The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Baidu, Inc. (“Baidu” or the “Company”), its subsidiaries, variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and the subsidiaries of the VIEs. The Company, its subsidiaries, VIEs and subsidiaries of the VIEs are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Group.”
As of June 30, 2020, the Company has subsidiaries incorporated in countries and jurisdictions including the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), Hong Kong, Japan, Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands (“BVI”). As of June 30, 2020, the Company also effectively controls a number of VIEs through the Primary Beneficiaries, as defined below. The VIEs include:
| • | | Beijing Baidu Netcom Science Technology Co., Ltd. (“Baidu Netcom”), controlled by the Company; |
| • | | Beijing Perusal Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Perusal”), controlled by the Company; |
| • | | Beijing iQIYI Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing iQIYI”), and other VIEs controlled by iQIYI, Inc. (“iQIYI VIEs”); and |
| • | | Other VIEs controlled by the Company or the Company’s subsidiaries. |
The Group offers online marketing services, operates AI-powered new business initiatives, and operates an online video platform offering membership services of its content library and online marketing services. The Group’s principal geographic market is in the PRC. The Company does not conduct any substantive operations on its own, but conducts its primary business operations through its subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC.
PRC laws and regulations prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of internet content, advertising, audio and video services, and mobile application distribution businesses, etc. To comply with these foreign ownership restrictions, the Group operates its websites and primarily provides services subject to such restriction in the PRC through the VIEs, the PRC legal entities that were established or whose equity shares were held by the individuals authorized by the Group. The
paid-in
capital of the VIEs was mainly funded by the Company or its subsidiaries through loans extended to the authorized individuals who were the shareholders of the VIEs. The Company or its subsidiaries has entered into proxy agreements or powers of attorney and exclusive equity purchase option agreement with the VIEs and nominee shareholders of the VIEs through the Company or its subsidiaries (“Primary Beneficiaries”), which give the Primary Beneficiaries the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs and to acquire the equity interests in the VIEs when permitted by the PRC laws, respectively. Certain exclusive agreements have been entered into with the VIEs through the Primary Beneficiaries or their wholly-owned subsidiaries in the PRC, which obligate the Primary Beneficiaries to absorb losses or receive economic benefits of the VIEs’ that could potentially be significant to the VIEs or entitle the Primary Beneficiaries to receive economic benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. In addition, the Group has entered into certain agreements with the shareholders of the VIEs through the Primary Beneficiaries or their wholly-owned subsidiaries, including loan agreements for the
paid-in
capital of the VIEs and equity pledge agreements for the equity interests in the VIEs held by the shareholders of the VIEs.
Despite the lack of legal majority ownership, there exists a parent-subsidiary relationship between the Primary Beneficiaries and the VIEs through the aforementioned agreements with the shareholders of the VIEs. The shareholders of the VIEs effectively assigned all of their voting rights underlying their equity interest in the VIEs to the Primary Beneficiaries. In addition, through the other exclusive agreements, which consist of operating agreements, technology consulting and services agreements and license agreements, the Primary Beneficiaries, by themselves or their wholly-owned subsidiaries in the PRC, demonstrate their ability and intention to continue to exercise the ability to absorb losses or receive economic benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. The VIEs are subject to operating risks, which determine the variability of the Company’s interest in those entities. Based on these contractual arrangements, the Company consolidates the VIEs as required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810,
.
Unrecognized revenue-producing assets held by the VIEs include certain internet content provisions and other licenses, domain names and trademarks. The internet content provisions and other licenses, which are held by the VIEs that provide the relevant services, are required under relevant PRC laws, rules and regulations for the operation of Internet businesses in the PRC, and therefore are integral to the Company’s operations.
In the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel, (i) the ownership structure relating to the VIEs of the Company is in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations; (ii) the contractual arrangements with the VIEs and their shareholders are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and (iii) the performance of the VIEs and their shareholders is in compliance with the articles of association and business licenses of the VIEs.