10-Q 1 d223999d10q.htm QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011

or

 

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

For the transition period from             to            

Commission File Number 000-28018

 

 

Yahoo! Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   77-0398689

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

701 First Avenue

Sunnyvale, California 94089

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (408) 349-3300

 

 

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  þ    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  þ    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.

 

Large accelerated filer   þ    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    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  þ

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

 

Class

  

Outstanding at October 31, 2011

Common Stock, $0.001 par value    1,240,298,990

 

 

 


Table of Contents

YAHOO! INC.

Table of Contents

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     3   

Item 1.

  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)      3   
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011      3   
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011      4   
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011      5   
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements      6   

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      28   

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      42   

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures      43   

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

     44   

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings      44   

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors      44   

Item 2.

  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      58   

Item 3.

  Defaults Upon Senior Securities      58   

Item 5.

  Other Information      58   

Item 6.

  Exhibits      58   
  Signature      59   

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

YAHOO! INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
 
     (Unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts)  

Revenue

   $ 1,601,203      $ 1,216,665      $ 4,799,542      $ 3,660,046   

Cost of revenue

     680,754        359,276        2,069,858        1,107,893   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     920,449        857,389        2,729,684        2,552,153   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

        

Sales and marketing

     320,977        290,486        965,983        833,032   

Product development

     269,725        254,958        804,354        744,538   

General and administrative

     126,816        128,977        362,577        383,531   

Amortization of intangibles

     8,018        8,435        24,000        25,067   

Restructuring charges, net

     5,758        (2,721     20,222        8,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     731,294        680,135        2,177,136        1,994,259   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     189,155        177,254        552,548        557,894   

Other income, net

     191,351        18,046        290,267        17,407   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes and earnings in equity interests

     380,506        195,300        842,815        575,301   

Provision for income taxes

     (86,413     (55,731     (204,381     (163,480

Earnings in equity interests

     104,166        158,775        288,247        349,857   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     398,259        298,344        926,681        761,678   

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (2,128     (5,053     (7,038     (8,423
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc.

   $ 396,131      $ 293,291      $ 919,643      $ 753,255   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share — basic

   $ 0.30      $ 0.23      $ 0.67      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share — diluted

   $ 0.29      $ 0.23      $ 0.66      $ 0.58   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in per share calculation — basic

     1,333,753        1,253,044        1,370,145        1,287,352   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares used in per share calculation — diluted

     1,343,094        1,259,576        1,382,255        1,296,040   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense by function:

        

Cost of revenue

   $ 698      $ 956      $ 2,289      $ 2,479   

Sales and marketing

   $ 19,066      $ 16,759      $ 54,284      $ 42,829   

Product development

   $ 22,647      $ 21,093      $ 81,152      $ 64,296   

General and administrative

   $ 8,686      $ 12,139      $ 31,752      $ 35,507   

Restructuring expense reversals, net

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ (1,278

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

 

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YAHOO! INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 
     (Unaudited, in thousands
except par values)
 

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,526,427       $ 1,464,219   

Short-term marketable debt securities

     1,357,661         650,593   

Accounts receivable, net

     1,028,900         872,728   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     432,560         416,809   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     4,345,548         3,404,349   

Long-term marketable debt securities

     744,594         754,767   

Property and equipment, net

     1,653,422         1,725,556   

Goodwill

     3,681,645         3,750,287   

Intangible assets, net

     255,870         204,680   

Other long-term assets

     235,136         218,215   

Investments in equity interests

     4,011,889         4,469,702   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 14,928,104       $ 14,527,556   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     

Current liabilities:

     

Accounts payable

   $ 162,424       $ 131,473   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,208,792         864,139   

Deferred revenue

     254,656         205,978   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,625,872         1,201,590   

Long-term deferred revenue

     56,365         39,054   

Capital lease and other long-term liabilities

     142,799         134,310   

Deferred and other long-term tax liabilities, net

     506,658         647,483   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,331,694         2,022,437   

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

     —           —     

Yahoo! Inc. stockholders’ equity:

     

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; 1,308,836 shares issued and 1,308,836 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 1,322,000 shares issued and 1,239,719 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2011

     1,306         1,319   

Additional paid-in capital

     10,109,913         10,340,550   

Treasury stock at cost, zero shares as of December 31, 2010 and 82,281 shares as of September 30, 2011

     —           (1,202,672

Retained earnings

     1,942,656         2,695,911   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     504,254         625,001   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Yahoo! Inc. stockholders’ equity

     12,558,129         12,460,109   

Noncontrolling interests

     38,281         45,010   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total equity

     12,596,410         12,505,119   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

   $ 14,928,104       $ 14,527,556   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

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

 

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YAHOO! INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
 
     (Unaudited, in thousands)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 926,681      $ 761,678   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     387,240        404,823   

Amortization of intangible assets

     97,969        87,784   

Stock-based compensation expense, net

     169,477        143,833   

Non-cash restructuring charges

     2,813        —     

Tax benefits from stock-based awards

     91,268        9,974   

Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards

     (131,648     (44,715

Deferred income taxes

     15,752        68,740   

Earnings in equity interests

     (288,247     (349,857

Dividends received from equity investee

     60,918        75,391   

(Loss)/gain from sales of investments, assets, and other, net

     (222,900     12,822   

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:

    

Accounts receivable, net

     59,464        156,092   

Prepaid expenses and other

     (18,502     10,407   

Accounts payable

     (19,789     (27,316

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (169,707     (351,081

Deferred revenue

     (123,744     (66,103
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     837,045        892,472   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Acquisition of property and equipment, net

     (466,685     (463,006

Purchases of marketable debt securities

     (1,789,061     (1,613,298

Proceeds from sales of marketable debt securities

     1,371,852        1,067,229   

Proceeds from maturities of marketable debt securities

     1,784,056        1,226,892   

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (112,361     (68,812

Purchases of intangible assets

     (18,793     (11,020

Proceeds from the sales of divested businesses

     325,000        —     

Proceeds from the sales of investments

     —          21,271   

Other investing activities, net

     (19,392     (5,763
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

     1,074,616        153,493   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net

     99,667        106,697   

Repurchases of common stock

     (1,749,311     (1,202,504

Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards

     131,648        44,715   

Tax withholdings related to net share settlements of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units

     (44,383     (36,049

Other financing activities, net

     (1,442     (8,333
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (1,563,821     (1,095,474
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (7,710     (12,699

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     340,130        (62,208

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     1,275,430        1,526,427   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 1,615,560      $ 1,464,219   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

 

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YAHOO! INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

Note 1 THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company. Yahoo! Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“Yahoo!” or the “Company”), is a premier digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences, across devices and around the globe, to vast audiences. Yahoo! provides engaging and innovative canvases for advertisers to connect with their target audiences using its unique blend of Science + Art + Scale. Through its proprietary technology and insights, Yahoo! delivers unique content and experiences for its audience and creates powerful opportunities for its advertisers to connect with their target audiences, in context and at scale. To users, Yahoo! provides online properties and services (“Yahoo! Properties”). To advertisers, Yahoo! provides a range of marketing services designed to reach and connect with users of its Yahoo! Properties, as well as with Internet users beyond Yahoo! Properties, through a distribution network of third-party entities (“Affiliates”) that have integrated Yahoo!’s advertising offerings into their Websites or other offerings (those Websites and offerings, “Affiliate sites”).

Basis of Presentation. The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Yahoo! Inc. and its majority-owned or otherwise controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Investments in entities in which the Company can exercise significant influence, but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control, are accounted for using the equity method and are included as investments in equity interests on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company has included the results of operations of acquired companies from the date of the acquisition. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring items, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations for the periods shown. The results of operations for such periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year or for any future periods.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States (“U.S.”) requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue, the useful lives of long-lived assets including property and equipment and intangible assets, investment fair values, stock-based compensation, goodwill, income taxes, contingencies, and restructuring charges. The Company bases its estimates of the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, when these carrying values are not readily available from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 was derived from the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. However, the Company believes the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended its guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. Under the amended guidance, an entity has the option to present comprehensive income in either one continuous statement or two consecutive financial statements. A single statement must present the components of net income and total net income, the components of other comprehensive income and total other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. In a two-statement approach, an entity must present the components of net income and total net income in the first statement. That statement must be immediately followed by a financial statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income, and a total for comprehensive income. The option under the current guidance that permits the presentation of components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity has been eliminated. The amendment becomes effective on January 1, 2012 and is applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance will not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as it is disclosure-only in nature.

 

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In September 2011, the FASB issued a revised standard on testing for goodwill impairment. The revised standard allows an entity to first assess qualitatively whether it is necessary to perform step one of the two-step annual goodwill impairment test. An entity is required to perform step one only if the entity concludes that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, a likelihood of more than 50 percent. An entity can choose to perform the qualitative assessment on none, some, or all of its reporting units. Moreover, an entity can bypass the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to step one of the impairment test, and then perform the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. The revised standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe this guidance will have any impact on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Note 2 BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO YAHOO! INC. COMMON STOCKHOLDERS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted net income attributable to Yahoo! common stockholders per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding net income attributable to participating securities (restricted stock awards granted under the Company’s 1995 Stock Plan and restricted stock units granted under the 1996 Directors’ Stock Plan (the “Directors’ Plan”)). Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding during the period. Potential common shares are calculated using the treasury stock method and consist of unvested restricted stock and shares underlying unvested restricted stock units, the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options, and shares to be purchased under the 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”). The Company calculates potential tax windfalls and shortfalls by including the impact of pro forma deferred tax assets.

The Company takes into account the effect on consolidated net income per share of dilutive securities of entities in which the Company holds equity interests that are accounted for using the equity method.

Potentially dilutive securities representing approximately 58 million shares of common stock for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, and 87 million and 86 million shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for these periods because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 

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The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
 

Basic:

        

Numerator:

        

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc.

   $ 396,131      $ 293,291      $ 919,643      $ 753,255   

Less: Net income allocated to participating securities

     (41     (3     (156     (11
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders — basic

   $ 396,090      $ 293,288      $ 919,487      $ 753,244   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

        

Weighted average common shares

     1,333,753        1,253,044        1,370,145        1,287,352   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share — basic

   $ 0.30      $ 0.23      $ 0.67      $ 0.59   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted:

        

Numerator:

        

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc.

   $ 396,131      $ 293,291      $ 919,643      $ 753,255   

Less: Net income allocated to participating securities

     (37     (3     (77     (11

Less: Effect of dilutive securities issued by equity investees

     (653     (661     (2,018     (1,963
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders — diluted

   $ 395,441      $ 292,627      $ 917,548      $ 751,281   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator:

        

Denominator for basic calculation

     1,333,753        1,253,044        1,370,145        1,287,352   

Weighted average effect of Yahoo! Inc. dilutive securities:

        

Restricted stock and restricted stock units

     5,068        4,333        6,236        5,768   

Stock options and employee stock purchase plan

     4,273        2,199        5,874        2,920   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted calculation

     1,343,094        1,259,576        1,382,255        1,296,040   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Yahoo! Inc. common stockholders per share — diluted

   $ 0.29      $ 0.23      $ 0.66      $ 0.58   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Note 3 ACQUISITIONS

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company acquired three companies, which were accounted for as business combinations. The total purchase price for these acquisitions was $72 million. The total cash consideration of $72 million less cash acquired of $3 million resulted in a net cash outlay of $69 million. Of the purchase price, $52 million was preliminarily allocated to goodwill, $26 million to amortizable intangible assets, $3 million to cash acquired, and $9 million to net assumed liabilities. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired and is not deductible for tax purposes.

The Company’s business combinations completed during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, and therefore pro forma disclosures have not been presented.

Note 4 INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY INTERESTS

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments in equity interests (dollars in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
     Percent
Ownership as of
September 30, 2011
 

Alibaba Group

   $ 2,280,602       $ 2,464,389         42

Yahoo Japan

     1,731,287         1,997,312         35

Other

     —           8,001         35
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

   $ 4,011,889       $ 4,469,702      
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Equity Investment in Alibaba Group. The investment in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (“Alibaba Group”) is accounted for using the equity method, and the total investment, including net tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill, is classified as part of investments in equity interests on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company records its share of the results of Alibaba Group, and any related amortization expense, one quarter in arrears within earnings in equity interests in the condensed consolidated statements of income. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a dilution gain of $25 million, net of tax of $15 million, in earnings in equity interests related to the dilution of the Company’s ownership interest in Alibaba Group as a result of option exercises and the sale of stock to Alibaba Group employees during its quarter ended June 30, 2011 at an average price higher than the Company’s invested cost per share.

As of September 30, 2011, the difference between the Company’s carrying value of its investment in Alibaba Group and its proportionate share of the net assets of Alibaba Group is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

Carrying value of investment in Alibaba Group

   $ 2,464,389   

Proportionate share of Alibaba Group stockholders’ equity

     1,780,158   
  

 

 

 

Excess of carrying value of investment over proportionate share of Alibaba Group’s stockholders’ equity(*)

   $ 684,231   
  

 

 

 

 

(*) 

The excess carrying value has been primarily assigned to goodwill.

The amortizable intangible assets included in the excess carrying value have useful lives not exceeding seven years and a weighted average useful life of approximately five years. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

 

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The following tables present Alibaba Group’s U.S. GAAP summarized financial information, as derived from the Alibaba Group consolidated financial statements (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     June 30,
2010
     June 30,
2011
     June 30,
2010
    June 30,
2011
 

Operating data(1):

          

Revenue

   $ 348,105       $ 631,216       $ 903,872      $ 1,666,663   

Gross profit

   $ 259,465       $ 421,173       $ 679,539      $ 1,108,482   

Income (loss) from operations(2)

   $ 62,570       $ 132,403       $ (71,004   $ 205,654   

Net income (loss)

   $ 50,237       $ 137,253       $ (49,975   $ 233,887   

Net income (loss) attributable to Alibaba Group

   $ 35,917       $ 118,947       $ (88,719   $ 180,890   
                   September 30,
2010
    June 30,
2011
 

Balance sheet data(1):

          

Current assets

         $ 4,399,571      $ 3,267,962   

Long-term assets

         $ 2,436,976      $ 2,886,942   

Current liabilities

         $ 2,660,043      $ 1,434,556   

Long-term liabilities

         $ 58,679      $ 114,269   

Non-voting participating redeemable securities

         $ 860      $ 1,875   

Noncontrolling interests

         $ 338,419      $ 384,258   

 

(1) 

To expedite obtaining an essential regulatory license, the ownership of Alibaba Group’s online payment business, Alipay.com Co., Ltd. (“Alipay”), was restructured so that 100 percent of its outstanding shares are held by a Chinese domestic company, which is majority owned by Alibaba Group’s chief executive officer, and certain control agreements were terminated which resulted in the deconsolidation of Alipay in the first quarter of 2011. Accordingly, the Alibaba Group consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 do not include the results of Alipay, nor do they include the net assets of Alipay as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. As of September 30, 2010, the consolidated current assets and current liabilities of Alibaba Group both include $1.6 billion of cash collected from purchasers and to be remitted to sellers. These amounts are no longer included in the consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2011. The impact of the deconsolidation of Alipay was not material to the Company’s financial statements.

 

(2) 

The loss from operations of $71 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2010 is primarily due to Alibaba Group’s impairment loss of $192 million on goodwill related to the business that Yahoo! contributed to Alibaba Group in 2005. This impairment does not impact Yahoo!’s earnings in equity interests as Yahoo!’s investment balance related to this contributed business was carried over at cost and therefore Yahoo! has no basis in the impaired goodwill.

The Company also has commercial arrangements with Alibaba Group to provide technical, development, and advertising services. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, these transactions were not material.

Framework Agreement with Alibaba Group regarding Alipay. On July 29, 2011, the Company entered into a Framework Agreement (the “Framework Agreement”), with Alibaba Group, Softbank Corp., a Japanese corporation (“Softbank”), Alipay, APN Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“IPCo”), Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“HoldCo”), Jack Ma Yun, Joseph C. Tsai and certain security holders of Alipay or HoldCo as joinder parties.

Alipay, formerly a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, is a subsidiary of HoldCo, which is majority owned by Mr. Ma. IPCo is a special purpose entity formed in connection with the Framework Agreement which at the time of consummation of the transactions under the Framework Agreement will be owned by Mr. Ma and Mr. Tsai.

 

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Pursuant to the terms of the Framework Agreement and subject to the closing of the transactions contemplated thereby, the parties have agreed, among other things, that:

(1) Upon a Liquidity Event (as defined below), HoldCo will pay to Alibaba Group 37.5 percent of the equity value of Alipay (the “Liquidity Event Payment”), less $500 million (i.e., the principal amount of the IPCo Promissory Note as described below). The Liquidity Event Payment plus $500 million must in the aggregate not be less than $2 billion and may not exceed $6 billion, subject to certain increases and additional payments if no Liquidity Event has occurred by the sixth anniversary of the consummation of the transactions (the “closing”). “Liquidity Event” means the earlier to occur of (a) a qualified initial public offering of Alipay, (b) a transfer of 37.5 percent or more of the securities of Alipay; or (c) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Alipay. If a Liquidity Event has not occurred by the tenth anniversary of the consummation of the transactions under the Framework Agreement, Alibaba Group will have the right to cause HoldCo to effect a Liquidity Event, provided that the equity value or enterprise value of Alipay at such time exceeds $1 billion, and in such case, the $2 billion minimum amount described above will not apply to a Liquidity Event effected by means of a qualified initial public offering, a sale of all of the securities of Alipay, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Alipay.

(2) Alibaba Group will receive payment processing services on preferential terms from Alipay and its subsidiaries in accordance with a long-term agreement. The fees to be paid by Alibaba Group and its subsidiaries to Alipay for the services provided under such agreement will take into account Alibaba Group and its subsidiaries’ status as large volume customers and will be approved on an annual basis by the directors of Alibaba Group designated by Yahoo! and Softbank.

(3) Alibaba Group will license to Alipay certain intellectual property and technology and perform certain software technology services for Alipay and in return Alipay will pay to Alibaba Group a royalty and software technology services fee, which will consist of an expense reimbursement and a 49.9 percent share of the consolidated pre-tax income of Alipay and its subsidiaries. This percentage will decrease upon certain dilutive equity issuances by Alipay and HoldCo; provided, however, such percentage will not be reduced below 30 percent. This agreement will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (a) such time as it may be required to be terminated by applicable regulatory authorities in connection with a qualified initial public offering by Alipay and (b) the date the Liquidity Event Payment, the IPCo Promissory Note (as defined below) and certain related payments have been paid in full.

(4) IPCo will issue to Alibaba Group a non-interest bearing promissory note in the principal amount of $500 million with a seven year maturity (the “IPCo Promissory Note”).

(5) The IPCo Promissory Note, the Liquidity Event Payment and certain other payments will be secured by a pledge of 50,000,000 ordinary shares of Alibaba Group which will be contributed to IPCo by Mr. Ma and Mr. Tsai, as well as certain other collateral which may be pledged in the future.

(6) Yahoo!, Softbank, Alibaba Group, HoldCo, Mr. Ma and Mr. Tsai will enter into an agreement pursuant to which (a) the Alibaba Group board of directors will ratify the actions taken by Alibaba Group in connection with the restructuring of the ownership of Alipay and the termination of certain control agreements which resulted in the deconsolidation of Alipay; and (b) the Company, Softbank and Alibaba Group will release claims against Alibaba Group, Alipay, HoldCo, Mr. Ma, Mr. Tsai and certain of their related parties (including Alibaba Group’s directors in their capacity as such) from any and all claims and liabilities, subject to certain limitations, arising out of or based upon such actions.

The closing of the transactions under the Framework Agreement is subject to certain closing conditions, including PRC regulatory approvals. The parties expect the closing to occur by the end of 2011. Following closing, the Company will account for any impact of the Framework Agreement on the Company’s financial statements.

Equity Investment in Yahoo Japan. The investment in Yahoo Japan Corporation (“Yahoo Japan”) is accounted for using the equity method and the total investment, including net tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets and goodwill, is classified as part of investments in equity interests on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company records its share of the results of Yahoo Japan, and any related amortization expense, one quarter in arrears within earnings in equity interests in the condensed consolidated statements of income.

The Company makes adjustments to the earnings in equity interests line in the consolidated statements of income for any differences between U.S. GAAP and accounting principles generally accepted in Japan (“Japanese GAAP”), the standards by which Yahoo Japan’s financial statements are prepared.

 

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During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded $33 million in U.S. GAAP adjustments to Yahoo Japan’s net income to reflect the Company’s 35 percent share of non-cash losses related to impairments of assets held by Yahoo Japan. The $33 million recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 includes $7 million related to the Company’s share of a non-cash loss in connection with an impairment of assets held by Yahoo Japan in the second quarter of 2011 and a $26 million, net of tax, U.S. GAAP adjustment to Yahoo Japan’s net income in the first quarter of 2011 to reflect the Company’s share of an other-than-temporary impairment of a cost method investment of Yahoo Japan that resulted primarily from reductions in the projected operating results of the Yahoo Japan investee.

The fair value of the Company’s ownership interest in the common stock of Yahoo Japan, based on the quoted stock price, was approximately $6 billion as of September 30, 2011.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, the Company received cash dividends from Yahoo Japan in the amounts of $61 million and $75 million, net of taxes, respectively, which were recorded as reductions to the Company’s investment in Yahoo Japan.

The following tables present summarized financial information derived from Yahoo Japan’s consolidated financial statements, which are prepared on the basis of Japanese GAAP. The Company has made adjustments to the Yahoo Japan financial information to address differences between Japanese GAAP and U.S. GAAP that materially impact the summarized financial information below. Due to these adjustments, the Yahoo Japan summarized financial information presented below is not materially different than such information presented on the basis of U.S. GAAP.

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     June 30,
2010
     June 30,
2011
     June 30,
2010
     June 30,
2011
 
     (in thousands)  

Operating data:

  

Revenue

   $ 854,726       $ 958,927       $ 2,645,443       $ 2,959,085   

Gross profit

   $ 685,605       $ 797,008       $ 2,139,644       $ 2,452,776   

Income from operations

   $ 398,735       $ 446,945       $ 1,230,947       $ 1,442,131   

Net income

   $ 237,492       $ 284,111       $ 730,296       $ 799,995   

Net income attributable to Yahoo Japan

   $ 236,129       $ 282,820       $ 725,754       $ 795,103   
                   September 30,
2010
     June 30,
2011
 
                   (in thousands)  

Balance sheet data:

        

Current assets

         $ 2,332,325       $ 2,955,871   

Long-term assets

         $ 2,679,566       $ 2,710,754   

Current liabilities

         $ 938,985       $ 846,433   

Long-term liabilities

         $ 30,132       $ 34,375   

Noncontrolling interests

         $ 28,774       $ 28,211   

Under technology and trademark license and other commercial arrangements with Yahoo Japan, the Company records revenue from Yahoo Japan based on a percentage of revenue earned by Yahoo Japan. The Company recorded revenue from Yahoo Japan of approximately $78 million and $74 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and revenue of approximately of $228 million and $211 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively. As of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011, the Company had net receivable balances from Yahoo Japan of approximately $40 million and $44 million, respectively.

Note 5 GOODWILL

The Company’s goodwill balance was $3.7 billion as of December 31, 2010, of which $2.7 billion was recorded in the Americas segment, $0.6 billion in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) segment, and $0.4 billion in the Asia Pacific segment. As of September 30, 2011, the Company’s goodwill balance was $3.8 billion, of which $2.7 billion was recorded in the Americas segment, $0.6 billion in the EMEA segment, and $0.5 billion in the Asia Pacific segment. The change in the carrying amount of goodwill of $69 million reflected on our condensed consolidated balance sheets during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was primarily due to the addition of $30 million and $22 million related to acquisitions in the Americas and Asia Pacific segments, respectively, and the effect of foreign currency translation adjustments of $17 million.

 

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Note 6 INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table summarizes the Company’s intangible assets, net (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2010      September 30, 2011  
     Net      Gross Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization(*)
    Net  

Customer and advertiser related relationships

   $ 62,104       $ 135,789       $ (78,156   $ 57,633   

Developed technology and patents

     167,897         351,620         (228,824     122,796   

Trade names, trademarks, and domain names

     25,869         71,085         (46,834     24,251   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total intangible assets, net

   $ 255,870       $ 558,494       $ (353,814   $ 204,680   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(*)

Foreign currency translation adjustments, reflecting movement in the currencies of the underlying entities, totaled approximately $18 million as of September 30, 2011.

For the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, the Company recognized amortization expense for intangible assets of $30 million and $29 million, respectively, including $22 million in cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and $20 million in cost of revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2011. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, the Company recognized amortization expense for intangible assets of $98 million and $88 million, respectively, including $74 million and $62 million in cost of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Based on the current amount of intangibles subject to amortization, the estimated amortization expense for the remainder of 2011 and each of the succeeding years is as follows: three months ending December 31, 2011: $28 million; 2012: $85 million; 2013: $45 million; 2014: $25 million; 2015: $6 million; and 2016: $1 million.

Note 7 OTHER INCOME, NET

Other income, net is comprised of (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Interest and investment income

   $ 5,489      $ 3,955       $ 17,669       $ 14,399   

Gain on sale of Zimbra, Inc.

     —          —           66,130         —     

Gain on sale of HotJobs

     186,345        —           186,345         —     

Other

     (483     14,091         20,123         3,008   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income, net

   $ 191,351      $ 18,046       $ 290,267       $ 17,407   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest and investment income consists of income earned from cash in bank accounts and investments made in marketable debt securities and money market funds.

In February 2010, the Company sold Zimbra, Inc. for net proceeds of $100 million and recorded a pre-tax gain of $66 million. In August 2010, the Company sold HotJobs for net proceeds of $225 million and recorded a pre-tax gain of $186 million.

Other consists of gains/losses from sales or impairments of marketable debt securities and/or investments in privately held companies and foreign exchange gains and losses due to re-measurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies and other non-operating items.

 

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Note 8 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income, net of taxes, is comprised of (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
 

Net income

   $ 398,259      $ 298,344      $ 926,681      $ 761,678   

Change in net unrealized (losses) gains, on available-for-sale securities, net of tax and reclassification adjustments

     (1,608     (6,185     4,140        (6,409

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     201,640        (44,689     30,940        127,156   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

     200,032        (50,874     35,080        120,747   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     598,291        247,470        961,761        882,425   

Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (2,128     (5,053     (7,038     (8,423
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Yahoo! Inc.

   $ 596,163      $ 242,417      $ 954,723      $ 874,002   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax

   $ 8,734       $ 2,325   

Foreign currency translation, net of tax

     495,520         622,676   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

   $ 504,254       $ 625,001   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 9 INVESTMENTS

The following tables summarize the investments in available-for-sale securities (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2010  
     Gross
Amortized
Costs
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair Value
 

Government and agency securities

   $ 1,353,064       $ 1,513       $ (514   $ 1,354,063   

Municipal bonds

     6,609         8         —          6,617   

Corporate debt securities, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposit

     740,043         1,608         (76     741,575   

Corporate equity securities

     2,597         —           (1,128     1,469   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments in available-for-sale securities

   $ 2,102,313       $ 3,129       $ (1,718   $ 2,103,724   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     September 30, 2011  
     Gross
Amortized
Costs
     Gross
Unrealized
Gains
     Gross
Unrealized
Losses
    Estimated
Fair Value
 

Government and agency securities

   $ 831,785       $ 1,204       $ (334   $ 832,655   

Corporate debt securities, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposit

     571,968         1,033         (296     572,705   

Corporate equity securities

     2,761         —           (2,059     702   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total investments in available-for-sale securities

   $ 1,406,514       $ 2,237       $ (2,689   $ 1,406,062   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Reported as:

     

Short-term marketable debt securities

   $ 1,357,661       $ 650,593   

Long-term marketable debt securities

     744,594         754,767   

Other assets

     1,469         702   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,103,724       $ 1,406,062   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Available-for-sale securities included in cash and cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated balance sheets are not included in the table above as the gross unrealized gains and losses were immaterial for both 2010 and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as the carrying value approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.

The contractual maturities of available-for-sale marketable debt securities were as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Due within one year

   $ 1,357,661       $ 650,593   

Due after one year through five years

     744,594         754,767   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total available-for-sale marketable debt securities

   $ 2,102,255       $ 1,405,360   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following tables show all investments in an unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment has not been recognized and the related gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2010  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
 

Government and agency securities

   $ 539,287       $ (514   $ —         $ —        $ 539,287       $ (514

Corporate debt securities, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposits

     153,209         (75     6,006         (1     159,215         (76

Corporate equity securities

     —           —          1,469         (1,128     1,469         (1,128
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 692,496       $ (589   $ 7,475       $ (1,129   $ 699,971       $ (1,718
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     September 30, 2011  
     Less than 12 Months     12 Months or Greater     Total  
     Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
    Fair
Value
     Unrealized
Loss
 

Government and agency securities

   $ 372,920       $ (334   $ —         $ —        $ 372,920       $ (334

Corporate debt securities, commercial paper, and bank certificates of deposits

     193,433         (296     —           —          193,433         (296

Corporate equity securities

     —           —          702         (2,059     702         (2,059
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 566,353       $ (630   $ 702       $ (2,059   $ 567,055       $ (2,689
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company’s investment portfolio consists of liquid high-quality fixed income government, agency, municipal and corporate debt securities, money market funds, and time deposits with financial institutions. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Fixed income securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a deterioration of the credit quality of the issuer. The longer the term of the securities, the more susceptible they are to changes in market rates. Investments are reviewed periodically to identify possible other-than-temporary impairment. The Company has no current requirement or intent to sell these securities. The Company expects to recover up to (or beyond) the initial cost of investment for securities held.

 

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The FASB’s authoritative guidance on fair value measurements establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures about fair value measurements by establishing a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Basis of Fair Value Measurement

 

Level 1

   Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2

   Inputs reflect quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or the liability; or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3

   Unobservable inputs reflecting the Company’s own assumptions incorporated in valuation techniques used to determine fair value. These assumptions are required to be consistent with market participant assumptions that are reasonably available.

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

 

     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using  

Assets

   Level 1      Level 2      Total  

Money market funds(1)

   $ 291,268       $ —         $ 291,268   

Available-for-sale securities:

        

Government and agency securities(1)

     —           1,401,991         1,401,991   

Municipal bonds(1)

     —           26,269         26,269   

Commercial paper and bank certificates of deposit(1)

     —           218,485         218,485   

Corporate debt securities(1)

     —           576,378         576,378   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities at fair value

   $ 291,268       $ 2,223,123       $ 2,514,391   

Corporate equity securities(2)

     1,469         —           1,469   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

   $ 292,737       $ 2,223,123       $ 2,515,860   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

The money market funds, government and agency securities, municipal bonds, commercial paper and bank certificates of deposit, and corporate debt securities are classified as part of either cash and cash equivalents or investments in marketable debt securities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(2) 

The corporate equity securities are classified as part of other long-term assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The amount of cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2010 includes $1.1 billion in cash deposited with commercial banks, of which $425 million are time deposits.

The following table sets forth the financial assets, measured at fair value, by level within the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2011 (in thousands):

 

     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using  

Assets

   Level 1      Level 2      Total  

Money market funds(1)

   $ 338,639       $ —         $ 338,639   

Available-for-sale securities:

        

Government and agency securities(1)

     —           894,861         894,861   

Commercial paper and bank certificates of deposit(1)

     —           104,350         104,350   

Corporate debt securities(1)

     —           463,370         463,370   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities at fair value

   $ 338,639       $ 1,462,581       $ 1,801,220   

Corporate equity securities(2)

     702         —           702   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

   $ 339,341       $ 1,462,581       $ 1,801,922   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

The money market funds, government and agency securities, municipal bonds, commercial paper and bank certificates of deposit, and corporate debt securities are classified as part of either cash and cash equivalents or investments in marketable debt securities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

(2) 

The corporate equity securities are classified as part of other long-term assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

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The amount of cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2011 includes $1.1 billion in cash deposited with commercial banks, of which $379 million are time deposits.

The fair values of the Company’s Level 1 financial assets are based on quoted market prices of the identical underlying security. The fair values of the Company’s Level 2 financial assets are obtained from readily-available pricing sources for the identical underlying security that may not be actively traded. The Company utilizes a pricing service to assist in obtaining fair value pricing for the majority of this investment portfolio. The Company conducts reviews on a quarterly basis to verify pricing, assess liquidity, and determine if significant inputs have changed that would impact the fair value hierarchy disclosure. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company did not make significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets. As of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011, the Company did not have any significant Level 3 financial assets.

Note 10 STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of September 30, 2011, there was $19 million of unamortized stock-based compensation cost related to the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.0 year.

Stock Options. The Company’s 1995 Stock Plan, the Directors’ Plan, and other stock-based award plans assumed through acquisitions are collectively referred to as the “Plans.” Stock option activity under the Company’s Plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is summarized as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Shares     Weighted Average
Exercise Price per
Share
 

Outstanding at December 31, 2010

     80,976      $ 22.02   

Options granted

     6,630      $ 16.31   

Options assumed

     14      $ 5.25   

Options exercised(*)

     (5,558   $ 10.02   

Options expired

     (10,370   $ 28.74   

Options cancelled/forfeited

     (4,814   $ 15.44   
  

 

 

   

Outstanding at September 30, 2011

     66,878      $ 21.88   
  

 

 

   

 

(*) 

The Company issued new shares of common stock to satisfy stock option exercises.

As of September 30, 2011, there was $79 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.3 years.

The Company determines the grant-date fair value of stock options, including the options granted under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, using a Black-Scholes model. The following weighted average assumptions were used in determining the fair value of option grants using the Black-Scholes option pricing model:

 

     Stock Options     Purchase Plan (*)  
     Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
 

Expected dividend yield

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0

Risk-free interest rate

     1.6     1.2     2.3     1.4

Expected volatility

     36.1     40.2     68.1     36.1

Expected life (in years)

     4.50        4.25        0.11        0.82   
     Stock Options     Purchase Plan (*)  
     Nine Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
 

Expected dividend yield

     0.0     0.0     0.0     0.0

Risk-free interest rate

     2.0     1.5     2.3     1.4

Expected volatility

     34.7     36.6     68.7     36.1

Expected life (in years)

     4.50        4.15        0.33        0.96   

 

(*) 

Assumptions for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan relate to the annual average of the enrollment periods. Enrollment is currently permitted in May and November of each year.

 

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Restricted Stock. Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is summarized as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Shares     Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Per Share
 

Awarded and unvested at December 31, 2010(*)

     31,395      $ 17.99   

Granted(*)

     21,537      $ 15.70   

Assumed

     210      $ 16.61   

Vested

     (6,284   $ 17.69   

Forfeited

     (8,777   $ 15.96   
  

 

 

   

Awarded and unvested at September 30, 2011(*)

     38,081      $ 17.20   
  

 

 

   

 

(*) 

Includes the maximum number of shares issuable under the Company’s performance-based executive incentive restricted stock unit awards.

As of September 30, 2011, there was $294 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, 7.7 million shares and 6.3 million shares vested, respectively, which were subject to previously granted restricted stock awards and restricted stock units. A majority of these vested restricted stock awards and restricted stock units were net share settled. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, the Company withheld 2.8 million shares and 2.2 million shares, respectively, based upon the Company’s closing stock price on the vesting date to settle the employees’ minimum statutory obligation for the applicable income and other employment taxes. The Company then remitted cash to the appropriate taxing authorities.

Total payments for the employees’ tax obligations to the relevant taxing authorities were $44 million and $36 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and are reflected as a financing activity within the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The payments were used for tax withholdings related to the net share settlements of restricted stock units and tax withholdings related to reacquisitions of shares of restricted stock awards. The payments had the effect of share repurchases by the Company as they reduced the number of shares that would have otherwise been issued on the vesting date and were recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

Performance-Based Executive Incentive Restricted Stock Units.

In February 2009 and February 2010, the Compensation Committee approved long-term performance-based incentive equity awards to senior officers, including three-year annual financial performance restricted stock units which generally are scheduled to vest on the third anniversary of the grant date based on the Company’s attainment of certain annual financial performance targets in each of the three years as well as the executive’s continued employment through that vesting date. The number of shares which ultimately vest will range from 0 percent to 200 percent of the target amount stated in each executive’s award agreement based on the performance of the Company relative to the applicable performance targets. The annual financial performance targets are established at the beginning of each fiscal year and, accordingly, the portion of the award subject to each annual target is treated as a separate annual grant for accounting purposes. The financial performance targets for the 2011 tranches of these awards were established in February 2011. The amount of stock-based compensation recorded for these restricted stock units will vary depending on the Company’s attainment of the financial performance targets and each executive’s completion of the service period. The grant date fair values of the 2011 tranches of the February 2009 and February 2010 annual financial performance restricted stock unit grants are $2 million and $3 million, respectively, and are being recognized as stock-based compensation expense over one-year and two-year service periods, respectively.

In February 2011, the Compensation Committee approved a long-term performance-based incentive equity award to senior officers in the form of restricted stock units that generally are scheduled to vest on the third anniversary of the grant date based on the Company’s attainment of certain financial performance targets for 2011 as well as the executive’s continued employment through that vesting date. The number of shares which ultimately vest will range from 0 percent to 200 percent of the target amount stated in each executive’s award agreement based on the performance of the Company relative to the performance targets. The financial performance targets were established in February 2011. The amount of stock-based compensation recorded for these restricted stock units will vary depending on the Company’s attainment of the financial performance targets and each executive’s completion of the service period. The grant date fair value of these restricted stock unit grants is $32 million and is being recognized as stock-based compensation expense over a three-year service period.

 

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Stock Repurchases. In June 2010, the Board authorized a stock repurchase program allowing the Company to repurchase up to $3.0 billion of its outstanding shares of common stock from time to time. The repurchase program expires in June 2013. Repurchases under this program may take place in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including derivative transactions, and may be made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company repurchased approximately 82 million shares of its common stock under this stock repurchase program at an average price of $14.62 per share for a total of $1,203 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company repurchased approximately 119 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $14.68 per share for a total of $1,749 million. Of such repurchases, $973 million was under the Company’s previous stock repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors in October 2006, which was exhausted during the third quarter of 2010, and $776 million was under the June 2010 stock repurchase program.

Note 11 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitments. The Company leases office space and data centers under operating lease and capital lease agreements with original lease periods of up to 13 years, expiring between 2011 and 2022.

During the second quarter of 2010, the Company acquired certain office space for a total of $72 million ($7 million in cash and the assumption of $65 million in debt). In the first quarter of 2010, the property was reclassified from an operating lease to a capital lease as a result of a commitment to purchase the property. Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2010, the Company reduced the capital lease obligation for the $7 million cash outlay and reclassified the remaining $65 million as assumed debt in its condensed consolidated balance sheets.

A summary of gross and net lease commitments as of September 30, 2011 is as follows (in millions):

 

     Gross Operating
Lease
Commitments
     Sublease
Income
    Net Operating
Lease
Commitments
 

Three months ending December 31, 2011

   $ 43       $ (3   $ 40   

Years ending December 31,

       

2012

     156         (11     145   

2013

     131         (11     120   

2014

     101         (9     92   

2015

     77         (7     70   

2016

     41         (1     40   

Due after 5 years

     60         —          60   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross and net lease commitments

   $ 609       $ (42   $ 567   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Capital Lease
Commitment
 

Three months ending December 31, 2011

   $ 1   

Years ending December 31,

  

2012

     7   

2013

     8   

2014

     8   

2015

     8   

2016

     8   

Due after 5 years

     23   
  

 

 

 

Gross lease commitment

   $ 63   
  

 

 

 

Less: interest

     (24
  

 

 

 

Net lease commitment

   $ 39   
  

 

 

 

Affiliate Commitments. In connection with contracts to provide advertising services to Affiliates, the Company is obligated to make payments, which represent traffic acquisition costs, to its Affiliates. As of September 30, 2011, these commitments totaled $113 million, of which $30 million will be payable in the remainder of 2011, $78 million will be payable in 2012, and $5 million will be payable in 2013.

Intellectual Property Rights. The Company is committed to make certain payments under various intellectual property arrangements of up to $35 million through 2023.

 

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Other Commitments. In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, joint ventures and business partners, purchasers of assets or subsidiaries and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of the Company’s breach of agreements or representations and warranties made by the Company, services to be provided by the Company, intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties or, with respect to the sale of assets or a subsidiary, matters related to the Company’s conduct of the business and tax matters prior to the sale. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain of its officers that will require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. The Company has also agreed to indemnify certain former officers, directors, and employees of acquired companies in connection with the acquisition of such companies. The Company maintains director and officer insurance, which may cover certain liabilities arising from its obligation to indemnify its directors and officers, and former directors and officers of acquired companies, in certain circumstances. It is not possible to determine the aggregate maximum potential loss under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Such indemnification agreements might not be subject to maximum loss clauses. Historically, the Company has not incurred material costs as a result of obligations under these agreements and it has not accrued any liabilities related to such indemnification obligations in its condensed consolidated financial statements.

As of September 30, 2011, the Company did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. As such, the Company is not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market, or credit risk that could arise if the Company had engaged in such relationships. In addition, the Company identified no variable interests currently held in entities for which it is the primary beneficiary.

See Note 15 — “Search Agreement with Microsoft Corporation” for a description of the Company’s Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agreement (the “Search Agreement”) and License Agreement with Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”).

Contingencies. From time to time, third parties assert patent infringement claims against Yahoo!. Currently, the Company is engaged in lawsuits regarding patent issues and has been notified of other potential patent disputes. In addition, from time to time, the Company is subject to other legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged infringement of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights, claims related to employment matters, and a variety of other claims, including claims alleging defamation, invasion of privacy, or similar claims arising in connection with the Company’s e-mail, message boards, photo and video sites, auction sites, shopping services, and other communications and community features.

On July 12, 2001, the first of several purported securities class action lawsuits was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against certain underwriters involved in Overture Services Inc.’s (“Overture”) IPO, Overture, and certain of Overture’s former officers and directors. The Court consolidated the cases against Overture. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, violations of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) involving undisclosed compensation to the underwriters, and improper practices by the underwriters, and seek unspecified damages. Similar complaints were filed in the same court against numerous public companies that conducted IPOs of their common stock since the mid-1990s. All of these lawsuits were consolidated. On October 5, 2009, the Court granted class certification and granted final approval of a stipulated global settlement and plan of allocation. On October 6, 2010, various individuals objecting to the settlement filed opening appeal briefs with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and in early February 2011 Yahoo! and other appellees filed reply briefs in support of the settlement. The Second Circuit dismissed one appeal and remanded a second appeal to the District Court for a determination on standing. On remand, the District Court held on August 25, 2011 that the individual objector lacked standing and was not a class member; that ruling has been appealed to the Second Circuit.

On June 14, 2007, a stockholder derivative action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by Jill Watkins against members of the Board and selected officers. The complaint filed by the plaintiff alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and corporate waste, similar to the allegations in a former class action relating to stock price declines during the period April 2004 to July 2006, and alleged violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act. On July 16, 2009, the plaintiff Watkins voluntarily dismissed the action against all defendants without prejudice. On July 17, 2009, plaintiff Miguel Leyte-Vidal, who had substituted in as plaintiff prior to the dismissal of the federal Watkins action, re-filed a stockholder derivative action in Santa Clara County Superior Court against members of the Board and selected officers. The Santa Clara County Superior Court derivative action purports to assert causes of action on behalf of the Company for violation of specified provisions of the California Corporations Code, for breaches of fiduciary duty regarding financial accounting and insider selling and for unjust enrichment. On August 5, 2011, Yahoo! demurred to plaintiff’s third amended complaint. By written order dated September 19, 2011, the Court sustained Yahoo!’s demurrer without leave to amend.

 

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Since May 31, 2011, a total of eight stockholder derivative suits were filed either in the Santa Clara County Superior Court or the United States District Court for the Northern District of California purportedly on behalf of Yahoo! stockholders against certain officers and directors of the Company and third parties. The actions allege breaches of fiduciary duties, corporate waste, mismanagement, abuse of control, unjust enrichment, misappropriation of corporate assets, or contribution and seek damages, equitable relief, disgorgement and corporate governance changes in connection with Alibaba Group’s restructuring of its subsidiary Alipay and related disclosures. The Santa Clara County actions filed by plaintiffs Cinnoto, Lassoff, Zucker, and Koo were consolidated under the caption In re Yahoo! Inc. Derivative Shareholder Litigation on June 24, 2011 and September 12, 2011 (“California Derivative Litigation”). Defendants filed a motion to stay the California Derivative Litigation on October 25, 2011. The federal actions filed in the Northern District of California by plaintiffs Salzman, Tawila, and Iron Workers Mid-South Pension Fund were consolidated under the caption In re Yahoo! Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation on October 3, 2011 (“Federal Derivative Litigation”). An earlier action filed by plaintiff Oh in the Northern District of California was dismissed without prejudice on September 9, 2011.

Since June 6, 2011, two purported stockholder class actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company and certain officers and directors by plaintiffs Bonato and the Twin Cities Pipe Trades Pension Trust. Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s common stock between April 19, 2011 and May 13, 2011, and allege that during that class period, defendants issued false or misleading statements regarding the Company’s business and financial results and failed to disclose that Alibaba Group transferred ownership of its subsidiary Alipay at less than market value. The complaints purport to assert claims for relief for violation of Section 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and for violation of Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and seek unspecified damages, injunctive and equitable relief, fees and costs. In October 2011, the District Court consolidated the two purported class actions under the caption In re Yahoo! Inc. Securities Litigation and appointed the Pension Trust Fund for Operating Engineers as lead plaintiff.

With respect to the legal proceedings and claims described above, the Company has determined, based on current knowledge, that the amount or range of reasonably possible losses, including reasonably possible losses in excess of amounts already accrued, is not reasonably estimable with respect to certain matters and that the aggregate amount or range of such losses that are estimable would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Amounts accrued as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011 were not material. The ultimate outcome of legal proceedings involves judgments, estimates and inherent uncertainties, and cannot be predicted with certainty. In the event of a determination adverse to Yahoo!, its subsidiaries, directors, or officers in these matters, however, the Company may incur substantial monetary liability, and be required to change its business practices. Either of these events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company may also incur substantial expenses in defending against these claims.

Note 12 SEGMENTS

The Company manages its business geographically. The primary areas of measurement and decision-making are Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia Pacific. Management relies on an internal reporting process that provides revenue ex-TAC, which is defined as revenue less TAC, and direct costs excluding TAC by segment, and consolidated income from operations for making decisions related to the evaluation of the financial performance of, and allocating resources to, the Company’s segments. Prior period presentations have been updated to conform to the current profitability measures being used by the Company’s management team to evaluate the financial performance of the Company’s segments.

 

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

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Revenue by segment:

          

Americas

   $ 1,146,511       $ 791,240      $ 3,434,739       $ 2,418,209   

EMEA

     133,094         148,494        415,432         465,145   

Asia Pacific

     321,598         276,931        949,371         776,692   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Revenue

   $ 1,601,203       $ 1,216,665      $ 4,799,542       $ 3,660,046   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

TAC by segment:

          

Americas

   $ 291,676       $ 37,493      $ 855,494       $ 115,038   

EMEA

     48,717         52,197        152,191         167,357   

Asia Pacific

     136,391         55,301        408,879         165,523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total TAC

   $ 476,784       $ 144,991      $ 1,416,564       $ 447,918   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenue ex-TAC by segment:

          

Americas

   $ 854,835       $ 753,747      $ 2,579,245       $ 2,303,171   

EMEA

     84,377         96,297        263,241         297,788   

Asia Pacific

     185,207         221,630        540,492         611,169   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Revenue ex-TAC

   $ 1,124,419       $ 1,071,674      $ 3,382,978       $ 3,212,128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Direct costs by segment(1):

          

Americas

     135,899         134,672        426,136         403,612   

EMEA

     27,730         35,488        88,878         100,165   

Asia Pacific

     36,686         53,278        106,794         146,369   

Global operating costs(2)(3)

     516,101         470,533        1,533,714         1,376,852   

Restructuring charges, net

     5,758         (2,721     20,222         8,091   

Depreciation and amortization

     161,993         152,223        485,209         474,034   

Stock-based compensation expense

     51,097         50,947        169,477         145,111   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income from operations

   $ 189,155       $ 177,254      $ 552,548       $ 557,894   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Direct costs for each segment include cost of revenue (excluding TAC) and other operating expenses that are directly attributable to the segment such as employee compensation expense (excluding stock-based compensation expense), local sales and marketing expenses, and facilities expenses. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company no longer includes TAC in segment direct costs. For comparison purposes, prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current presentation.

(2) 

Global operating costs include product development, service engineering and operations, marketing, customer advocacy, general and administrative, and other corporate expenses that are managed on a global basis and that are not directly attributable to any segment.

(3) 

The net cost reimbursements from Microsoft are primarily included in global operating costs.

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Capital expenditures, net:

           

Americas

   $ 133,101       $ 90,381       $ 372,451       $ 336,918   

EMEA

     11,881         18,224         47,012         45,445   

Asia Pacific

     18,892         15,337         47,222         80,643   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capital expenditures, net

   $ 163,874       $ 123,942       $ 466,685       $ 463,006   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Property and equipment, net:

     

Americas

   $ 1,475,021       $ 1,487,410   

EMEA

     63,820         87,486   

Asia Pacific

     114,581         150,660   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 1,653,422       $ 1,725,556   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Note 14 —”Restructuring Charges, Net” for additional information regarding segments.

Enterprise Wide Disclosures:

The following table presents revenue for groups of similar services (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Display

   $ 514,415       $ 502,102       $ 1,519,575       $ 1,548,262   

Search

     838,697         466,785         2,521,951         1,388,580   

Other

     248,091         247,778         758,016         723,204   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 1,601,203       $ 1,216,665       $ 4,799,542       $ 3,660,046   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Revenue:

           

U.S.

   $ 1,106,889       $ 744,526       $ 3,319,280       $ 2,282,537   

International

     494,314         472,139         1,480,262         1,377,509   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenue

   $ 1,601,203       $ 1,216,665       $ 4,799,542       $ 3,660,046   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Property and equipment, net:

     

U.S

   $ 1,471,536       $ 1,484,608   

International

     181,886         240,948   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 1,653,422       $ 1,725,556   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 13 INCOME TAXES

The Company’s effective tax rate is the result of the geographic mix of income earned in various tax jurisdictions that apply a broad range of income tax rates. Historically, the Company’s provision for income taxes has differed from the tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate due to state taxes, the effect of non-U.S. operations, non-deductible stock-based compensation expense, and adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits.

The effective tax rate reported for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was 29 percent compared to 23 percent for the same period in 2010. The rates in both periods were lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to a shift in the geographic mix of earnings. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company also recorded the benefit of a capital loss carryover that was used to offset the gain on sale of HotJobs.

The effective tax rate reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 28 percent compared to 24 percent for the same period in 2010. The rates in both periods were lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to reductions of previously-recorded tax reserves upon the favorable settlement of tax audits and the shift in the geographic mix of earnings. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company also recorded the benefit of a capital loss carryover that was used to offset gains from sales of Zimbra, Inc. and HotJobs. While the discrete adjustments had a greater effect in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 than September 30, 2011, the annual effective tax rate for 2011 is projected to be lower than in 2010 as a result of a shift in the geographic mix of earnings and a lower effective blended state tax rate.

The Company is in various stages of examination and appeal in connection with all of its tax audits worldwide, which generally span tax years 2005 through 2009. It is difficult to determine when these examinations will be settled or what their final outcomes will be. The Company believes that it has adequately provided for any reasonably foreseeable adjustment and that any settlement will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

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The Company’s gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2011 is $524 million, of which $405 million is recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The gross unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2011 decreased by $73 million from the recorded balance as of December 31, 2010 due to favorable settlements of tax audits in the first three quarters of 2011. Since there can be no assurance as to the outcome of tax audits currently in progress, it is reasonably possible that over the next twelve-month period the Company may experience an increase or decrease in its unrecognized tax benefits. It is not possible to determine either the magnitude or the range of any increase or decrease at this time.

Note 14 RESTRUCTURING CHARGES, NET

Restructuring charges, net was comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Employee severance pay and related costs

   $ (215   $ (2,571   $ 735       $ 6,340   

Non-cancelable lease, contract termination, and other charges

     5,973        (150     19,487         3,029   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sub-total before reversal of stock-based compensation expense

     5,758        (2,721     20,222         9,369   

Reversal of stock-based compensation expense for forfeitures

     —          —          —           (1,278
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring charges, net

   $ 5,758      $ (2,721   $ 20,222       $ 8,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Although the Company does not allocate restructuring charges to its segments, the amounts of the restructuring charges relating to each segment are presented below.

Q4’08 Restructuring Plan. During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company implemented certain cost reduction initiatives, including a workforce reduction and consolidation of certain real estate facilities. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company incurred total pre-tax cash charges of approximately $3 million and $17 million, respectively, in facility and other related costs related to the Q4’08 restructuring plan. Net charges under the Q4’08 restructuring plan relating to the Americas segment were $2 million and $16 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Net charges under the Q4’08 restructuring plan relating to the EMEA segment were $1 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company incurred total pre-tax cash charges of approximately $1 million and $4 million, respectively, in facility and other related costs related to the Q4’08 restructuring plan, the majority of which related to the Americas segment.

Q4’09 Restructuring Charges. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company decided to close one of its EMEA facilities and began implementation of a workforce realignment at the facility to focus resources on its strategic initiatives. The Company exited the facility in the third quarter of 2010. In connection with the strategic realignment efforts, a U.S. executive of one of the Company’s acquired businesses departed. During both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company incurred total pre-tax charges of $3 million in severance, facility and other related costs related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges, consisting of charges related to the EMEA segment. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company did not incur any charges related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a reversal of $1 million for adjustments to original estimates in severance and other related costs related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges, entirely related to the EMEA segment. The workforce realignment was completed during the second quarter of 2011.

Q4’10 Restructuring Plan. During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company began implementation of a worldwide workforce reduction to align resources with its product strategy. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded net reversals of $4 million and $3 million, respectively, for adjustments to original estimates in severance and other costs related to the Q4’10 restructuring plan. Net reversals under the Q4’10 restructuring plan relating to the Americas segment were $2 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Net reversals under the Q4’10 restructuring plan relating to the EMEA segment were $2 million and $1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively.

Q1’11 Restructuring Plan. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company began implementation of a workforce realignment to further reduce its cost structure. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company incurred total pre-tax cash charges of less than $1 million in severance and other related costs related to the Q1’11 restructuring plan, the majority of which related to the Americas segment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company incurred total pre-tax cash charges of $9 million in severance and other related costs related to the Q1’11 restructuring plan. The pre-tax cash charges were offset by a $1 million credit related to non-cash stock-based compensation expense reversals for unvested stock awards that were forfeited. Of the $8 million in restructuring charges, net recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, $7 million related to the Americas segment and $1 million related to the EMEA segment.

 

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Restructuring Accruals. The $43 million restructuring liability as of September 30, 2011 consists of $6 million for employee severance pay expenses, which the Company expects to substantially pay out by the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, and $37 million related to non-cancelable lease costs, which the Company expects to pay over the terms of the related obligations (which extend to the second quarter of 2017).

The Company’s restructuring accrual activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

     Q4’08
Restructuring
Plan
    Q4’09
Restructuring
Charges
    Q4’10
Restructuring
Plan
    Q1’11
Restructuring
Plan
    Total  

Balance as of January 1, 2011

   $ 49,484      $ 4,286      $ 33,332      $ —        $ 87,102   

Employee severance pay and related costs

     8        109        3,844        10,624        14,585   

Reversals of stock-based compensation expense

     —          (46     (586     (646     (1,278

Non-cancelable lease, contract termination, and other charges

     4,953        18        8        —          4,979   

Reversals of previous charges

     (1,250     (1,664     (5,985     (1,296     (10,195
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restructuring charges, net for the quarter ended September 30, 2011

   $ 3,711      $ (1,583   $ (2,719   $ 8,682      $ 8,091   

Cash paid

     (16,644     (1,494     (27,381     (8,609     (54,128

Non-cash reversals (accelerations) of stock-based compensation expense

     —          46        586        646        1,278   

Non-cash adjustments

     37        (1,255     496        920        198   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2011

   $ 36,588      $ —        $ 4,314      $ 1,639      $ 42,541   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Restructuring accruals by segment consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Americas

   $ 68,268       $ 36,384   

EMEA

     16,895         5,966   

Asia Pacific

     1,939         191   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total restructuring accruals

   $ 87,102       $ 42,541   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 15 SEARCH AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION

On December 4, 2009, the Company entered into the Search Agreement with Microsoft, which provides for Microsoft to be the exclusive algorithmic and paid search services provider on Yahoo! Properties and non-exclusive provider of such services on Affiliate sites. The Company also entered into a License Agreement with Microsoft. Under the License Agreement, Microsoft acquired an exclusive 10-year license to the Company’s core search technology and will have the ability to integrate this technology into its existing Web search platforms. The Company received regulatory clearance from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission on February 18, 2010 and commenced implementation of the Search Agreement on February 23, 2010. Under the Search Agreement, the Company will be the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers, which include advertisers meeting certain spending or other criteria, advertising agencies that specialize in or offer search engine marketing services and their clients, and resellers and their clients seeking assistance with their paid search accounts. The term of the Search Agreement is 10 years from February 23, 2010, subject to earlier termination as provided in the Search Agreement.

 

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During the first five years of the term of the Search Agreement, in transitioned markets the Company is entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Yahoo! Properties (the “Revenue Share Rate”) and the Company is also entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue. For new Affiliates during the term of the Search Agreement, and for all Affiliates after the first five years of such term, the Company will receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue and certain Microsoft costs are deducted. On the fifth anniversary of the date of implementation of the Search Agreement, Microsoft will have the option to terminate the Company’s sales exclusivity for premium search advertisers. If Microsoft exercises its option, the Revenue Share Rate will increase to 93 percent for the remainder of the term of the Search Agreement, unless the Company exercises its option to retain the Company’s sales exclusivity, in which case the Revenue Share Rate would be reduced to 83 percent for the remainder of the term. If Microsoft does not exercise such option, the Revenue Share Rate will be 90 percent for the remainder of the term of the Search Agreement. In the transitioned markets, the Company reports as revenue the 88 percent revenue share as the Company is not the primary obligor in the arrangement with the advertisers and publishers. The underlying search advertising services are provided by Microsoft. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had collected a total amount of $93 million on behalf of Microsoft and Affiliates, which was included in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2010, with a corresponding liability in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Company remitted the $93 million to Microsoft in the first quarter of 2011. The Company’s uncollected 88 percent share in connection with the Search Agreement was $172 million and $185 million, which is included in accounts receivable, net, as of December 31, 2010 and September 30, 2011, respectively.

The Company completed the transition of its algorithmic and paid search platforms to the Microsoft platform in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter of 2010. The Company has completed the transition of algorithmic search in substantially all other markets and plans to complete that transition in the remaining markets by the end of 2011. The market-by-market transition of the Company’s paid search platform to Microsoft’s platform and the migration of paid search advertisers and publishers to Microsoft’s platform are expected to continue through the first half of 2013.

Under the Search Agreement, for each market, Microsoft generally guarantees Yahoo!’s revenue per search (“RPS Guarantee”) on Yahoo! Properties only for 18 months after the transition of paid search services to Microsoft’s platform in that market. Microsoft agreed to extend the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. and Canada through March 2013. The RPS Guarantee is calculated based on the difference in revenue per search between the pre-transition and post-transition periods. The Company records the RPS Guarantee as search revenue in the quarter the amount becomes fixed, which would typically be the quarter in which the associated shortfall in revenue per search occurred.

Microsoft has agreed to reimburse the Company for certain transition costs up to an aggregate total of $150 million during the first three years of the Search Agreement. The Company’s results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 reflect transition cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement of $18 million and $60 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company also recorded reimbursements of $43 million for transition costs incurred in 2009. The 2009 transition cost reimbursements were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 after regulatory clearance in the U.S. and Europe was received, implementation of the Search Agreement commenced, and Microsoft became obligated to make such payments. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded transition cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement of $4 million and $27 million, respectively. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company’s cumulative transition costs exceeded Microsoft’s $150 million reimbursement cap under the Search Agreement. Transition costs the Company incurs in excess of the $150 million reimbursement cap are not subject to reimbursement.

From February 23, 2010 until the applicable services are fully transitioned to Microsoft in all markets, Microsoft will also reimburse the Company for the costs of operating algorithmic and paid search services subject to specified exclusions and limitations. The Company’s results reflect search operating cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement of $81 million and $202 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and $53 million and $164 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Search operating cost reimbursements began during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 and will, subject to specified exclusions and limitations, continue until the Company has fully transitioned to Microsoft’s platform.

In addition to the reimbursements for transition and search operating costs, during the first quarter of 2010, the Company recorded reimbursements of $15 million for employee retention costs incurred in the first quarter of 2010 and reimbursements of $5 million for employee retention costs incurred in 2009. These employee retention cost reimbursements are separate from and in addition to the $150 million of transition cost reimbursement payments and the search operating cost reimbursements.

 

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Reimbursement receivables are recorded as the reimbursable costs are incurred and are applied against the operating expense categories in which the costs were incurred. Of the total amounts incurred in the fourth quarter of 2010, the total reimbursements not yet received from Microsoft of $64 million were classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2010. Of the total amounts incurred in the third quarter of 2011, the total reimbursements not yet received from Microsoft of $25 million were classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011.

Note 16 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On November 1, 2011, the Company announced that it entered into a merger agreement with interclick, inc. and will commence an all cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of interclick at $9.00 per share. The transaction has an estimated total equity value of approximately $270 million. With interclick, the Company will acquire innovative data targeting capabilities, optimization technologies and new premium supply, as well as a team experienced in selling audiences across disparate sources of pooled supply. The Company expects the transaction to close by early 2012.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to current and historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Report”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our future operations, prospects, potential products, services, developments, and business strategies. These statements can, in some cases, be identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “intend,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” or “continue” or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. This Report includes, among others, forward-looking statements regarding our:

 

   

expectations about revenue, including display, search, and other revenue;

 

   

expectations about growth in users;

 

   

expectations about cost of revenue and operating expenses;

 

   

expectations about the amount of unrecognized tax benefits and the adequacy of our existing tax reserves;

 

   

anticipated capital expenditures;

 

   

expectations about the implementation and the financial and operational impacts of our Search Agreement with Microsoft;

 

   

impact of recent acquisitions on our business and evaluation of, and expectations for, possible acquisitions of, or investments in, businesses, products, and technologies; and

 

   

expectations about positive cash flow generation and existing cash, cash equivalents, and investments being sufficient to meet normal operating requirements.

These statements involve certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those listed in Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of this Report. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this Report to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances.

Overview

Yahoo! Inc., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (“Yahoo!,” the “Company,” “we,” or “us”), is a premier digital media company that delivers personalized digital content and experiences, across devices and around the globe, to vast audiences. We provide engaging and innovative canvases for advertisers to connect with their target audiences using our unique blend of Science + Art + Scale. Through our proprietary technology and insights, we deliver unique content and experiences for our audience and create powerful opportunities for our advertisers to connect with their target audiences, in context and at scale. To users, we provide online properties and services (“Yahoo! Properties”). To advertisers, we provide a range of marketing services designed to reach and connect with users of our Yahoo! Properties, as well as with Internet users beyond Yahoo! Properties, through a distribution network of third-party entities (our “Affiliates”) that have integrated our advertising offerings into their Websites or other offerings (those Websites and offerings, “Affiliate sites”). We believe that our marketing services enable advertisers to deliver highly relevant marketing messages to their target audiences.

 

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Our offerings to users on Yahoo! Properties currently fall into three categories: Communications and Communities; Search and Marketplaces; and Media. The majority of what we offer is available in more than 25 languages and in more than 50 countries, regions, and territories. We have properties tailored to users in specific international markets including Yahoo! Homepage and social networking Websites such as Meme and Wretch. We manage and measure our business geographically, principally in the Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia Pacific.

Third Quarter Highlights

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Dollar
Change
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Dollar
Change
 

Operating Highlights

   2010      2011        2010      2011     
     (In thousands)  

Revenue

   $ 1,601,203       $ 1,216,665       $ (384,538   $ 4,799,542       $ 3,660,046       $ (1,139,496

Income from operations

   $ 189,155       $ 177,254       $ (11,901   $ 552,548       $ 557,894       $ 5,346   

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
    Dollar
Change
 

Cash Flow Results

   2010     2011    
     (In thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 837,045      $ 892,472      $ 55,427   

Net cash provided by investing activities

   $ 1,074,616      $ 153,493      $ (921,123

Net cash used in financing activities

   $ (1,563,821   $ (1,095,474   $ 468,347   

Our revenue decreased 24 percent for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. This can be attributed to a decrease in both our display and search revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2011. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, display revenue increased slightly but was offset by a decrease in search revenue. The decrease in search revenue was primarily due to the required change in revenue presentation which began in the fourth quarter of 2010, the associated revenue share with Microsoft for the Americas region, and the loss of an Affiliate in the Asia Pacific region. The decrease in income from operations of $12 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflects the decrease in revenue, partially offset by a decrease in operating expenses of $51 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010. The increase in income from operations of $5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflects the decrease in revenue, offset by a decrease in operating expenses of $183 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.

Cash generated by operating activities is a measure of the cash productivity of our business model. Our operating activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 generated adequate cash to meet our operating needs. Cash provided by investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included net proceeds from sales, maturities, and purchases of marketable debt securities of $681 million and proceeds from the sales of investments of $21 million offset by $69 million used for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, net capital expenditures of $463 million, and $11 million for the purchase of intangible assets. Cash used in financing activities included $1,203 million used in the direct repurchase of common stock and $36 million used for tax withholding payments related to the net share settlements of restricted stock units and tax withholding related reacquisition of shares of restricted stock, offset by $107 million in proceeds from employee option exercises and employee stock purchases.

Search Agreement with Microsoft Corporation

On December 4, 2009, we entered into a Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agreement (the “Search Agreement”) with Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”), which provides for Microsoft to be the exclusive algorithmic and paid search services provider on Yahoo! Properties and non-exclusive provider of such services on Affiliate sites. We also entered into a License Agreement with Microsoft pursuant to which Microsoft acquired an exclusive 10-year license to our core search technology that it will be able to integrate into its existing Web search platforms.

During the first five years of the Search Agreement, in transitioned markets we are entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Yahoo! Properties and we are also entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue. In the transitioned markets, for search revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Yahoo! Properties and Affiliate sites, we report as revenue the 88 percent revenue share, as we are not the primary obligor in the arrangement with the advertisers and publishers.

 

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Under the Search Agreement, for each market, Microsoft generally guarantees Yahoo!’s revenue per search (“RPS Guarantee”) on Yahoo! Properties only for 18 months after the transition of paid search services to Microsoft’s platform in that market. Microsoft agreed to extend the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. and Canada through March 2013. The RPS Guarantee is calculated based on the difference in revenue per search between the pre-transition and post-transition periods. We record the RPS Guarantee as search revenue in the quarter the amount becomes fixed, which is typically the quarter in which the associated shortfall in revenue per search occurred.

Under the Search Agreement, Microsoft agreed to reimburse us for certain transition costs up to an aggregate total of $150 million during the first three years of the Search Agreement. During the third quarter of 2011, our cumulative transition costs exceeded Microsoft’s $150 million reimbursement cap under the Search Agreement. Transition costs we incur in excess of the $150 million reimbursement cap are not subject to reimbursement. Our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflect transition cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement of $4 million and $27 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded transition cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement of $18 million and $60 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we also recorded reimbursements of $43 million for transition costs incurred in 2009. The 2009 transition cost reimbursements were recorded in the first quarter of 2010 after regulatory clearance in the U.S. and Europe was received, implementation of the Search Agreement commenced, and Microsoft became obligated to make such payments.

From February 23, 2010 until the applicable services are fully transitioned to Microsoft in all markets, Microsoft will also reimburse us for the costs of operating algorithmic and paid search services subject to specified exclusions and limitations. Our results reflect search operating cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement of $53 million and $164 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and $81 million and $202 million, respectively, for the same periods of 2010. The global transition of the algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft’s platform and the migration of the paid search advertisers and publishers to Microsoft’s platform are being done on a market by market basis. Search operating cost reimbursements are expected to decline as we fully transition all markets and, in the long term, the underlying expenses are not expected to be incurred under our cost structure.

We completed the transition of our algorithmic and paid search platforms to the Microsoft platform in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter of 2010. We have completed the transition of algorithmic search in substantially all other markets and plan to complete that transition in the remaining markets by the end of 2011. The market-by-market transition of our paid search platform to Microsoft’s platform and the migration of paid search advertisers and publishers to Microsoft’s platform are expected to continue through the first half of 2013.

In addition to the reimbursements for transition and search operating costs, during the first quarter of 2010, we recorded reimbursements of $15 million for employee retention costs incurred in the first quarter of 2010 and reimbursements of $5 million for employee retention costs incurred in 2009. These employee retention cost reimbursements are separate from and in addition to the $150 million of transition cost reimbursement payments and the search operating cost reimbursements.

We record receivables for the reimbursements as costs are incurred and apply them against the operating expense categories in which the costs were incurred. Of the total amounts incurred in the third quarter of 2011, the total reimbursements not yet received from Microsoft of $64 million were classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2010. Of the total amounts incurred in the third quarter of 2011, the total reimbursements not yet received from Microsoft of $25 million were classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2011. The $25 million of unpaid reimbursements is expected to be received during the fourth quarter of 2011.

See Note 15 — “Search Agreement with Microsoft Corporation” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

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Results of Operations

Revenue. Revenue by groups of similar services was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Percent
Change
    Nine Months Ended September 30,     Percent
Change
 
     2010      (*)     2011      (*)       2010      (*)     2011      (*)    

Display

   $ 514,415         32   $ 502,102         42     (2 %)    $ 1,519,575         31   $ 1,548,262         42     2

Search

     838,697         53     466,785         38     (44 %)      2,521,951         53     1,388,580         38     (45 %) 

Other

     248,091         15     247,778         20     0     758,016         16     723,204         20     (5 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total revenue

   $ 1,601,203         100   $ 1,216,665         100     (24 %)    $ 4,799,542         100   $ 3,660,046         100     (24 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

(*) 

Percent of total revenue.

We currently generate revenue principally from display advertising on Yahoo! Properties and from search advertising on Yahoo! Properties and Affiliate sites.

We earn revenue from guaranteed or “premium” display advertising by delivering advertisements according to advertisers’ specified criteria, such as number of impressions during a fixed period on a specific placement. Also, we earn revenue from non-guaranteed or “non-premium” display advertising by delivering advertisements for advertisers purchasing inventory on a preemptible basis, which means that the advertisement may or may not appear, inventory is not reserved and position placement is not assured. Generally, we make our non-guaranteed display inventory available through our Right Media Exchange.

To assist us in evaluating display advertising and search advertising, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010, we began reporting the number of Web pages viewed by users (“Page Views”) separately for display and search. “Search Page Views” is defined as the number of Web pages viewed by users on Yahoo! Properties and Affiliate sites resulting from search queries, and “revenue per Search Page View” is defined as search revenue divided by our Search Page Views. “Display Page Views” is defined as the total number of Page Views on Yahoo! Properties less the number of Search Page Views on Yahoo! Properties, and “revenue per Display Page View” is defined as display revenue divided by our Display Page Views. While we also receive display revenue for content match links (advertising in the form of contextually relevant links to advertisers’ Websites) on Yahoo! Properties and Affiliate sites and for display advertising on Affiliate sites, we do not include that revenue or those Page Views in our discussion or calculation of Display Page Views or revenue per Display Page View because the net revenue and related volume metrics associated with them are not currently material to display revenue.

We periodically review and refine our methodology for monitoring, gathering, and counting Page Views to more accurately reflect the total number of Web pages viewed by users on Yahoo! Properties. Based on this process, from time to time, we update our methodology to exclude from the count of Page Views interactions with our servers that we determine or believe are not the result of user visits to Yahoo! Properties.

Display Revenue. Display revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased by 2 percent and increased by 2 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, Americas display revenue declined as compared to the same period of 2010 primarily due to declines in non-guaranteed revenue across mail and other properties. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 can be attributed to both an increased volume of ad impressions in our EMEA and Asia Pacific segments and the favorable effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, as partially offset by a decline in Americas display revenue. The decline in Americas display revenue in the second and third quarters is attributable in part to changes in our U.S. sales force during the second quarter of 2011, which resulted in our sales force operating at less than full capacity. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, Display Page Views decreased 2 percent, and revenue per Display Page View increased 2 percent and 6 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010 due to the factors discussed above.

We expect display revenue to remain flat for the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010, due to decreases in Americas display revenue offset by increases in EMEA and Asia Pacific display revenue.

Search Revenue. Search revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased by 44 percent and 45 percent respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. Search revenue decreased primarily due to the required change in revenue presentation which began in the fourth quarter of 2010, the associated revenue share with Microsoft for the Americas region, and the loss of an Affiliate in the Asia Pacific region. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, Search Page Views increased 4 percent and 2 percent, respectively. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, revenue per Search Page View decreased 46 percent, compared to the same periods in 2010. The decline in revenue per Search Page View for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods in 2010 was attributable to the declines in search revenue over the two periods as discussed above.

 

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We expect search revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 to decrease compared to the same period of 2010. We expect this decrease will be attributable to several factors associated with the transition of algorithmic and paid search results to Microsoft’s platform in the transitioned markets, including the required change in revenue presentation for transitioned markets from a gross to a net basis and the revenue share with Microsoft in transitioned markets as well as the loss of an Affiliate in the Asia Pacific segment in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Other Revenue. Other revenue includes listings-based services revenue, transaction revenue and fees revenue. Other revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 remained flat and decreased 5 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 is attributable to changes in certain of our broadband access partnerships and to the divestiture of certain business lines throughout 2010. In addition, revenue from other premium services declined year-over-year as we continue to outsource various offerings to commercial partners.

We expect other revenue to decline for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010 due to changes in certain of our broadband access partnerships discussed above.

Operating Costs and Expenses. Operating costs and expenses consist of cost of revenue, sales and marketing, product development, general and administrative, amortization of intangible assets, and restructuring charges, net. Cost of revenue consists of traffic acquisition costs (“TAC”), Internet connection charges, and other expenses associated with the production and usage of Yahoo! Properties, including amortization of acquired intellectual property rights and developed technology.

Operating costs and expenses were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended September 30,     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 
     2010      (*)     2011     (*)      

Cost of revenue

   $ 680,754         43   $ 359,276        30   $ (321,478     (47 %) 

Sales and marketing

   $ 320,977         20   $ 290,486        24   $ (30,491     (9 %) 

Product development

   $ 269,725         17   $ 254,958        21   $ (14,767     (5 %) 

General and administrative

   $ 126,816         8   $ 128,977        11   $ 2,161        2

Amortization of intangibles

   $ 8,018         1   $ 8,435        1   $ 417        5

Restructuring charges, net

   $ 5,758         0   $ (2,721     0   $ (8,479     (147 %) 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,     Dollar
Change
    Percent
Change
 
     2010      (*)     2011      (*)      

Cost of revenue

   $ 2,069,858         43   $ 1,107,893         30   $ (961,965     (46 %) 

Sales and marketing

   $ 965,983         20   $ 833,032         23   $ (132,951     (14 %) 

Product development

   $ 804,354         17   $ 744,538         20   $ (59,816     (7 %) 

General and administrative

   $ 362,577         8   $ 383,531         10   $ 20,954        6

Amortization of intangibles

   $ 24,000         1   $ 25,067         1   $ 1,067        4

Restructuring charges, net

   $ 20,222         0   $ 8,091         0   $ (12,131     (60 %) 

 

(*) 

Percent of total revenue.

 

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Stock-based compensation expense was allocated as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2010      2011      2010      2011  

Cost of revenue

   $ 698       $ 956       $ 2,289       $ 2,479   

Sales and marketing

     19,066         16,759         54,284         42,829   

Product development

     22,647         21,093         81,152         64,296   

General and administrative

     8,686         12,139         31,752         35,507   

Restructuring expense reversals, net

     —           —           —           (1,278
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 51,097       $ 50,947       $ 169,477       $ 143,833   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

For additional information about stock-based compensation, see Note 10 — “Stockholders’ Equity and Employee Benefits” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Report as well as “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Traffic Acquisition Costs. TAC consists of payments made to third-party entities that have integrated our advertising offerings into their Websites or other offerings and payments made to companies that direct consumer and business traffic to Yahoo! Properties. We enter into agreements of varying duration that involve TAC. There are generally three economic structures of the Affiliate agreements: fixed payments based on a guaranteed minimum amount of traffic delivered, which often carry reciprocal performance guarantees from the Affiliate; variable payments based on a percentage of our revenue or based on a certain metric, such as number of searches or paid clicks; or a combination of the two. We expense TAC under two different methods. Agreements with fixed payments are expensed ratably over the term the fixed payment covers, and agreements based on a percentage of revenue, number of paid introductions, number of searches, or other metrics are expensed based on the volume of the underlying activity or revenue multiplied by the agreed-upon price or rate.

Compensation, Information Technology, Depreciation and Amortization, and Facilities Expenses. Compensation expense consists primarily of salary, bonuses, commissions, and stock-based compensation expense. Information and technology expense includes telecom usage charges and data center operating costs. Depreciation and amortization expense consists primarily of depreciation of server equipment and information technology assets and amortization of developed or acquired technology and intellectual property rights. Facilities expense consists primarily of building maintenance costs, rent expense, and utilities.

The changes in operating costs and expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010 are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

     Compensation     Information
Technology
    Depreciation and
Amortization
    TAC     Facilities     Other     Total  

Cost of revenue

   $ (1,437   $ 8,593      $ (7,156   $ (331,793   $ (326   $ 10,641      $ (321,478

Sales and marketing

     (515     81        (11     —          (1,041     (29,005     (30,491

Product development

     (13,337     (1,362     649        —          (1,271     554        (14,767

General and administrative

     9,370        (276     (3,667     —          6,982        (10,248     2,161   

Amortization of intangibles

     —          —          417        —          —          —          417   

Restructuring charges, net

     —          —          —          —          —          (8,479     (8,479
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (5,919   $ 7,036      $ (9,768   $ (331,793   $ 4,344      $ (36,537   $ (372,637
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The changes in operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010 are comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

     Compensation     Information
Technology
    Depreciation and
Amortization
    TAC     Facilities     Other     Total  

Cost of revenue

   $ (9,363   $ 14,564      $ (13,336   $ (968,644   $ (645   $ 15,459      $ (961,965

Sales and marketing

     (46,223     (387     (1,094     —          (3,400     (81,847     (132,951

Product development

     (61,354     (3,359     8,069        —          (1,283     (1,889     (59,816

General and administrative

     13,427        (375     (5,881     —          13,634        149        20,954   

Amortization of intangibles

     —          —          1,067        —          —          —          1,067   

Restructuring charges, net

     —          —          —          —          —          (12,131     (12,131
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (103,513   $ 10,443      $ (11,175   $ (968,644   $ 8,306      $ (80,259   $ (1,144,842
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Compensation Expense. Total compensation expense decreased $6 million and $104 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of Microsoft reimbursements, compensation expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $18 million and $152 million, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2010, primarily due to decreased stock-based compensation expense, lower salaries and wages from decreased headcount in the product development and sales and marketing functions, and the capitalization of otherwise expensed compensation costs associated with increased efforts in the development of our technology platform and specific products. The decrease in stock-based compensation expense is primarily due to higher employee forfeitures of stock-based awards in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period of 2010. The decline in compensation expense was offset by decreased Microsoft reimbursements of $12 million and $48 million, respectively, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods of 2010. The decrease in Microsoft reimbursements for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was due to the transition of paid search to Microsoft platforms. Microsoft reimbursements decreased $36 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 due to the impact of 2009 transition cost reimbursements being recorded in the first quarter of 2010.

Information Technology. Information technology expense increased $7 million and $10 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of Microsoft reimbursements, information technology expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $4 million and $17 million, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2010, due to increased data center operating costs. Information technology expense was impacted by decreased reimbursements from Microsoft of $3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and increased reimbursements from Microsoft of $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods of 2010. The increase in Microsoft reimbursements for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was due to the inclusion of nine months of expenses in 2011 compared to the inclusion of seven months of expenses in the same period of 2010.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $10 million and $11 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of Microsoft reimbursements, depreciation and amortization expense decreased $12 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods of 2010. The decrease was due to decreased amortization expense for fully amortized intangible assets acquired in prior years.

TAC. TAC decreased $332 million and $969 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. The decrease for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods of 2010 was primarily due to the change in the recording of TAC in the fourth quarter of 2010 due to the Search Agreement with Microsoft as we no longer incur TAC for transitioned markets. We now receive an 88 percent revenue share in the transitioned markets as Microsoft is the primary obligor to the advertisers. In addition, the decrease in TAC year-over-year was due to the loss of an Affiliate in the Asia Pacific region during late 2010.

Facilities and Other Expenses. Facilities and other expenses decreased $32 million and $72 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods in 2010. Excluding the impact of Microsoft reimbursements, facilities and other expenses decreased $44 million and $112 million, primarily due to decreases in marketing-related expenses of $29 million and $75 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Marketing-related expenses decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same periods of 2010 due to the launch of various 2010 marketing campaigns, including our global branding campaign, for which there were no similar campaigns in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decline in facilities and other expenses was offset by decreased Microsoft reimbursements of $12 million and $40 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same periods of 2010. The decrease in Microsoft reimbursements for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was due to the transition of paid search to Microsoft platforms. Microsoft reimbursements decreased $7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 due to the impact of 2009 transition cost reimbursements being recorded in the first quarter of 2010.

We currently expect our operating costs to decrease for the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of 2010, primarily due to higher restructuring activities and marketing expenses in 2010 than 2011 as we continue our efforts to drive efficiencies and align our spending with our strategic priorities.

 

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Restructuring Charges, Net. Restructuring charges, net was comprised of the following (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 30,
2010
    September 30,
2011
    September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
 

Employee severance pay and related costs

   $ (215   $ (2,571   $ 735       $ 6,340   

Non-cancelable lease, contract termination, and other charges

     5,973        (150     19,487         3,029   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sub-total before reversal of stock-based compensation expense

     5,758        (2,721     20,222         9,369   

Reversals of stock-based compensation expense for forfeitures

     —          —          —           (1,278
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restructuring charges, net

   $ 5,758      $ (2,721   $ 20,222       $ 8,091   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Q4’08 Restructuring Plan. During the fourth quarter of 2008, we implemented certain cost reduction initiatives, including a workforce reduction and consolidation of certain real estate facilities. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred total pre-tax cash charges of approximately $3 million and $17 million, respectively, in facility and other related costs related to the Q4’08 restructuring plan. Net charges under the Q4’08 restructuring plan relating to the Americas segment were $2 million and $16 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Net charges under the Q4’08 restructuring plan relating to the EMEA segment were $1 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred total pre-tax cash charges of approximately $1 million and $4 million, respectively, in facility and other related costs related to the Q4’08 restructuring plan, the majority of which related to the Americas segment. As of September 30, 2011, the aggregate outstanding restructuring liability related to the Q4’08 restructuring plan was $37 million, most of which relates to non-cancelable lease costs that we expect to pay over the lease terms of the related obligations, which end by the second quarter of 2017.

Q4’09 Restructuring Charges. During the fourth quarter of 2009, we decided to close one of our EMEA facilities and began implementation of a workforce realignment at the facility to focus resources on our strategic initiatives. We exited the facility in the third quarter of 2010. In connection with the strategic realignment efforts, a U.S. executive of one of our acquired businesses departed. During both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we incurred total pre-tax charges of $3 million in severance, facility and other related costs related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges, consisting of charges primarily related to the EMEA segment. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we did not incur any charges related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded a reversal of $1 million for adjustments to original estimates in severance and other related costs related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges, entirely related to the EMEA segment. As of September 30, 2011, there was no remaining restructuring liability related to the Q4’09 restructuring charges.

Q4’10 Restructuring Plan. During the fourth quarter of 2010, we began implementation of a worldwide workforce reduction to align resources with our product strategy. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded net reversals of $4 million and $3 million, respectively, for adjustments to original estimates in severance and other costs related to the Q4’10 restructuring plan. Net reversals under the Q4’10 restructuring plan relating to the Americas segment were $2 million for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Net reversals under the Q4’10 restructuring plan relating to the EMEA segment were $2 million and $1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. As of September 30, 2011, the aggregate outstanding restructuring liability related to the Q4’10 restructuring plan was $4 million, which we expect to substantially pay by the fourth quarter of 2012.

Q1’11 Restructuring Plan. During the first quarter of 2011, we began implementation of a workforce realignment to further reduce our cost structure. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred total pre-tax cash charges of less than $1 million in severance and other related costs related to the Q1’11 restructuring plan, the majority of which related to the Americas segment. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we incurred total pre-tax cash charges of $9 million in severance and other costs related to the Q1’11 restructuring plan. The pre-tax cash charges were offset by a $1 million credit related to non-cash stock-based compensation expense reversals for unvested stock awards that were forfeited. Of the $8 million in restructuring charges, net recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, $7 million related to the Americas segment and $1 million related to the EMEA segment. As of September 30, 2011, the aggregate outstanding restructuring liability related to the Q1’11 restructuring plan was $2 million, which we expect to substantially pay by the fourth quarter of 2012.

In addition to the charges described above, we currently expect to incur future charges of approximately $14 million to $19 million primarily related to non-cancelable operating costs and accretion related to exited facilities identified as part of the Q4’08 restructuring plan, the majority of which related to the Americas segment. The future charges are expected to be recorded through 2017. See Note 14 — “Restructuring charges, net” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

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Other Income, Net. Other income, net was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
     Dollar
Change
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Dollar
Change
 
     2010     2011        2010      2011     

Interest and investment income

   $ 5,489      $ 3,955       $ (1,534   $ 17,669       $ 14,399       $ (3,270

Gain on sale of Zimbra, Inc.

     —          —           —          66,130         —           (66,130

Gain on sale of HotJobs

     186,345       —           (186,345 )     186,345         —           (186,345

Other

     (483     14,091         14,574        20,123         3,008         (17,115
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income, net

   $ 191,351      $ 18,046       $ (173,305   $ 290,267       $ 17,407       $ (272,860
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest and investment income consists of income earned from cash in bank accounts and investments made in marketable debt securities and money market funds.

In February 2010, we sold Zimbra, Inc. for net proceeds of $100 million and recorded a pre-tax gain of $66 million. In August 2010, we sold HotJobs for net proceeds of $225 million and recorded a pre-tax gain of $186 million.

Other consists of gains/losses from sales or impairments of marketable debt securities and/or investments in privately held companies and foreign exchange gains and losses due to re-measurement of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies and other non-operating items.

Other income, net may fluctuate in future periods due to realized gains and losses on investments, other than temporary impairments of investments, changes in our average investment balances, and changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates.

Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate is the result of the geographic mix of income earned in various tax jurisdictions that apply a broad range of income tax rates. Historically, our provision for income taxes has differed from the tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate due to state taxes, the effect of non-U.S. operations, non-deductible stock-based compensation expense and adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits.

The effective tax rate reported for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was 29 percent compared to 23 percent for the same period in 2010. The rates in both periods were lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to a shift in the geographic mix of earnings. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, we also recorded the benefit of a capital loss carryover that was used to offset the gain on sale of HotJobs.

The effective tax rate reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was 28 percent compared to 24 percent for the same period in 2010. The rates in both periods were lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to reductions of previously-recorded tax reserves upon the favorable settlement of tax audits and a shift in the geographic mix of earnings. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we also recorded the benefit of a capital loss carryover that was used to offset gains from sales of Zimbra, Inc. and HotJobs. While the discrete adjustments had a greater effect in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 than September 30, 2011, the annual effective tax rate for 2011 is projected to be lower than in 2010 as a result of a shift in the geographic mix of earnings and a lower effective blended state tax rate.

We are in various stages of examination and appeal in connection with all of our tax audits worldwide, which generally span tax years 2005 through 2009. It is difficult to determine when these examinations will be settled or what their final outcomes will be. We believe that we have adequately provided for any reasonably foreseeable adjustment and that any settlement will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Our gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2011 is $524 million, of which $405 million is recorded on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The gross unrecognized tax benefits as of September 30, 2011 decreased by $73 million from the recorded balance as of December 31, 2010 due to favorable settlements of tax audits in the first three quarters of 2011. Since there can be no assurance as to the outcome of tax audits currently in progress, it is reasonably possible that over the next twelve-month period we may experience an increase or decrease in our unrecognized tax benefits. It is not possible to determine either the magnitude or the range of any increase or decrease at this time.

Earnings in Equity Interests. Earnings in equity interests for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $159 million and $350 million, respectively, compared to $104 million and $288 million for the same periods in 2010. The increases for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 were due primarily to Yahoo Japan’s and Alibaba Group’s continued improvement in financial performance and the recognition of a dilution gain of $25 million, net of tax, related to our ownership interest in Alibaba Group offset by non-cash losses related to impairments of assets held by Yahoo Japan. See Note 4 — “Investments in Equity Interests” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

 

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Noncontrolling Interests. Noncontrolling interests represent the noncontrolling holders’ percentage share of income or losses from the subsidiaries in which we hold a majority, but less than 100 percent, ownership interest and the results of which are consolidated in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Business Segment Results

We manage our business geographically. The primary areas of measurement and decision-making are Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), and Asia Pacific. Management relies on an internal reporting process that provides revenue ex-TAC, which is defined as revenue less TAC, and direct costs excluding TAC by segment, and consolidated income from operations for making decisions related to the evaluation of the financial performance of, and allocating resources to, our segments. Prior period presentations have been updated to conform to the current profitability measures being used by our management team to evaluate the financial performance of our segments.

Summarized information by segment was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended     Percent
Change
    Nine Months Ended      Percent
Change
 
     September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
      September 30,
2010
     September 30,
2011
    

Revenue by segment:

               

Americas

   $ 1,146,511       $ 791,240        (31 %)    $ 3,434,739       $ 2,418,209         (30 %) 

EMEA

     133,094         148,494        12     415,432         465,145         12

Asia Pacific

     321,598         276,931        (14 %)      949,371         776,692         (18 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total revenue

   $ 1,601,203       $ 1,216,665        (24 %)    $ 4,799,542       $ 3,660,046         (24 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

TAC by segment:

               

Americas

   $ 291,676       $ 37,493        (87 %)    $ 855,494       $ 115,038         (87 %) 

EMEA

     48,717         52,197        7     152,191         167,357         10

Asia Pacific

     136,391         55,301        (59 %)      408,879         165,523         (60 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total TAC

   $ 476,784       $ 144,991        (70 %)    $ 1,416,564       $ 447,918         (68 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Revenue ex-TAC by segment:

               

Americas

   $ 854,835       $ 753,747        (12 %)    $ 2,579,245       $ 2,303,171         (11 %) 

EMEA

     84,377         96,297        14     263,241         297,788         13

Asia Pacific

     185,207         221,630        20     540,492         611,169         13
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total revenue ex-TAC

   $ 1,124,419       $ 1,071,674        (5 %)    $ 3,382,978       $ 3,212,128         (5 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Direct costs by segment(1):

               

Americas

     135,899         134,672        (1 %)      426,136         403,612         (5 %) 

EMEA

     27,730         35,488        28     88,878         100,165         13

Asia Pacific

     36,686         53,278        45     106,794         146,369         37

Global operating costs(2) (3)

     516,101         470,533        (9 %)      1,533,714         1,376,852         (10 %) 

Restructuring charges, net

     5,758         (2,721     (147 %)      20,222         8,091         (60 %) 

Depreciation and amortization

     161,993         152,223        (6 %)      485,209         474,034         (2 %) 

Stock-based compensation expense

     51,097         50,947        0     169,477         145,111         (14 %) 
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

Income from operations

   $ 189,155       $ 177,254        (6 %)    $ 552,548       $ 557,894         1
  

 

 

    

 

 

     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(1) 

Direct costs for each segment include cost of revenue (excluding TAC) and other operating expenses that are directly attributable to the segment such as employee compensation expense (excluding stock-based compensation expense), local sales and marketing expenses, and facilities expenses. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010, we no longer include TAC in segment direct costs. For comparison purposes, prior period amounts have been revised to conform to the current presentation.

(2) 

Global operating costs include product development, service engineering and operations, marketing, customer advocacy, general and administrative, and other corporate expenses that are managed on a global basis and that are not directly attributable to any particular segment.

(3) 

The net cost reimbursements from Microsoft are primarily included in global operating costs.

 

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Americas. Americas revenue ex-TAC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $101 million, or 12 percent, and $276 million, or 11 percent, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, our year-over-year decrease in Americas revenue ex-TAC was primarily due to declines across various revenue streams, primarily in our search and display advertising businesses. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, search revenue ex-TAC decreased year-over-year primarily due to the revenue share with Microsoft associated with the Search Agreement as well as declines in our Affiliate search revenue as a result of the Microsoft transition. For the three months ended September 30, 2011, our year-over-year display revenue ex-TAC decreased due to declines in non-guaranteed revenue across mail and other properties. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, our year-over-year decrease in revenue was a result of a decline in our search advertising business and our fees-based services. Our display advertising business remained flat during the nine month period. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, search revenue ex-TAC decreased year-over-year primarily due to the revenue share with Microsoft associated with the Search Agreement as well as declines in our Affiliate search revenue as a result of the Microsoft transition. The decrease in fees revenue is primarily attributed to changes in certain broadband access partnerships. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 direct costs attributable to the Americas segment decreased $1 million, or 1 percent, and $23 million, or 5 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. The year-over-year decreases in direct costs were primarily due to lower compensation costs driven by lower headcount and lower data center operating costs, offset by higher content costs.

Revenue ex-TAC in the Americas accounted for approximately 70 percent and 72 percent of total revenue ex-TAC in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to 76 percent for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

EMEA. EMEA revenue ex-TAC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $12 million, or 14 percent, and $35 million, or 13 percent, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. The increases in EMEA revenue ex-TAC were primarily driven by increases in our display advertising business and the favorable effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, direct costs attributable to the EMEA segment increased $8 million, or 28 percent, and $11 million, or 13 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. The increases are primarily due to higher compensation costs driven by higher headcount, the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, and content costs.

Revenue ex-TAC in EMEA accounted for approximately 9 percent of total revenue ex-TAC for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to 8 percent for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific revenue ex-TAC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $36 million, or 20 percent, and $71 million, or 13 percent, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010. The increases in Asia Pacific revenue ex-TAC were primarily driven by an increase in our display advertising business and the favorable effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, offset by the loss of an Affiliate in the Asia Pacific region in late 2010. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, direct costs attributable to the Asia Pacific segment increased $17 million, or 45 percent, and $40 million, or 37 percent, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010. The increases are primarily due to higher compensation costs driven by higher average headcount, the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, and increased data center operating costs.

Revenue ex-TAC in Asia Pacific accounted for approximately 21 percent and 19 percent of total revenue ex-TAC for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to 16 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.

Our international operations expose us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Revenue ex-TAC and related expenses generated from our international subsidiaries are generally denominated in the currencies of the local countries. Primary currencies include Australian dollars, British pounds, Euros, Japanese yen, Korean won, and Taiwan dollars. The statements of income of our international operations are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates indicative of market rates during each applicable period. To the extent the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies, the translation of these foreign currency-denominated transactions results in reduced consolidated revenue ex-TAC and operating expenses. Conversely, our consolidated revenue ex-TAC and operating expenses will increase if the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies. Using the foreign currency exchange rates from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, revenue ex-TAC for the Americas segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 would have been lower than we reported by $3 million and $6 million, respectively, revenue ex-TAC for the EMEA segment would have been lower than we reported by $8 million and $16 million, respectively, and revenue ex-TAC for the Asia Pacific segment would have been lower than we reported by $22 million and $52 million, respectively. Using the foreign currency exchange rates from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, direct costs for the Americas segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 would have been lower than we reported by $1 million and $2 million respectively, direct costs for the EMEA segment would have been lower than we reported by $3 million and $5 million, respectively, and direct costs for the Asia Pacific segment would have been lower than we reported by $6 million and $14 million, respectively.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Our estimates form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

An accounting policy is considered to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur, could materially impact the condensed consolidated financial statements. We believe that our critical accounting policies reflect the more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

For a discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 under the caption Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. We have made no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

     As of
December 31,
2010
    As of
September  30,
2011
 
     (Dollars in thousands)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,526,427      $ 1,464,219   

Short-term marketable debt securities

     1,357,661        650,593   

Long-term marketable debt securities

     744,594        754,767   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable debt securities

   $ 3,628,682      $ 2,869,579   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Percentage of total assets

     24     20
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 

Cash Flow Highlights

   2010     2011  
     (In thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 837,045      $ 892,472   

Net cash provided by investing activities

   $ 1,074,616      $ 153,493   

Net cash used in financing activities

   $ (1,563,821   $ (1,095,474

Our operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 generated adequate cash to meet our operating needs. As of September 30, 2011, we had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable debt securities totaling $2.9 billion, compared to $3.6 billion at December 31, 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we repurchased 82 million shares of our outstanding common stock for $1,203 million.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we generated $892 million of cash from operating activities, net proceeds from sales, maturities and purchases of marketable debt securities of $681 million, and $107 million from the issuance of common stock as a result of the exercise of employee stock options and employee stock purchases. This was offset by a net $463 million in capital expenditures, $36 million in tax withholding payments related to net share settlements of restricted stock units and tax withholding-related reacquisitions of shares of restricted stock, $1,203 million used in the direct repurchase of common stock and a net $69 million for acquisitions. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we generated $837 million of cash from operating activities, net proceeds from sales, maturities, and purchases of marketable debt securities of $1,367 million, $325 million of proceeds from the sale of a divested business, and $100 million from the issuance of common stock as a result of the exercise of employee stock options and employee stock purchases. This was offset by a net $467 million in capital expenditures, a net $112 million for acquisitions, $1,749 million used in the direct repurchase of common stock, and $44 million in tax withholding payments related to net share settlements of restricted stock units and tax withholding-related reacquisitions of shares of restricted stock.

 

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We have accrued U.S. federal income taxes on the earnings of our foreign subsidiaries except to the extent the earnings are considered indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. As of September 30, 2011, approximately $3.1 billion of earnings held by our foreign subsidiaries and a corporate joint venture are designated as indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. Our foreign subsidiaries held $1.1 billion of our total $2.9 billion of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable debt securities as of September 30, 2011. If required for our operations in the U.S., most of the cash held abroad could be repatriated to the U.S. but, under current law, would be subject to U.S. federal income taxes (subject to an adjustment for foreign tax credits). Currently, we do not anticipate a need to repatriate these funds for use in our U.S. operations.

We expect to continue to generate positive cash flows from operations for the fourth quarter of 2011. We use cash generated by operations as our primary source of liquidity, since we believe that internally generated cash flows are sufficient to support our business operations and capital expenditures. We believe that existing cash, cash equivalents, and investments in marketable debt securities, together with any cash generated from operations, will be sufficient to meet normal operating requirements including capital expenditures for the next twelve months. However, we may sell additional debt securities or obtain credit facilities to further enhance our liquidity position.

See Note 9 — “Investments” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Cash flow changes

Cash provided by operating activities is driven by our net income, adjusted for non-cash items, working capital changes, and non-operating gains from sales of investments. Non-cash adjustments include depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, non-cash restructuring charges, tax benefits from stock-based awards, excess tax benefits from stock-based awards, deferred income taxes, and earnings in equity interests. Cash provided by operating activities was higher than net income in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due to changes in working capital.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, cash used in investing activities was primarily attributable to cash used for net capital expenditures and net acquisitions, offset by net proceeds from the sales and maturities of marketable debt securities. In the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we received net proceeds from sales, maturities, and purchases of marketable debt securities of $681 million and proceeds from the sales of investments of $21 million, which was offset by the investment of $463 million in net capital expenditures, $69 million for net acquisitions, and $11 million to purchase intangible assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, cash provided by investing activities was primarily attributable to net proceeds from the sales and maturities of marketable debt securities and proceeds from the sale of a divested business. In the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we received net proceeds from sales, maturities, and purchases of marketable debt securities of $1,367 million, and $325 million from the sale of divested businesses, which were offset by the investment of $467 million in net capital expenditures, $112 million for net acquisitions, $19 million for other investing activities, and $19 million to purchase intangible assets.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, cash used in financing activities was driven by stock repurchases offset by employee stock option exercises and employee stock purchases. Our cash proceeds from employee stock option exercises and employee stock purchases were $107 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $100 million for the same period of 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, we used $1,203 million in the direct repurchase of 82 million shares of common stock at an average price of $14.62 per share. We used $36 million for tax withholding payments related to net share settlements of restricted stock units and tax withholding related reacquisitions of shares of restricted stock. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we used $1,749 million in the direct repurchase of 119 million shares of common stock at an average price of $14.68 per share. We used $44 million for tax withholding payments related to net share settlements of restricted stock units and tax withholding-related reacquisitions of shares of restricted stock.

Capital expenditures

Capital expenditures have generally comprised purchases of computer hardware, software, server equipment, furniture and fixtures, and real estate. Capital expenditures, net were $463 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to $467 million in the same period of 2010. Our capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2011 are expected to be lower compared to the same period of 2010 due in part to higher infrastructure costs in 2010 in connection with our initiatives to build out our owned and operated data centers.

 

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Contractual obligations and commitments

Leases. We have entered into various non-cancelable operating and capital lease agreements for office space and data centers globally for original lease periods up to 13 years, expiring between 2011 and 2022.

During the second quarter of 2010, we acquired certain office space for a total of $72 million ($7 million in cash and the assumption of $65 million in debt). In the first quarter of 2010, the property was re-classified from an operating lease to a capital lease as a result of a commitment to purchase the property. Accordingly, in the second quarter of 2010, we reduced the capital lease obligation for the $7 million cash outlay and reclassified the remaining $65 million as assumed debt in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

A summary of lease commitments as of September 30, 2011 is as follows (in millions):

 

     Gross Operating
Lease Commitments
     Capital Lease
Commitment
 

Three months ending December 31, 2011

   $ 43       $ 1   

Years ending December 31,

     

2012

     156         7   

2013

     131         8   

2014

     101         8   

2015

     77         8   

2016

     41         8   

Due after 5 years

     60         23   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross lease commitments

   $ 609       $ 63   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: interest

     —           (24
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net lease commitments

   $ 609       $ 39   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Affiliate Commitments. In connection with contracts to provide advertising services to Affiliates, we are obligated to make payments, which represent traffic acquisition costs, to our Affiliates. As of September 30, 2011, these commitments totaled $113 million, of which $30 million will be payable in the remainder of 2011, $78 million will be payable in 2012, and $5 million will be payable in 2013.

Intellectual Property Rights. We are committed to make certain payments under various intellectual property arrangements of up to $35 million through 2023.

Income Taxes. As of September 30, 2011, unrecognized tax benefits of $405 million, including interest and penalties, are recorded on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2011, the settlement period for our income tax liabilities cannot be determined.

Other Commitments. In the ordinary course of business, we may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, joint venture and business partners, purchasers of assets or subsidiaries and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of our breach of agreements or representations and warranties made by us, services to be provided by us, intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties or, with respect to the sale of assets or a subsidiary, matters related to our conduct of the business and tax matters prior to the sale. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain of our officers that will require us, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. We have also agreed to indemnify certain former officers, directors, and employees of acquired companies in connection with the acquisition of such companies. We maintain director and officer insurance, which may cover certain liabilities arising from our obligation to indemnify our directors and officers and former directors and officers of acquired companies, in certain circumstances. It is not possible to determine the aggregate maximum potential loss under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Such indemnification agreements might not be subject to maximum loss clauses. Historically, we have not incurred material costs as a result of obligations under these agreements and we have not accrued any liabilities related to such indemnification obligations in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

As of September 30, 2011, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. In addition, as of September 30, 2011, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, or capital resources.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, and changes in the market values of our investments.

Interest Rate Risk. Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our cash and marketable debt securities portfolio. We invest excess cash in money market funds, time deposits, and liquid debt instruments of the U.S. and foreign governments and their agencies, U.S. municipalities, and high-credit corporate issuers which are classified as marketable debt securities and cash equivalents.

Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates or we may suffer losses in principal if forced to sell securities which have declined in market value due to changes in interest rates. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would result in an approximate $11 million and $14 million decrease in the fair value of our available-for-sale debt securities as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.

Foreign Currency Risk. Revenue and related expenses generated from our international subsidiaries are generally denominated in the currencies of the local countries. Primary currencies include Australian dollars, British pounds, Euros, Japanese yen, Korean won, and Taiwan dollars. The statements of income of our international operations are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates indicative of market rates during each applicable period. To the extent the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies, the translation of these foreign currency-denominated transactions results in reduced revenue, operating expenses, and net income. Conversely, our revenue, operating expenses, and net income will increase if the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies. Using the foreign currency exchange rates from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, revenue for the Americas segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 would have been lower than we reported by $3 million and $7 million, respectively, revenue for the EMEA segment would have been lower than we reported by $13 million and $24 million, respectively, and revenue for the Asia Pacific segment would have been lower than we reported by $28 million and $63 million, respectively. Using the foreign currency exchange rates from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, direct costs for the Americas segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 would have been lower than we reported by $1 million and $2 million, direct costs for the EMEA segment would have been lower than we reported by $3 million and $5 million, respectively, and direct costs for the Asia Pacific segment would have been lower than we reported by $6 million and $14 million, respectively.

As mentioned above, we are also exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations as we convert the financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries and our investments in equity interests into U.S. dollars in consolidation. If there is a change in foreign currency exchange rates, the conversion of the foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars results in a gain or loss which is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income which is part of stockholders’ equity. In addition, we have certain assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the respective entity’s functional currency. Changes in the functional currency value of these assets and liabilities create fluctuations that will lead to a gain or loss. We record these foreign currency transaction gains and losses, realized and unrealized, in other income, net on the condensed consolidated statements of income. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, we recorded realized and unrealized foreign currency transaction gains of $2 million and $3 million, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded realized and unrealized foreign currency transaction losses of $3 million and transaction gains of $9 million, respectively.

Investment Risk. We are exposed to investment risk as it relates to changes in the market value of our investments. We have investments in marketable debt securities.

Our cash and marketable debt securities investment policy and strategy attempts primarily to preserve capital and meet liquidity requirements. A large portion of our cash is managed by external managers within the guidelines of our investment policy. We protect and preserve invested funds by limiting default, market, and reinvestment risk. To achieve this objective, we maintain our portfolio of cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments in a variety of liquid fixed income securities, including both government and corporate obligations and money market funds. As of September 30, 2011 and 2010, net unrealized gains and losses on these investments were not material.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this Report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

For a description of our material legal proceedings, see the section captioned “Contingencies” included in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

We have updated the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2011, as set forth below. Other than the addition of the risk factors concerning our comprehensive strategic review and chief executive officer search, Alipay and legal proceedings, we do not believe any of the changes constitute material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

We face significant competition for users, advertisers, publishers, developers, and distributors.

We face significant competition from integrated online media companies as well as from social networking sites, traditional print and broadcast media, general purpose and vertical search engines and various e-commerce sites. In a number of international markets, especially those in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, we face substantial competition from local Internet service providers and other portals that offer search, communications, and other commercial services.

Several of our competitors offer an integrated variety of Internet products, advertising services, technologies, online services and content in a manner similar to Yahoo!. Among other areas, we compete against these companies to attract and retain users, advertisers, developers, and third-party Website publishers as participants in our Affiliate network, and to obtain agreements with third parties to promote or distribute our services.

In addition, several competitors offer products and services that directly compete for users with our offerings, including consumer e-mail, local search, instant messaging, daily deals, photos, maps, video sharing, content channels, mobile applications, and shopping. Similarly, the advertising networks operated by our competitors or by other participants in the display marketplace offer services that directly compete with our offerings for advertisers, including advertising exchanges, ad networks, demand side platforms, ad serving technologies and sponsored search offerings. We also compete with traditional print and broadcast media companies to attract advertising dollars, both domestically and internationally. We further compete for users, advertisers and developers with social media and networking sites as well as the wide variety of other providers of online services. Social networking sites in particular are attracting a substantial and increasing share of users and users’ online time, which could enable them to attract an increasing share of online advertising dollars.

Some of our existing competitors and possible entrants may have greater brand recognition for certain products and services, more expertise in a particular segment of the market, and greater operational, strategic, technological, financial, personnel, or other resources than we do. Many of our competitors have access to considerable financial and technical resources with which to compete aggressively, including by funding future growth and expansion and investing in acquisitions, technologies, and research and development. Further, emerging start-ups may be able to innovate and provide new products and services faster than we can. In addition, competitors may consolidate with each other or collaborate, and new competitors may enter the market. Some of our competitors in international markets have a substantial competitive advantage over us because they have dominant market share in their territories, are owned by local telecommunications providers, have greater brand recognition, are focused on a single market, are more familiar with local tastes and preferences, or have greater regulatory and operational flexibility due to the fact that we may be subject to both U.S. and foreign regulatory requirements.

 

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If our competitors are more successful than we are in developing and deploying compelling products or in attracting and retaining users, advertisers, publishers, developers, or distributors, our revenue and growth rates could decline.

The majority of our revenue is derived from display and search, and the reduction in spending by or loss of current or potential advertisers would cause our revenue and operating results to decline.

For the three months ended September 30, 2011, 80 percent of our total revenue came from display and search. Our ability to continue to retain and grow display and search revenue depends upon:

 

   

maintaining and growing our user base;

 

   

maintaining and growing our popularity as an Internet destination site;

 

   

maintaining and expanding our advertiser base on the Internet and mobile devices;

 

   

broadening our relationships with advertisers to small- and medium-sized businesses;

 

   

successfully implementing changes and improvements to our advertising management platforms and obtaining the acceptance of our advertising management platforms by advertisers, Website publishers, and online advertising networks;

 

   

successfully acquiring, investing in and implementing new technologies and strategic partnerships;

 

   

successfully implementing changes in our sales force, sales development teams, and sales strategy;

 

   

continuing to innovate and improve the monetization capabilities of our display ad products;

 

   

effectively monetizing search queries;

 

   

continuing to innovate and improve users’ search experiences;

 

   

maintaining and expanding our Affiliate program for search and display advertising services; and

 

   

deriving better demographic and other information about our users to enable us to offer better experiences to both our users and advertisers.

In most cases, our agreements with advertisers have a term of one year or less, and may be terminated at any time by the advertiser or by us. Search marketing agreements often have payments dependent upon usage or click-through levels. Accordingly, it is difficult to forecast display and search revenue accurately. In addition, our expense levels are based in part on expectations of future revenue, including occasional guaranteed minimum payments to our Affiliates in connection with search and/or display advertising, and are fixed over the short-term in some categories. The state of the global economy and availability of capital has impacted and could further impact the advertising spending patterns of existing and potential advertisers. Any reduction in spending by, or loss of, existing or potential advertisers would negatively impact our revenue and operating results. Further, we may be unable to adjust our expenses and capital expenditures quickly enough to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall.

Adverse general economic conditions have caused and could cause decreases or delays in display and search services spending by our advertisers and could harm our ability to generate display and search revenue and our results of operations.

Display and search expenditures tend to be cyclical, reflecting overall economic conditions and budgeting and buying patterns. Since we derive most of our revenue from display and search, adverse economic conditions have caused, and a continuation of adverse economic conditions could cause, additional decreases in or delays in advertising spending, a reduction in our display and search revenue and a negative impact on our short-term ability to grow our revenue. Further, any decreased collectability of accounts receivable or early termination of agreements, whether resulting from customer bankruptcies or otherwise due to the current economic conditions, could negatively impact our results of operations.

If we do not manage our operating expenses effectively, our profitability could decline.

We have implemented cost reduction initiatives to better align our operating expenses with our revenue, including reducing our headcount, outsourcing some administrative functions, consolidating space and terminating leases or entering into subleases. We plan to continue to manage costs to better and more efficiently manage our business. However, our operating expenses might also increase, from their reduced levels, as we expand our operations in areas of desired growth, continue to develop and extend the Yahoo! brand, fund product development, and acquire and integrate complementary businesses and technologies. Our operating costs might also increase if we do not effectively manage costs as we transition markets under the Search Agreement and reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement decline or cease. In addition, weak economic conditions or other factors could cause our business to contract, requiring us to implement additional cost cutting measures. If our expenses increase at a greater pace than our revenue, or if we fail to implement additional cost cutting if required in a timely manner, our profitability will decline.

 

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Transition, implementation and execution risks associated with our Search Agreement with Microsoft may adversely affect our business and operating results.

Under our Search Agreement with Microsoft, Microsoft is the exclusive algorithmic and paid search services provider on Yahoo! Properties and non-exclusive provider of such services on Affiliate sites for the transitioned markets. The parties commenced implementation of the Search Agreement on February 23, 2010. The global transition of the algorithmic and paid search platforms to Microsoft’s platform and the migration of the paid search advertisers and publishers to Microsoft’s platform are being done on a market by market basis and are expected to continue through the first half of 2013. The transition process is complex and requires the expenditure of significant time and resources by us. We completed the transition of our algorithmic and paid search platforms to the Microsoft platform in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter of 2010 and have completed the transition of algorithmic search in substantially all other markets. We plan to complete the transition of algorithmic search by the end of 2011. The market-by-market transition of our paid search platform to Microsoft’s platform and the migration of paid search advertisers and publishers to Microsoft’s platform are expected to continue through the first half of 2013. Delays or difficulties in, or disruptions and inconveniences caused by, the transition process could result in the loss of advertisers, publishers, Affiliates, and employees, as well as delays in recognizing or reductions in the anticipated benefits of the transaction, any of which could negatively impact our business and operating results.

If Microsoft fails to perform as required under the Search Agreement for any reason or suffers service level interruptions or other performance issues (including if Microsoft is unable to effectively monetize search queries in markets where paid search has transitioned under the Search Agreement), or if advertisers, Affiliates, or users are less satisfied than expected with the services provided or results obtained after transition or during the period prior to transition of search to Microsoft in their respective markets, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the Search Agreement, we may lose advertisers, publishers and Affiliates, we may lose exclusivity with certain publishers, and our search revenue or our profitability could decline. In addition, to the extent the RPS Guarantee payments we receive do not fully offset any shortfall relating to revenue per search in transitioned markets or if our revenue per search upon expiration of the RPS Guarantee payments is lower than the guarantee levels, our search revenue or our profitability could decline. Notwithstanding any RPS Guarantee payments that we may receive, our competitors may increase revenue, profitability and market share at a higher rate than us.

If we are unable to provide innovative search experiences and other services that generate significant traffic to our Websites, our business could be harmed, causing our revenue to decline.

Internet search is characterized by rapidly changing technology, significant competition, evolving industry standards, and frequent product and service enhancements. We must continually invest in improving our users’ search experience—presenting users with a search experience that is responsive to their needs and preferences—in order to continue to attract, retain, and expand our user base and paid search advertiser base.

We currently deploy our own technology to provide algorithmic Web search and paid search results on our network, except in markets where we have transitioned those services to Microsoft’s platform. Even after we complete the transition to Microsoft’s platform in all markets, we will need to continue to invest and innovate to improve our users’ search experience.

We also generate revenue through other online services, such as Yahoo! Mail. If we are unable to provide innovative search and other services which generate significant traffic to our Websites, our business could be harmed, causing our revenue to decline.

Our comprehensive strategic review and chief executive officer search may cause uncertainty regarding the future of our business, impact employee hiring and retention, increase the volatility in our stock price, and adversely impact our revenue, operating results, and financial condition.

Our Board of Directors is engaged in a comprehensive strategic review, which includes evaluating the full range of options available to return our company to increased growth and innovation. The Board of Directors is also engaged concurrently in a search for a permanent chief executive officer. The Board’s strategic review and chief executive officer search, and any related speculation and uncertainty regarding our future business strategy and direction, may cause or result in:

 

   

disruption of our business or distraction of our employees and management;

 

   

difficulty recruiting, hiring, motivating and retaining talented and skilled personnel, including a permanent chief executive officer;

 

   

increased stock price volatility;

 

   

difficulty in establishing, maintaining or negotiating business or strategic relationships or transactions; and

 

   

increased advisory fees.

 

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If we are unable to mitigate these or other potential risks related to the uncertainty caused by the strategic review and chief executive officer search, it may disrupt our business or adversely impact our revenue, operating results, and financial condition.

If we are unable to recruit and retain key personnel, we may not be able to execute our business plan.

Our business is dependent on our ability to recruit, hire, motivate, and retain talented, highly skilled personnel. Achieving this objective may be difficult due to many factors, including the intense competition for such highly skilled personnel in the San Francisco Bay Area and other metropolitan areas where our offices and the offices of several of our vertical and horizontal competitors are located, as well as fluctuations in global economic and industry conditions, changes in our management or leadership, uncertainty due to our comprehensive strategic review and concurrent search for a permanent chief executive officer, competitors’ hiring practices, and the effectiveness of our compensation programs. If we do not succeed in recruiting, retaining, and motivating our key employees and in attracting new key personnel, we may be unable to meet our business plan and as a result, our revenue and profitability may decline.

If we are unable to license or acquire compelling content and services at reasonable cost or if we do not develop or commission compelling content of our own, the number of users of our services may not grow as anticipated, or may decline, or users’ level of engagement with our services may decline, all or any of which could harm our operating results.

Our future success depends in part on our ability to aggregate compelling content and deliver that content through our online properties. We license from third parties much of the content and services on our online properties, such as news items, stock quotes, weather reports, music videos, music radio, and maps. We believe that users will increasingly demand high-quality content and services, including music videos, film clips, news footage, and special productions. Such content and services may require us to make substantial payments to third parties from whom we license or acquire such content or services. Our ability to maintain and build relationships with such third-party providers is critical to our success. In addition, as new methods for accessing the Internet become available, including through alternative devices, we may need to enter into amended agreements with existing third-party providers to cover the new devices. We may be unable to enter into new, or preserve existing, relationships with the third-parties whose content or services we seek to obtain. In addition, as competition for compelling content increases both domestically and internationally, our third-party providers may increase the prices at which they offer their content and services to us, and potential providers may not offer their content or services to us at all, or may offer them on terms that are not agreeable to us. An increase in the prices charged to us by third-party providers could harm our operating results and financial condition. Further, many of our content and services licenses with third parties are non-exclusive. Accordingly, other media providers may be able to offer similar or identical content. This increases the importance of our ability to deliver compelling editorial content and personalization of this content for users in order to differentiate Yahoo! from other businesses. If we are unable to license or acquire compelling content at reasonable prices, if other companies distribute content or services that are similar to or the same as that provided by us, or if we do not develop compelling editorial content or personalization services, the number of users of our services may not grow as anticipated, or may decline, which could harm our operating results.

We rely on the value of our brands, and a failure to maintain or enhance the Yahoo! brands in a cost-effective manner could harm our operating results.

We believe that maintaining and enhancing our brands is an important aspect of our efforts to attract and expand our user, advertiser, and Affiliate base. We also believe that the importance of brand recognition will increase due to the relatively low barriers to entry in certain portions of the Internet market. We have spent considerable money and resources to date on the establishment and maintenance of our brands, and we anticipate continuing to spend and devote resources to, advertising, marketing, and other brand-building efforts to preserve and enhance consumer awareness of our brands. Our brands may be negatively impacted by a number of factors, including among other issues: service outages; product malfunctions; data privacy and security issues; exploitation of our trademarks by others without permission; and poor presentation or integration of our search marketing offerings by Affiliates on their sites or in their software and services.

Further, while we attempt to ensure that the quality of our brands is maintained by our licensees, our licensees might take actions that could impair the value of our brands, our proprietary rights, or the reputation of our products and media properties. If we are unable to maintain or enhance customer awareness of, and trust in, our brands in a cost-effective manner, or if we incur excessive expenses in these efforts, our business, operating results and financial condition could be harmed.

 

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Our intellectual property rights are valuable, and any failure or inability to sufficiently protect them could harm our business and our operating results.

We create, own, and maintain a wide array of intellectual property assets, including copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, and rights to certain domain names, which we believe are collectively among our most valuable assets. We seek to protect our intellectual property assets through patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark, and other laws of the U.S. and other countries of the world, and through contractual provisions. However, the efforts we have taken to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights might not be sufficient or effective at stopping unauthorized use of those rights. Protection of the distinctive elements of Yahoo! might not always be available under copyright law or trademark law, or we might not discover or determine the full extent of any unauthorized use of our copyrights and trademarks in order to protect our rights. In addition, effective trademark, patent, copyright, and trade secret protection might not be available or cost-effective in every country in which our products and media properties are distributed or made available through the Internet. Changes in patent law, such as changes in the law regarding patentable subject matter, could also impact our ability to obtain patent protection for our innovations. Further, given the costs of obtaining patent protection, we might choose not to protect (or not to protect in some jurisdictions) certain innovations that later turn out to be important. There is also a risk that the scope of protection under our patents may not be sufficient in some cases or that existing patents may be deemed invalid or unenforceable. With respect to maintaining our trade secrets, we have entered into confidentiality agreements with most of our employees and contractors, and confidentiality agreements with many of the parties with whom we conduct business in order to limit access to and disclosure of our proprietary information. However, these agreements might be breached and our trade secrets might be compromised by outside parties or by our employees, which could cause us to lose any competitive advantage provided by maintaining our trade secrets.

If we are unable to protect our proprietary rights from unauthorized use, the value of our intellectual property assets may be reduced. In addition, protecting our intellectual property and other proprietary rights is expensive and time consuming. Any increase in the unauthorized use of our intellectual property could make it more expensive to do business and consequently harm our operating results.

We are, and may in the future be, subject to intellectual property infringement or other third-party claims, which are costly to defend, could result in significant damage awards, and could limit our ability to provide certain content or use certain technologies in the future.

Internet, technology, media, and patent holding companies often possess a significant number of patents. Further, many of these companies and other parties are actively developing or purchasing search, indexing, electronic commerce, and other Internet-related technologies, as well as a variety of online business models and methods.

We believe that these parties will continue to take steps to protect these technologies, including, but not limited to, seeking patent protection. In addition, patent holding companies may continue to seek to monetize patents they have purchased or otherwise obtained. As a result, disputes regarding the ownership of technologies and rights associated with online businesses are likely to continue to arise in the future. From time to time, parties assert patent infringement claims against us. Currently, we are engaged in a number of lawsuits regarding patent issues and have been notified of a number of other potential disputes.

In addition to patent claims, third parties have asserted, and are likely in the future to assert, claims against us alleging infringement of copyrights, trademark rights, trade secret rights or other proprietary rights, or alleging unfair competition, violation of federal or state statutes or other claims, including alleged violation of international statutory and common law. In addition, third parties have made, and may continue to make, infringement and related claims against us over the display of content or search results triggered by search terms, including the display of advertising, that include trademark terms. Currently, we are engaged in lawsuits regarding such intellectual property issues.

As we expand our business and develop new technologies, products and services, we may become increasingly subject to intellectual property infringement claims, including those that may arise under international laws. In the event that there is a determination that we have infringed third-party proprietary rights such as patents, copyrights, trademark rights, trade secret rights, or other third-party rights such as publicity and privacy rights, we could incur substantial monetary liability, be required to enter into costly royalty or licensing agreements or be prevented from using such rights, which could require us to change our business practices in the future and limit our ability to compete effectively. We may also incur substantial expenses in defending against third-party claims regardless of the merit of such claims. In addition, many of our agreements with our customers or Affiliates require us to indemnify them for some types of third-party intellectual property infringement claims, which could increase our costs in defending such claims and our damages. The occurrence of any of these results could harm our brands and negatively impact our operating results.

 

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We are subject to a variety of new and existing U.S. and foreign government laws and regulations which could subject us to claims, judgments, monetary liabilities and other remedies, and to limitations on our business practices.

We are subject to laws and regulations directly applicable to providers of Internet, mobile, and voice over Internet protocol, or VOIP, services both domestically and internationally. The application of existing domestic and international laws and regulations to us relating to issues such as user privacy and data protection, security, defamation, pricing, advertising, taxation, gambling, sweepstakes, promotions, billing, real estate, consumer protection, accessibility, content regulation, quality of services, law enforcement demands, telecommunications, mobile, television, and intellectual property ownership and infringement in many instances is unclear or unsettled. In addition, we will also be subject to any new laws and regulations directly applicable to our domestic and international activities. Further, the application of existing laws to us or our subsidiaries regulating or requiring licenses for certain businesses of our advertisers including, for example, distribution of pharmaceuticals, alcohol, adult content, tobacco, or firearms, as well as insurance and securities brokerage, and legal services, can be unclear. Internationally, we may also be subject to laws regulating our activities in foreign countries and to foreign laws and regulations that are inconsistent from country to country. We may incur substantial liabilities for expenses necessary to defend such litigation or to comply with these laws and regulations, as well as potential substantial penalties for any failure to comply. Compliance with these laws and regulations may also cause us to change or limit our business practices in a manner adverse to our business.

A number of U.S. federal laws, including those referenced below, impact our business. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) is intended, in part, to limit the liability of eligible online service providers for listing or linking to third-party Websites that include materials that infringe copyrights or other rights of others. Portions of the Communications Decency Act (“CDA”) are intended to provide statutory protections to online service providers who distribute third-party content. We rely on the protections provided by both the DMCA and the CDA in conducting our business. If these or other laws or judicial interpretations are changed to narrow their protections, or if international jurisdictions refuse to apply similar provisions in foreign lawsuits, we will be subject to greater risk of liability, our costs of compliance with these regulations or to defend litigation may increase, or our ability to operate certain lines of business may be limited. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act is intended to impose restrictions on the ability of online services to collect some types of information from children under the age of 13. In addition, Providing Resources, Officers, and Technology to Eradicate Cyber Threats to Our Children Act of 2008 (“PROTECT Act”) requires online service providers to report evidence of violations of federal child pornography laws under certain circumstances. Other federal, state or international laws and legislative efforts designed to protect children on the Internet may impose additional requirements on us. U.S. export control laws and regulations impose requirements and restrictions on exports to certain nations and persons and on our business.

Changes in these or any other laws and regulations or the interpretation of them could increase our future compliance costs, make our products and services less attractive to our users, or cause us to change or limit our business practices. Further, any failure on our part to comply with any relevant laws or regulations may subject us to significant civil or criminal liabilities.

Changes in regulations or user concerns regarding privacy and protection of user data, or any failure to comply with such laws, could adversely affect our business.

Federal, state and international laws and regulations govern the collection, use, retention, disclosure, sharing and security of data that we receive from and about our users. Our privacy policies and practices concerning the collection, use, and disclosure of user data are posted on our and many of our Affiliates’ Websites. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies, to make effective modifications to our privacy policies, or to comply with any data-related consent orders, Federal Trade Commission requirements or orders, or other federal, state, or international privacy or data-protection-related laws, regulations or industry self-regulatory principles could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, which could potentially have an adverse effect on our business.

Further, failure or perceived failure by us to comply with our policies, applicable requirements, or industry self-regulatory principles related to the collection, use, sharing or security of personal information, or other privacy, data-retention or data-protection matters could result in a loss of user confidence in us, damage to the Yahoo! brands, and ultimately in a loss of users, advertising partners, or Affiliates which could adversely affect our business.

In addition, various federal, state and foreign legislative or regulatory bodies may enact new or additional laws and regulations concerning privacy, data-retention and data-protection issues, including laws or regulations mandating disclosure to domestic or international law enforcement bodies, which could adversely impact our business, our brand or our reputation with users. The interpretation and application of privacy, data protection and data retention laws and regulations are currently unsettled in the U.S. and internationally. These laws may be interpreted and applied inconsistently from country to country and inconsistently with our current policies and practices. Complying with these varying international requirements could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner adverse to our business.

 

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If our security measures are breached, our products and services may be perceived as not being secure, users and customers may curtail or stop using our products and services, and we may incur significant legal and financial exposure.

Our products and services involve the storage and transmission of Yahoo!’s, users’ and customers’ proprietary information, and security breaches could expose us to a risk of loss of this information, litigation, and potential liability. Our security measures may be breached due to the actions of outside parties, employee error, malfeasance, or otherwise, and, as a result, an unauthorized party may obtain access to our data or our users’ or customers’ data. Additionally, outside parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees, users, or customers to disclose sensitive information in order to gain access to our data or our users’ or customers’ data. Any such breach or unauthorized access could result in significant legal and financial exposure, increased costs to defend litigation or damage to our reputation, and a loss of confidence in the security of our products and services that could potentially have an adverse effect on our business. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. If an actual or perceived breach of our security occurs, the market perception of the effectiveness of our security measures could be harmed and we could lose users and customers.

We may be subject to legal liability associated with providing online services or content.

We host and provide a wide variety of services and technology products that enable and encourage individuals and businesses to exchange information, upload or otherwise generate photos, videos, text, and other content; advertise products and services; conduct business; and engage in various online activities both domestically and internationally. The law relating to the liability of providers of these online services and products for activities of their users is currently unsettled both within the U.S. and internationally. Claims have been threatened and have been brought against us for defamation, negligence, breaches of contract, copyright or trademark infringement, unfair competition, unlawful activity, tort, including personal injury, fraud, or other theories based on the nature and content of information which we publish or to which we provide links or that may be posted online or generated by us or by third parties, including our users. In addition, we have been and may again in the future be subject to domestic or international actions alleging that certain content we have generated or third-party content that we have made available within our services violates laws in domestic and international jurisdictions. Defense of any such actions could be costly and involve significant time and attention of our management and other resources, may result in monetary liabilities or penalties, and may require us to change our business in an adverse manner.

We arrange for the distribution of third-party advertisements to third-party publishers and advertising networks, and we offer third-party products, services, or content, such as stock quotes and trading information, under the Yahoo! brand or via distribution on Yahoo! Properties. We may be subject to claims concerning these products, services, or content by virtue of our involvement in marketing, branding, broadcasting, or providing access to them, even if we do not ourselves host, operate, provide, or provide access to these products, services, or content. While our agreements with respect to these products, services, and content often provide that we will be indemnified against such liabilities, the ability to receive such indemnification may be disputed, could result in substantial costs to enforce or defend, and depends on the financial resources of the other party to the agreement, and any amounts received might not be adequate to cover our liabilities or the costs associated with defense of such proceedings.

It is also possible that if the manner in which information is provided or any information provided directly by us contains errors or is otherwise wrongfully provided to users, third parties could make claims against us. For example, we offer Web-based e-mail services, which expose us to potential risks, such as liabilities or claims resulting from unsolicited e-mail, lost or misdirected messages, illegal or fraudulent use of e-mail, alleged violations of policies or privacy protections, including civil or criminal laws, or interruptions or delays in e-mail service. We may also face purported consumer class actions or state actions relating to our online services, including our fee-based services (particularly in connection with any decision to discontinue a fee-based service). In addition, our customers, third parties or government entities may assert claims or actions against us if our online services or technologies are used to spread or facilitate malicious or harmful code or applications. Investigating and defending these types of claims are expensive, even if the claims are without merit or do not ultimately result in liability, and could subject us to significant monetary liability or cause a change in business practices that could negatively impact our ability to compete.

Acquisitions and strategic investments could result in adverse impacts on our operations and in unanticipated liabilities.

We have acquired, and have made strategic investments in, a number of companies (including through joint ventures) in the past, and we expect to make additional acquisitions and strategic investments in the future. Such transactions may result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, use of our cash resources, and incurrence of debt and amortization expenses related to intangible assets. Our acquisitions and strategic investments to date were accompanied by a number of risks, including:

 

   

the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of our acquired companies into our operations;

 

   

the potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management;

 

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the incurrence of additional operating losses and expenses of the businesses we acquired or in which we invested;

 

   

the difficulty of integrating acquired technology and rights into our services and unanticipated expenses related to such integration;

 

   

the failure to successfully further develop acquired technology resulting in the impairment of amounts currently capitalized as intangible assets;

 

   

the failure of strategic investments to perform as expected;

 

   

the potential for patent and trademark infringement and data privacy and security claims against the acquired companies, or companies in which we have invested;

 

   

litigation or other claims in connection with acquisitions, acquired companies, or companies in which we have invested;

 

   

the impairment or loss of relationships with customers and partners of the companies we acquired or in which we invested or with our customers and partners as a result of the integration of acquired operations;

 

   

the impairment of relationships with, or failure to retain, employees of acquired companies or our existing employees as a result of integration of new personnel;

 

   

our lack of, or limitations on our, control over the operations of our joint venture companies;

 

   

in the case of foreign acquisitions and investments, the difficulty of integrating operations and systems as a result of cultural, systems, and operational differences and the impact of particular economic, tax, currency, political, legal and regulatory risks associated with specific countries; and

 

   

the impact of known potential liabilities or liabilities that may be unknown, including as a result of inadequate internal controls, associated with the companies we acquired or in which we invested.

We are likely to experience similar risks in connection with our future acquisitions and strategic investments. Our failure to be successful in addressing these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and strategic investments could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions or investments, incur unanticipated liabilities and harm our business generally.

Any failure to manage expansion and changes to our business could adversely affect our operating results.

We continue to evolve our business. As a result of acquisitions, and international expansion in recent years, more than half of our employees are now based outside of our Sunnyvale, California headquarters. If we are unable to effectively manage a large and geographically dispersed group of employees or to anticipate our future growth and personnel needs, our business may be adversely affected.

As we expand our business, we must also expand and adapt our operational infrastructure. Our business relies on data systems, billing systems, and financial reporting and control systems, among others. All of these systems have become increasingly complex in the recent past due to the growing complexity of our business, acquisitions of new businesses with different systems, and increased regulation over controls and procedures. To manage our business in a cost-effective manner, we will need to continue to upgrade and improve our data systems, billing systems, and other operational and financial systems, procedures and controls. In some cases, we are outsourcing administrative functions to lower-cost providers. These upgrades, improvements and outsourcing changes will require a dedication of resources and in some cases are likely to be complex. If we are unable to adapt our systems and put adequate controls in place in a timely manner, our business may be adversely affected. In particular, sustained failures of our billing systems to accommodate increasing numbers of transactions, to accurately bill users and advertisers, or to accurately compensate Affiliates could adversely affect the viability of our business model.

Any failure to scale and adapt our existing technology architecture to manage expansion of user-facing services and to respond to rapid technological change could adversely affect our business.

As some of the most visited sites on the Internet, Yahoo! Properties deliver a significant number of products, services, page views, and advertising impressions to users around the world. The products and services offered by us are expected to continue to expand and change significantly and rapidly in the future to accommodate new technologies and Internet advertising solutions, and new means of content delivery.

 

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In addition, widespread adoption of new Internet, networking or telecommunications technologies, or other technological changes could require substantial expenditures to modify or adapt our services or infrastructure. The technology architectures and platforms utilized for our services are highly complex and may not provide satisfactory support in the future, as usage increases and products and services expand, change, and become more complex. In the future, we may make additional changes to our, or move to completely new, architectures, platforms and systems. Such changes may be technologically challenging to develop and implement, may take time to test and deploy, may cause us to incur substantial costs or data loss, and may cause delays or interruptions in service. These changes, delays, or interruptions in our service may cause our users, Affiliates and other advertising platform participants to become dissatisfied with our service and move to competing providers or seek remedial actions or compensation. Further, to the extent that demands for our services increase, we will need to expand our infrastructure, including the capacity of our hardware servers and the sophistication of our software. This expansion is likely to be expensive and complex and require additional technical expertise. As we acquire users who rely upon us for a wide variety of services, it becomes more technologically complex and costly to retrieve, store, and integrate data that will enable us to track each user’s preferences. Any difficulties experienced in adapting our architectures, platforms and infrastructure to accommodate increased traffic, to store user data, and track user preferences, together with the associated costs and potential loss of traffic, could harm our operating results, cash flows from operations, and financial condition.

We have dedicated considerable resources to provide a variety of premium services, which might not prove to be successful in generating significant revenue for us.

We offer fee-based enhancements for many of our free services. The development cycles for these technologies are long and generally require significant investment by us. We have invested and will continue to invest in new products and services. Some of these new products and services might not generate anticipated revenue or might not meet anticipated user adoption rates. We have previously discontinued some non-profitable premium services and may discontinue others. We must, however, continue to provide new services that are compelling to our users while continuing to develop an effective method for generating revenue for such services. General economic conditions as well as the rapidly evolving competitive landscape may affect users’ willingness to pay for such services. If we cannot generate revenue from these services that are greater than the cost of providing such services, our operating results could be harmed.

We rely on third-party providers of rich media formats to provide the technologies necessary to deliver rich media content and advertising to our users, and any change in the licensing terms, costs, availability, or user acceptance of these formats and technologies could adversely affect our business.

We rely on leading providers of media formats and media player technology to deliver rich media content and advertising to our users. There can be no assurance that these providers will continue to license their formats and player technologies to us on reasonable terms, or at all. Providers of rich media formats and player technologies may begin charging users or otherwise change their business model in a manner that slows the widespread acceptance of their technologies. In order for our rich media services to be successful, there must be a large base of users of these rich media technologies. We have limited or no control over the availability or acceptance of rich media technologies, and any change in the licensing terms, costs, availability, or user acceptance of these technologies could adversely affect our business.

If we are unable to attract, sustain and renew distribution arrangements on favorable terms, our revenue may decline.

We enter into distribution arrangements with third parties such as operators of third-party Websites, online networks, software companies, electronics companies, computer manufacturers and others to promote or supply our services to their users. For example:

 

   

We maintain search and display advertising relationships with Affiliate sites, which integrate our advertising offerings into their Websites.

 

   

We enter into distribution alliances with Internet service providers (including providers of cable and broadband Internet access) and software distributors to promote our services to their users.

 

   

We enter into agreements with mobile, tablet, netbook, television, and other device manufacturers, electronics companies and carriers to promote our software and services on their devices.

In some markets, we depend on a limited number of distribution arrangements for a significant percentage of our user activity. A failure by our distributors to attract or retain their user bases would negatively impact our user activity and, in turn, would reduce our revenue. In some cases, device manufacturers may be unwilling to pay Yahoo! fees in order to distribute Yahoo! services.

 

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Distribution agreements often involve revenue sharing. Over time competition to enter into distribution arrangements may cause our traffic acquisition costs to increase. In some cases, we guarantee distributors a minimum level of revenue and, as a result, run a risk that the distributors’ performance (in terms of ad impressions, toolbar installations, etc.) might not be sufficient to otherwise earn their minimum payments. In other cases, we agree that if the distributor does not realize specified minimum revenue we will adjust the distributor’s revenue-share percentage or provide make-whole arrangements.

Some of our distribution agreements are not exclusive, have a short term, are terminable at will, or are subject to early termination provisions. The loss of distributors, increased distribution costs, or the renewal of distribution agreements on significantly less favorable terms may cause our revenue to decline.

More individuals are utilizing devices other than a PC to access the Internet, and versions of our services developed for these devices might not gain widespread adoption by the devices’ users, manufacturers, or distributors or might fail to function as intended on some devices.

The number of individuals who access the Internet through devices other than a PC, such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, handheld computers, tablets, netbooks, televisions, and set-top box devices has increased dramatically, and the trend is likely to continue. Our services were originally designed for rich, graphical environments such as those available on PCs. The different hardware and software, memory, operating systems, resolution, and other functionality associated with alternative devices currently available may make our PC services unusable or difficult to use on such devices. Similarly, the licenses we have negotiated to present third-party content to PC users may not extend to users of alternative devices. In those cases, we may need to enter into new or amended agreements with the content providers in order to present a similar user-experience on the new devices. The content providers may not be willing to enter into such new or amended agreements on reasonable terms or at all.

We offer versions of many of our popular services (such as sports, finance, and news) designed to be accessed on a number of models of alternative devices. We also offer versions of some of our services (such as instant messaging) designed for specific popular devices. As new devices are introduced, it is difficult to predict the problems we may encounter in developing versions of our services for use on those devices, and we may need to devote significant resources to the creation, support, and maintenance of such versions or risk loss of market share. If we are unable to successfully innovate new forms of Internet advertising for alternative devices, to attract and retain a substantial number of alternative device manufacturers, distributors, content providers, and users to our services, or to capture a sufficient share of an increasingly important portion of the market for these services, we may be unsuccessful in attracting both advertisers and premium service subscribers to these services.

To the extent that an access provider or device manufacturer enters into a distribution arrangement with one of our competitors, or as our competitors design, develop or acquire control of alternative connected devices or their operating systems, we face an increased risk that our users will favor the services or properties of that competitor. The manufacturer or access provider might promote a competitor’s services or might impair users’ access to our services by blocking access through their devices or by not making our services available in a readily-discoverable manner on their devices. If competitive distributors impair access to our services, or if they simply are more successful than our distributors in developing compelling products that attract and retain users or advertisers, then our revenue could decline.

In the future, as new methods for accessing the Internet and our services become available, including through alternative devices, we may need to enter into amended distribution agreements with existing access providers, distributors and manufacturers to cover the new devices and new arrangements. We face a risk that existing and potential new access providers, distributors, and manufacturers may decide not to offer distribution of our services on reasonable terms, or at all. If we fail to obtain distribution or to obtain distribution on terms that are reasonable, we may not be able to fully execute our business plan.

Our international operations are subject to increased risks which could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.

In addition to uncertainty about our ability to continue to generate revenue from our foreign operations and expand our international market position, there are risks inherent in doing business internationally (including through our international joint ventures), including:

 

   

trade barriers and changes in trade regulations;

 

   

difficulties in developing, staffing, and simultaneously managing a large number of varying foreign operations as a result of distance, language, and cultural differences;

 

   

stringent local labor laws and regulations;

 

   

longer payment cycles;

 

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credit risk and higher levels of payment fraud;

 

   

profit repatriation restrictions, and foreign currency exchange restrictions;

 

   

political or social unrest, economic instability, repression, or human rights issues;

 

   

geopolitical events, including acts of war and terrorism;

 

   

import or export regulations;

 

   

compliance with U.S. laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and local laws prohibiting bribery and corrupt payments to government officials;

 

   

seasonal volatility in business activity and local economic conditions;

 

   

laws and business practices that favor local competitors or prohibit foreign ownership of certain businesses;

 

   

different or more stringent user protection, content, data protection, privacy and other laws; and

 

   

risks related to other government regulation or required compliance with local laws.

We are subject to numerous and sometimes conflicting U.S. and foreign laws and regulations. Violations of these complex laws and regulations that apply to our international operations could result in damage awards, fines, criminal actions or sanctions against us, our officers or our employees, prohibitions on the conduct of our business and damage to our reputation. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to promote compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors or agents will not violate our policies. These risks inherent in our international operations and expansion increase our costs of doing business internationally and could result in harm to our business, operating results, and financial condition.

The benefits of the Framework Agreement may not be realized, and we are involved in legal proceedings related to Alipay that may result in adverse outcomes.

On July 29, 2011, we entered into a Framework Agreement with Alibaba Group, Softbank, Alipay, IPCo, Holdco, Jack Ma Yun, Joseph C. Tsai and certain security holders of Alipay or HoldCo as joinder parties. See Note 4 — “Investments in Equity Interests” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Pursuant to the terms of the Framework Agreement, the parties agreed upon the consideration to be received by Alibaba Group for the restructuring of Alipay and the ongoing relationship between Alipay and Alibaba Group and its subsidiaries. The closing contemplated by the Framework Agreement is subject to certain conditions, including People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) regulatory approvals. The closing could be delayed or may not occur at all in which event the anticipated benefits to Alibaba Group under the Framework Agreement would not be realized. In addition, other risks and uncertainties regarding Alibaba Group’s realization of the anticipated benefits of the Framework Agreement include: the failure of Alipay to generate significant royalty and software technology services fees payable to Alibaba Group; the possibility that a liquidity event of Alipay does not occur; the failure or inability of IPCo to pay its promissory note in accordance with its terms; and uncertainties concerning PRC laws and regulations and the PRC regulatory environment.

We and certain officers, directors and third parties are party to a number of stockholder derivative suits and purported stockholder class action suits filed since we filed our Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See the section captioned “Contingencies” included in Note 11 — “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Such claims and proceedings are inherently uncertain and their results cannot be predicted with certainty. Regardless of the outcome, such legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of legal costs, diversion of management resources, and other factors. These lawsuits or any future lawsuits may become time consuming and expensive.

New technologies could block our advertisements, impair our ability to serve interest-based advertising, or shift the location in which search results appear, which could harm our operating results.

Technologies have been developed and are likely to continue to be developed that can block display, search, and interest-based advertising, or shift the location in which search results appear on pages so that our advertisements do not appear in the most monetizable places on our pages or are obscured. Most of our revenue is derived from fees paid by advertisers in connection with the display of graphical advertisements or clicks on search advertisements on Web pages. As a result, such technologies and tools could reduce the number of display and search advertisements that we are able to deliver or our ability to serve our interest-based advertising and this, in turn, could reduce our advertising revenue and operating results.

 

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Proprietary document formats may limit the effectiveness of our search technology by preventing our technology from accessing the content of documents in such formats, which could limit the effectiveness of our products and services.

A large amount of information on the Internet is provided in proprietary document formats. These proprietary document formats may limit the effectiveness of search technology by preventing the technology from accessing the content of such documents. The providers of the software applications used to create these documents could engineer the document format to prevent or interfere with the process of indexing the document contents with search technology. This would mean that the document contents would not be included in search results even if the contents were directly relevant to a search. The software providers may also seek to require us to pay them royalties in exchange for giving us the ability to search documents in their format. If the search platform technology we employ is unable to index proprietary format Web documents as effectively as our competitors’ technology, usage of our search services might decline, which could cause our revenue to fall.

Interruptions, delays, or failures in the provision of our services could harm our operating results.

Delays or disruptions to our service could result from a variety of causes, including the following:

 

   

Our operations are susceptible to outages and interruptions due to fire, flood, earthquake, tsunami, other natural disasters, power loss, telecommunications failures, cyber attacks, terrorist attacks, political or social unrest, and other events over which we have little or no control.

 

   

The systems through which we provide our products and services are highly technical, complex, and interdependent. Design errors might exist in these systems, or might be introduced as we roll out improvements and upgrades, which might cause service malfunctions or require services to be taken offline while corrective responses are developed.

 

   

Despite our implementation of network security measures, our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, worms, physical and electronic break-ins, sabotage, and other disruptions from unauthorized access and tampering, as well as coordinated denial-of-service attacks. We distribute servers among data centers around the world to create redundancies; however, we do not have multiple site capacity for all of our services and some of our systems are not fully redundant in the event of delays or disruptions to service.

 

   

We rely on third-party providers for our principal Internet connections and co-location of a significant portion of our data servers, as well as for our payment processing capabilities and key components or features of our search, e-mail and VOIP services, news, stock quote and other content delivery, chat services, mapping, streaming, geo-targeting, music, games, and other services. We have little or no control over these third-party providers. Any disruption of the services they provide us or any failure of these third-party providers to handle higher volumes of use could, in turn, cause delays or disruptions in our services and loss of revenue. In addition, if our agreements with these third-party providers are terminated for any reason, we might not have a readily available alternative.

Prolonged delays or disruptions to our service could result in a loss of users, damage our brands and harm our operating results.

If we or our third-party service provider fail to prevent click fraud or choose to manage traffic quality in a way that advertisers find unsatisfactory, our profitability may decline.

A portion of our display and search revenue comes from advertisers that pay for advertising on a price-per-click basis, meaning that the advertisers pay a fee every time a user clicks on their advertising. This pricing model can be vulnerable to so-called “click fraud,” which occurs when clicks are submitted on ads by a user who is motivated by reasons other than genuine interest in the subject of the ad. On Yahoo! Properties and Affiliate sites, we or our third-party service provider may be exposed to the risk of click fraud or other clicks or conversions that advertisers may perceive as undesirable. If fraudulent or other malicious activity is perpetrated by others and we or our third-party service provider are unable to detect and prevent it, or choose to manage traffic quality in a way that advertisers find unsatisfactory, the affected advertisers may experience or perceive a reduced return on their investment in our advertising programs which could lead the advertisers to become dissatisfied with our advertising programs and they might refuse to pay, demand refunds, or withdraw future business. Undetected click fraud could damage our brands and lead to a loss of advertisers and revenue. Moreover, advertiser dissatisfaction has led to litigation alleging click fraud and other types of traffic quality-related claims and could potentially lead to further litigation against us or our third-party provider or government regulation of advertising. Advertisers may also be issued refunds or credits as a result of such activity. Any increase in costs due to any such litigation, government regulation or legislation, or refunds or credits could negatively impact our profitability.

 

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We are involved in legal proceedings that may result in adverse outcomes.

We are regularly involved in claims, suits, government investigations, and proceedings arising from the ordinary course of our business, including actions with respect to intellectual property claims, privacy, data protection or law enforcement matters, tax matters, labor and employment claims, commercial claims, as well as actions involving content generated by our users, stockholder actions, and other matters. Such claims, suits, government investigations, and proceedings are inherently uncertain and their results cannot be predicted with certainty. Regardless of the outcome, such legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of legal costs, diversion of management and other personnel, and other factors. In addition, it is possible that a resolution of one or more such proceedings could result in liability, penalties, or sanctions, as well as judgments, consent decrees, or orders preventing us from offering certain features, functionalities, products, or services, or requiring a change in our business practices, products or technologies, which could in the future materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affect our operating results in U.S. dollar terms.

A portion of our revenue comes from international operations. Revenue generated and expenses incurred by our international subsidiaries are often denominated in the currencies of the local countries. As a result, our consolidated U.S. dollar financial statements are subject to fluctuations due to changes in exchange rates as the financial results of our international subsidiaries are translated from local currencies into U.S. dollars. In addition, our financial results are subject to changes in exchange rates that impact the settlement of transactions in non-local currencies.

We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if our goodwill, amortizable intangible assets, or investments in equity interests, including investments held by our equity investees, become impaired.

We are required under generally accepted accounting principles to test goodwill for impairment at least annually and to review our amortizable intangible assets and investments in equity interests, including investments held by our equity investees, for impairment when events or changes in circumstance indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that could lead to impairment of goodwill and amortizable intangible assets include significant adverse changes in the business climate (affecting our company as a whole or affecting any particular segment) and declines in the financial condition of our business. Factors that could lead to impairment of investments in equity interests include a prolonged period of decline in the stock price or operating performance of, or an announcement of adverse changes or events by, the companies in which we invested or the investments held by those companies. We have recorded and may be required in the future to record additional charges to earnings if a portion of our goodwill, amortizable intangible assets, or investments in equity interests, including investments held by our equity investees, becomes impaired. Any such charge would adversely impact our financial results.

We may have exposure to additional tax liabilities which could negatively impact our income tax provision, net income, and cash flow.

We are subject to income taxes and other taxes in both the U.S. and the foreign jurisdictions in which we currently operate or have historically operated. The determination of our worldwide provision for income taxes and current and deferred tax assets and liabilities requires judgment and estimation. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. We earn a significant amount of our operating income from outside the U.S., and any repatriation of funds currently held in foreign jurisdictions may result in higher effective tax rates for us. In the past there have been proposals to change U.S. tax laws that could significantly impact how U.S. multinational corporations are taxed on foreign earnings. We cannot predict the form or timing of potential legislative changes, but any newly enacted tax law could have a material adverse impact on our tax expense and cash flow. We are subject to regular review and audit by both domestic and foreign tax authorities as well as subject to the prospective and retrospective effects of changing tax regulations and legislation. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate tax outcome may materially differ from the tax amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements and may materially affect our income tax provision, net income, or cash flows in the period or periods for which such determination and settlement is made.

Our stock price has been volatile historically and may continue to be volatile regardless of our operating performance.

The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to broad fluctuations. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the closing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market ranged from $11.09 to $15.81 per share and the closing sale price on October 31, 2011 was $15.64 per share. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as variations in quarterly operating results, announcements and implementations of technological innovations or new services by us or our competitors; changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts; the operating and stock price performance of, or other developments involving, other companies that investors may deem comparable to us; the current and anticipated future operating performance of companies in which we have an equity investment, including Yahoo Japan Corporation (“Yahoo Japan”) and Alibaba Group; and news reports or rumors relating to us, companies in which we have an equity investment, trends in our markets, or general economic conditions.

 

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In addition, the stock market in general, and the market prices for Internet-related companies in particular, have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our stock, regardless of our operating performance. Volatility or a lack of positive performance in our stock price may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, all of whom have been granted stock options or other stock-based awards. A sustained decline in our stock price and market capitalization could lead to an impairment charge to our long-lived assets.

Delaware statutes and certain provisions in our charter documents could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire us.

Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 10 million shares of Preferred Stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of those shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders The rights of the holders of our common stock may be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be issued in the future. The issuance of Preferred Stock may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of Yahoo! without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.

Some provisions of our charter documents, including provisions eliminating the ability of stockholders to take action by written consent and limiting the ability of stockholders to raise matters at a meeting of stockholders without giving advance notice, may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control or changes in our management, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of our stock. In addition, our charter documents do not permit cumulative voting, which may make it more difficult for a third-party to gain control of our Board of Directors. Further, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which will prohibit us from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, even if such combination is favored by a majority of stockholders, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. The application of Section 203 also could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of us.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Share repurchase activity during the three months ended September 30, 2011 was as follows:

 

Period

   Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased (*)
     Average
Price Paid
per Share
     Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of  a
Publicly
Announced
Program
     Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased Under
the Program
(in 000s) (*)
 

July 1 — July 31, 2011

     19,500,411       $ 15.05         19,500,411       $ 1,321,582   

August 1 — August 31, 2011

     24,159,800       $ 12.42         24,159,800       $ 1,021,583   

September 1 — September 30,2011

     —         $ —           —         $ 1,021,583   
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

Total

     43,660,211       $ 13.59         43,660,211      
  

 

 

       

 

 

    

 

(*) 

The share repurchases in the three months ended September 30, 2011 were made under our stock repurchase program announced in June 2010, which authorizes the repurchase of up to $3 billion of our outstanding shares of common stock from time to time. This program, according to its terms, will expire in June 2013. Repurchases may take place in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, including derivative transactions, and may be made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the Index to Exhibits (following the signatures page of this Report) are filed with, or incorporated by reference in, this Report.

 

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SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

    YAHOO! INC.

Dated: November 7, 2011

    By:   /s/    TIMOTHY R. MORSE        
     

Timothy R. Morse

Interim Chief Executive Officer and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Executive Officer

and Principal Financial Officer)

 

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YAHOO! INC.

Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

  3.1(A)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed July 28, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).
  3.1(B)   Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant (included as Exhibit A within the Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2005, by and between the Registrant and Equiserve Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference)).
  3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).
  10.12+*   Summary of Compensation Payable to Named Executive Officers.
  10.18(J)†*   Sixth Amendment to Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agency Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2011, by and between the Registrant and Microsoft Corporation.
  10.22†   Framework Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2011, by and among the Registrant, Alibaba Group Holding Limited, Softbank Corp., Alipay.Com Co., Ltd., APN Ltd., Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd., Jack Ma Yun, Joseph C. Tsai and certain joinder parties (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 12, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
  31*   Certificate of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 7, 2011.
  32*   Certificate of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(b) and 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 7, 2011.
101.INS*   XBRL Instance
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
101.DEF*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
101.LAB*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels
101.PRE*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

 

* Filed herewith.
+ Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Portions of this exhibit have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.

 

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