As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2000
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
YAHOO! INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State of incorporation) |
77-0398689 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
3420 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, California 95051
(408) 731-3300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Gary Valenzuela
Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer
3420 Central Expressway
Santa Clara, California 95051
(408) 731-3300
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Joshua L. Green
Venture Law Group
A Professional Corporation
2800 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 854-4488
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement for a period lasting one year or until such earlier time that all of the shares registered hereunder have been sold.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are to be offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. / /
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. /x/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. / /
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered(1) |
Proposed maximum offering price per share(2) |
Proposed maximum Aggregate offering Price(2) |
Amount of registration fee |
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Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | 1,342,282 shares | $121.00 | $162,416,122 | $42,878 | ||||
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
PROSPECTUS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 30, 2000
YAHOO! INC.
1,342,282 shares of Common Stock
The shares offered in this prospectus involve a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the "Risk Factors" referenced on page 4 in determining whether to purchase the Yahoo! Inc. Common Stock.
The selling stockholder identified on page 17 of this prospectus is offering these shares of common stock. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled "Plan of Distribution" on page 17. We will not receive any portion of the proceeds from the sale of these shares.
Yahoo! Inc.'s common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "YHOO."
On June 26, 2000, the last sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $119.3125 per share.
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Proceeds to Selling stockholder |
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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities or passed on the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosures in the prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
The date of this prospectus is 2000
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Page |
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THE COMPANY | 3 | |
RISK FACTORS | 4 | |
USE OF PROCEEDS | 16 | |
ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK TO SELLING STOCKHOLDER | 17 | |
SELLING STOCKHOLDER | 17 | |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 17 | |
LEGAL MATTERS | 18 | |
EXPERTS | 18 | |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 18 | |
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS | 19 |
We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You should not rely on any unauthorized information. This prospectus does not offer to sell or buy any shares in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful. The information in this prospectus is current as of the date on the cover.
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Yahoo! is a global Internet communications, commerce and media company that offers a comprehensive branded network of services to more than 145 million individuals each month worldwide. As the first online navigational guide to the Web, www.yahoo.com is the leading guide in terms of traffic, advertising, household and business user reach, and is one of the most recognized brands associated with the Internet. Yahoo! also provides online business services designed to enhance the Web presence of Yahoo!'s clients, including audio and video streaming, store hosting and management, and Web site tools and services. Yahoo!'s global Web network includes 23 local world properties outside the United States. Yahoo! has offices in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Canada and the United States, and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Yahoo! was incorporated on March 5, 1995 under the laws of California. Yahoo! was subsequently reincorporated on May 14, 1999 under the laws of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 3420 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, California 95051 and our telephone number is (408) 731-3300. As used in this prospectus, the words "we," "us," "our" and "Yahoo!" refer to Yahoo! Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including GeoCities and broadcast.com.
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We are in a highly competitive industry and some of our competitors may be more successful in attracting and retaining customers.
The market for Internet products and services is highly competitive and we expect that competition will continue to intensify. Negative competitive developments could have a material adverse effect on our business and the trading price of our stock.
We compete with many other providers of online navigation, information, entertainment, business, community, electronic commerce and broadcast services. As we expand the scope of our Internet offerings, we will compete directly with a greater number of Internet sites, media companies, and companies providing business services across a wide range of different online services, including:
In particular, we face significant competition from America Online and Microsoft (MSN) and, to a less significant extent, other companies that have combined a variety of services under one brand in a manner similar to Yahoo! including CMGI (Alta Vista), the Walt Disney Company (The GO Network), Excite@Home, and Lycos. In certain of these cases, our competition has a direct billing relationship with the user, which we generally lack. This relationship permits our competitors to have several potential advantages including the potential to be more effective than us in targeting services and advertisements to the specific taste of their users. America Online and Time Warner recently announced the proposed merging of their companies. If completed, the merger will provide America Online with content from Time Warner's movie and television, music, books and periodicals, news, sports and other media holdings; access to a network of cable and other broadband delivery technologies; and considerable resources for future growth and expansion. The proposed America Online and Time Warner combination will also provide America Online with access to a broad potential customer base consisting of Time Warner's current customers and subscribers of its various media properties. We also face competition from Web sites focused on vertical markets where expertise in a particular segment of the market may provide a competitive advantage. On an international level, we compete directly with local providers; they may have several advantages, including greater knowledge about the particular country or local market. We must continue to obtain more knowledge about our users and their preferences as well as increase our branding and other marketing activities in order to remain competitive.
A large number of these Web sites and online services as well as high-traffic e-commerce merchants such as Amazon.com, Inc. also offer or are expected to offer informational and community features that may be competitive with the services that we offer. In order to effectively compete, we may need to expend significant internal engineering resources or acquire other technologies and companies to provide or enhance such capabilities. Any of these efforts could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition and be dilutive to our stockholders.
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Financial results for any particular period will not predict results for future periods.
Because of the uncertain nature of the rapidly changing market we serve, period-to-period comparisons of operating results are not likely to be meaningful. In addition, you should not rely on the results for any period as an indication of future performance. In particular, although we experienced strong revenue growth through the first quarter of 2000, we do not believe that this level of revenue growth on a percentage basis will be sustained in future periods. In addition, we currently expect that our operating expenses will continue to increase significantly as we expand our sales and marketing operations, continue to develop and extend the Yahoo! brand, fund greater levels of product development, develop and commercialize additional media properties, and acquire complementary businesses and technologies. Further, we are subject to employer payroll taxes when our employees exercise their non-qualified stock options. The employer payroll taxes are assessed on each employee's gain, which is the difference between the price of our common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price. During a particular period, these payroll taxes could be material. Assuming the fair market value of our common stock was $175 per share on March 31, 2000, employer payroll taxes on unrealized gains related to vested and unvested non-qualified stock options would be approximately $60.5 million and $140.6 million, respectively. These employer payroll taxes would be recorded as a charge to operations in the period such options are exercised based on actual gains realized by employees. Net proceeds that we would receive upon the exercise of such vested and unvested stock options would approximate $221.9 million and $3.3 billion, respectively. In addition, we would receive tax deductions for gains realized by employees on the exercise of non-qualified stock options for which the benefit is recorded as additional paid-in capital. However, because we are unable to predict our future stock price and the number of optionees who may exercise during any particular period, we cannot predict what, if any, expense will be recorded in a future period and the impact on our future financial results. In addition, if revenue growth levels do not meet our expectations, our financial results will be adversely affected.
We rely heavily on revenues derived from Internet advertising, which may prove to be an ineffective means of advertising for our current and potential clients.
Currently, the majority of our revenues come from advertisements displayed on our online properties. Our ability to continue to achieve substantial advertising revenue depends upon:
If we are unsuccessful in adapting to the needs of our advertisers, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
We derive the majority of our revenues from the sale of advertisements under short-term contracts, which are difficult to forecast accurately.
Most of our revenues are currently derived from agreements with advertisers or sponsorship arrangements. These agreements generally have terms no longer than three (3) years and, in many cases, the terms are much shorter. In cases where the advertiser is providing services, the agreements often have payments contingent on usage levels. Accordingly, it is difficult to accurately forecast these revenues. However, our expense levels are based in part on expectations of future revenues and, to a large extent, are fixed. We may be unable to adjust spending quickly enough to compensate for any
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unexpected revenue shortfall. Accordingly, the cancellation or deferral of advertising or sponsorship contracts could have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Because our operating expenses are likely to increase significantly over the near term, to the extent that our expenses increase but our revenues do not, our business, operating results, and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
The rate structure of some of our sponsorship arrangements subjects us to financial risk.
A key element of our strategy is to generate advertising revenues through sponsored services and placements by third parties in our online media properties in addition to banner advertising. We typically receive sponsorship fees or a portion of transaction revenues in return for minimum levels of user impressions to be provided by us. These arrangements expose us to potentially significant financial risks in the event our usage levels decrease, including the following:
Accordingly, any leveling off or decrease of our user base or the failure to generate anticipated levels of shared transaction revenues could result in a significant decrease in our revenue levels.
We have spent considerable amounts of money and resources to provide a variety of communications services, but such services may not prove to be successful.
Currently, a substantial portion of the traffic on our online properties is directed at our communications services, such as email, instant messaging, calendaring and chat rooms, and we expect this trend to continue for the foreseeable future. We provide these and other basic communications services free of charge to our users, as is the case with most of our competitors, and have not yet determined an effective means of generating revenues from the provision of such services. In addition, alternative revenue models for our communications and electronic commerce services, such as subscription fees and commissions, are relatively unproven and may not generate sufficient revenues to be meaningful to us. As communications services become an increasingly important part of our total offering, we must continue to provide new communications applications which are compelling to users and utilize more sophisticated communications technologies to provide such applications to many types of access devices in addition to the personal computer, while developing an effective method for generating revenues for such services. In addition, the development of these technologies require long development cycles and a more significant investment by us. If we were unable to develop such applications or use such technologies, the size and rate of growth in our user base would be adversely affected. If we cannot develop a means by which we generate revenues from our communications services that are more than sufficient to offset the costs of providing such services, our business, operating results and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
We may not be successful in expanding the number of users of our electronic commerce services and our ability to effectively provide these services is limited because we do not have a direct billing relationship with our customers.
We have focused, and intend to continue to focus, significant resources on the development and enhancement of our electronic commerce properties. These properties, such as Yahoo! Shopping, link users with a network of retailers with which we have relationships. However, we merely provide a
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means through which our users can access the sellers of the products such users may wish to purchase and do not establish a direct billing relationship with our users as a result of any such purchase. In addition, a large number of our users currently utilize our online shopping services simply to gather information for future offline purchases. We will need to effectively induce information gatherers to make purchases in order for our electronic commerce properties to be successful. The revenue that we derive from our electronic commerce services is typically in the form of a bounty or a commission paid by the retailer from whom our user purchased a product. If the user had a favorable buying experience with a particular retailer, the user may subsequently contact that retailer directly rather than through our service. If our users bypass our electronic commerce properties, such as Yahoo! Shopping, and contact retailers directly, we will not receive any revenue for purchases made through such direct contact. Competing providers of online shopping, including merchants with which we have relationships, may be able to provide a more convenient and comprehensive online shopping experience due to their singular focus on electronic commerce. As a result, we may have difficulty competing with those merchants for users of electronic commerce services. The inability of our electronic commerce properties to generate significant revenues could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We will continue to expand into international markets in which we have limited experience.
A key part of our strategy is to develop Yahoo!-branded online properties in international markets and we have developed, through joint ventures, subsidiaries and branch offices, Yahoo! properties localized for over 15 other countries. To date, we have only limited experience in developing localized versions of our products and marketing and operating our products and services internationally and we rely on the efforts and abilities of our foreign business partners in such activities.
We believe that in light of substantial anticipated competition, we need to move quickly into international markets in order to effectively obtain market share. However, in a number of international markets, especially those in Europe, we face substantial competition from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that offer or may offer their own navigational services. Many of these ISPs have a dominant market share in their territories. Further, foreign providers of competing online services may have a substantial advantage over us in attracting users in their country due to more established branding in that country, greater knowledge with respect to the tastes and preferences of users residing in that country and/or their focus on a single market. We expect to continue to experience higher costs as a percentage of revenues in connection with the development and maintenance of international online properties. International markets we have selected may not develop at a rate that supports our level of investment. In particular, international markets typically have been slower than domestic markets in adopting the Internet as an advertising and commerce medium.
In addition to uncertainty about our ability to continue to generate revenues from our foreign operations and expand our international presence, there are certain risks inherent in doing business on an international level, including:
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One or more of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our future international operations and, consequently, on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
We depend on key personnel who may not continue to work for us.
We are substantially dependent on the continued services of our key personnel, including our two founders, our chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief technology officer and vice presidents. Each of these individuals has acquired specialized knowledge and skills with respect to Yahoo! and its operations. As a result, if any of these individuals were to leave Yahoo!, we could face substantial difficulty in hiring qualified successors and could experience a loss in productivity while any such successor obtains the necessary training and experience. Many of our management personnel have reached or will soon reach the four-year anniversary of their Yahoo! hiring date and, as a result, will have become or will shortly become fully vested in their initial stock option grants. While management personnel are typically granted additional stock options, which will usually vest over a period of four years, subsequent to their hire date to provide additional incentive to remain at Yahoo!, the initial option grant is typically the largest and an employee may be more likely to leave our employ upon completion of the vesting period for the initial option grant.
We expect that we will need to hire additional personnel in all areas. The competition for qualified personnel is intense, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, where our corporate headquarters are located. At times, we have experienced difficulties in hiring personnel with the right training or experience, particularly in technical areas. We do not maintain key person life insurance for any of our personnel. If we do not succeed in attracting new personnel, or retaining and motivating existing personnel, our business will be adversely affected.
We may have difficulty scaling and adapting our existing architecture to accommodate increased traffic and technology advances.
Yahoo! is one of the most highly trafficked Web sites on the Internet and is regularly exceeding previous standards for numbers of simultaneous users, unique users and daily page views delivered. In addition, the services offered by Yahoo! and popular with users have changed significantly in the past and are expected to change rapidly in the future. Much of the architecture that we employ was not originally designed to accommodate levels or types of use that we currently experience on our online properties and it is unclear whether current or future anticipated levels of traffic will result in delays or interruptions in our service. In particular, the architecture utilized for our email and certain other communication services was not primarily designed for this purpose and may not provide satisfactory service in the future, especially as it becomes an increasingly important service offering. In the future, we may be required to make significant changes to our architecture, including moving to a completely new architecture. If we are required to switch architectures, we may incur substantial costs and experience delays or interruptions in our service. If we experience delays or interruptions in our service due to inadequacies in our current architecture or as a result of a change in architectures, users may become dissatisfied with our service and move to competing providers of online services. Further, to the extent that demand for our broadcast services content increases, 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. Also, 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 loss of traffic, increased costs, inefficiencies or failures to adapt to new technologies and the associated adjustments to our architecture would have a material adverse effect on our business.
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Our competitors often provide Internet access or computer hardware to our customers and they could make it difficult for our customers to access our services.
Our users must access our services through an Internet service provider, or ISP, with which the user establishes a direct billing relationship using a personal computer or other access device. To the extent that an access provider, such as America Online, or a computer or computing device manufacturer offers online services or properties that are competitive with those of Yahoo!, the user may find it more convenient to use the services or properties of that access provider or manufacturer. In addition, the access provider or manufacturer may make it difficult to access our services by not listing them in the access provider's or manufacturer's own directory. Also, because an access provider gathers information from the user in connection with the establishment of the billing relationship, an access provider may be more effective than Yahoo! in tailoring services and advertisements to the specific tastes of the user. To the extent that a user opts to use the services offered by his or her access provider or those offered by computer or computing device manufacturers rather than the services provided by Yahoo!, our business, operating results and financial condition will be materially adversely affected.
Our business services, while costly to develop, may fail to gain market acceptance.
We have invested a significant amount of money and resources in the creation of our business services, such as the creation and hosting of streaming content of third parties, but such services are unproven and may fail to gain market acceptance. Because the market for these business services is new and evolving, it is difficult to predict the size of this market and its rate of growth, if any. In addition, it is uncertain whether businesses and other organizations will utilize the Internet to any significant degree as a means of broadcasting business conferences and other events. Potential business services customers must accept audio and video broadcast services over the Internet as a viable alternative to face-to-face meetings, television or audio, audio teleconferences and video conferencing. We cannot assure you that the market for business services will continue to develop or be sustainable. If the market fails to develop, develops more slowly than expected or becomes more competitive than is currently expected, our operating results could be adversely affected.
More individuals are utilizing non-PC devices to access the Internet and we may not be successful in developing a version of our service that will gain widespread adoption by users of such devices.
In the coming years, the number of individuals who access the Internet through devices other than a personal computer such as personal digital assistants, cellular telephones and television set-top devices is expected to increase dramatically. Our services are designed for rich, graphical environments such as those available on personal and laptop computers. The lower resolution, functionality and memory associated with alternative devices may make the use of our services through such devices difficult and we may be unsuccessful in our efforts to modify our online properties to provide a compelling service for users of alternative devices. As we have limited experience to date in operating versions of our service developed or optimized for users of alternative devices, it is difficult to predict the problems we may encounter in doing so and we may need to devote significant resources to the creation, support and maintenance of such versions. If we are unable to attract and retain a substantial number of alternative device users to our online services, we will fail to capture a sufficient share of an increasingly important portion of the market for online services. Further, as the majority of our revenues are derived through the sale of banner and other advertising optimized for a personal computer screen, we may not be successful at developing a viable strategy for deriving substantial revenues from online properties that are directed at the users of alternative devices. Any failure to develop revenue-generating online properties that are adopted by a significant number of handheld device users could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
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We rely on the value of the Yahoo! brand and the costs of maintaining and enhancing our brand awareness are increasing.
We believe that maintaining and expanding the Yahoo! brand is an important aspect of our efforts to attract and expand our user and advertiser base. We also believe that the importance of brand recognition will increase due to the growing number of Internet sites and the relatively low barriers to entry. We have spent considerable money and resources to date on the establishment and maintenance of the Yahoo! brand. However, because the number of Internet navigation, commerce, community and service companies continues to grow dramatically, it has become increasingly difficult and, due to increased competition, expensive, to obtain quality television, radio, magazine, Internet and other advertising space. Further, the proliferation of Internet-based companies has resulted and will continue to result in increased consumer confusion. Consequently, we will spend increasing amounts of money on, and devote greater resources to, advertising, marketing and other brand-building efforts to preserve and enhance consumer awareness of the Yahoo! brand during 2000. We may not be able to successfully maintain or enhance consumer awareness of our brand and, even if we are successful in our branding efforts, such efforts may not be cost-effective. If we are unable to maintain or enhance consumer awareness of the Yahoo! brand in a cost-effective manner, our business, operating results and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
The successful operation of our business depends upon the supply of critical elements from other companies.
We will depend upon third parties, to a substantial extent, for several critical elements of our business including various technology, infrastructure, content development, software and distribution components.
Technology and Infrastructure. We rely on a private third-party provider, Frontier GlobalCenter, Inc., for our principal Internet connections. Email and other service Internet connections are provided to us by GTE. We rely on Network Appliances for key components of our email service. We also rely on Exodus Communications for the hosting of our users' homepages and Level 3 Communications for hosting and access to our broadcast services. Any disruption in the Internet access provided by these third-party providers or any failure of these third-party providers to handle current or higher volumes of use could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition. We license technology and related databases from third parties for certain elements of our properties, including, among others, technology underlying the delivery of news, stock quotes and current financial information, chat services, street mapping and telephone listings, streaming capabilities and similar services. We have experienced and expect to continue to experience interruptions and delays in service and availability for such elements. Furthermore, we are dependent on hardware suppliers for prompt delivery, installation, and service of servers and other equipment to deliver our products and services. Any errors, failures, interruptions, or delays experienced in connection with these third-party technologies and information services could negatively impact our relationship with users and adversely affect our brand and our business, and could expose us to liabilities to third parties.
Distribution Relationships. To increase traffic for our online properties and make them more available and attractive to advertisers and consumers, we have certain distribution agreements and informal relationships with leading Web browser providers such as Microsoft, operators of online networks and leading Web sites, software developers and computer manufacturers, such as Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard and Gateway, and telecommunications companies, such as Sprint PCS. These distribution arrangements typically are not exclusive and do not extend over a significant amount of time. Further, some of our distributors are competitors or potential competitors who may not renew their distribution contracts with us. Potential distributors may not offer distribution of our properties and services on reasonable terms, or at all. In addition, as new methods for accessing the Web become available, we may be required to enter into additional distribution relationships. Any failure to obtain
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distribution or to obtain distribution on terms that are reasonable, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Streaming media software. We rely on the two leading providers of streaming media products, RealNetworks and Microsoft, to license the software necessary to broadcast streaming audio and video content to our users. There can be no assurance that these providers will continue to license these products to us on reasonable terms, or at all. Our users are currently able to electronically download copies of the software to play streaming media free of charge, but providers of streaming media products may begin charging users for copies of their player software or otherwise change their business model in a manner that slows the widespread acceptance of these products. In order for our broadcast services to be successful, there must be a large base of users of these streaming media products. We have limited or no control over the availability or acceptance of streaming media software, and to the extent that any of these circumstances occur, the broadcast services portion of our business will be materially adversely affected.
Our dependence on third party content providers subjects us to risks.
Our future success depends upon its ability to aggregate compelling content and deliver that content through its online properties. Much of the content that attracts users to the Yahoo! online properties, such as news items, stock quotes, weather reports, maps and audio and video content, is licensed from third parties such as Reuters and TIBCO. In particular, Yahoo! Broadcast relies on major sports organizations, radio and television stations, record labels, cable networks, businesses, colleges and universities, film producers and distributors, and other organizations for a large portion of the content available on the site. Our ability to maintain and build relationships with third-party content providers will be critical to our success. We may be unable to enter into or preserve relationships with the third parties whose content we seek to obtain. Many of our current licenses for third-party content extend for a period of less than two years and there can be no guarantee that they will be renewed upon their expiration. In addition, as competition for compelling content increases both locally and abroad, Yahoo!'s content providers may increase the prices at which they offer their content to Yahoo! and potential content providers may not offer their content on terms agreeable to Yahoo!. An increase in the prices charged to us by third-party content providers could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Further, many of our content licenses with third parties are non-exclusive. Accordingly, other Webcasters may be able to offer similar or identical content. Likewise, most sports and entertainment content available on our online properties are also available on other media like radio or television. These media are currently, and for the foreseeable future will be, much more widely adopted for listening or viewing such content than the Web. These factors also increase the importance of our ability to deliver compelling editorial content and personalization of this content for users in order to differentiate ourselves. If we are unable to license or acquire compelling content, if other companies broadcast content that is similar to or the same as that provided by Yahoo!, or if we do not develop compelling editorial content or personalization services, the number of users on our online properties may not grow at all or at a slower rate than anticipated, which would decrease our advertising revenue.
As we provide more audio and video content, particularly music, we may be required to spend significant amounts of money on content acquisition and content broadcasts.
Until recently, the majority of the content that we provided to our users was in print, picture or graphical format and was either created internally or licensed to us by third parties for little or no charge. However, we have been providing recently and we intend to continue to provide increasing amounts of audio and video content to our users, such as the broadcast of music, film content, speeches, news footage, concerts and other special events, through our broadcast services division and our other media properties, and such content may require us to make substantial payments to third
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parties from whom we will license or acquire such content. For example, in order to broadcast music through our online properties, we are currently required to pay royalties both on the copyright in the musical compositions and the copyright in the actual sound recordings of the music to be broadcast. Through our broadcast services division, we currently have license agreements in place with ASCAP and BMI, and are in negotiations for a license agreement with SESAC, that permit us to license the copyright for the public performance of musical compositions for which they control the rights. With respect to the copyrights in the specific sound recordings that we desire to broadcast, we must either secure a license directly from the record labels that own the rights to such recordings, or pay a statutory license fee. The statutory license fee and other terms for these licenses have not yet been determined and, therefore, the costs of broadcasting music through our online properties remains unclear. If these royalty rates are above our expectations, if the royalty rates charged by the various performance rights societies increase or if any of these or other parties with music licensing rights impose terms that make it difficult or impossible to broadcast music, we may be unable to provide music content to our users in a cost-effective manner. We believe that users of Internet services such as the Yahoo! online properties will increasingly demand high-quality audio and video content. The revenue that we receive as a result of our audio and video broadcasts may not justify the costs of providing such broadcasts. Our inability to cost-effectively provide high-quality audio and/or video content to our users could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
To successfully improve our rich media offerings, we must rely on the deployment of a true multicasting network.
The streaming services that we acquired upon our acquisition of broadcast.com originally deployed unicasting (one user per company originated stream) technology to broadcast audio and video programming to users over the Internet. Recently, it began to deploy another broadcast technology, multicasting (multiple users per company originated stream). We believe that demand for multicasting will continue to expand and, as a result, we must continue to enhance this capability in the future.
We will be required to test, deploy and successfully scale a multicast network infrastructure to serve mass audiences. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in doing so, that multicasting will be able to support a substantial audience or that an alternative technology will not emerge that offers superior broadcasting technology as compared to multicasting. In the event that multicasting technology is not successfully deployed in a timely manner or such an alternative technology emerges, we may be required to expend significant resources to deploy a technology other than multicasting, which could adversely affect our results of operations. If Yahoo! Broadcast Services fails to scale its broadcasts to large audiences of simultaneous users, such failure could adversely affect that portion of our business.
We must manage our growth successfully, including the integration of recently-acquired companies, in order to achieve our desired results.
We have experienced dramatic growth in personnel in recent years and expect to continue to hire large numbers of additional personnel. As the number of Yahoo! employees grows, it will become increasingly difficult and more costly to manage our personnel. Further, as a result of recent acquisitions and international expansion, almost one-half of our employees are based outside of our Santa Clara headquarters. If we are unable to effectively manage a large and geographically dispersed group of employees, our business will be adversely affected.
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As part of our business strategy, we have completed several acquisitions, including our recent acquisitions of GeoCities and broadcast.com, and expect to enter into additional business combinations and acquisitions. Acquisition transactions are accompanied by a number of risks, including:
We may not be successful in addressing these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions.
Our intellectual property rights are costly and difficult to protect.
We regard our copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, trade secrets, and similar intellectual property, including our rights to certain domain names, as critical to our success. We rely upon trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection and confidentiality or license agreements with our employees, customers, partners and others to protect our proprietary rights. For example, we have obtained the registration for certain of our trademarks, including "Yahoo!" and "Yahooligans!" Effective trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection may not be available in every country in which our products and media properties are distributed or made available through the Internet, and while we attempt to ensure that the quality of our brand is maintained by our licensees, our licensees may take actions that could materially and adversely affect the value of our proprietary rights or the reputation of our products and media properties. We are aware that third parties have, from time to time, copied significant portions of Yahoo! directory listings for use in competitive Internet navigational tools and services. Protection of the distinctive elements of Yahoo! may not be available under copyright law. We cannot guarantee that the steps we have taken to protect our proprietary rights will be adequate.
We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which are costly to defend and could limit our ability to use certain technologies in the future.
Many parties are actively developing search, indexing, e-commerce and other Web-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. As a result, disputes regarding the ownership of these technologies and rights associated with online business are likely to arise in the future. In addition to existing patents and intellectual property rights, we anticipate that additional third-party patents related to our services will be issued in the future. From time to time, parties assert patent infringement claims against us in the form of
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letters, lawsuits and other forms of communications. Currently, we are engaged in two 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 most likely will continue to assert claims against us alleging infringement of copyrights, trademark rights, trade secret rights or other proprietary rights, or alleging unfair competition or violations of privacy rights. In the event that we determine that licensing patents or other proprietary rights is appropriate, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to license such proprietary rights on reasonable terms or at all. We may incur substantial expenses in defending against third-party infringement claims regardless of the merit of such claims. In the event that there is a determination that we have infringed third-party proprietary rights or other third party rights such as publicity and privacy rights, we could incur substantial monetary liability or be prevented from using the rights, which could require us to change our business practices in the future.
We are aware of lawsuits filed against two of our competitors regarding the presentment of advertisements in response to search requests on "keywords" that may be trademarks of third parties. Initial rulings in these lawsuits were in favor of our competitors, but the plaintiffs in these lawsuits have appealed these initial rulings. In addition, lawsuits have been filed against broadcast.com, a company we acquired in July 1999, alleging patent infringement relating to broadcast.com's use of streaming media products. It is not clear what, if any, impact an adverse ruling in these recently-filed lawsuits would have on us.
We are subject to U.S. and foreign government regulation of the Internet, the impact of which is difficult to predict.
There are currently few laws or regulations directly applicable to the Internet. The application of existing laws and regulations to Yahoo! relating to issues such as user privacy, defamation, pricing, advertising, taxation, gambling, sweepstakes, promotions, content regulation, quality of products and services, and intellectual property ownership and infringement can be unclear. In addition, we will also be subject to new laws and regulations directly applicable to our activities. Any existing or new legislation applicable to us could expose us to substantial liability, including significant expenses necessary to comply with such laws and regulations, and dampen the growth in use of the Web.
Several recently passed federal laws could have an impact on our business. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is intended to reduce the liability of online service providers for listing or linking to third-party Web sites that include materials that infringe copyrights or other rights of others. The Children's Online Protection Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act are intended to restrict the distribution of certain materials deemed harmful to children and impose additional restrictions on the ability of online services to collect user information from minors. In addition, the Protection of Children From Sexual Predators Act of 1998 requires online service providers to report evidence of violations of federal child pornography laws under certain circumstances. Such legislation may impose significant additional costs on our business or subject us to additional liabilities.
We post privacy policies concerning the use and disclosure of user data. In addition, GeoCities, a company we acquired in 1999, is required to comply with a consent order between it and the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"), which imposes certain obligations and restrictions with respect to information collected from users. Further, the FTC is conducting an inquiry into certain of our consumer information practices to determine whether we have complied with applicable FTC consumer protection regulations. In connection with this inquiry, the FTC has requested that we provide information about our practices and submit various documents and other materials to the FTC. Any failure by us to comply with our posted privacy policies, the consent order, FTC requirements (including the inquiry mentioned above) or other privacy-related laws and regulations could result in proceedings by the FTC or others which could potentially have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Due to the global nature of the Web, it is possible that the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate its transmissions or prosecute us for violations of their laws. We might unintentionally violate such laws, such laws may be modified and new laws may be enacted in the future. Any such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
We may be subject to legal liability for our online services.
We host a wide variety of services that enable individuals to exchange information, generate content, conduct business and engage in various online activities, including public message posting and services relating to online auctions and homesteading. The law relating to the liability of providers of these online services for activities of their users is currently unsettled. Claims have been threatened and could be brought against us for defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, unlawful activity, tort, including personal injury, fraud, or other theories based on the nature and content of information that we provide links to or that may be posted online or generated by our users or with respect to auctioned materials. In addition, we are aware that governmental agencies are currently investigating the conduct of online auctions.
We also periodically enter into arrangements to offer third-party products, services, or content under the Yahoo! brand or via distribution on various Yahoo! properties, including stock quotes and trading information. 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 these parties often provide that we will be indemnified against such liabilities, such indemnification may not be adequate.
It is also possible that, if any information provided directly by us contains errors or is otherwise negligently provided to users, third parties could make claims against us. For example, we offer Web-based email services, which expose us to potential risks, such as liabilities or claims resulting from unsolicited email, lost or misdirected messages, illegal or fraudulent use of email, or interruptions or delays in email service. Investigating and defending any of these types of claims is expensive, even to the extent that the claims do not result in liability.
Our stock price has been volatile historically, which may make it more difficult for you to resell shares when you want at prices you find attractive.
The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations. During the second quarter of 2000, the closing sale prices of our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market ranged from $107 to $173 and the sale price of our common stock closed at $119.3125 on June 26, 2000. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as quarterly variations in operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products and media properties by us or our competitors, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable, and news reports relating to trends in our markets. In addition, the stock market in general, and the market prices for Internet-related companies in particular, have experienced extreme 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.
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Management and one large stockholder beneficially own approximately 38.6% of our stock; their interests could conflict with yours; significant sales of stock held by them could have a negative effect on Yahoo!'s stock price.
Yahoo!'s directors and executive officers and SOFTBANK beneficially own approximately 38.6% of our outstanding common stock as of May 31, 2000. Eric Hippeau is a member of our Board of Directors and is also the Chairman and CEO of Ziff-Davis, a subsidiary of SOFTBANK. As a result of their ownership and positions, our directors and executive officers and SOFTBANK collectively are able to significantly influence all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. Such concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of Yahoo!. In addition, sales of significant amounts of shares held by Yahoo!'s directors and executive officers and SOFTBANK, or the prospect of these sales, could adversely affect the market price of Yahoo! common stock.
Our operations could be significantly hindered by the occurrence of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event.
Our operations are susceptible to outages due to fire, floods, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins and similar events. In addition, the majority of our network infrastructure is located in Northern California, an area susceptible to earthquakes. We do not have multiple site capacity for all of our services in the event of any such occurrence. Despite our implementation of network security measures, our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins, and similar disruptions from unauthorized tampering with our computer systems. In addition, we are vulnerable to coordinated attempts to overload our systems with data, resulting in denial or reduction of service to some or all of our users for a period of time. We have experienced a coordinated denial of service attack in the past, and may experience such attempts in the future. We do not carry sufficient business interruption insurance to compensate us for losses that may occur as a result of any of these events. Any such event could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.
Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 10,000,000 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 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, deferring or preventing a change of control of Yahoo! without further action by the stockholders and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of common stock. We have no present plans to issue shares of preferred stock. Further, certain 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 management of Yahoo!, 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.
The proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus are solely for the account of the selling stockholder. Accordingly, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares by the selling stockholder.
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ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK TO SELLING STOCKHOLDER
On May 31, 2000, SOFTBANK sold 1,342,282 shares of Yahoo! Common Stock (the "Shares") then held by SOFTBANK to Acqua Wellington North American Equities Fund, Ltd. ("Wellington"). In order to facilitate an orderly trading market for our common stock, we have agreed with Wellington to register the Shares.
All of the Shares registered for sale pursuant to this prospectus will be owned immediately after registration by Wellington, the selling stockholder. All of the Shares offered hereby were acquired by Wellington in connection with SOFTBANK'S private sale of the Shares to Wellington. Such Shares do not exceed one percent (1%) of our outstanding capitalization as of the date of this prospectus. Other than in its capacity as a stockholder, Wellington does not have a material relationship with us.
The following table sets forth certain information known to us with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of May 31, 2000, by the selling stockholder. The following table assumes that the selling stockholder sells all of the Shares. We are unable to determine the exact number of Shares that actually will be sold.
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Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering |
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Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to the Offering |
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Shares Offered by This Prospectus |
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Selling stockholder |
Shares |
Percent |
Shares |
Percent |
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Acqua Wellington North American Equities Fund, Ltd. | 1,342,282 | * | 1,342,282 | 0 | * |
The Shares covered hereby may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling stockholder. The selling stockholder will act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. The selling stockholder may sell the Shares being offered hereby: (i) on The Nasdaq National Market, or otherwise at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price; or (ii) in private sales at negotiated prices directly or through a broker or brokers, who may act as agent or as principal or by a combination of such methods of sale. The selling stockholder and any underwriter, dealer or agent who participate in the distribution of such shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" under the Securities Act of 1933, and any discount, commission or concession received by such persons might be deemed to be an underwriting discount or commission under the Securities Act. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Any broker-dealer participating in such transactions as agent may receive commissions from the selling stockholder (and, if acting as agent for the purchaser of such shares, from such purchaser). Usual and customary brokerage fees will be paid by the selling stockholder. Broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of shares at a stipulated price per share, and, to the extent such a broker-dealer is unable to do so acting as agent for the selling stockholder, to purchase as principal any unsold shares at the price required to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to the selling stockholder. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principal may thereafter resell such shares from time to time in transactions (which may involve crosses and block transactions and which may involve sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above) in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or by a combination of such methods of sale
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or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, and in connection with such resales may pay to or receive from the purchasers of such shares commissions computed as described above.
The anti-manipulation rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to sales of Shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholder and its affiliates. The selling stockholder has advised us that during such time as the selling stockholder may be engaged in the attempt to sell the Shares registered hereunder, it will not effect any sale or distribution of the Shares until after the prospectus shall have been appropriately amended or supplemented, if required.
The selling stockholder may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the Shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Any commissions paid or any discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker-dealers, and any profits received on the resale of such Shares, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act if any such broker-dealers purchase Shares as principal.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, our common stock will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, the common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
We have agreed to use our best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of this registration statement with respect to the Shares until the earlier of the sale of such Shares or one year following the effective date of this registration statement. No sales may be made pursuant to this prospectus after such date unless we amend or supplement this prospectus to indicate that we have agreed to extend such period of effectiveness. There can be no assurance that the selling stockholder will sell all or any of the Shares offered hereunder.
The validity of the Shares offered hereby will be passed upon by Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation, Menlo Park, California, counsel to Yahoo! Inc.
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Yahoo! Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1999, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information in the Registration Statement has been omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules of the SEC. We file the annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can inspect and copy the Registration Statement as well as reports, proxy statements and other information we have filed with the SEC at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following Regional Offices of the SEC: Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, and Northwest Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You can obtain copies from the public reference room of the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549 upon payment of certain fees. You can call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information about the public reference room. We are also required to file electronic versions of these
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documents with the SEC, which may be accessed through the SEC's World Wide Web site at http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq National Market. Reports, proxy and information statements and other information concerning Yahoo! Inc. may be inspected at The Nasdaq Stock Market at 1735 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" certain of our publicly-filed documents into this prospectus, which means that information included in these documents is considered part of this prospectus. Information that we file with the SEC subsequent to the date of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, until the selling stockholder has sold all the Shares.
The following documents filed with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, other than exhibits to such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Andrea Klipfel, Investor Relations, 3420 Central Expressway, Santa Clara, California 95051, telephone: (408) 731-3300.
This prospectus and the documents that are and will be incorporated into this prospectus contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks and actual results could differ materially. These statements relate to our future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. These statements may be identified by the use of words like "believes," "expects," "may", "will," "should," "seeks," "pro forma," or "anticipates," and similar expressions. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include those discussed under "Risk Factors," beginning on page 4 and elsewhere in this prospectus and documents incorporated herein by reference.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The Registrant will bear no expenses in connection with any sale or other distribution by the selling stockholder of the shares being registered other than the expenses of preparation and distribution of this Registration Statement and the prospectus included in this Registration Statement. Such expenses are set forth in the following table. All of the amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") registration fee.
SEC registration fee | $ | 42,878 | |
Legal fees and expenses | $ | 15,000 | |
Miscellaneous expenses | $ | 5,000 | |
Total | $ | 62,878 |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows for the indemnification of officers, directors, and other corporate agents in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify such persons under certain circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Article XII of the Registrant's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of the Registrant's directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Registrant has also entered into agreements with its directors and officers that will require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors to the fullest extent not prohibited by law.
In connection with this offering, the selling stockholder has agreed to indemnify the Registrant, its directors and officers and each such person who controls the Registrant, against any and all liability arising from inaccurate information provided to the Registrant by the selling stockholder and contained herein up to a maximum of the net proceeds received by the selling stockholder from the sale of their Shares hereunder.
Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibits. |
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5.1 | Opinion of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation | |
10.44 | Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 18, 2000, by and between Yahoo! Inc. and Acqua Wellington North American Equity Fund, Ltd. | |
23.1 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants | |
23.2 | Consent of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney (see page II-3) |
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
II-1
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Yahoo! Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of California, on June 30, 2000.
YAHOO! INC. | ||||
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By: |
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/s/ GARY VALENZUELA Gary Valenzuela Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Timothy Koogle and Gary Valenzuela, jointly and severally, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done or by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
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/s/ TIMOTHY KOOGLE Timothy Koogle |
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | June 30, 2000 | ||
/s/ GARY VALENZUELA Gary Valenzuela |
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Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
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June 30, 2000 |
/s/ JAMES J. NELSON James J. Nelson |
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Vice President, Finance (Chief Accounting Officer) |
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June 30, 2000 |
/s/ JEFF MALLETT Jeff Mallett |
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President, Chief Operating Officer and Director |
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June 30, 2000 |
/s/ ERIC HIPPEAU Eric Hippeau |
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Director |
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June 30, 2000 |
/s/ ARTHUR H. KERN Arthur H. Kern |
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Director |
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June 30, 2000 |
/s/ MICHAEL MORITZ Michael Moritz |
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Director |
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June 30, 2000 |
/s/ JERRY YANG Jerry Yang |
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Director |
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June 30, 2000 |
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II-3
Exhibit Number |
Description |
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5.1 | Opinion of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation | |
10.44 | Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 18, 2000, by and between Yahoo! Inc. and Acqua Wellington North American Equity Fund, Inc. | |
23.1 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants | |
23.2 | Consent of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney (see page II-3) |
EXHIBIT 5.1
June 30, 2000
Yahoo! Inc.
3420 Central Expressway
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333- )
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed by you with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about June 30, 2000 (the "Registration Statement") in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of shares of your common stock (the "Shares"), to be sold by the stockholder listed in the Registration Statement (the "Selling Stockholder"). As your legal counsel in connection with this transaction, we have examined the proceedings taken and are familiar with the proceedings proposed to be taken by you in connection with the sale of the Shares.
It is our opinion that the Shares, when sold by the selling stockholder in the manner described in the Registration Statement, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to the use of our name wherever it appears in the Registration Statement and in any amendment to it.
Sincerely,
VENTURE
LAW GROUP
A Professional Corporation
/s/ VENTURE LAW GROUP
EXHIBIT 10.44
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of May 18, 2000 by and between Yahoo! Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Acqua Wellington North American Equities Fund, Ltd. (the "Stockholder").
1. The Stockholder has entered into an agreement with SOFTBANK (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") pursuant to which SOFTBANK has agreed to sell to the Stockholder shares of the Company's Common Stock held by SOFTBANK during the period beginning on the effective date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and ending on May 31, 2000 (the "Shares").
2. The Company has had no involvement in the sale of the Shares; however, in order to facilitate an orderly trading market for its Common Stock, the Company has agreed to grant certain registration rights to the Stockholder with respect to the Shares.
3. The Company wishes to execute this Agreement and grant the Stockholder the rights contained herein.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Registration Rights.
1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:
(a) The terms "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and the subsequent declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement or document.
(b) The term "Registrable Securities" means:
(i) the Shares; and
(ii) any other shares of Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in connection with a stock split, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the Shares, excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which his or her rights under this Agreement are not assigned; provided, however, that Common Stock or other securities shall only be treated as Registrable Securities if and so long as they have not been sold to or through a broker or dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or a public securities transaction.
(c) The term "Holder" means any holder of outstanding Registrable Securities who, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1.8 below, acquired such Registrable Securities in a transaction or series of transactions not involving any registered public offering.
(d) The term "Form S-3" means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
1.2 Form S-3 Registration. In the event the Company shall receive from any Holder or Holder(s) owning in the aggregate at least fifty percent (50%) of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities a written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holder(s), the Company will:
(a) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration, and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holder(s); and
(b) as soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such qualifications and compliances as may be reasonably so requested and as would permit and facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder's or Holders' Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder(s) joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within twenty (20) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to cause any such registration, qualification or compliance, pursuant to this Section 1.2 to become effective:
(i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the Holder(s);
(ii) if the Holder(s), together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities at an aggregate price to the public (net of any underwriters' discounts or commissions) of less than $500,000;
(iii) if the Company shall furnish to the Holder(s) a certificate signed by the president of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such Form S-3 Registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holder(s) under this Section 1.2;
(iv) if the Company has already effected one (1) registration on Form S-3 for the Holder(s) pursuant to this Section 1.2; or
(vi) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.
(c) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the request or requests of the Holder(s) (but no later than thirty (30) days following the Company's receipt of such request). All expenses incurred in connection with a registration requested pursuant to Section 1.2, including (without limitation) all registration, filing, qualification, printer and accounting fees, shall be borne by the Company. The Company shall not be required to pay any underwriters' or brokers' fees, discounts or commissions relating to the Registrable Securities, or the fees or expenses of separate counsel to the selling Holder(s).
(d) If a Holder intends to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1.2, such Holder shall submit written notice to the Company (a "Notice of Sale") by facsimile transmission of such intention which shall include the name of the Holder, the number of shares of Registrable Securities that such Holder intends to sell and the Holder's telephone and facsimile numbers. The Company agrees not to disclose or permit
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disclosure of a Notice of Sale to third parties, other than to directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents of the Company, including the Company's counsel and transfer agent, who have the need to know of the existence of the Notice of Sale. (If the Notice of Sale is actually received in a day other than a business day, it will be deemed received on the next business day; the date on which the Notice of Sale is received is referred to as the "Notice Date;" the time on which the Notice of Sale is received is referred to as the "Notice Time".) Upon receiving a Notice of Sale from a Holder, the Company will notify the Holder as soon as reasonably practicable (but in no event later than the same time as the Notice Time on the next business day following the Notice Date) whether (i) the Company believes that the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, as then amended or supplemented, is available for immediate use, whereupon the Company shall so notify the Holder(s) and the Holder(s) will have a period of five (5) days following such notification in which to sell its Registrable Securities or (ii) the Company believes that it is necessary or appropriate to file a supplement or file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement or the prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other report or document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (a "Prospectus Update"). If the Company notifies the Holder(s) that it believes it may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate a Prospectus Update and the Company is not exercising any right it may have under Section 1.2(e) to postpone the Prospectus Update, the Company will thereupon use all reasonable efforts to effectuate such Prospectus Update as soon as reasonably possible, and not later than three (3) business days after the Notice of Sale is received by the Company, except that the Company will have up to an additional two (2) business days to effectuate such Prospectus Update if, because of the particular circumstances involved, the Company could not effectuate the Prospectus Update earlier, despite all reasonable diligence. As soon as the Prospectus Update has been effectuated, the Company will notify each Holder who has submitted a Notice of Sale that the prospectus is available for use, whereupon each such Holder will have a period of five (5) days in which to sell its Registrable Securities.
(e) The Company will be entitled to postpone, for the minimum period provided below, the filing of any Prospectus Update otherwise required to be prepared and filed by it pursuant hereto if, at the time it receives a Notice of Sale, the Company determines in its reasonable judgment, after consultation with counsel, that (i) the Company would be required to prepare and file any financial statements (other than those it customarily prepares or before it customarily files such financial statements), (ii) the Company would be required to file an amendment to the registration statement to describe facts or events which individually or in the aggregate represent a fundamental change in the information contained in the registration statement within the meaning of Item 512 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, or (iii) the filing would require the premature announcement of any financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization, contract or other material corporate transaction or development involving the Company such as the Company reasonably determines would be materially detrimental to the interests of the Company and its stockholders. The postponement will be for the minimum period reasonably required for the Company to prepare and file the necessary documents, in the case of a postponement pursuant to (i) or (ii) above, or the minimum period reasonably required to avoid such premature disclosure, in the case of (iii) above, and which period will not be in excess of thirty (30) days unless, because of the unusual nature of the particular circumstances, it is necessary that the period extend beyond thirty (30) days.
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The Company will promptly give each Holder who has submitted a Notice of Sale notice of any postponement exercised pursuant to this Section 1.2(e). As soon as the Prospectus Update has been effectuated following a postponement effected pursuant to this Section 1.2(e), the Company will notify each Holder who has submitted a Notice of Sale that the prospectus is available for use, whereupon each such Holder will have a period of five (5) days in which to sell its Registrable Securities.
(f) The Holder(s) may not sell shares of Registrable Securities under this Section 1.2 without first (i) complying with the Notice of Sale requirements of Section 1.2(d) and (ii) allowing the Company to prepare Prospectus Updates (including any permitted postponements thereof) as set forth in Sections 1.2(d) and (e). A Holder will submit a Notice of Sale only if in good faith it actually intends to sell the Registrable Securities within such five (5) day period and with the understanding that a Notice of Sale is to be made only on the occasion that the sale of Registrable Securities is actually contemplated and not on a continual basis. A Holder will notify the Company by facsimile transmission promptly after it has completed or otherwise ceased sales following submission of a Notice of Sale. The Holder(s) will provide to the Company all information in the Holder(s)' possession or control, and will take all actions, as may be required in order to permit the Company to comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.
(g) Under no circumstances shall the Company be required to keep a registration statement effective and available pursuant to this Section 1.2 for greater than one (1) year (after taking into account any periods of delay permitted under Sections 1.2(d) and (e) above).
1.3 Third Party S-3 Registration.
(a) The Company may, in its sole discretion and in lieu of its obligation to effect a registration for the Holder(s) pursuant to Section 1.2 above, permit the Holder(s) to include all of its Registrable Securities in an S-3 registration filed by the Company pursuant to the request of a third party holder of Company securities by submitting written notice thereof to the Holder(s), whereupon the Holder(s) shall have the option to include all of its Registrable Securities in such S-3 registration. The Holder(s) that elect to include Registrable Securities in such an S-3 registration shall forfeit its rights under Section 1.2 of this Agreement.
(b) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall include in such S-3 registration the Registrable Securities requested to be registered therein by the Holder(s). All expenses incurred in connection with a registration requested pursuant to Section 1.3, including (without limitation) all registration, filing, qualification, printer and accounting fees, shall be borne by the Company. The Company shall not be required to pay any underwriters' or brokers' fees, discounts or commissions relating to the Registrable Securities, or the fees or expenses of separate counsel to the selling Holder(s), unless the Company's counsel is unable or unwilling to represent the selling Holder(s).
(c) If a Holder intends to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1.3, such Holder shall submit a Notice of Sale by facsimile transmission which shall include the name of the Holder, the number of shares of Registrable Securities that such Holder intends to sell and the Holder's telephone and facsimile numbers. Upon receiving a Notice of Sale from a Holder, the Company will notify the Holder as soon as reasonably practicable (but in no event later than the same time as the Notice Time on the next business day following the Notice Date) whether (i) the Company believes that the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, as then amended or supplemented, is
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available for immediate use, whereupon the Company shall so notify the Holder(s) and the Holder(s) will have a period of five (5) days in which to sell its Registrable Securities or (ii) the Company believes that it is necessary or appropriate to file a Prospectus Update. If the Company notifies the Holder(s) that it believes it may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate a Prospectus Update and the Company is not exercising any right it may have under Section 1.3(d) to postpone the Prospectus Update, the Company will thereupon use all reasonable efforts to effectuate such Prospectus Update as soon as reasonably possible, and not later than three (3) business days after the Notice of Sale is received by the Company, except that the Company will have up to an additional two (2) business days to effectuate such Prospectus Update if, because of the particular circumstances involved, the Company could not effectuate the Prospectus Update earlier, despite all reasonable diligence. As soon as the Prospectus Update has been effectuated, the Company will notify each Holder who has submitted a Notice of Sale that the prospectus is available for use, whereupon each such Holder will have a period of five (5) days in which to sell its Registrable Securities.
(d) The Company will be entitled to postpone, for the minimum period provided below, the filing of any Prospectus Update otherwise required to be prepared and filed by it pursuant hereto if, at the time it receives a Notice of Sale, the Company determines in its reasonable judgment, after consultation with counsel, that (i) the Company would be required to prepare and file any financial statements (other than those it customarily prepares or before it customarily files such financial statements), (ii) the Company would be required to file an amendment to the registration statement to describe facts or events which individually or in the aggregate represent a fundamental change in the information contained in the registration statement within the meaning of Item 512 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, or (iii) the filing would require the premature announcement of any financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization, contract or other material corporate transaction or development involving the Company such as the Company reasonably determines would be materially detrimental to the interests of the Company and its stockholders. The postponement will be for the minimum period reasonably required for the Company to prepare and file the necessary documents, in the case of a postponement pursuant to (i) or (ii) above, or the minimum period reasonably required to avoid such premature disclosure, in the case of (iii) above, and which period will not be in excess of thirty (30) days unless, because of the unusual nature of the particular circumstances, it is necessary that the period extend beyond thirty (30) days. The Company will promptly give each Holder who has submitted a Notice of Sale notice of any postponement exercised pursuant to this Section 1.3(d). As soon as the Prospectus Update has been effectuated following a postponement effected pursuant to this Section 1.3(d), the Company will notify each Holder who has submitted a Notice of Sale that the prospectus is available for use, whereupon each such Holder will have a period of five (5) days in which to sell its Registrable Securities.
(e) The Holder(s) may not sell shares of Registrable Securities under this Section 1.3 without first (i) complying with the Notice of Sale requirements of Section 1.3(c) and (ii) allowing the Company to prepare Prospectus Updates (including any permitted postponements thereof) as set forth in Sections 1.3(c) and (d). A Holder will submit a Notice of Sale only if in good faith it actually intends to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby within such five (5) day period and with the understanding that a Notice of Sale is to be made only on the occasion that the sale of Registrable Securities is actually contemplated and not on a continual basis. A Holder will notify the Company by facsimile transmission promptly after it has completed or otherwise ceased sales following submission of a Notice of Sale. The Holder(s) will provide to the Company all
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information in the Holder(s)' possession or control, and will take all actions, as may be required in order to permit the Company to comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.
(f) Under no circumstances shall the Company be required to keep a registration statement effective and available pursuant to this Section 1.3 for greater than one (1) year (after taking into account any periods of delay permitted under Sections 1.3(c) and (d) above); provided, however, that, in the event that the Company keeps the registration statement effective in excess of one (1) year (after taking into account any periods of delay permitted under Sections 1.3(c) and (d) above) for the benefit of the third party that requested the S-3 registration, the Holder(s) shall be entitled to submit a Notice of Sale pursuant to Section 1.3(c) until the Company provides notification to the Holder(s) that the Company intends to withdraw the registration statement in five (5) days following the date of such notification, whereupon the Holder(s) shall have a period of five (5) days following the date of such notice in which to sell its Registrable Securities (subject to postponement in accordance with Sections 1.3(c) and (d) above).
1.4 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Section 1 to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as soon as reasonably possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and keep such registration statement effective for a period of one (1) year or such shorter period during which the Holder(s) complete the distribution described in the registration statement relating thereto, whichever first occurs.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.
(c) Furnish to the Holder(s) such numbers of copies of a prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.
(d) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, whereupon each Holder shall cease utilizing such prospectus and the Company agrees, as soon thereafter as reasonably practicable (subject to Sections 1.2(e) and 1.3(d) above), to effectuate a Prospectus Update so as to meet the requirements of the Securities Act, and to notify the Holder(s) of such action.
(e) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.
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(f) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder not later than the effective date of such registration.
(g) Use best efforts to cause the transfer agent to remove restrictive legends on certificates representing the Registrable Securities covered by a registration statement hereunder, as the Company determines to be appropriate, upon advice of counsel.
(h) Use its best efforts to furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale in connection with a registration pursuant to this Agreement, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion, dated such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities and (ii) a letter dated such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities.
(i) In the event of any underwritten public offering hereunder, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering. The Holder shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.
1.5 Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to this Section 1 with respect to the Registrable Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the registration of such Holder's Registrable Securities.
1.6 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under this Section 1:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a "Violation"): (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law; and the Company will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection 1.6(a), in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
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subsection 1.6(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs (i) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by a Holder or (ii) as a result of any use or delivery by a Holder of a prospectus other than the most current prospectus made available to such Holder by the Company.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and any other Holder selling securities in such registration statement, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs (i) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration or (ii) as a result of any use or delivery by such Holder of a prospectus other than the most current prospectus made available to such Holder by the Company; and each such Holder will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this subsection 1.6(b), in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 1.6(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The liability of a selling Holder under this paragraph (b) and under paragraph (d) below shall be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds to such selling Holder from the sale of such Holder's Registrable Shares hereunder, unless such liability arises out of or is based on the willful conduct of the Holder.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 1.6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 1.6, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 1.6.
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(d) If the indemnification provided in this Section 1.6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) The obligations of the Company and Holder(s) under this Section 1.6 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement under this Section 1, and otherwise.
1.7 Reports Under Securities Exchange Act of 1934. With a view to making available to the Holder(s) the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times;
(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and
(c) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC which permits the selling of any such securities without registration.
1.8 Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1 may be assigned by any Holder to a transferee or assignee of at least 50% of such Holder's Registrable Securities, provided the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; and provided, further, that such assignment shall be effective only if immediately following such transfer the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act.
1.9 Termination of Registration Rights. The rights granted under this Section 1, including the rights to utilize any previously filed registration statements, shall terminate upon the earlier of (a) two years following the date of this Agreement, or (b) at such time as the Holder(s) may sell all of its Registrable Securities in any single three month period pursuant to Rule 144 (or such successor rule as may be adopted).
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2. Miscellaneous.
2.1 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended or waived with the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Shares then held by all Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 2.1 shall be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and assigns.
2.2 Successors and Assigns. Subject to the provisions of Section 1.8, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
2.3 Governing Law. The corporate laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of Company and the Stockholder as a stockholder. All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.
2.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
2.5 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
2.6 Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon receipt, when delivered personally or by courier, overnight delivery service or confirmed facsimile, or 48 hours after being deposited in the regular mail as certified or registered mail (airmail if sent internationally) with postage prepaid, if such notice is addressed to the party to be notified at such party's address or facsimile number as set forth below (or as subsequently modified by written notice):
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To the Company: | Yahoo! Inc. 3420 Central Expressway Santa Clara, CA 95051 Attn: Senior Vice President, Corporate Development Facsimile: (408) 328-7939 |
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With a copy at the same address to the attention of the General Counsel, and a copy to: |
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Venture Law Group A Professional Corporation 2800 Sand Hill Road Menlo Park, California 94025 Attn.: Joshua L. Green Facsimile: (415) 233-8386 |
To the Holders: |
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Acqua Wellington North American Equities Fund, Ltd. c/o Mees Pierson Fund Services (Bahamas) Ltd. Montague Sterling Centre East Bay Street, P.O. Box SS-6238 Nassau, Bahamas Attn: Anthony L.M. Inder Rieden Fax: (242) 394-2502 |
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2.7 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such provision in good faith, in order to maintain the economic position enjoyed by each party as close as possible to that under the provision rendered unenforceable. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (i) such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (ii) the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (iii) the balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the product of all of the parties hereto, and constitutes the entire agreement between such parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof, and merges all prior negotiations and drafts of the parties with regard to the transactions contemplated herein. Any and all other written or oral agreements existing between the parties hereto regarding such transactions are expressly canceled.
2.9 Advice of Legal Counsel. Each party acknowledges and represents that, in executing this Agreement, it has had the opportunity to seek advice as to its legal rights from legal counsel and that the person signing on its behalf has read and understood all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be construed against any party by reason of the drafting or preparation thereof.
2.10 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party to this Agreement, upon any breach or default of the other party, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be made in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or otherwise afforded to any Holder, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
2.11 Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.
2.12 Parity of Rights. The registration rights granted to the Holder(s) under this Agreement are not intended by the parties to be senior to any of the registration rights granted to holders of the Company's capital stock, but rather to rank on a pari passu basis with such rights. The parties agree to interpret the terms of this Agreement in a manner consistent with the foregoing intention.
2.13 Acknowledgement and Disclaimer. The Stockholder acknowledges that the Company was not involved, and the Company disclaims any such involvement, in the negotiation of the Stock Purchase Agreement, or in directing or influencing the sale of the Shares by SOFTBANK to the Stockholder.
[Signature Page Follows]
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The parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
YAHOO! INC. | |||
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By: |
/s/ GARY VALENZUELA |
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Title: |
Senior V.P., Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer |
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Address: |
3420 Central Expressway Santa Clara, CA 95051 |
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STOCKHOLDER |
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Acqua Wellington North America Equities Fund, Ltd. |
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By: |
/s/ ISSER ELISHIS |
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Name: |
Isser Elishis |
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Title: |
Chairman |
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Address: |
c/o Mees Pierson Fund Services (Bahamas) Ltd. Montague Sterling Centre East Bay Street, P.O. Box SS-6238 Nassau, Bahamas |
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EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January 7, 2000, except as to the stock split described in Note 1 and Note 11, which are as of March 9, 2000, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appears in Yahoo! Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
San
Jose, California
June 29, 2000