As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2004
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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 No.) |
7 Jianguomen Nei Avenue
Bright China Chang An Building
Tower 2, Room 1519
Beijing 100005
People’s Republic of China
(011) 8610-6510-2160
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Including Zip Code)
2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED
(Full Title of the Plan)
CT Corporation System
111 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10011
212-590-9200
(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Copy to:
Timothy B. Bancroft, Esq.
Goulston & Storrs, P.C.
400 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(617) 482-1776
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share (1) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||||
| Common Stock, par value $.001 per share |
1,000,000 | $15.89 | $15,890,000 | $2,013.27 |
| (1) | Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) and (c) solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of registration fee based on the average high and low prices reported by Nasdaq on July 12, 2004. |
Part II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
| Item 3. | Incorporation of Documents by Reference |
The information contained in Part II of the registration statement on Form S-8, SEC File No. 333-61814, is incorporated by reference into this registration statement.
The following documents are incorporated in this registration statement by reference:
| (a) | the registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that contains audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003; |
| (b) | the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q/A for the fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2003 and March 31, 2004, filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; |
| (c) | the registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2004, March 12, 2004, May 3, 2004, May 18, 2004 and June 2, 2004 and its Current Reports on Form 8-K/A filed on February 6, 2004, February 9, 2004, March 2, 2004, March 15, 2004, March 15, 2004, April 22, 2004, April 22, 2004 and June 23, 2004; and |
| (d) | the description of the registrant’s stock contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 7, 2000 and the description of the associated preferred stock purchase rights contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed July 30, 2001. |
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.
| Item 8. | Exhibits |
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 4.1 | Sohu.com Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Goulston & Storrs, P.C. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Independent Auditors | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Goulston & Storrs, P.C. (included in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 23.3 | Consent of Independent Auditors | |
| 23.4 | Consent of Grant Thornton, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page) | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Beijing, China, on July 16, 2004.
| SOHU.COM, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Carol Yu | |
| Carol Yu Chief Financial Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Charles Zhang and Carol Yu, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Charles Zhang Charles Zhang |
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer) | July 16, 2004 | ||
| /s/ Carol Yu Carol Yu |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | July 16, 2004 | ||
| /s/ Edward B. Roberts Edward B. Roberts |
Director | July 16, 2004 | ||
| /s/ George Chang George Chang |
Director | July 16, 2004 | ||
| /s/ Thomas Gurnee Thomas Gurnee |
Director | July 16, 2004 | ||
| /s/ Charles Huang Charles Huang |
Director | July 16, 2004 | ||
| /s/ Mary Ma Mary Ma |
Director | July 16, 2004 | ||
Exhibit Index
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 4.1 | Sohu.com Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of Goulston & Storrs, P.C. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Independent Auditors | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Goulston & Storrs, P.C. (included in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 23.3 | Consent of Independent Auditors | |
| 23.4 | Consent of Grant Thornton, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page) | |
Exhibit 4.1
SOHU.COM INC.
2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended)
1. Purpose. This 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to provide incentives: (a) to the officers and other employees of Sohu.com Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and any present or future parent or subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, “Related Corporations”) by providing them with opportunities to purchase stock in the Company pursuant to options granted hereunder which qualify as “incentive stock options” under Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (“ISO” or “ISOs”), and (b) to directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company and Related Corporations by providing them with opportunities to purchase stock in the Company pursuant to options granted hereunder which do not qualify as ISOs (“Non-Qualified Option” or “Non-Qualified Options”). Both ISOs and Non-Qualified Options are referred to hereafter individually as an “Option” or a “Stock Right” and collectively as “Options” or “Stock Rights.” As used herein, the terms “parent” and “subsidiary” mean “parent corporation” and “subsidiary corporation,” respectively, as those terms are defined in Section 424 of the Code.
2. Administration of the Plan.
A. Board or Committee Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Board may appoint a Compensation Committee (as the case may be, the “Committee”) of two (2) or more of its members to administer the Plan and to grant Stock Rights hereunder, provided such Committee is delegated such powers in accordance with applicable state law. (All references in this Plan to the “Committee” shall mean the Board if no such Compensation Committee has been so appointed). If the Company registers any class of any equity security pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Plan shall be administered in accordance with the applicable rules set forth in Rule 16b-3 or any successor provisions of the Exchange Act or the rules under the Exchange Act or any such successor provision (“Rule 16b-3”). Each member of the Committee shall also be an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
B. Authority of Board or Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to: (i) determine the employees of the Company and Related Corporations (from among the class of employees eligible under paragraph 3 to receive ISOs) to whom ISOs may be granted, and to determine (from among the class of individuals and entities eligible under paragraph 3 to receive Non-Qualified Options) to whom Non-Qualified Options may be granted; (ii) determine the time or times at which Options may be granted; (iii) determine the exercise price of shares subject to each
Option, which price shall not be less than the minimum price specified in paragraph 6; (iv) determine whether each Option granted shall be an ISO or a Non-Qualified Option; (v) determine (subject to paragraph 7) the time or times when each Option shall become exercisable and the duration of the exercise period; (vi) determine whether restrictions such as repurchase options are to be imposed on shares subject to Options and the nature of any such restrictions; (vii) impose such other terms and conditions with respect to Stock Rights not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as it deems necessary or desirable; and (viii) interpret the Plan and prescribe and rescind rules and regulations relating to it.
If the Committee decides to issue a Non-Qualified Option, the Committee shall take whatever actions it deems necessary, under the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, to ensure that such Option is not treated as an ISO. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provisions of the Plan or of any Stock Right granted under it shall be final unless otherwise determined by the Board. The Committee may from time to time adopt such rules and regulations for carrying out the Plan as it may deem best. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Stock Right granted under it.
C. Committee Actions. The Committee may select one of its members as its chairman and shall hold meetings at such time and places as it may determine. Acts by a majority of the Committee, acting at a meeting (whether held in person or by teleconference), or acts reduced to or approved in writing by all of the members of the Committee, shall be the valid acts of the Committee. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies however caused, or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, subject to compliance with paragraph 2A.
D. Grant of Stock Rights to Board Members. Stock Rights may be granted to members of the Board, subject to compliance with Rule 16b-3 when required by paragraph 2A. All grants of Stock Rights to members of the Board shall be made in all respects in accordance with the provisions of this Plan applicable to other eligible persons.
3. Eligible Employees and Others. ISOs may be granted to any employee of the Company or any Related Corporation. Those officers and directors of the Company who are not employees may not be granted ISOs under the Plan. Non-Qualified Options may be granted to any employee, officer or director (whether or not also an employee) or consultant or advisor of the Company or any Related Corporation. The Committee may take into consideration a recipient’s individual circumstances in determining whether to grant a Stock Right. Granting a Stock Right to any individual or entity shall neither entitle that individual or entity to, nor disqualify him from, participation in any other grant of Stock Rights.
4. Common Stock. The stock subject to Stock Rights shall be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company, $.001 par value (the “Common Stock”), or shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company in any manner. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to the Plan is 8,000,000 minus that number of shares which are the subject of option grants made, or were purchased pursuant to the exercise of options that were granted, to employees, officers directors, or consultants of the Company or Related Corporations prior to the date of the adoption of this plan by the Company’s Board of Directors, subject to adjustment as provided in paragraph 13. Any such shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs or Non-Qualified Options so long as the aggregate number of shares so issued does not exceed such number, as adjusted. If any Stock Right granted under the Plan shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full or shall cease for any reason to be exercisable in whole or in part, then the unpurchased shares subject to such Stock Right shall again be available for grants of Stock Rights under the Plan.
5. Granting of Stock Rights. Stock Rights may be granted under the Plan at any time after January 24, 2000 and prior to January 24, 2010. The date of grant of a Stock Right under the Plan will be the date specified by the Committee at the time it grants the Stock Right; provided, however, that such date shall not be prior to the date on which the Committee acts to approve the grant. The Committee shall have the right, with the consent of the optionee, to convert an ISO granted under the Plan to a Non-Qualified Option pursuant to paragraph 17.
6. Minimum Option Price; ISO Limitations.
A. Price for ISOs. The exercise price per share specified in the agreement relating to each ISO granted under the Plan shall not be less than the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of such grant. In the case of an ISO to be granted to an employee owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation, the price per share specified in the agreement relating to such ISO shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant.
B. $100,000 Annual Limitation on ISOs. Each eligible employee may be granted ISOs only to the extent that, in the aggregate under this Plan and all other incentive stock option plans of the Company and any Related Corporation, such ISOs do not become exercisable for the first time by such employee during any calendar year in a manner which would entitle the employee to purchase more than $100,000 in fair market value (determined at the time the ISOs were granted) of Common Stock in that year. Any Options granted to an employee in excess of such amount will be granted as Non-Qualified Options.
C. Determination of Fair Market Value. If, at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, the Company’s Common Stock is publicly traded, “fair market value” shall be determined as of the last business day for which the prices or quotes discussed in this
sentence are available prior to the date such Option is granted and shall mean (i) the average (on that date) of the high and low prices of the Common Stock on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock is then traded on a national securities exchange, or on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq Small Cap Market, if the Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange; or (ii) the average of the low bid and high ask prices as quoted on that date by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq Small Cap Market. If the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, “fair market value” shall be deemed to be the fair value of the Common Stock as determined by the Committee after taking into consideration all factors in good faith it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, recent sale and offer prices of the Common Stock in private transactions negotiated at arm’s length, if any.
7. Option Duration. Subject to earlier termination as provided in paragraphs 9, 10, and 13B, each Option shall expire on the date specified by the Committee and set forth in the original stock option agreement granting such Option, provided that ISOs shall in any event expire not more than ten years from the date of grant, and ISOs granted to an employee owning stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Corporation shall expire not more than five years from the date of grant. Non-Qualified Options shall expire on the date specified in the agreement granting such Non-Qualified Options, subject to extension as determined by the Committee. ISOs, or any part thereof, that have been converted into Non-Qualified Options may be extended as provided in paragraph 17.
8. Exercise of Option. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 9 through 13, each Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as follows:
A. Vesting. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee or the Board of Directors and subject to paragraphs 9 and 10 with respect to ISO’s, Options granted to employees shall vest on a schedule at least as rapid as the following: (a) as to 25% of the shares subject to the Option, on the first anniversary of the date of grant of the Option; and (b) as to the remaining 75% of the shares subject to the Option, in 12 equal quarterly installments beginning one calendar quarter after the date of such anniversary. The Committee may also specify such other conditions precedent as it deems appropriate to the exercise of an Option.
B. Full Vesting of Installments. Once an installment becomes exercisable it shall remain exercisable until expiration or termination of the Option, unless otherwise specified by the Committee.
C. Partial Exercise. Each Option or installment may be exercised at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, for up to the total number of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable, provided that the Committee may specify a certain
minimum number or percentage of the shares issuable upon exercise of any Option that must be purchased upon any exercise.
D. Acceleration of Vesting. The Committee shall have the right to accelerate the date of exercise of any installment of any Option, despite the fact that such acceleration may cause the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code if an Acquisition, as defined below in paragraph 13B, occurs.
9. Termination of Employment. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the Company and all Related Corporations other than by reason of death or disability as defined in paragraph 10, no further installments of his ISOs shall become exercisable following the date of such cessation of employment, and his ISOs shall terminate after the passage of three (3) months from the date of termination of his employment, but in no event later than on their specified expiration dates, except to the extent that such ISOs (or unexercised installments thereof) have been converted into Non-Qualified Options pursuant to paragraph 17. Nothing in the Plan shall be deemed to give any grantee of any Stock Right the right to be retained in employment or other service by the Company or any Related Corporation for any period of time.
The Board or Committee may establish such provisions in particular Stock Right grant agreements as it may deem appropriate with respect to the treatment of Stock Rights other than ISOs upon the termination of the employment of the holder of the Stock Right.
10. Death; Disability.
A. Death. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the Company and all Related Corporations by reason of his death, any ISO of his may be exercised, to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which he could have exercised it on the date of his death, by his estate, personal representative or beneficiary who has acquired the ISO by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, at any time prior to the earlier of the specified expiration date of the ISO or one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of such optionee’s death.
B. Disability. If an ISO optionee ceases to be employed by the Company and all Related Corporations by reason of his disability, he or, in the event of his death, his estate, personal representative or beneficiary who has acquired the ISO by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, shall have the right to exercise any ISO held by him on the date of termination of employment, to the extent of the number of shares with respect to which he could have exercised it on that date, at any time prior to the earlier of the specified expiration date of the ISO or one (1) year from the date of the termination of the optionee’s employment. For the purposes of the Plan, the term “disability” shall mean “permanent and total disability” as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or successor statute.
11. Assignability. No ISO, and unless specified in the agreement or instrument pursuant to which the Option is granted, no Non-Qualified Option shall be assignable or
transferable by the optionee except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the grantee each Stock Right shall be exercisable only by him or her. No Stock Right, and no right to exercise any portion thereof, shall be subject to execution, attachment, or similar process, assignment, or any other alienation or hypothecation. Upon any attempt so to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of any Stock Right, or of any right or privilege conferred thereby, contrary to the provisions thereof or hereof or upon the levy of any attachment or similar process upon any Stock Right, right or privilege, such Stock Right and such rights and privileges shall immediately become null and void.
12. Terms and Conditions of Stock Rights. Stock Rights shall be evidenced by instruments (which need not be identical) in such forms as the Committee may from time to time approve. Such instruments shall conform to the terms and conditions set forth in paragraphs 6 through 11 hereof to the extent applicable and may contain such other provisions as the Committee deems advisable which are not inconsistent with the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, such provisions may include transfer restrictions, rights of refusal, vesting provisions, repurchase rights and drag-along rights with respect to shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Stock Rights, and such other restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Stock Rights as the Committee may deem appropriate. In granting any Non-Qualified Option, the Committee may specify that such Non-Qualified Option shall be subject to the restrictions set forth herein with respect to ISOs, or to such other termination, cancellation or other provisions as the Committee may determine. The Committee may from time to time confer authority and responsibility on one or more of its own members and/or one or more officers of the Company to execute and deliver such instruments. The proper officers of the Company are authorized and directed to take any and all action necessary or advisable from time to time to carry out the terms of such instruments.
13. Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of any of the following events, an optionee’s rights with respect to Options granted to him hereunder shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided, unless otherwise specifically provided in the written agreement between the optionee and the Company relating to such Option:
A. Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided or combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if the Company shall issue any shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend on its outstanding Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of Options shall be appropriately increased or decreased proportionately, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price per share to reflect such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.
B. Consolidations, Mergers or Sales of Assets or Stock. If the Company is to be consolidated with or acquired by another person or entity in a merger, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or stock or otherwise (an “Acquisition”), the Committee or the board of directors of any entity assuming the obligations of the Company hereunder (the “Successor Board”) shall, with respect to outstanding Options or
shares acquired upon exercise of any Option, take one or more of the following actions: (i) make appropriate provision for the continuation of such options by substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Options the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Acquisition; (ii) accelerate the date of exercise of such Options or of any installment of any such Options; (iii) upon written notice to the optionees, provide that all Options must be exercised, to the extent then exercisable, within a specified number of days of the date of such notice, at the end of which period the Options, including those which are not then exercisable, shall terminate; (iv) terminate all Options in exchange for a cash payment equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares subject to such Options (to the extent then exercisable) over the exercise price thereof; or (v) in the event of a stock sale, require that the optionee sell to the purchaser to whom such stock sale is to be made, all shares previously issued to such optionee upon exercise of any Option, at a price equal to the portion of the net consideration from such sale which is attributable to such shares. Nothing contained herein will be deemed to require the Company to take, or refrain from taking, any one or more of the foregoing actions.
C. Recapitalization or Reorganization. In the event of a recapitalization or reorganization of the Company (other than a transaction described in subparagraph B above) pursuant to which securities of the Company or of another corporation are issued with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock, an optionee upon exercising an Option shall be entitled to receive for the purchase price paid upon such exercise the securities he would have received if he had exercised his Option prior to such recapitalization or reorganization and had been the owner of the Common Stock receivable upon such exercise at such time.
D. Modification of ISOs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustments made pursuant to the foregoing subparagraphs A, B or C with respect to ISOs shall be made only after the Committee, after consulting with counsel for the Company, determines whether such adjustments would constitute a “modification” of such ISOs (as that term is defined in Section 424 of the Code or any successor thereto) or would cause any adverse tax consequences for the holders of such ISOs. If the Committee determines that such adjustments made with respect to ISOs would constitute a modification of such ISOs, it may refrain from making such adjustments.
E. Issuances of Securities and Non-Stock Dividends. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares subject to Options. No adjustments shall be made for dividends paid in cash or in property other than securities of the Company (and, in the case of securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be made pursuant to the foregoing subparagraph A).
F. Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued under the Plan, and the optionee shall receive from the Company cash in lieu of such fractional shares.
G. Adjustments. Upon the happening of any of the foregoing events described in subparagraphs A, B or C above, the class and aggregate number of shares set forth in paragraph 4 hereof that are subject to Stock Rights which previously have been or subsequently may be granted under the Plan shall also be appropriately adjusted to reflect the events described in such subparagraphs. The Committee or the Successor Board, as applicable, shall determine the specific adjustments to be made under this paragraph 13 and its determination shall be conclusive.
If any person or entity owning Common Stock obtained by exercise of a Stock Right made hereunder receives shares or securities or cash in connection with a corporate transaction described in subparagraphs A, B or C above as a result of owning such Common Stock, except as otherwise provided in subparagraph B, such shares or securities or cash shall be subject to all of the conditions and restrictions applicable to the Common Stock with respect to which such shares or securities or cash were issued, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or the Board of Directors of the Surviving Entity.
14. Means of Exercising Stock Rights. A Stock Right (or any part or installment thereof) shall be exercised by the holder thereof giving written notice to the Company at its principal office address. Such notice shall identify the Stock Right being exercised and specify the number of shares as to which such Stock Right is being exercised, accompanied by full payment of the purchase price therefor either (a) in United States dollars in cash or by check, or (b) at the discretion of the Committee, delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking, satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions, satisfactory in form and substance to the Company, to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price, or (c) at the discretion of the Committee, through delivery of shares of Common Stock having a fair market value equal as of the date of the exercise to the cash exercise price of the Stock Right, or (d) at the discretion of the Committee, by delivery of the grantee’s personal recourse note bearing interest payable not less than annually at no less than 100% of the applicable Federal rate, as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code, or (e) at the discretion of the Committee, by any combination of (a), (b) (c) and (d) above.
15. Term and Amendment of Plan. This Plan was originally adopted by the Board on January 24, 2000 and approved by the stockholders of the Company on July 5, 2000. The Plan was amended by the Directors of the Company on January 15, 2001 and in March 2001, and the amendments were approved by the stockholders of the Company on May 17, 2001. The Plan was amended again by the Directors of the Company on March 25, 2003. The Plan was further amended by the Directors of the Company on April 13, 2004, and the amendment was approved by the stockholders of the Company on May 14, 2004. The Plan shall expire on that date which is ten years from the date of its original adoption by the Board (except as to Options outstanding on the expiration date). Options may be granted under the Plan prior to the date of stockholder approval of the Plan.
The Board may terminate or amend the Plan in any respect at any time, except that, without the approval of the stockholders obtained within 12 months before or after the Board adopts a resolution authorizing any of the following actions: (a) the total number of shares that may be issued under the Plan may not be increased (except by adjustment pursuant to paragraph 13); (b) the provisions of paragraph 3 regarding eligibility for grants of ISOs may not be modified; (c) the provisions of paragraph 6(B) regarding the exercise price at which shares may be offered pursuant to ISOs may not be modified (except by adjustment pursuant to paragraph 13); and (d) the expiration date of the Plan may not be extended.
16. Section 162(m). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Stock Right shall become exercisable, vested or realizable if such Stock Right is granted to an employee that is a “covered employee” as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code and the Committee has determined that such Stock Right should be structured so that it is not “applicable employee remuneration” under such Section 162(m) unless and until the terms of this Plan, including any amendment hereto, have been approved by the Company’s stockholders in the manner and to the extent required under such Section 162(m).
17. Amendment of Stock Rights. The Board or Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Stock Rights including, but not limited to, substituting therefor another Stock Right of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an ISO to a Non-Qualified Option; provided that, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs 9, 10, and 15, the grantee’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Board or Committee determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the grantee.
18. Application Of Funds. The proceeds received by the Company from the exercise of Options granted under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.
19. Governmental Regulation. The Company’s obligation to sell and deliver shares of the Common Stock under this Plan is subject to the approval of any governmental authority required in connection with the authorization, issuance or sale of such shares.
20. Withholding of Additional Income Taxes. Upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Option or the making of a Disqualifying Disposition (as defined in paragraph 21), the Company, in accordance with Section 3402(a) of the Code, may require the holder of the Stock Right to pay additional withholding taxes in respect of the amount that is considered compensation includible in such person’s gross income. The Committee in its discretion may condition the exercise of an Option on the grantee’s payment of such additional withholding taxes.
21. Notice to Company of Disqualifying Disposition. Each employee who receives an ISO must agree to notify the Company in writing immediately after the employee makes a Disqualifying Disposition of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to
the exercise of an ISO. A “Disqualifying Disposition” is any disposition (including any sale) of such Common Stock before the later of:
A. two years after the date the employee was granted the ISO, and
B. one year after the date the employee acquired Common Stock by exercising the ISO. If the employee has died before such stock is sold, these holding period requirements do not apply and no Disqualifying Disposition can occur thereafter.
22. Governing Law; Construction. The validity and construction of the Plan and the instruments evidencing Options shall be governed by the laws of the state of Delaware. In construing this Plan, the singular shall include the plural and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, unless the context otherwise requires.
Exhibit 5.1
July 16, 2004
Sohu.com Inc.
7 Jianguomen Nei Avenue
Suite 1519, Tower 2
Bright China Chang An Building
Beijing 100005
People’s Republic of China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration of 1,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock, $.001 par value, of Sohu.com Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). We understand that the Shares will be offered and sold to directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors of the Company or other persons upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Company’s 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (as the same may be further amended from time to time, the “Plan”).
We have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion, and based thereon we are of the opinion that the Shares which may be issued and sold pursuant to the Plan, upon the exercise or conversion of stock options granted thereunder, have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Goulston & Storrs – a Professional Corporation
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Auditors
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 16, 2004, relating to the financial statements of Sohu.com Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2003, which appear in Sohu.com’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
July 16, 2004
Exhibit 23.3
Consent of Independent Auditors
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated January 19, 2004, relating to the statement of direct revenues and direct expenses of the Focus Web site, a Web site formerly owned by Asia B2B Online Inc., for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 which appears in Sohu.com Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on February 6, 2004, March 2, 2004, April 22, 2004 and June 23, 2004.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company
PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company
Beijing, China
July 16, 2004
Exhibit 23.4
CONSENT OF GRANT THORNTON, INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated February 5, 2004, relating to the financial statements of the 17173.com Web site, a Web site formerly owned by Netdragon Websoft Inc., which appears in Sohu.com Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed February 9, 2004, March 15, 2004, April 22, 2004 and June 23, 2004.
| /s/ Grant Thornton |
| Hong Kong July 15, 2004 |