Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 29, 2018

 

 

SOHU.COM INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   0-30961   98-0204667

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

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)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 29, 2018, the registrant announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. A copy of the press release issued by the registrant regarding the foregoing is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.

99.1    Press release regarding unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.


SIGNATURES

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

 

DATED: January 29, 2018     SOHU.COM INC.
    By:  

/s/ Joanna Lv

     

Joanna Lv

Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

SOHU.COM REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2017 UNAUDITED FINANCIAL RESULTS

BEIJING, January 29, 2018 –Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU), China’s leading online media, video, search and gaming business group, today reported unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

 

    Total revenues were US$510 million1, up 24% year-over-year and down 1% quarter-over-quarter.

 

    Brand advertising revenues were US$72 million, down 27% year-over-year and 4% quarter-over-quarter.

 

    Search and search related advertising revenues were US$247 million, up 62% year-over-year and 10% quarter-over-quarter.

 

    Online game revenues were US$109 million, up 15% year-over-year and down 17% quarter-over-quarter.

Fiscal Year 2017 Highlights

 

    Total revenues were US$1.86 billion, up 13% compared with 2016.

 

    Brand advertising revenues were US$314 million, down 30% compared with 2016.

 

    Search and search related advertising revenues were US$801 million, up 34% compared with 2016.

 

    Online game revenues were US$450 million, up 14% compared with 2016.

Dr. Charles Zhang, Chairman and CEO of Sohu.com Inc., commented, “We ended 2017 with an eventful quarter. After fourteen years of great effort, our search subsidiary Sogou finally completed a successful U.S. IPO in November. The IPO has strengthened Sogou’s brand and balance sheet and should help us to further expand our market share in China’s search industry while developing advanced AI capabilities. For Sohu Media Portal, we have built a stronger product development team and seen encouraging user metrics of Sohu News App. For Sohu Video, 2017 was a transformative year when we shifted our focus to original content and began to significantly cut spending on traditional TV programs. The initiative should generate meaningful cost savings and narrow the losses in our video business in 2018. On the online game side, in 2017 Changyou benefited from the launch of the mobile game Legacy TLBB and achieved solid year-over-year growth in revenue and adjusted net profit. At the same time, the business has not stopped its efforts in developing multiple new mobile games and diversifying its game portfolio.”

Fourth Quarter Financial Results

Revenues

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2017 were US$510 million, up 24% year-over-year and down 1% quarter-over-quarter.

Total online advertising revenues, which include revenues from the brand advertising and search and search-related advertising businesses, for the fourth quarter of 2017 were US$319 million, up 27% year-over-year and 6% quarter-over-quarter.

Brand advertising revenues for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled US$72 million, down 27% year-over-year and 4% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to decreases in video and real estate advertising revenues. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to a decrease in video advertising revenues.

Search and search-related advertising revenues for the fourth quarter of 2017 were US$247 million, up 62% year-over-year and 10% quarter-over-quarter. The increases were mainly due to healthy traffic growth and improved monetization on the mobile end.

 

1  On a constant currency (non-GAAP) basis, if the exchange rate in the fourth quarter of 2017 had been the same as it was in the fourth quarter of 2016, or RMB6.83=US$1.00, US$ total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2017 would have been US$493 million, or US$17 million less than GAAP total revenues, and up 20% year-over-year.

 

1


Online game revenues for the fourth quarter of 2017 were US$109 million, up 15% year-over-year and down 17% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was due to the revenue contribution of Legacy TLBB Mobile. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was due to decreasing revenues of our existing games, including Legacy TLBB Mobile.

Gross Margin

Both GAAP and non-GAAP2 gross margin was 46% for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with 44% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 49% in the third quarter of 2017.

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the online advertising business for the fourth quarter of 2017 was 37%, compared with 33% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 36% in the third quarter of 2017.

GAAP gross margin for the brand advertising business in the fourth quarter of 2017 was -16%, compared with 9% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and -1% in the third quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP gross margin for the brand advertising business was -17%, compared with 9% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and -1% in the third quarter of 2017. The year-over-year decrease was mainly due to a decrease in revenues of the video and media portal businesses. The quarter-over-quarter decrease was mainly due to increased video content cost. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recognized impairment charges of approximately US$26 million in video content cost as a result of softer-than-expected video advertising sales.

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the search and search-related advertising business in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 52%, compared with 48% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 49% in the third quarter of 2017. The increases were mainly a result of slower growth in costs relative to search and search-related advertising revenues.

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for online games in the fourth quarter of 2017 was 84%, compared with 78% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 87% in the third quarter of 2017. The year-over-year increase in gross margin was due to Legacy TLBB Mobile, which was launched in the second quarter of 2017 and has a high gross margin as revenue is recognized on a net basis after revenue-sharing with the third-party licensee operator.

Operating Expenses

For the fourth quarter of 2017, GAAP operating expenses totaled US$275 million, up 19% year-over-year and down 18% quarter-over-quarter. Non-GAAP operating expenses were US$255 million, up 12% year-over-year and down 22% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to increases in personnel expenses and share-based compensation expense due to a higher market price for the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2017. The quarter-over-quarter change was mainly due to an impairment charge related to Changyou’s MoboTap business recognized in the third quarter of 2017.

Operating Loss

GAAP operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was US$41 million, compared with an operating loss of US$52 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and an operating loss of US$81 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Non-GAAP operating loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was US$22 million, compared with an operating loss of US$49 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and an operating loss of US$75 million in the third quarter of 2017.

 

 

2  Non-GAAP results exclude share-based compensation expense, non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, impairment loss recognized with respect to available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders of Sogou, and a one-time income tax expense, offset by a one-time reduction in liability for deferred U.S. income tax, as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform. Explanation of the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures and related reconciliations to GAAP financial measures are included in the accompanying “Non-GAAP Disclosure” and “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Results of Operation Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures.”

 

2


Income Tax Expense

GAAP income tax expense was US$234 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared with income tax expense of US$6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and income tax expense of US$16 million in the third quarter of 2017. Income tax expense includes a one-time charge of US$219 million, which represents management’s estimate of the amount of U.S. corporate income tax based on the deemed repatriation to the United States of accumulated Sohu earnings mandated by the new U.S. income tax law that went into effect on December 22, 2017 (the “U.S. Tax Reform”), offset by a reduction of US$4 million in liability for deferred U.S. income tax as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform. Excluding the one-time charge and one-time reduction, non-GAAP income tax expense for the fourth quarter was US$19 million. The one-time charge for deemed repatriation will be payable by Sohu over an eight-year period commencing April 2019. The actual impact of the U.S. Tax Reform on Sohu may differ from management’s estimates, and management may update its judgments based on its review of future regulations or guidance issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and specific actions Sohu may take in the future.

Net Loss

Before deducting the share of net income pertaining to non-controlling interest, GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was US$270 million, compared with a net loss of US$37 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and net loss of US$102 million in the third quarter of 2017. Before deducting the share of net income pertaining to non-controlling interest, non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of 2017 was US$36 million, compared with a net loss of US$34 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and net loss of US$90 million in the third quarter of 2017.

GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. for the fourth quarter of 2017 was US$295 million, or US$7.57 loss per fully-diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$66 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and net loss of US$104 million in the third quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. for the fourth quarter of 2017 was US$78 million, or US$2.01 loss per fully-diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$69 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 and net loss of US$93 million in the third quarter of 2017.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2017, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by the Sohu Group, minus short-term bank loans, were US$2.12 billion, compared with US$1.30 billion as of December 31, 2016. The cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balance as of the end of 2017 includes net proceeds of approximately US$622 million from the U.S. IPO of Sogou completed in November 2017.

Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Results

Revenues

Total revenues for 2017 were US$1.86 billion, up 13% compared with 2016.

Total online advertising revenues, which include revenues from the brand advertising and search and search-related advertising businesses, for 2017 were US$1.12 billion, up 7% compared with 2016.

Brand advertising revenues for 2017 were US$314 million, down 30% compared with 2016. The decrease was mainly due to declines in video and real estate advertising revenues.

Search and search-related advertising revenues for 2017 were US$801 million, up 34% compared with 2016. The increase was mainly attributable to healthy traffic growth and improved monetization on the mobile end.

Online game revenues for 2017 were US$450 million, up 14% compared with 2016. The increase was mainly due to the revenue contribution of Legacy TLBB Mobile.

Gross Margin

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin was 44% for 2017, compared with 48% in 2016.

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the online advertising business for 2017 was 30%, compared with 37% in 2016.

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for the brand advertising business for 2017 was -16%, compared with 17% in 2016. The decrease was mainly attributable to the decrease in revenues.

 

3


GAAP gross margin for the search and search-related advertising business for 2017 was 48%, compared with 51% in 2016. Non-GAAP gross margin for the search and search-related advertising business for 2017 was 49%, compared with 51% in 2016. The decreases were mainly due to higher traffic acquisition cost as a percentage of search and search-related advertising revenues.

Both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margin for online games for 2017 was 86%, compared with 76% in 2016. The increase in gross margin was mainly due to the impact of Legacy TLBB Mobile, a mobile game launched in mid- 2017 that has a relatively high margin.

Operating Expenses

For 2017, GAAP operating expenses totaled US$1.03 billion, up 14% compared with 2016. Non-GAAP operating expenses were US$990 million, up 11% compared with 2016. The increases were primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses and share-based compensation expense due to a higher market price for the Company’s common stock as of December 31, 2017 and certain impairment charges recognized in 2017.

Operating Loss

GAAP operating loss for 2017 was US$209 million, compared with an operating loss of US$117 million in 2016.

Non-GAAP operating loss for 2017 was US$164 million, compared with an operating loss of US$98 million in 2016.

Income Tax Expense

GAAP income tax expense for 2017 was US$273 million, compared with income tax expense of US$21 million in 2016. Income tax expense includes a one-time charge of US$219 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, which represents management’s estimate of the amount of U.S. corporate income tax based on the deemed repatriation to the United States of accumulated Sohu earnings mandated by the U.S. Tax Reform, offset by a reduction of US$4 million in liability for deferred U.S. income tax as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform. Excluding the one-time charge and one-time reduction, non-GAAP income tax expense for 2017 was US$58 million. The one-time charge for deemed repatriation will be payable by Sohu over an eight-year period commencing April 2019. The actual impact of the U.S. Tax Reform on Sohu may differ from management’s estimates, and management may update its judgments based on its review of future regulations or guidance issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and specific actions Sohu may take in the future.

Net Loss

Before deducting the share of net income pertaining to non-controlling interest, GAAP net loss for 2017 was US$470 million, compared with net loss of US$115 million in 2016. Before deducting the share of net income pertaining to non-controlling interest, non-GAAP net loss for 2017 was US$204 million, compared with net loss of US$96 million in 2016.

GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. for 2017 was US$556 million, or US$14.30 loss per fully-diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$226 million in 2016. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. for 2017 was US$310 million, or US$7.99 loss per fully-diluted share, compared with a net loss of US$219 million in 2016.

Other Development

On January 27, 2018, the Company promoted acting Chief Financial Officer Joanna Lv to permanent CFO with immediate effect. Joanna has held the position of acting CFO since June 2016, prior to which she was a senior finance director. She joined Sohu in 2000.

Business Outlook

For the first quarter of 2018, Sohu estimates:

 

    Total revenues to be between US$410 million and US$435 million.

 

    Brand advertising revenues to be between US$55 million and US$60 million; this implies an annual decrease of 26% to 32% and a sequential decrease of 16% to 23%.

 

4


    Sogou revenues to be between US$218 million and US$228 million; this implies an annual increase of 35% to 41% and a sequential decrease of 18% to 22%.

 

    Online game revenues to be between US$90 million and US$100 million; this implies an annual increase of 5% to 17% and a sequential decrease of 9% to 18%.

 

    Before deducting the share of non-GAAP net income pertaining to non-controlling interest, non-GAAP net loss to be between US$45 million and US$55 million. Assuming no new grants of share-based awards and that the market price of our shares is unchanged; we estimate that compensation expense relating to share-based awards will be around US$6 million. Including the impact of these share-based awards, GAAP net loss before non-controlling interest to be between US$51 million and US$61 million.

 

    Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. to be between US$65 million and US$75 million, and non-GAAP loss per fully-diluted share to be between US$1.65 and US$1.90. Including the impact of the aforementioned share-based awards, and netting off approximately US$3 million of Sohu’s economic interests in Changyou and Sogou, GAAP net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. to be between US$68 million and US$78 million, and GAAP loss per fully-diluted share to be between US$1.75 and US$2.00.

For the first quarter 2018 guidance, the Company has adopted a presumed exchange rate of RMB6.60=US$1.00, as compared with the actual exchange rate of approximately RMB6.88=US$1.00 for the first quarter of 2017, and RMB6.61=US$1.00 for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Non-GAAP Disclosure

To supplement the unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), Sohu’s management uses non-GAAP measures of gross profit, operating profit, net income, net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc. and diluted net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc. per share, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP to exclude the impact of the share-based awards, which consist mainly of share-based compensation expenses and non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, impairment loss recognized with respect to available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders, and a one-time income tax expense, offset by a one-time reduction in liability for deferred U.S. income tax, as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

Sohu’s management believes excluding share-based compensation expense, impairment loss recognized with respect to available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations, non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders, and net one-time tax expense as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform from its non-GAAP financial measure is useful for itself and investors. Further, the impact of share-based compensation expense and impairment loss recognized with respect to available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations, non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders, and net one-time tax expense as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform cannot be anticipated by management and business line leaders and these expenses were not built into the annual budgets and quarterly forecasts, which have been the basis for information Sohu provides to analysts and investors as guidance for future operating performance. As the impact of share-based compensation expense and impairment loss recognized with respect to available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations, non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, and dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders does not involve subsequent cash outflow or is reflected in the cash flows at the equity transaction level, Sohu does not factor this impact in when evaluating and approving expenditures or when determining the allocation of its resources to its business segments. As a result, in general, the monthly financial results for internal reporting and any performance measures for commissions and bonuses are based on non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation expense and impairment loss recognized with respect to available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations, non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, and dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders, and also excluded the net one-time tax expense as a result of U.S. Tax Reform.

 

5


The non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance investors’ overall understanding of Sohu’s current financial performance and prospects for the future. A limitation of using non-GAAP gross profit, operating profit, net income, net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc. and diluted net income attributable to Sohu.com Inc. per share, excluding share-based compensation expense, non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions, dividend, and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders is that the impact of share-based awards and non-cash tax benefits from excess tax deductions related to share-based awards has been and will continue to be a significant recurring expense in Sohu’s business for the foreseeable future, income/expense from the adjustment of contingent consideration previously recorded for acquisitions may recur in the future, and dividend and deemed dividend to non-controlling preferred shareholders may recur when Sohu and its affiliates enter into equity transactions. In order to mitigate these limitations Sohu has provided specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables include details on the reconciliation between the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures that have been presented.

Notes to Financial Information

Financial information in this press release other than the information indicated as being non-GAAP is derived from Sohu’s unaudited interim financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. It is currently expected that the Business Outlook will not be updated until release of Sohu’s next quarterly earnings announcement; however, Sohu reserves right to update its Business Outlook at any time for any reason. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Sohu’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, instability in global financial and credit markets and its potential impact on the Chinese economy; exchange rate fluctuations, including their potential impact on the Chinese economy and on Sohu’s reported US dollar results; recent slow-downs in the growth of the Chinese economy; the uncertain regulatory landscape in the People’s Republic of China; fluctuations in Sohu’s quarterly operating results; Sohu’s current and projected future losses due to increased spending by Sohu for video content; the possibilities that Sohu will be unable to recoup its investment in video content and that Changyou will be unable to develop a series of successful games for mobile platforms or successfully monetize mobile games it develops or acquires; Sohu’s reliance on online advertising sales, online games and mobile services for its revenues; and the impact of the U.S. Tax Reform. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Sohu’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Conference Call and Webcast

Sohu’s management team will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, January 29, 2018 (9:30 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time, January 29, 2018) following the quarterly results announcement.

The dial-in details for the live conference call are:

 

US Toll-Free:

  

+1-866-519-4004

International:

  

+65-6713-5090

Hong Kong:

  

+852-3018-6771

China Mainland

  

+86-800-819-0121 / +86-400-620-8038

Passcode:

  

SOHU

Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin and provide the passcode to join the call.

A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on January 29 through February 5, 2018. The dial-in details for the telephone replay are:

 

International:

  

+1-646-254-3697

Passcode:

  

8285538

 

6


The live Webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sohu’s Website at http://investors.sohu.com/.

About Sohu.com

Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) is China’s premier online brand and indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese, providing a network of Web properties and community based/Web 2.0 products which offer the vast Sohu user community a broad array of choices regarding information, entertainment and communication. Sohu has built one of the most comprehensive matrices of Chinese language web properties and proprietary search engines, consisting of the mass portal and leading online media destination www.sohu.com; the interactive search engine www.sogou.com; the developer and operator of online games www.changyou.com/en/ and the leading online video Website tv.sohu.com .

Sohu’s corporate services consist of online brand advertising on Sohu’s matrix of websites as well as bid listing and home page on its in-house developed search directory and engine. Sohu also provides multiple news and information services on mobile platforms, including Sohu News App and the mobile news portal m.sohu.com. Sohu’s online game subsidiary, Changyou.com (NASDAQ: CYOU) develops and operates a diverse portfolio of PC and mobile games, such as Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”), one of the most popular PC games in China. Changyou also owns and operates the 17173.com Website, a leading game information portal in China. Sohu’s online search subsidiary Sogou (NYSE: SOGO) has grown to become the second largest search engine by mobile queries in China. It also owns and operates Sogou Input Method, the largest Chinese language input software. Sohu.com, established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China’s internet pioneers, is in its twenty-second year of operation.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

 

Mr. Eric Yuan

Sohu.com Inc.

Tel:

  

+86 (10) 6272-6593

E-mail:

  

ir@contact.sohu.com

In the United States:

 

Ms. Linda Bergkamp

Christensen

Tel:

  

+1 (480) 614-3004

E-mail:

  

lbergkamp@christensenir.com

 

7


SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     Three Months Ended     Twelve Months Ended  
     Dec. 31, 2017     Sep. 30, 2017     Dec. 31, 2016     Dec. 31, 2017     Dec. 31, 2016  

Revenues:

          

Online advertising

          

Brand advertising

   $ 71,751     $ 74,832     $ 98,695     $ 314,066     $ 447,956  

Search and search-related advertising

     247,054       225,363       152,500       801,199       597,133  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

     318,805       300,195       251,195       1,115,265       1,045,089  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Online games

     109,383       132,427       95,400       449,533       395,709  

Others

     81,442       83,439       65,164       296,164       209,633  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     509,630       516,061       411,759       1,860,962       1,650,431  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cost of revenues:

          

Online advertising

          

Brand advertising (includes stock-based compensation expense of $-1,034, $278, $-91, $-415 and $163, respectively)

     82,932       75,733       89,658       363,592       371,085  

Search and search-related (includes stock-based compensation expense of $535,$0,$168, $540 and $172, respectively)

     118,683       115,422       79,611       412,904       290,158  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Subtotal

     201,615       191,155       169,269       776,496       661,243  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Online games (includes stock-based compensation expense of $1,$4, $-5,$73 and $31, respectively)

     17,097       17,560       20,936       62,775       96,168  

Others

     56,987       53,679       41,606       195,895       102,389  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues

     275,699       262,394       231,811       1,035,166       859,800  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     233,931       253,667       179,948       825,796       790,631  

Operating expenses:

          

Product development (includes stock-based compensation expense of $14,048, $2,247, $3,383, $23,547 and $9,184, respectively)

     122,767       105,162       91,499       412,173       353,144  

Sales and marketing (includes stock-based compensation expense of $3,976, $344, $1,467, $5,915 and $2,394, respectively)

     116,179       111,935       116,183       413,045       434,780  

General and administrative (includes stock-based compensation expense of $1,486, $3,682, $-1,949, $15,816 and $7,176, respectively)

     35,829       31,038       23,914       122,874       119,841  

Goodwill impairment and impairment of intangibles via acquisitions of businesses

     —         86,882       —         86,882       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     274,775       335,017       231,596       1,034,974       907,765  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (40,844     (81,350     (51,648     (209,178     (117,134

Other income /(expense)

     4,321       (5,068     6,258       6,658       (10,713

Interest income

     7,357       6,497       5,051       24,138       22,499  

Interest expense

     (2,567     (1,141     (205     (4,088     (1,356

Exchange difference

     (4,059     (5,032     9,257       (14,385     12,803  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before income tax expense

     (35,792     (86,094     (31,287     (196,855     (93,901

Income tax expense

     233,785       15,927       5,800       273,148       21,072  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (269,577     (102,021     (37,087     (470,003     (114,973
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest shareholders

     24,558       1,939       28,810       84,523       109,048  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

     (294,135     (103,960     (65,897     (554,526     (224,021
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

   $ (7.56   $ (2.67   $ (1.70   $ (14.27   $ (5.79
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in computing basic net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

     38,888       38,877       38,739       38,858       38,706  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

   $ (7.57   $ (2.67   $ (1.71   $ (14.30   $ (5.83
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in computing diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

     38,888       38,877       38,739       38,858       38,706  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

8


SOHU.COM INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS)

 

     As of Dec. 31, 2017      As of Dec. 31, 2016  

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,366,115      $ 1,050,957  

Restricted cash

     1,908        —    

Short-term investments

     818,934        247,926  

Accounts receivable, net

     250,468        189,167  

Prepaid and other current assets

     192,676        260,133  

Assets held for sale (a)

     —          103,079  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     2,630,101        1,851,262  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term investments

     90,145        74,273  

Fixed assets, net

     529,717        503,631  

Goodwill (a)

     71,565        68,290  

Intangible assets, net

     23,060        32,131  

Restricted time deposits

     271        269  

Prepaid non-current assets

     4,211        4,734  

Other assets

     40,169        29,100  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 3,389,239      $ 2,563,690  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

     

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 288,394      $ 193,209  

Accrued liabilities

     343,106        324,876  

Receipts in advance and deferred revenue

     127,758        118,951  

Accrued salary and benefits

     102,087        92,475  

Taxes payable

     96,541        40,014  

Short-term bank loans

     61,216        —    

Other short-term liabilities

     136,300        159,315  

Liabilities held for sale (a)

     —          3,902  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

   $ 1,155,402      $ 932,742  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Long-term accounts payable

     1,157        744  

Long-term Bank Loans

     122,433        —    

Long-term tax liabilities

     293,010        72,409  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

   $ 416,600      $ 73,153  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 1,572,002      $ 1,005,895  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

     

Sohu.com Inc. shareholders’ equity

     750,634        993,580  

Noncontrolling Interest

     1,066,603        564,215  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,817,237      $ 1,557,795  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,389,239      $ 2,563,690  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note:

 

(a) In the third quarter of 2016, Changyou’s management had an intention to divest Changyou’s interest in MoboTap. Therefore, the assets and liabilities of MoboTap were recognized as assets-held-for-sale and liabilities-held-for-sale, respectively, in Changyou’s financial statements for the third and fourth quarters of 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, due to the suspension of negotiations with the potential buyers of MoboTap, Changyou’s management determined that the disposal was unlikely to be completed within one year. As a result, the assets-held-for-sale and liabilities-held-for-sale related to MoboTap have been reclassified as assets and liabilities in Changyou’s balance sheet since March 31, 2017. In the third quarter of 2017, Changyou recognized impairment charges related to the MoboTap business.

 

9


SOHU.COM INC.

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP RESULTS OF OPERATION MEASURES TO THE NEAREST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES

(UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

    Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2017     Three Months Ended Sep. 30, 2017     Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016  
    GAAP     Non-GAAP
Adjustments3
          Non-GAAP     GAAP     Non-GAAP
Adjustments
          Non-GAAP     GAAP     Non-GAAP
Adjustments
          Non-GAAP  
      (1,034     (a         278       (a         (91     (a  
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Brand advertising gross profit

  $ (11,181   $ (1,034     $ (12,215   $ (901   $ 278       $ (623   $ 9,037     $ (91     $ 8,946  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Brand advertising gross margin

    -16         -17     -1         -1     9         9
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 
          535     (a)                 —       (a)                 168     (a)        
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Search and search-related advertising gross profit

  $ 128,371     $ 535       $ 128,906     $ 109,941     $ —         $ 109,941     $ 72,889     $ 168       $ 73,057  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Search and search-related advertising gross margin

    52         52     49         49     48         48
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 
          (499)     (a)                 278     (a)                 77     (a)        
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Online advertising gross profit

  $ 117,190     $ (499     $ 116,691     $ 109,040     $ 278       $ 109,318     $ 81,926     $ 77       $ 82,003  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Online advertising gross margin

    37         37     36         36     33         33
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 
          1     (a)                 4     (a)                 (5)     (a)        
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Online games gross profit

  $ 92,286     $ 1       $ 92,287     $ 114,867     $ 4       $ 114,871     $ 74,464     $ (5     $ 74,459  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Online games gross margin

    84         84     87         87     78         78
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Others gross profit

  $ 24,455     $ —         (a   $ 24,455     $ 29,760     $ —         (a   $ 29,760     $ 23,558     $ —         (a   $ 23,558  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Others gross margin

    30         30     36         36     36         36
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 
          (498)     (a)                 282     (a)                 72     (a)        
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Gross profit

  $ 233,931     $ (498     $ 233,433     $ 253,667     $ 282       $ 253,949     $ 179,948     $ 72       $ 180,020  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Gross margin

    46         46     49         49     44         44
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Operating expenses

  $ 274,775     $ (19,510     (a   $ 255,265     $ 335,017     $ (6,273     (a   $ 328,744     $ 231,596     $ (2,901     (a   $ 228,695  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 
      19,012       (a         6,555       (a         2,973       (a  
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Operating loss

  $ (40,844   $ 19,012       $ (21,832   $ (81,350   $ 6,555       $ (74,795   $ (51,648   $ 2,973       $ (48,675
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Operating margin

    -8         -4     -16         -14     -13         -12
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Income tax expense

  $ (233,785   $ 214,819       $ (18,966   $ 15,927     $ —         $ 15,927     $ 5,800     $ —         $ 5,800  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 
      233,831       (a         12,309       (a         2,973       (a  
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Net loss before non-controlling interest

  $ (269,577   $ 233,831       $ (35,746   $ (102,021   $ 12,309       $ (89,712   $ (37,087   $ 2,973       $ (34,114
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 
      19,012       (a         6,555       (a         2,973       (a  
      (17,545     (b         (1,017     (b         (6,051     (b  
      —               5,754       (c         —        
      214,819       (d         —               —        
   

 

 

         

 

 

         

 

 

     

Net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc. for diluted net loss per share

  $ (294,543   $ 216,286         (78,257   $ (103,960   $ 11,292       $ (92,668   $ (66,411   $ (3,078     $ (69,489
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

  $ (7.57         (2.01   $ (2.67       $ (2.38   $ (1.71       $ (1.79
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Shares used in computing diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

    38,888           38,888       38,877           38,877       38,739           38,739  
 

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Note:

 

(a) To eliminate the impact of share-based awards as measured using the fair value method.

 

(b) To adjust Sohu’s economic interests in Changyou and Sogou attributable to the above non-GAAP adjustments.

 

(c) To adjust impairment loss of available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations

 

(d) To adjust for one-time effect of the U.S. Tax Reform.

 

3  Above Non-GAAP adjustment does not have impact on income tax expense.

 

10


SOHU.COM INC.

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP RESULTS OF OPERATION MEASURES TO THE NEAREST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES

(UNAUDITED, IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

     Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2017     Twelve Months Ended Dec. 31, 2016  
     GAAP     Non-GAAP
Adjustments4
         Non-GAAP     GAAP     Non-GAAP
Adjustments
         Non-GAAP  
       (415   (a)          163     (a)   
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Brand advertising gross profit

   $ (49,526   $ (415      $ (49,941   $ 76,871     $ 163        $ 77,034  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Brand advertising gross margin

     -16          -16     17          17
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 
       540     (a)          172     (a)   
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Search and search-related advertising gross profit

   $ 388,295     $ 540        $ 388,835     $ 306,975     $ 172        $ 307,147  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Search and search-related advertising gross margin

     48          49     51          51
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 
       125     (a)          335     (a)   
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Online advertising gross profit

   $ 338,769     $ 125        $ 338,894     $ 383,846     $ 335        $ 384,181  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Online advertising gross margin

     30          30     37          37
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 
       73     (a)          31     (a)   
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Online games gross profit

   $ 386,758     $ 73        $ 386,831     $ 299,541     $ 31        $ 299,572  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Online games gross margin

     86          86     76          76
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Others gross profit

   $ 100,269     $ —       (a)$      100,269     $ 107,244     $ —       (a)$      107,244  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Others gross margin

     34          34     51          51
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 
       198     (a)          366     (a)   
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Gross profit

   $ 825,796     $ 198        $ 825,994     $ 790,631     $ 366        $ 790,997  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Gross margin

     44          44     48          48
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Operating expenses

   $ 1,034,974     $ (45,278   (a)$      989,696     $ 907,765     $ (18,754   (a)$      889,011  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
       45,476     (a)          19,120     (a)   
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Operating loss

   $ (209,178   $ 45,476        $ (163,702   $ (117,134   $ 19,120        $ (98,014
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Operating margin

     -11          -9     -7          -6
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Income tax expense

   $ (273,148   $ 214,819        $ (58,329   $ 21,072     $ —          $ 21,072  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
       45,476     (a)          19,118     (a)   
       5754     (c)          —       (c)   
       214,819     (d)          —         
    

 

 

          

 

 

      

Net loss before non-controlling interest

   $ (470,003   $ 266,049        $ (203,954   $ (114,973   $ 19,118        $ (95,855
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 
       45,476     (a)          19,118     (a)   
       (20,624   (b)          (12,260   (b)   
       5754     (c)          —         
       214,819     (d)          —         

Net loss attributable to Sohu.com Inc for diluted net loss per share

   $ (555,791     $245,425        $ (310,366   $ (225,660   $ 6,858        $ (218,802
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

   $ (14.30        $ (7.99   $ (5.83        $ (5.65
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Shares used in computing diluted net loss per share attributable to Sohu.com Inc.

     38,858            38,858       38,706            38,706  
  

 

 

        

 

 

   

 

 

        

 

 

 

Note:

(a) To eliminate the impact of share-based awards as measured using the fair value method.
(b) To adjust Sohu’s economic interests in Changyou and Sogou attributable to the above non-GAAP adjustments.
(c) To adjust impairment loss of available-for-sale securities of an investee that is unrelated to the Company’s current business operations.
(d) To adjust for the one-time effect of the U.S. Tax Reform.

 

4  Above Non-GAAP adjustment does not have impact on income tax expense

 

11