SOHU

Sohu.com Inc.

Our company, Sohu, is a leading Internet company in China providing hundreds of millions of Chinese Internet users with news, information, video content, entertainment and communication. We operate one of the most comprehensive matrices of Chinese language Web properties and one of the most popular online games in China. Substantially all of our operations are conducted through our indirect wholly and majority-owned China-based subsidiaries and variable interest entities (collectively the “Sohu Group”).

We were incorporated in Delaware in August 1996 as Internet Technologies China Incorporated, and launched our original Website, itc.com.cn, in January 1997. In February 1998, we re-launched our Website under the domain name Sohu.com and, in September 1999, we renamed our company Sohu.com Inc.

Our Business

Our businesses mainly consist of advertising (composed of brand advertising and sponsored search), online game (conducted via Changyou.com Limited, “Changyou”), and wireless, among which brand advertising and online game are the two core businesses of the Sohu Group.

Advertising Business

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

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

•17173.com, a leading online game information portal;

•focus.cn, a top real estate Website;

•chinaren.com, a leading online alumni club; and

•sogou.com, an interactive proprietary search engine.

Online Game Business

Our online game business is conducted via Sohu’s majority-owned subsidiary Changyou. For the year ended December 31, 2009, our online game business generated $267.6 million or 52% of total revenues of $515.2 million.

Wireless and Others Businesses

Our wireless and others businesses mainly consist of wireless business, which offers value-added services for mobile phone users such as news, weather forecasts, chatting, entertainment information and mobile phone ringtone and logo downloads.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Advertising Business

Web Properties

The Sohu Group has one of the most comprehensive matrices of Web properties. Among these Web properties, Sohu.com is attracting the highest level of Internet traffic in China. On all of our Websites, we offer basic content to our users on a free of charge basis.

Sohu properties consist of sophisticated Chinese language Web navigational capabilities, approximately 40 main content channels, Web-based communication and community services. Each of our interest-specific main channels contains multi-level sub-channels that cover a comprehensive range of topics including news, entertainment, sports, business and finance, information technology, automobile, real estate, and women-focused issues. We also offer free Web-based communication and community, and other Internet services to enhance the users’ experience. Our portal attracts consumers and merchants alike because it is designed to meet the specific needs and interests of Internet users in China. Key features of our portal include proprietary Web navigational capabilities that reflect particular cultural characteristics and viewing habits of PRC Internet users.

Online Game Business

Online Games

We currently operate three MMORPGs, being TLBB, BO and BH2, all of which are operated under the item-based revenue model, where game players play our game for free but can purchase virtual items to enhance the game-playing experience. We generate revenue through the sale and consumption of such virtual items. We also have five MMORPGs in the pipeline, including DMD, which we are developing in-house, and ZHYX, DHSH, IF and LAW, all of which we licensed from third parties. We plan to operate these new MMORPGs based on the item-based revenue model.

Online Games in Pipeline

We have five MMORPGs in the pipeline, with different graphic styles, themes and features. Games in our pipeline include DMD, which we are developing in-house, and ZHYX, DHSH, IF and LAW, all of which we licensed from third parties. We intend to operate each of these games using the item-based revenue model and expect to begin open beta testing of these games in 2010.

Game Development and Enhancement

As of December 31, 2009, we had 528 product development personnel, which includes a core product development team that is responsible for developing new MMORPGs, and a dedicated product development team that is responsible for developing game enhancements and expansion packs for each of our games in operation. We believe that such enhancements improve our games’ appeal and extend our games’ lifespan. We intend to expand our product offerings by continuing to develop additional MMORPGs in-house and continuing to license MMORPGs from third parties.

New Game Development

We have in-house capabilities that allow us to develop quality MMORPGs efficiently and in response to constantly changing market demands and trends.

Pricing

We use the item-based revenue model for the games that we currently operate and plan to use it for our games currently in development. Under the item-based revenue model, game players can play the basic functions of the game free of charge for as long as they want. We generate revenues through the sale of virtual items such as performance-enhancing items, clothing, accessories and pets that enhance the game-playing experience. We determine the price of virtual items based on the demand or expected demand for such virtual items. We may change the pricing of certain virtual items based on their consumption patterns.

Wireless and Others Businesses

Wireless and other businesses mainly consist of wireless valued added services. For these services, we operate as a service provider to China’s leading mobile network operators, offering a wide range of wireless products focused on entertainment, information and communications. These products are available to end users via a broad choice of technologies, such as short messaging services (“SMS”), Ring Back Tone (“RBT”), Wireless Application Protocol (“WAP”), multi-media messaging services (“MMS”) and interactive voice response (“IVR”). We provide wireless services mainly pursuant to our cooperation arrangements with all of the three Chinese mobile network operators and their provincial subsidiaries. We will continue to build out our wireless capabilities to provide opportunities for our users to capitalize on improved 3G technologies as the service increases its penetration within China, rather than focusing on revenue expansion of our wireless business.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2009, we had 3,997 full-time and part-time employees, including 1,734 employees for our brand advertising business and 1,368 employees for our online game business. We also employ independent contractors to support our research and development, sales, marketing, and editorial departments. None of our personnel are represented under collective bargaining agreements.

We have entered into standard employment agreements with our employees through our subsidiaries and variable interest entities. In addition, all of our full-time employees have entered into confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements with us. However, the degree of protection afforded to an employer pursuant to confidentiality and non-competition undertakings governed by PRC law may be more limited when compared to the degree of protection afforded under the laws of other jurisdictions. A number of our employees hold share-based awards granted by Sohu.com Inc. and Changyou.com Limited, which provide additional financial incentives to them. These awards generally vest over a period of four years.