SEARCH AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
SEARCH AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION	Note 19 SEARCH AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION On December 4, 2009, the Company entered into the Search Agreement with Microsoft, which provides for Microsoft to be the exclusive algorithmic and paid search services provider on Yahoo Properties and non-exclusive provider of such services on Affiliate sites. The Company also entered into a License Agreement with Microsoft. Under the License Agreement, Microsoft acquired an exclusive 10-year license to the Company’s core search technology and has the ability to integrate this technology into its existing Web search platforms. On February 18, 2010, the Company received regulatory clearance from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission and on February 23, 2010 the Company commenced implementation of the Search Agreement on a market-by-market basis. Under the Search Agreement, the Company is the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers, which include advertisers meeting certain spending or other criteria, advertising agencies that specialize in or offer search engine marketing services and their clients, and resellers and their clients seeking assistance with their paid search accounts. The term of the Search Agreement is 10 years from February 23, 2010, subject to earlier termination as provided in the Search Agreement. Approximately 20 percent, 25 percent, and 31 percent of the Company’s revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and, 2013, respectively, was attributable to the Search Agreement. During the first five years of the term of the Search Agreement, in the transitioned markets, the Company is entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Yahoo Properties (the “Revenue Share Rate”) and the Company is also entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue. For new Affiliates during the term of the Search Agreement, and for all Affiliates after the first five years of such term, the Company will receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue and certain Microsoft costs are deducted. On February 23, 2015 (the fifth anniversary of the date that implementation of the Search Agreement commenced), Microsoft will have the option to terminate the Company’s sales exclusivity for premium search advertisers. If Microsoft exercises this option, the Revenue Share Rate will increase to 93 percent for the remainder of the term of the Search Agreement, unless the Company exercises its option to retain the Company’s sales exclusivity, in which case the Revenue Share Rate would be reduced to 83 percent for the remainder of the term. If Microsoft does not exercise such option, the Revenue Share Rate will be 90 percent for the remainder of the term of the Search Agreement. In the transitioned markets, the Company reports as revenue the 88 percent revenue share as the Company is not the primary obligor in the arrangement with the advertisers and publishers. The underlying search advertising services are provided by Microsoft. As of December 31, 2012 and 2013, the Company had collected total amounts of nil and $21 million, respectively, on behalf of Microsoft and Affiliates, which was included in cash and cash equivalents with a corresponding liability in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Company’s 88 percent share in connection with the Search Agreement, which is included in accounts receivable, net, was $258 million and $305 million as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Under the Search Agreement, for each market, Microsoft generally guarantees Yahoo’s revenue per search (“RPS Guarantee”) on Yahoo Properties only for 18 months after the transition of paid search services to Microsoft’s platform in that market based on the difference in revenue per search between the pre-transition and post-transition periods and certain other factors. The Company records the RPS Guarantee as search revenue in the quarter the amount becomes fixed, which is typically the quarter in which the associated shortfall in revenue per search occurred. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Microsoft agreed to extend the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. and Canada through March 2013, and in the second quarter of 2013, Microsoft extended the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. through March 2014. In June 2013, Microsoft and Yahoo agreed upon the RPS Guarantee payment amounts to be paid to the Company for the quarters ended December 31, 2012, March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013. The Company also agreed to fixed quarterly payments in lieu of the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. for the quarters ending September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014. In addition, the Company agreed to waive its right to receive any future RPS Guarantee payments in all other markets except Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Company completed the transition of its algorithmic and paid search platforms to the Microsoft platform in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter of 2010. In 2011, the Company completed the transition of algorithmic search in all other markets. By the end of 2012, the Company completed the transition of paid search in India, most of the EMEA markets, and six markets in Latin America. By the end of 2013, the Company had substantially completed the transition of paid search, including the transition of paid search in Taiwan and Hong Kong. From February 23, 2010 until the applicable services were fully transitioned to Microsoft in all markets, Microsoft was required under the Search Agreement to reimburse the Company for the costs of operating algorithmic and paid search services subject to specified exclusions and limitations. The Company’s results for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013 reflect $212 million, $67 million, and $49 million, respectively, in search operating cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement. The Company’s results for the year ended December 31, 2011 reflect transition cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement, which were equal to the transition costs of $26 million incurred by Yahoo related to the Search Agreement in the year ended December 31, 2011. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company’s cumulative transition costs exceeded Microsoft’s $150 million reimbursement cap under the Search Agreement. Transition costs the Company incurs in excess of the $150 million reimbursement cap are not subject to reimbursement. Reimbursement receivables are recorded as the reimbursable costs are incurred and are applied against the operating expense categories in which the costs were incurred. As of December 31, 2012, a total of $67 million of search operating cost reimbursable had been incurred by the Company related to the Search Agreement. Of that amount, $5 million had not been received from Microsoft and was classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2013, a total of $49 million of search operating cost reimbursable had been incurred by the Company related to the Search Agreement. Of that amount, $5 million had not been received from Microsoft and was classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013.

Note 19 SEARCH AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT CORPORATION

On December 4, 2009, the Company entered into the Search Agreement with Microsoft, which provides for Microsoft to be the exclusive algorithmic and paid search services provider on Yahoo Properties and non-exclusive provider of such services on Affiliate sites. The Company also entered into a License Agreement with Microsoft. Under the License Agreement, Microsoft acquired an exclusive 10-year license to the Company’s core search technology and has the ability to integrate this technology into its existing Web search platforms. On February 18, 2010, the Company received regulatory clearance from both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission and on February 23, 2010 the Company commenced implementation of the Search Agreement on a market-by-market basis. Under the Search Agreement, the Company is the exclusive worldwide relationship sales force for both companies’ premium search advertisers, which include advertisers meeting certain spending or other criteria, advertising agencies that specialize in or offer search engine marketing services and their clients, and resellers and their clients seeking assistance with their paid search accounts. The term of the Search Agreement is 10 years from February 23, 2010, subject to earlier termination as provided in the Search Agreement. Approximately 20 percent, 25 percent, and 31 percent of the Company’s revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012 and, 2013, respectively, was attributable to the Search Agreement.

During the first five years of the term of the Search Agreement, in the transitioned markets, the Company is entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Yahoo Properties (the “Revenue Share Rate”) and the Company is also entitled to receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue. For new Affiliates during the term of the Search Agreement, and for all Affiliates after the first five years of such term, the Company will receive 88 percent of the revenue generated from Microsoft’s services on Affiliate sites after the Affiliate’s share of revenue and certain Microsoft costs are deducted. On February 23, 2015 (the fifth anniversary of the date that implementation of the Search Agreement commenced), Microsoft will have the option to terminate the Company’s sales exclusivity for premium search advertisers. If Microsoft exercises this option, the Revenue Share Rate will increase to 93 percent for the remainder of the term of the Search Agreement, unless the Company exercises its option to retain the Company’s sales exclusivity, in which case the Revenue Share Rate would be reduced to 83 percent for the remainder of the term. If Microsoft does not exercise such option, the Revenue Share Rate will be 90 percent for the remainder of the term of the Search Agreement. In the transitioned markets, the Company reports as revenue the 88 percent revenue share as the Company is not the primary obligor in the arrangement with the advertisers and publishers. The underlying search advertising services are provided by Microsoft.

As of December 31, 2012 and 2013, the Company had collected total amounts of nil and $21 million, respectively, on behalf of Microsoft and Affiliates, which was included in cash and cash equivalents with a corresponding liability in accrued expenses and other current liabilities. The Company’s 88 percent share in connection with the Search Agreement, which is included in accounts receivable, net, was $258 million and $305 million as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Under the Search Agreement, for each market, Microsoft generally guarantees Yahoo’s revenue per search (“RPS Guarantee”) on Yahoo Properties only for 18 months after the transition of paid search services to Microsoft’s platform in that market based on the difference in revenue per search between the pre-transition and post-transition periods and certain other factors. The Company records the RPS Guarantee as search revenue in the quarter the amount becomes fixed, which is typically the quarter in which the associated shortfall in revenue per search occurred. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Microsoft agreed to extend the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. and Canada through March 2013, and in the second quarter of 2013, Microsoft extended the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. through March 2014. In June 2013, Microsoft and Yahoo agreed upon the RPS Guarantee payment amounts to be paid to the Company for the quarters ended December 31, 2012, March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013. The Company also agreed to fixed quarterly payments in lieu of the RPS Guarantee in the U.S. for the quarters ending September 30, 2013, December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014. In addition, the Company agreed to waive its right to receive any future RPS Guarantee payments in all other markets except Taiwan and Hong Kong.

The Company completed the transition of its algorithmic and paid search platforms to the Microsoft platform in the U.S. and Canada in the fourth quarter of 2010. In 2011, the Company completed the transition of algorithmic search in all other markets. By the end of 2012, the Company completed the transition of paid search in India, most of the EMEA markets, and six markets in Latin America. By the end of 2013, the Company had substantially completed the transition of paid search, including the transition of paid search in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

From February 23, 2010 until the applicable services were fully transitioned to Microsoft in all markets, Microsoft was required under the Search Agreement to reimburse the Company for the costs of operating algorithmic and paid search services subject to specified exclusions and limitations. The Company’s results for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2012, and 2013 reflect $212 million, $67 million, and $49 million, respectively, in search operating cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement.

The Company’s results for the year ended December 31, 2011 reflect transition cost reimbursements from Microsoft under the Search Agreement, which were equal to the transition costs of $26 million incurred by Yahoo related to the Search Agreement in the year ended December 31, 2011. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company’s cumulative transition costs exceeded Microsoft’s $150 million reimbursement cap under the Search Agreement. Transition costs the Company incurs in excess of the $150 million reimbursement cap are not subject to reimbursement.

Reimbursement receivables are recorded as the reimbursable costs are incurred and are applied against the operating expense categories in which the costs were incurred. As of December 31, 2012, a total of $67 million of search operating cost reimbursable had been incurred by the Company related to the Search Agreement. Of that amount, $5 million had not been received from Microsoft and was classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2013, a total of $49 million of search operating cost reimbursable had been incurred by the Company related to the Search Agreement. Of that amount, $5 million had not been received from Microsoft and was classified as part of prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2013.