. Riley, to the Spark Board on April 30, 2017, that as of such date and based on and subject to certain assumptions, procedures, qualifications and limitations, the Merger Consideration was fair, from a financial point of view, to Spark’s common stockholders, as further described under “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Opinion of Spark’s Financial Advisor;”

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the Spark Board’s familiarity with and understanding of Spark’s business, results of operations, asset quality, financial and market position, business risks, strategic challenges and its expectations concerning Spark’s future earnings and prospects;

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the belief that the Business Combination would accelerate the accomplishment of a variety of key elements of Spark’s strategic priorities, promoting both continuity and growth, mitigating risks associated with operating a concentrated business model on a stand-alone basis and enabling Spark’s team to maintain and even strengthen Spark’s value proposition by drawing upon the combined company’s compatible competencies, talented employees and combined resources;

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the Spark Board’s familiarity with and understanding of the current and prospective commercial environment in which each of Spark and Affinitas operate, including foreign, domestic and local economic conditions, the interest rate environment, and the likely effect of these factors on Spark both with and without the Business Combination;

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the valuation of Spark Shares and the potential for Spark’s stockholders, as future holders of New Spark ADSs, to benefit to the extent of their interest in the combined company from the synergies of the Business Combination, in particular, enhanced revenue opportunities, and the anticipated pro forma impact of the Business Combination discussed with the Spark Board;

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the view that the shared core values of Spark and Affinitas and complementary business fit make the proposed combination a compelling strategic opportunity and would contribute to the likelihood of successful integration and operation of the combined company post-closing, as well as the view that the combined strength of Affinitas’s and Spark’s management teams would benefit Spark Stockholders as future holders of New Spark ADSs;

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the Spark Board’s evaluation, with the assistance of its financial advisor, of strategic alternatives available to Spark for maximizing value over the long term and the potential risks, rewards and uncertainties associated with such alternatives, and the Spark Board’s belief that the proposed Business Combination with Affinitas was the best option available to holders of Spark Shares;

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the Merger Consideration offers holders of Spark Shares the opportunity to participate in the future growth and opportunities of the combined company, and the expected tax treatment of the Business Combination for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as further described under “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Business Combination to U.S. Holders” in the proxy statement/prospectus;

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the results of the reverse due diligence conducted by Spark and its advisors on Affinitas during the negotiation of the transaction of the Merger Agreement and Spark’s knowledge of Affinitas’s management team, business, results of operations, financial and market position and future earnings and prospects;

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the historical trading prices, volumes and performance of Spark’s common stock, and the company’s trading multiples of earnings and tangible book value relative to historical levels;

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the fact that there are no material regulatory approvals required in connection with the Business Combination; and

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the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the course of negotiations of the Merger Agreement (see “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger —  Terms of the Merger” in the proxy statement/prospectus), the ability of the Spark Board, under certain

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circumstances, to change its recommendation to Spark Stockholders regarding the Business Combination (see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Covenants and Agreements” in the proxy statement/prospectus), the conditions to closing (see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Conditions to the Merger” in the proxy statement/prospectus), the ability of Spark or Affinitas to terminate the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances (see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Termination” in the proxy statement/prospectus), the possibility that Spark would be required to pay a termination fee under certain circumstances, as well as the Spark Board’s belief that the termination fee is not likely to significantly deter another party from making a superior acquisition proposal (see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Effect of Termination” and “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Expenses; Termination Fees” in the proxy statement/prospectus) and that holders of Spark Shares will have an opportunity to vote on the Business Combination and that their approval is a condition to completion of the Business Combination (see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Conditions to the Merger” in the proxy statement/prospectus), and the terms of the Merger Agreement that restrict Affinitas’s and Spark’s ability to solicit alternative transactions (see “The Agreement and Plan of Merger — Covenants and Agreements” in the proxy statement/prospectus).

In addition, the Spark Board also identified and considered a variety of potentially negative factors in its deliberations concerning the Merger, including the following:

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the risk that the Business Combination may not be consummated or that the closing may be unduly delayed, including as a result of factors outside either party’s control;

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the potential risk of diverting management attention and resources from the operation of Spark’s business to the Business Combination, and the possibility of employee attrition and the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement intended to mitigate this risk;

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the potential adverse effects on customer and business relationships as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Business Combination;

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the potential risks and costs associated with successfully integrating elements of Spark’s business, operations and workforce with those of Affinitas, including the risk of not realizing all of the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination or not realizing them in the expected timeframe;

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the potential risks and costs of establishing an ADR program and having Spark Stockholders receive equity interests in a non-U.S. entity; and

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the other risks described under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information.”

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In considering the recommendation of the Spark Board, you should be aware that certain directors and officers of Spark may have interests in the Business Combination that are different from, or in addition to, interests of stockholders of Spark generally and may create potential conflicts of interest. The Spark Board was aware of these interests and considered them when evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and in recommending to Spark Stockholders that they vote in favor of the Merger Agreement Proposal. See “Proposal One — Adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger — Financial Interests of Spark’s Directors and Officers in the Merger and other Aspects of the Business Combination.”

This discussion of the information and factors considered by the Spark Board includes the material factors considered by the Spark Board, but it is not intended to be exhaustive and may not include all the factors considered by the Spark Board. In view of the wide variety of factors considered, and the complexity of these matters, the Spark Board did not quantify or assign any relative or specific weights to the various factors that it considered in reaching its determination to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement, the Business Combination and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Rather, the Spark Board viewed its recommendation as being based on the totality of the information presented to and factors considered by it, including discussions with, and questioning of, Spark’s management and its financial and legal advisors. In addition, individual members of the Spark Board may have given differing weights to different factors. It should be noted that this explanation of the reasoning of

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the Spark Board and certain information presented in this section is forward-looking in nature and, therefore, that information should be read in light of the factors discussed in the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information.”

For the reasons set forth above, the Spark Board recommends that the Spark Stockholders vote “FOR” the Merger Agreement Proposal.

Opinion of Spark’s Financial Advisor

I.

Opinion of B. Riley & Co., LLC

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On April 30, 2017, at a special meeting of the Spark Board held to evaluate the proposed transaction, B. Riley & Co., LLC, or B. Riley, delivered to the Spark Board an oral opinion, confirmed by delivery of a written opinion, dated April 30, 2017, to the effect that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the merger consideration, as set forth in the substantially final draft of the merger agreement, was fair, from a financial point of view, to Spark and its stockholders.

The full text of the written opinion of B. Riley, dated April 30, 2017, which sets forth assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex F to this proxy statement/prospectus. The following summary of B. Riley’s opinion in this proxy statement/prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion. B. Riley provided its opinion for the information and assistance of the Spark Board in connection with its consideration of the merger. The B. Riley opinion was not intended to and does not constitute a recommendation as to how any holder of Spark common stock should vote or take any action with respect to the merger or any other matter.

In arriving at its opinion, B. Riley, among other things:

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reviewed the financial terms of a substantially final draft of the merger agreement dated April 25, 2017;

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reviewed certain information internal to Spark and Affinitas concerning their respective businesses, financial condition and operation, prepared and furnished to B. Riley by Spark and Affinitas management, respectively;

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reviewed certain publicly available financial data, stock market performance data and trading multiples of Spark;

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reviewed certain internal financial analyses, estimates and forecasts for Spark and Affinitas on a stand-alone basis and furnished to B. Riley by management of Spark and Affinitas, respectively, including but not limited to forecasts prepared by the management teams of Spark and Affinitas, respectively;

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reviewed the Financial Due Diligence Report on Affinitas dated April 24, 2017 prepared by the transaction advisor on behalf of Spark;

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held discussion with members of senior management of Spark and Affinitas concerning their evaluations for the Transaction, their respective businesses and corresponding financial conditions, prospects and strategic objectives of Spark and Affinitas, as well such as other matters as B. Riley deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of rendering its opinion;

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reviewed certain publicly available financial data, stock market performance data and trading multiples of companies which B. Riley deemed to be generally comparable to Spark and Affinitas;

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reviewed the publicly available financial terms of certain other business combinations that B. Riley deemed to be relevant in industries similar to those in which Spark and Affinitas participate and the consideration received for such companies that B. Riley believes to be generally relevant;

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performed a discounted cash flows analysis of Spark and Affinitas, each on a stand-alone basis, utilizing pro forma financial information prepared by and furnished to us by Spark and Affinitas management, respectively;

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performed a combined company discounted cash flow analysis of Spark and Affinitas; and

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performed such other financial studies, analyses and investigations, and considered such other matters, as B. Riley deemed necessary or appropriate in arriving at its opinion.

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In conducting its review and rendering its opinion, B. Riley relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information available from public sources and all other information discussed with, reviewed by, provided to or otherwise made available to B. Riley, and did not attempt to independently verify, and assumed no responsibility for the independent verification of, such information; relied upon the assurances of management of Spark and Affinitas that management was not aware of any facts that would make the information provided to B. Riley inaccurate, incomplete or misleading; assumed that there were no material changes in the assets, financial condition, results of operations, business or prospects of Spark and Affinitas since the respective dates of the last financial statements made available to B. Riley prior to the date of its opinion; assumed that the financial and other projections prepared by Spark’s and Affinitas’s management and the assumptions underlying those projections, including the amounts and the timing of all financial and other performance data, have been reasonably prepared in accordance with industry practice and represent management’s best estimates and judgments as of the date of their preparation; and have assumed no responsibility for and express no opinion as to such analyses or the assumptions on which they were based.

The internal management projections provided by Spark and Affinitas to B. Riley in connection with B. Riley’s analysis of the merger were not prepared with a view toward public disclosure. These internal management projections were prepared by management of the respective companies and were based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and may be beyond the control of management, including, without limitation, factors related to general economic and competitive conditions. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from those set forth in such internal management projections.

B. Riley was not asked to undertake, and did not undertake, an independent verification of any information provided to or reviewed by B. Riley, nor was B. Riley furnished with any evaluations or appraisals of such information and B. Riley does not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness thereof. B. Riley did not undertake an independent analysis of any pending or threatened litigation, possible unasserted claims or other liabilities (contingent or otherwise), to which any of Spark, Affinitas or their respective affiliates is a party or may be subject. At Spark’s direction and with its consent, B. Riley’s opinion makes no assumption concerning and therefore does not consider, the possible assertion of claims, outcomes or damages arising out of any such matters. B. Riley also did not make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or the liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of Spark or Affinitas, including those which may arise out of the merger transaction, nor did B. Riley evaluate the solvency of Spark or Affinitas under any state or federal laws.

B. Riley also assumed that the final executed form of the merger agreement did not differ in any material respects from the latest draft provided to B. Riley, that the representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement are true and correct, and that the merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement, and that, in the course of obtaining the necessary regulatory or third party consents and approvals (contractual or otherwise) for the merger, no delay, limitation, restriction or condition will be imposed that would have an adverse effect on Spark or Affinitas or the contemplated benefits of the merger. B. Riley is not a legal, tax or regulatory advisor and relied upon, without independent verification, the assessment of Spark and its legal, tax and regulatory advisors with respect to such matters.

B. Riley was not requested to, and did not, (i) participate in negotiations with respect to the merger agreement, (ii) solicit any expressions of interest from any other parties with respect to any business combination with Spark or any other alternative transaction or (iii) advise the Spark Board or any other party with respect to alternatives to the merger. B. Riley did not make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or the liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of Spark or Affinitas under any state or federal laws. In addition, B. Riley was not requested to and did not provide advice regarding the structure, the merger consideration, any other aspect of the merger, or provide services other than the delivery of its

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opinion. B. Riley expressed no opinion as to the amount or nature of compensation to be received in or as a result of the proposed merger by Spark’s officers, directors, employees or any other class of such persons, relative to the merger consideration. B. Riley’s opinion did not address any other aspect or implication of the merger, the merger agreement or any other agreement or understanding entered into in connection with the merger or otherwise. B. Riley was not requested to opine as to, and its opinion does not address, the underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the merger.

B. Riley’s opinion was necessarily based upon economic, market, monetary, regulatory and other conditions as they existed and could be evaluated, and the information made available to B. Riley, as of the date of its opinion. Furthermore, B. Riley did not express any opinion as to the impact of the merger on the solvency or viability of Spark or the ability of Spark to pay its obligations when they become due before the consummation of the merger.

B. Riley assumed no responsibility for updating or revising its opinion based on circumstances or events occurring after the date thereof. B. Riley’s opinion was approved by B. Riley’s fairness opinion committee in accordance with established procedures.

The merger consideration was determined through arm’s-length negotiations between Spark and Affinitas and was approved by the Spark Board. B. Riley did not provide advice to the Spark Board during these negotiations nor recommend any specific consideration to Spark or the Spark Board or suggest that any specific consideration constituted the only appropriate consideration for the merger. In addition, B. Riley’s opinion and its presentation to the Spark Board were one of many factors taken into consideration by the Spark Board in deciding to approve the merger.

Summary of Financial Analyses

In accordance with customary investment banking practice, B. Riley employed generally accepted valuation methods in reaching its fairness opinion. The following is a summary of the material financial analyses contained in the presentation that was made by B. Riley to the Spark Board on April 30, 2017, and that were utilized by B. Riley in connection with providing its opinion. The following summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by B. Riley, nor does the order of analyses described represent the relative importance or weight given to those analyses by B. Riley. Some of the summaries in the financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. The tables must be read together with the full text of each summary and are alone not a complete description of B. Riley’s financial analyses. Some of the following quantitative information, was based on market data as it existed on or before April 30, 2017, and is not necessarily indicative of current or future market conditions. All analyses conducted by B. Riley were going concern analyses and B. Riley expressed no opinion regarding the liquidation value of any entity.

For purposes of its stand-alone analyses performed on Spark, B. Riley utilized Spark’s internal financial projections for the years ended December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2021, prepared by and furnished to B. Riley by the management of Spark. Information regarding the net cash, number of fully-diluted shares of common stock outstanding and net operating losses for Spark was provided by management of Spark. For purposes of its stand-alone analyses performed on Affinitas, B. Riley utilized Affinitas’s internal financial projections for the years ended December 31, 2017 through December 31, 2021 prepared by and furnished to B. Riley by the management of Affinitas.

The merger transaction will result in Spark Stockholders owning approximately 25% of the equity of New Spark and Affinitas shareholders owning approximately 75% of the equity of New Spark. On April 28, 2017 (the last trading day before B. Riley delivered its fairness opinion to the Spark Board), the closing price per Spark Share on the NYSE American was $1.00. With approximately 32 million Spark Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis, Spark had an equity value of approximately $32 million and a total enterprise value (sometimes referred to as TEV) of approximately $22 million, based on the estimated debt and cash balances on the Closing Date. Spark’s TEV implied the following multiples (based upon 2016 actual and 2017 estimated financials provided by Spark management):

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2016A Revenue multiple of 0.63x and 2017E Revenue multiple of 0.85x; and

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2016A EBITDA multiple of 8.9x and 2017E EBITDA multiple of 22.6x.

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In order for Affinitas’s shareholders to own 75% of the equity of New Spark, the equivalent of 96 million Spark Shares would be issued to Affinitas shareholders. Utilizing the April 28, 2017 closing per share stock price of Spark common stock of  $1.00, Affinitas would be ascribed an equity value of $96 million and a TEV of  $95 million, based on the estimated Affinitas debt and cash balances on the Closing Date. Affinitas’s TEV implied the following multiples:

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2016A Revenue multiple of 1.06x and 2017E Revenue multiple of 0.99x; and

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2016A EBITDA multiple of 17.1x and 2017E EBITDA multiple of 7.4x.

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Financial performances of the respective companies leading up to the merger transaction were also considered in the context of B. Riley’s opinion. In 2013, Spark generated revenue of  $69.4 million, but its business continued to contract in subsequent years culminating in 2016 revenue of  $35.1 million, translating to a compounded annual growth rate of negative 20.3%. During the same period, Affinitas grew its revenue from $50.9 million in 2013 to $83.4 million in 2016, or a 17.9% compounded annual growth rate.

B. Riley performed a relative contribution analysis for Spark and Affinitas based on 2016 actual, 2017 and 2018 estimated and a three-year average of stand-alone sales, EBITDA and free cash flow (calculated as EBITDA less capital expenditures) for Spark and Affinitas. The contribution analysis performed by B. Riley provides support for the relative equity ownership amounts agreed to as part of the merger transaction.

Implied Relative Contribution

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Spark EBITDA includes add-back of public company costs.

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B. Riley reviewed and compared certain financial information for Spark and Affinitas to corresponding financial information, ratios of enterprise value multiples for the following publicly traded companies, which, in the exercise of its professional judgment, B. Riley determined to be relevant to its analysis. In selecting comparable public companies, B. Riley focused on businesses with similar investment and operational attributes and that were similar in size to Spark and Affinitas. The selected companies were as follows:

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IAC/InterActive Corp;

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Match Group, Inc.;

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The Meet Group, Inc.;

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XO Group Inc.; and

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Datetix Group Ltd.

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B. Riley obtained financial metrics and projections for the selected companies from documents filed by such companies with the Securities and Exchange Commission and S&P Capital IQ (sometimes referred to as Capital IQ).

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In its public company comparables analysis, B. Riley conducted a total enterprise value (sometimes referred to as “TEV”) analysis. In its TEV analysis, B. Riley derived and compared multiples for Spark and the selected companies, calculated as follows:

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the TEV as a multiple of sales for 2016, which is referred to below as “TEV/2016A Sales”;

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the TEV as a multiple of EBITDA for 2016, which is referred to below as “TEV/2016A EBITDA”;

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the TEV as a multiple of estimated sales for 2017, which is referred to below as “TEV/2017E Sales”; and

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the TEV as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for 2017, which is referred to below as “TEV/2017E Sales”.

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Applying its professional judgment, B. Riley selected the representative ranges of the mean and median for each metric. B. Riley then compared Spark’s TEV as a multiple of sales for 2016, as a multiple of EBITDA for 2016, as a multiple of estimated sales for 2017, and as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for 2017. A summary of this comparison is shown in the table below.

This TEV analysis yielded the following: