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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

OR

 

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-30961

 

 

Sohu.com Inc.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

 

 

Delaware		98-0204667
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)		(I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

Level 12, Sohu.com Internet Plaza

No. 1 Unit Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District

Beijing 100084

People’s Republic of China

(011) 8610-6272-6666

(Address, including zip code, of registrant’s principal executive offices

and registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		x		Accelerated filer		¨
Non-accelerated filer		¨		Smaller reporting company		¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

 

Class		Outstanding at March 31, 2011
Common stock, $.001 par value		38,283,701

 

 

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

Table of Contents

 

				PAGE
PART I		FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1		Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)			3
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010			3
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010			4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010			5
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010			6
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			8
Item 2		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			29
Item 3		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			47
Item 4		Controls and Procedures			48
PART II		OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1		Legal Proceedings			48
Item 1A		Risk Factors			48
Item 2		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			49
Item 3		Defaults Upon Senior Securities			49
Item 4		(Removed and Reserved)			49
Item 5		Other Information			49
Item 6		Exhibits			49
		Signatures			50
		Exhibit Index			51

 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

(In thousands, except par value)

 

		As of
		March 31, 2011				December 31, 2010
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	737,935			$	678,389
Investment in debt securities			76,220				75,529
Accounts receivable, net			68,668				62,603
Prepaid and other current assets (including nil and $4,983, respectively, shareholder loan to an equity investee)			13,917				19,646
Total current assets			896,740				836,167
Fixed assets, net			126,824				120,627
Goodwill			72,956				67,761
Intangible assets, net			38,807				17,308
Prepaid non-current assets			138,905				137,999
Other assets			4,087				7,728
Total assets		$	1,278,319			$	1,187,590
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	23,252			$	5,940
Accrued liabilities			65,342				65,229
Receipts in advance and deferred revenue			55,224				51,513
Accrued salary and benefits			35,628				35,409
Taxes payable			25,822				31,719
Other short-term liabilities			24,469				21,862
Contingent consideration			1,373				0
Total current liabilities			231,110				211,672
Contingent consideration			0				1,359
Long-term accounts payable			2,454				0
Total long-term liabilities			2,454				1,359
Total liabilities			233,564				213,031
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity
Sohu.com Inc. shareholders’ equity:
Common stock: $0.001 par value per share (75,400 shares authorized; 38,284 shares and 38,025 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding)			44				43
Additional paid-in capital			334,792				338,033
Treasury stock (5,389 shares)			(114,690	)			(114,690	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			44,788				38,228
Retained earnings			579,310				534,503
Total Sohu.com Inc. shareholders’ equity			844,244				796,117
Noncontrolling interest			200,511				178,442
Total shareholders’ equity			1,044,755				974,559
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	1,278,319			$	1,187,590

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Revenues:
Online brand advertising		$	57,153			$	39,512
Online game			94,930				72,072
Sponsored search			7,979				2,824
Wireless			11,704				13,288
Others			2,603				1,758
Total revenues			174,369				129,454
Cost of revenues:
Online brand advertising			22,445				17,283
Online game			8,968				5,384
Sponsored search			4,877				2,753
Wireless			6,892				6,911
Others			2,670				495
Total cost of revenues			45,852				32,826
Gross profit			128,517				96,628
Operating expenses:
Product development			22,782				15,518
Sales and marketing			30,177				23,009
General and administrative			11,998				9,883
Amortization of intangible assets			192				108
Total operating expenses			65,149				48,518
Operating profit			63,368				48,110
Other income /(expense)			510				(25	)
Interest income and exchange difference			2,293				1,199
Income before income tax expense			66,171				49,284
Income tax expense			11,002				7,963
Net income			55,169				41,321
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders			10,362				11,130
Net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	44,807			$	30,191
Basic net income per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	1.17			$	0.80
Shares used in computing basic net income per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.			38,193				37,778
Diluted net income per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	1.01			$	0.73
Shares used in computing diluted net income per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.			38,767				38,443

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	55,169			$	41,321
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation			5,873				4,593
Share-based compensation expense			5,268				6,528
Amortization and impairment of intangible assets			6,437				475
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts			461				88
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements			(173	)			(531	)
Others			350				132
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Accounts receivable			1,839				(1,336	)
Prepaid and other current assets			8,177				(3,184	)
Accounts payable			2,190				2,627
Taxes payable			(5,470	)			266
Accrued liabilities			(14,085	)			619
Receipts in advance and deferred revenue			3,712				(4,071	)
Other short-term liabilities			2,607				(4,598	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			72,355				42,929
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of fixed assets			(8,445	)			(6,113	)
Purchase of intangible and other assets			(10,028	)			(1,071	)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(1,408	)			(1,239	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(19,881	)			(8,423	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock			1,219				252
Cash contribution received from the noncontrolling interest shareholders			941				0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements			173				531
Net cash provided by financing activities			2,333				783
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			4,739				82
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			59,546				35,371
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			678,389				563,782
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	737,935			$	599,153
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activity:
Consideration payable for business acquisition			915				0

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

(In thousands)

 

										Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
		Total				Comprehensive Income				Common Stock				Additional Paid-in Capital				Treasury Stock				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Retained Earnings				Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance		$	974,559			$	0			$	43			$	338,033			$	(114,690	)		$	38,228			$	534,503			$	178,442
Contribution received from the noncontrolling interest shareholders			941				0				0				0				0				0				0				941
Issuance of common stock			1,219				0				1				1,218				0				0				0				0
Share-based compensation expense			5,268				0				0				3,498				0				0				0				1,770
Exercise of share-based awards in subsidiary			0				0				0				(8,130	)			0				0				0				8,130
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards			173				0				0				173				0				0				0				0
Comprehensive income:
Net income			55,169				55,169				0				0				0				0				44,807				10,362
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment			7,426				7,426				0				0				0				6,560				0				866
Total other comprehensive income			7,426				7,426
Total comprehensive income			62,595				62,595
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders							(11,228	)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sohu.com Inc.						$	51,367
Ending balance		$	1,044,755							$	44			$	334,792			$	(114,690	)		$	44,788			$	579,310			$	200,511

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2010

(In thousands)

 

										Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
		Total				Comprehensive Income				Common Stock				Additional Paid-in Capital				Treasury Stock				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Retained Earnings				Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance		$	677,776			$	0			$	43			$	317,052			$	(114,690	)		$	21,502			$	385,874			$	67,995
Issuance of common stock			252				0				0				252				0				0				0				0
Share-based compensation expense			6,528				0				0				3,577				0				0				0				2,951
Exercise of share-based awards in subsidiary			0				0				0				(3,077	)			0				0				0				3,077
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards			531				0				0				531				0				0				0				0
Comprehensive income:
Net income			41,321				41,321				0				0				0				0				30,191				11,130
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment			72				72				0				0				0				64				0				8
Total other comprehensive income			72				72
Total comprehensive income			41,393				41,393
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders							(11,138	)
Comprehensive income attributable to Sohu.com Inc.						$	30,255
Ending balance		$	726,480							$	43			$	318,335			$	(114,690	)		$	21,566			$	416,065			$	85,161

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. The Company and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

Sohu.com Inc. (“Sohu” or “the Company”), a Delaware corporation organized in 1996, is a leading online media, search, gaming, community and mobile service group providing comprehensive online products and services in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”). The Company, together with its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (collectively the “Sohu Group”) mainly offers online brand advertising services, online game services (through Changyou.com Limited), sponsored search services (through Sogou Inc.), and wireless services through its Internet sites: sohu.com, 17173.com, focus.cn, chinaren.com, changyou.com and sogou.com.

Online brand advertising and online game are the two core businesses of the Sohu Group. The online brand advertising business provides advertisements on the Sohu Group’s portal matrix to advertisers who wish to build up their brand awareness online. The online game business is conducted by a majority-owned subsidiary, Changyou.com Limited (“Changyou”), which currently operates seven massively multi-player online role-playing games (“MMORPGs”), (i) Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”), (ii) Blade Online (“BO”), (iii) Blade Hero 2 (“BH 2”) which is the sequel to BO, (iv) Da Hua Shui Hu (“DHSH”), (v) Zhong Hua Ying Xiong (“ZHYX”), (vi) Immortal Faith (“IF”); and (vii) San Jie Qi Yuan (“SJQY”). TLBB is Changyou’s first in-house developed MMORPG and is one of the most popular online games in China.

On April 7, 2009, Changyou completed its initial public offering on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, trading under the symbol “CYOU.” After Changyou’s offering, Sohu continues to consolidate Changyou in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements, as Sohu is Changyou’s controlling shareholder, but recognizes noncontrolling interest reflecting shares held by shareholders other than Sohu. As of March 31, 2011, approximately 30% of the economic interest in Changyou was recognized as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 2 - Changyou Transactions - Sohu’s Shareholding in Changyou.

Basis of Consolidation and Recognition of Noncontrolling Interest

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sohu and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIEs”). VIEs are consolidated if the Company is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.

For majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs, noncontrolling interest is recognized to reflect the portion of their equity which is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the controlling shareholder.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or for any future period. Certain comparative figures have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

2. Changyou Transactions

Share-based Award to Tao Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Changyou

In January 2008, Sohu communicated to and agreed with Tao Wang, who is now the Chief Executive Officer of Changyou, to grant him 700,000 ordinary shares and 800,000 restricted ordinary shares, in lieu of his contingent right in Beijing Fire Fox Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Fire Fox”), which was one of Sohu’s subsidiaries devoted to the development of TLBB. The 800,000 restricted ordinary shares were subject to a four-year vesting period commencing February 1, 2008. In addition, Tao Wang would not be entitled to participate in any distributions on Changyou shares, whether or not vested, until the earlier of Changyou’s completion of an initial public offering or February 2012, and in any event entitlement to distributions would be subject to vesting of the shares.

 

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In January 2009, under Changyou’s 2008 Share Incentive Plan described below, Changyou issued 700,000 of its Class B ordinary shares and 800,000 of its Class B restricted ordinary shares to Tao Wang through Prominence Investments Ltd. (“Prominence”), which is an entity deemed under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules to be beneficially owned by Tao Wang.

In February 2009, 200,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares held by Prominence became vested. Upon this vesting, the number of Class B ordinary shares held beneficially by Tao Wang increased to 900,000 shares and the number of Class B restricted ordinary shares held beneficially by Tao Wang decreased to 600,000 shares.

In March 2009, in preparation for its initial public offering, Changyou effected a ten-for-one share split that resulted in the aforementioned 900,000 Class B ordinary shares and 600,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares becoming 9,000,000 Class B ordinary shares and 6,000,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares, respectively.

Upon the completion of Changyou’s initial public offering in April 2009, vested Class B ordinary shares held by Prominence became entitled to participate in distributions on Changyou shares. Since the completion of the initial public offering, Class B restricted ordinary shares held by Prominence have continued, and will continue, to become vested from time to time in accordance with their terms.

Changyou’s 2008 Share Incentive Plan

On December 31, 2008, Changyou reserved 2,000,000 of its ordinary shares, which included 1,774,000 Class B ordinary shares and 226,000 Class A ordinary shares, for issuance to certain of its executive officers and to certain of its employees as incentive compensation under Changyou’s 2008 Share Incentive Plan. As described above, 700,000 ordinary shares and 800,000 restricted ordinary shares were granted to Tao Wang through Prominence under this incentive plan.

In March 2009, the 2,000,000 reserved ordinary shares were subject to a ten-for-one share split effected by Changyou and became 20,000,000 ordinary shares.

Initial Public Offering of Changyou

On April 7, 2009, Changyou completed its initial public offering of 7,500,000 Class A ordinary shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and Sohu sold 9,750,000 Class A ordinary shares of Changyou. Changyou is currently trading under the symbol “CYOU.”

The initial public offering consisted of American depositary shares (“ADSs”), with each ADS representing two Class A ordinary shares. Changyou’s ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and holders of Class B ordinary shares have the same rights in Changyou, with the exception of voting and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote on all matters subject to a shareholder vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to ten votes on all matters subject to a shareholder vote. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time at the election of the holder. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.

Sohu’s Shareholding in Changyou

Shareholding and Control

As of March 31, 2011, Changyou had outstanding a combined total of 104,663,000 Class A and Class B ordinary shares, consisting of (i) 70,250,000 Class B ordinary shares held by Sohu through its indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary Sohu.com (Game) Limited (“Sohu Game”); (ii) 14,400,000 Class B ordinary shares held by Tao Wang through Prominence, including 2,000,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares that were not vested; (iii) 17,850,000 Class A ordinary shares held by public shareholders; (iv) 1,805,000 Class A ordinary shares issued to certain of Changyou’s executive officers other than Tao Wang and to certain of its employees upon conversion of Class B ordinary shares that had been issued upon the vesting and settlement of Class B restricted share units granted to them; and (v) 358,000 Class A ordinary shares issued to certain of Changyou’s executive officers other than Tao Wang and to certain of its employees upon the vesting and settlement of Class A restricted share units granted to them.

As of March 31, 2011, treating Tao Wang’s 2,000,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares as owned by Tao Wang, Sohu held approximately 67% of the combined total of Changyou’s outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares and controlled approximately 81% of the total voting power in Changyou. As a result, Sohu had the power to elect the entire Board of Directors of Changyou and determine the outcome of all matters submitted to a shareholder vote. As Changyou’s controlling shareholder, Sohu will continue to consolidate Changyou in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements but recognize noncontrolling interest reflecting shares held by shareholders other than Sohu, as discussed in Note 12 – Noncontrolling Interest – Noncontrolling Interest for Changyou.

 

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Economic Interest

Because Tao Wang’s 2,000,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares are subject to forfeiture to Sohu until they become vested, for accounting purposes those shares are treated as owned by Sohu, rather than as owned by Tao Wang, and therefore those shares are not included in the noncontrolling interest line items in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements. As a result, as of March 31, 2011, Sohu was treated as holding approximately 70% of the economic interest in Changyou. Accordingly, shareholders other than Sohu were treated as holding the remaining 30% of the economic interest, which was recognized as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements, as discussed above in Note 12 – Noncontrolling Interest – Noncontrolling Interest for Changyou.

Sohu’s economic interest in Changyou, as well as the noncontrolling interest recognized for Changyou in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements, will continue to change as the Class B restricted ordinary shares granted to Tao Wang become vested, and the restricted share units granted to certain of Changyou’s executive officers other than Tao Wang and to certain of its employees become vested and settled.

Dilutive Impact

As of March 31, 2011, Changyou had outstanding a combined total of 2,264,200 Class A and Class B restricted ordinary shares and restricted share units.

Because no Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares will be issued with respect to these restricted share units until the restricted share units are vested and settled, the unvested restricted share units and vested restricted share units that have not yet been settled are not included as outstanding shares of Changyou and have no impact on Sohu’s basic net income per share. Unvested restricted share units and vested restricted share units that have not yet been settled do, however, have a dilutive impact on Sohu’s diluted net income per share.

In the calculation of Sohu’s diluted net income per share, Sohu’s economic interest in Changyou is calculated treating all of Changyou’s existing unvested restricted shares, unvested restricted share units, and vested restricted share units that have not yet been settled as vested, in the case of restricted shares, and vested and settled, in the case of restricted shares units. See Note 13 - Net Income per Share.

3. Sogou Transactions

Restructuring Transactions

During 2010, the Company restructured its sponsored search business in preparation for the sale by its online search subsidiary Sogou Inc. (“Sogou”) of newly-issued Series A Preferred Shares to Alibaba Investment Limited (“Alibaba”), a private investment subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, China Web Search (HK) Limited (“China Web”), an investment vehicle of Yunfeng Fund, LP, and Photon Group Limited (“Photon”), the investment fund of Sohu’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Charles Zhang.

In the restructuring, the Company transferred to Sogou certain assets and liabilities associated with the mobile version of Sogou Pinyin, and transferred to Sohu certain non-search assets and liabilities that had been held by Sogou. Sogou will remain liable for a loan payable to Sohu in the amount of $45 million, which will be payable solely from the proceeds of an initial public offering by Sogou. The loan amount consists primarily of losses historically incurred in search business and previously funded by Sohu.

On October 22, 2010, Sogou completed the sale of newly-issued Series A Preferred Shares to Alibaba, China Web and Photon for $15 million, $9 million, and $24 million, respectively.

Sogou Series A Terms

The following is a summary of some of the key terms of the Sogou Series A Preferred Shares.

Dividend Rights

Sogou may not declare or pay dividends on its ordinary shares unless the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares then outstanding first receive a dividend on each outstanding Series A Preferred Share in an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) the dividends that would have been payable to the holder of such Series A Preferred Share if such share had been converted into ordinary shares, at the then-applicable conversion rate, immediately prior to the record date for such dividend, and (ii) all accrued and unpaid Accruing Dividends. “Accruing Dividends” are calculated from the date of issuance of the Series A Preferred Shares at the rate per annum of US $0.0375 per Series A Preferred Share.

 

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Liquidation Rights

In the event of any “Liquidation Event,” such as the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Sogou, a merger or consolidation of Sogou resulting in a change of control, the sale of substantially all of Sogou’s assets or similar events, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares are entitled to receive, before any payment to holders of ordinary shares, an amount equal to the greater of (i) 1.3 times the original $48 million of the Series A Preferred Shares plus all accrued but unpaid Accruing Dividends and any other accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series Preferred Shares or (ii) such amount per share as would be payable if the Series A Preferred Shares had been converted into ordinary shares, at the then-applicable conversion rate, immediately prior to the Liquidation Event.

Redemption Rights

The Series A Preferred Shares are not redeemable.

Conversion Rights

Each Series A Preferred Share is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder. Each Series A Preferred Share is convertible into such number of ordinary shares as is determined by dividing the original issue price of Series A Preferred Share by the then-effective conversion price. The conversion price is initially the same as the original issue price of $0.625, and is subject to adjustment on a weighted average basis upon the issuance of additional equity shares, or securities convertible into equity shares, at a price per share less than the original price per share of the Series A Preferred Shares, subject to certain customary exceptions, such as shares issued pursuant to the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan. Each Series A Preferred Share will be automatically converted into ordinary shares of Sogou upon the closing of a qualified initial public offering of Sogou based on the then-effective conversion price.

Voting Rights

Each holder of Series A Preferred Shares is entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of ordinary shares into which the Series A Preferred Shares held by such holder are then convertible.

Other Rights

The Series A Terms include various other provisions typical of preferred share investments, such as rights of first refusal and co-sale, and registration rights.

Sohu’s Shareholding in Sogou

As of March 31, 2011, Series A Preferred Shares of Sogou held by Alibaba, China Web and Photon represent approximately 10%, 6% and 16%, respectively, of the outstanding share capital of Sogou on a fully-diluted basis. Sohu will retain approximately 53% of Sogou on a fully-diluted basis, and intends in any event to retain a majority of the outstanding share capital of Sogou on a fully-diluted basis. As Sogou’s controlling shareholder, Sohu will continue to consolidate Sogou but will recognize noncontrolling interest reflecting shares held by shareholders other than Sohu, as discussed in Note 12 – Noncontrolling Interest – Noncontrolling Interest for Sogou.

Sogou’s 2010 Share Incentive Plan

Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan

On October 20, 2010, Sogou adopted the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the “Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan”), which provides for the issuance of up to 24,000,000 ordinary shares of Sogou to management and key employees of Sogou and of any present or future parents or subsidiaries or variable interest entities of Sogou. The maximum term of any issued share right under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan is ten years from the grant date. The Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan will expire on October 19, 2020. As of March 31, 2011, no share rights had been issued under this Plan.

Share-based Awards to Sohu management

Under an arrangement approved by Sohu and Sogou’s Board of Directors in March 2011, Sohu has the right to provide to members of Sohu’s executive management the opportunity to purchase from Sohu up to 12,000,000 ordinary shares of Sogou. Of these 12,000,000 ordinary shares, 8,800,000 are Sogou ordinary shares currently held by Sohu and 3,200,000 are Sogou ordinary shares to be newly-issued by Sogou to Sohu for a price of $0.625 per share, or a total of $2 million. As of March 31, 2011, no share rights had been issued under this arrangement.

 

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4. Segment Information

The Sohu Group has determined that the business segments that constitute its primary reporting segments are online brand advertising, game, sponsored search, wireless and others.

In 2010, the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) began reviewing certain additional information for the sponsored search segment. Accordingly, the Company has adjusted the sponsored search segment operating performance measurement disclosures to include income from operations and the main segment assets for the sponsored search segment. For the remaining segments, the operating performance measurements are unchanged.

Consistent with prior periods, some items, such as share-based compensation expense, operating expenses, other income and expense, and income tax expense, are not reviewed by the CODM. These items are disclosed in the segment information for reconciliation purposes only.

The Company has restated the presentation of its segments for prior periods to conform to the current presentation, and it will restate all comparable periods hereafter.

The following tables present summary information by segment (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
		Online Brand Advertising, Wireless and Others
		Online Brand Advertising				Wireless				Others				Online Brand Advertising, Wireless and Others				Game				Sponsored Search				Intercompany Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues (1)		$	59,282			$	11,704			$	444			$	71,430			$	97,089			$	8,144			$	(2,294	)		$	174,369
Segment cost of revenues			(21,908	)			(6,892	)			(80	)			(28,880	)			(11,525	)			(4,877	)			165				(45,117	)
Segment gross profit (loss)		$	37,374			$	4,812			$	364				42,550				85,564				3,267				(2,129	)			129,252
SBC (2) in cost of revenues															(702	)			(33	)			0				0				(735	)
Gross profit															41,848				85,531				3,267				(2,129	)			128,517
Operating expenses:
Product development															(7,175	)			(9,896	)			(3,939	)			0				(21,010	)
Sales and marketing															(18,451	)			(8,535	)			(4,231	)			2,129				(29,088	)
General and administrative															(4,557	)			(4,761	)			(1,008	)			0				(10,326	)
Amortization of intangible assets															(90	)			(54	)			(48	)			0				(192	)
SBC (2) in operating expenses															(2,105	)			(1,737	)			(716	)			25				(4,533	)
Total operating expenses															(32,378	)			(24,983	)			(9,942	)			2,154				(65,149	)
Operating profit															9,470				60,548				(6,675	)			25				63,368
Other income /(expense)															837				(329	)			2				0				510
Interest income and exchange difference															662				1,683				(52	)			0				2,293
Income tax expense															(1,949	)			(9,053	)			0				0				(11,002	)
Net income														$	9,020			$	52,849			$	(6,725	)		$	25			$	55,169

 

Note (1):		The intercompany elimination for segment revenues mainly consists of the marketing services provided by the online brand advertising segment (banner advertisements etc.) to the game segment (conducted through Changyou).
Note (2):		“SBC” stands for share-based compensation expense.

 

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		Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
		Online Brand Advertising, Wireless and Others
		Online Brand Advertising				Wireless				Others				Online Brand Advertising, Wireless and Others				Game				Sponsored Search				Intercompany Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues (1)		$	42,592			$	13,288			$	1,758			$	57,638			$	72,072			$	2,914			$	(3,170	)		$	129,454
Segment cost of revenues			(16,316	)			(6,911	)			(494	)			(23,721	)			(5,317	)			(2,765	)			12				(31,791	)
Segment gross profit (loss)		$	26,276			$	6,377			$	1,264				33,917				66,755				149				(3,158	)			97,663
SBC (2) in cost of revenues															(968	)			(67	)			0				0				(1,035	)
Gross profit															32,949				66,688				149				(3,158	)			96,628
Operating expenses:
Product development															(4,121	)			(5,427	)			(3,525	)			0				(13,073	)
Sales and marketing															(12,436	)			(9,624	)			(3,074	)			3,080				(22,054	)
General and administrative															(4,091	)			(3,463	)			(236	)			0				(7,790	)
Amortization of intangible assets															(91	)			(2	)			(15	)			0				(108	)
SBC (2) in operating expenses															(1,911	)			(2,903	)			(679	)			0				(5,493	)
Total operating expenses															(22,650	)			(21,419	)			(7,529	)			3,080				(48,518	)
Operating profit															10,299				45,269				(7,380	)			(78	)			48,110
Other income /(expense)															88				(99	)			(14	)			0				(25	)
Interest income and exchange difference															383				815				1				0				1,199
Income tax expense															(1,684	)			(6,279	)			0				0				(7,963	)
Net income														$	9,086			$	39,706			$	(7,393	)		$	(78	)		$	41,321

 

Note (1):		The intercompany elimination for segment revenues mainly consists of marketing services provided by the online brand advertising segment (banner advertisements etc.) to the game segment (conducted through Changyou).
Note (2):		“SBC” stands for share-based compensation expense.

 

		As of March 31, 2011
		Online Brand Advertising, Wireless and Others				Game				Sponsored Search				Intercompany Eliminations				Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents		$	282,726			$	406,458			$	48,751			$	0			$	737,935
Accounts receivable, net			60,392				8,275				1				0				68,668
Fixed assets, net			55,374				54,759				16,691				0				126,824
Total assets (1)		$	669,677			$	574,724			$	68,461			$	(34,543	)		$	1,278,319

 

Note (1):		The intercompany elimination for segment assets mainly consists of marketing services provided by the online brand advertising segment to the game segment (conducted through Changyou).

 

		As of December 31, 2010
		Online Brand Advertising, Wireless and Others				Game				Sponsored Search				Intercompany Eliminations				Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents		$	277,910			$	350,957			$	49,522			$	0			$	678,389
Accounts receivable, net			61,134				1,464				5				0				62,603
Fixed assets, net			54,461				53,659				12,507				0				120,627
Total assets (1)		$	626,202			$	502,311			$	65,170			$	(6,093	)		$	1,187,590

 

Note (1):		The intercompany elimination for segment assets mainly consists of marketing services provided by the online brand advertising segment to the game segment (conducted through Changyou).

 

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5. Share-Based Compensation Expense

Sohu, Changyou and Sogou all have incentive plans for the granting of share-based awards, including common stock/ ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, to their employees and directors. As of March 31, 2011, no share-based awards had been granted by Sogou; therefore no share-based compensation expense was recognized under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan.

Share-based compensation expense is recognized as costs and/or expenses in the consolidated financial statements based on the fair values of the related share-based awards on their grant dates. Share-based compensation expense is charged to the shareholders’ equity or noncontrolling interest section in the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 11 - Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity - Stock Incentive Plan.

Share-based compensation expense was recognized in costs and/or expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2011				2010
Cost of revenues		$	735			$	1,035
Product development expenses			1,772				2,445
Sales and marketing expenses			1,089				955
General and administrative expenses			1,672				2,093
		$	5,268			$	6,528

There was no capitalized share-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

Share-based compensation expense recognized for share awards granted by Sohu and Changyou, respectively, was as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2011				2010
For share awards granted by Sohu.com Inc.		$	3,535			$	3,585
For share awards granted by Changyou.com Limited			1,733				2,943
		$	5,268			$	6,528

6. Income Taxes

Sohu and Changyou.com (US) Inc. are subject to income taxes in the United States (“U.S.”). The majority of the subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company are based in mainland China and are subject to income taxes in the PRC. These China-based subsidiaries and VIEs conduct substantially all of the Company’s operations, and generate most of the Company’s income.

The Company did not have any interest or penalties associated with tax positions for the three months ended March 31, 2011, nor did the Company have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions as of March 31, 2011.

PRC Corporate Income Tax

Related to New and High Technology Enterprises

Under the previous PRC income tax law, which expired on December 31, 2007, New and High Technology Enterprises (“NHTEs”) located in the Zhongguancun zone of Beijing (“BJ ZGC”) were exempted from income tax for three years beginning with their first year of operations and were entitled to a 50% tax reduction to 7.5% for the subsequent three years and 15% thereafter. The years during which NHTEs enjoy preferential tax rates are known as “tax holidays.”

 

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Effective January 1, 2008, the current PRC Corporate Income Tax Law (the “CIT Law”) imposes a unified income tax rate of 25% for both domestic and wholly foreign-owned enterprises (“WFOEs”) but grants preferential tax treatment to NHTEs. Under the CIT Law, NHTEs can enjoy a preferential income tax rate of 15% for three years but need to re-apply after the end of the three-year period. The current CIT Law provides grandfathering treatment allowing NHTEs to continue to enjoy their unexpired tax holidays under the previous PRC income tax law, as long as these NHTEs continue to meet the criteria for NHTEs under the current CIT Law and were (i) qualified as NHTEs under the previous PRC income tax law, and (ii) established before March 16, 2007.

Three China-based subsidiaries, Beijing Sohu New Era Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Era”), Beijing Sohu New Media Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Media”) and Beijing Sogou Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Technology”), qualified as NHTEs during the year ended December 31, 2008. Under guidance issued by governmental authorities, these three companies will need to reapply for NHTEs qualification in September 2011, but will be entitled to continue to enjoy their beneficial tax rates as if they will qualify as NHTEs in 2011 before action is taken on the reapplications. Therefore, for the year 2011, Sohu Era will be subject to a 15% income tax rate; Sohu Media and Sogou Technology will enjoy a 7.5% income tax rate due to their unexpired tax holidays.

Two China-based VIEs, Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Internet”) and Beijing Sogou Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Information”), qualified as NHTEs during the year ended December 31, 2009. These two companies will reapply for qualification in 2012. In 2011, Sohu Internet will be subject to a 15% income tax rate and Sogou Information will enjoy a 7.5% income tax rate due to its unexpired tax holiday.

Related to Software Enterprises

Under the current CIT Law, a Software Enterprise can enjoy an income tax exemption for two years beginning with its first profitable year and a 50% tax reduction to a rate of 12.5% for the subsequent three years.

In 2008, the China-based subsidiary and the VIE of Changyou, Beijing AmazGame Age Internet Technology Co., Ltd. (“AmazGame”) and Beijing Gamease Age Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gamease”) qualified as Software Enterprises. As a result, both AmazGame and Gamease became subject to a 0% income tax rate for the full year 2008 and a 50% tax reduction to a rate of 12.5% from the fiscal year 2009 through the fiscal year 2011. Beijing Changyou Gamespace Software Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gamespace”), Beijing Guanyou Gamespace Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guanyou Gamespace”), ICE Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“ICE WFOE”) and Shanghai ICE Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai ICE”) have been qualified as “Software Enterprises” and will be entitled to an income tax exemption for two years beginning with their first profitable year and 50% tax reduction for the subsequent three years.

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Contractual Obligation

On November 20, 2009, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase an office building to be built in Beijing, which will serve as the Company’s headquarters, for a purchase price of approximately $110 million. On August 20, 2010, the purchase price was adjusted to $120 million to cover additional purchased floor area. As of March 31, 2011, $66 million had been paid and was recognized as prepaid non-current assets in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The remaining $54 million payment will be settled in installments as various stages of the development plan are completed. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

On August 23, 2010, Changyou entered into an agreement to purchase an office building to be built in Beijing, which will serve as its headquarters, for a purchase price of approximately $150 million. As of March 31, 2011, $60 million had been paid and was recognized as prepaid non-current assets in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The remaining $90 million payment will be settled in installments as various stages of the development plan are completed. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

The Sohu Group also has some commitments related to future minimum content and service purchases, operating lease obligations, and license fees of games developed by third-parties.

Litigation

The Sohu Group is a party to various litigation matters which it considers routine and incidental to its business. Management does not expect the results of any of these actions to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition.

In March 2008, the Sohu Group was sued by four major record companies, Sony BMG, Warner, Universal and Gold Label, which alleged that the Sohu Group provided music search links and download services that violated copyrights they owned. As of March 31, 2011, the lawsuits with these four record companies were still in process. At this stage, an estimation of the loss cannot be made.

 

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Laws and Regulations

The Chinese market in which the Sohu Group operates poses certain macro-economic and regulatory risks and uncertainties. These uncertainties extend to the ability to operate an Internet business, and to conduct online brand advertising, online game, sponsored search, wireless and others services in the PRC. Though the PRC has, since 1978, implemented a wide range of market-oriented economic reforms, continued reforms and progress towards a full market-oriented economy are uncertain. In addition, the telecommunication, information, and media industries remain highly regulated. Restrictions are currently in place and are unclear with respect to which segments of these industries foreign-owned entities, like the Sohu Group, may operate. The Chinese government may issue from time to time new laws or new interpretations of existing laws to regulate areas such as telecommunication, information and media.

Regulatory risks also encompass the interpretation by the tax authorities of current tax laws and regulations, including the applicability of certain preferential tax treatments. The Sohu Group’s legal structure and scope of operations in China could be subject to restrictions, which could result in severe limits on its ability to conduct business in the PRC.

The Sohu Group’s sales, purchase and expense transactions are generally denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Sohu Group’s assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In China, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions. Remittances in currencies other than RMB by its subsidiaries in China may require certain supporting documentation in order to effect the remittance.

8. Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, investment in debt securities, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their fair value. Other financial instruments are measured at their respective fair values. For fair value measurement, U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:

Level 1 - observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 - include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the market place.

Level 3 - unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The following table sets forth the financial instruments, measured at fair value, by level within the fair value hierarchy as of March 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 

						Fair value measurement at reporting date using
Items		As of March 31, 2011				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable  Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents:
Time deposits		$	429,853			$	0			$	429,853			$	0
Investment in debt securities			76,220				0				0				76,220
Total		$	506,073			$	0			$	429,853			$	76,220

The following table sets forth the financial instruments, measured at fair value, by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

 

						Fair value measurement at reporting date using
Items		As of December 31, 2010				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable  Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents:
Time deposits		$	355,775			$	0			$	355,775			$	0
Investment in debt securities			75,529				0				0				75,529
Total		$	431,304			$	0			$	355,775			$	75,529

 

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The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (level 3) from December 31, 2010 to March 31, 2011 (in thousands):

 

		Fair Value  Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) Debt Securities
Beginning balance at December 31, 2010		$	75,529
Gains included in other income			691
Ending balance at March 31, 2011		$	76,220

Cash Equivalents

The Company’s cash equivalents consist of time deposits placed with banks. The fair values of demand deposits and time deposits placed with banks are determined based on the pervasive interest rates in the market, which are also the interest rates as stated in the contracts with the banks. The Company classifies the valuation techniques that use the pervasive interest rates input as Level 2.

Investment in Debt Securities

In September 2010, the Company purchased from a PRC-based company (the “Debtor”) a convertible debt security with a principal amount of $74.6 million (equal to RMB0.5 billion) with an initial maturity of twelve months subject to extension at the Company’s election in its sole discretion for additional sequential six-month periods, and bearing interest at the rate of 3.8% per annum, payable quarterly in cash. The Debtor’s obligations on the debt are secured by a pledge from the Debtor’s parent company of its entire equity interest in the Debtor. Under the terms of the security, if the Company continues to extend the maturity to March 31, 2014, it will have an option, exercisable on March 31, 2014, to convert the outstanding principal into fixed percentages of equity interest in two companies which are affiliates of the Debtor. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the interest income generated from this debt security amounted to $0.71 million.

The Company elected the fair value option to account for its investments in debt securities at their initial recognition. Changes in fair value generated from currency translation in the amount of $0.69 million were recognized in other income for the three months ended March, 2011. There is no difference between the fair value and the unpaid principal balance of the debt securities as of March 31, 2011. To estimate fair value, the Company used the income approach, which considers the estimated future return from the investment and the probabilities of getting these returns. The Company classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 3 of fair value measurement. See above “Fair Value of Financial Instruments”.

9. Business Combinations

In May 2010, Changyou acquired 50% of the equity interests in each of Shanghai Jing Mao Culture Communication Co. Limited (“Shanghai Jingmao”) and its affiliate which are primarily engaged in the cinema advertising business in China. The investment was accounted for under the equity method of accounting due to Changyou’s inability to control Shanghai Jingmao. At the end of January 2011, Changyou acquired the remaining 50% of the equity interests in each of Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate for total consideration of approximately $3.0 million. Payments for $1.0 million of the total consideration are contingent upon occurrence of certain specified events and management considers the possibility of Changyou making gains due to the non-occurrence of the specified events to be remote. With unilateral control of 100% of the voting equity interests of Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate, Changyou started to consolidate Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate’s financial statements commencing February 1, 2011. The purpose of the acquisition was to secure additional advertising resources for the promotion of Changyou’s online games.

On the acquisition date, the allocation of the consideration of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values was as follows (in thousands):

 

		As of 1 February, 2011
Fair value of previously held 50% equity interests		$	2,704
Consideration for the remaining 50% equity interests			3,036
Total consideration			5,740
Tangible assets			9,514
Identifiable intangible assets acquired			10,101
Goodwill			5,147
Liabilities assumed			(19,022	)
Total		$	5,740

 

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In accordance with ASC805 in a business combination achieved in stages, Changyou re measured its previously held equity interests in Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate as at its acquisition-date fair value and recognized a total loss of $613,000 in other expenses in the first quarter of 2011. Changyou hired an independent valuation firm to perform fair valuation of the previously held equity interests in Shanghai Jing Mao and its affiliate upon the acquisition date.

The excess of the purchase price over tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets acquired, and liabilities assumed were recorded as goodwill. The acquired identifiable intangible assets were valued by various approaches, including the income approach and the replacement cost approach, as appropriate. As of March 31, 2011, no measurement period adjustment had been recorded. Based on the assessment of their financial performance, Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate on its own or in total is not considered material to the Group for the period presented.

Total identifiable intangible assets acquired upon acquisition mainly include publishing rights of $8,330,000, partnership relationship of $1,035,000, trade name of $502,000, non-compete agreement of $126,000, and customer list of $108,000. Except for trade name which is expected to have an indefinite useful life, other identifiable intangible assets acquired have an estimated average weighted useful life of two years. Under ASC350, intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are not amortized and their remaining useful life is evaluated at each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite life. Total goodwill of $5.1 million primarily represents the expected synergies from combining operations of Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate, which are complementary to each other. In accordance with ASC350, goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment and is not deductible for tax purposes.

10. VIEs

To satisfy PRC laws and regulations, the Company conducts certain business in the PRC through its VIEs. The Company consolidates all of its VIEs in its consolidated financial statements.

All the VIEs are directly or indirectly owned by Dr. Charles Zhang (“Dr. Zhang”), the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a major shareholder, and certain executive officer and employees of the Sohu Group. Capital for these VIEs was funded by the Sohu Group through loans provided to Dr. Zhang and those executive officer and employees, and was initially recorded as loans to related parties. These loans are eliminated for accounting purposes against the capital of the VIEs upon consolidation.

Under contractual agreements with the Sohu Group, Dr. Zhang and those executive officer and employees of the Sohu Group who are shareholders of the VIEs are required to transfer their ownership in these entities to the Sohu Group, if permitted by PRC laws and regulations, or, if not so permitted, to designees of the Sohu Group at any time to repay the loans outstanding. All voting rights of the VIEs are assigned to the Sohu Group, and the Sohu Group has the right to designate all directors and senior management personnel of the VIEs, also has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIEs. Dr. Zhang and those executive officer and employees of the Sohu Group who are shareholders of the VIEs have pledged their shares in the VIEs as collateral for the loans. As of March 31, 2011, the aggregate amount of these loans was $14.3 million.

As of March 31, 2011, the total assets for the consolidated VIEs were $184.6 million, mainly comprising cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and fixed assets. As of March 31, 2011, the total liabilities for the consolidated VIEs were $70.9 million, mainly comprising receipts in advance and deferred revenue and accrued liabilities. These balances are reflected in Sohu’s consolidated financial statements with intercompany transactions eliminated.

 

 

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Under the contractual arrangements with the VIEs, the Company has the power to direct activities of the VIEs, and can have assets transferred freely out of the VIEs without any restrictions. Therefore the Company considers that there is no asset of a consolidated VIE that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIE, except for registered capital and PRC statutory reserves of the VIEs amounting to a total of $34.0 million as of March 31, 2011. As all the consolidated VIEs are incorporated as limited liability companies under the PRC Company Law, creditors of the VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for any of the liabilities of the consolidated VIEs, which consisted of receipts in advance and deferred revenue of $41.8 million, accrued liabilities of $14.8 million, taxes payable of $8.6 million, and other accrued liabilities of $5.7 million, totaled $70.9 million. Currently there is no contractual arrangement that could require the Company to provide additional financial support to the consolidated VIEs. As the Company is conducting certain business in the PRC mainly through the VIEs, the Company may provide such support on a discretionary basis in the future, which could expose the Company to a loss.

The following is a summary of the consolidated VIEs within the Sohu Group:

For Online Brand Advertising Business

 

a)

Sohu Entertainment

Beijing Sohu Entertainment Culture Media Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Entertainment”) was incorporated in the PRC in 2002 and is engaged in entertainment and advertising business in the PRC. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Sohu Entertainment was $1.2 million. Xin Wang (Belinda Wang), the Company’s Co-President and Chief Operating Officer, and another employee of the Sohu Group, hold 80% and 20% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

b)

Tu Xing Tian Xia

Beijing Tu Xing Tian Xia Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (“Tu Xing Tian Xia”) was incorporated in the PRC in 1999 and is engaged in mapping services in the PRC. Tu Xing Tian Xia was acquired by the Company in 2005. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Tu Xing Tian Xia was $0.2 million. Beijing Century High-Tech Investment Co., Ltd. (“High Century “) and Sohu Internet hold 56.1% and 43.9% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

c)

Donglin

Beijing Sohu Donglin Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Donglin”) was incorporated in the PRC in 2010 and is engaged in advertising services in the PRC. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Donglin was $1.5 million. High Century and Sohu Internet each holds a 50% interest in this entity.

 

d)

Pilot New Era

Beijing Pilot New Era Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Pilot New Era”) was incorporated in the PRC in 2010 and is engaged in advertising services in the PRC. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Pilot New Era was $0.7 million. High Century and Sohu Internet each holds a 50% interest in this entity.

 

e)

Focus Yiju

Beijing Focus Yiju Network Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Focus Yiju”) was incorporated in the PRC in 2010 and is engaged in advertising services in the PRC. High Century holds a 70% interest in Focus Yiju.

For Online Game Business

 

f)

Gamease

Gamease was incorporated in the PRC in August 2007. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Gamease was $1.3 million. Tao Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Changyou, and Dewen Chen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Changyou hold 60% and 40% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

g)

Shanghai ICE

Shanghai ICE was incorporated in the PRC in April 2005. Shanghai ICE and ICE WFOE were acquired by Changyou in May 2010. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Shanghai ICE was $1.2 million. Two employees of Changyou each hold a 50% interest in this entity.

 

h)

Guanyou Gamespace

Guanyou Gamespace was incorporated in the PRC in August 2010. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Guanyou Gamespace was $1.5 million. Tao Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Changyou, and Dewen Chen, President and Chief Operating Officer of Changyou hold 60% and 40% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

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For Sponsored Search Business

 

i)

Sogou Information

Sogou Information was incorporated in the PRC in 2005 and is engaged in providing Internet information services in the PRC. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Sogou Information was $2.5 million. Two employees of the Sohu Group each hold a 50% interest in this entity.

For Wireless Businesses

 

j)

Sohu Internet

Sohu Internet was incorporated in the PRC in 2003 and is engaged in Internet information, wireless and advertising services in the PRC. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of Sohu Internet was $14.9 million. High Century and Sohu Entertainment hold 75% and 25% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

k)

GoodFeel

Beijing GoodFeel Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“GoodFeel”) was incorporated in the PRC in 2001 and is engaged in value-added telecommunication services in the PRC. GoodFeel was acquired by the Company in 2004. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of GoodFeel was $1.2 million. Two employees of the Sohu Group, hold 58.1% and 41.9% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

l)

High Century

High Century was incorporated in the PRC in 2001 and is engaged in investment holding in the PRC. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of High Century was $4.6 million. Dr. Zhang and another employee of the Sohu Group, hold 80% and 20% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

m)

21 East Beijing

Beijing 21 East Culture Development Co., Ltd. (“21 East Beijing”) was acquired in October 2006. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of 21 East Beijing was $0.1 million. High Century holds a 100% interest in this entity.

 

n)

New 21 East

New 21 East Art Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“New 21 East”) was incorporated in December 2007. As of March 31, 2011, the registered capital of New 21 East is $1.4 million. High Century holds a 70% interest in this entity.

11. Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity

Stockholder Rights Plan

Sohu adopted a stockholder rights plan (the “Plan”) in 2001. The Plan is designed to deter coercive takeover tactics, including the accumulation of shares in the open market or through private transactions, and to prevent an acquirer from gaining control of Sohu without offering a fair and adequate price and terms to all of Sohu’s stockholders. In general, the Plan vests stockholders of Sohu with rights to purchase preferred stock of Sohu at a substantial discount from those securities’ fair market value upon a person or group acquiring without the approval of the Board of Directors more than 20% of the outstanding shares of common stock of Sohu. Any person or group who triggers the purchase right distribution becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan, causing substantial dilution of such person or group’s holdings. The rights will expire on July 25, 2011.

Stock Incentive Plan

Sohu, Changyou and Sogou all have incentive plans for the granting of share-based awards, including common stock/ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, to their employees and directors.

1) Sohu.com Inc. Share-based Awards

Sohu’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan

Sohu’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan”) provided for the issuance of up to 9,500,000 shares of common stock, including those issued pursuant to the exercise of share options and upon vesting and settlement of restricted share units. The maximum term of any issued stock right under the Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan is ten years from the grant date. The Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan expired on January 24, 2010 and a new plan (the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan discussed below) was adopted on July 2, 2010. As of the expiration date, 9,128,724 shares of common stock had been issued or were subject to issuance upon the vesting and exercise of share options or the vesting and settlement of restricted share units granted under the plan.

 

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For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for awards under the Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan was $3.2 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

i) Summary of share option activity

A summary of options activity under the Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Options		Number Of Shares (in thousands)				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)				Aggregate Intrinsic Value (1) (in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2011			426			$	16.56				3.55			$	20,017
Exercised			(75	)			16.14
Forfeited or expired			0
Outstanding at March 31, 2011			351				16.65				3.28				25,314
Vested at March 31, 2011			351				16.65				3.28				25,314
Exercisable at March 31, 2011			351				16.65				3.28				25,314

Note (1): The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the difference between Sohu’s closing stock price of $89.36 on March 31, 2011 and the exercise price of share options. The total intrinsic value of share options exercised for the three months ended March 31, 2011 was $5.2 million.

No options have been granted under Sohu’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan since 2006. For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, no compensation expense was recognized for share options because the requisite service periods for share options had ended by the end of 2009.

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total cash received from the exercise of share options amounted to $1.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

ii) Summary of restricted share unit activity

A summary of restricted share units activity under the Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			706			$	59.69
Granted			0
Vested			(196	)			54.58
Forfeited			(10	)			61.27
Unvested at March 31, 2011			500				61.66
Expected to vest thereafter			371				61.65

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for restricted share units was $3.2 million and $3.6 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $14.3 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted share units. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years. The total fair value on their respective vesting dates of restricted share units vested during the three month ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $13.9 million and $1.8 million.

Sohu’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

On July 2, 2010, the Company’s shareholders approved Sohu’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan”), which provides for the issuance of up to 1,500,000 shares of common stock, including those issued pursuant to the vesting and settlement of restricted share units and pursuant to the exercise of share options. The maximum term of any issued stock right under the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan is ten years from the grant date. The Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan will expire on July 1, 2020. As of March 31, 2011, 1,472,775 shares were available for grant under the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

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A summary of restricted share units activity under the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			20			$	70.88
Granted			7				64.19
Vested			0
Forfeited			0
Unvested at March 31, 2011			27				69.10
Expected to vest thereafter			22				68.67

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, total share-based compensation expense recognized for restricted share units was $0.3 million.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $1.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted share units. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.1 years.

2) Changyou.com Limited Share-based Awards

On December 31, 2008, Changyou reserved 2,000,000 of its ordinary shares, which included 1,774,000 Class B ordinary shares and 226,000 Class A ordinary shares, for issuance to certain of its executive officers and to certain of its employees as incentive compensation under Changyou’s 2008 Share Incentive Plan (the “Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan”).

In March 2009, the 2,000,000 reserved ordinary shares were subject to a ten-for-one share split effected by Changyou and became 20,000,000 ordinary shares.

Through March 31, 2011, Changyou has granted under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan 13,000,000 Class B ordinary shares and 2,000,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares to Tao Wang through Prominence and 4,545,200 Class A and Class B restricted share units (settleable by Changyou’s issuance of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, respectively) to certain of its executive officers other than Tao Wang and to certain of its employees.

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for awards under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan was $1.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

Share-based Awards granted before Changyou’s Initial Public Offering

i) Share-based Award to Tao Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Changyou

As discussed above in Note 2 - Changyou Transactions, in January 2008, Sohu communicated to and agreed with Tao Wang to grant him 700,000 ordinary shares and 800,000 restricted ordinary shares, in lieu of his contingent right in Beijing Fire Fox. The difference between the fair values (“Incremental Fair Value”), of these 700,000 ordinary shares and 800,000 restricted ordinary shares and Tao Wang’s contingent right in Beijing Fire Fox was accounted for as share-based compensation expense.

In February 2009, 200,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares held by Prominence became vested. Upon this vesting, the number of Class B ordinary shares held beneficially by Tao Wang increased to 900,000 shares and the number of Class B restricted ordinary shares held beneficially by Tao Wang decreased to 600,000 shares.

On March 16, 2009, the ordinary shares described above, which had been issued as 700,000 Class B ordinary shares and 800,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares in January 2009 and had become 900,000 Class B ordinary shares and 600,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares in February 2009 as a result of vesting, became 9,000,000 Class B ordinary shares and 6,000,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares, respectively, as a result of a ten-for-one share split effected by Changyou on that date.

For the 700,000 ordinary shares, because the terms of the issuance of these ordinary shares had been approved and were communicated to and agreed with Tao Wang as of January 2, 2008, this was considered the grant date. Accordingly, the Incremental Fair Value was determined as of that date. The portion of the Incremental Fair Value related to these ordinary shares, equal to $1.8 million, was recognized as share-based compensation expense in product development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

 

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For the 800,000 restricted ordinary shares, as a result of the modification of their vesting terms in April 2008, the portion of the Incremental Fair Value related to these shares, equal to $7.0 million, was determined in April 2008, and was accounted for as share-based compensation expense over the vesting period starting from the date of the modification, following the accelerated basis of attribution. A summary of activity for these restricted ordinary shares as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Class B Restricted Ordinary Shares		Number of Shares (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			4,000			$	1.36
Granted			0
Vested			(2,000	)			1.36
Unvested at March 31, 2011			2,000				1.36
Expected to vest thereafter			2,000				1.36

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for the above–mentioned Class B restricted ordinary shares was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $0.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested Class B restricted ordinary shares. The total fair value of Class B restricted ordinary shares vested to Tao Wang on their respective vesting dates during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $39.7 million and $32.7 million.

The fair value of the ordinary shares and restricted ordinary shares was assessed using the income approach/discounted cash flow method, with a discount for lack of marketability given that the shares underlying the award were not publicly traded at the time of grant, and was determined partly in reliance on a report prepared by a qualified professional appraiser using management’s estimates and assumptions. This assessment required complex and subjective judgments regarding Changyou’s projected financial and operating results, its unique business risks, the liquidity of its ordinary shares and its operating history and prospects at the time the grants were made.

ii) Share-based Awards to Executive Officers (other than Tao Wang) and Certain Key Employees

In April 2008, Changyou approved and communicated to executive officers other than Tao Wang the grant of an aggregate of 180,000 restricted ordinary shares and to certain key employees the grant of an aggregate of 94,000 restricted share units of Changyou (settleable in ordinary shares upon vesting). These restricted ordinary shares and restricted share units were subject to vesting over a four-year period commencing on February 1, 2008, with initial vesting also subject to the listing of Changyou’s ordinary shares in an initial public offering by Changyou. The fair value of the awards at grant date was recognized in the consolidated statement of operations starting from April 2, 2009, when ADSs representing Changyou’s Class A ordinary shares were first listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

On January 15, 2009, Changyou issued 180,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares to executive officers other than Tao Wang and granted 94,000 Class B restricted share units to certain key employees, the grant of which had been approved and communicated in April 2008 as described above.

On March 13, 2009, Changyou exchanged the 180,000 Class B restricted ordinary shares for Class B restricted share units (settleable in Class B ordinary shares), that otherwise have the same vesting and other terms as applied to the Class B restricted ordinary shares described above. Following the exchange, Class B restricted share units granted to executive officers other than Tao Wang and certain key employees totaled 274,000.

On March 16, 2009, the above 274,000 Class B restricted share units became 2,740,000 Class B restricted share units as a result of the ten-for-one share split effected on that date.

A summary of activity for the above Class B restricted share units as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Class B Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			1,320			$	1.98
Granted			0
Vested			(660	)			1.98
Forfeited			0
Unvested at March 31, 2011			660				1.98
Expected to vest thereafter			660				1.98

 

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For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for the above 2,740,000 Class B restricted share units was $0.1 million and $0.3 million.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $0.3 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to the unvested Class B restricted share units. The total fair value of Class B restricted share units vested to Changyou’s executive officers (other than Tao Wang) and its employees on their respective vesting dates during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $13.1 million and $11.2 million.

The methods Changyou used to determine the fair value as of the April 2008 grant date of these Class B restricted share units were the same as the methods used for the restricted ordinary shares granted to Tao Wang as described above.

iii) Share-based Awards to Other Employees

On February 17, 2009, Changyou granted an aggregate of 45,600 Class A restricted share units (settleable in Class A ordinary shares) to certain of its employees. These restricted share units are subject to vesting over a four-year period commencing upon the completion of the listing of Changyou’s Class A ordinary shares in an initial public offering by Changyou. The grant date fair value of the awards was recognized in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations starting from April 2, 2009, when ADSs representing Changyou’s Class A ordinary shares were first listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

On March 16, 2009, the above 45,600 Class A restricted share units became 456,000 Class A restricted share units as a result of a ten-for-one share split effected on that date.

A summary of activity for the Class A restricted share units as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Class A Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			282			$	8.00
Granted			0
Vested			0
Forfeited			0
Unvested at March 31, 2011			282				8.00
Expected to vest thereafter			254				8.00

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for the above 456,000 Class A restricted share units was $0.2 million and $0.4 million.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $0.7 million of unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to the unvested Class A restricted share units. The total fair value of Class A restricted share units vested to Changyou’s employees on their respective vesting dates during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was both nil.

The fair value of these Class A restricted share units as of the February 17, 2009 grant date was determined based on Changyou’s offering price for its initial public offering, which was $8.00 per Class A ordinary share.

Share-based Awards granted after Changyou’s Initial Public Offering

i) Share-based Awards to Executive Officers (other than Tao Wang) and Certain Key Employees

As of March 31, 2011, Changyou had granted an aggregate of 1,289,200 Class A restricted share units (settleable in Class A ordinary shares) to certain of its executive officers other than Tao Wang and to certain of its employees. These Class A restricted share units are subject to vesting over a four-year period commencing on their grant dates. A summary of activity for the Class A restricted share units as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented below:

 

Class A Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			925			$	12.54
Granted			62				17.19
Vested			(1	)			16.34
Forfeited			0
Unvested at March 31, 2011			986				12.83
Expected to vest thereafter			978				12.79

 

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For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, total share-based compensation expense recognized for the above 1,289,200 Class A restricted share units was $1.1 million and $1.9 million.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $4.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested Class A restricted share units. The total fair value of Class A restricted share units vested during the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was $17,000 and nil.

The fair value of restricted share units as of their grant date was determined based on the market price of Changyou’s ADSs on that date.

ii) Share-based Awards to Sohu Employees

As of March 31, 2011, Changyou had granted an aggregate of 60,000 Class A restricted share units (settleable upon vesting in Class A ordinary shares) to certain Sohu employees for their involvement in the provision of certain online game links and advertising services to Changyou on Sohu’s websites, including the 17173.com website, under a Marketing Service Agreement between Changyou and Sohu. These Class A restricted share units are subject to vesting over a four-year period commencing on the grant date. The Company accounted for the Class A restricted share units granted by Changyou to Sohu’s employees as share awards granted by Sohu to its employees. When preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements, share-based compensation expense for such restricted share units is recognized on an accelerated basis over the requisite service period and the fair value of restricted share units was determined based on the market price of Changyou’s ADSs on the grant date.

 

Class A Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2011			40			$	18.00
Granted			20				17.19
Vested			0
Forfeited			0
Unvested at March 31, 2011			60				17.73
Expected to vest thereafter			60				17.73

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, total share-based compensation expense recognized for the above 60,000 Class A restricted share units was $92,466.

As of March 31, 2011, there was $0.9 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested Class A restricted share units.

3) Sogou Inc. Share-based Awards

Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan

On October 20, 2010, Sogou adopted the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan (the “Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan”), which provides for the issuance of up to 24,000,000 ordinary shares of Sogou to management and key employees of Sogou and of any present or future parents or subsidiaries or variable interest entities of Sogou. The maximum term of any issued share right under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan is ten years from the grant date. The Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan will expire on October 19, 2020. As of March 31, 2011, no share rights had been issued under this Plan.

Share-based Awards to Sohu management

Under an arrangement approved by Sohu and Sogou’s Board of Directors in March 2011, Sohu has the right to provide to members of Sohu’s executive management the opportunity to purchase from Sohu up to 12,000,000 ordinary shares of Sogou. Of these 12,000,000 ordinary shares, 8,800,000 are Sogou ordinary shares currently held by Sohu and 3,200,000 are Sogou ordinary shares to be newly-issued by Sogou to Sohu for a price of $0.625 per share, or a total of $2 million. As of March 31, 2011, no share rights had been issued under this arrangement.

12. Noncontrolling Interest

The primary majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs of the Company which are consolidated in its consolidated financial statements but with noncontrolling interest recognized are Changyou and Sogou.

 

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Noncontrolling Interest for Changyou

As Sohu is Changyou’s controlling shareholder, Changyou’s financial results have been consolidated with those of Sohu for all periods presented. To reflect the economic interest in Changyou held by shareholders other than Sohu (“noncontrolling shareholders”), Changyou’s net income attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders is recorded as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations, based on their share of the economic interests in Changyou. Changyou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders, along with its changes in shareholders’ equity and adjustment for share-based compensation expense in relation to those share-based awards which are unvested and vested but not yet settled, are recorded as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated balance sheets. See Note 2 - Changyou Transactions - Sohu’s Shareholding in Changyou.

Noncontrolling Interest for Sogou

As Sohu is Sogou’s controlling shareholder, Sogou’s financial results have been consolidated with those of Sohu for all periods presented. To reflect the economic interest in Sogou held by shareholders other than Sohu (“noncontrolling shareholders”), Sogou’s net income/loss attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders is recorded as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations. Sogou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders, along with these shareholders’ original investments in Series A Preferred Shares, is accounted for as a noncontrolling interest classified as permanent equity in Sohu’s consolidated balance sheets, as its redemption is solely within the control of Sohu. These treatments are based on the terms governing investment by the noncontrolling shareholders in the Series A Preferred Shares of Sogou (the “Sogou Series A Terms”) and the terms of Sogou’s restructuring. See Note 3 - Sogou Transaction.

By virtue of the Sogou Series A Terms and the terms of the restructuring, as Sogou loses money after its restructuring, the net losses will be allocated in the following order: (i) net losses will be allocated to Sohu until its basis in Sogou decreases to zero; (ii) additional net losses will be allocated to noncontrolling shareholders until their investment in Sogou decreases to zero; and (iii) further net losses will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou. Any subsequent net income from Sogou will be allocated in the following order: (i) net income will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou until their basis in Sogou increases to zero; (ii) additional net income will be allocated to noncontrolling shareholders to bring their basis back; (iii) further net income will be allocated to Sohu to bring its basis back; and (iv) further net income will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou.

Noncontrolling Interest in the Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the consolidated statements of operations was $10.4 million, compared with $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011 (in thousands)				2010 (in thousands)
Changyou		$	15,907			$	11,157
Sogou			(5,335	)			0
Others			(210	)			(27	)
Total		$	10,362			$	11,130

Noncontrolling Interest of Changyou

For the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, $15.9 million and $11.2 million, respectively, net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest was recognized in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations, representing an economic interest of approximately 30% in Changyou attributable to shareholders other than Sohu.

Noncontrolling Interest of Sogou

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, $5.3 million net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest was recognized in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations, representing Sogou’s net loss attributable to shareholders other than Sohu.

 

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Noncontrolling Interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, noncontrolling interest in the consolidated balance sheets was $200.5 million and $178.4 million, respectively.

 

		As of
		March 31 2011 (in  thousands)				December 31, 2010 (in  thousands)
Changyou		$	157,243			$	130,283
Sogou			41,429				47,196
Others			1,839				963
Total		$	200,511			$	178,442

Noncontrolling Interest of Changyou

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $157.2 million and $130.3 million, respectively, noncontrolling interest was recognized in Sohu’s consolidated balance sheets, representing an economic interest of approximately 30% in Changyou’s net assets and reflected the reclassification of Changyou’s share-based compensation expense from shareholders’ additional paid-in capital to noncontrolling interest.

Noncontrolling Interest of Sogou

As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $41.4 million and $47.2 million, respectively, noncontrolling interest was recognized in Sohu’s consolidated balance sheets, representing Sogou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to shareholders other than Sohu, along with these shareholders’ original investments in the Series A Preferred Shares issued by Sogou.

13. Net Income per Share

Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares comprise shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards using the treasury stock method. The computation of diluted net income per share does not assume conversion, exercise, or contingent issuance of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., an increase in earnings per share amounts or a decrease in loss per share amounts) on net income per share. Additionally, for purposes of calculating the numerator of diluted net income per share, the net income attributable to Sohu is adjusted for two factors as following:

 

(1)	Difference between Changyou’s net income attributable to Sohu determined by:

 

i)

the percentage of the total economic interest in Changyou held by Sohu, which was approximately 70% for the first quarter of 2011, and

 

ii)

the percentage of the weighted average number of Changyou shares held by Sohu to the weighted average number of Changyou ordinary shares and shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards under the treasury stock method, which was approximately 66% for the first quarter of 2011.

In the calculation of Sohu’s diluted net income per share, the percentage of 66% was calculated by treating all of Changyou’s existing unvested restricted shares, unvested restricted share units, and vested restricted share units that have not yet been settled are treated as vested and settled by Changyou under the treasury stock method, causing the percentage of weighted average number of shares held by Sohu in Changyou to decrease from 70% to 66%. As a result, Changyou’s net income attributable to Sohu on a diluted basis decreased accordingly. This impact is presented as “incremental dilution from Changyou” in the table below.

 

(2)	Difference between Sogou’s net income/loss attributable to Sohu determined by:

 

i)

the Sogou Series A Terms and the terms of Sogou’s restructuring, and

 

ii)

the percentage of the weighted average number of Sogou shares held by Sohu to the weighted average number of Sogou ordinary shares and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible preferred shares under the if-converted method, which was approximately 36% for the first quarter of 2011.

 

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In the calculation of Sohu’s diluted net income per share, assuming a dilutive effect, the percentage of 36% was calculated by treating the convertible preferred shares issued by Sogou as having been converted at the beginning of the period. The above difference is presented as “incremental dilution from Sogou” in the table below.

The following table presents the calculation of Sohu’s basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share data)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc., basic		$	44,807			$	30,191
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental dilution from Changyou			(2,061	)			(2,264	)
Incremental dilution from Sogou			(3,410	)			0
Net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc., diluted		$	39,336			$	27,927
Denominator:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding			38,193				37,778
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share options and restricted share units			574				665
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding			38,767				38,443
Basic net income per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	1.17			$	0.80
Diluted net income per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	1.01			$	0.73

14. Subsequent Events

Sogou related

On April 1, 2011, Sogou issued 18,930,500 options for the purchase of ordinary shares under its 2010 Share Incentive Plan to its management and key employees. On the same day, Sohu issued to its executive management 3,493,000 options for the purchase from Sohu of ordinary shares of Sogou currently held by Sohu.

On April 14, 2011, Sohu purchased 3,200,000 Sogou’s newly issued shares at a price of $0.625 per share, or a total of $2 million.

After the above transactions, Sohu’s shareholding percentage in Sogou was 53% on a fully-diluted basis, and Sohu remained as Sogou’s majority shareholder.

Changyou related

In April 2011, Changyou had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 68.258% of the equity of Shenzhen 7Road Technology Co., Ltd. and its affiliates (“7Road”) for fixed cash consideration of approximately $68.26 million, plus additional variable cash consideration of up to a maximum of $32.76 million that is contingent upon the achievement of specified performance milestones through December 31, 2012. 7Road is primarily engaged in web-based game development and operation in China. The purpose of the acquisition was to accelerate Changyou’s position in China’s online games industry and add a new category of games to Changyou’s growing product portfolio.

Following the completion of the transaction, Changyou will hold 68.258% of the equity in 7Road, and will commence consolidating it in its financial statements.

Others

The Company has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued, with no other material event or transaction needing recognition or disclosure found.

15. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

None.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

As used in this report, references to “us,” “we,” “our,” “our company,” “our group,” “Sohu” and “Sohu.com” are to Sohu.com Inc. and, except where the context requires otherwise, our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIEs”), Sohu.com Limited, Sohu.com (Hong Kong) Limited (“Sohu Hong Kong”), Kylie Enterprises Limited, All Honest International Limited, Sohu.com (Game) Limited (“Sohu Game”), Go2Map Inc., Sohu.com (Search) Limited, Sogou Inc., Sogou (BVI) Limited, Sogou Hong Kong Limited, Beijing Sohu New Era Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Era”), Beijing Sohu Interactive Software Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Software”), Go2Map Software (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Go2Map Software”), Beijing Sogou Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Technology”), Beijing Sohu New Media Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Media”), Beijing Sohu Software Technology Co., Ltd. (“New Software”), Beijing Fire Fox Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Fire Fox”, also known as Beijing Huohu Digital Technology Co., Ltd., or “Huohu”), Beijing Sohu New Momentum Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu New Momentum”), Wuxi Sohu New Momentum Information Investment Co., Ltd. (“Wuxi Sohu New Momentum”), Beijing Century High Tech Investment Co., Ltd. (“High Century”), Beijing Sohu Entertainment Culture Media Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Entertainment”, formerly known as Beijing Hengda Yitong Internet Technology Development Co., Ltd., or “Hengda”), Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Internet”), Beijing GoodFeel Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“GoodFeel”), Beijing Tu Xing Tian Xia Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (“Tu Xing Tian Xia”), Beijing Sogou Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Information”), Beijing 21 East Culture Development Co., Ltd. (“21 East Beijing”), New 21 East Art Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“New 21 East”), Beijing Sohu Donglin Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Donglin”), Beijing Pilot New Era Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Pilot New Era”), Beijing Focus Time Advertising Media Co., Ltd. (“Focus Time”), Beijing Focus Yiju Network Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Focus Yiju”), and our independently-listed majority-owned subsidiary Changyou.com Limited (“Changyou”, formerly known as TL Age Limited) as well as the following direct and indirect subsidiaries and VIEs of Changyou: Changyou.com HK Limited (“Changyou HK”, formerly known as TL Age Hong Kong Limited), ICE Entertainment (HK) Limited (“ICE HK”), Changyou.com (US) Inc. (formerly known as AmazGame Entertainment (US) Inc.), Changyou.com (UK) Company Limited (“Changyou UK”), ChangyouMy Sdn. Bhd (“Changyou Malaysia”), Changyou.com India Private Limited (“Changyou India”), Beijing AmazGame Age Internet Technology Co., Ltd. (“AmazGame”), Beijing Changyou Gamespace Software Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gamespace”), Changyou.com Korea Limited (“Changyou Korea”), ICE Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“ICE WFOE”), Beijing Yang Fan Jing He Information Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Yang Fan Jing He”), Shanghai Jingmao Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Jingmao”), Shanghai Hejin Data Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Hejin”), Beijing Gamease Age Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gamease”), Beijing Guanyou Gamespace Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guanyou Gamespace”), and Shanghai ICE Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai ICE”), and these references should be interpreted accordingly. Unless otherwise specified, references to “China” or “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China and do not include the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region or Taiwan. This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or future strategies that are signified by the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” or similar language. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Our business and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 28, 2011, as updated by Part II Item 1A of this report. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

OVERVIEW

Sohu (NASDAQ: SOHU) is a leading Chinese online media, search, gaming, community and mobile service group. We operate one of the most comprehensive matrices of Chinese language Web properties and one of the most popular online games in China. Substantially all of our operations are conducted through our indirect wholly and majority-owned China-based subsidiaries and variable interest entities (collectively the “Sohu Group”).

Our Business

Our businesses mainly consist of online brand advertising business, online game business (conducted via Changyou.com Limited, “Changyou”), sponsored search business (conducted via Sogou Inc. “Sogou”), wireless business and others business, among which online brand advertising and online game are our two core businesses.

 

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Starting from 2003, our online game business has developed from nascency to become one of the top massively multi-player online role-playing game (“MMORPG”) operators in China. Its success was further endorsed by the carve-out and initial public offering of our MMORPG subsidiary Changyou (NASDAQ: CYOU) in April 2009. The successful initial public offering has provided Changyou with the platform and resources to become a leading company in the MMORPG industry, and has enabled Changyou to compete head to head with first tier game companies. As Changyou’s controlling shareholder, Sohu continues to consolidate Changyou but recognizes noncontrolling interests reflecting shares held by shareholders other than Sohu. During the first quarter of 2011, treating all existing restricted shares as vested and restricted share units as vested and settled, Sohu owned approximately 66% of the economic interest in Changyou, with the remaining 34% of the economic interest in Changyou owned by Changyou’s shareholders other than Sohu.

Online Brand Advertising Business

Our online brand advertising business, offers various products and services (such as free of charge premier content, interactive community, and other competitive Internet services) to our users, and provides advertising services to advertisers on our matrices of Chinese language Web properties consisting of:

 

•

sohu.com, a leading mass portal and online media destination;

 

•

17173.com, a leading game information portal;

 

•

focus.cn, a top real estate website; and

 

•

chinaren.com, a leading online alumni club.

Online brand advertising services provide advertisements on our portal websites to companies seeking to increase their brand awareness online.

Online Game Business

Our online game business is conducted via Sohu’s majority-owned subsidiary Changyou. Changyou is a leading online game developer and operator in China as measured by the popularity of one of our games, Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”). TLBB, which was launched in May 2007, received an award as one of the “Most Liked Online Games by Game Players” at the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, or China Joy, for three consecutive years from 2008 to 2010 and was ranked as one of the world’s five most profitable online games in 2009 by Forbes magazine. Changyou engages in the development, operation and licensing of our MMORPGs, which are interactive online games that may be played simultaneously by hundreds of thousands of game players. Changyou currently operates seven MMORPGs, including the in-house developed TLBB, and the licensed Blade Online (“BO”), Blade Hero 2 (“BH2”), Da Hua Shui Hu (“DHSH”), Zhong Hua Ying Xiong (“ZHYX”), Immortal Faith (“IF”) and San Jie Qi Yuan (“SJQY”). As of March 31, 2011, Changyou’s games in China had approximately 116.5 million aggregate registered accounts. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, Changyou’s games in China had approximately 1.0 million aggregate peak concurrent users, 2.9 million aggregate active paying accounts and average revenue per active paying account of RMB210.

Changyou has several MMORPGs in the pipeline with different graphic styles, themes and features to appeal to different segments of the online game player community. Games in our pipeline, including, among others, the Duke of Mount Deer (“DMD”), which we are developing in-house, and the Legend of Ancient World (“LAW”), which we licensed from a third party.

Changyou operates its current games under the item-based revenue model, meaning that game players can play our games for free, but may choose to pay for virtual items to enhance the game-playing experience. Game players purchase prepaid game cards or game points, which are used to purchase virtual items. Changyou sells prepaid game cards to regional distributors throughout China, who in turn sub-distribute the prepaid game cards to numerous retail outlets, including Internet cafés and various websites, newsstands, software stores, book stores and retail stores. Changyou also directly sells game points to its game players through its online sales platform.

Agreements between Sohu and Changyou

Changyou has entered into agreements with Sohu with respect to various interim and ongoing relationships between us, including a Master Transaction Agreement, a Non-Competition Agreement, and an Amended and Restated Marketing Services Agreement. These agreements contain provisions, among others, relating to the transfer of assets and assumption of liabilities of the MMORPG business, provide cross-indemnification of liabilities arising from each other’s business, mutually limit Sohu and Changyou from competing in each other’s business, and also include a number of ongoing commercial relationships.

 

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Sponsored Search Business

Our sponsored search business is conducted through Sohu’s online search subsidiary Sogou Inc. (“Sogou”) via Sogou.com, an interactive proprietary search engine. Sponsored search services provide customers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, with pay-for-click services, priority placements in our search directory, and online marketing services on Sogou Start-up Page, the default homepage of Sogou browser.

During 2010, we restructured our sponsored search business in preparation for the sale of Sogou’s newly-issued Series A Preferred Shares to Alibaba Investment Limited (“Alibaba”), a private investment subsidiary of Alibaba Group Holding Limited, China Web Search (HK) Limited (“China Web”), an investment vehicle of Yunfeng Fund, LP, and Photon Group Limited (“Photon”), the investment fund of Sohu’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Charles Zhang. In the restructuring, we transferred to Sogou certain assets and liabilities associated with the mobile version of Sogou Pinyin, and transferred to Sohu certain non-search assets and liabilities that had been held by Sogou. Sogou will remain liable for a loan payable to Sohu in the amount of $45 million, which will be payable solely from the proceeds of an initial public offering by Sogou. The loan amount consists primarily of losses historically incurred in our search business and previously funded by Sohu.

On October 22, 2010, Sogou completed the sale of newly-issued Series A Preferred Shares to Alibaba, China Web and Photon for $15 million, $9 million, and $24 million, respectively, that represent approximately 10%, 6% and 16%, respectively, of the outstanding share capital of Sogou on a fully-diluted basis. Sohu and Sogou have established a share incentive program for Sogou management and key employees as well as certain members of Sohu’s executive management. Sohu will retain approximately 53% of Sogou on a fully-diluted basis, and intends in any event to retain a majority of the outstanding share capital of Sogou on a fully-diluted basis. As Sogou’s controlling shareholder, Sohu will continue to consolidate Sogou but will recognize noncontrolling interest reflecting shares held by shareholders other than Sohu.

With its new capital structure in place, Sogou is a separate operating entity focused exclusively on its desktop products and online search businesses, which we believe are picking up momentum. The shareholder group includes not only the Alibaba Group and Sohu, but also Sogou’s management team. We believe that this transformation has also helped to further attract talent as well as to build confidence among our business partners, and most importantly our distributors. We believe that our collaboration with Alibaba is progressing well.

Wireless Business

Our wireless business offers value-added services (such as news, weather forecasts, chatting, entertainment information and mobile phone ringtone and logo downloads) to mobile phone users.

Others Business

Our others business includes offering cinema advertisement slots to be shown in theaters before the screening of movies, which is a new business of Sohu Group from Changyou’s acquisition of Shanghai Jingmao and its affiliate; sales of software to third parties; provision of applications service provider (“ASP”) services; and website construction and maintenance.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT ESTIMATES

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations relates to our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the basis of consolidation, the revenue recognition, the share-based compensation expense recognition, income taxes and uncertain tax positions, recognition of noncontrolling interest, computation of net income per share, determination of fair value of financial instruments, determination of net accounts receivable, determination of fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired through business combination, accounting for investment in debt securities, assessment of impairment for long-lived assets and goodwill, and determination of functional currencies represent critical accounting policies that reflect the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. The recognition of revenues involves certain management judgments. The amount and timing of our revenues could be materially different for any period if management made different judgments or utilized different estimates. For a barter transaction involving advertising services, we recognize revenue and expense at fair value only if the fair value of the advertising services surrendered/received in the transaction is determinable. No revenue from advertising-for-advertising barter transaction is recognized since the fair value cannot be reliably determined.

 

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Online Brand Advertising Revenues

Online brand advertising revenues are recognized after deducting agent rebates and applicable business tax and related surcharges.

For online brand advertising revenues, a contract is signed to establish the fixed price and advertising services to be provided. Based on the contracts, we provide advertisement placements on our different website channels and/or in different formats, including but not limited to banners, links, logos, buttons, rich media and content integration.

For online brand advertising revenue recognition, prior to entering into contracts, we make a credit assessment of the customer to assess the collectability of the contract. For those contracts for which the collectability was assessed as reasonably assured, we recognize revenue ratably over the period during which the advertising services were provided and when all revenue recognition criteria were met. For those contracts for which the collectability was assessed as not reasonably assured, we recognize revenue only when the cash was received and all other revenue recognition criteria were met.

Before 2011, we treated all elements of advertising contracts as a single unit of accounting for revenue recognition purpose. In accordance with ASU No.2009 -13 Revenue Recognition - Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements (“ASU No.2009 -13”), on January 1, 2011, we began to treat advertising contracts with multiple deliverable elements as separate units of accounting for revenue recognition purposes and to recognize revenue on a periodic basis during the contract when each deliverable service is provided. Since the contract price is for all deliverables, we allocate the arrangement consideration to all deliverables at the inception of the arrangement on the basis of their relative selling price according to the selling price hierarchy established by ASU No.2009 -13. We use (a) vendor-specific objective evidence of selling price, if it exists, otherwise, (b) third -party evidence of selling price. If neither (a) nor (b) exists, we will use (c) the management’s best estimate of the selling price for that deliverable.

Sponsorship services, which is a type of online brand advertising services, is similar to other online brand advertising services, but generally involves larger amounts and longer contract periods. Sponsorship services may allow advertisers to sponsor a particular area on our websites, and may include brand affiliation services and/or a larger volume of services, and may require some exclusivity or premier placements. Sponsorship services advertisement revenues are normally recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract period, provided our obligations under the contract have been met and all revenue recognition criteria have been met.

Online Game Revenues

Game Operation Revenues

We earn revenues from our current MMORPG operations by providing online services to game players pursuant to the item-based revenue model. Under the item-based revenue model, game players play games free of charge and are charged for purchases of virtual items.

Under the item-based revenue model, proceeds received from sales of prepaid cards are initially recorded as receipts in advance. Proceeds from sale of prepaid cards to distributors are deferred when received and, revenue is recognized over the estimated lives of the virtual items purchased or as the virtual items are consumed. The revenues are recorded net of business tax and related surcharges, sales discounts and rebates to our distributors.

Under the item-based revenue model, game players can access our games free of charge, but may purchase consumable virtual items, including those with a predetermined expiration time, such as three months, or perpetual items, such as certain costumes that stay bound to a game player for the life of the game. Revenues in relation to consumable virtual items are recognized as they are consumed, as our services in connection with these items have been fully rendered to our game players as of that time. Revenues in relation to perpetual virtual items are recognized over their estimated lives. We will provide continual online game services in connection with these perpetual virtual items until they are no longer used by our game players. We have considered the average period that game players typically play our games and other game player behavior patterns to arrive at our best estimates for the lives of these perpetual virtual items. We have also considered that the estimated lives of perpetual virtual items may be affected by various factors, including the acceptance and popularity of expansion packs, promotional events launched and market conditions. However, given the relatively short operating history of our games, and of our most popular game TLBB in particular, our estimate of the period that game players typically play our games may not accurately reflect the estimated lives of the perpetual virtual items. We have adopted a policy of assessing the estimated lives of perpetual virtual items on a quarterly basis. All paying users’ data collected since the launch of the games are used to perform the relevant assessments. Historical behavior patterns of these paying users during the period between their first log-on date and last log-on date are used to estimate the lives of perpetual virtual items. While we believe our estimates to be reasonable based on available game player information, we may revise such estimates in the future as our games’ operation periods become longer and we continue to gain more operating history and data. Any adjustments arising from changes in the estimates of the lives of perpetual virtual items would be applied prospectively on the basis that such changes are caused by new information indicating a change in the game player behavior patterns. Any changes in our estimate of lives of perpetual virtual items may result in our revenues being recognized on a basis different from prior periods and may cause our operating results to fluctuate.

 

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Overseas Licensing Revenues

We also derive revenues from licensing our games in other countries and territories. The licensing agreements provided for two revenue streams, an initial license fee and a monthly revenue-based royalty based on monthly revenues from the games. The initial license fee consists of both a fixed amount and additional amounts receivable upon achieving certain sales targets. Since we are required to provide when-and-if-available upgrades to the licensees during the license period, both the fixed portion and the additional portion of the initial license fee are recognized ratably as revenue over the license period. The fixed portion of the initial license fee is recognized ratably over the remaining license period from the date the game is launched, and the additional portion of the initial license fee is recognized ratably over the remaining license period from the date such additional amount is certain. The monthly usage-based royalty fee is recognized when earned, provided that collectability is reasonably assured.

Sponsored Search Revenues

Sponsored search services mainly include pay-for-click services, priority placement services, and online marketing services on Sogou Start-up Page. Pay-for-click services mainly consist of displaying the text-based links of our advertisers on our websites and our website Alliance network. The priority placement services are placed in our search directory and are normally provided for a fixed fee over the service period of the contracts. Online marketing services mainly consist of displaying the links to our advertisers’ websites on Sogou Start-up Page. Sponsored search contracts are normally for relatively small amounts and are signed with small and medium-sized enterprises.

Revenue for pay-for-click services is recognized on a per click basis when the users click on the displayed links. Revenue for priority placement services is normally recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract period, provided our obligations under the contract have been met and all revenue recognition criteria have been met. The priority of the display of text-based links is based on the bidding price of different advertisers. Revenue for online marketing services on Sogou Start-up Page is normally recognized on a straight-line basis over the contract period, provided our obligations under the contract have been met and all revenue recognition criteria have been met.

Wireless Revenues

Wireless revenues are derived from a wide range of wireless products focused on entertainment, information and communications, such as short messaging services (“SMS”), Ring Back Tone (“RBT”), Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”), multi-media messaging services (“MMS”) and interactive voice response (“IVR”). We mainly offer news, weather forecasts, chatting, entertainment information, mobile phone ring tones, and logo downloads and various other mobile related services to mobile phone users through contracts signed with third party mobile network operators.

We contract with China Mobile and its subsidiaries and China Unicom and its subsidiaries (“China mobile network operators”) for billing, collection and transmission services offered to their users. We also contract with other service providers to obtain content and to distribute our wireless products. In addition, we purchase certain content from third-party content providers. In most of these arrangements, the fees payable to the third-party service and content providers are calculated based on certain percentages of the revenue earned after deducting the fees paid to China mobile network operators.

Wireless service fees are charged on a monthly or per message/download basis. Due to technical issues with the operator’s network, we might be unable to collect certain wireless service fees from an operator in certain circumstances. This un-collectability is referred to as the “failure rate”, which can vary from operator to operator. Wireless revenues are recognized in the month in which the service is performed, provided that no significant obligations remain. To recognize wireless revenue, we rely on China mobile network operators to provide us billing confirmations for the actual amount of services they have billed to their mobile customers. At the end of each reporting period, when an operator has not provided us the monthly billing confirmations, we use the information generated from our internal system as well as historical data to estimate the failure rate, to estimate the amount of collectable wireless service fees and to recognize revenue. When we later receive the actual billing confirmation, we then record a true-up accounting adjustment. Although we believe we have the ability to make reasonable estimates, the differences between the actual facts and our estimates may result in significant fluctuations in the amount and timing of the revenue recognized. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, 75% of our estimated wireless revenues were confirmed by the monthly billing confirmations received from China mobile network operators. Generally, (i) within 15 to 120 days after the end of each month, we receive billing confirmations from each of the operators confirming the amount of wireless service charges billed to that operator’s mobile phone users and (ii) within 30 to 180 days after delivering billing confirmations, each operator remits the wireless service fees, net of its service fees, for the month to us.

 

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Our management must determine whether to record our wireless revenues using the gross or net method of reporting. Determining whether revenue should be reported gross or net is based on an assessment of various factors, the primary factors being whether we are acting as the principal in offering services to the customer or whether we are acting as an agent in the transaction and the specific requirements of each contract. Currently, a majority of our wireless revenues are recorded on a gross basis, as we have the primary responsibility for fulfillment and acceptability of the wireless services. To the extent we are acting as a principal in a transaction, we report as revenue payments received on a gross basis, and report as costs of revenue amounts attributable to services provided by China mobile network operators and other vendors. To the extent we are acting as an agent in a transaction, we report on a net basis as revenue payments received. Whether we are serving as principal or agent in a transaction is judgmental in nature and is determined by evaluating the terms of the arrangement.

Others Revenues

Other revenues are primarily generated from cinema advertisements, sales of software to third parties, provision of ASP services, and website construction and maintenance.

For cinema advertising revenues, a contract is signed to establish the fixed price and advertising services to be provided. Based on the contracts, we provide advertisement placement on advertising slots to be shown in theatres before the screening of movies. The rights to place advertisements in such advertising slots were granted under contracts with different theatres and film production companies.

Revenue from the cinema advertising is recognized when all the recognition criteria are met. Depending on the terms of a customer contract, fees for services performed can be recognized according to two principal methods: proportional performance or straight line.

 

(1)

Fees are generally recognized as earned based on the proportional performance method of revenue recognition in situations where our fee is earned on a per advertising slot placement basis or where our fee is reconcilable to the number of advertising slots to be shown as detailed in the customer contracts.

 

(2)	Fees are recognized on a straight line basis over the contract period when the advertising service is provided essentially on a pro-rata basis during the contract period.

Share-based Compensation Expense

Share-based compensation expense is for share-based awards, including common stock/ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, granted by Sohu and Changyou to their employees and directors. Share-based compensation expense is recognized as costs and/or expenses in the consolidated financial statements based on the fair values of the related share-based awards on their grant dates.

For share-based awards granted by Sohu, in determining the fair value of share options granted, the Black-Scholes valuation model is applied; in determining the fair value of restricted share units granted, the public market price of the underlying shares on the grant dates is applied.

For share-based awards granted by Changyou, in determining the fair value of ordinary shares, restricted shares and restricted share units granted in 2008, the income approach/discounted cash flow method with a discount for lack of marketability was applied, given that the shares underlying the awards were not publicly traded at the time of grant. In determining the fair value of restricted share units granted in 2009 before Changyou’s initial public offering, the fair value of the underlying shares was determined based on Changyou’s offering price for its initial public offering. In determining the fair value of restricted share units granted after Changyou’s initial public offering, the public market price of the underlying shares on the grant dates is applied.

Share-based compensation expense for the ordinary shares granted is fully recognized in the quarter during which these ordinary shares are granted. Share-based compensation expense for share options, restricted shares and restricted share units granted is recognized on an accelerated basis over the requisite service period. The number of share-based awards for which the service is not expected to be rendered over the requisite period is estimated, and the related compensation expense is not recorded for that number of awards.

The assumptions used in share-based compensation expense recognition represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. If factors change or different assumptions are used, our share-based compensation expense could be materially different for any period. Moreover, the estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value that ultimately will be realized by employees who receive equity awards, and subsequent events are not indicative of the reasonableness of the original estimates of fair value made by us for accounting purposes.

 

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Income Taxes and Uncertain Tax Positions

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for using an asset and liability approach which requires the recognition of income taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our financial statements or tax returns. Deferred income taxes are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the currently enacted tax rates and laws. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance, if based on available evidence, it is considered that it is more likely than not that some portion of or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In making such determination, we consider factors including (i) future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, (ii) future profitability, and (iii) tax planning strategies.

Our deferred tax assets are related to net operating losses of Sohu that would be subject to corporate income tax in the United States (“U.S. Corporate Income Tax”), and net operating losses and temporary differences between accounting and tax basis for our China-based subsidiaries and VIEs that are subject to corporate income tax in the PRC under the CIT law (“PRC Corporate Income Tax”). Substantially all of our income is earned through China-based subsidiaries and VIEs. In the foreseeable future we do not intend to repatriate income to the United States (“U.S.”) where it would be subject to U.S. Corporate Income Tax, except that, under certain circumstances, we may repatriate to the U.S. income that will be subject to the U.S. Alternative Minimum Tax. In the foreseeable future, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets resulting from the net operating losses of Sohu will not be realized. Hence, we recorded a valuation allowance against our gross deferred tax assets in order to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. If events were to occur in the future that would allow us to realize more of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the deferred tax assets that would increase income for the period when those events occurred. If events were to occur in the future that would require us to realize less of our deferred tax assets than the presently recorded net amount, an adjustment would be made to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets that would decrease income for the period when those events occurred.

Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense and deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Uncertain Tax Positions

In order to assess uncertain tax positions, we apply a more likely than not threshold and a two-step approach for tax position measurement and financial statement recognition. For the two-step approach, the first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon settlement.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest is the portion of economic interest in Sohu’s majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs which is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to Sohu. Currently, the noncontrolling interest in our consolidated financial statements mainly consists of noncontrolling interest for Changyou and Sogou.

Noncontrolling Interest for Changyou

To reflect the economic interest in Changyou held by shareholders other than Sohu (“noncontrolling shareholders”), Changyou’s net income attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders is recorded as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations, based on their share of the economic interests in Changyou. Changyou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders, along with its changes in shareholders’ equity and adjustment for share-based compensation expense in relation to those share-based awards which are unvested and vested but not yet settled, are recorded as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated balance sheets.

Noncontrolling Interest for Sogou

To reflect the economic interest in Sogou held by noncontrolling shareholders, Sogou’s net income/loss attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders is recorded as noncontrolling interest in Sohu’s consolidated statements of operations. Sogou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to these noncontrolling shareholders, along with these shareholders’ original investments in Series A Preferred Shares, is accounted for as a noncontrolling interest classified as permanent equity in Sohu’s consolidated balance sheets, as its redemption is solely within the control of Sohu. These treatments are based on the terms governing investment by the noncontrolling shareholders in the Series A Preferred Shares of Sogou (the “Sogou Series A Terms”) and the terms of Sogou’s restructuring.

 

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By virtue of the Sogou Series A Terms and the terms of the restructuring, as Sogou loses money after its restructuring, the net losses will be allocated in the following order: (i) net losses will be allocated to Sohu until its basis in Sogou decreases to zero; (ii) additional net losses will be allocated to noncontrolling shareholders until their investment in Sogou decreases to zero; and (iii) further net losses will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou. Any subsequent net income from Sogou will be allocated in the following order: (i) net income will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou until their basis in Sogou increases to zero; (ii) additional net income will be allocated to noncontrolling shareholders to bring their basis back; (iii) further net income will be allocated to Sohu to bring its basis back; and (iv) further net income will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou.

Net Income per Share

Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares comprise shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards using the treasury stock method. The computation of diluted net income per share does not assume conversion, exercise, or contingent issuance of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., an increase in earnings per share amounts or a decrease in loss per share amounts) on net income per share. Additionally, for purposes of calculating the numerator of diluted net income per share, the net income attributable to Sohu is adjusted for two factors as following:

(1) Difference between Changyou’s net income attributable to Sohu determined by:

i) the percentage of the total economic interest in Changyou held by Sohu, and

ii) the percentage of the weighted average number of Changyou shares held by Sohu to the weighted average number of Changyou ordinary shares and shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards under the treasury stock method.

(2) Difference between Sogou’s net income/loss attributable to Sohu determined by:

i) the Sogou Series A Terms and the terms of Sogou’s restructuring, and

ii) the percentage of the weighted average number of Sogou shares held by Sohu to the weighted average number of Sogou ordinary shares and shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible preferred shares under the if-converted method.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, investment in debt securities, accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their fair value. Other financial instruments are measured at their respective fair values. For fair value measurement, U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:

Level 1 - observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2 - include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the market place.

Level 3 - unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity.

The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

Accounts Receivable, Net

The carrying value of accounts receivable is reduced by an allowance that reflects our best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. We make estimations of the collectability of accounts receivable. In estimating the general allowance, many factors are considered, including but not limited to reviewing delinquent accounts receivable, performing aging analysis and customer credit analysis, and analyzing historical bad debt records and current economic trends. Additional allowance for specific doubtful accounts might be made if the financial conditions of our customers or mobile network operators deteriorate or China mobile network operators are unable to collect fees from their end customers, resulting in their inability to make payments due to us.

 

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Investment in Debt Securities

We invest our excess cash in certain debt securities of high-quality corporate issuers. We elected the fair value option to account for our investments in debt securities at their initial recognition, and recorded changes in fair value in other income/expenses. The fair value election was made to mitigate accounting mismatches and to achieve operational simplifications.

Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include fixed assets, intangible assets and prepaid non-current assets.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets mainly comprise computer equipment and hardware, office building, leasehold improvements, vehicles and office furniture. Fixed assets are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation with no residual value. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets primarily comprise content and license, purchased copyrights, domain names, trademarks, marketing rights, operating rights of licensed games, computer software purchased from unrelated third parties and developed technologies. Intangible assets are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization with no residual value. Amortization of intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

Prepaid non-current Assets

Prepaid non-current assets primarily include prepayments for the office buildings to be built as Sohu’s and Changyou’s headquarters before they were recognized as fixed assets.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

The carrying values of long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Based on the existence of one or more indicators of impairment, we measure any impairment of long-lived assets using the projected discounted cash flow method. The estimation of future cash flows requires significant management judgment based on our historical results and anticipated results and is subject to many factors. The discount rate that is commensurate with the risk inherent in our business model is determined by our management. An impairment charge would be recorded if we determined that the carrying value of long-lived assets may not be recoverable. The impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying values of the assets exceed the fair values of the assets.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as a result of our acquisitions of interests in our subsidiaries and VIEs. Goodwill is not depreciated or amortized but is tested for impairment at reporting unit level (business segment) on an annual basis, and between annual tests when an event occurs or circumstances change that could indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of goodwill with its carrying value. Application of a goodwill impairment test requires significant management judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigning assets and liabilities to reporting units, assigning goodwill to reporting units, and determining the fair value of each reporting unit. The judgments in estimating the fair value of reporting units include estimating future cash flows, determining appropriate discount rates and making other assumptions. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the determination of fair value for each reporting unit.

Functional Currency and Foreign Currency Translation

Functional Currency

An entity’s functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates, normally that is the currency of the environment in which it primarily generates and expends cash. Management’s judgment is essential to determine the functional currency by assessing various indicators, such as cash flows, sales price and market, expenses, financing and inter-company transactions and arrangements. The functional currency of Sohu.com Inc. is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of our subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC (except for Wuxi Sohu New Momentum, a PRC subsidiary set up in May 2010), the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Korea, respectively, are the RMB, British Pound, Malaysian Ringgit, and Korean Won, respectively. Wuxi Sohu New Momentum’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of our subsidiaries in the U.S. and Hong Kong is the U.S. dollar.

 

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Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of our China-based subsidiaries and VIEs (not including Wuxi Sohu New Momentum), the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Korea are translated into U.S. dollars, our reporting currency, at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheets date and revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the reporting period. Foreign currency translation adjustments are not included in determining net income for the period but are accumulated in a separate component of equity in our consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign currency transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are remeasured at the applicable rates of exchange in effect at that date. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency re-measurement are included in the consolidated statements of operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2011 AND 2010

In 2010, in order to better present operating results of sponsored search business after the restructuring, we reclassified certain revenues and cost of revenues from sponsored search segment to others segment. To conform to current period presentations, the relevant amounts for prior periods have been reclassified.

REVENUES

The following table presents our revenues by revenue source and by proportion for the periods indicated:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011								2010								2011 VS 2010
		(in thousands, except percentages)
Revenues:
Online brand advertising		$	57,153				33	%		$	39,512				31	%		$	17,641
Online game			94,930				54	%			72,072				56	%			22,858
Sponsored search			7,979				5	%			2,824				2	%			5,155
Wireless			11,704				7	%			13,288				10	%			(1,584	)
Others			2,603				1	%			1,758				1	%			845
Total revenues		$	174,369				100	%		$	129,454				100	%		$	44,915

Total revenues were $174.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $129.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in total revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $44.9 million. The increase was mainly attributable to online game revenues and online brand advertising revenues.

Online Brand Advertising Revenues

Online brand advertising revenues were $57.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $39.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in online brand advertising revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $17.6 million. The increase was mainly due to increased advertising dollars from existing advertisers and an increased number of advertisers.

We expect online brand advertising revenues to increase in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Online Game Revenues

Online game revenues were $94.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $72.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in online game revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $22.8 million. The increase was mainly due to increased popularity of our flagship game, TLBB.

 

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We expect online game revenues to increase in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Revenue Sources

The following table sets forth the revenues generated from our game operations in mainland China and overseas licensing (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Online game revenues:
Game operations revenues		$	92,936			$	70,202
Overseas licensing revenues			1,994				1,870
Total online game revenues		$	94,930			$	72,072

Game Operations Revenues

Our current seven MMORPGs in China, TLBB, BO, BH2, DHSH, ZHYX, IF and SJQY, are free for game players to play. These seven MMORPGs generate revenues using the item-based revenue model through the sale of virtual items, which enhance the game-playing experience. Game players can purchase virtual items, such as gems, pets, fashion items, magic medicine, riding animals, hierograms, materials, skill books and fireworks by purchasing prepaid game cards or game points.

Overseas Licensing Revenues

We began licensing our game TLBB to operators outside of China in 2007. We began generating overseas licensing revenues from TLBB in Thailand in September 2010, in Malaysia and Singapore in April 2009, in Taiwan and Hong Kong in April 2008, and in Vietnam in August 2007. The licenses are for terms of either two years or three years and are eligible for renew after expiration. Under our licensing arrangements, the licensee operators pay us an initial license fee and ongoing royalties based on a percentage of revenues generated by them over the term of the license period.

Our overseas licensing revenues were $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Revenue Collection

Game Operations

We sell virtual and physical prepaid game cards to regional distributors, who in turn sub-distribute to retail outlets, including Internet cafés, various websites, newsstands, software stores, bookstores and retail stores. We typically collect payment from our distributors upon delivery of our prepaid game cards, but only recognize revenues as the virtual items are consumed. We generally offer a sales discount to our prepaid game card distributors based on the popularity of our games. In 2008, we offered an initial sales discount at the rate of 15.0%, which has decreased to the current rate of 10.0%, effective as of January 2011. In addition, we offer a discount of 5.0% to our game players who directly purchase virtual prepaid game cards and game points from our online sales system. The sales discount represents the difference between the price at which we sell prepaid game cards to distributors or game players, as the case may be, and the face value of the prepaid game cards or the equivalent of game points.

We also offer rebates in the form of credits on future purchases of prepaid game cards to distributors of our prepaid game cards. Distributors of prepaid game cards will receive a credit on future purchases of our prepaid game cards in an amount equal to 1.0% to 3.0% of the discounted value of our prepaid game cards, provided that the distributors meet certain preset sales conditions. Historically, most of our distributors have met the conditions required to receive these credits. Credits are in the form of free prepaid game cards. We incur transaction costs of 0.1% to 0.5% of the face value of the virtual prepaid game cards or the equivalent of game points by using third-party payment platforms.

The current total discount and rebate rate we typically offer to all of our prepaid game card distributors is approximately 7.0% to 9.0% of the face value of our prepaid game cards. The total discount and transaction costs associated with game players’ use of third-party payment platforms is 5.1% to 5.5% of the face value of the virtual prepaid game cards or the equivalent of game points purchased.

 

 

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Overseas Licensing

Our overseas licensing revenues consist of an initial license fee and ongoing revenue-based royalties. The initial license fee includes a fixed amount payable upon signing the license agreement and additional license fees payable upon achieving certain sales targets. The ongoing revenue-based royalties are generally determined based on the amount charged to game players’ accounts in a given country or region and sales of ancillary products of the game in such country or region. We typically receive ongoing revenue-based royalties on a monthly basis.

Revenue Recognition

Game Operations

Proceeds received from sales of prepaid game cards form the basis of our revenues and are recorded initially as receipts in advance. Upon activation of the prepaid game cards, proceeds are transferred from receipts in advance to deferred revenues. Proceeds received from online sales of game points directly to game players are recorded as deferred revenues. As of March 31, 2011, we had receipts in advance from distributors and deferred revenues from our game operations of $37.0 million, compared to $33.8 million as of December 31, 2010.

We recognize revenues when virtual items purchased by game players are consumed. For consumable virtual items, including those with a predetermined expiration time, revenues are recognized as they are consumed, and for perpetual virtual items, revenues are recognized over their estimated lives. In addition, prepaid game cards will expire two years after the date of card production if they have never been activated. The proceeds from the expired game cards are recognized as revenues upon expiration of the cards. In contrast, once the prepaid game cards are activated and credited to a game player’s account, they will not expire as long as the game account remains active. We are entitled to close a game player’s account if it has been inactive for a period of 180 consecutive days. The unused balances in an inactive game player’s account are recognized as revenues when the account is closed. For the three months ended March 31, 2011, the revenue from expired game cards and inactive game players’ accounts was $0.2 million.

Overseas Licensing

For the initial license fees receivable under our overseas licensing agreements, we recognize revenues ratably over the remaining license period, during which we are obligated to provide post-sales services such as technical support and provision of updates or upgrades to the licensed games. Unrecognized initial license fees received are recorded as deferred revenues. As of March 31, 2011, such deferred revenues were $0.4 million, compared to $0.7 million as of December 31, 2010. With respect to the ongoing revenue-based royalties, we recognize revenues when the revenue-based royalties are earned under the terms of the overseas licensing agreements, and the collection of such royalties is probable.

Sponsored Search Revenues

Sponsored search services primarily include pay-for-click services, priority placements in our search directory, and online marketing services on Sogou Start-up Page. Revenues from pay-for-click services accounted for approximately 82% of the total sponsored search revenues for the first quarter of 2011, compared to 75% for the first quarter of 2010.

Sponsored search revenues were $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in sponsored search revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $5.2 million. The increase in sponsored search revenues mainly arose from pay-for-click services and online marketing services on Sogou Start-up Page.

We expect sponsored search revenues to increase in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Wireless Revenues

Wireless revenues were $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $13.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

We expect wireless revenues to steadily increase in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Others Revenues

Revenues for other services were $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The increase in other revenues mainly arose from the cinema advertisement business.

 

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COSTS AND EXPENSES

Cost of Revenues

The following table presents our cost of revenues by source and by proportion for the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011								2010								2011 VS 2010
Cost of revenues:
Online brand advertising		$	22,445				49	%		$	17,283				53	%		$	5,162
Online game			8,968				19	%			5,384				16	%			3,584
Sponsored search			4,877				11	%			2,753				8	%			2,124
Wireless			6,892				15	%			6,911				21	%			(19	)
Others			2,670				6	%			495				2	%			2,175
Total cost of revenues		$	45,852				100	%		$	32,826				100	%		$	13,026

Total cost of revenues was $45.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $32.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in total cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $13.1 million. The increase was mainly attributable to increased cost of online brand advertising revenues and increased cost of online game revenues.

Cost of Online Brand Advertising Revenues

Cost of online brand advertising revenues includes salary and benefits expenses, amortization of purchased copyrights, depreciation expenses, content and license costs, bandwidth leasing costs and revenue sharing payments.

Amortization of purchased copyrights is related to titles to movies and television series acquired from external parties. We amortize purchased copyrights over the shorter of the term of the applicable licensing period or the estimated period over which the benefits of the licensing contract will be enjoyed.

Cost of online brand advertising revenues was $22.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $17.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in cost of online brand advertising revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $5.1 million. The increase was primarily attributable to investment in our video business.

Our online brand advertising gross margin was 61% and 56% for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The increase in our online brand advertising gross margin was due to the growth in online brand advertising revenues having been faster than the increase in cost of online brand advertising revenues.

Cost of Online Game Revenues

Cost of online game revenues mainly consists of salary and benefits expenses, revenue-based royalty payments to the game developers, bandwidth leasing costs, amortization of licensing fees, depreciation expenses, PRC business tax and value-added tax (“VAT”) arising from transactions between Changyou’s subsidiaries and its VIEs.

Cost of online game revenues was $9.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The year-on-year increase in cost of online game revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $3.6 million.

The increase mainly consisted of a $1.2 million increase in salary and benefits expenses, which was attributable to the increased size of our workforce, a $1.1 million increase in revenue-based royalty payments to the game developers, a $0.7 million increase in bandwidth leasing costs and a $0.5 million increase in depreciation expenses.

Our online game gross margin was 91% and 93%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

Cost of Sponsored Search Revenues

Cost of sponsored search revenues mainly consists of depreciation expenses, bandwidth leasing costs, payments to our website Alliance and salary and benefits expenses.

Cost of sponsored search revenues was $4.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in cost of sponsored search revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $2.1 million.

The increase mainly consisted of a $1.4 million increase in payments to our website Alliance.

 

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Cost of Wireless Revenues

Cost of wireless revenues consists of collection charges and transmission fees paid to mobile network operators, payments to third party wireless service alliances and content suppliers, penalties, depreciation expenses, and bandwidth leasing costs.

Cost of wireless revenues were both $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

The collection and transmission charges vary among the mobile network operators. The collection charges and transmission fees mainly include (1) a gateway fee of $0.005 to $0.03 per message in the first quarter of 2011, and $0.003 to $0.029 per message in the first quarter of 2010, depending on the volume of the monthly total wireless messages, and (2) a collection fee of 15% to 87% of total fees collected by the mobile network operators from mobile phone users (with the residual paid to us) in the first quarter of 2011, compared to 15% to 75% in the first quarter of 2010.

Our wireless gross margin was 41% and 48%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

The decrease was due to wireless revenue having decreased in 2011 while the cost of revenue remained unchanged from 2010.

Cost of Revenues for Other Services

Cost of revenues for other services mainly consists of payment to cinemas or cinema circuits for pre-filming advertisement slots; personnel and other expenses in connection with sales of software, provision of ASP services and construction and maintenance of websites.

Cost of revenues for other services was $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in cost of others revenues for the first quarter of 2011 was $2.2 million. The increase was mainly attributable to costs for our cinema advertisement business.

Operating Expenses

The following table presents our operating expenses by nature and by proportion for the periods indicated (in thousands, except percentages):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011								2010								2011 VS 2010
Operating expenses:
Product development		$	22,782				35	%		$	15,518				32	%		$	7,264
Sales and marketing			30,177				46	%			23,009				47	%			7,168
General and administrative			11,998				18	%			9,883				20	%			2,115
Amortization of intangible assets			192				1	%			108				1	%			84
Total operating expenses		$	65,149				100	%		$	48,518				100	%		$	16,631

Total operating expenses were $65.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $48.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2011 was $16.6 million. The increase was mainly attributable to increases in product development expenses and sales and marketing expenses.

Product Development Expenses

Product development expenses mainly consist of personnel-related expenses incurred for the enhancement to and maintenance of our websites as well as costs associated with new product development and enhancement for existing products and services.

Product development expenses were $22.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $15.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in product development expenses for the first quarter of 2011 was $7.3 million.

The increase mainly consisted of a $5.6 million increase in salary and benefits expenses, a $0.9 million increase in content and license expenses, and a $0.6 million increase in depreciation expenses.

 

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Sales and Marketing Expenses

Sales and marketing expenses mainly consist of advertising and promotional expenditures, salary and benefits expenses, sales commissions and travel expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses were $30.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $23.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in sales and marketing expenses for the first quarter of 2011 was $7.2 million.

The increase mainly consisted of a $3.9 million increase in salary and benefits expenses, a $0.7 million increase in advertising and promotional expenditures, a $0.6 million increase in travel expenses, a $0.5 million increase in office expenses, and a $0.4 million increase in facilities expenses.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses mainly consist of salary and benefits expenses and professional service fees.

General and administrative expenses were $12.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The year-on-year increase in general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2011 was $2.1 million.

The increase mainly consisted of a $0.8 million increase in professional service fees, a $0.7 million increase in travel expenses and a $0.6 million increase in salary and benefits expenses.

Amortization of Intangible Assets

Amortization of intangible assets mainly related to the acquisitions of the 17173.com, Focus.cn, GoodFeel and Go2Map.

Amortization of intangible assets was $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Share-based Compensation Expense

Sohu, Changyou and Sogou all have incentive plans for the granting of share-based awards, including common stock/ ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, to their employees and directors. As of March 31, 2011, no share-based awards had been granted by Sogou; therefore no share-based compensation expense was recognized under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan.

Share-based compensation expense was recognized in costs and/or expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively, as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2011				2010
Cost of revenues		$	735			$	1,035
Product development expenses			1,772				2,445
Sales and marketing expenses			1,089				955
General and administrative expenses			1,672				2,093
		$	5,268			$	6,528

Share-based compensation expense recognized for share-based awards granted by Sohu and Changyou, respectively, was as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2011				2010
For share awards granted by Sohu.com Inc.		$	3,535			$	3,585
For share awards granted by Changyou.com Limited			1,733				2,943
		$	5,268			$	6,528

For share options granted by Sohu, as of March 31, 2011 there was no unrecognized compensation expense because the requisite service periods for the remaining share options had ended by the end of 2009. For restricted share units granted by Sohu, as of March 31, 2011 there was $15.7 million of related unrecognized compensation expense.

For share-based awards granted by Changyou, as of March 31, 2011, there was $6.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense.

 

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Operating Profit

As a result of the foregoing, our operating profit was $63.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $48.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income was $510,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to other expense of $25,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Interest Income and Exchange Difference

Interest income and exchange difference was $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, comprising interest income of $2.7 million, offset by exchange loss of $0.4 million, compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, mainly consisting of interest income.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was $11.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

The year-on-year increase in income tax expense in the first quarter of 2011 was mainly due to a $2.8 million increase in income tax expense for online game business.

Net Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, we had net income of $55.2 million, including $9.0 million from online brand advertising, wireless and others segment, $52.9 million from game segment, and negative $6.7 million from sponsored search segment.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, we had net income of $41.3 million, including $9.1 million from online brand advertising, wireless and others segment, $39.7 million from game segment, and negative $7.5 million from sponsored search segment.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest was $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

The year-on-year decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the first quarter of 2011 was mainly due to losses of Sogou and Focus Time.

We expect the noncontrolling interest recognized for Changyou to increase in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the first quarter of 2011, due to vesting of share-based awards as described in Note 11—Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity—Changyou.com Limited Share-based Awards, as well as the increase in Changyou’s net income.

We expect the noncontrolling interest recognized for Sogou to remain at the same level in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the first quarter of 2011.

Net Income attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

As a result of the foregoing, we had net income attributable to Sohu of $44.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011, compared to $30.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, investment in debt securities, as well as the cash flows generated from our operations.

As of March 31, 2011, we had cash and cash equivalents and investment in debt securities of approximately $814.2 million. As of March 31, 2010, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $599.2 million. Cash equivalents primarily comprise time deposits.

 

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On November 20, 2009, Sohu entered into an agreement to purchase an office building to be built in Beijing, which will serve as our headquarters, for a purchase price of approximately $110 million. On August 20, 2010, the purchase price was adjusted to $120 million to cover additional purchased floor area. As of March 31, 2011, $66 million had been paid and was recognized as prepaid non-current assets in our consolidated financial statements. The remaining $54 million payment will be settled in installments as various stages of the development plan are completed. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

On August 23, 2010, Changyou entered into an agreement to purchase an office building to be built in Beijing, which will serve as its headquarters, for a purchase price of approximately $150 million. As of March 31, 2011, $60 million had been paid and was recognized as prepaid non-current assets in our consolidated financial statements. The remaining $90 million payment will be settled in installments as various stages of the development plan are completed. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

We believe our current liquidity and capital resources are sufficient to meet anticipated working capital needs (net cash used in operating activities), commitments and capital expenditures over the next twelve months. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changes in business conditions and other future developments, or changes in general economic conditions.

Cash Generating Ability

We believe we will continue to generate strong cash flow from our online brand advertising business and online game business, which, along with our available cash, will provide sufficient liquidity and financial flexibility.

Our cash flows were summarized below (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2011				2010
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	72,355			$	42,929
Net cash used in investing activities			(19,881	)			(8,423	)
Net cash provided by financing activities			2,333				783
Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents			4,739				82
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents			59,546				35,371
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			678,389				563,782
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	737,935			$	599,153

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, $72.4 million net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to our net income of $55.2 million, adjusted by non-cash items of share-based compensation expense of $5.3 million, depreciation and amortization of $12.3 million, loss from equity investment of $0.3 million and other miscellaneous non-cash expense of $0.5 million, offset by a decrease in cash from working capital items of $1.0 million and a decrease in cash of $0.2 million from excess tax benefits.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, $42.9 million net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to our net income of $41.3 million, adjusted by non-cash items of share-based compensation expense of $6.5 million, depreciation and amortization of $5.1 million and other miscellaneous non-cash expense of $0.2 million, offset by a net decrease in cash from working capital items of $9.7 million and $0.5 million excess tax benefits.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the above excess tax benefits were presented as a reduction in cash flows from operating activities and a cash inflow from financing activities. Realizing this benefit reduced the amount of taxes payable and does not otherwise affect cash flows.

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, $19.9 million net cash used in investing activities was primarily attributable to $18.5 million used in acquiring fixed assets, intangible assets and prepaid non-current assets and $1.4 million used in business acquisitions and investing activities.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, $8.4 million net cash used in investing activities was primarily attributable to a $7.2 million used in acquiring fixed assets , intangible assets and other assets and $1.2 million used in business acquisition.

 

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Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, $2.3 million net cash provided by financing activities was primarily attributable to $1.2 million from the issuance of common stock upon the exercise of share options granted under our stock incentive plan, $0.9 million from the proceeds of the noncontrolling shareholders of Focus Yiju and Focus Time, and $0.2 million excess tax benefits mentioned in above “Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities”.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, $0.8 million net cash provided by financing activities was primarily attributable to to $0.3 million from the issuance of common stock upon the exercise of share options granted under our stock incentive plan and $0.5 million excess tax benefits mentioned in above “Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities”.

Restrictions on Cash Transfers to Sohu.com Inc.

To fund any cash requirements it may have, Sohu may need to rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by Sohu.com Limited and Changyou, our wholly-owned subsidiary and majority-owned subsidiary. Since substantially all of our operations are conducted through our indirect China-based wholly-owned subsidiaries, majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs, Sohu.com Limited and Changyou may need to rely on dividends, loans or advances made by our PRC subsidiaries.

Substantially all of Changyou’s operations are conducted through Gamease, Guanyou Gamespace and Shanghai ICE, our VIEs, which generate all of our online game revenues. As these VIEs are not owned by Changyou’s subsidiaries, they are not able to make dividend payments to Changyou’s subsidiaries. Instead, each of AmazGame, Gamespace and ICE WFOE, which are Changyou’s subsidiaries in China, has entered into a number of contracts with its corresponding VIEs to provide services to such VIE in return for cash payments. In order for us to receive any dividends, loans or advances from Changyou’s PRC subsidiaries, or to distribute any dividends to our shareholders and ADS holders, we will need to rely on these payments made from these VIEs to Changyou’s PRC subsidiaries. Depending on the nature of services provided by Changyou’s PRC subsidiaries to their corresponding VIEs, certain of these payments are subject to PRC taxes, including business taxes and VAT, which effectively reduce the amount that a PRC subsidiary receives from its corresponding VIE. In addition, the PRC government could impose restrictions on such payments or change the tax rates applicable to such payments.

In addition, regulations in the PRC currently permit payment of dividends of a PRC company only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with accounting standards and regulations in China. Our China-based subsidiaries, which are wholly foreign-owned enterprises (“WFOEs”), are also required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to their general reserves until the cumulative amount reaches 50% of their paid-in capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends, or as loans or advances. These WFOEs may also allocate a portion of their after-tax profits, at the discretion of their Boards of Directors, to their staff welfare and bonus funds. Any amounts so allocated may not be distributed to Changyou and/or to Sohu.com Limited and, accordingly, would not be available for distribution to Sohu.

Also, under regulations of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, (“SAFE”), the RMB is not convertible into foreign currencies for capital account items, such as loans, repatriation of investments and investments outside of China, unless prior approval of the SAFE is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made.

With respect to PRC tax, certain dividends paid by WFOEs to their immediate Hong Kong holding companies that meet tax authorities’ requirements would be subject to a withholding tax at the rate of 5%, which would reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to Sohu. Any such dividends paid to Hong Kong holding companies that did not meet the tax authorities’ requirements would be subject to a withholding tax at the rate of 10%, which would further reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to Sohu.

With respect to U.S. tax, as Sohu Group has two listed companies, Sohu.com Inc. and Changyou.com Limited, which are regarded as separate legal entities for U.S. tax purposes, certain transactions between these two companies as well as between their subsidiaries and VIEs might expose Sohu.com Inc. to 34% U.S. Corporate Income Tax. In addition, certain transactions of Changyou and its subsidiaries and VIEs (for example, investing in U.S. properties) might also expose Sohu.com Inc. to the risk that these transactions will be treated as taxable for U.S. tax purposes. Moreover, if Changyou pays dividends, Sohu.com Inc., as one of the shareholders of Changyou, might be subject to U.S. tax at 34% for the dividends received or, under certain circumstances, when Sohu sells Changyou American depositary shares (“ADSs”) originally held by Sohu at a price higher than its U.S. tax basis, a portion of the proceeds will be subject to U.S. tax at 34%. Furthermore, any dividends or any deemed dividends received by Sohu.com Inc. would be subject to U.S. Tax at 34%.

We do not expect any of such restrictions or taxes to have a material impact on our ability to meet our cash obligations.

 

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Dividend Policy

The two listed companies within the Sohu Group, Sohu.com Inc. and Changyou.com Limited, do not expect to pay dividends on their common stock and ordinary shares, respectively, in the foreseeable future. The Sohu Group currently intends to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of its business, and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends on Sohu.com Inc.’s common stock or on Changyou.com Limited’s ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by Changyou.com Limited’s ADSs, for the foreseeable future.

Future cash dividends distributed by Sohu.com Inc. and Changyou.com Limited, if any, will be declared at the discretion of their respective Boards of Directors and will depend upon their future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors as their respective Boards of Directors may deem relevant.

Holders of ADSs of Changyou.com Limited will be entitled to receive dividends, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as the holders of Changyou.com Limited’s ordinary shares, less the fees and expenses payable under the deposit agreement. Cash dividends will be paid by the depositary to holders of ADSs in U.S. dollars, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement. Other distributions, if any, will be paid by the depositary to holders of ADSs in any manner that the depositary deems equitable and practicable.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET COMMITMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS

We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of third parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholder’s equity, or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or that engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.

IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

None

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK

While our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, to date the majority of our revenues and costs are denominated in RMB and a significant portion of our assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. As a result, we are exposed to foreign exchange risk as our revenues and results of operations may be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the RMB. If the RMB depreciates against the U.S. dollar, the value of our RMB revenues and assets as expressed in our U.S. dollar financial statements will decline. We do not hold any derivative or other financial instruments that expose us to substantial market risk.

The RMB is currently freely convertible under the “current account”, which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account”, which includes foreign direct investment. In addition, commencing on July 21, 2005, China reformed its exchange rate regime by changing to a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. Under the managed floating exchange rate regime, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. The exchange rate of the RMB against the U.S. dollar was adjusted to RMB8.11 per U.S. dollar as of July 21, 2005, representing an appreciation of about 2%. The People’s Bank of China will announce the closing prices of foreign currencies such as the U.S. dollar traded against the RMB in the inter-bank foreign exchange market after the closing of the market on each business day, and will make such prices the central parity for trading against the RMB on the following business day. On May 19, 2007, the People’s Bank of China announced a policy to expand the maximum daily floating range of RMB trading prices against the U.S. dollar in the inter-bank spot foreign exchange market from 0.3% to 0.5%. While the international reactions to the RMB revaluation and widening of the RMB’s daily trading band have generally been positive, with the increased floating range of the RMB’s value against foreign currencies, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar or other foreign currencies in the long term, depending on the fluctuation of the basket of currencies against which it is currently valued.

On June 19, 2010, the People’s Bank of China announced that it has decided to proceed further with the reform of the RMB exchange rate regime to enhance the flexibility of the RMB exchange rate and that emphasis would be placed on reflecting market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. While so indicating its intention to make the RMB’s exchange rate more flexible, the People’s Bank of China ruled out any sharp fluctuations in the currency or a one-off adjustment. Shortly after this announcement, the center point of the currency’s official trading band broke through the 6.8 barrier to hit 6.7969 to the U.S. dollar; it broke through the 6.6 barrier to hit 6.5564 in March 2011; the appreciation is 3.7% in total, which is the highest center point of the past five years. As a result of the announcement, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate more significantly in value against the U.S. dollar or other foreign currencies in the long term, depending on the market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies.

 

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To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure. Accordingly, we may incur economic losses in the future due to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, which could have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

The following table sets forth a summary of our foreign currency sensitive financial instruments as of March 31, 2011, which consisted of cash and cash equivalents, investment in debt securities, account receivables, prepaid and other current assets, and current liabilities. The maturity of those financial instruments was less than one year and their book value approximated fair value.

 

		Denominated in (in thousands)
		US$				RMB				HK$				Others				Total
Cash and cash equivalents			217,787				516,771				1,670				1,707				737,935
Investment in debt securities			0				76,220				0				0				76,220
Account Receivables			1,224				67,316				12				116				68,668
Prepaid and other current assets			2,587				10,808				4				518				13,917
Current liabilities			9,915				220,890				162				143				231,110

INTEREST RATE RISK

The basic objectives of our investment program are to protect the invested funds from excessive risk and to provide for liquidity that is sufficient to meet operating and investment cash requirements. Under the investment policy, our excess cash is invested in high-quality securities which are limited as to length of time to maturity and the amount of credit exposure.

Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated from excess cash invested in demand deposits and debt securities. We have not used derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio in order to reduce this risk. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates.

INFLATION RATE RISK

According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the consumer price index grew 5.0% in the first three months in 2011. This rate of inflation was the highest in the past two years, and there may be further inflation in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”), have concluded that as of the Evaluation Date our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and designed to ensure that all material information related to Sohu required to be included in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During the period covered by this quarterly report, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There have been no material developments in the legal proceedings reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There are no material changes or updates to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the SEC on February 28, 2011.

 

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Use of Proceeds

On July 17, 2000, Sohu completed an underwritten initial public offering of its common stock pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (SEC file No. 333-96137), which became effective on July 10, 2000. Public trading of the common stock offered in the initial public offering commenced on July 12, 2000. Sohu sold an aggregate of 4,600,000 shares of common stock in the offering at a price to the public of $13 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $59.8 million. Sohu’s net proceeds, after deduction of the underwriting discount of $4.2 million and other offering expenses of $3.2 million, were approximately $52.4 million. All shares sold in the offering were sold by Sohu.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, Sohu did not use any proceeds from the offering. The remaining net proceeds from the offering have been invested in cash and cash equivalents. The use of the proceeds from the offering does not represent a material change in the use of proceeds described in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 described above.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Please see the Exhibit Index attached hereto.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

Dated: May 9, 2011

 

 

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Sohu.com Inc.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended March 31, 2011

EXHIBITS INDEX

 

31.1		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Charles Zhang
31.2		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Carol Yu
32.1		Section 1350 Certification of Charles Zhang
32.2		Section 1350 Certification of Carol Yu
101		Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010; and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.

 

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