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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, 2016

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 18, Sohu.com Media Plaza

Block 3, No. 2 Kexueyuan South Road, Haidian District

Beijing 100190

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, 2016
Common stock, $.001 par value		38,671,434

 

 

 

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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 December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016			3
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2016			5
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2016			6
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 and 2016			7
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements			9
Item 2		Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			41
Item 3		Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk			67
Item 4		Controls and Procedures			68
PART II		OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1		Legal Proceedings			68
Item 1A		Risk Factors			68
Item 2		Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			68
Item 3		Defaults Upon Senior Securities			69
Item 4		Mine Safety Disclosures			69
Item 5		Other Information			69
Item 6		Exhibits			69
		Signatures			70
		Exhibit Index			71

 

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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
		December 31, 2015				March 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	1,245,205			$	1,202,376
Restricted time deposits			227,285				0
Short-term investments			174,515				101,004
Accounts receivable, net			273,617				254,785
Prepaid and other current assets (including $15,820 and $46,302, respectively, due from a related party as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			158,890				204,929
Total current assets			2,079,512				1,763,094
Long-term investments, net			62,093				73,211
Time deposits			0				137,506
Restricted time deposits			136,694				9,271
Fixed assets, net			508,692				506,756
Intangible assets, net			55,415				45,417
Goodwill			154,219				154,411
Prepaid non-current assets			6,254				5,898
Other assets			39,315				27,625
Total assets		$	3,042,194			$	2,723,189
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) without recourse to the Company of $23,757 and $14,014, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)		$	129,025			$	144,670
Accrued liabilities (including accrued liabilities of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $79,012 and $70,595, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			309,657				314,297
Receipts in advance and deferred revenue (including receipts in advance and deferred revenue of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $55,319 and $49,491, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			135,385				128,230
Accrued salary and benefits (including accrued salary and benefits of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $11,357 and $9,800, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			99,631				78,152
Taxes payable (including taxes payable of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $21,424 and $19,157, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			67,480				58,005
Deferred tax liabilities (including deferred tax liabilities of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $1,490 and $1,475, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			24,884				25,518

 

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Short-term bank loans (including short-term bank loans of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of nil as of both December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			344,500				0
Other short-term liabilities (including other short-term liabilities of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $106,976 and $120,418, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016, and due to a related party of $13,005 and $43,028, respectively, as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016.)			154,017				189,084
Total current liabilities			1,264,579				937,956
Long-term accounts payable (including long-term accounts payable of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of $24,575 and $24,688 as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			4,600				4,239
Long-term taxes payable (including long-term taxes payable of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of nil as of both December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			24,732				19,439
Deferred tax liabilities (including deferred tax liabilities of consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of nil as of both December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			17,531				18,248
Total long-term liabilities			46,863				41,926
Total liabilities			1,311,442				979,882
Commitments and contingencies
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Sohu.com Inc. shareholders’ equity:
Common stock: $0.001 par value per share (75,400 shares authorized; 38,653 shares and 38,671 shares, respectively, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			45				45
Additional paid-in capital			798,357				799,960
Treasury stock (5,889 shares as of both December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016)			(143,858	)			(143,858	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			50,151				50,626
Retained earnings			536,327				516,041
Total Sohu.com Inc. shareholders’ equity			1,241,022				1,222,814
Noncontrolling interest			489,730				520,493
Total shareholders’ equity			1,730,752				1,743,307
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	3,042,194			$	2,723,189

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

 

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SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2016
Revenues:
Online advertising:
Brand advertising		$	133,821			$	125,503
Search and search-related			105,126				133,814
Subtotal of online advertising revenues (including revenues generated from a related party of nil and $0.9 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016.)			238,947				259,317
Online games			184,994				102,529
Others			31,391				46,106
Total revenues			455,332				407,952
Cost of revenues:
Online advertising:
Brand advertising			104,552				85,636
Search and search-related			49,919				62,092
Subtotal of cost of online advertising revenues			154,471				147,728
Online games			49,485				26,133
Others			18,198				18,986
Total cost of revenues			222,154				192,847
Gross profit			233,178				215,105
Operating expenses:
Product development			102,191				82,679
Sales and marketing			83,128				90,047
General and administrative			45,164				27,607
Total operating expenses			230,483				200,333
Operating profit			2,695				14,772
Other income			3,154				3,924
Net interest income			6,035				5,139
Exchange difference			(183	)			(1,022	)
Income before income tax expense			11,701				22,813
Income tax expense			16,300				11,868
Net income /(loss)			(4,599	)			10,945
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders			26,521				31,231
Net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	(31,120	)		$	(20,286	)
Net income /(loss)		$	(4,599	)		$	10,945
Other comprehensive income			1,169				1,375
Comprehensive income /(loss)			(3,430	)			12,320
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest shareholders			25,237				32,131
Comprehensive loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc.			(28,667	)			(19,811	)
Basic net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	(0.81	)		$	(0.52	)
Shares used in computing basic net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.			38,525				38,666
Diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	(0.81	)		$	(0.53	)
Shares used in computing diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.			38,525				38,666

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,
		2015				2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income /(loss)		$	(4,599	)		$	10,945
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization of intangible assets and purchased video content in prepaid expense			54,150				29,115
Depreciation			20,534				17,159
Impairment of intangible assets			5,274				3,509
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts			912				1,064
Share-based compensation expense			12,226				433
Investment loss from equity investments			699				518
Change in fair value of short-term investments and time deposits			(410	)			(2,459	)
Others			341				(288	)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:
Accounts receivable			(2,564	)			19,058
Prepaid and other assets			906				5,576
Accounts payable			2,471				11,304
Receipts in advance and deferred revenue			(8,329	)			(7,857	)
Taxes payable			(2,920	)			(15,188	)
Deferred tax			8,199				5,139
Accrued liabilities and other short-term liabilities			(46,927	)			(18,422	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			39,963				59,606
Cash flows from investing activities:
Matching loan to a related party			0				(30,180	)
Purchase of intangible and other assets			(33,570	)			(29,942	)
Purchase of long-term investments			(343	)			(11,739	)
Purchase of fixed assets			(19,873	)			(11,110	)
Cash received related to restricted time deposits and time deposits, net			31,422				225,462
Proceeds from short-term investments, net			26,375				71,332
Other cash proceeds /(payment) related to investing activities			11,536				(4,008	)
Net cash provided by investing activities			15,547				209,815
Cash flows from financing activities:
Matching loan from a related party			0				29,941
Repayments of loans from offshore banks			0				(344,500	)
Issuance of common stock			765				0
Exercise of share-based awards in subsidiary			1				0
Repurchase of Changyou American depositary shares (“ADSs”)			(1,329	)			0
Other cash proceeds related to financing activities			569				0
Net cash provided by /(used in) financing activities			6				(314,559	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			2,376				2,309
Reclassification of cash and cash equivalents to held-for-sale assets			(10,747	)			0
Net increase /(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			47,145				(42,829	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			876,340				1,245,205
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	923,485			$	1,202,376
Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
Barter transactions			461				7,453
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing activity:
Consideration payable for acquisitions			5,000				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, 2015

(In thousands)

 

						Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
		Total				Common Stock				Additional Paid-in Capital				Treasury Stock				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Retained Earnings				Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance		$	1,688,906			$	44			$	650,148			$	(143,858	)		$	109,402			$	585,925			$	487,245
Issuance of common stock			766				0				766				0				0				0				0
Repurchase of Changyou ADSs			(1,329	)			0				(905	)			0				0				0				(424	)
Share-based compensation expense			12,277				0				4,846				0				0				0				7,431
Settlement of share-based awards in subsidiary			0				0				1,284				0				0				0				(1,284	)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in RaidCall			0				0				458				0				0				0				(458	)
Net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. and noncontrolling interest shareholders			(4,599	)			0				0				0				0				(31,120	)			26,521
Accumulated other comprehensive Income			1,169				0				0				0				2,453				0				(1,284	)
Ending balance		$	1,697,190			$	44			$	656,597			$	(143,858	)		$	111,855			$	554,805			$	517,747

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, 2016

(In thousands)

 

						Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity
		Total				Common Stock				Additional Paid-in Capital				Treasury Stock				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income				Retained Earnings				Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance		$	1,730,752			$	45			$	798,357			$	(143,858	)		$	50,151			$	536,327			$	489,730
Issuance of common stock			0				0				0				0				0				0				0
Share-based compensation expense			447				0				306				0				0				0				141
Settlement of share-based awards in subsidiary			26				0				1,297				0				0				0				(1,271	)
Disposal of noncontrolling interest			(238	)			0				0				0				0				0				(238	)
Net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. and noncontrolling interest shareholders			10,945				0				0				0				0				(20,286	)			31,231
Accumulated other comprehensive Income			1,375				0				0				0				475				0				900
Ending balance		$	1,743,307			$	45			$	799,960			$	(143,858	)		$	50,626			$	516,041			$	520,493

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. (NASDAQ: SOHU), a Delaware corporation organized in 1996, is a leading Chinese online media, search and game service group providing comprehensive online products and services on PCs and mobile devices in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”). Sohu.com Inc.’s businesses are conducted by Sohu.com Inc. and its subsidiaries and VIEs (collectively referred to as the “Sohu Group” or “the Group”). The Sohu Group consists of Sohu, which when referred to in this report, unless the context requires otherwise, excludes the businesses and the corresponding subsidiaries and VIEs of Sogou Inc. (“Sogou”) and Changyou.com Limited (“Changyou”), Sogou and Changyou. Sogou and Changyou are indirect controlled subsidiaries of Sohu.com Inc. Sohu is a leading Chinese language online media content and services provider. Sogou is a leading online search, client software and mobile Internet product provider in China. Changyou is a leading online game developer and operator in China as measured by the popularity of its PC game Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”) and its mobile game TLBB 3D, and engages primarily in the development, operation and licensing of online games for PCs and mobile devices. Most of the Group’s operations are conducted through the Group’s indirect wholly-owned and majority-owned China-based subsidiaries and VIEs.

Through the operation of Sohu, Sogou and Changyou, the Sohu Group generates online advertising revenues, including brand advertising revenues and search and search-related revenues (which were previously known as search and Web directory revenues); online games revenues; and others revenues. Online advertising and online games are the Group’s core businesses.

Sohu’s Business

Brand Advertising Business

Sohu’s main business is the brand advertising business, which offers to users, over Sohu’s matrices of Chinese language online media, various content, products and services across multiple Internet-enabled devices such as PCs, mobile phones and tablets. The majority of Sohu’s products and services are provided through Sohu Media Portal, Sohu Video and Focus.

 

•

Sohu Media Portal. Sohu Media Portal is a leading online news and information provider in China. It provides users comprehensive content through www.sohu.com for PCs, the mobile phone application Sohu News APP and the mobile portal m.sohu.com;

 

•

Sohu Video. Sohu Video is a leading online video content and service provider in China through tv.sohu.com for PCs and the mobile phone application Sohu Video APP; and

 

•

Focus. Focus (www.focus.cn) is a leading online real estate information and services provider in China.

Revenues generated by the brand advertising business are classified as brand advertising revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Others Business

Sohu also engages in the others business, which includes sub-licensing of purchased video content to third parties, paid subscription services and interactive broadcasting services. Revenues generated by Sohu from the others business are classified as others revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Sogou’s Business

Search and Search-related Business

The search and search-related business primarily offers advertisers pay-for-click services, as well as online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou. Pay-for-click services enable advertisers’ promotional links to be displayed on the Sogou search result pages and Sogou Website Alliance members’ Websites where the links are relevant to the subject and content of such Web pages. Both pay-for-click services and online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou expand distribution of its advertisers’ promotional links and advertisements by leveraging traffic on Sogou Website Alliance members’ Websites. The search and search-related business benefits from Sogou’s collaboration with Tencent Holdings Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Tencent”), which provides Sogou access to traffic and content generated from users of products and services provided by Tencent.

 

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Revenues generated by the search and search-related business are classified as search and search-related revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Others Business

Sogou also engages in the others business primarily by offering Internet value-added services ( “IVAS”) with respect to the operation of Web games and mobile games developed by third parties, as well as other services and products provided to users. Revenues generated by Sogou from the others business are classified as others revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Changyou’s Business

Changyou has three businesses, consisting of the online game business, the platform channel business and the others business.

Online Game Business

Changyou’s online game business offers to game players PC games, which are interactive online games that are accessed and played simultaneously by hundreds of thousands of game players through personal computers and require that local client-end game access software be installed on the computers used; mobile games, which are played on mobile devices and require an Internet connection; and Web games, which are online games that are played through a Web browser with no local game software installation requirements. Web games became a relatively insignificant part of Changyou’s online games business following the sale of 7Road’s operating company Shenzhen 7Road in August 2015. Changyou’s games are operated under the item-based revenue model, meaning game players can play the games for free, but can choose to pay for virtual items, which are non-physical items that game players can purchase and use within a game, such as gems, pets, fashion items, magic medicine, riding animals, hierograms, skill books and fireworks. Revenues derived from the operation of online games are classified as online game revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Changyou’s flagship game is TLBB, a PC based client-end game. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, revenues from the PC game TLBB were $55.5 million, accounting for approximately 54% of Changyou’s online game revenues, approximately 43% of Changyou’s total revenues and 14% of the Sohu Group’s total revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, revenues from the PC game TLBB were $86.5 million, accounting for approximately 47% of Changyou’s online game revenues, approximately 41% of Changyou’s total revenues and approximately 19% of the Sohu Group’s total revenues.

Platform Channel Business

Changyou’s platform channel business consists primarily of the operation of the 17173.com Website, the Dolphin Browser and RaidCall. The 17173.com Website, one of the leading game information portals in China, provides news, electronic forums, online videos and other information services on online games to game players. The Dolphin Browser is a gateway to a host of user activities on mobile devices, with the majority of its users based in Europe, Russia and Japan. RaidCall provides online music and entertainment services, primarily in Taiwan. Revenues generated by the 17173.com Website are classified as brand advertising revenues and revenues generated by the Dolphin Browser and RaidCall are classified as others revenues in the Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Others Business

Changyou also operates a cinema advertising business, which consists of Changyou’s offering of pre-film cinema advertising slots, which are advertisements shown before the screening of a movie in a cinema theatre. Revenues generated by Changyou’s cinema advertising business are classified as others revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Basis of Consolidation and Recognition of Noncontrolling Interest

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sohu.com Inc. and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.

VIE Consolidation

The Sohu Group’s VIEs are wholly or partially owned by certain employees of the Group as nominee shareholders. For consolidated VIEs, management made evaluations of the relationships between the Sohu Group and the VIEs and the economic benefit flow of contractual arrangements with the VIEs. In connection with such evaluation, management also took into account the fact that, as a result of such contractual arrangements, the Group controls the shareholders’ voting interests in these VIEs. As a result of such evaluation, management concluded that the Sohu Group is the primary beneficiary of its consolidated VIEs.

 

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Noncontrolling Interest Recognition

Noncontrolling interests are recognized to reflect the portion of the equity of majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs which is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the controlling shareholders. The primary majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs of the Sohu Group which are consolidated in the Group’s consolidated financial statements with noncontrolling interest recognized are Sogou and Changyou.

Basis of Presentation

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“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, 2015.

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, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year or for any future period.

 

2.	Segment Information

The Sohu Group’s segments are business units that offer different services and are reviewed separately by the chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), or the decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Group’s CODM is Sohu.com Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer.

Commencing in the second quarter of 2015, given that the CODM did not consider the others segment to be significant enough to be separately reviewed, the Group combined the brand advertising segment and the others segment, and now identifies them together as the Sohu segment. There are now three segments in the Group, consisting of the Sohu segment, the Sogou segment, and the Changyou segment. The Group has restated the presentation of its reportable segments for the three month ended March 31, 2015 to conform to the current presentation.

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

 

		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
		Sohu				Sogou				Changyou				Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues (1)		$	131,366			$	116,308			$	208,697			$	(1,039	)		$	455,332
Segment cost of revenues			(105,495	)			(50,967	)			(65,568	)			128				(221,902	)
Segment gross profit			25,871				65,341				143,129				(911	)			233,430
SBC (2) in cost of revenues			(155	)			(53	)			(44	)			0				(252	)
Gross profit			25,716				65,288				143,085				(911	)			233,178
Operating expenses:
Product development (3)			(25,211	)			(29,151	)			(44,218	)			1,165				(97,415	)
Sales and marketing (1)			(44,823	)			(17,347	)			(21,906	)			1,193				(82,883	)
General and administrative			(14,999	)			(2,571	)			(20,553	)			(88	)			(38,211	)
SBC (2) in operating expenses			(3,352	)			(4,884	)			(3,860	)			122				(11,974	)
Total operating expenses			(88,385	)			(53,953	)			(90,537	)			2,392				(230,483	)
Operating profit /(loss)			(62,669	)			11,335				52,548				1,481				2,695
Other income (3)			988				87				3,437				(1,358	)			3,154
Net interest income			1,182				1,217				3,636				0				6,035
Exchange difference			8				(7	)			(184	)			0				(183	)
Income /(loss) before income tax expense			(60,491	)			12,632				59,437				123				11,701
Income tax expense			(2,625	)			(1,230	)			(12,445	)			0				(16,300	)
Net income /(loss)		$	(63,116	)		$	11,402			$	46,992			$	123			$	(4,599	)

 

Note (1):

The elimination mainly consists of revenues and expenses generated from marketing services among the Sohu, Sogou and Changyou segments.

 

Note (2):

“SBC” stands for share-based compensation expense.

 

Note (3):

The elimination mainly consists of leasing income and expenses generated from a building that Sohu leases to Sogou.

 

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		Three Months Ended March 31, 2016
		Sohu				Sogou				Changyou				Eliminations				Consolidated
Revenues (1)		$	131,572			$	147,329			$	129,840			$	(789	)		$	407,952
Segment cost of revenues			(86,422	)			(64,571	)			(41,857	)			58				(192,792	)
Segment gross profit			45,150				82,758				87,983				(731	)			215,160
SBC (2) in cost of revenues			(62	)			0				7				0				(55	)
Gross profit			45,088				82,758				87,990				(731	)			215,105
Operating expenses:
Product development (3)			(22,536	)			(30,722	)			(30,597	)			1,173				(82,682	)
Sales and marketing (1)			(51,371	)			(27,099	)			(12,556	)			993				(90,033	)
General and administrative			(12,203	)			(3,390	)			(11,647	)			0				(27,240	)
SBC (2) in operating expenses			85				(1,730	)			1,267				0				(378	)
Total operating expenses			(86,025	)			(62,941	)			(53,533	)			2,166				(200,333	)
Operating profit /(loss)			(40,937	)			19,817				34,457				1,435				14,772
Other income (3)			1,156				164				3,847				(1,243	)			3,924
Net interest income			595				1,704				2,840				0				5,139
Exchange difference			(334	)			(81	)			(607	)			0				(1,022	)
Income /(loss) before income tax expense			(39,520	)			21,604				40,537				192				22,813
Income tax expense			(2,647	)			(1,487	)			(7,734	)			0				(11,868	)
Net income /(loss)		$	(42,167	)		$	20,117			$	32,803			$	192			$	10,945

 

Note (1):

The elimination mainly consists of revenues and expenses generated from marketing services among the Sohu, Sogou and Changyou segments.

 

Note (2):

“SBC” stands for share-based compensation expense.

 

Note (3):

The elimination mainly consists of leasing income and expenses generated from a building that Sohu leases to Sogou.

 

						As of December 31, 2015
		Sohu				Sogou				Changyou				Eliminations				Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents		$	430,804			$	244,484			$	569,917			$	0			$	1,245,205
Accounts receivable, net			176,759				28,986				67,959				(87	)			273,617
Fixed assets, net			223,939				70,447				214,306				0				508,692
Total assets (1)		$	1,356,263			$	387,875			$	1,779,506			$	(481,450	)		$	3,042,194

 

Note (1):

The elimination for segment assets mainly consists of elimination of intracompany loans between the Sohu segment and the Changyou segment, and elimination of long-term investments in subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs.

 

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		As of March 31, 2016
		Sohu				Sogou				Changyou				Eliminations				Consolidated
Cash and cash equivalents		$	372,220			$	278,256			$	551,900			$	0			$	1,202,376
Accounts receivable, net			174,455				27,059				53,358				(87	)			254,785
Fixed assets, net			223,211				71,394				212,151				0				506,756
Total assets (1)		$	1,344,550			$	417,908			$	1,512,703			$	(551,972	)		$	2,723,189

 

Note (1):

The elimination for segment assets mainly consists of elimination of intracompany loans between the Sohu segment and the Changyou segment, and elimination of long-term investments in subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs.

 

3.	Share-Based Compensation Expense

Sohu (excluding Fox Video Limited), Sogou, Changyou, and Fox Video Limited (“Sohu Video”) have incentive plans for the granting of share-based awards, including common stock or ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, to members of the boards of directors, management and other key employees.

Sohu (excluding Sohu Video), Sogou, and Changyou Share-based Awards

For Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) share options that Sohu granted before 2006 and Sohu restricted share units, Sogou share-based awards, and Changyou share-based awards under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan, share-based compensation expense is recognized as costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income based on the fair value of the related share-based awards on their grant dates.

For Tencent restricted share units that Tencent had granted to employees who transferred to Sogou with the Soso search-related businesses, share-based compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income based on the then-current fair value at each reporting date.

For 1,068,000 Sohu stock options contractually granted on February 7, 2015, 2,400,000 Changyou share options converted from restricted share units on February 16, 2015, and 1,998,000 Changyou share options contractually granted on June 1, 2015, awards are expected to vest and become exercisable in four equal installments over a period of four years, with each installment vesting upon satisfaction of a service period requirement and certain subjective performance targets. Under ASC 718-10-25, no grant date can be established until a mutual understanding is reached between the companies and the recipients clarifying the subjective performance requirements. In accordance with ASC 718-10-55, as the service inception date preceded the grant date, compensation expense was accrued beginning on the service inception date, and was re-measured and will be re-measured on each subsequent reporting date before the grant date is established, based on the then-current fair value of the awards. The estimate of the awards’ fair value will be fixed in the period in which the grant date occurs, and cumulative compensation expense will be adjusted based on the fair value at the grant date. In determining the fair value of stock options and share options granted by Sohu and Changyou, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date was used, and a binomial valuation model was applied.

Sohu Video Share-based Awards

On January 4, 2012, Sohu Video, the holding entity of Sohu’s video division, adopted a 2011 Share Incentive Plan (the “Video 2011 Share Incentive Plan”) which provides for the issuance of up to 25,000,000 ordinary shares of Sohu Video (representing approximately 10% of the outstanding Sohu Video shares on a fully-diluted basis) to management and key employees of the video division and to Sohu management. As of March 31, 2016, grants of options for the purchase of 16,368,200 ordinary shares of Sohu Video had been contractually made, of which options for the purchase of 4,972,800 ordinary shares were vested.

For purposes of ASC 718-10-25, as of March 31, 2016, no grant date had occurred, because the broader terms and conditions of the option awards had neither been finalized nor mutually agreed upon with the recipients. Therefore the fair value of the awards is not determinable and cannot be accounted for. In accordance with ASC 718-10-55, the Company’s management determined that the service inception date with respect to vested option awards for the purchase of 4,972,800 shares had preceded the grant date. Therefore, the Group began to recognize compensation expense for Sohu Video share-based awards in the second quarter of 2014 and re-measured, and will re-measure, the compensation expense on each subsequent reporting date based on the then-current fair values of the awards until the grant date is established.

 

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Share-based Compensation Expense Recognition

Share-based compensation expense was recognized in costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2015				2016
Cost of revenues		$	253			$	55
Product development expenses (1)			4,776				(3	)
Sales and marketing expenses			245				14
General and administrative expenses			6,952				367
		$	12,226			$	433

Share-based compensation expense was recognized for share awards of Sohu (excluding Sohu Video), Sogou, Changyou and Sohu Video as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2015				2016
For Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) share-based awards (1)		$	4,376			$	(272	)
For Sogou share-based awards (2)			4,792				1,730
For Changyou share-based awards (1)			3,903				(1,274	)
For Sohu Video share-based awards (1)			(845	)			249
		$	12,226			$	433

Note (1): The negative amount for the first quarter of 2015 and 2016 represented re-measured compensation expense based on the then-current fair value of the awards on March 31, 2015 and 2016, as well as Changyou’s reversal of share-based compensation expense for awards that were cancelled during the first quarter of 2016 due to termination of employment prior to vesting.

Note (2): Compensation expense for Sogou share-based awards also include compensation expense for Tencent restricted share units that Tencent had granted to employees who transferred to Sogou with the Soso search-related businesses.

There was no capitalized share-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

4.	Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Sohu Group’s financial instruments include cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, prepaid and other current assets, available-for-sale equity securities under long-term investments, time deposits, restricted time deposits, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, receipts in advance and deferred revenue, short-term bank loans, other short-term liabilities and long-term accounts payable.

U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring the fair value of financial instruments. This hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three-tier fair value hierarchy is:

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.

 

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Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

The following table sets forth the financial instruments, measured at fair value, by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

						Fair value measurements at reporting date using
Items		As of December 31, 2015				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents		$	727,232			$	0			$	727,232			$	0
Restricted time deposits			363,979				0				363,979				0
Short-term investments			174,515				0				174,515				0
Available-for-sale equity securities			14,301				14,301				0				0
Total		$	1,280,027			$	14,301			$	1,265,726			$	0

The following table sets forth the financial instruments, measured at fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy, as of March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

						Fair value measurements at reporting date using
Items		As of March 31, 2016				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)				Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)				Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Cash equivalents		$	553,818			$	0			$	553,818			$	0
Short-term investments			101,004				0				101,004				0
Available-for-sale equity securities			14,257				14,257				0				0
Time deposits			137,506				0				137,506				0
Restricted time deposits			9,271				0				9,271				0
Total		$	815,856			$	14,257			$	801,599			$	0

Cash Equivalents

The Sohu Group’s cash equivalents mainly consist of time deposits and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less. The fair values of cash equivalents are determined based on the pervasive interest rates in the market. The Group classifies the valuation techniques that use the pervasive interest rates input as Level 2 of fair value measurements. Generally there are no quoted prices in active markets for identical cash equivalents at the reporting date. In order to determine the fair value, the Group must use the discounted cash flow method and observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Short-term Investments

In accordance with ASC 825, for investments in financial instruments with a variable interest rate indexed to performance of underlying assets, the Sohu Group elected the fair value method at the date of initial recognition and carried these investments at fair value. Changes in the fair value are reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as other income /(expense). To estimate fair value, the Group refers to the quoted rate of return provided by banks at the end of each period using the discounted cash flow method. The Group classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 2 of fair value measurements.

As of March 31, 2016, the Sohu Group’s investment in financial instruments was $101.0 million, consisting of investments by Changyou. The investment instruments were issued by commercial banks in China, and have a variable interest rate indexed to performance of underlying assets. Since these investments’ maturity dates are within one year, they are classified as short-term investments. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Sohu Group recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income changes in the fair value of short-term investments in the amounts of $1.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

 

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Available-for-Sale Equity Securities

Available-for-sale equity securities are valued using the market approach based on the quoted prices in active markets at the reporting date. The Group classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 1 of fair value measurements. On August 12, 2014, Sohu acquired approximately 6% of the total outstanding common shares of Keyeast Co., Ltd., a Korean-listed company (“Keyeast”), for a purchase price of $15.1 million. The Sohu Group classified this investment as available-for-sale equity securities under long-term investments, and reported it at fair value. As of March 31, 2016, the fair value of the Keyeast available-for-sale equity securities held by Sohu was $14.3 million. An unrealized loss representing the change in fair value of $0.8 million in the aggregate was recorded as an addition to accumulated other comprehensive income /(loss) in the Sohu Group’s consolidated balance sheets.

Time Deposits

The Sohu Group’s time deposits represent Changyou’s time deposits placed with banks with original maturities of more than three months. Time deposits are valued based on the prevailing interest rate in the market, which is also the interest rate stated in the contracts with the banks. The Sohu Group classifies the valuation techniques that use the prevailing interest rate input as Level 2 of fair value measurements.

Restricted Time Deposits

Restricted time deposits are valued based on the prevailing interest rates in the market using the discounted cash flow method. The Sohu Group classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 2 of fair value measurements.

Collateral related to Sogou Incentive Shares Trust Arrangements

In February 2013, Sohu deposited $9.0 million in cash into restricted time deposit accounts at a bank as collateral for credit facilities provided by the bank to certain Sogou employees. The facilities were intended to fund the employees’ early exercise of Sogou share options and related PRC individual income tax. Sohu is not subject to any additional potential payments other than the restricted time deposit amounts, and believes that the fair value of its guarantee liability is immaterial.

Changyou Loans from Offshore Banks, Secured by Time Deposits

Commencing in 2012, Changyou drew down loans from offshore branches of certain banks, which are secured by an equivalent or greater amount of RMB deposits by Changyou in the onshore branches of such banks. The loans from the offshore branches of the lending banks are classified as short-term and long-term bank loans based on the loans’ payment terms.

As of March 31, 2016, Changyou had repaid all of the remaining bank loans of $344.5 million, and restricted time deposits of $354.7 million that secured these loans had been released. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, interest income from the restricted time deposits securing the loans was $0.7 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and interest expense on the bank loans was $0.6 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

Other Financial Instruments

The fair values of other financial instruments are estimated for disclosure purposes where the financial instruments’ carrying values approximate their fair values.

Long-term Investments

Long-term Investment in SoEasy and Other Transactions with SoEasy

Sohu’s Investment in SoEasy

Under an agreement between Sohu and SoEasy Internet Finance Group Limited (“SoEasy”) entered into in August 2014, Sohu invested $4.8 million and $16.3 million in SoEasy on August 2014 and April 2015, respectively. In February 2016, Sohu invested an additional $10.5 million in SoEasy. These investments include both preferred shares and common shares. Sohu accounted for its investment in SoEasy’s preferred shares under the cost method, since they were not considered to be common shares in substance and had no readily determinable fair value. Sohu accounted for its investment in SoEasy’s common shares under the equity method, since Sohu can exercise significant influence but does not own a majority of SoEasy’s equity capital or control SoEasy. As of March 31, 2016, the carrying value of Sohu’s investment in SoEasy was $25.3 million.

 

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Changyou’s Loan Arrangements with SoEasy

Commencing in April 2015, certain subsidiaries of Changyou and certain subsidiaries of SoEasy entered into a series of loan agreements pursuant to which the subsidiaries of Changyou are entitled to draw down HK dollar-denominated or U.S. dollar-denominated loans from the SoEasy subsidiaries and the SoEasy subsidiaries are entitled to draw down equivalent RMB-denominated loans from the subsidiaries of Changyou, to facilitate each other’s business operations. All of the loans carry a fixed rate of interest equal to the current market interest rate. During the first quarter of 2016, Changyou drew down from SoEasy U.S. dollar-denominated loans of approximately $29.9 million and granted RMB-denominated loans to SoEasy of approximately $30.2 million. As of March 31, 2016, Changyou had HK dollar-denominated and U.S. dollar-denominated loans payable to SoEasy in the total amount of approximately $42.8 million, which was recorded in other short-term liabilities. As of the same date, Changyou had RMB-denominated loans receivable from SoEasy in the total amount of approximately $42.6 million, which was recorded in prepaid and other current assets. During the first quarter of 2016, Changyou incurred interest expenses of $81,000, and earned interest income of $0.2 million. As of March 31, 2016, total interest expense payable to SoEasy amounted to $0.2 million, which was recorded in other short-term liabilities; and total interest income receivable from SoEasy was $0.6 million, which was recorded in prepaid and other current assets.

Other Information

In the first quarter of 2016, the Sohu Group generated revenues from SoEasy of $0.9 million, consisting primarily of brand advertising revenue.

Long-term Investment in Zhihu

In September 2015, Sogou paid $12.0 million in cash for approximately 3% of the equity capital of Zhihu Technology Limited (“Zhihu”), a company that engages primarily in the business of operating an online question and answer-based knowledge and information sharing platform. Sogou accounted for the investment in Zhihu using the cost method, since Sogou does not have significant influence over Zhihu.

Short-term Receivables and Payables

Accounts receivable and prepaid and other current assets are financial assets with carrying values that approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. Short-term accounts payable, accrued liabilities, receipts in advance and deferred revenue, short-term bank loans and other short-term liabilities are financial liabilities with carrying values that approximate fair value due to their short term nature.

For short-term bank loans, the rates of interest under the agreements with the lending banks were determined based on the prevailing interest rates in the market. The Sohu Group classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as Level 2 of fair value measurements. For other short-term receivables and payables, the Group estimated fair values using the discounted cash flow method, which is unobservable in the market. The Group classifies the valuation technique as Level 3 of fair value measurements.

Long-term Payables

Long-term accounts payable and long-term bank loans are financial liabilities with carrying values that approximate fair value due to any changes in fair value, after considering the discount rate, being immaterial. For long-term accounts payable and long-term bank loans, the Group estimated fair values using the discounted cash flow method, which is unobservable in the market. The Sohu Group classifies the valuation technique as Level 3 of fair value measurements.

 

5.

Goodwill

Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by segment are as follows (in thousands):

 

		Sohu				Sogou				Changyou				Total
Balance as of December 31, 2015
Goodwill		$	72,980				5,945				181,529				260,454
Accumulated impairment losses			(35,788	)			0				(70,447	)			(106,235	)
		$	37,192			$	5,945			$	111,082			$	154,219
Transactions in 2016
Foreign currency translation adjustment			76				29				87				192
Balance as of March 31, 2016		$	37,268			$	5,974			$	111,169			$	154,411
Balance as of March 31, 2016
Goodwill		$	73,056			$	5,974			$	181,616			$	260,646
Accumulated impairment losses			(35,788	)			0				(70,447	)			(106,235	)
		$	37,268			$	5,974			$	111,169			$	154,411

 

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6.

Taxation

Sohu.com Inc. is subject to United States (“U.S.”) income tax, and Changyou’s income that is from a U.S. source is generally subject to U.S. income tax. The majority of the subsidiaries and VIEs of the Sohu Group 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 Sohu Group’s operations, and generate most of the Sohu Group’s income or losses.

The Group did not have any penalties or significant interest associated with tax positions for the three months ended March 31, 2016, nor did the Group have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

PRC Corporate Income Tax

The PRC Corporate Income Tax Law (the “CIT Law”) applies an income tax rate of 25% to all enterprises but grants preferential tax treatment to High and New Technology Enterprises (“HNTEs”). Under this preferential tax treatment, HNTEs can enjoy an income tax rate of 15% for three years, but need to re-apply after the end of the three-year period. If at any time during the three-year period the relevant tax bureau questions whether an enterprise continues to qualify as an HNTE, the enterprise can be subject to further tax examination and may not be able to continue to enjoy the preferential tax rate. In addition, the CIT Law and its implementing regulations provide that a “Software Enterprise” can enjoy an income tax exemption for two years beginning with its first profitable year and a 50% reduction to a rate of 12.5% for the subsequent three years. An entity that qualifies as a “Key National Software Enterprise” can enjoy a further reduced preferential income tax rate of 10% for two years, but needs to re-apply after the end of the two-year period.

Principal Entities Qualified as HNTEs

As of March 31, 2016, the following principal entities of the Sohu Group were qualified as HNTEs and were entitled to an income tax rate of 15%.

For Sohu’s Business

 

•

Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Internet”). Sohu Internet is qualified as an HNTE for 2016 and 2017, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2018.

 

•

Beijing Sohu New Era Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Era”), Beijing Sohu New Media Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Media”) and Guangzhou Qianjun Network Technology Co., Ltd (“Guangzhou Qianjun”). These three companies are each qualified as HNTEs for 2016, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2017.

For Sogou’s Business

 

•

Beijing Sogou Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Information”). Sogou Information is qualified as an HNTE for 2016 and 2017, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2018.

 

•

Beijing Sogou Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Technology”). Sogou Technology is qualified as an HNTE for 2016, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2017.

For Changyou’s Business

 

•

AmazGame and Gamease. AmazGame and Gamease are each qualified as HNTEs for 2016, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2017.

 

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Principal Entities Qualified as Software Enterprises

For Sohu’s Business

 

•

Beijing Sohu New Momentum Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu New Momentum”). In 2016, Sohu New Momentum is in the first of three years in which it is entitled to a 50% reduction to a rate of 12.5% as a Software Enterprise.

For Changyou’s Business

 

•

AmazGame. In 2013 and 2014, AmazGame was qualified as a Key National Software Enterprise and enjoyed a preferential income tax rate of 10%. However, as a result of a restructuring of the approval process, the State Council suspended the acceptance of applications for Key National Software Enterprise status, and it is not clear when, if ever, the acceptance of applications for Key National Software Enterprise status will resume. Changyou plans to re-apply to qualify AmazGame as a Key National Software Enterprise if and when the State Council again authorizes the acceptance of applications.

 

•

Gamespace. In 2016, Gamespace is in the third of three years in which it is entitled to a 50% reduction to a rate of 12.5% as a Software Enterprise.

PRC Withholding Tax on Dividends

The CIT Law imposes a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC to their immediate holding companies outside Mainland China. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there is a tax treaty arrangement between Mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. A holding company in Hong Kong, for example, will be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate under an arrangement between the PRC and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the “Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital” if such holding company is considered a non-PRC resident enterprise and holds at least 25% of the equity interests in the PRC foreign invested enterprise distributing the dividends, subject to approval of the PRC local tax authority. However, if the Hong Kong holding company is not considered to be the beneficial owner of such dividends under applicable PRC tax regulations, such dividend will remain subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%.

In order to fund the distribution of a dividend to shareholders of the Sohu Group’s majority-owned subsidiary Changyou, Changyou’s management determined to cause one of its PRC subsidiaries to declare and distribute a cash dividend of all of its stand-alone 2012 earnings and half of its stand-alone subsequent years’ earnings to its direct overseas parent company, Changyou.com (HK) Limited (“Changyou HK”). As of March 31, 2016, Changyou had accrued deferred tax liabilities in the amount of $25.5 million for PRC withholding tax.

With the exception of that dividend, the Sohu Group does not intend to have any of its PRC subsidiaries distribute any undistributed profits of such subsidiaries to their direct overseas parent companies, but rather intends that such profits will be permanently reinvested by such subsidiaries for their PRC operations.

PRC Value-Added Tax and Business Tax

Revenues from brand advertising, from the search and search-related business, from Changyou’s Web games and from licensed mobile games, as well as revenues from mobile-related services, which are recorded as others revenues, are subject to value-added tax (“VAT”). To record VAT payable, the Group adopted the net presentation method, which presents the difference between the output VAT (at a rate of 6%) and available input VAT amount (at the rate applicable to the supplier). Online game revenues from the operation of PC games and self-developed mobile games are subject to a 5% PRC business tax.

U.S. Corporate Income Tax

Sohu.com Inc. is a Delaware corporation that is subject to U.S. corporate income tax on its taxable income at a rate of up to 35%. Subject to certain limitations, the net operating losses (“NOLs”) of a corporation in the U.S. that are carried forward from prior years may be used to offset the corporation’s taxable income. As of the end of the 2012 taxable year, Sohu.com Inc. had no further NOLs available for offsetting any U.S. taxable income. To the extent that portions of its U.S. taxable income, such as Subpart F income or a dividend, are determined to be from sources outside of the U.S., subject to certain limitations, Sohu.com Inc. may be able to claim foreign tax credits to offset its U.S. income tax liabilities. Any remaining liabilities are accrued in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income and estimated tax payments are made when required by U.S. law.

 

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Uncertain Tax Positions

The Sohu Group is subject to various taxes in different jurisdictions, primarily the U.S. and the PRC. Management reviews regularly the adequacy of the provisions for taxes as they relate to the Group’s income and transactions. In order to assess uncertain tax positions, the Group applies 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.

 

7.	Commitments and Contingencies

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

As of March 31, 2016		Contractual Obligation
Purchase of content and services – video		$	198,955
Purchase of cinema advertisement slot rights			73,443
Purchase of bandwidth			71,858
Operating lease obligations			32,350
Purchase of content and services – others			21,442
Expenditures for operating rights for licensed games with technological feasibility - PC games			15,750
Expenditures for operating rights for licensed games with technological feasibility - mobile games			4,665
Expenditures for titles of games in development			1,774
Fees for operating rights for licensed games in development – mobile games			1,534
Others			1,893
Total		$	423,664

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 Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

PRC Law 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 brand advertising, search and search-related, online game, 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. The Sohu Group’s legal structure and scope of operations in China could be subject to restrictions, which could result in limits on its ability to conduct business in the PRC. Certain risks related to PRC law that could affect the Sohu Group’s VIE structure are discussed in Note 8 - VIEs.

Regulatory risks also encompass interpretation by PRC tax authorities of current tax law, including the applicability of certain preferential tax treatments.

The Sohu Group’s sales, purchase and expense transactions are generally denominated in RMB and a significant portion of its 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.

 

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8.

VIEs

Background

PRC laws and regulations prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of companies that operate Internet information and content, Internet access, online games, mobile, value added telecommunications and certain other businesses in which the Sohu Group is engaged or could be deemed to be engaged. Consequently, the Sohu Group conducts certain of its operations and businesses in the PRC through its VIEs. The Sohu Group consolidates in its consolidated financial statements all of the VIEs of which the Group is the primary beneficiary.

VIEs Consolidated within the Sohu Group

The Sohu Group adopted the guidance of accounting for VIEs, which requires VIEs to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity. Management made evaluations of the relationships between the Sohu Group and its VIEs and the economic benefit flow of contractual arrangements with the VIEs. In connection with such evaluation, management also took into account the fact that, as a result of contractual arrangements with its consolidated VIEs, the Sohu Group controls the shareholders’ voting interests in those VIEs. As a result of such evaluation, the management concluded that the Sohu Group is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs which the Group consolidates.

All of the consolidated VIEs are incorporated and operated in the PRC, and the Group’s principal VIEs are directly or indirectly owned by Dr. Charles Zhang, the Sohu Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or other executive officers and employees of the Sohu Group identified below. Capital for the consolidated VIEs was funded by the Sohu Group through loans provided to Dr. Charles Zhang and other executive officers 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. Charles Zhang and those other executive officers and employees of the Sohu Group who are shareholders of the consolidated VIEs are required to transfer their ownership in these entities to the Group, if permitted by PRC laws and regulations, or, if not so permitted, to designees of the Group at any time as requested by the Group to repay the loans outstanding. All voting rights of the consolidated VIEs are assigned to the Sohu Group, and the Group has the right to designate all directors and senior management personnel of the consolidated VIEs, and also has the obligation to absorb losses of the consolidated VIEs. Dr. Charles Zhang and those other executive officers and employees of the Sohu Group who are shareholders of the consolidated VIEs have pledged their shares in the consolidated VIEs as collateral for the loans. As of March 31, 2016, the aggregate amount of these loans was $9.3 million.

Under its contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs, the Sohu Group has the power to direct activities of the VIEs, and can have assets transferred freely out of the VIEs without any restrictions. Therefore, the Group considers that there is no asset of a consolidated VIE that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs, except for registered capital and PRC statutory reserves of the VIEs. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital and PRC statutory reserves of the consolidated VIEs totaled $78.0 million. As all of the consolidated VIEs are incorporated as limited liability companies under the PRC Company Law, creditors of the consolidated VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Sohu Group for any of the liabilities of the consolidated VIEs. Currently there is no contractual arrangement that could require the Sohu Group to provide additional financial support to the consolidated VIEs. As the Sohu Group is conducting certain business in the PRC mainly through the consolidated VIEs, the Group may provide such support on a discretionary basis in the future, which could expose the Group to a loss.

The Sohu Group classified the consolidated VIEs within the Sohu Group as principal VIEs or immaterial VIEs based on certain criteria, such as the VIEs’ total assets or revenues. The following is a summary of the principal VIEs within the Sohu Group:

Basic Information for Principal VIEs and VIEs’ Subsidiaries

For Sohu’s Business

High Century

Beijing Century High Tech Investment Co., Ltd. (“High Century”) was incorporated in 2001. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of High Century was $4.6 million and Dr. Charles Zhang and Wei Li held 80% and 20% interests, respectively, in this entity.

 

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Heng Da Yi Tong

Beijing Heng Da Yi Tong Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Heng Da Yi Tong “) was incorporated in 2002. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Heng Da Yi Tong was $1.2 million and Dr. Charles Zhang and Wei Li held 80% and 20% interests, respectively, in this entity.

Sohu Internet

Sohu Internet was incorporated in 2003. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Sohu Internet was $1.6 million and High Century held a 100% interest in this entity.

Donglin

Beijing Sohu Donglin Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Donglin”) was incorporated in 2010. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Donglin was $1.5 million and Sohu Internet held a 100% interest in this entity.

Tianjin Jinhu

Tianjin Jinhu Culture Development Co., Ltd. (“Tianjin Jinhu”) was incorporated in 2011. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Tianjin Jinhu was $0.5 million and Ye Deng and Xuemei Zhang each held a 50% interest in this entity.

Guangzhou Qianjun

Guangzhou Qianjun was acquired in November 2014. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Guangzhou Qianjun was $3.3 million and Tianjin Jinhu held a 100% interest in this entity.

Focus Interactive

Beijing Focus Interactive Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Focus Interactive”) was incorporated in July 2014. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Focus Interactive was $1.6 million and Heng Da Yi Tong held 100% of the equity interests in this entity.

For Sogou’s Business

Sogou Information

Sogou Information was incorporated in 2005. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Sogou Information was $2.5 million and Xiaochuan Wang, Sogou’s Chief Executive Officer, High Century and Tencent held 10%, 45% and 45% interests, respectively, in this entity.

For Changyou’s Business

Gamease

Gamease was incorporated in 2007. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Gamease was $1.3 million and High Century held a 100% interest in this entity.

Guanyou Gamespace

Beijing Guanyou Gamespace Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guanyou Gamespace”) was incorporated in 2010. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Guanyou Gamespace was $1.5 million and Changyou Star held a 100% interest in this entity.

 

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Shanghai ICE

Shanghai ICE Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai ICE”) was acquired by Changyou in 2010. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Shanghai ICE was $1.2 million and Gamease held a 100% interest in this entity.

Wuhan Baina Information

Baina (Wuhan) Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Wuhan Baina Information”) was acquired by Gamease in July 2014. As of March 31, 2016, the registered capital of Wuhan Baina Information was $3.0 million and Changyou Star and Yongzhi Yang, the chief executive officer of MoboTap, held 60% and 40% interests, respectively, in this entity.

Financial Information

The following financial information of the Sohu Group’s consolidated VIEs (including subsidiaries of VIEs) is included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements (in thousands):

 

		As of
		December 31, 2015				March 31, 2016
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents			131,270				131,559
Accounts receivable, net			135,925				116,264
Prepaid and other current assets			101,951				105,598
Intercompany receivables due from the Company’s subsidiaries			140,396				85,652
Total current assets		$	509,542			$	439,073
Fixed assets, net			7,362				7,036
Goodwill			36,351				36,444
Long-term investments, net			15,960				17,004
Intangible assets, net			18,266				17,065
Other non-current assets			12,057				9,371
Total assets		$	599,538			$	525,993
LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable			23,757				14,014
Accrued liabilities			79,012				70,595
Receipts in advance and deferred revenue			55,319				49,491
Other current liabilities			141,247				150,850
Intercompany payables due to the Company’s subsidiaries			175,178				110,863
Total current liabilities		$	474,513			$	395,813
Other long-term liabilities			24,575				24,688
Total liabilities		$	499,088			$	420,501
		Three months ended March 31,
		2015				2016
Net revenue		$	305,031			$	218,664
Net income /(loss)		$	(7,848	)		$	5,592
		Three months ended March 31,
		2015				2016
Net cash provided by /(used in) operating activities		$	(4,750	)		$	2,291
Net cash provided by /(used in) investing activities		$	4,647			$	(2,502	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		$	569			$	0

 

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Summary of Significant Agreements Currently in Effect

Agreements Between Subsidiaries, Consolidated VIEs and Nominee Shareholders

Loan and share pledge agreement between Sohu Media and the shareholders of High Century: The agreement provides for loans to the shareholders of High Century for them to make contributions to the registered capital of High Century in exchange for the equity interests in High Century, and the shareholders pledge those equity interests to Sohu Media as security for the loans. The agreement includes powers of attorney that give Sohu Media the power to appoint nominees to act on behalf of the shareholders of High Century in connection with all actions to be taken by High Century. Pursuant to the agreement, the shareholders executed in blank transfers of their equity interests in High Century, which are held by the Sohu Group’s legal department and may be completed and effected at Sohu Media’s election.

Loan and share pledge agreement between Focus HK and the shareholders of Heng Da Yi Tong: The agreement provides for loans to the shareholders of Heng Da Yi Tong for them to make contributions to the registered capital of Heng Da Yi Tong in exchange for the equity interests in Heng Da Yi Tong, and the shareholders pledge those equity interests to Focus HK as security for the loans. The agreement includes powers of attorney that give Focus HK the power to appoint nominees to act on behalf of the shareholders of Heng Da Yi Tong in connection with all actions to be taken by Heng Da Yi Tong. Pursuant to the agreement, the shareholders executed in blank transfers of their equity interests in Heng Da Yi Tong, which are held by the Sohu Group’s legal department and may be completed and effected at Focus HK’s election.

Loan and share pledge agreements between Sogou Technology and the shareholders of Sogou Information. The loan agreement provides for a loan to Xiaochuan Wang, the individual shareholder of Sogou Information, to be used by him to make contributions to the registered capital of Sogou Information in exchange for his equity interest in Sogou Information. The loan is interest free-and is repayable on demand, but the shareholder may repay the loan only by transferring to Sogou Technology his equity interest in Sogou Information. Under the pledge agreement, all of the shareholders of Sogou Information pledge their equity interests to Sogou Technology to secure the performance of their obligations under the various VIE-related agreements. If any shareholder of Sogou Information breaches any of his or its obligations under any VIE-related agreements, Sogou Technology is entitled to exercise its right as the beneficiary under the share pledge agreement. The share pledge agreement terminates only after all of the obligations of the shareholders under the various VIE-related agreements are no longer in effect.

Exclusive equity interest purchase right agreements between Sogou Technology, Sogou Information and the shareholders of Sogou Information. Pursuant to these agreements, Sogou Technology and any third party designated by it have the right, exercisable at any time when it becomes legal to do so under PRC law, to purchase from the shareholders of Sogou Information all or any part of their equity interests at the lowest purchase price permissible under PRC law.

Business operation agreement among Sogou Technology, Sogou Information and the shareholders of Sogou Information. The agreement sets forth the right of Sogou Technology to control the actions of the shareholders of Sogou Information. The agreement has a term of 10 years, renewable at the request of Sogou Technology.

Powers of Attorney executed by the shareholders of Sogou Information in favor of Sogou Technology with a term of 10 years, extendable at the request of Sogou Technology. These powers of attorney give Sogou Technology the right to appoint nominees to act on behalf of each of the three Sogou Information shareholders in connection with all actions to be taken by Sogou Information.

Loan agreements and equity pledge agreements between Video Tianjin and the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu. The loan agreements provide for loans to the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu for them to make contributions to the registered capital of Tianjin Jinhu in exchange for the equity interests in Tianjin Jinhu. Under the equity pledge agreements, the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu pledge to Video Tianjin their equity interests in Tianjin Jinhu to secure the performance of their obligations under the loan agreements and Tianjin Jinhu’s obligations to Video Tianjin under their business agreements. The loans are interest free and are repayable on demand, but the shareholders can only repay the loans by transferring to Video Tianjin their equity interests in Tianjin Jinhu.

Equity interest purchase right agreements between Video Tianjin, Tianjin Jinhu and the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu. Pursuant to these agreements, Video Tianjin and any third party designated by it have the right, exercisable at any time when it becomes legal to do so under PRC law, to purchase from the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu all or any part of their equity interests at the lowest purchase price permissible under PRC law.

 

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Business operation agreement among Video Tianjin, Tianjin Jinhu and the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu. The agreement sets forth the right of Video Tianjin to control the actions of the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu. The agreement has a term of 10 years, renewable at the request of Video Tianjin.

Powers of Attorney executed by the shareholders of Tianjin Jinhu in favor of Video Tianjin with a term of 10 years, extendable at the request of Video Tianjin. These powers of attorney give Video Tianjin the right to appoint nominees to act on behalf of each of the Tianjin Jinhu shareholders in connection with all actions to be taken by Tianjin Jinhu.

Loan agreements and equity pledge agreements between AmazGame and the sole shareholder of Gamease and between Gamespace and the sole shareholder of Guanyou Gamespace. The loan agreements provide for loans to the respective shareholders of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace for the shareholders to make contributions to the registered capital of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace in exchange for 100% of the equity interests in Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace. The loans are interest free and are repayable on demand, but the shareholders can only repay the loans by transferring to AmazGame and Gamespace, as the case may be, their equity interests in Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace. Under the equity pledge agreements, the respective shareholders of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace pledge to AmazGame and Gamespace, their equity interests in Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace to secure the performance of their obligations under the loan agreements and Gamease’s and Guanyou Gamespace’s obligations to AmazGame and Gamespace under the various VIE-related agreements. If the shareholders breach their obligations under any VIE-related agreements (Gamease’s or Guanyou Gamespace’s breach of any of its obligations under the various applicable VIE-related agreements will be treated as its shareholder’s breach of its obligations), including the equity pledge agreements, AmazGame and Gamespace are entitled to exercise their rights as the beneficiaries under the applicable equity pledge agreements, including all rights the respective shareholders have as shareholders of Gamease or Guanyou Gamespace.

Equity interest purchase right agreements among AmazGame, Gamease and the sole shareholder of Gamease and among Gamespace, Guanyou Gamespace and the sole shareholder of Guanyou Gamespace. Pursuant to these agreements, AmazGame and Gamespace have the right, exercisable at any time if and when it is legal to do so under PRC law, to purchase from the respective shareholders of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace all or any part of their equity interests in Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace at a purchase price equal to their initial contributions to registered capital of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace.

Powers of attorney executed by the sole shareholder of Gamease in favor of AmazGame and by the sole shareholder of Guanyou Gamespace in favor of Gamespace, with a term of 10 years. These powers of attorney give the respective boards of directors of AmazGame and Gamespace the exclusive right to appoint nominees to act on behalf of their respective shareholders in connection with all actions to be taken by Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace.

Business operation agreements among AmazGame, Gamease and the sole shareholder of Gamease and among Gamespace, Guanyou Gamespace and the sole shareholder of Guanyou Gamespace. These agreements set forth the right of AmazGame and Gamespace to control the actions of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace, as the case may be, and the respective shareholders of Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace. Each agreement has a term of 10 years.

Share pledge agreement among Beijing Baina Technology, Wuhan Baina Information and the shareholders of Wuhan Baina Information, which are Gamease and Yongzhi Yang, pursuant to which the shareholders pledged to Beijing Baina Technology their equity interests in Wuhan Baina Information to secure the performance of their obligations and Wuhan Baina Information’s obligations under the various VIE-related agreements. If the shareholders breach their obligations under any VIE-related agreements (Wuhan Baina Information’s breach of any of its obligations under the various VIE-related agreements will be treated as the shareholders’ breach of their obligations), including the share pledge agreement, Beijing Baina Technology is entitled to exercise its rights as the beneficiary under the share pledge agreement, including all rights of the shareholders as shareholders of Wuhan Baina Information.

Call option agreement among Beijing Baina Technology, Wuhan Baina Information, Changyou Star and Yongzhi Yang. This agreement provides to Beijing Baina Technology and any third party designated by Beijing Baina Technology the right, exercisable at any time during the term of the agreement, if and when it is legal to do so under PRC law, to purchase from Changyou Star and Yongzhi Yang all or any part of their shares in Wuhan Baina Information or to purchase from Wuhan Baina Information all or part of its assets or business at the lower of RMB1.00 (approximately $0.15) or the lowest purchase price permissible under PRC law.

Business Operation Agreement among Beijing Baina Technology, Wuhan Baina Information, Changyou Star and Yongzhi Yang. This agreement grants Beijing Baina Technology effective control of Wuhan Baina Information.

 

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Business Arrangements Between Subsidiaries and Consolidated VIEs

Exclusive technology consulting and service agreement between Sohu Era and Sohu Internet. Pursuant to this agreement Sohu Era has the exclusive right to provide technical consultation and other related services to Sohu Internet, in exchange for a percentage of the gross revenue of Sohu Internet. The agreement has an initial term of two years, and is renewable at the request of Sohu Era.

Business cooperation agreement between Sogou Technology and Sogou Information. Pursuant to this agreement, Sogou Information provides Internet information services to Sogou Technology’s customers in exchange for a fee payable to Sogou Information. The agreement has a term of 10 years, and is renewable at the request of Sogou Technology.

Exclusive technology consulting and service agreement between Sogou Technology and Sogou Information. Pursuant to this agreement Sogou Technology has the exclusive right to provide technical consultation and other related services to Sogou Information in exchange for a fee. The agreement has a term of 10 years and is renewable at the request of Sogou Technology.

Exclusive technology consulting and service agreement between Video Tianjin and Tianjin Jinhu. Pursuant to this agreement Video Tianjin has the exclusive right to provide technical consultation and other related services to Tianjin Jinhu in exchange for a fee. The agreement has a term of 10 years and is renewable at the request of Video Tianjin.

Technology support and utilization agreements between AmazGame and Gamease and between Gamespace and Guanyou Gamespace. Pursuant to these agreements, AmazGame and Gamespace have the exclusive right to provide certain product development and application services and technology support to Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace, respectively, for a fee equal to a predetermined percentage, subject to adjustment by AmazGame or Gamespace at any time, of Gamease’s and Guanyou Gamespace’s respective revenues. Each agreement terminates only when AmazGame or Gamespace is dissolved.

Services and maintenance agreements between AmazGame and Gamease between Gamespace and Guanyou Gamespace. Pursuant to these agreements, AmazGame and Gamespace, respectively, provide marketing, staffing, business operation and maintenance services to Gamease and Guanyou Gamespace, respectively, in exchange for a fee equal to the cost of providing such services plus a predetermined margin. Each agreement terminates only when AmazGame or Gamespace, as the case may be, is dissolved.

Exclusive Services agreement between Beijing Baina Technology and Wuhan Baina Information. Beijing Baina Technology agrees to provide Wuhan Baina Information with technical services, business consulting, capital equipment lease, market consulting, integration of systems, research and development of products and maintenance of systems. Service fees are to be determined with reference to the specific services provided, based on a transfer pricing analysis.

Certain of the contractual arrangements described above between the VIEs and the related wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Sohu Group are silent regarding renewals. However, because the VIEs are controlled by the Sohu Group through powers of attorney granted to the Sohu Group by the shareholders of the VIEs, the contractual arrangements can be, and are expected to be, renewed at the subsidiaries’ election.

VIE-Related Risks

It is possible that the Sohu Group’s operation of certain of its operations and businesses through VIEs could be found by PRC authorities to be in violation of PRC law and regulations prohibiting or restricting foreign ownership of companies that engage in such operations and businesses. While the Sohu Group’s management considers the possibility of such a finding by PRC regulatory authorities under current law and regulations to be remote, on January 19, 2015, the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, or (the “MOFCOM”) released on its Website for public comment a proposed PRC law (the “Draft FIE Law”) that appears to include VIEs within the scope of entities that could be considered to be foreign invested enterprises (or “FIEs”) that would be subject to restrictions under existing PRC law on foreign investment in certain categories of industry. Specifically, the Draft FIE Law introduces the concept of “actual control” for determining whether an entity is considered to be an FIE. In addition to control through direct or indirect ownership or equity, the Draft FIE Law includes control through contractual arrangements within the definition of “actual control.” If the Draft FIE Law is passed by the People’s Congress of the PRC and goes into effect in its current form, these provisions regarding control through contractual arrangements could be construed to reach the Sohu Group’s VIE arrangements, and as a result the Sohu Group’s VIEs could become explicitly subject to the current restrictions on foreign investment in certain categories of industry. The Draft FIE Law includes provisions that would exempt from the definition of foreign invested enterprises entities where the ultimate controlling shareholders are either entities organized under PRC law or individuals who are PRC citizens. The Draft FIE Law is silent as to what type of enforcement action might be taken against existing VIEs that operate in restricted or prohibited industries and are not controlled by entities organized under PRC law or individuals who are PRC citizens. If a finding were made by PRC authorities, under existing law and regulations or under the Draft FIE Law if it becomes effective, that the Sohu Group’s operation of certain of its operations and businesses through VIEs is prohibited, regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the licensing and operation of such operations and businesses would have broad discretion in dealing with such a violation, including levying fines, confiscating the Sohu Group’s income, revoking the business or operating licenses of the affected businesses, requiring the Sohu Group to restructure its ownership structure or operations, or requiring the Sohu Group to discontinue all or any portion of its operations. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to the Sohu Group’s business operations, and have a severe adverse impact on the Sohu Group’s cash flows, financial position and operating performance.

 

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In addition, it is possible that the contracts among the Sohu Group, the Sohu Group’s VIEs and shareholders of its VIEs would not be enforceable in China if PRC government authorities or courts were to find that such contracts contravene PRC law and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In the event that the Sohu Group was unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, the Sohu Group would not be able to exert effective control over the affected VIEs. Consequently, such VIE’s results of operations, assets and liabilities would not be included in the Sohu Group’s consolidated financial statements. If such were the case, the Sohu Group’s cash flows, financial position and operating performance would be severely adversely affected. The Sohu Group’s contractual arrangements with respect to its consolidated VIEs are in place. The Sohu Group’s management believes that such contracts are enforceable, and considers the possibility remote that PRC regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Sohu Group’s operations and contractual relationships would find the contracts to be unenforceable.

The Sohu Group’s operations and businesses rely on the operations and businesses of its VIEs, which hold certain recognized and unrecognized revenue-producing assets. The recognized revenue-producing assets include goodwill and intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions. Goodwill primarily represents the expected synergies from combining an acquired business with the Sohu Group. Intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions mainly consist of customer relationships, non-compete agreements, user bases, copyrights, trademarks and developed technologies. Unrecognized revenue-producing assets mainly consist of licenses and intellectual property. Licenses include operations licenses, such as Internet information service licenses and licenses for providing content. Intellectual property developed by the Sohu Group mainly consists of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and domain names. The Sohu Group’s operations and businesses may be adversely impacted if the Sohu Group loses the ability to use and enjoy assets held by these VIEs.

 

9.	Sohu.com Inc. Shareholders’ Equity

Takeover Defense

Sohu intends to adopt appropriate defensive measures in the future on a case by case basis as and to the extent that Sohu’s Board of Directors determines that such measures are necessary or advisable to protect Sohu stockholder value in the face of any coercive takeover threats or to prevent an acquirer from gaining control of Sohu without offering fair and adequate price and terms.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock consists of shares repurchased by Sohu.com Inc. that are no longer outstanding and are held by Sohu.com Inc. Treasury stock is accounted for under the cost method. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock.

Stock Incentive Plan

Sohu (excluding Sohu Video), Sogou, Changyou, and Sohu Video have incentive plans for the granting of share-based awards, including common stock or ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, to their directors, management and other key employees.

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. Most of these awards vest over a period of four years. 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. A new plan (the “Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan”) was adopted by Sohu’s shareholders on July 2, 2010.

For both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the three months ended March 31, 2015, no share-based compensation expense was recognized for awards under the Sohu 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, total cash received from the exercise of share options amounted to nil and $0.7 million, respectively.

 

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Sohu’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

On July 2, 2010, the Company’s shareholders adopted the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, which provides for the issuance of up to 1,500,000 shares of common stock, including shares issued pursuant to the vesting and settlement of restricted share units and pursuant to the exercise of share options. The maximum term of any stock right granted 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, 2016, 341,680 shares were available for grant under the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.

i) Summary of share option activity

On February 7, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors approved contractual grants to members of the Company’s management and key employees of options for the purchase of an aggregate of 1,068,000 shares of common stock, with nominal exercise prices of $0.001. These share options vest and become exercisable in four equal installments over a period of four years, with each installment vesting upon the satisfaction of a service period requirement and certain subjective performance targets. These share options are substantially similar to restricted share units except for the nominal exercise price, which would be zero for restricted share units.

Under ASC 718-10-25 and ASC 718-10-55, no grant date can be established for these share options until a mutual understanding is reached between the Company and the recipients clarifying the subjective performance requirements. If the service inception date preceded the grant date, compensation expense should be accrued beginning on the service inception date, and re-measured on each subsequent reporting date before the grant date is established, based on the then-current fair value of the awards. To determine the fair value of these share options, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date is used and a binomial valuation model is applied.

On February 7, 2016, 266,000 of these share options had been granted and had become vested, as a mutual understanding of the subjective performance targets had been reached between the Company and the recipients, the targets had been satisfied, and the service period requirements had been fulfilled. For the total of 266,000 granted share options, the cumulative share-based compensation expense has been adjusted and fixed based on the fair value at the grant date of $11.3 million.

A summary of share option activity under the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 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, 2016			0			$								$
Granted			266				0.001
Exercised			(4	)			0.001
Forfeited or expired			0
Outstanding at March 31, 2016			262				0.001				8.85				12,992
Vested at March 31, 2016			262				0.001				8.85				12,992
Exercisable at March 31, 2016			262				0.001				8.85				12,992

Note (1): The aggregated intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the difference between Sohu’s closing stock price of $49.54 on March 31, 2016 and the nominal exercise price of share option.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, for the 1,068,000 share options, total share-based compensation expense recognized was negative $0.7 million and $3.8 million, respectively.

 

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ii) Summary of restricted share unit activity

A summary of restricted share unit activity under the Sohu 2010 Stock Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented below:

 

Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2016			32			$	70.24
Granted			11				51.00
Vested			(3	)			66.74
Forfeited			(1	)			72.92
Unvested at March 31, 2016			39				64.99
Expected to vest after March 31, 2016			31				63.66

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, total share-based compensation expense recognized for restricted share units was $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2016, 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 0.72 years. The total fair value on their respective vesting dates of restricted share units that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $169,701 and $130,900, respectively.

2) Sogou Inc. Share-based Awards

Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan

Sogou adopted a share incentive plan on October 20, 2010. The number of Sogou ordinary shares issuable under the plan was 41,500,000 after an amendment that was effective August 22, 2014 (as amended, the “Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan”). Awards of share rights may be granted under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan to management and employees of Sogou and of any present or future parents or subsidiaries or variable interest entities of Sogou. The maximum term of any share right granted 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, 2016, Sogou had contractually granted options for the purchase of 36,634,325 ordinary shares under the 2010 Sogou Share Incentive Plan.

Of the contractually granted options for the purchase of 36,634,325 shares, options for the purchase of 29,434,325 shares vest and become exercisable in four equal installments, with each installment vesting upon a service period requirement being met, as well as Sogou’s achievement of performance targets for the corresponding period. Of these options for the purchase of 29,434,325 shares, the terms of options for the purchase of 980,000 shares, which had previously included as vesting conditions a service period requirement and Sogou’s completion of an IPO of its ordinary shares (“Sogou’s IPO”), were amended in the first quarter of 2016 to remove as a condition of vesting upon Sogou’s IPO and to add as a condition of achievement of performance targets. For purposes of recognition of share-based compensation expense, each installment is considered to be granted as of the date that the performance target has been set. As of March 31, 2016, Sogou had granted options for the purchase of 23,012,697 shares under the 2010 Sogou Share Incentive Plan. As of March 31, 2016, options for the purchase of 22,923,259 shares had become vested and exercisable because both the service period and the performance requirements had been met, and of such vested options, options for the purchase of 19,408,630 shares had been exercised.

Of the contractually granted share options, options for the purchase of 7,200,000 shares vest and become exercisable in five equal installments, with (i) the first installment vesting upon Sogou’s IPO and the expiration of all underwriters’ lockup periods applicable to Sogou’s IPO, and (ii) each of the four subsequent installments vesting on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary dates, respectively, of the closing of Sogou’s IPO. The completion of an IPO is considered to be a performance condition of the awards. An IPO is not considered to be probable until it is completed. Under ASC 718, compensation cost should be accrued if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved and should not be accrued if it is not probable that the performance condition will be achieved. As a result, no compensation expense will be recognized related to these options until the completion of an IPO, and hence no share-based compensation expense was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2016 for the options for the purchase of 7,200,000 shares that are subject to vesting upon completion of Sogou’s IPO.

 

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As of March 31, 2016, for purposes of recognition of share-based compensation expense, Sogou had granted options for the purchase of 30,212,697 shares, of which options for the purchase of 10,804,067 shares were outstanding. A summary of share option activity under the Sogou 2010 Stock Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented below:

 

Options		Number Of Shares (in thousands)				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)
Outstanding at January 1, 2016			12,209			$	0.369
Granted			0
Exercised			(290	)			0.001
Forfeited or expired			(1,115	)			0.001
Outstanding at March 31, 2016			10,804				0.417				6.87
Vested at March 31, 2016 and expected to vest thereafter			3,592
Exercisable at March 31, 2016			3,515

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 total share-based compensation expense recognized for share options under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan was $1.1 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

As of March 31, 2016, there was $0.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested share options. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.6 years.

The fair value of the ordinary shares of Sogou 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 with the assistance of a qualified professional appraiser using management’s estimates and assumptions. This assessment required complex and subjective judgments regarding Sogou’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.

The fair value of the options granted to Sogou management and key employees was estimated on the date of grant using the Binomial option - pricing model (the “BP Model”) with the following assumptions used:

 

Assumptions Adopted
Average risk-free interest rate			2.12%~2.77	%
Exercise multiple			2~3
Expected forfeiture rate (post-vesting)			0%~12	%
Weighted average expected option life			6
Volatility rate			47%~50	%
Dividend yield			0	%
Fair value			3.58~3.93

Sogou estimated the risk-free rate based on the market yields of U.S. Treasury securities with an estimated country-risk differential as of the valuation date. An exercise multiple was estimated as the ratio of the fair value of the shares over the exercise price as of the time the option is exercised, based on consideration of research studies regarding exercise patterns based on historical statistical data. In Sogou’s valuation analysis, a multiple of two was applied for employees and a multiple of three was applied for management. Sogou estimated the forfeiture rate to be 0% for Sogou management’s share options granted as of March 31, 2016 and 12% for Sogou employees’ share options granted as of March 31, 2016. The life of the share options is the contract life of the option. Based on the option agreement, the contract life of the option is 10 years. The expected volatility at the valuation date was estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable companies for the period before the grant date with length commensurate with the expected term of the options. Sogou has no history or expectation of paying dividends on its ordinary shares. Accordingly, the dividend yield is estimated to be 0%.

Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement

Under an arrangement providing for Sogou share-based awards to be available for grants to members of Sohu’s Board of Directors, management and other key employees (“Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement”), which was approved by the boards of directors of Sohu and Sogou in March 2011, Sohu has the right to provide to members of Sohu’ Board of Directors, management and other key employees the opportunity to purchase from Sohu up to 12,000,000 ordinary shares of Sogou at a fixed exercise price of $0.625 or $0.001 per share. Of these 12,000,000 ordinary shares, 8,800,000 are Sogou ordinary shares previously held by Sohu and 3,200,000 are Sogou ordinary shares that were newly-issued on April 14, 2011 by Sogou to Sohu at a price of $0.625 per share, or a total of $2.0 million. As of March 31, 2016, Sohu had contractually granted options for the purchase of 10,724,500 Sogou ordinary shares to members of Sohu’ Board of Directors, management and other key employees under the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement.

 

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Of the contractually granted options for the purchase of 10,724,500 shares, options for the purchase of 8,309,500 shares vest and become exercisable in four equal installments, with each installment vesting upon a service period requirement for Sohu’s management and key employees being met, as well as Sogou’s achievement of performance targets for the corresponding period. The performance target for each installment is set at the beginning of each vesting period. Accordingly, for purposes of recognition of share-based compensation expense, each installment is considered to be granted as of that date. As of March 31, 2016, Sohu had granted options for the purchase of 8,232,000 shares under the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement. As of March 31, 2016, options for the purchase of 8,232,000 shares had become vested and exercisable because both the service period and the performance requirements had been met, and vested options for the purchase of 7,020,500 shares had been exercised.

As of December 31, 2015, options for the purchase of 15,000 ordinary shares of Sogou granted to members of Sohu’ Board of Directors had vested and become exercisable, as the service period requirement for vesting had been met.

The remaining options for the purchase of 2,400,000 shares vest and become exercisable in five equal installments, with (i) the first installment vesting upon Sogou’s IPO and the expiration of all underwriters’ lockup periods applicable to the IPO, and (ii) each of the four subsequent installments vesting on the first, second, third and fourth anniversary dates, respectively, of the closing of Sogou’s IPO. All installments of the options for the purchase of 2,400,000 shares that are subject to vesting upon the completion of Sogou’s IPO were considered granted upon the issuance of the options. The completion of a firm commitment IPO is considered to be a performance condition of the awards. An IPO event is not considered to be probable until it is completed. Under ASC 718, compensation cost should be accrued if it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved and should not be accrued if it is not probable that the performance condition will be achieved. As a result, no compensation expense will be recognized related to these options until the completion of an IPO, and hence no share-based compensation expense was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2016 for these options for the purchase of 2,400,000 shares.

As of March 31, 2016, for purposes of recognition of share-based compensation expense, Sohu had granted options for the purchase of 10,647,000 shares, of which options for the purchase of 3,623,500 shares were outstanding. A summary of share option activity under the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented below:

 

Options		Number Of Shares (in thousands)				Weighted Average Exercise Price				Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)
Outstanding at January 1, 2016			3,664			$	0.623
Granted			0
Exercised			(40	)			0.001
Forfeited or expired			0
Outstanding at March 31, 2016			3,624				0.623				6.43
Vested at March 31, 2016			1,224
Exercisable at March 31, 2016			1,224

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, total share-based compensation expense recognized for share options under the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement was $297,106 and $569,450, respectively.

As of March 31, 2016, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested Sogou share options.

The method used to determine the fair value of share options granted to members of Sohu’s Board of Directors, management and other employees was the same as the method used for the share options granted to Sogou’s management and key employees as described above, except for the assumptions used in the BP Model as presented below:

 

Assumptions Adopted
Average risk-free interest rate			2.12%~2.15	%
Exercise multiple			3
Expected forfeiture rate (post-vesting)			0	%
Weighted average expected option life			5
Volatility rate			47	%
Dividend yield			0	%
Fair value			3.31

 

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Option Modification

In the first and second quarter of 2013, a portion of the share options granted under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan and the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement were exercised early, and the Sogou ordinary shares issued upon exercise were transferred to trusts with the original option grantees as beneficiaries. The trusts will distribute the shares to those beneficiaries in installments based on the vesting requirements under the option agreements. Although these trust arrangements caused a modification of the terms of these share options, the modification was not considered substantive. Accordingly, no incremental fair value related to these shares resulted from the modification, and the remaining share-based compensation expense for these shares will continue to be recognized over the original remaining vesting period. As of March 31, 2016, options for the purchase of 11,370,000 shares granted under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan had been exercised early but had not been distributed to the beneficiaries of the trusts. All of the early-exercised shares that were distributed to those beneficiaries by the trusts in accordance with the vesting requirements under the option agreements have been included in the disclosures under the heading “Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan” above.

Tencent Share-based Awards Granted to Employees Who Transferred to Sogou with Soso Search-related Businesses

Certain persons who became Sogou employees when Tencent’s Soso search-related businesses were transferred to Sogou on September 16, 2013 had been granted restricted share units under Tencent’s share award arrangements prior to the transfer of the businesses to Sogou. These Tencent restricted share units will continue to vest under the original Tencent share award arrangements provided the transferred employees continue to be employed by Sogou during the requisite service period. After the transfer of the Soso search-related businesses to Sogou, Sogou applied the guidance in ASC 505-50 to measure the related compensation expense, based on the then-current fair value at each reporting date, which is deemed to have been incurred by Tencent as an investor on Sogou’s behalf. To determine the then-current fair value of the Tencent restricted share units granted to these employees, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date was applied. Because Sogou is not required to reimburse Tencent for such share-based compensation expense, the related amount was recorded by Sogou as a capital contribution from Tencent.

As of March 31, 2016, unvested Tencent restricted share unit awards held by these employees provided for the issuance of up to 168,050 ordinary shares of Tencent, taking into consideration a five-for-one split of Tencent’s shares that became effective in May 2014. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, share-based compensation expense of $0.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively, related to these Tencent restricted share units was recognized in the Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income. As of March 31, 2016, there was $0.8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to these unvested restricted share units. This amount is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.75 years.

3) Changyou.com Limited Share-based Awards

Changyou’s 2008 Share Incentive Plan

Changyou’s 2008 Share Incentive Plan (the “Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan”) originally provided for the issuance of up to 2,000,000 ordinary shares, including ordinary shares issued pursuant to the exercise of share options and upon vesting and settlement of restricted share units. The 2,000,000 reserved shares became 20,000,000 ordinary shares in March 2009 when Changyou effected a ten-for-one share split of its ordinary shares. Most of the awards granted under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan vest over a period of four years. The maximum term of any share right granted under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan is ten years from the grant date. The Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan will expire in August 2018.

Prior to the completion of Changyou’s initial public offering, Changyou had granted under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan 15,000,000 ordinary shares to its former chief executive officer Tao Wang, through Prominence Investments Ltd., which is an entity that may be deemed under applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be beneficially owned by Tao Wang. Through March 31, 2016, Changyou had also granted under the Changyou 2008 Share Incentive Plan restricted share units, settleable upon vesting by the issuance of an aggregate of 4,614,098 ordinary shares, to certain members of its management other than Tao Wang, and certain other Changyou employees.

i) Share-based Awards granted before Changyou’s IPO

All of the restricted ordinary shares and restricted share units granted before Changyou’s IPO became vested in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Hence there was no share-based compensation expense recognized with respect to such restricted ordinary shares and restricted share units since their respective vesting dates.

 

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ii) Share-based Awards granted after Changyou’s IPO

Through March 31, 2016, in addition to the share-based awards granted before Changyou’s IPO, Changyou had granted restricted share units, settleable upon vesting with the issuance of an aggregate of 1,581,226 ordinary shares, to certain members of its management other than Tao Wang and to certain of its other employees. These restricted share units are subject to vesting over a four-year period commencing on their grant dates. Share-based compensation expense for such restricted share units is recognized on an accelerated basis over the requisite service period. The fair value of restricted share units was determined based on the market price of Changyou’s ADSs on the grant date.

A summary of activity for these restricted share units as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented below:

 

Restricted Share Units		Number of Units (in thousands)				Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested at January 1, 2016			20			$	14.25
Granted			0
Vested			0
Forfeited			0
Unvested at March 31, 2016			20				14.25
Expected to vest after March 31, 2016			20				14.25

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, total share-based compensation expense recognized for the above restricted share units was $22,000 and negative $42,000, respectively. The negative $42,000 represents Changyou’s true-up of share-based compensation expense for forfeited restricted share units that would have become vested during the quarter.

As of March 31, 2016, there was $87,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to these unvested restricted share units. The expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.76 years. The total fair value of these restricted share units vested during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $nil and $0.3 million, respectively.

Changyou 2014 Share Incentive Plan

On June 27, 2014, Changyou reserved 2,000,000 of its Class A ordinary shares under the Changyou.com Limited 2014 Share Incentive Plan (the “Changyou 2014 Share Incentive Plan”) for the purpose of making share incentive awards to certain members of its management and key employees. On November 2, 2014, the number of Class A ordinary shares reserved under the Changyou 2014 Share Incentive Plan increased from 2,000,000 to 6,000,000. As of March 31, 2016, 2,820,000 shares were available for grant under the Changyou 2014 Share Incentive Plan.

i) Summary of share option activity

On November 2, 2014, Changyou approved the contractual grant of an aggregate of 2,416,000 Class A restricted share units to certain members of its management and certain other employees. On February 16, 2015, Changyou’s Board of Directors approved the conversion of 2,400,000 of these Class A restricted share units into options for the purchase of Class A ordinary shares at an exercise price of $0.01. On June 1, 2015, Changyou’s Board of Directors approved the contractual grant of options for the purchase of an aggregate of 1,998,000 Class A ordinary shares to certain members of its management and certain other employees at an exercise price of $0.01. These share options vest in four equal installments over a period of four years, with each installment vesting upon satisfaction of a service period requirement and the achievement of certain subjective performance targets. These share options are substantially similar to restricted share units except for the nominal exercise price, which would be zero for restricted share units.

Under ASC 718-10-25 and ASC 718-10-55, no grant date can be established until a mutual understanding is reached between the Company and the recipients clarifying the subjective performance requirements. If the service inception date preceded the grant date, compensation expense should be accrued beginning on the service inception date, and re-measured on each subsequent reporting date before the grant date is established, based on the then-current fair value of the awards. To determine the fair value of these share options, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date is used and a binomial valuation model is applied.

On November 2, 2015, 450,000 of these share options had been granted and had become vested, as a mutual understanding of the subjective performance targets had been reached between Changyou and the recipients, the targets had been satisfied, and the service period requirements had been fulfilled. For the total of 450,000 granted share options, the cumulative share-based compensation expense has been adjusted and fixed based on the fair value at the grant date of $4.7 million.

 

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A summary of share option activity under the Changyou 2014 Share Incentive Plan as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is presented below:

 

										Weighted
		Number				Weighted				Average				Aggregate
		Of				Average				Remaining				Intrinsic
		Shares				Exercise				Contractual				Value (1)
Options		(in thousands)				Price				Life (Years)				(in thousands)
Outstanding at January 1, 2016			450			$	0.01				8.84			$	5,580
Granted			0
Exercised			(150	)			0.01
Forfeited or expired			0
Outstanding at March 31, 2016			300				0.01				8.59				2,814
Vested at March 31, 2016			300				0.01				8.59				2,814
Exercisable at March 31, 2016			300				0.01				8.59				2,814

Note (1): The aggregated intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the difference between Changyou’s closing price of $18.78 per ADS, or $9.39 per Class A ordinary share, on March 31, 2016 and the nominal exercise price of share option.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, share-based compensation expense recognized for these share options under the Changyou 2014 Share Incentive Plan was negative $1.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

ii) Summary of restricted share unit activity

On November 2, 2014, Changyou had contractually granted under the 2014 Share Incentive Plan an aggregate of 16,000 Class A restricted share units to an employee. These Class A restricted share units are subject to vesting over a four-year period commencing on their grant dates. The fair values as of the grant dates of the restricted share units were determined based on market price of Changyou’s ADSs on the grant dates.

Due to the termination of employment of an employee during the second quarter of 2015 prior to vesting of the restricted share units held by the employee, Changyou reversed share-based compensation expense in the amount of $17,000. As of March 31, 2016, there was no unrecognized compensation expense for these restricted share units, as all of them had been forfeited.

4) Sohu Video Share-based Awards

On January 4, 2012, Sohu Video adopted the Video 2011 Share Incentive Plan, under which 25,000,000 ordinary shares of Sohu Video are reserved for the purpose of making share incentive awards to management and key employees of Sohu Video and to Sohu management. The maximum term of any share incentive award granted under the Video 2011 Share Incentive Plan is ten years from the grant date. The Video 2011 Share Incentive Plan will expire on January 3, 2021. As of March 31, 2016, grants of options for the purchase of 16,368,200 ordinary shares of Sohu Video had been contractually made and were subject to vesting in four equal installments, with each installment vesting upon a service period requirement being met, as well as Sohu Video’s achievement of performance targets for the corresponding period. For purposes of ASC 718-10-25, as of March 31, 2016, no grant date had occurred, because the broader terms and conditions of the option awards had neither been finalized nor mutually agreed upon with the recipients. As of March 31, 2016, options for the purchase of 4,972,800 ordinary shares were vested.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, total share-based compensation expense recognized for vested options under the Video 2011 Share Incentive Plan was $0.2 and negative $ 0.8 million, respectively. The negative amount represented re-measured compensation expense based on the then-current fair value of the awards on March 31, 2015.

The fair value of the options contractually granted to management and key employees of Sohu Video and to Sohu management was estimated on the reporting date using the BP Model, with the following assumptions used:

 

Assumptions Adopted
Average risk-free interest rate			2.03	%
Exercise multiple			2.8
Expected forfeiture rate (post-vesting)			10	%
Weighted average expected option life			5.8
Volatility rate			57.7	%
Dividend yield			0	%
Fair value			0.92

 

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10.	Sogou Transactions

On September 16, 2013, Sogou entered into a series of agreements with Tencent, Sohu Search and Photon Group Limited (“Photon”) pursuant to which Sogou issued Series B Preferred Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares to Tencent for a net amount of $448 million in cash and Tencent transferred its Soso search-related businesses and certain other assets to Sogou (collectively, the “Sogou-Tencent Transactions”). Also on that date, Sogou entered into Repurchase Option Agreements with Sohu Search and Photon, and a Repurchase/Put Option Agreement with China Web Search (HK) Limited (“China Web”), with respect to all of the Series A Preferred Shares of Sogou held by Sohu Search and China Web, and a portion of the Series A Preferred Shares of Sogou held by Photon. Also on that date, Sogou, Sohu Search, Photon, Mr. Xiaochuan Wang, four other members of Sogou’s management (collectively, the “Sohu Parties”) and Tencent entered into a Shareholders Agreement (the “Shareholders Agreement”) under which the parties agreed to vote their Sogou shares in all elections of directors to elect three designees of Sohu Search and two designees of Tencent.

In June 2014, Sogou repurchased approximately 4.2 million of its Class A Ordinary Shares from noncontrolling shareholders, a majority of whom were employees of the Group, for an aggregate purchase price of $41.6 million. In March 2014, September 2015, and September 2015, respectively, Sogou purchased from China Web, Sohu Search and Photon, pursuant to the Repurchase Option Agreements entered into in September 2013, 14.4 million, 24.0 million and 6.4 million Series A Preferred Shares of Sogou, for an aggregate purchase price of $47.3 million, $78.8 million and $21.0 million, respectively. After these repurchases, the Sohu Group holds approximately 36% of the outstanding equity capital of Sogou, assuming that all share options under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan and all share options under the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement are granted and exercised and that all of the 4.2 million Class A Ordinary Shares Sogou repurchased in June 2014 were issued to shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc.

Pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, the Sohu Group holds approximately 52% of the total voting power and control the election of the Board of Directors of Sogou, assuming that Tencent’s non-voting Class B Ordinary Shares are converted to voting shares, and that all share options under the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan and all share options under the Sohu Management Sogou Share Option Arrangement are granted and exercised. As Sohu.com Inc. is the controlling shareholder of Sogou, Sohu.com Inc. consolidates Sogou in the Group’s consolidated financial statements, and recognizes noncontrolling interest reflecting economic interests in Sogou held by shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc.

Sohu’s Shareholding in Sogou

As of March 31, 2016, Sogou had outstanding a combined total of 331,160,213 ordinary shares and preferred shares held as follows:

 

(i)	Sohu: 132,189,750 Class A Ordinary Shares, of which 4,976,500 shares may be purchased by Sohu management and key employees under an option arrangement;

 

(ii)	Photon: 32,000,000 Series A Preferred Shares;

 

(iii)

Tencent: 6,757,875 Class A Ordinary Shares, 65,431,579 Series B Preferred Shares and 79,368,421 non-voting Class B Ordinary Shares; and

 

(iv)	Various employees of Sogou and Sohu: 15,412,588 Class A Ordinary Shares.

Because no ordinary shares will be issued with respect to share options granted by Sogou until they are vested and exercised, share options granted by Sogou that have not vested and vested share options that have not yet been exercised are not included as outstanding shares of Sogou and have no impact on the Sohu Group’s basic net income per share. Unvested share options with performance targets achieved and vested share options that have not yet been exercised do, however, have a dilutive impact on the Sohu Group’s dilutive net income per share. See Note 12 - Net Income/(Loss) per Share.

Terms of Sogou Preferred Shares

In connection with the Sogou-Tencent Transactions, Sogou’s shareholders adopted a Fifth Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Second Amended and Restated Articles of Association (together, the “Revised Sogou Memorandum and Articles”), which became effective on September 16, 2013. The following is a summary of some of the key terms of the Sogou Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Sogou Preferred Shares”) under the Revised Sogou Memorandum and Articles.

Dividend Rights

Sogou may not declare or pay dividends on its Class A Ordinary Shares or Class B Ordinary Shares (collectively, “Ordinary Shares”) unless the holders of the Sogou Preferred Shares then outstanding first receive a dividend on each outstanding 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 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 $0.0375 per Series A Preferred Share and from the date of issuance of the Series B Preferred Shares at the rate per annum of $0.411 per Series B 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 B Preferred Shares are entitled to receive an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) $6.847 plus any unpaid Accruing Dividends or (ii) such amount per share as would have been payable if the Series B Preferred Shares had been converted into Ordinary Shares prior the Liquidation Event, and holders of Series A Preferred Shares are entitled to receive, after payment to the holders of the Series B Preferred Shares but before any payment to holders of Ordinary Shares, an amount equal to the greater of (i) 1.3 times their original investment in the Series A Preferred Shares plus all accrued but unpaid Accruing Dividends or (ii) such amount per share as would be payable if the Series A Preferred Shares had been converted into Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the Liquidation Event.

Redemption Rights

The Sogou Preferred Shares are not redeemable at the option of the holders.

Conversion Rights

Each Sogou Preferred Share is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder. Each Sogou Preferred Share is convertible into such number of Class A Ordinary Shares as is determined, in the case of Series A Preferred Shares, by dividing $0.625 by the then-effective conversion price for Series A Preferred Shares, which is initially $0.625, and, in the case of Series B Preferred Shares, by dividing $7.267 by the then-effective conversion price for Series B Preferred Shares, which is initially $7.267. The conversion prices of the Sogou Preferred Shares are 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 $0.625, in the case of Series A Preferred Shares, or less than $7.267, in the case of Series B Preferred Shares, subject to certain customary exceptions, such as shares issued pursuant to the Sogou 2010 Share Incentive Plan. Each Sogou Preferred Share will be automatically converted into Class A Ordinary Shares of Sogou upon the closing of a qualified IPO of Sogou based on the then-effective conversion ratio of such Sogou Preferred Share, which is currently one-for-one for both Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares.

Voting Rights

Each holder of Sogou Preferred Shares is entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of Class A Ordinary Shares into which the Sogou Preferred Shares held by such holder are then convertible.

Other Rights

The holders of Sogou Preferred Shares have various other rights typical of preferred share investments.

Terms of Sogou Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares

The Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares have identical rights, except that Class B Ordinary Shares do not have voting rights unless the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Class B Ordinary Shares elect, by written notice to Sogou, to convert them into shares with voting rights.

 

11.	Noncontrolling Interest

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

Noncontrolling Interest for Sogou

Since Sohu.com Inc. controls the election of the Board of Directors of Sogou, Sohu.com Inc. is Sogou’s controlling shareholder. Therefore, Sogou’s financial results have been consolidated with those of Sohu.com Inc. for all periods presented. To reflect the economic interest in Sogou held by shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc. (the “Sogou noncontrolling shareholders”), Sogou’s net income /(loss) attributable to the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders is recorded as noncontrolling interest in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Sogou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders, along with changes in shareholders’ equity /(deficit) and adjustment for share-based compensation expense in relation to those share-based awards which are unvested and vested but not yet settled and the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders’ investments in Sogou Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares are accounted for as a noncontrolling interest classified as permanent equity in the Sohu Group’s consolidated balance sheets, as the Sohu Group has the right to reject a redemption requested by the noncontrolling interest. These treatments are based on the terms governing the investment, and on the terms of the classes of Sogou shares held, by the noncontrolling shareholders in Sogou.

 

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By virtue of these terms, Sogou’s losses have been and will be allocated in the following order:

 

(i)	net losses were allocated to holders of Sogou Class A Ordinary Shares and the holder of Sogou Class B Ordinary Shares until their basis in Sogou decreased to zero;

 

(ii)	additional net losses were allocated to holders of Sogou Series A Preferred Shares until their basis in Sogou decreased to zero;

 

(iii)

additional net losses will be allocated to the holder of Sogou Series B Preferred Shares until its basis in Sogou decreases to zero; and

 

(iv)	further net losses will be allocated between Sohu.com Inc. and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou.

Net income from Sogou has been, and future net income from Sogou will be, allocated in the following order:

 

(i)	net income will be allocated between Sohu.com Inc. 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 the holder of Sogou Series B Preferred Shares to bring its basis back;

 

(iii)

additional net income will be allocated to holders of Sogou Series A Preferred Shares to bring their basis back;

 

(iv)	further net income will be allocated to holders of Sogou Class A Ordinary Shares and the holder of Sogou Class B Ordinary Shares to bring their basis back; and

 

(v)	further net income will be allocated between Sohu.com Inc. and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou.

Noncontrolling Interest for Changyou

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

Noncontrolling Interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, noncontrolling interest in the consolidated balance sheets was $520.5 million and $489.7 million, respectively.

 

		As of
		December 31, 2015				March 31, 2016
Sogou		$	125,314			$	146,837
Changyou			364,416				373,656
Total		$	489,730			$	520,493

Noncontrolling Interest of Sogou

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, noncontrolling interest of Sogou of $146.8 million and $125.3 million, respectively, was recognized in the Sohu Group’s consolidated balance sheets, representing Sogou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc., Sogou’s share-based compensation expense, the investments of shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc. in Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares of Sogou, the repurchase of Sogou Series A Preferred Shares from noncontrolling shareholders in March 2014 and September 2015, and Sogou’s repurchase of Class A Ordinary Shares from noncontrolling shareholders in June 2014.

Noncontrolling Interest of Changyou

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, noncontrolling interest of Changyou of $373.7 million and $364.4 million, respectively, was recognized in the Sohu Group’s consolidated balance sheets, representing a 31% and 32% economic interest, respectively, in Changyou’s net assets held by shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc. and reflecting the reclassification of Changyou’s share-based compensation expense from shareholders’ additional paid-in capital to noncontrolling interest.

 

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Noncontrolling Interest in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, net income of $31.2 million and $26.5 million, respectively, attributable to the noncontrolling interest was recognized in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2016
Sogou		$	12,413			$	20,612
Changyou			14,108				10,619
Total		$	26,521			$	31,231

Noncontrolling Interest of Sogou

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, net income of $20.6 million and $12.4 million, respectively, attributable to the noncontrolling interest of Sogou was recognized in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income, representing Sogou’s net income attributable to shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc.

Noncontrolling Interest of Changyou

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, net income of $10.6 million and $14.1 million, respectively, attributable to the noncontrolling interest of Changyou was recognized in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income, representing a 31% and 32% economic interest, respectively, in Changyou attributable to shareholders other than Sohu.com Inc.

 

12.	Net Income /(Loss) per Share

Basic net income /(loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income /(loss) 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 dilutive effect of share-based awards with performance requirements is not considered before the performance targets are actually met. The computation of diluted net income /(loss) 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 /(loss) per share. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, 265,000 common shares potentially issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards using the treasury stock method were anti-dilutive and excluded from the denominator for calculation of diluted net loss per share.

Additionally, for purposes of calculating the numerator of diluted net income /(loss) per share, the net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. is adjusted as follows. The adjustment will not be made if there is an anti-dilutive effect.

 

(1)

Sogou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. is determined using the percentage that the weighted average number of Sogou shares held by Sohu.com Inc. represents of the weighted average number of Sogou Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares, shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible preferred shares under the if-converted method, and shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards under the treasury stock method, and is not determined by allocating Sogou’s net income /(loss) to Sohu.com Inc. using the methodology for the calculation of net income /(loss) attributable to the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders discussed in Note 11 - Noncontrolling Interest.

In the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net income /(loss) per share, assuming a dilutive effect, the percentage of Sohu.com Inc.’s shareholding in Sogou was calculated by treating convertible preferred shares issued by Sogou as having been converted at the beginning of the period and unvested share options with the performance targets achieved as well as vested but unexercised share options as having been exercised during the period. The dilutive effect of share-based awards with a performance requirement was not considered before the performance targets were actually met. The effect of this calculation is presented as “incremental dilution from Sogou” in the table below. Assuming an anti-dilutive effect, all of these Sogou shares and share options are excluded from the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted income /(loss) per share. As a result, Sogou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. on a diluted basis equals the number used for the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s basic net income /(loss) per share.

In the first quarter of 2016, all of these Sogou shares and share options had an anti-dilutive effect, and therefore were excluded from the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net loss per share, and “incremental dilution from Sogou” in the table below was zero.

 

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(2)

Changyou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. is determined using the percentage that the weighted average number of Changyou shares held by Sohu.com Inc. represents of 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, and not by using the percentage held by Sohu.com Inc. of the total economic interest in Changyou, which is used for the calculation of basic net income per share.

In the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net income /(loss) per share, assuming a dilutive effect, all of Changyou’s existing 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 the weighted average number of shares held by Sohu.com Inc. in Changyou to decrease. As a result, Changyou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. on a diluted basis decreased accordingly. The effect of this calculation is presented as “incremental dilution from Changyou” in the table below. Assuming an anti-dilutive effect, all of these Changyou restricted share units are excluded from the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net income /(loss) per share. As a result, Changyou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. on a diluted basis equals the number used for the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s basic net income /(loss) per share.

In the first quarter of 2016, all of these Changyou restricted share units had a dilutive effect, and therefore were included in the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net loss per share. This impact is presented as “incremental dilution from Changyou” in the table below.

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

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2016
Numerator:
Net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc., basic		$	(31,120	)		$	(20,286	)
Effect of dilutive securities:
Incremental dilution from Sogou			0				0
Incremental dilution from Changyou			(221	)			(291	)
Net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc., diluted		$	(31,341	)		$	(20,577	)
Denominator:
Weighted average basic common shares outstanding			38,525				38,666
Effect of dilutive securities:
Share options and restricted share units			0				0
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding			38,525				38,666
Basic net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	(0.81	)		$	(0.52	)
Diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.		$	(0.81	)		$	(0.53	)

 

13.	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, ‘‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).’’ This guidance supersedes current guidance on revenue recognition in Topic 605, ‘‘Revenue Recognition.” In addition, there are disclosure requirements related to the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue recognition. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No.2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities by one year. For public business entities that follow U.S. GAAP, the deferral results in the new revenue standard are being effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Sohu Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. On January 5, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 (“ASU 2016-01”), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. This amendment requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Sohu Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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Leases. On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases. ASU 2016-02 specifies the accounting for leases. For operating leases, ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. In addition, this standard requires both lessees and lessors to disclose certain key information about lease transactions. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Sohu Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

Compensation – Stock Compensation. On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 (“ASU 2016-09”), Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which relates to the accounting for employee share-based payments. This standard addresses several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Sohu Group is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

 

14.	Subsequent Event

On April 22, 2016, Sogou entered into a series of agreements with Tsinghua University, including making a donation of $27.7 million to Tsinghua University and joining forces with Tsinghua University in setting up a joint research institute focusing on artificial intelligence. The Sohu Group is currently evaluating the accounting impact of this transaction on its consolidated financial statements.

 

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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,” the “Sohu Group,” the “Group,” 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”), All Honest International Limited (“All Honest”), Sohu.com (Game) Limited (“Sohu Game”), Go2Map Inc., Sohu.com (Search) Limited (“Sohu Search”), Sogou Inc. (“Sogou”), Sogou (BVI) Limited (“Sogou BVI”), Sogou Hong Kong Limited (“Sogou HK”), Vast Creation Advertising Media Services Limited (“Vast Creation”), Sogou Technology Hong Kong Limited, Fox Video Investment Holding Limited (“Video Investment”), Fox Video Limited (“Sohu Video”), Fox Video (HK) Limited (“Video HK”), Focus Investment Holding Limited, Sohu Focus Limited, Sohu Focus (HK) Limited, Beijing Sohu New Era Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Era”), Beijing Sohu Software Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Sogou Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Technology”), Beijing Sogou Network Technology Co., Ltd (“Sogou Network”), Fox Information Technology (Tianjin) Limited (“Video Tianjin”), Beijing Sohu New Media Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Media”), Beijing Sohu New Momentum Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Sohu New Momentum”), Beijing Century High Tech Investment Co., Ltd. (“High Century”), Beijing Heng Da Yi Tong Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Heng Da Yi Tong”, formerly known as Beijing Sohu Entertainment Culture Media Co., Ltd.), Beijing Sohu Internet Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sohu Internet”), Beijing GoodFeel Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Sogou Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Information”), Beijing 21 East Culture Development Co., Ltd., Beijing Sohu Donglin Advertising Co., Ltd.(“Donglin”), Beijing Pilot New Era Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Pilot New Era”), Beijing Focus Yiju Network Information Technology Co., Ltd., SohuPay Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Sohu Dianjin Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Yi He Jia Xun Information Technology Co., Ltd., Tianjin Jinhu Culture Development Co., Ltd. (“Tianjin Jinhu”), Guangzhou Qianjun Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guangzhou Qianjun”), Shenzhen Shi Ji Guang Su Information Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu Sogou Easypay Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Shi Ji Si Su Technology Co., Ltd., Chongqing Qogir Enterprise Management Consulting Co., Ltd., SendCloud Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Hua Yang Lian Zhong Advertising Co., Ltd, Beijing Focus Interactive Information Service Co., Ltd., Beijing Focus Xin Gan Xian Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Focus Real Estate Agency Co., Ltd. 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), Changyou.com Webgames (HK) Limited (“Changyou HK Webgames”), Changyou.com Gamepower (HK) Limited, ICE Entertainment (HK) Limited (“ICE HK”), Changyou.com Gamestar (HK) Limited, Changyou.com (US) LLC. (formerly known as AmazGame Entertainment (US) Inc.), Changyou.com Korea Limited, Changyou.com India Private Limited, Changyou BİLİŞİM HİZMETLERİ TİCARET LİMİTED ŞİRKETİ, Kylie Enterprises Limited, Mobogarden Enterprises Limited, Heroic Vision Holdings Limited, TalkTalk Limited, RaidCall (HK) Limited, 7Road.com Limited (“7Road”), 7Road.com HK Limited (“7Road HK”), Changyou.com (TH) Limited, Changyou.com Rus Limited, PT.CHANGYOU TECHNOLOGY INDONESIA, Changyou Middle East FZ-LLC, Changyou.com Technology Brazil Desenvolvimento De Programas LTDA, Greative Entertainment Limited (formerly known as Greative Digital Limited), Glory Loop Limited (“Glory Loop”), MoboTap Inc. (“MoboTap”, a Cayman Islands company), MoboTap Inc. Limited (“MoboTap HK”), MoboTap Inc. (a Delaware corporation), Dolphin Browser Inc., TMobi Limited (formerly known as Muse Entertainment Limited), Dstore Technology Limited, Mobo Information Technology Pte. Ltd., Changyou Mobo Glint Limited, Global Cool Limited, Beijing AmazGame Age Internet Technology Co., Ltd. (“AmazGame”), Beijing Changyou Skyline Property Management Co. Ltd, Beijing Cruise stars Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Changyou Gamespace Software Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gamespace”), ICE Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“ICE Information”), Beijing Changyou RaidCall Internet Technology Co., Ltd. (“RaidCall”), 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., Beijing Changyou Jingmao Film & Culture Communication Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Jingmao”), Beijing Gamease Age Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Gamease”), Beijing Guanyou Gamespace Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guanyou Gamespace”), Beijing Zhi Hui You Information Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai ICE Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai ICE”), Shenzhen 7Road Network Technologies Co., Ltd. (“7Road Technology”), Beijing Changyou Star Digital Technology Co., Ltd (“Changyou Star”), Beijing Changyou Creation Information Technology Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Beijing Changyou e-pay Co. Ltd.), Beijing Changyou Aishouxin Ecological Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Brilliant Imagination Technologies Co., Ltd. (“Brilliant Imagination”), Fujian Changyou Heguang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Baina Information Technology Co., Ltd., Baina Zhiyuan (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Baina Technology”), Baina Zhiyuan (Chengdu) Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu Xingyu Technology Co., Ltd., Baina (Wuhan) Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Wuhan Baina Information”), Wuhan Xingyu Technology Co., Ltd., Wuhan Hualian Chuangke Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Changyou Ledong Internet Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Global Cool Technology Co., Ltd., and Beijing Changyou Creative Technology Co., Ltd., 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, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 26, 2016, as updated by Part II Item 1A of this report. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

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OVERVIEW

Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU), a Delaware corporation organized in 1996, is a leading Chinese online media, search and game service group providing comprehensive online products and services on PCs and mobile devices in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”). Our businesses are conducted by Sohu.com Inc. and its subsidiaries and VIEs (collectively referred to as the “Sohu Group” or “the Group”). The Sohu Group consists of Sohu, which when referred to in this report, unless the context requires otherwise, excludes the businesses and the corresponding subsidiaries and VIEs of Sogou Inc. (“Sogou”) and Changyou.com Limited (“Changyou”), Sogou and Changyou. Sogou and Changyou are indirect controlled subsidiaries of Sohu.com Inc. Sohu is a leading Chinese language online media content and services provider. Sogou is a leading online search, client software and mobile Internet product provider in China. Changyou is a leading online game developer and operator in China as measured by the popularity of its PC game Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”) and its mobile game TLBB 3D, and engages primarily in the development, operation and licensing of online games for PCs and mobile devices. Most of our operations are conducted through our indirect wholly-owned and majority-owned China-based subsidiaries and VIEs.

Factors and Trends Affecting our Business

With the accelerated shift in user activities from PCs to mobile devices and an increase in the number of Internet users, the usage of various kinds of mobile Internet services continued to increase. At Sohu, we focused our efforts on developing a portfolio of leading mobile products across our business lines that we believed our users would like.

In 2016, for Sohu Media Portal, we aim to further strengthen our position and expand the user reach of two key products, the Sohu News App and the Web-based HTML5 Portal m.sohu.com. As of the end of March 2016, the combined reach of these two products exceeded 50 million daily active users. In the first quarter of 2016, mobile advertising revenues of these products collectively contributed over 50% of the total Sohu Media Portal revenues. To further drive user growth of the Sohu News App, in the first quarter we launched a few major marketing events to promote the application. We expect to conduct more promotional activities in the remainder of 2016.

The online video business is one of the most popular internet applications, and continued to gain viewers from television stations, and advertising dollars shifted in accordance with that trend. Sohu Video is a leading online video content and service provider in China, and we hold a positive view of the long-term prospects of the industry. In 2016, despite intense competition that is driving up content costs, we will be ramping up our investment in content to maintain our status as a first-tier player. The heightened spending for content is likely to result in wider loss-making in the near term.

For our search and search-related business, Sogou is one of the top players in the online search sector in China. In the first quarter of 2016, Sogou’s mobile search traffic more than doubled as compared to the same period in 2015, contributing nearly two thirds of total traffic, and mobile monetization continued to gather momentum. During the quarter, we reinforced our competitive position, as we continually raised the bar in terms of quality for our core search service and further differentiated our search service. Through deepening cooperation with Tencent, we have built exclusive access to its social platforms and brought in more unique and high-quality content. On other fronts, in addition to mere text, we have beefed up our capability regarding both input and search functions using voice and images. With this, our products are better received by users, especially on mobile phones. In the past year, voice search queries and voice input through Sogou Mobile Keyboard both increased by more than 100% from a year ago. According to our internal data, Sogou Mobile Keyboard has emerged to be No.1 mobile app for voice input in China. Looking into 2016 and beyond, Sogou plans to step up research in artificial intelligence with an aim to build Sogou into a leading innovative player in this space in China. In April 2016, Sogou established a Joint Research Institute with Tsinghua University to look for technology breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. The Joint Research Institute’s findings will be applied to the next generation of Sogou products.

For Changyou’s PC game business, after nine years of operation, TLBB is in a declining stage. We believe the core value of PC games lies in the enormous user base accumulated over the years of operation. To fully unlock this vast and untapped value, we are recreating TLBB and other of our PC games on mobile. During this quarter, we reached a strategic agreement to license the publishing rights of our Legacy TLBB mobile game exclusively to Tencent. For Changyou’s mobile game business, revenues from TLBB 3D also experienced declines this quarter, which is consistent with the general life cycle of a mobile game. We will explore new social interactive features that can be added to the game in order to prolong its life span. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the PC games and mobile games that Changyou operates had approximately 6.2 million total average monthly active accounts and approximately 1.9 million total active paying accounts.

 

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Our Business

Through the operation of Sohu, Sogou and Changyou, we generate online advertising revenues (including brand advertising revenues and search and search-related revenues (which we formerly referred to as “search and Web directory” revenues), online games revenues and others revenues. Online advertising and online games are our core businesses. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, total revenues generated by Sohu, Sogou and Changyou were approximately $407.9 million, including:

Sohu:

 

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$117.6 million in brand advertising revenues, of which $45.1 million was from Sohu Media Portal, $41.4 million was from Sohu Video, and $31.1 million was from Focus; and

 

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$13.2 million in others revenues, mainly attributable to sub-licensing of purchased video content to third parties.

Total revenues generated by Sohu were $130.8 million.

Sogou:

 

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$133.8 million in search and search-related revenues; and

 

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$13.5 million in others revenues, primarily attributable to Sogou’s offering of Internet value-added services (or “IVAS”) with respect to the operation of Web games and mobile games developed by third parties, as well as other services and products provided to users.

Total revenues generated by Sogou were $147.3 million.

Changyou:

 

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$102.5 million in online game revenues;

 

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$7.9 million in brand advertising revenues, mainly attributable to Changyou’s 17173.com Website; and

 

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$19.4 million in others revenues attributable to Changyou’s cinema advertising revenues, and Changyou’s operation of the platform channel business.

Total revenues generated by Changyou were $129.8 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, our total brand advertising revenues were $125.5 million, total search and search-related revenues were $133.8 million, total online game revenues were $102.5 million, and total others revenues were $46.1 million.

Sohu’s Business

Brand Advertising Business

Sohu’s main business is the brand advertising business, which offers to users, over our matrices of Chinese language online media, various content, products and services across multiple Internet-enabled devices, such as PCs, mobile phones and tablets. The majority of our products and services are provided through Sohu Media Portal, Sohu Video and Focus.

 

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Sohu Media Portal. Sohu Media Portal is a leading online news and information provider in China. Sohu Media Portal provides users comprehensive content through www.sohu.com for PCs, the mobile phone application Sohu News APP and the mobile portal m.sohu.com;

 

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Sohu Video. Sohu Video is a leading online video content and service provider in China through tv.sohu.com for PCs and the mobile phone application Sohu Video APP; and

 

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Focus. Focus (www.focus.cn) is a leading online real estate information and services provider in China.

Revenues generated by the brand advertising business are classified as brand advertising revenues in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

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Others Business

Sohu also engages in the others business, which includes sub-licensing of purchased video content to third parties, paid subscription services, and interactive broadcasting services. Revenues generated by Sohu from the others business are classified as others revenues in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Sogou’s Business

Search and search-related Business

The search and search-related business primarily offers advertisers pay-for-click services, as well as online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou. Pay-for-click services enable advertisers’ promotional links to be displayed on the Sogou search result pages and Sogou Website Alliance members’ Websites where the links are relevant to the subject and content of such Web pages. Both pay-for-click services and online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou expand the distribution of our advertisers’ promotional links and advertisements by leveraging traffic on Sogou Website Alliance members’ Websites. Our search and search-related business benefits from our collaboration with Tencent, which provides us access to traffic and content generated from users of products and services provided by Tencent.

Revenues generated by the search and search-related business are classified as search and search-related revenues in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Others Business

Sogou also engages in the others business, primarily by offering IVAS with respect to the operation of Web games and mobile games developed by third parties, as well as other services and products provided to users. Revenues generated by Sogou from the others business are classified as others revenues in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Changyou’s Business

Changyou has three businesses, consisting of the online game business, the platform channel business and the others business.

Online Game Business

Changyou’s online game business offers to game players PC games, which are interactive online games that are accessed and played simultaneously by hundreds of thousands of game players through personal computers and require that local client-end game access software be installed on the computers used; mobile games, which are played on mobile devices and require an Internet connection; and Web games, which are online games that are played through a Web browser with no local game software installation requirements. Web games became a relatively insignificant part of Changyou’s online games business following the sale of 7Road’s operating company Shenzhen 7Road Technology Co., Ltd., or Shenzhen 7Road, in August 2015. Changyou’s games are operated under the item-based revenue model, meaning that game players can play the games for free, but can choose to pay for virtual items, which are non-physical items that game players can purchase and use within a game, such as gems, pets, fashion items, magic medicine, riding animals, hierograms, skill books and fireworks. Revenues derived from the operation of online games are classified as online game revenues in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Platform Channel Business

Changyou’s platform channel business consists primarily of the operation of the 17173.com Website, the Dolphin Browser and RaidCall. The 17173.com Website, which is one of the leading game information portals in China, provides news, electronic forums, online videos and other information services on online games to game players. The Dolphin Browser is a gateway to a host of user activities on mobile devices, with the majority of its users based in Europe, Russia and Japan. RaidCall provides online music and entertainment services, primarily in Taiwan. Revenues generated by the 17173.com Website are classified as brand advertising revenues and revenues generated by the Dolphin Browser and by RaidCall are classified as others revenues in the Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Others Business

Changyou also operates a cinema advertising business, which consists of Changyou’s offering of pre-film cinema advertising slots for advertisements that are shown before the screening of a movie in a cinema theatre. Revenues generated by Changyou’s cinema advertising business are classified as others revenues in the Sohu Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

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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 United States of America generally accepted accounting principles (“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, costs and expenses, and related disclosures. 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. Identified below are the accounting policies that reflect our more significant estimates and judgments, and those that we believe are the most critical to fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sohu.com Inc. and its direct and indirect wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. All intercompany transactions are eliminated.

VIE Consolidation

Our VIEs are wholly or partially owned by certain of our employees as nominee shareholders. For our consolidated VIEs, management made evaluations of the relationships between us and our VIEs and the economic benefit flow of contractual arrangements with the VIEs. In connection with such evaluation, management also took into account the fact that, as a result of such contractual arrangements, we control the shareholders’ voting interests in these VIEs. As a result of such evaluation, management concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of our consolidated VIEs.

Noncontrolling Interest Recognition

Noncontrolling interests are recognized to reflect the portion of the equity of majority-owned subsidiaries and VIEs which is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the controlling shareholder. Currently, the noncontrolling interests in our consolidated financial statements primarily consist of noncontrolling interests for Sogou and Changyou.

Noncontrolling Interest for Sogou

As we control the election of the Board of Directors of Sogou, we are Sogou’s controlling shareholder. Accordingly, we consolidate Sogou in our consolidated financial statements, and recognize noncontrolling interest reflecting economic interests in Sogou held by shareholders other than us. To reflect the economic interest in Sogou held by shareholders other than us (the “Sogou noncontrolling shareholders”), Sogou’s net income / (loss) attributable to the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders is recorded as noncontrolling interest in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Sogou’s cumulative results of operations attributable to the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders, along with changes in shareholders’ equity /(deficit) and adjustment for share-based compensation expense in relation to those share-based awards which are unvested and vested but not yet settled and the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders’ investments in Sogou Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares are accounted for as a noncontrolling interest classified as permanent equity in our consolidated balance sheets, as we have the right to reject a redemption requested by the noncontrolling interest. These treatments are based on the terms governing investment, and on the terms of the classes of Sogou shares held, by the noncontrolling shareholders in Sogou.

By virtue of these terms, Sogou’s losses have been and will be allocated in the following order:

(i) net losses were allocated to holders of Sogou Class A Ordinary Shares and the holder of Sogou Class B Ordinary Shares until their basis in Sogou decreased to zero;

(ii) additional net losses were allocated to holders of Sogou Series A Preferred Shares until their basis in Sogou decreased to zero;

(iii) additional net losses will be allocated to the holder of Sogou Series B Preferred Shares until its basis in Sogou decreases to zero; and

(iv) further net losses will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou.

Net income from Sogou has been, and future 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 the holder of Sogou Series B Preferred Shares to bring its basis back;

 

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(iii) additional net income will be allocated to holders of Sogou Series A Preferred Shares to bring their basis back;

(iv) further net income will be allocated to holders of Sogou Class A Ordinary Shares and the holder of Sogou Class B Ordinary Shares to bring their basis back; and

(v) further net income will be allocated between Sohu and noncontrolling shareholders based on their shareholding percentage in Sogou.

Noncontrolling Interest for Changyou

As of the date of this report, we held approximately 69% of the combined total of Changyou’s outstanding ordinary shares, and controlled approximately 96% of the total voting power in Changyou. As we are Changyou’s controlling shareholder, we consolidate Changyou in our consolidated financial statements, but recognize noncontrolling interest reflecting the economic interest in Changyou held by shareholders other than us.

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

Segment Reporting

Our Group’s segments are business units that offer different services and are reviewed separately by the chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”), or the decision making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The CODM is Sohu.com Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer.

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.

Barter trade transactions in which physical goods or services (other than advertising services) are received in exchange for advertising services are recorded based on the fair values of the goods and services received. For online advertising-for-online advertising barter transactions, no revenue or expense is recognized because the fair value of neither the advertising surrendered nor the advertising received is determinable.

Online Advertising Revenues

Online advertising revenues include revenues from brand advertising services as well as search and search-related services. We recognize revenue for the amount of fees we receive from our advertisers, after deducting agent rebates and net of value-added tax (“VAT”) and related surcharges.

Brand Advertising Revenues

Business Model

Through PCs and mobile devices, we provide advertisement placements to our advertisers on different Internet platforms and in different formats, which include banners, links, logos, buttons, full screen, pre-roll, mid-roll, post-roll video screens, pause video screens, loading page ads, news feed ads and in-feed video infomercial ads.

Currently we have four main types of pricing models, consisting of the Fixed Price model, the Cost Per Impression (“CPM”) model, the E-commerce model, and the Cost Per click (“CPC”) model.

Fixed Price model

Under the Fixed Price model, a contract is signed to establish a fixed price for the advertising services to be provided.

 

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CPM model

Under the CPM model, the unit price for each qualifying display is fixed, but there is no overall fixed price for the advertising services stated in the contract with the advertiser. A qualifying display is defined as the appearance of an advertisement, where the advertisement meets criteria specified in the contract. Advertising fees are charged to the advertisers based on the unit prices and the number of qualifying displays.

E-commerce model

Under the e-commerce model, revenues were mainly generated from sales of membership cards which allow potential home buyers to purchase specified properties from real estate developers at a discount greater than the price that Focus charges for the card. Membership fees are refundable until the potential home buyer uses the discounts to purchase properties. Focus recognizes such revenues upon obtaining confirmation that the membership card has been redeemed to purchase a property.

CPC model

Under the CPC model, there is no overall fixed price for advertising services stated in the contract with the advertiser. We charge advertisers on a per-click basis when the users click on the advertisements. The unit price for each click is fixed or auction-based.

Revenue Recognition

For brand advertising revenue recognition, prior to entering into contracts, we make a credit assessment of the advertiser. For contracts for which collectability is determined to be reasonably assured, we recognize revenue when all revenue recognition criteria are met. In other cases, we only recognize revenue when the cash is received and all other revenue recognition criteria are met.

In accordance with ASU No. 2009-13, we 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 prices.

Search and Search-related Revenues

Search and search-related services primarily include pay-for-click services, as well as online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou.

Pay-for-click Services

Pay-for-click services are services that enable our advertisers’ promotional links to be displayed on Sogou search result pages and Sogou Website Alliance members’ Websites where the links are relevant to the subject and content of such Web pages. For pay-for-click services, we introduce Internet users to our advertisers through our auction-based pay-for-click systems and charge advertisers on a per-click basis when the users click on the displayed links. Revenue for pay-for-click services is recognized on a per-click basis when the users click on the displayed links.

Online Marketing Services on Web Directories Operated by Sogou

Online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou mainly consist of displaying advertisers’ promotional links on the Web pages of Web directories. Revenue for online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou 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.

Both pay-for-click services and online marketing services on Web directories operated by Sogou expand distribution of advertisers’ promotional links or advertisements by leveraging traffic on Sogou Website Alliance members’ Websites. We recognize gross revenue for the amount of fees we receive from advertisers, as we have the primary responsibility for fulfillment and acceptability. Payments made to Sogou Website Alliance members are included in cost of search and search-related revenues as traffic acquisition costs. We pay Sogou Website Alliance members based on either revenue-sharing arrangements, under which we pay a percentage of pay-for-click revenues generated from clicks by users of their properties, or on a pre-agreed unit price.

Online Game Revenues

Changyou’s online game business offers to game players PC games, mobile games and Web games. All of Changyou’s games are operated under the item-based revenue model, where the basic game play functions are free of charge and players are charged for purchases of in-game virtual items, including those with a predetermined expiration time and perpetual virtual items. Revenues that Changyou generates from self-operated and licensed out online games are included in online game revenues.

 

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Self-Operated Games

Changyou is the primary obligor of its self-operated games. Changyou hosts the games on its own servers and is responsible for the sale and marketing of the games as well as customer service. Accordingly, revenues are recorded gross of revenue sharing-payments to third-party developers and/or mobile app stores, but are net of business tax and discounts to game card distributors where applicable. Changyou obtains revenues from the sale of in-game virtual items. Revenues are recognized over the estimated lives of the virtual items purchased by game players or as the virtual items are consumed. If different assumptions were used in deriving the estimated lives of the virtual items, the timing of the recording of the revenues would be impacted.

PC Games

Proceeds from the self-operation of PC games are collected from players and third-party game card distributors through sales of Changyou’s game points on its online payment platform and prepaid game cards. Self-operated PC games are either developed in house or licensed from third-party developers. For licensed PC games, Changyou remits a pre-agreed percentage of the proceeds to the third-party developers, and keeps the balance pursuant to revenue-sharing agreements. Such revenue-sharing amounts paid to third-party developers are recorded in Changyou’s cost of revenues.

Mobile Games

For self-operated mobile games, Changyou sells game points to its game players via third-party mobile app stores. The mobile application stores in turn pay Changyou proceeds after deducting their share of pre-agreed revenue-sharing amounts.

Self-operated mobile games are either developed in house or licensed from or jointly developed with third-party developers. For licensed and jointly developed mobile games, Changyou remits a pre-agreed percentage of the proceeds to the third-party developers, and keeps the balance pursuant to revenue-sharing agreements. Such revenue-sharing amounts paid to mobile application stores and third-party developers are recorded in Changyou’s cost of revenues.

Web Games

Proceeds from self-operated Web games are collected from players through the sale of game points.

Licensed Out Games

Changyou also authorizes third-parties to operate its online games. Licensed out games include PC games, mobile games and Web games developed in house and mobile games jointly developed with third-party developers. Changyou receives monthly revenue-based royalty payments from all the third-party licensee operators. Changyou receives additional up-front license fees from certain third-party licensee operators who are entitled to an exclusive right to operate Changyou’s games in specified geographic areas. Since Changyou is obligated to provide post-sale services, the initial license fees are recognized as revenue ratably over the license period, and the monthly revenue-based royalty payments are recognized when relevant services are delivered, provided that collectability is reasonably assured. Changyou views the third-party licensee operators as Changyou’s customers and recognizes revenues on a net basis, as Changyou does not have the primary responsibility for fulfillment and acceptability of the game services. Changyou remits to the third-party developers a pre-agreed percentage of revenues from jointly developed and licensed out mobile games, and recognizes revenues on a net basis.

Others Revenues

Sohu

Sohu also engages in the others business, which includes sub-licensing of purchased video content to third parties, paid subscription services, and interactive broadcasting services.

Sogou

Others revenue attributable to Sogou are primarily IVAS revenues derived from the operation of Web games and mobile games of third-party developers as well as other services and products that Sogou provides to users.

 

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Changyou

Others revenues attributable to Changyou are primarily generated from its cinema advertising business and its platform channel business.

In its cinema advertising business, Changyou provides clients advertising placements in slots that are shown in theatres before the screening of movies. When all the recognition criteria are met, revenues from cinema advertising are recognized based on a percentage of the advertising slots actually delivered or on a straight-line basis over the contract period.

In its platform channel business, Changyou provides IVAS through its operation of software applications for PCs and mobile devices, such as the Dolphin Browser and RaidCall.

Product Development Expenses

Product development expenses mainly consist of salary and benefits expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, content and license expenses, facilities expenses, and technical service fees. These expense are incurred for the enhancement and maintenance of our Internet platforms as well as for our products and services, including the development costs of online games prior to the establishment of technological feasibility and maintenance costs after the online games are available for marketing.

Advertising Expenses

Advertising expenses are included in sales and marketing expenses, and generally represent the expenses of promotions to create or stimulate a positive image of the Sohu Group or a desire to subscribe for the Group’s products and services. Advertising expenses are expensed as incurred.

Share-based Compensation Expense

Sohu (excluding Fox Video Limited), Sogou, Changyou, and Fox Video Limited (“Sohu Video”) have incentive plans for the granting of share-based awards, including common stock or ordinary shares, share options, restricted shares and restricted share units, to members of the boards of directors, management and other key employees.

For share-based awards for which a grant date has occurred, share-based compensation expense is recognized as costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income based on the fair value of the related share-based awards on their grant dates. For share-based awards for which the service inception date precedes the grant date, share-based compensation expense is recognized as costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income beginning on the service inception date and is re-measured on each subsequent reporting date before the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the related share-based awards. Share-based compensation expense is charged to the shareholders’ equity or noncontrolling interest section in the consolidated balance sheets. 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.

Sohu (excluding Sohu Video), Sogou, and Changyou Share-based Awards

Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) Share-based Awards

In determining the fair value of share options granted by Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) as share-based awards before 2006, the Black-Scholes valuation model was applied. In determining the fair value of restricted share units granted, the public market price of the underlying shares on the grant dates was applied.

Options for the purchase of 1,068,000 shares of Sohu common stock contractually granted on February 7, 2015 are subject to vesting in four equal installments over a period of four years, with each installment vesting upon satisfaction of a service period requirement and certain subjective performance targets. Under ASC 718-10-25, no grant date can be established until a mutual understanding is reached between Sohu and the recipients clarifying the subjective performance requirements. In accordance with ASC 718-10-55, as the service inception date preceded the grant date, compensation expense was accrued beginning on the service inception date and will be re-measured on each subsequent reporting date before the grant date is established, based on the then-current fair value of the awards. The estimate of the awards’ fair values will be fixed in the period in which the grant date occurs, and cumulative compensation expense will be adjusted based on the fair value at the grant date. In determining the fair values of the share options granted, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date was used, and a binomial valuation model was applied.

 

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Sogou Share-based Awards

In determining the fair value of share options granted by Sogou as share-based awards, 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. Certain persons who became Sogou employees when Tencent’s Soso search-related businesses were transferred to Sogou on September 16, 2013 had been granted restricted share units under Tencent’s share award arrangements prior to the transfer of the businesses to Sogou. These Tencent restricted share units will continue to vest under the original Tencent share award arrangements provided the transferred employees continue to be employed by Sogou during the requisite service period. After the transfer of the Soso search-related businesses to Sogou, Sogou applied the guidance in ASC 505-50 to measure the related compensation expense, based on the then-current fair value at each reporting date, which is deemed to have been incurred by Tencent as an investor on Sogou’s behalf. To determine the then-current fair value of the Tencent restricted share units granted to these employees, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date was applied. Because Sogou is not required to reimburse Tencent for such share-based compensation expense, the related amount was recorded by Sogou as a capital contribution from Tencent.

Changyou Share-based Awards

In determining the fair value of ordinary shares and restricted share units granted by Changyou as share-based awards 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 shortly 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 was applied.

Options for the purchase of 2,400,000 Changyou ordinary shares that were converted to options from restricted share units on February 16, 2015 and options contractually granted on June 1, 2015 for the purchase of 1,998,000 Changyou ordinary shares awards are subject to vesting in four equal installments over a period of four years, with each installment vesting upon satisfaction of a service period requirement and certain subjective performance targets. Under ASC 718-10-25, no grant date can be established until a mutual understanding is reached between Changyou and the recipients clarifying the subjective performance requirements. In accordance with ASC 718-10-55, as the service inception date preceded the grant date, compensation expense was accrued beginning on the service inception date and will be re-measured on each subsequent reporting date before the grant date is established, based on the then-current fair value of the awards. The estimate of the awards’ fair values will be fixed in the period in which the grant date occurs, and cumulative compensation expense will be adjusted based on the fair values at the grant date. In determining the fair values of share options granted, the public market price of the underlying shares at each reporting date was used, and a binomial valuation model was applied.

Compensation Expense Recognition

For share options, restricted shares and restricted share units granted with respect to Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) shares and Changyou shares, compensation expense is recognized on an accelerated basis over the requisite service period. For share options granted with respect to Sogou shares, compensation expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated period during which the service period requirement and performance target will be met. For Tencent restricted share units that Tencent had granted to employees who transferred to Sogou with the Soso search-related businesses, compensation expense is recognized by Sogou on an accelerated basis over the requisite service period, and the fair value of the share-based compensation is re-measured at each reporting date until a measurement date occurs. The number of share-based awards for which the service is not expected to be rendered over the requisite period is estimated, and no compensation expense is recorded for the number of awards so estimated.

Sohu Video Share-based Awards

On January 4, 2012, Sohu Video, the holding entity of Sohu’s video division, adopted a 2011 Share Incentive Plan (the “Video 2011 Share Incentive Plan”) which provides for the issuance of up to 25,000,000 ordinary shares of Sohu Video (representing approximately 10% of the outstanding Sohu Video shares on a fully-diluted basis) to management and key employees of the video division and to Sohu management. As of March 31, 2016, grants of options for the purchase of 16,368,200 ordinary shares of Sohu Video had been contractually made, of which options for the purchase of 4,972,800 ordinary shares were vested.

For purposes of ASC 718-10-25, as of March 31, 2016, no grant date had occurred, because the broader terms and conditions of the option awards had neither been finalized nor mutually agreed upon with the recipients. Therefore the fair value of the awards is not determinable and cannot be accounted for. In accordance with ASC 718-10-55, our management determined that the service inception date with respect to vested option awards for the purchase of 4,972,800 shares had preceded the grant date. Therefore, we began to recognize compensation expense for Sohu Video share-based awards in the second quarter of 2014 and re-measured, and will re-measure, the compensation expense on each subsequent reporting date based on the then-current fair values of the awards until the grant date is established.

 

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Taxation

Income Taxes

Recognition

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 accounting basis and the 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 future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future profitability, and tax planning strategies. 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.

Our deferred tax assets relate to net operating losses and temporary differences between accounting basis and tax basis for our China-Based Subsidiaries and VIEs, which are subject to corporate income tax in the PRC under the PRC Corporate Income Tax Law (the “CIT Law”).

Applicable Income Tax Rate

The CIT Law applies an income tax rate of 25% to all enterprises but grants preferential tax treatment to High and New Technology Enterprises (“HNTEs”). Under this preferential tax treatment, HNTEs can enjoy an income tax rate of 15% for three years, but need to re-apply after the end of the three-year period. If at any time during the three-year period the relevant tax bureau questions whether an enterprise continues to qualify as an HNTE, the enterprise can be subject to further tax examination and may not be able to continue to enjoy the preferential tax rate. In addition, the CIT Law and its implementing regulations provide that a “Software Enterprise” can enjoy an income tax exemption for two years beginning with its first profitable year and a 50% reduction to a rate of 12.5% for the subsequent three years. An entity that qualifies as a “Key National Software Enterprise” can enjoy a further reduced preferential income tax rate of 10% for two years, but needs to re-apply after the end of the two-year period.

Principal Entities Qualified as HNTEs

As of March 31, 2016, the following principal entities were qualified as HNTEs and were entitled to an income tax rate of 15%.

For Sohu’s Business

 

•

Sohu Internet. Sohu Internet is qualified as an HNTE for 2016 and 2017, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2018.

 

•

Sohu Era, Sohu Media and Guangzhou Qianjun. Sohu Era, Sohu Media and Guangzhou Qianjun are each qualified as HNTEs for 2016, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2017.

For Sogou’s Business

 

•

Beijing Sogou Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Sogou Information”). Sogou Information is qualified as an HNTE for 2016 and 2017, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2018.

 

•

Sogou Technology. Sogou Technology is qualified as an HNTE for 2016, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2017.

 

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For Changyou’s Business

 

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AmazGame and Gamease. AmazGame and Gamease are each qualified as HNTEs for 2016, and will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification in 2017.

Principal Entities Qualified as Software Enterprises

For Sohu’s Business

 

•

Sohu New Momentum. In 2016, Sohu New Momentum is in the first of three years in which it is entitled to a 50% reduction to a rate of 12.5% as a Software Enterprise.

For Changyou’s Business

 

•

AmazGame. In 2013 and 2014, AmazGame was qualified as a Key National Software Enterprise and enjoyed a preferential income tax rate of 10%. However, as a result of a restructuring of the approval process, the State Council suspended the acceptance of applications for Key National Software Enterprise status, and it is not clear when, if ever, the acceptance of applications for Key National Software Enterprise status will resume. Changyou plans to re-apply to qualify AmazGame as a Key National Software Enterprise if and when the State Council again authorizes the acceptance of applications.

 

•

Gamespace. In 2016, Gamespace is in the third of three years in which it is entitled to a 50% reduction to a rate of 12.5% as a Software Enterprise.

PRC Withholding Tax on Dividends

The CIT Law imposes a 10% withholding income tax on dividends distributed by foreign invested enterprises in the PRC to their immediate holding companies outside Mainland China. A lower withholding tax rate may be applied if there is a tax treaty between Mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. A holding company in Hong Kong, for example, will be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate under an arrangement between the PRC and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the “Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital,” if such holding company is considered a non-PRC resident enterprise and holds at least 25% of the equity interests in the PRC foreign invested enterprise distributing the dividends, subject to approval of the PRC local tax authority. However, if the Hong Kong holding company is not considered to be the beneficial owner of such dividends under applicable PRC tax regulations, such dividend will remain subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%.

PRC Value Added Tax and Business Tax

Revenues from brand advertising, from the search and search-related business, from Changyou’s Web games and from licensed mobile games, as well as revenues from mobile-related services, which are recorded as others revenues, are subject to VAT. To record VAT payable, the Group adopted the net presentation method, which presents the difference between the output VAT (at a rate of 6%) and available input VAT amount (at the rate applicable to the supplier). Online game revenues from the operation of PC games and self-developed mobile games are subject to a 5% PRC business tax (“Business Tax”).

U.S. Corporate Income Tax

Sohu.com Inc. is a Delaware corporation that is subject to U.S. corporate income tax on its taxable income at a rate of up to 35%. Subject to certain limitations, the net operating losses (“NOLs”) of a corporation in the U.S. that are carried forward from prior years may be used to offset the corporation’s taxable income. As of the end of the 2012 taxable year, Sohu.com Inc. had no further NOLs available for offsetting any U.S. taxable income. To the extent that portions of its U.S. taxable income, such as Subpart F income or a dividend, are determined to be from sources outside of the U.S., subject to certain limitations, Sohu.com Inc. may be able to claim foreign tax credits to offset its U.S. income tax liabilities. Any remaining liabilities are accrued in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income and estimated tax payments are made when required by U.S. law.

Uncertain Tax Positions

We are subject to various taxes in different jurisdictions, primarily the U.S. and the PRC. Management reviews regularly the adequacy of the provisions for taxes as they relate to our income and transactions. 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.

 

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Net Income / (Loss) per Share

Basic net income / (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income / (loss) 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 dilutive effect of share-based awards with performance requirements is not considered before the performance targets are actually met. The computation of diluted net income / (loss) 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 / (loss) per share. Additionally, for purposes of calculating the numerator of diluted net income / (loss) per share, the net income / (loss) attributable to the Sohu Group is adjusted as follows. The adjustment will not be made if there is an anti-dilutive effect.

 

(1)

Sogou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. is determined using the percentage that the weighted average number of Sogou shares held by Sohu.com Inc. represents of the weighted average number of Sogou Preferred Shares and Ordinary Shares, shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible preferred shares under the if-converted method, and shares issuable upon the exercise or settlement of share-based awards under the treasury stock method, and is not determined by allocating Sogou’s net income /(loss) to Sohu.com Inc. using the methodology for the calculation of net income /(loss) attributable to the Sogou noncontrolling shareholders.

In the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net income / (loss) per share, assuming a dilutive effect, the percentage of Sohu.com Inc.’s shareholding in Sogou was calculated by treating convertible preferred shares issued by Sogou as having been converted at the beginning of the period and unvested share options with the performance targets achieved as well as vested but unexercised share options as having been exercised during the period. The dilutive effect of share-based awards with a performance requirement was not considered before the performance targets were actually met. Assuming an anti-dilutive effect, all of these Sogou shares and share options are excluded from the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted income /(loss) per share. As a result, Sogou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. on a diluted basis equals the number used for the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s basic net income /(loss) per share.

 

(2)

Changyou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. is determined using the percentage that the weighted average number of Changyou shares held by Sohu.com Inc. represents of 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, and not by using the percentage held by Sohu.com Inc. of the total economic interest in Changyou, which is used for the calculation of basic net income per share.

In the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net income / (loss) per share, assuming a dilutive effect, all of Changyou’s existing 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 the weighted average number of shares held by Sohu.com Inc. in Changyou to decrease. As a result, Changyou’s net income / (loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. on a diluted basis decreased accordingly. Assuming an anti-dilutive effect, all of these Changyou restricted share units are excluded from the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s diluted net income /(loss) per share. As a result, Changyou’s net income /(loss) attributable to Sohu.com Inc. on a diluted basis equals the number used for the calculation of Sohu.com Inc.’s basic net income /(loss) per share.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring the fair value of financial instruments. This hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The three-tier fair value hierarchy is:

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.

Our financial instruments mainly include cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, prepaid and other current assets, available-for-sale securities under long-term investments, time deposits, restricted time deposits, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, receipts in advance and deferred revenue, short-term bank loans, other short-term liabilities and long-term accounts payable.

 

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Cash Equivalents

Our cash equivalents mainly consist of time deposits and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less.

Short-term Investments

For investments in financial instruments with a variable interest rate indexed to the performance of underlying assets, we elected the fair value method at the date of initial recognition and carried these investments subsequently at fair value. Changes in fair values are reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

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. Many factors are considered in estimating the general allowance, including reviewing delinquent accounts receivable, performing an aging analysis and a customer credit analysis, and analyzing historical bad debt records and current economic trends.

Available-for-Sale Securities

Investments in debt securities and equity securities that have readily determinable fair values not classified as trading securities or as held-to-maturity securities are classified as available-for-sale securities, and are included in long-term investments. Available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses recorded in other comprehensive income or losses in the consolidated balance sheets. Realized gains or losses are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income during the period in which the gain or loss is realized. An impairment loss on the available-for-sale securities is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income when the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary.

Time Deposits

Our time deposits represent deposits placed with banks with original maturities of more than three months. Time deposits are valued based on the prevailing interest rate in the market, which is also the interest rate stated in the contracts with the banks.

Restricted Time Deposits

Restricted time deposits are valued based on the prevailing interest rates in the market using the discounted cash flow method.

Collateral related to Sogou Incentive Shares Trust Arrangements

In February 2013, we deposited $9.0 million in cash into restricted time deposit accounts at a bank as collateral for credit facilities provided by the bank to certain Sogou employees. The facilities were intended to fund the employees’ early exercise of Sogou share options and related PRC individual income tax. We are not subject to any additional potential payments other than the restricted time deposit amounts, and believe that the fair value of our guarantee liability is immaterial.

Changyou Loans from Offshore Banks, Secured by Time Deposits

Commencing in 2012, we had, through Changyou, loans from offshore banks secured by RMB deposits in onshore branches of those banks. The loans from the offshore branches of the lending banks are classified as short-term bank loans or long-term bank loans based on their repayment period. The rates of interest under the loan agreements with the lending banks were determined based on the prevailing interest rates in the market. The RMB onshore deposits securing the offshore loans are treated as restricted time deposits on our consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2016, Changyou had repaid all of the remaining bank loans, and restricted time deposits that secured these loans had been released.

Equity Investments

Investments in entities are recorded as equity investments under long-term investments. For entities over which we do not have significant influence, the cost method is applied, as there is no readily determinable fair value; for entities over which we can exercise significant influence but do not own a majority equity interest or control, the equity method is applied. For cost method investments, we carry the investment at historical cost after the date of investment. For equity method investments, we adjust the carrying amount of an investment and recognize investment income or loss for our share of the earnings or loss of the investee after the date of investment.

 

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Long-Lived Assets

Long-lived assets include fixed assets and intangible assets.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets mainly comprise office buildings, leasehold improvements, building improvements, vehicles, office furniture and computer equipment and hardware. 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.

 

Fixed Assets		Estimated Useful Lives (years)
Office buildings		36-47
Leasehold improvements		Lesser of term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets
Building improvements		10
Vehicles		4-10
Office furniture		5
Computer equipment and hardware		2-5

Expenditure for maintenance and repairs is expensed as incurred.

The gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets is the difference between the net sales proceeds and the lower of the carrying value or fair value less cost to sell the relevant assets and is recognized in operating expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets mainly comprise domain names and trademarks, developed technologies, computer software, video content, cinema advertising slot rights and operating rights for licensed games. Intangible assets are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization with no residual value. Amortization of intangible assets other than purchased video content is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.

The estimated useful lives of our intangible assets are listed below:

 

Intangible Assets		Estimated Useful Lives (years)
Domain names and trademarks		4-30
Developed technologies		3-10
Computer software		1-5
Video content		4 months to 2 years, or over the applicable licensing period
Cinema advertising slot rights		over the contract terms
Operating rights for licensed games		over the contract terms

Video Content

Video content consists primarily of purchased video content and self-developed video content. Purchased video content is recognized as intangible assets. Amortization of purchased video content is computed based on the trend in viewership accumulation. For self-developed video content, production costs incurred in excess of the amount of revenue contracted for are expensed as incurred, instead of being recorded as intangible assets.

Sohu Video enters into nonmonetary transactions to exchange online broadcasting rights for purchased video content with other online video broadcasting companies. Under ASC 845, the cost of a nonmonetary asset acquired in exchange for another nonmonetary asset is the fair value of the asset surrendered to obtain the acquired nonmonetary asset, and a gain or loss should be recognized on the exchange. The fair value of the asset received should be used to measure the cost if the fair value of the asset received is more reliable than the fair value of the asset surrendered. We record these nonmonetary exchanges at the fair values of the online broadcasting rights for purchased video content and recognize any gain or loss from such exchange transactions.

 

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Impairment of Long-lived Assets

In accordance with ASC 360-10-35, we review the carrying values of long-lived assets 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 at the asset group level. 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 loss 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 value 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 consolidated VIEs. If the initial accounting for a business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the combination occurs, we report in our financial statements provisional amounts for the items for which the accounting is incomplete. If a measurement period adjustment is identified, we recognize the adjustment as part of the acquisition accounting. We increase or decrease the provisional amounts of identifiable assets or liabilities by means of increases or decreases in goodwill for measurement period adjustments.

In accordance with ASC 350, we do not amortize goodwill, but test it for impairment. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis as of October 1, and between annual tests when an event occurs or circumstances change that could indicate that the asset might be impaired. Commencing in September 2011, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) revised guidance on “Testing of Goodwill for Impairment.” Under this guidance, we have the option to choose whether we will apply the qualitative assessment first and then the quantitative assessment, if necessary, or to apply the quantitative assessment directly. For reporting units applying a qualitative assessment first, we start the goodwill impairment test by assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If we determine that it is more-likely-than-not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is mandatory. Otherwise, no further testing is required. The quantitative impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of goodwill with its carrying value. For reporting units directly applying the quantitative assessment, we perform the goodwill impairment test by quantitatively comparing the fair values of those reporting units to their carrying amounts.

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 judgment in estimating the fair value of reporting units includes 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.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a company during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances excluding transactions resulting from investments from owners and distributions to owners. Accumulated other comprehensive income, as presented on our consolidated balance sheets, includes a cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment.

Functional Currency and Foreign Currency Translation

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 the entity 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 in the U.S., the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong is the U.S. dollar. The functional currencies of our subsidiaries and VIEs in other countries are the national currencies of those counties, rather than the U.S. dollar.

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 re-measured 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 comprehensive income.

 

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Financial statements of entities with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars, which is the reporting currency. Assets and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are translated at the average of the exchange rates in effect during the reporting period. Shareholders’ equity accounts are translated using the historical exchange rates at the date the entry to shareholders’ equity was recorded, except for the change in retained earnings during the year, which is translated using the historical exchange rates used to translate each period’s income statement. Differences resulting from translating a foreign currency to the reporting currency are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Revenues

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

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015								2016								2016 vs 2015
		Amount				Percentage of the total revenue				Amount				Percentage of the total revenue				Amount				Incremental ratio
Revenues
Online advertising:
Brand advertising		$	133,821				29	%		$	125,503				31	%		$	(8,318	)			(6	)%
Search and search-related			105,126				23	%			133,814				33	%			28,688				27	%
Subtotal of online advertising revenues			238,947				52	%			259,317				64	%			20,370				9	%
Online game			184,994				41	%			102,529				25	%			(82,465	)			(45	)%
Others			31,391				7	%			46,106				11	%			14,715				47	%
Total revenues		$	455,332				100	%		$	407,952				100	%		$	(47,380	)			(10	)%

Online Advertising Revenues

Online advertising revenues were $259.3 million and $238.9 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 9%.

Brand Advertising Revenues Generated by Sohu and Changyou

Brand advertising revenues were $125.5 million and $133.8 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease of 6%. The decreases in brand advertising revenues were mainly from Sohu Video.

Sohu

 

•

Sohu Media Portal

Revenues from Sohu Media Portal were $45.1 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the three months ended March 31, 2015. The average amount spent per advertiser was approximately $37,000 and $30,000, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The number of advertisers for Sohu Media Portal was 1,222 and 1,482, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

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•

Sohu Video

Revenues from Sohu Video were $41.4 million and $49.6 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease of 17%. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decrease in the number of advertisers on Sohu Video sites. The number of advertisers on Sohu Video sites was 215 and 258, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease of 17%. The average amount spent per advertiser was approximately $193,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, which was stable when compared to $192,000 for the corresponding period of 2015.

 

•

Focus

Revenues from Focus were $31.1 million and $29.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 5%.

Revenues from Focus were generated through the Fixed Price model and the E-commerce model.

For the Fixed Price model, revenues were $16.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, which was stable when compared to revenues of $15.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

For the E-commerce model, revenues were $15.1 million and $13.7 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 10%. The increase was mainly driven by our subscription membership services offered to prospective purchasers of real estate as a result of the expansion of the Focus business through our establishment of more partnerships with property developers. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the number of developers with which we had cooperation arrangements was 539 and 371, respectively, and the number of paying subscribers for the membership services was 23,172 and 20,498, respectively.

Changyou

 

•

17173.com Website

Revenues from the 17173.com Website were $7.9 million and $9.6 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease of 18%. The number of advertisers for the 17173.com Website was 80 and 92, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Search and Search-related Revenues, Generated by Sogou

Revenues from search and search-related services were $133.8 million and $105.1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 27%.

The increase in revenues from search and search-related services was mainly attributable to an increase in revenues from pay-for-click services.

Revenues from pay-for-click services accounted for approximately 81% and 82%, respectively, of the total search and search-related revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The growth in revenues from pay-for-click services was principally attributable to an increase in the number of paid clicks. Paid clicks increased by approximately 43%, driven by growth in mobile search traffic, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to the corresponding period of 2015.

Online Game Revenues Generated by Changyou

Online Game revenues were $102.5 million and $185.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease of 45%. The decrease was mainly due to the natural decline in revenues of TLBB 3D and TLBB, which are older games, and a decrease in Web game revenue upon the completion of the sale of the 7Road business during the third quarter of 2015.

PC Games and Mobile Games

Revenues from PC games were $68.3 million and $101.7 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease of 33%. Revenues from PC games accounted for 67% and 55%, respectively, of Changyou online game revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The year-on-year decrease in revenues from PC games was mainly due to the natural decline in revenues TLBB, which is an older game and is the principal PC game operated by Changyou. In the first quarter of 2016, the PC game TLBB generated $55.5 million in revenues, accounting for approximately 54% of Changyou’s online game revenues, approximately 43% of Changyou’s total revenues and approximately 14% of the Sohu Group’s total revenues. Revenues from mobile games were $32.7 million and $65.7 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The year-on-year decrease was mainly due to decreased revenues from Changyou’s mobile game TLBB 3D, which was launched in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

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The following table sets forth certain operating data for Changyou’s PC games and mobile games for the periods indicated:

 

Average Monthly Active Accounts (1)		For the Three Months Ended
(in millions)		PC games		Mobile games
March 31, 2015		4.9		4.4
March 31, 2016		3.0		3.2
Quarterly Aggregate Active Paying Accounts (2)		For the Three Months Ended
(in millions)		PC games		Mobile games
March 31, 2015		1.1		0.9
March 31, 2016		1.1		0.8

 

(1)	Average Monthly Active Accounts for a given period refers to the number of registered accounts that were logged in to these games at least once during the period.

(2)	Quarterly Aggregate Active Paying Accounts for a given quarter refers to the number of accounts from which game points were used at least once during the quarter.

Web Games

Revenues from Web games were $1.6 million and $17.6 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The year-on-year decrease in Web game revenues was $16.0 million, mainly due to a decrease in Web game revenues following the completion of the sale of the 7Road business during the third quarter of 2015.

Others Revenues

Revenues from others services were $46.1 million and $31.4 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The year-on-year increase was mainly due to increased revenues from sub-licensing of purchased video content to third parties and the cinema advertisement business.

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,
		2015								2016								2016 vs 2015
		Amount				Percentage of the total cost				Amount				Percentage of the total cost				Amount				Incremental ratio
Cost of revenues:
Online advertising:
Brand advertising		$	104,552				47	%		$	85,636				44	%		$	(18,916	)			(18	)%
Search and search-related			49,919				22	%			62,092				32	%			12,173				24	%
Subtotal of cost of online advertising revenues			154,471				69	%			147,728				76	%			(6,743	)			(4	)%
Online game			49,485				22	%			26,133				14	%			(23,352	)			(47	)%
Others			18,198				9	%			18,986				10	%			788				4	%
Total cost of revenues		$	222,154				100	%		$	192,847				100	%		$	(29,307	)			(13	)%

 

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Cost of Online Advertising Revenues

Cost of online advertising revenues was $147.7 million and $154.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, representing a year-on-year decrease rate of 4%.

Cost of Brand Advertising Revenues

Cost of brand advertising revenues mainly consists of content and license costs, bandwidth leasing costs, salary and benefits expenses, and depreciation expenses.

Cost of brand advertising revenues was $85.6 million and $104.6 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The $18.9 million decrease mainly consisted of a $13.5 million decrease in content and license costs, a $4.7 million decrease in bandwidth leasing costs, and a $0.9 million decrease in salary and benefits expense.

Our brand advertising gross margin was 32% and 22%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The increase in our brand advertising gross margin was mainly due to a decrease in content and license costs.

Cost of Search and Search-related Revenues

Cost of search and search-related revenues mainly consists of traffic acquisition costs, bandwidth leasing costs, depreciation expenses, as well as salary and benefits expenses.

Cost of search and search-related revenues was $62.1 million and $49.9 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The $12.2 million increase mainly consisted of an $11.7 million increase in traffic acquisition costs and a $0.8 million increase in bandwidth leasing costs.

Our search and search-related gross margin was 54% for the three months ended March 31, 2016, which was stable when compared with 53% for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Cost of Online Game Revenues

Cost of online game revenues mainly consists of revenue-sharing payments, salary and benefits expense, bandwidth leasing costs, content and license costs, amortization and depreciation expenses, and other direct costs.

Cost of online game revenues was $26.1 million and $49.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The $23.4 million decrease consisted primarily of a $16.1 million decrease in revenue-sharing payments to mobile app stores, a $2.6 million decrease in amortization and depreciation expense, a $1.2 million decrease in salary and benefits expense and a $1.7 million decrease in impairment provision for operating rights for licensed games with technological feasibility.

Our online game gross margin was 75% and 73%, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the three months ended March 31, 2015. The year-over-year increase in gross margin was mainly a result of a change in the revenue contribution from mobile games compared with PC games, as mobile games typically require larger revenue-sharing payments to others, which drives down gross margin.

Cost of Others Revenues

Cost of revenues for other services mainly consists of payments to theaters and film production companies for pre-film screening advertising slots, revenue-sharing payments related to the IVAS business and interactive broadcasting business.

Cost of revenues for other services was $19.0 million and $18.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

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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,
		2015								2016								2016 vs 2015
		Amount				Percentage of the total expense				Amount				Percentage of the total expense				Amount				Incremental ratio
Operating expenses:
Product development		$	102,191				44	%		$	82,679				41	%		$	(19,512	)			(19	)%
Sales and marketing			83,128				36	%			90,047				45	%			6,919				8	%
General and administrative			45,164				20	%			27,607				14	%			(17,557	)			(39	)%
Total operating expenses		$	230,483				100	%		$	200,333				100	%		$	(30,150	)			(13	)%

Product Development Expenses

Product development expenses mainly consist of salary and benefits expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, content and license expenses, facilities expenses, and technical service fees.

Product development expenses were $82.7 million and $102.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The $19.5 million decrease mainly consisted of a $9.7 million decrease in salary and benefits expenses resulting from a decrease in headcount, a $4.8 million decrease in share-based compensation expense, a $3.1 million decrease in impairment provision for operating rights for licensed games with technological feasibility and a $1.2 million decrease in depreciation and amortization expense.

Sales and Marketing Expenses

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

Sales and marketing expenses were $90.0 million and $83.1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The $6.9 million increase mainly consisted of a $15.5 million increase in advertising and promotional expenditures, offset by a $6.0 million decrease in salary and benefits expense resulting from a decrease in headcount.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses mainly consist of salary and benefits expenses, professional service fees, travel expenses, facility and office expenses, depreciation and amortization expenses, and share-based compensation expense.

General and administrative expenses were $27.6 million and $45.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The $17.6 million decrease mainly consisted of a $6.6 million decrease in share-based compensation expense, a $3.5 million decrease in salary and benefits expense resulting from a decrease in headcount, a $2.8 million decrease in professional service fees, and a $2.3 million decrease in facility and office expenses.

Share-based Compensation Expense

Share-based compensation expense was recognized in costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2015				2016
Cost of revenues		$	253			$	55
Product development expenses (1)			4,776				(3	)
Sales and marketing expenses			245				14
General and administrative expenses			6,952				367
		$	12,226			$	433

 

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Share-based compensation expense recognized for share awards of Sohu (excluding Sohu Video), Sogou, Changyou and Sohu Video was as follows (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
Share-based compensation expense		2015				2016
For Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) share-based awards (1)		$	4,376			$	(272	)
For Sogou share-based awards (2)			4,792				1,730
For Changyou share-based awards (1)			3,903				(1,274	)
For Sohu Video share-based awards (1)			(845	)			249
		$	12,226			$	433

Note (1): The negative amount for the first quarter of 2015 and 2016 represented re-measured compensation expense based on the then-current fair value of the awards on March 31, 2015 and 2016, as well as Changyou’s reversal of share-based compensation expense for awards that were cancelled during the first quarter of 2016 due to termination of employment prior to vesting.

Note (2): Compensation expense for Sogou share-based awards includes compensation expense for Tencent restricted share units that Tencent had granted to employees who transferred to Sogou with the Soso search-related businesses.

As of March 31, 2016, unrecognized share-based compensation expense for Sohu (excluding Sohu Video), Sogou and Changyou share-based awards was as follows (in thousands):

 

Unrecognized share-based compensation expense		As of March 31, 2016
For Sohu (excluding Sohu Video) share-based awards		$	1,428
For Sogou share-based awards (3)			914
For Changyou share-based awards			87
		$	2,429

Note (3): Includes the unrecognized compensation expense for employees who transferred from Tencent with Soso search-related businesses.

Operating Profit

We had an operating profit of $14.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Other Income

Other income was $3.9 million and $3.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $5.1 million and $6.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was $11.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to $16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

The $4.4 million decrease in income tax expense was mainly due to Changyou, which contributed less profit before tax in the three months ended March 31, 2016 than in the three months ended March 31, 2015. Changyou incurred income tax expense of $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to $12.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Net Income / (Loss)

We had a net profit of $10.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to a net loss of $4.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

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Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

We had net income attributable to noncontrolling interest of $31.2 million and $26.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Net Loss Attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

As a result of the foregoing, we had a net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. of $20.3 million and $31.1 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and the three months ended March 31, 2015.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Resources Analysis

Liquidity Sources and Balances

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, time deposits, and cash flows generated from our operations. Cash equivalents mainly consist of time deposits and money market funds with original maturities of three months or less. Short-term investments comprise investment instruments issued by commercial banks in China, with a variable interest rate indexed to performance of underlying assets and maturity dates within one year. Time deposits comprise deposits placed with banks with original maturities of more than three months.

As of March 31, 2016, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $1.20 billion, short-term investments of $101.0 million, and time deposits of $137.5 million. Of our cash and cash equivalents, $638.2 million was held in financial institutions inside Mainland China and $564.2 million was held in financial institutions outside of Mainland China. Our VIEs held $131.6 million of our cash and cash equivalents and $1.07 billion was held outside of our VIEs.

We believe our current liquidity and capital resources are sufficient to meet anticipated working capital needs (net cash used in operating activities), commitments, capital expenditures, and investment activities 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.

See “Restrictions and Limitations on Cash Available to Sohu.com Inc.” below and Item 3 “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk - Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.”

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

As of March 31, 2016		Contractual Obligation
Purchase of content and services – video		$	198,955
Purchase of cinema advertisement slot rights			73,443
Purchase of bandwidth			71,858
Operating lease obligations			32,350
Purchase of content and services – others			21,442
Expenditures for operating rights for licensed games with technological feasibility - PC games			15,750
Expenditures for operating rights for licensed games with technological feasibility - mobile games			4,665
Expenditures for titles in game development			1,774
Fees for operating rights for licensed games in development – mobile games			1,534
Others			1,893
Total		$	423,664

 

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Cash Generating Ability

Our cash flows are summarized below (in thousands):

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2016
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	39,963			$	59,606
Net cash provided by investing activities			15,547				209,815
Net cash provided by / (used in) financing activities			6				(314,559	)
Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents			2,376				2,309
Reclassification of cash and cash equivalents to held-for-sale assets			(10,747	)			0
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			47,145				(42,829	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			876,340				1,245,205
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	923,485			$	1,202,376

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, $59.6 million net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to our net income of $10.9 million, adjusted by (i) the add back of non-cash items consisting of $46.3 million in depreciation and amortization, $3.5 million in impairment of intangible assets, $1.1 million in provision for allowance for doubtful accounts, and $0.7 million other items, (ii) offset by $2.5 million in change in fair value of short-term investments and time deposits. The decrease in cash from $0.4 million working capital items is also included in operating cash flow.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, $40.0 million net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to our net loss of $4.6 million, adjusted by (i) the add back of non-cash items consisting of $74.7 million depreciation and amortization, $12.2 million in share-based compensation expense, and $7.3 million other items, (ii) offset by $0.4 million in change in fair value of short-term investments. The decrease in cash from $49.2 million working capital items is also included in operating cash flow.

Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, $209.8 million net cash provided by investing activities was primarily attributable to (i) $225.5 million withdrawal of restricted time deposits originally used as collateral for Changyou loans from offshore banks, and $71.3 million proceeds from short-term investments, (ii) offset by $41.1 million used in purchase of fixed assets and intangible assets, $30.2 million used in a matching loan from Changyou to SoEasy, $11.7 million used in purchase of long-term investments, and $4.0 million used in other items.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, $15.5 million net cash provided by investing activities was primarily attributable to (i) $31.4 million withdrawal of restricted time deposits originally used as collateral for Changyou loans from offshore banks, $26.4 million proceeds from short-term investments, and $11.4 million cash proceeds from other investing activities, (ii) offset by $53.4 million used in purchase of fixed assets and intangible assets and $0.3 million used in purchase of long-term investments.

Net Cash Provided by / (Used in) Financing Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, $314.6 million net cash used in financing activities was primarily attributable to (i) $344.5 million used in repayments of Changyou loans from offshore banks, (ii) offset by $29.9 million Changyou received from the matching loan with SoEasy.

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, $6,000 net cash provided by financing activities was primarily attributable to (i) $0.8 million cash received from the exercise of share-based awards and $0.6 million cash received from other financing activities, (ii) offset by $1.3 million used for Changyou’s repurchase of its ADSs.

Restrictions and Limitations on Cash Available to Sohu.com Inc.

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

 

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The ability of Sohu.com Limited and Changyou.com Limited to receive dividends and distributions from our China-based subsidiaries and VIEs, and the amount of cash available for distribution to, and use by, Sohu.com Inc., are subject to certain restrictions and limitations related to PRC law, our VIE structure and U.S. corporate income tax. We do not expect any of such restrictions or taxes to have a material impact on our ability to meet our cash obligations.

PRC Profit Appropriation, Withholding Tax on Dividends and Regulation of Foreign Currency Exchange

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 WFOEs are also required to set aside each year to their general reserves at least 10% of their after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards, until the cumulative amount reaches 50% of their paid-in capital. These reserves may not be distributed as cash dividends, or as loans or advances. Our 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 Sohu.com Limited or Changyou.com Limited and, accordingly, would not be available for distribution to Sohu.com Inc.

The CIT Law imposes a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC to their immediate holding companies outside Mainland China. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there is a tax treaty arrangement between Mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. A holding company in Hong Kong, for example, will be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate under an arrangement between the PRC and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the “Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital” if such holding company is considered a non-PRC resident enterprise and holds at least 25% of the equity interests in the PRC foreign invested enterprise distributing the dividends, subject to approval of the PRC local tax authority. However, if the Hong Kong holding company is not considered to be the beneficial owner of such dividends under applicable PRC tax regulations, such dividend will remain subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%.

Under regulations of the PRC 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 Mainland China, unless prior approval of the SAFE is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made.

PRC Restrictions Related to Our VIE Structure

Substantially all of Changyou.com Limited’s operations are conducted through its VIEs, which generate most of Changyou’s online game revenues. Although Changyou’s subsidiaries received or absorbed a majority of the VIEs’ profits or losses pursuant to contractual agreements between the VIEs and Changyou’s PRC subsidiaries providing for payments to the subsidiaries in return for services provided to the VIEs by the PRC subsidiaries, significant cash balances remained in Changyou’s VIEs as of March 31, 2016. As Changyou’s VIEs are not owned by Changyou’s PRC subsidiaries, the VIEs are not able to make dividend payments to the subsidiaries. Therefore, in order for Sohu.com Inc. or our subsidiaries outside of Mainland China to receive any dividends, loans or advances from Changyou’s PRC subsidiaries, we will need to rely on these contractual payments made by Changyou’s 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 will subject to PRC taxes, including Business Tax and VAT, which will effectively reduce the amount that the 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.

U.S. Corporate Income Tax

Sohu.com Inc. is a Delaware corporation that is subject to U.S. corporate income tax on its taxable income at a rate of up to 35%. Subject to certain limitations, the NOLs of a corporation in the U.S. that are carried forward from prior years may be used to offset the corporation’s taxable income. As of the end of the 2012 taxable year, Sohu.com Inc. had no further NOLs available for offsetting any U.S. taxable income. To the extent that portions of its U.S. taxable income, such as Subpart F income or a dividend, are determined to be from sources outside of the U.S., subject to certain limitations, Sohu.com Inc. may be able to claim foreign tax credits to offset its U.S. income tax liabilities. Any remaining liabilities are accrued in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income and estimated tax payments are made when required by U.S. law.

 

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In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we do not provide for U.S. income taxes or tax benefits on the undistributed earnings or losses of our non-U.S. subsidiaries or consolidated VIEs because, for the foreseeable future, we do not have the intention to repatriate those undistributed earnings or losses to the U.S. However, certain activities conducted in the PRC may give rise to U.S. corporate income tax, even if there are no distributions to Sohu.com Inc. U.S. corporate income taxes would be imposed on Sohu.com Inc. when its subsidiaries that are controlled foreign corporations (“CFCs”) generate income that is subject to Subpart F of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (“Subpart F”). Generally, passive income, such as rents, royalties, interest, dividends, and gains from disposal of our investments is among the types of income subject to taxation under Subpart F. Any income taxable under Subpart F is taxable in the U.S. at federal corporate income tax rates of up to 35%. Subpart F income also includes certain income from intercompany transactions between Sohu.com Inc.’s non-U.S. subsidiaries and VIEs and Changyou’s non-U.S. subsidiaries and VIEs, or where Sohu.com Inc.’s non-U.S. subsidiaries or VIEs make an “investment in U.S. property,” such as holding the stock in, or making a loan to, a U.S. corporation. Under a provision of the U.S. tax code commonly referred to as the CFC look-through rule, Sohu.com Inc. has not had to treat dividends received by its CFC subsidiaries as Subpart F income includible in Sohu.com Inc.’s taxable income in the U.S. The CFC look-through rule, which is currently scheduled to expire for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2019, has been extended several times by the U.S. Congress. Unless further extended, the CFC look-through rule will be available for Sohu.com Inc.’s CFC subsidiaries and their VIEs only through their taxable years ending November 30, 2020.

Dividend Policy

The Sohu Group intends to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of its own business, and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends on Sohu.com Inc.’s common stock or causing Changyou to pay any dividends on Changyou.com Limited’s ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by Changyou.com Limited’s ADSs, or causing Sogou to pay any dividends on Sogou.com Inc.’s ordinary shares and preferred shares, for the foreseeable future. Future cash dividends distributed by Sohu.com Inc., Changyou.com Limited, or Sogou.com Inc., 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 such other factors as their respective Boards of Directors may deem relevant.

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, except for a $9.0 million restricted time deposit acting as collateral for credit facilities provided by a bank to certain Sogou employees. We are not subject to any additional potential payments other than the restricted time deposit amount, and believe that the fair value of our guarantee liability is immaterial. 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

Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, ‘‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).’’ This guidance supersedes current guidance on revenue recognition in Topic 605, ‘‘Revenue Recognition.’’ In addition, there are disclosure requirements related to the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue recognition. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No.2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 for all entities by one year. For public business entities that follow U.S. GAAP, the deferral results in the new revenue standard are being effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. On January 5, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 (“ASU 2016-01”), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which amends certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. This amendment requires all equity investments to be measured at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized through net income (other than those accounted for under equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee). This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements.

Leases. On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), Leases. ASU 2016-02 specifies the accounting for leases. For operating leases, ASU 2016-02 requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. In addition, this standard requires both lessees and lessors to disclose certain key information about lease transactions. ASU 2016-02 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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Compensation – Stock Compensation. On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09 (“ASU 2016-09”), Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which relates to the accounting for employee share-based payments. This standard addresses several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. This standard will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We are evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

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. On April 16, 2012, 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 0.5% to 1%. On March 17, 2014, the People’s Bank of China announced a policy to further expand the maximum daily floating range of RMB trading prices against the U.S. dollar in the inter-bank spot foreign exchange market to 2%. In the long term, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate more significantly in value against the U.S. dollar or other foreign currencies, depending on the market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies.

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, 2016. These financial instruments are recorded at their fair value.

 

		Denominated in (in thousands)
		US$				RMB				HK$				Others				Total
Cash and cash equivalents		$	549,517			$	636,796			$	14,460			$	1,603			$	1,202,376
Short-term investments			0				101,004				0				0				101,004
Accounts receivable			5,719				247,962				1,104				0				254,785
Prepaid and other current assets			7,255				197,186				0				488				204,929
Time deposits			0				137,506				0				0				137,506
Restricted time deposits			9,240				31				0				0				9,271
Current liabilities			53,023				871,872				13,061				0				937,956
Long-term accounts payable			0				4,239				0				0				4,239

 

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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 interest expense generated from loans to Changyou from offshore banks. 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 2.1% in the first quarter of 2016, compared to an increase of 1.2% in the first quarter of 2015. The rate of inflation in the first quarter of 2016 was higher when compared to the corresponding period in 2015, 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 relating to Sohu.com Inc. 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, 2015 filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016.

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, 2015 filed with the SEC on February  26, 2016.

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

Use of Proceeds

On July 17, 2000, Sohu.com Inc. 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.com Inc. 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.com Inc.’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.com Inc.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, Sohu.com Inc. 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.

 

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ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

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, 2016

 

 

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Sohu.com Inc.

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended March 31, 2016

EXHIBITS INDEX

 

10.1		Employment Agreement effective as of March 8, 2016, entered into on March 4, 2016, between Sohu.com Inc. and Carol Yu
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, 2016 and December 31, 2015; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 and 2015; and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged using four different levels of detail.

 

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