EXHIBIT 10
 
Memorandum of Understanding
 
This memorandum of understanding, dated as of May 12, 2004 (this “Memorandum”)
is entered into by Hearst Communications, Inc., a corporation of the State of
Delaware having an address at 959 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY  10019 (“Hearst”)
and iVillage Inc., a corporation of the state of Delaware having an address at
500 Seventh Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY  10018 (“iVillage”) (individually
“a party”, collectively “the parties”).
 
Whereas Hearst and iVillage are parties to an Amended and Restated Magazine
Content License and Hosting Agreement (the “License Agreement”) effective
January 29, 2001, amended as of June 18, 2001 and again as of April 5, 2002,
whereby iVillage hosts and provides production services for websites associated
with certain Hearst Magazines (the “Magazine Websites”);
 
and Whereas Hearst and iVillage wish to extend the License Agreement and also to
amend and restate certain of its terms.
 
It is the intention of both Hearst and iVillage to extend the License Agreement
and amend and restate its terms in the manner set forth in this Memorandum,
subject to the due negotiation and signing by the parties of a definitive
extension agreement.
 
1.
Extension period:  Three years effective as of June 18, 2004, to June 17, 2007.
 
 
2.
Key provisions:  Hearst will pay a production service fee of $4,000,000 during
the first year of the term, $4,150,000 during the second year, and $4,300,000
during the third year.  This fee will entitle Hearst to:  production services
for the Magazine Websites at least comparable to those currently offered;
construction and hosting of advertising merchandise sites at least comparable to
those currently existing and hosted by third parties; the redesign of existing
Magazine Websites as well as advertising merchandising sites to ensure that
those sites are transportable; and redesign of the Magazine Websites in a manner
to be mutually determined and that will make the branding of the magazines more
prominent.
 
 
 
All advertising inventory on the Magazine Websites will be sold by iVillage.
 
 
 
iVillage shall be entitled to a commission on sales of magazine subscriptions
generated through links from the Magazine Websites (but not from sales resulting
from direct links to Hearst’s subscription fulfillment provider from third party
distribution partners “Non-Commissionable Subscription Sales”).  Hearst shall be
entitled to participate in advertising revenue generated by the Magazine
Websites each year as reflected in the annexed chart.  Hearst shall also be
entitled to an advertising revenue guarantee each year, reducible on the basis
of net paid subscription revenue as set forth on the annexed chart.  Hearst’s
participation shall vary depending on the level of net paid subscription sales
in accordance with the annexed chart.  iVillage’s commission on subscription
sales

 

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shall be subject to increase as set forth in the annexed chart based on the
number of net paid subscriptions sold each year.  In the event that net paid
subscription revenue in the second year of the term is less than the greater of
$3,500,000 or 250,000 paid orders (the “Subscription Threshold”), iVillage shall
not be entitled to any commission on subscription sales during the third year of
the term.  Non-Commissionable Subscription Sales shall be credited to the level
of net paid subscription revenue with respect to yearly calculation of
reductions in the advertising royalty guarantee but not with respect to
calculation of reduction in the advertising royalty percentage to which Hearst
is entitled, nor to calculation of the increase in iVillage’s commission fee,
nor towards the Subscription Threshold.
 
 
 
Hearst shall be entitled to enter into content distribution arrangements with
third parties with respect to content appearing on the Magazine Websites at its
discretion and without accounting to iVillage, with the sole  exceptions that
(i) proposed distribution agreements with AOL,Yahoo, MSN and Earthlink shall be
subject to the parties’ mutual approval, consent not to be unreasonably
withheld; and (ii) Hearst shall not license portions of any single magazine site
to a third party in a manner that would substantially replicate that site; and
it being understood that Hearst  may withhold its consent to any proposed
arrangement that would afford Hearst a lower percentage of net paid subscription
revenue than that enjoyed by Hearst from its relationship with iVillage.  Hearst
shall also be entitled to enter into branding extension arrangements for its
magazines with third parties at its discretion and without accounting to
iVillage.  The parties will negotiate in good faith the extent to which Hearst
shall be precluded from entering such arrangements with iVillage competitors.
 
 
 
Hearst shall itself be entitled, and shall be entitled to allow third party
partners to merchandise, sell or promote products and services on the Magazine
Websites without permission from or revenue to iVillage provided that no more
than one graphic element and one text link (not including a magazine
subscription offer) is placed on any page.  Hearst shall also be entitled to
offer premium services (such as paid content) on the Magazine Websites and shall
be entitled to retain 100% of the revenue from such sales provided, however,
that if the offering of such services materially diminishes the subscription
revenue or advertising sales attained on any Magazine Website, the parties will
negotiate in good faith a revenue share from such sales for iVillage.
 
 
3.
Non-binding nature:   It is understood, since this is only a memorandum of
understanding, that neither party nor any of their respective stockholders,
directors or affiliates, will be bound by its terms.  Instead, a definitive
extension agreement between the parties will be prepared, and the parties agree
to attempt to enter into such an extension agreement through good faith
negotiations within the 60 day period following the date of this Memorandum. 
That extension agreement, and any related definitive agreement between the
parties, will be the binding agreement(s) between the parties with respect to
the subject matter of this Memorandum and supercede and replace certain
agreements which currently govern the parties’ relationship, specifically the
License Agreement.  Unless these definitive agreements are entered into
(regardless for the reason for these definitive agreements not so having been
entered into), neither party, nor any of their respective stockholders,
directors or affiliates, shall be under any obligation to each

 

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other, irrespective of this Memorandum and irrespective of any negotiations,
agreements or undertakings between or actions taken by any of such parties with
respect to this Memorandum and/or the transactions contemplated hereby except
for the rights and obligations set forth in the agreements which currently
govern the parties’ relationship, including the License Agreement.
 
 
4.
Governing law:  This Memorandum shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its
conflict of laws principles.
 
 
5.
Confidentiality:  The parties agree to maintain in confidence the existence of
this Memorandum and its contents and not to disclose same to any third party
(other than their professional advisors) without the prior consent of the other
party.  Notwithstanding the previous sentence, either party may disclose the
existence of, and the contents of, this Memorandum in connection with securities
law filings as a party deems appropriate, or as required by law.  In this
regard, Hearst specifically acknowledges and understands that this Memorandum is
likely to be disclosed and filed by iVillage in connection with its periodic
reports and its registration statement on Form S-3.
 
 
6.
Counterparts:  This Memorandum may be executed by facsimile and in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall
constitute one Memorandum.
 
 
7.
Costs:  Each party will be responsible for the payment of its, own costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, in connection with
the transactions contemplated in this Memorandum.
 
 
8.
No agency:  Neither party is the agent, representative or partner of the other
party and this Memorandum shall not be interpreted or construed to create an
association, agency, joint venture or partnership relationship between the
parties.

 
Hearst Communications, Inc.
 
iVillage Inc.
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ MARK F. MILLER
 
By:
/s/ STEVEN A. ELKES
Name:
Mark F. Miller
 
Name:
Steven A. Elkes
Title:
Executive V.P.G.M.
 
Title:
EVP, Operations and Business Affairs
 
Hearst Magazines Division
 
 
 

 

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iVillage Subscription and Advertising Royalty Matrix
 
Paid Subscriptions
$Sold/ Yr
 
Remit on
Base/Increment
 
High
Revenue Remit
 
Advertising
Rev./Royalty
 
Ad Royalty
Guarantee
 

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The Increment
 
 
 
 
 
The Average
 
 
 

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< $2,225,000
 
 
30
%
$
667,500
 
 
20
%
$
650,000
 
 
 

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$2,225,001-3,500,000
 
 
45
%
$
1,241,250
 
 
15
%
 
450,000
 
 
 

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$3,500,000-$5,000,000
 
 
50
%
$
1,991,249
 
 
10
%
 
0
 
 
 

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> $5,000,000
 
 
55
%
 
 
 
 
0
%
 
0
 
 
 

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