Match Group, Inc. appointed Bernard Kim as new CEO

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


Departure of Chief Executive Officer


On May 2, 2022, Sharmistha Dubey announced her intention to step down from her position as Chief Executive Officer of Match Group, Inc. ("Match Group" or the "Company"), effective May 31, 2022. In accordance with her employment agreement, Ms. Dubey's outstanding and unvested incentive equity awards will vest as to 50% of the unvested shares subject thereto, subject to her execution of a general release and waiver of claims. Ms. Dubey has, however, agreed to relinquish and forfeit equity awards granted to her in February 2022 as part of her compensation as Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Dubey's resignation was not a result of any disagreements with Match Group on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices.


Ms. Dubey will continue serving as a member of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company. In connection with her service as a non-employee director, Ms. Dubey will receive compensation pursuant to the Company's non-employee director compensation program as described under "Director Compensation" in the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A dated April 29, 2022 (the "Definitive Proxy Statement").


Appointment of Chief Executive Officer


On May 2, 2022, the Board appointed Bernard Kim, age 45, to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Match Group and a member of the Board, effective May 31, 2022 (the "Start Date"). Mr. Kim has served as President of Publishing of Zynga Inc. ("Zynga"), a mobile video game developer, since June 2016, where he oversaw various functions including global marketing, user acquisition, revenue, communications, consumer insights, data science, product management, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Zynga, Mr. Kim spent nearly 10 years at Electronic Arts Inc. ("EA"), as the company's Senior Vice President of Mobile Publishing. In that role, he oversaw EA's mobile distribution, strategy, product management, analytics, network engagement, marketing, revenue demand planning, business development, third-party publishing and mergers & acquisitions. Before joining EA, Mr. Kim served as Director of Sales and Channel Strategy at The Walt Disney Company, where he led sales and retail for Disney Mobile. Mr. Kim holds an undergraduate degree in both economics and communications from Boston College. In determining that Mr. Kim should serve as a director, the Board considered his future position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company as well as his considerable experience managing operations and strategic planning in the mobile application and interactive entertainment industry.


In connection with Mr. Kim's appointment as a member of the Board, the Board increased its size from eleven to twelve members, effective as of the Start Date.


Compensatory Arrangements of Chief Executive Officer


Effective as of May 3, 2022, Match Group and Mr. Kim entered into an employment agreement (the "Employment Agreement"). Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used but not defined below shall have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement.


The Employment Agreement has a scheduled term of one year from the Start Date and provides for automatic renewals for successive one-year terms absent written notice from Match Group or Mr. Kim. The Employment Agreement provides that, during the term, Mr. Kim will be eligible to receive (i) an annual base salary of $1,000,000, (ii) discretionary annual cash bonuses, (iii) equity awards (as described below) and (iv) customary health and retirement benefits.


Following his start date, Mr. Kim will receive (i) restricted stock units of the Company, with a value at grant of $7,000,000, vesting in three equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date and (ii) performance stock units of the Company, with a target value at grant of $9,000,000, vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment and attainment of applicable performance goals, in each case, subject to Mr. Kim's continued employment. Mr. Kim will be eligible for future equity-based awards, as determined by the Board (with a value at grant targeted at $12,000,000 for 2023).


In the event Mr. Kim's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or disability), due to the Company's Non-Renewal of the employment term or by Mr. Kim for Good Reason (a


"Qualifying Termination"), subject to his execution and non-revocation of a release and compliance with the post-termination covenants described below, Mr. Kim would be entitled to:


· salary continuation for 12 months from the date of such Qualifying Termination, payable in equal installments; 


· his annual target bonus and any accrued but unpaid annual bonus for the year prior to termination, payable within 60 days after the date of such Qualifying Termination; 


· accelerated vesting of the portion of any outstanding and unvested equity awards that would have vested through the second anniversary of the date of such Qualifying Termination, provided that any equity awards that are subject to outstanding and unsatisfied performance conditions shall vest only to the extent such performance conditions are satisfied on or prior to the second anniversary of the date of termination; and 


· Company-paid coverage under the Company's group health plan or monthly payments necessary to cover the full premiums for continued coverage under the Company's plan through COBRA, which payments will be grossed up for applicable taxes, for up to 12 months following the date of such Qualifying Termination (but ceasing once equivalent employer-paid coverage is otherwise available to Mr. Kim). 


In the event that a Qualifying Termination occurs within 12 months following a Change in Control (a "Change in Control Termination"), subject to his execution and non-revocation of a release and compliance with the post-termination covenants described below, Mr. Kim would be entitled to:


· salary continuation for 18 months from the date of such Change in Control Termination, payable in equal installments; 


· an amount equal to (i) 1.5 times his annual target bonus and (ii) any accrued but unpaid annual bonus for the year prior to termination, payable within 60 days after the date of such Change in Control Termination; 


· accelerated vesting of the portion of any outstanding and unvested equity awards as described for Qualifying Terminations above, except that any equity awards that are subject to outstanding and unsatisfied performance conditions shall be deemed earned at the greater of target and actual performance as of the date of such Change in Control; and 


· continued health benefits described above, for up to 18 months following the date of such Change in Control Termination (but ceasing once equivalent employer-paid coverage is otherwise available to Mr. Kim). 


Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Kim is bound by covenants not to compete with Match Group and not to solicit Match Group's employees or business partners during the term of his employment and for 18 months thereafter. Mr. Kim has also agreed not to use or disclose any confidential information of Match Group or its affiliates and to be bound by customary covenants relating to proprietary rights and the related assignment of such rights.


This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Employment Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.