MERCADOLIBRE INC - Quarter Report: 2015 September (Form 10-Q)

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September  30, 2015

-OR-

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 001-33647

 

MercadoLibre, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Arias 3751, 7th Floor

Buenos Aires, C1430CRG, Argentina

(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices)

(+5411) 4640-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   ☒     No   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.    Yes   ☒     No   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ☐     No   ☒

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

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

44,156,854 shares of the issuer’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding as of October 26, 2015.

 

 

 

 

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MERCADOLIBRE, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014

and for the nine and three-month periods

ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

 

 

 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except par value)

(Unaudited)

 

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

 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

For the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

(In thousands of U.S. dollars, except for share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

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

 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

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

 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

(In thousands of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

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1. Nature of Business

MercadoLibre, Inc. (“MercadoLibre” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware, in the United States of America in October 1999. MercadoLibre is the leading ecommerce company in Latin America, serving as an integrated regional platform and as an enabler of the necessary online and technology tools to allow businesses and individuals to trade products and services in the region. The Company enables commerce through its marketplace platform (including online classifieds for motor vehicles, vessels, aircraft, services and real estate), which allows users to buy and sell in most of Latin America. 

Through MercadoPago, MercadoLibre enables individuals and businesses to send and receive online payments; through MercadoEnvios, MercadoLibre facilitates the shipping of goods from sellers to buyers; through MercadoClics and other ad-sales products, MercadoLibre facilitates advertising services to large retailers and brands to promote their product and services on the web; and through MercadoShops, MercadoLibre facilitates users to set-up, manage, and promote their own on-line web-stores under a subscription-based business model. In addition, MercadoLibre develops and sells software enterprise solutions to e-commerce business clients in Brazil.

As of September  30, 2015, MercadoLibre, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, operated online ecommerce platforms directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay and Venezuela, including the recently launched online ecommerce platforms in Bolivia and Guatemala. Additionally, MercadoLibre operates an online payments solution directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile and Colombia. It also offers a shipping solution directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and added Colombia to its list of countries where the service is offered from June 2015. In addition, the Company operates a real estate classified platform that covers some areas of State of Florida, in the United States of America.

 

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars, except for amounts otherwise indicated. Intercompany transactions and balances with subsidiaries have been eliminated for consolidation purposes.

Substantially all net revenues, cost of net revenues and operating expenses, are generated in the Company’s foreign operations, amounting to approximately 99.7% and 99.7% of the consolidated amounts during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Long-lived assets, Intangible assets and Goodwill located in the foreign operations totaled $194,509 thousands and $170,147 thousands as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014. These financial statements also show the Company’s consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; and statement of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments that management believes are necessary to fairly state the Company’s financial position, operating results and cash flows.

Because all of the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual consolidated financial statements are not included herein, these unaudited interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2014, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The condensed consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income and of cash flows for the periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of results expected for any future period. For more detailed discussion about the Company’s significant accounting policies, see note 2 to the Form 10-K. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, there were no material updates made to the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Foreign currency translation

Venezuelan currency status

All of the Company’s foreign operations have determined the local currency to be their functional currency, except for Venezuela since January 1, 2010, as described below. Accordingly, these foreign subsidiaries translate assets and liabilities from their local currencies into U.S. dollars by using the period-end exchange rates while income and expense accounts are translated at the average rates in effect during the period, unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly during the period, in which case the exchange rates

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at the date of the transaction are used. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. Gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in non-functional currencies are recognized in earnings.

According to U.S. GAAP, the Company has transitioned its Venezuelan operations to highly inflationary status as from January 1, 2010, which requires that transactions and balances are re-measured as if the U.S. dollar were the functional currency for such operation.

During December 2013, the Venezuelan regulation that created the SICAD 1 exchange system was amended to expand its use, and to require publication of the average exchange rate implied by transactions settled in SICAD 1 auctions. Additionally, on January 23, 2014, the exchange regulation was amended to include foreign currency sales for certain transactions, such as but not limited to: contracts for leasing and services, use and exploitation of patents, trademarks, foreign investments and payments of royalties, contracts for technology import and technical assistance. Due to the change in rules that provided for the creation of the SICAD 1 system, the official exchange rate remains only available to obtain foreign currency to pay for a limited list of goods considered to be of high priority by the Government, which does not include those relating to the Company’s business. As a consequence, SICAD 1 became, from that moment, the primary system to which the Company would have to request U.S. dollars to settle its transactions. As a result, from January 24 to May 15, 2014, the exchange rate used to re-measure the Company’s net monetary asset position in Bolivares Fuertes (“BsF”) and BsF transactions of its Venezuelan operations was the SICAD 1 exchange rate.

In late February 2014, the Venezuelan government issued a decree to open a new exchange control mechanism (“SICAD 2”) that was intended to allow the purchase of foreign exchange currencies, through authorized foreign exchange operators offered by individuals and companies such as Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA, the oil state-owned corporation of Venezuela), the Central Bank of Venezuela (“BCV”) and other public entities authorized by the Ministry of Finance. The Venezuelan government published operating rules for that exchange mechanism in Exchange Agreement N° 27, and SICAD 2 began operating on March 24, 2014. Since implementation of the SICAD 1 system, the Company was unsuccessful in gaining access to U.S. dollars through SICAD 1. As a result of this ongoing lack of access to the SICAD 1 auction system, on May 16, 2014, the Company decided to start requesting U.S. dollars through the SICAD 2 mechanism. The SICAD 2 system was an open mechanism that was intended to permit any company to request dollars for any purpose. Consequently, the Company was eligible for and was granted, U.S. dollars through the SICAD 2 mechanism.

As a consequence of the determination to obtain U.S. dollars through SICAD 2 and the lack of access to SICAD 1, since May 16, 2014 the Company concluded that the SICAD 2 exchange rate should be used to re-measure their bolivar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities in BsF and to re-measure the results of its Venezuelan operations, effective as of May 16, 2014. As a consequence, the Company recorded a foreign exchange loss of $16.5 million during the second quarter of 2014.

In light of those economic conditions in Venezuela, the determination to access SICAD 2 and re-measure the BsF denominated monetary assets and liabilities of its Venezuelan subsidiaries, and the lower U.S. dollar-equivalent cash flows then expected from the Venezuelan business, the Company reviewed in May 2014, the long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life for impairment and concluded that the carrying value of certain real estate properties would not be fully recoverable. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment of long-lived assets of $49.5 million in the second quarter of 2014. The carrying amount was adjusted to its estimated fair value of that date, by using the market approach, and considering prices for similar assets.

Later, on February 10, 2015, the Venezuelan government issued a decree that unified the two previous foreign exchange systems “SICAD 1 and SICAD 2” into a new single system denominated SICAD, with an initial public foreign exchange rate of 12 BsF per U.S. dollar. The SICAD auction process remains available only to obtain foreign currency to pay for a limited list of goods considered to be of high priority by the Venezuelan government, which does not include those relating to the Company’s business. In the same decree the Venezuelan government created the “Sistema Marginal de Divisas” (“SIMADI”), a new foreign exchange system that is separate from SICAD, which publishes a foreign exchange rate from the BCV on a daily basis.

In light of the disappearance of SICAD 2, and the Company’s inability to gain access to U.S. dollars through the new single system under SICAD, it started requesting and was granted U.S. dollars through SIMADI. As a result, the Company from that moment expected to settle its transactions through SIMADI and concluded that the SIMADI exchange rate should be used to re-measure its bolivar-denominated monetary assets and liabilities and to re-measure the revenues and expenses of the Venezuelan subsidiaries effective as of March 31, 2015. In connection with this re-measurement, the Company recorded a foreign exchange loss of $20.4 million during the first quarter of 2015, with no significant foreign exchange losses recorded during the second and third quarter of 2015. As of September 30, 2015, the SIMADI exchange rate was 199.42 BsF per U.S. dollar.

Considering this change in facts and circumstances and the lower U.S. dollar-equivalent cash flows then expected from the Venezuelan business, the Company has reviewed its long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life for impairment and concluded that the carrying value of certain real estate investments in Venezuela as of March 31, 2015 would not be fully recoverable. As a result, the Company has recorded an impairment of long-lived assets of $ 16.2 million on March 31,

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2015. The carrying amount has been adjusted to its estimated fair value of approximately $9.2 million as of March 31, 2015, by using the market approach, and considering prices for similar assets.

Until 2010 the Company was able to obtain U.S. dollars for any purpose, including dividends distribution, using alternative mechanisms other than through the Commission for the Administration of Foreign Exchange Control (CADIVI). Those U.S. dollars, obtained at a higher exchange rate than the one offered by CADIVI, and held in balance at U.S. bank accounts of our Venezuelan subsidiaries, were used for dividend distributions from our Venezuelan subsidiaries. The Venezuelan subsidiaries have not requested authorization since 2012 to acquire U.S. dollars to make dividend distributions. The Company has not distributed dividends from the Venezuelan subsidiaries since 2011.

The following table sets forth the assets, liabilities and net assets of the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiaries, before intercompany eliminations of a net liability of $25,745 and $30,798 thousands, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 and net revenues for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2015, net assets (before intercompany eliminations) of the Venezuelan subsidiaries amounted to approximately 6.0%  of consolidated net assets, and cash and investments of the Venezuelan subsidiaries held in local currency in Venezuela amounted to approximately 0.9% of our consolidated cash and investments.

The Company’s ability to obtain U.S. dollars in Venezuela is negatively affected by the exchange regulations in Venezuela that are described above and elsewhere in these financial statements. In addition, its business and ability to obtain U.S. dollars in Venezuela would be negatively affected by additional material devaluations or the imposition of significant additional and more stringent controls on foreign currency exchange by the Venezuelan government.

Despite the current difficult macroeconomic environment in Venezuela, the Company continues to actively manage, through its Venezuelan subsidiaries, its investment in Venezuela. Regardless the current operating, political and economic conditions and certain other factors in Venezuela, management currently plans to continue supporting its business in Venezuela in the long run.

Argentine currency status

The Argentine government has implemented certain measures that control and restrict the ability of companies and individuals to exchange Argentine pesos for foreign currencies. Those measures include, among other things, the requirement to obtain the prior approval from the Argentine Tax Authority of the foreign currency transaction (for example and without limitation, for the payment of non-Argentine goods and services, payment of principal and interest on non-Argentine debt and also payment of dividends to parties outside of the country), which approval process could delay, and eventually restrict, the ability to exchange Argentine pesos for other currencies, such as U.S. dollars. Those approvals are administered by the Argentine Central Bank through the Local Exchange Market (“Mercado Unico Libre de Cambios”, or “MULC”), which is the only market where exchange transactions may be lawfully made.

Further, restrictions also currently apply to the acquisition of any foreign currency for holding as cash within Argentina. Although the controls and restrictions on the acquisition of foreign currencies in Argentina place certain limitations on our current ability to convert cash generated by our Argentine subsidiaries into foreign currencies, based on the current state of Argentine currency rules and regulations, we do not expect that the current controls and restrictions, will have a material adverse effect on our business plans in Argentina or on our overall business, financial condition or results of operations.

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Additionally, during January 2014 the Argentinean peso exchange rate against the U.S. dollar increased in approximately 23%, from 6.52 Argentinean Pesos per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2013 to approximately 8.0 Argentinean Pesos per U.S. dollar. Due to the abovementioned increase in the Argentinean peso exchange rate against the U.S. dollar, during the first quarter of 2014, the reported Other Comprehensive Loss increased in $14,625 thousands as a result having a net asset position in Argentinean Pesos; and the Company recognized a foreign exchange gain of $4,597 thousands. As of September 30, 2015, the Argentinean Peso exchange rate was $ 9.43 per U.S. dollar.

Brazilian currency status

During 2015, the Brazilian Reais exchange rate against the U.S. dollar increased in approximately 49%, from 2.66 Brazilian Reais per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2014 to approximately 3.97 Brazilian Reais per U.S. dollar as of September 30, 2015. Due to the abovementioned devaluation, during the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015,  the reported Other Comprehensive Loss of the Brazilian segment increased in $9,733 thousands and $12,306 thousands, respectively, as a result of having a net asset position in Brazilian Reais; and the Company recognized a foreign exchange gain of $14,468 thousands and $5,704 thousands, respectively, during the same periods.  

Income Tax Holiday in Argentina

According to Argentine law, from fiscal year 2008, the Company’s Argentine subsidiary was a beneficiary of a software development law. Part of the benefits obtained from being a beneficiary of the aforementioned law was a relief of 60% of total income tax determined in each year in connection with promoted activities, thus resulting in an effective tax rate in Argentina lower than the income tax law statutory rate. The law expired on September 17, 2014.

Aggregate tax benefit totaled $2,045 thousands for the three-month period ended September 30, 2014, while for the nine-month period ended at such date amounted to $5,644 thousands. Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday amounted to $0.05 for the three-month period ended September 30, 2014, while for the nine-month period ended at such date amounted to $0.13. 

On August 17, 2011, the Argentine government issued a new software development law and on September 9, 2013 the regulatory decree was issued, which established the new requirements to become beneficiary of the new software development law. The new decree establishes compliance requirements with annual incremental ratios related to exports of services and research and development expenses that must be achieved to remain within the tax holiday. The Argentine operation will have to achieve certain required ratios annually under the new software development law.

The Industry Secretary resolution which rules, among other provisions, on the mechanism to file the information to obtain the benefits derived from the new software development law was issued in late February 2014. During May 2014, the Company presented all the required documentation in order to apply for the new software development law.

On September 17, 2015, the Argentine Industry Secretary issued Resolution 1041/2015 approving the Company’s application for eligibility under the new software development law. As a result, the Company’s Argentinean subsidiary has been granted a tax holiday retroactive from September 18, 2014. A portion of the benefits obtained as beneficiaries of the new law is a relief of 60% of total income tax related to software development activities and a 70% relief in payroll taxes related to software development activities.

The new software development law, which provides that beneficiaries must meet certain on-going eligibility requirements, will expire on December 31, 2019. As a result of the Company’s eligibility under the new law, it recorded a one-time income tax gain of approximately $16 million in the third quarter of 2015, corresponding $5.6 million to the income tax benefit of the third quarter of 2015 and $3.2 million of the fourth quarter of 2014. Furthermore, the Company recorded a one-time labor cost gain of approximately $4.2 million, corresponding $1.0 million to the labor cost benefit of the third quarter of 2015 and $1.3 million of the fourth quarter of 2014.  Additionally, $1.4 million were reserved to pay software development law audit fees. Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday amounted to $0.43 and $0.15 for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015, respectively. 

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Accumulated other comprehensive income

The following table sets forth the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014:

 

 

 

The following tables summarize the changes in accumulated balances of other comprehensive income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory

Inventory, consisting of points of sale (“POS”) available for sale, are accounted for using the first-in first-out (“FIFO”) method, and are valued at the lower of cost or market value. 

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.

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As explained in section “Foreign Currency Translation” of the present Note to these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has subsequently accessed to more unfavorable exchange markets in Venezuela as from December 2013.

Considering these changes in facts and circumstances and the lower U.S. dollar-equivalent cash flows expected from the Venezuelan business, and long-lived assets expected use, the Company compared the carrying amount of the long-lived assets with the expected undiscounted future net cash flows and concluded that certain office spaces held in Caracas, Venezuela, should be impaired. As a consequence, the Company estimated the fair value of the impaired long-lived assets and recorded impairment losses of $16.2 million and $ 49.5 million on March 31, 2015 and in the second quarter of 2014, respectively, by using the market approach and considering prices for similar assets.

 

Convertible Senior Notes

On June 30, 2014, the Company issued $330 million of 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2019 (the “Notes”). The Notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Company, which pay interest in cash semi-annually, on January 1 and July 1, at a rate of 2.25% per annum. The Notes will mature on July 1, 2019 unless earlier repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The Notes may be converted, under specific conditions, based on an initial conversion rate of 7.9353 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $126.02 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment as described in the indenture governing the Notes. The net proceeds from the Notes were approximately $322 million, net of the transaction costs.

Holders may convert their notes at their option at any time prior to January 1, 2019 only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2014 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of the common stock for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock and the conversion rate on each such trading day; or (3) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On or after January 1, 2019 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. The conversion rate is subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. Following certain corporate events described in the Indenture that occur prior to the maturity date, the conversion rate will be increased for a holder who elects to convert its Notes in connection with such corporate event in certain circumstances. The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default occurring and continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes to be due and payable.

Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election.

As of September 30, 2015, none of the conditions allowing holders of the Notes to convert had been met.

In accordance with ASC 470-20 Debt with Conversion and Other Options, the convertible debt instrument within the scope of the cash conversion subsection, was separated into debt and equity components at issuance and a fair value was assigned. The value assigned to the debt component was the estimated fair value, as of the issuance date, of a similar debt without the conversion feature. As of the issuance date, the Company determined the fair value of the liability component of the Notes based on market data that was available for senior, unsecured nonconvertible corporate bonds issued by comparable companies. Assumptions used in the estimate represent what market participants would use in pricing the liability component, including market interest rates, credit standing, and yield curves, all of which are defined as level 2 observable inputs. The difference between the cash proceeds and this estimated fair value, represents the value assigned to the equity component and was recorded as a debt discount. The debt discount is amortized using the effective interest method from the origination date through its stated contractual maturity date.

The initial debt component of the Notes was valued at $283,015 thousands, based on the contractual cash flows discounted at an appropriate market rate for a non-convertible debt at the date of issuance, which was determined to be 5.55%. The carrying value of the permanent equity component reported in additional paid-in-capital was initially valued at $46,985 thousands. The effective interest rate after allocation of transaction costs to the liability component is 6.1% and is used to amortize the debt discount and transaction costs. Additionally, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability related to the additional paid in capital component of the convertible notes amounting to $16,445 thousands.

In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company paid approximately $19,668 thousands to enter into capped call transactions with respect to its common shares (the “Capped Call Transactions”), with certain financial institutions. The Capped Call Transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the Convertible Notes and / or offset

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any cash payments the Company may be required to make in excess of the principal amount of any converted notes in the event that the market price of the common shares is greater than the strike price of the Capped Call Transactions, initially set at $126.02 per common share, which corresponds to the initial conversion price of the Notes and is subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the Notes, and have a cap price of approximately $155.78 per common share. Therefore, as a result of executing the Capped Call Transactions, the Company will reduce its exposure to potential dilution once the market price of its common shares exceeds the strike price of $126.02 and up to a cap price of approximately $155.78 per common share. The Capped Call Transactions allows the Company to receive shares of the common stock and/or cash related to the excess conversion value that the Company would pay to the holders of the Notes upon conversion, up to the above mentioned cap price.

The $19,668 thousands cost of the capped call transactions, which net of deferred income tax effect amounts to $12,784 thousands, is included as a net reduction to additional paid-in capital in the stockholders’ equity section of these interim condensed consolidated balance sheets, in accordance with the guidance in ASC 815-40 Derivatives and Hedging-Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity.

Use of estimates

The preparation of interim condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used for, but not limited to accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts and chargeback provisions, depreciation, amortization, recoverability of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life, useful life of long-lived assets and intangible assets, impairment of short-term and long-term investments, impairment of long-lived assets, compensation costs relating to the Company’s long term retention plan, fair value of convertible debt note, recognition of income taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

On January 9, 2015, the FASB issued the Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2015-01. This new standard eliminates from general accepted accounting principles the concept of extraordinary items included in Subtopic 225-20. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the year of adoption. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

On February 18, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-02. The update affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities and is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. The amendments eliminate three of the six conditions for evaluating whether a fee paid to a decision maker or a service provider represents a variable interest. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

On April 7, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-03. To simplify presentation of debt issuance costs, the amendments in this update would require that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of debt liability, consistent with debt discounts or premiums. The amendments in this update are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

On April 15, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-05. The amendments in this update will help entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement by providing guidance as to whether an arrangement includes the sale or license of software. The amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company’s financial statements.

On May, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-07. The amendments in this update remove, from the fair value hierarchy, investments for which the practical expedient is used to measure fair value at net asset value. Instead, an entity is required to include those investments as a reconciling line item so that the total fair value amount of investments in the disclosure is consistent with the amount on the balance sheet. For public companies, this amendment is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The amendment should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

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On July 22, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-11. The amendments in this update apply to inventory measured using first-in, first-out (“FIFO”), or average cost. An Entity should measure inventory within the scope of this ASU at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably practicable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method.  The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), with an effective date for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, for public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans. The effective date for all other entities was for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The amendments in ASU 2015-14, issued on August 12, 2015, defer the effective date of Update 2014-09. Public business entities, certain not-for-profit entities, and certain employee benefit plans should apply the guidance in Update 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company’s financial statements.

On August 16, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-15. To clarify the SEC staff’s position on presenting and measuring debt issuance costs incurred in connection with line-of-credit arrangements. The guidance in Update 2015-03 does not address presentation or subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within Update 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

On September 25, 2015 the FASB issued the ASU 2015-16. Topic 805 requires that an acquirer retrospectively adjust provisional amounts recognized in a business combination, during the measurement period. To simplify the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts, the amendments in the Update require that the acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amount is determined. The acquirer is required to also record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. In addition an entity is required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes to the financial statements the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date.  The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

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3. Net income per share

Basic earnings per share for the Company’s common stock is computed by dividing, net income available to common shareholders attributable to common stock for the period, and the corresponding adjustment attributable to changes in redeemable non-controlling interest, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted earnings per share for the Company’s common stock assume the issuance of shares as a consequence of a convertible debt securities conversion event (refer to Note 9 to these interim condensed consolidated financial statements) and the effect of assumed share settlement of Long-term retention plans (refer to Note 2 – Section “Convertible Senior Notes” to these interim condensed consolidated financial statements) for earnings per share calculations.

The following table shows how net income is allocated using the “if converted” and the “treasury stock” method for convertible debt securities and Long-term retention plans, respectively, for earnings per common share for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Net income per share of common stock is as follows for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

For the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 there was no impact on the calculation of diluted earnings per share as a consequence of the consideration of the Notes and the Long term retention plan referred to above.

 

4. Business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets

Business combinations

Acquisition of online classifieds advertisement company in Mexico

On April 22, 2015, through its subsidiaries Deremate.com de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. and MercadoLibre, S. de R.L. de C.V., the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Metros Cúbicos, S.A. de C.V., company that operates an online classified advertisement platform dedicated to the sale of real estate in Mexico, in order to increase its participation on e-commerce business in that country.

The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition of the 100% of the acquired business was $29,917 thousands, measured at its fair value, amount that included: (i) the total cash payment of $26,917 thousands at closing day; and (ii) an escrow of $3,000 thousands held in an escrow account, according to the stock purchase agreement.

In addition, the Company incurred in certain direct costs of the business combination which were expensed as incurred.

The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of income includes the results of operations of the acquired business as from April 22, 2015. The net revenues and net income of the acquiree included in the Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of income since the acquisition amounted to $1,865 thousands and $281 thousands, respectively.

The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation calculated at the date of acquisition:

 

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The purchase price was allocated based on the measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed considering the information available as of the date of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. The valuation of identifiable intangible assets acquired reflects management’s estimates based on the use of established valuation methods. Such assets consist of trademarks, customer lists and non-solicitation and non-compete agreements for a total amount of $8,721 thousands. Management of the Company estimates that trademarks have an indefinite useful life and the intangible asset associated with the customer list will be amortized over a five-year period. The non-solicitation and non-compete agreement intangible asset will be amortized over a three-year period.

The Company recognized goodwill for this acquisition based on management expectation that the acquired business will improve the Company’s business in Mexico.

Arising goodwill has been allocated to the Mexican segment identified by the Company’s management, considering the synergies expected from this acquisition and it is expected that the acquiree will contribute to the earnings generation process of such segment.

Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

Acquisition of a software development company in Brazil

On April 1, 2015, through its subsidiaries Ebazar.com.br Ltda. and MercadoLivre.com Atividades de Internet Ltda, the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the company KPL Soluções Ltda., a company that develops ERP software for the e-commerce industry in Brazil.

The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition of the 100% of the acquired business was $22,685 thousands, measured at its fair value, amount that included: (i) the total cash payment of $12,529 thousands at closing day; (ii) an escrow of $3,316 thousands, and (iii) the contingent additional cash considerations up to $6,840 thousands in case the company achieves certain performance targets during the 24 months since the acquisition date, measured at fair value. Additionally, a payment of $1,584 thousands will be transferred to the sellers after the end of the second year after the acquisition date,  aiming to continue the employment relationship as key employees. This additional payment will be expensed over the 24 month-period up to fulfillment of the conditions required by the selling and purchase agreement.

The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of income includes the results of operations of the acquired business as from April 1, 2015. The net revenues and net loss of the acquiree included in the Company’s interim condensed consolidated statement of income since the acquisition amounted to $1,338 thousands and $343 thousands, respectively.

In addition, the Company incurred in certain direct costs of the business combination which were expensed as incurred.

As of September 30, 2015, the fair value of the contingent consideration recorded is $5,747 thousands. Contingent additional cash considerations are to be paid after the achievement of the performance targets.

The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation for the acquisition:

 

The purchase price was allocated based on the provisional measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed considering the information available as of the date of these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements. The valuation of identifiable intangible assets acquired reflects management’s estimates based on the use of established valuation methods. Such assets consist of customer lists, software, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements for a total amount of $8,433 thousands. Management of the Company estimates that customer lists, the software and the non-solicitation and non-compete agreements will be amortized over a five-year period.

The Company recognized goodwill for this acquisition based on management expectation that the acquired business will improve the Company’s business.

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Arising goodwill has been allocated to the Brazilian segment identified by the Company’s management, considering the synergies expected from this acquisition and it is expected that the acquiree will contribute to the earnings generation process of such segment.

Goodwill is deductible for tax purposes.

Supplemental pro forma financial information required by U.S. GAAP for each acquisition, both individually and in the aggregate, was not material to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements of income of the Company and, accordingly, such information has not been presented.

Goodwill and intangible assets

The composition of goodwill and intangible assets is as follows:

 

 

 

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets with definite useful life

Intangible assets with definite useful life are comprised of customer lists and user base, non-compete and solicitation agreements, acquired software licenses and other acquired intangible assets including developed technologies. Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets totaled $909 thousands and $829 thousands for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014,

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respectively, while for the nine-month periods ended at such dates amounted to $2,273 thousands and $1,177 thousands, respectively.

The following table summarizes the remaining amortization of intangible assets (in thousands of U.S. dollars) with definite useful life as of September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

5. Segment reporting

Reporting segments are based upon the Company’s internal organizational structure, the manner in which the Company’s operations are managed, the criteria used by management to evaluate the Company’s performance, the availability of separate financial information, and overall materiality considerations.

Segment reporting is based on geography as the main basis of segment breakdown to reflect the evaluation of the Company’s performance defined by the management. The Company’s segments include Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela and other countries (such as Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Bolivia, Guatemala, Peru, Portugal, Uruguay and USA).

Direct contribution consists of net revenues from external customers less direct costs and any impairment of long lived assets. Direct costs include specific costs of net revenues, sales and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses over which segment managers have direct discretionary control, such as advertising and marketing programs, customer support expenses, allowances for doubtful accounts, payroll, third party fees. All corporate related costs have been excluded from the Company’s direct contribution.

Expenses over which segment managers do not currently have discretionary control, such as certain technology and general and administrative costs are monitored by management through shared cost centers and are not evaluated in the measurement of segment performance.

The following tables summarize the financial performance of the Company’s reporting segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The following table summarizes the allocation of property and equipment, net based on geography:

 

 

 

(*)  After the impairment of Venezuelan long-lived assets. See Note 2 “Foreign currency translation - Venezuelan currency status”.

 

During June 2015, our Venezuelan subsidiary acquired two offices in process of construction of a total of 475.48 square meters, in Caracas, Venezuela for a total purchase price of approximately BF$1,474 million, or $7.4 million, for investment purposes and included in non-current other assets. The Venezuelan subsidiary paid the purchase price in Bolivares Fuertes, and funded the transaction with funds from its own operations.

During August 2015, our Venezuelan subsidiary acquired an office in process of construction of a total of 309.19 square meters, in Caracas, Venezuela for a total purchase price of approximately BF$1,188 million, or $6.0 million, for investment purposes and included in non-current other assets. The Venezuelan subsidiary paid the purchase price in Bolivares Fuertes.

During September 2015, our Venezuelan subsidiary acquired an office in process of construction of a total of 169.06 square meters, in Caracas, Venezuela for a total purchase price of approximately BF$883.1 million, or $4.4 million, for investment purposes and included in non-current other assets. The Venezuelan subsidiary paid the purchase price in Bolivares Fuertes.

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The offices acquired during August and September 2015 were funded with funds from its own operations for an amount of BF$1,071 million, and the remaining BF$ 1,000 were funded with a mortgage loan celebrated with Banco del Caribe, C.A. Banco Universal to be paid in monthly installments during five years, and included in current and non-current liabilities under the caption “Loans payable and other financial liabilities”. The mortgage loan bears a fixed interest rate of 24% per annum. The amount of the mortgage climbs to BF$2,000 million, or $10 million as of September 30, 2015.

 

The offices will be delivered on October, 2016 according to the agreements.

 

The following table summarizes the allocation of the goodwill and intangible assets based on geography:

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net revenues by similar products and services for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

 

 

 

(*)  Includes, among other things, Ad Sales, Real Estate, Motors, Financing Fees, Off-platform Payment Fees and other ancillary services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6. Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company’s financial assets valued at fair value consisted of assets valued using i) Level 1 inputs: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 instrument valuations are obtained from observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets in active markets); and ii) Level 2 inputs, which are obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments as well as instruments with inactive markets at the measurement date. As of September 30, 2015, the Company did not have any assets without market values that would require a high level of judgment to determine fair value (Level 3).

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company´s liabilities valued at fair value consisted of contingent considerations from acquisitions valued using level 2 inputs.

The unrealized net gains or loss on short term and long term investments are reported as a component of other comprehensive income. The Company does not anticipate any significant realized losses associated with those investments in excess of the Company’s historical cost.

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at amortized cost approximated their fair value mainly because of its short term maturity. These assets and liabilities included cash and cash equivalents (excluding money markets funds), accounts receivables, credit card receivables, funds payable to customers, other receivables, other assets, accounts payables, social security payables, taxes payables, provisions and other liabilities. The convertible senior notes, the rest of the loans payable and other financial liabilities approximate their fair value because the interest rates are not materially different from market interest rates.

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In addition, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had $53,856 thousands and $58,475 thousands of short-term investments, respectively, which consisted of time deposits.

Those investments are accounted for at amortized cost which, as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, approximates their fair values.

The following table summarizes the fair value level for those financial assets and liabilities of the Company measured at amortized cost as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company held no direct investments in auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations or structured investment vehicles, and does not have any non-financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value.

 

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As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of money market funds, short and long-term investments classified as available for sale securities are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The material portion of the Sovereign Debt Securities is U.S. Treasury Notes with no significant risk associated.

As of September 30, 2015, the estimated fair values (in thousands of U.S. dollars) of money market funds, short-term and long-term investments classified by its effective maturities are as follows:

 

 

 

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation and Other Legal Matters

The Company is subject to certain contingent liabilities with respect to existing or potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings. The Company accrues liabilities when it considers probable that future costs will be incurred and such costs can be reasonably estimated. The proceeding-related reserve is based on developments to date and historical information related to actions filed against the Company. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had established reserves for proceeding-related contingencies of $1,641 thousands to cover legal actions against the Company in which its Management has assessed the likelihood of a final adverse outcome as probable. In addition, as of September 30, 2015 the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain legal actions considered by the Company’s management and its legal counsels to be reasonably possible for an aggregate amount up to $3,413 thousands. 

As of September 30, 2015, there were 49 lawsuits pending against the Argentine subsidiary in the Argentine ordinary courts and 965 pending claims in the Argentine Consumer Protection Agencies, where a lawyer is not required to file or pursue a claim.

As of September 30, 2015, there were two claims pending against the Mexican subsidiaries in the Mexican ordinary courts and 73 claims pending against our Mexican subsidiary in the Mexican Consumer Protection Agencies, where a lawyer is not required to file or pursue a claim.

As of September 30, 2015, there were 646 lawsuits pending against the Brazilian subsidiaries in the Brazilian ordinary courts. In addition, as of September 30, 2015, there were 2,561 lawsuits pending against the Brazilian subsidiaries in the Brazilian consumer courts, where a lawyer is not required to file or pursue a claim. In most of these cases, the plaintiffs asserted that the Company was responsible for fraud committed against them, or responsible for damages suffered when purchasing an item on our website, when using MercadoPago, or when the Company invoiced them. Management believes that the Company has meritorious defenses to these claims and intends to continue defending them.

No loss amount has been accrued for such reasonably possible legal actions. The most significant legal actions (individually or in the aggregate) are described below.

 

On August 25, 2010, Citizen Watch do Brasil S/A, or Citizen, sued Brazilian subsidiaries in the 31th Central Civil Court State of São Paulo, Brazil. Citizen alleged that the Brazilian subsidiaries were infringing Citizen’s trademarks as a result of users selling allegedly counterfeit Citizen watches through the Brazilian page of the Brazilian subsidiaries’ website. Citizen sought an order enjoining the sale of Citizen-branded watches on the Brazilian subsidiaries’ Marketplace with a $6,000 daily non-compliance penalty. On September 23, 2010, the Brazilian subsidiaries were summoned of an injunction granted to prohibit the offer of Citizen products on its platform, but the penalty was established at $6,000 per day. On September 26, 2010, the Brazilian subsidiaries presented their defense and appealed the decision of the injunction relief to the State Court of Appeals of São Paulo on September 27, 2010. On October 22, 2010 the injunction granted to Citizen was suspended. On March 23, 2011, the Company’s appeal regarding the injunction granted to Citizen was ruled in favor of the Brazilian subsidiaries. On May 4, 2011, Citizen presented a motion to clarify the decision but it was dismissed on March 14, 2012. On May 28, 2012, the Plaintiff filed a special recourse related to the injunction relief to the State Court of Appeals, and the Brazilian subsidiaries presented their defense on August 16, 2012 which was not admitted. In September 2012, the Plaintiff filed a legal action against the Brazilian subsidiaries

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with same arguments alleged in the injunction request and seeking for compensatory and statutory damages and defenses were presented on March 20, 2013. On January 9, 2013, Citizen presented a motion to request the appeal to be ruled by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (Superior Tribunal de Justiça). On March 1, 2013, the Company presented its response to that appeal. On August 27, 2013, the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice ruled against Citizen’s appeal. The Superior Court of Justice ruled that the Brazilian subsidiaries were not responsible for alleged infringement of intellectual property rights by its users and that they should comply with the “notice and take down” procedure it already have in place.

 

On October 4, 2013, Citizen presented a motion to clarify mentioned decision issued by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice and such motion was denied on November 11, 2013. Citizen then filed, on November 25, 2013, an Extraordinary Appeal aiming the decision rendered by Brazilian Superior Court of Justice to be reviewed by Brazilian Federal Supreme Court. On February 21, 2014, Brazilian subsidiaries presented its response to Citizen’s Extraordinary Appeal. On March 10, 2014, Citizen’s extraordinary appeal was not accepted by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice and, on March 26, 2014, Citizen filed an appeal against such decision, aiming at its Extraordinary Appeal to be accepted and ruled by Brazilian Federal Supreme Court. On May 5, 2014 the Company presented its response to Citizen’s appeal to The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court. On December, 19, 2014 Brazilian Federal Supreme Court overruled Citizen’s Extraordinary Appeal, ending the discussion regarding the injunction sought by Citizen which was definitely not granted. On February 19, 2015 the judge presiding the 31st Central Civil Court of the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil ruled the case in its merits totally in favor of the Brazilian subsidiary, stating that MercadoLivre shall not be held responsible for any of Citizen’s pleas and allegations. Citizen did not appeal the mentioned decision and, as a consequence, the case is closed. On the merits of the injunction is still pending. In the opinion of the Company’s management and its legal counsel the risk of loss is therefore remote.

State of São Paulo Fraud Claim

On June 12, 2007, a state prosecutor of the State of São Paulo, Brazil presented a claim against MercadoLivre. The state prosecutor alleges that MercadoLivre should be held liable for any fraud committed by sellers on MercadoLivre’s website, or responsible for damages suffered by buyers when purchasing an item on the Brazilian version of the MercadoLivre website. On June 26, 2009, the Lower Court Judge ruled in favor of the State of São Paulo prosecutor, declaring that MercadoLivre shall be held joint and severally liable for fraud committed by sellers and damages suffered by buyers when using the website, and ordering MercadoLivre remove from the Terms of Service of the Brazilian website any provision limiting MercadoLivre’s responsibility, with a penalty of approximately $2,500 per day of non-compliance. On June 29, 2009, the Company presented recourse to the lower court, which was not granted. On September 29, 2009, MercadoLivre presented an appeal and requested to suspend the effects of the ruling issued by the lower court until the appeal is decided by State Court of Appeals, which request was granted on December 1, 2009. On May 23, 2014 the State Court of Appeals issued its ruling stating that MercadoLivre shall not be held responsible for the quality, nature or defective products or services purchased through the Brazilian website. While the decision is not clear, it could be understood that the State Court of Appeals ruled that MercadoLivre could be held joint and severally liable for fraud committed by sellers buyers when using the website. On June 13, 2014, MercadoLivre filed a motion to clarify the decision. On October 6, 2014, the State Court of Appeals overruled MercadoLivre’s motion to clarify its decision. The Company appealed the decision to the Brazilian Federal Superior Court of Justice. As of the date of this report the Company appeal to the Brazilian Federal Superior Court of Justice was still being processed before the State Court of Appeals. On March 23, 2015 the State of São Paulo Prosecutor and MercadoLivre have settled the case by agreeing that MercadoLivre (i) will not be held liable for the quality, nature or defective products or services purchased through the Brazilian website, and/or damages suffered by buyers for purchases made using the website and paid directly to sellers, and (ii) will be jointly liable when buyer used MercadoPago in a purchase made through the website and liable for MercadoLivre’s own services. On July 15, 2015, the settlement was homologated and therefore the case is closed as of the date of these interim condensed financial statements.

City of São Paulo Tax Claim

In 2007 São Paulo tax authorities have asserted taxes and fines against our Brazilian subsidiary relating to the period from 2005 to 2007 in an approximate amount of $5.9 million according to the exchange rate in effect at that time. In 2007, the Company presented administrative defenses against the authorities’ claim and the tax authorities ruled against the Brazilian subsidiary. In 2009, the Company presented an appeal to the Conselho Municipal de Tributos or São Paulo Municipal Council of Taxes which reduced the fine. On February 11, 2011, the Company appealed this decision to the Câmaras Reunidas do Egrégio Conselho Municipal de Tributos or Superior Chamber of the São Paulo Municipal Council of Taxes which affirmed the reduction of the fine. As of the date of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the total amount of the claim is approximately $5.8 million including surcharges and interest. With this decision the administrative stage is finished. On August 15, 2011, the Company made a deposit in court of approximately R$ 9.5 million, which including accrued interests amounted to R$ 12.4 million or $3.1 million, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2015, and filed a lawsuit in 8th Public Treasury Court of the

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County of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to contest the taxes and fines asserted by the Tax Authorities. As of September 30, 2015, the 8th Public Treasury Court of the County of São Paulo ruling was still pending.

In September 2012 São Paulo tax authorities have asserted taxes and fines against our Brazilian subsidiary related to our Brazilian subsidiary’s activities in São Paulo for the period from 2007 through 2010. On July 27, 2012, the Company presented administrative defenses against the authorities’ claim. On February 2, 2013, São Paulo tax authorities ruled against the Brazilian subsidiary maintaining claimed taxes and fines. On March 4, 2013, the Company presented an appeal to the Conselho Municipal de Tributos or São Paulo Municipal Council of Taxes. On August 23, 2013, the Câmaras Reunidas do Egrégio Conselho Municipal de Tributos or Superior Chamber of the São Paulo Municipal Council of Taxes ruled against the Company’s appeal. On September 5, 2013, the Company presented a special appeal to the Superior Chamber of the São Paulo Municipal Council of Taxes. On October 18, 2013, the mentioned appeal was denied to our Brazilian subsidiary and confirmed the fines. With this decision the administrative stage is finished. On November 13, 2013, the Company filed a lawsuit before the 9th Treasury Court of the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, Brazil, to contest the taxes and fines asserted by the Tax Authorities. On November 14, 2013, the Company made a deposit in court related to the lawsuit filed, of approximately R$41 million or $10.3 million, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2015. On January 28, 2014 São Paulo Municipal Council was summoned and on April 8, 2014 the São Paulo Municipal Council presented its defense. On April 24, 2014 the Company presented its response to the mentioned defense. As of September 30, 2015, the lower court’s ruling was still pending.

In January 2005 the Brazilian subsidiary moved its operations to Santana de Parnaíba City, Brazil and began paying taxes to that jurisdiction and therefore the Company believes that has strong defenses to the claims of the São Paulo authorities with respect to these periods.

The Company’s management and its legal counsel believe that the risk of loss is remote, and as a result, has not reserved any provisions for these claims.

The collection date of the legal deposits cannot be determined since it will depend on the actual duration of the related legal proceedings.

Brazilian Federal Tax Claims

On September 2, 2011, the Brazilian Federal tax authority has asserted taxes and fines against our Brazilian subsidiary relating to the income tax for the 2006 period in an approximate amount of R$6.2 million or $1.6 million, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2015. On September 30, 2011 the Company presented administrative defenses against the authorities’ claim. On August 24, 2012 the Company presented its appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals (CARF — Conselho Administrativo de Recursos Fiscais) against the tax authorities’ claims. On December 5, 2013, the Board of Tax Appeals ruled against MercadoLivre’s appeal. As of the date of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements the Superior Administrative Court of Tax Appeals ruling was still pending. The Company’s management and its legal counsel believe that the tax position adopted is more likely than not, based on the technical merits of the tax position, that it will be sustained, and as a result, the Company has not recorded any liability for this claim.

 

State of Rio de Janeiro Customer Service Level Claim

On August 19, 2011, a state prosecutor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil presented a claim against the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary. The state prosecutor alleges that the Brazilian subsidiary should improve our customer service level and provide (among other things) a telephone number for customer support and requested an injunction against our Brazilian subsidiary. On October 22, 2012, a lower court judge ruled in favor of the Company and dismissed the claim against the Company. The Public Prosecutor appealed the decision and the Company presented its defense on December 12, 2012. On April 9, 2013, the State Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Company confirming the dismissal of the claim. On May 28, 2013 the decision was appealed by the state prosecutor to the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice and the Company presented its response on July 2, 2013. On May 5, 2015 the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice did not accept the extraordinary appeal filed by the Public Prosecutor. The Public Prosecutor filed an appeal against such decision, aiming the appeal to be accepted and ruled by Brazilian Federal Supreme Court, which was not accepted on June 16, 2015. The state prosecutor filed the last  appeal, which awaits trial.  In the opinion of the Company’s management and its legal counsel the risk of loss is remote.

State of Rio Grande do Sul Service Claim

On November 20, 2013, a state prosecutor of the County of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, presented a claim against our Brazilian subsidiary before the 15th Civil Court of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The state prosecutor alleged that MercadoLivre should be held liable for any offer or sale of any unlawful products or services through its website. A preliminary injunction was granted on November 25, 2013 ordering the Brazilian subsidiary to monitor and prevent any offer of unlawful products or services. On January 22, 2014, the Brazilian subsidiary was summoned. On March 11, 2014, the

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Company presented its defense. On March 24, 2014, the Company filed an appeal against the preliminary injunction before the State Court of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and on March 26, 2014 it was granted a motion to stay, revoking temporarily the effects of the injunction until the final ruling of the Interlocutory Appeal. On October 16, 2014, the State Court of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, ruled the Interlocutory Appeal in favor of the Brazilian subsidiary, revoking definitely the injunction. As of the date of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements the case merits’ ruling by the 15th Civil Court of Porto Alegre was still pending. In the opinion of the Company’s management the risk of losing the case is reasonably possible, but not probable.

Argentine Labor Union Claim

On September 29, 2014, the Argentina Commercial Labor Union “Federación Argentina de Empleados de Comercio y Servicios” (“Sindicato de Comercio” or the “Plaintiff”) filed a lawsuit against our Argentine subsidiary, MercadoLibre S.R.L. (“MercadoLibre” or the “Company”), in the First Instance National Court on Labor Matters Number Fifty Eight of Buenos Aires, Argentina (the “Court”). The Plaintiff seeks the payment of allegedly unpaid monthly obligations due for employees for the last 10 years, for AR$ 3.2 million or $0.43 million plus interests and legal expenses. On August 12, 2015 the Company has settled the case in the amount of ARS 2.4 million plus interest and legal expenses. As a consequence, as of September 30, 2015, this case is closed.

Other third parties have from time to time claimed, and others may claim in the future, that the Company was responsible for fraud committed against them, or that the Company has infringed their intellectual property rights. The underlying laws with respect to the potential liability of online intermediaries like the Company are unclear in the jurisdictions where the Company operates. Management believes that additional lawsuits alleging that the Company has violated copyright or trademark laws will be filed against the Company in the future.

Intellectual property and regulatory claims, whether meritorious or not, are time consuming and costly to resolve, require significant amounts of management time, could require expensive changes in the Company’s methods of doing business, or could require the Company to enter into costly royalty or licensing agreements. The Company may be subject to patent disputes, and be subject to patent infringement claims as the Company’s services expand in scope and complexity. In particular, the Company may face additional patent infringement claims involving various aspects of the payments businesses.

From time to time, the Company is involved in other disputes or regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of business. The number and significance of these disputes and inquiries are increasing as the Company’s business expands and the Company grows larger.

 

8. Long term retention plan (“LTRP”)

 

The following table summarizes  the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 long term retention plan accrued compensation expense for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

 

(*) (Gain) / Loss

(**) For the three-month period ended September 30, 2015, the table above shows a negative change of compensation costs for LTRP 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 as a consequence of a decrease in the Company’s stock price during the quarter.

 

On August 4, 2015, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, adopted the 2015 Long-Term Retention Plan (“2015 LTRP”). In order to receive an award under the 2015 LTRP, each eligible employee must satisfy the

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performance conditions established by the Board of Directors for such employee. The awards under 2015 LTRP are payable in cash, common stock or a combination thereof, in addition to the annual salary and bonus of each employee. The Company has granted the right to any LTRP participant to request settlement in cash. If these conditions are satisfied, the eligible employee will, subject to his or her continued employment as of each applicable payment date, receive the full amount of his or her 2015 LTRP bonus, payable as follows:

Additionally, on the same date, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved an amendment of each of the Company´s 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 2013 and 2014 Long Term Retention Plans (“LTRPs”), effective as of January 1, 2015. These LTRPs were amended to (a) revise the prior LTRPs’ definition of the term “Market Value” to distinguish between a Change in Control (as defined in the amended LTRPs) in which the Company is the surviving entity and those transactions in which it is not the surviving entity and (b) include special payment rules in the case of participants who experience a Covered Termination within 120 days before a Change in Control or after a Change in Control. These amendments are also included in the 2015 LTRP described above.

Under these amendments, (a) each participant should receive a single payment equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Award payments scheduled to be paid after a Change in Control (based on the Market Value on the date the Change in Control occurs), and (b) each award payment scheduled to be paid after the Change in Control shall be reduced by fifty percent (50%), to reflect the single payment, and should continue to be paid on March 31 every year. As of the date of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the probability of a Change in Control is remote. According to the amended Change in Control provision, the effects of the acceleration in vesting shall be recorded once the Change in Control event becomes probable.

 

9. 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019

The following table presents the carrying amounts of the liability and equity components related to the 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019 as of September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

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The following table presents the interest expense for the contractual interest and the accretion of debt discount:

 

 

 

 

10. Cash Dividend Distribution

During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, the Company approved cash dividends for a total amount of $29,318 thousands or $0.664 per share, which had all been paid as of the year-end, except for the one approved in October 2014, consisting of $7,330 thousands (or $0.166 per share), which was paid on January 15, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2014.

In each of February, April, July and October of 2014, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $7,330 thousands (or $0.166 per share on our outstanding shares of common stock). The dividends were paid on April 15,  July 15, October 15, 2014 and January 15, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 29,  June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2014.

On February 24, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $4,548 thousands (or $0.103 per share) on the outstanding shares of the Company´s common stock. The first quarterly dividend was paid on April 15, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2015. 

On April 30, 2015, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $4,548 thousands (or $0.103 per share), payable to holders of the Company's common stock. This quarterly cash dividend was paid on July 15, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2015.

On August 4, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $4,548 (or $0.103 per share) on our outstanding shares of Company’s common stock. This quarterly cash dividend was paid on October 15, 2015 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2015.

On November 3, 2015, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $4,548 (or $0.103 per share) on our outstanding shares of Company’s common stock. This quarterly cash dividend will be paid on January 15, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2015.

 

 

11. New Law of “Costs, Earnings, and Fair Profits”

In November 2013 the Venezuelan Congress approved an “enabling law” granting the president of Venezuela the authority to enact laws and regulations in certain policy areas by decree. This authority includes the ability to restrict profit margins and impose greater controls on foreign exchange and the production, import, and distribution of certain goods. Among other actions, the president has used this decree power to pass the Law of Costs, Earnings, and Fair Profits, which became effective in January 2014 and, among other provisions, authorizes the Venezuelan government to set “fair prices” and maximum profit margins in the private sector. On October 26, 2015, the decree number 2,074 was published in the Official Gazette of Venezuela, establishing certain definitions related to the determination of prices in that country.

Management of the Company is analyzing the potential effects of this law together with the new implementation Decree issued by the Venezuelan Government.