MERCADOLIBRE INC - Quarter Report: 2016 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, 2016

-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.

44,157,341 shares of the issuer’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding as of November 3, 2016.



 



 

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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, 2016 and December 31, 2015

and for the nine and three-month periods

ended September 30, 2016 and 2015

 



 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015

(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, 2016 and 2015

(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, 2016 and 2015

(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, 2016 and 2015

(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, 2016, MercadoLibre, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, operated online ecommerce platforms directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador, Portugal, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay and Venezuela. Additionally, MercadoLibre operates an online payments solution directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and Colombia. It also offers a shipping solution directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile. 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 99.9% and 99.7% of the consolidated amounts during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. Long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill located in the foreign operations totaled $232,819 thousands and $184,178 thousands as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2016  and December 31, 2015. 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, 2016 and 2015; and statement of cash flows for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 and 2015. 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, 2015, 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 a more detailed discussion of the Company’s significant accounting policies, see note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016, there were no material updates made to the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Foreign currency translation

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 operating subsidiaries translate assets and liabilities from their local currencies into U.S. dollars by using 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 at the date of the transaction are used. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as a component of other comprehensive (loss) income.

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Venezuelan currency status

Pursuant 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 was the functional currency for such operation. The cumulative three year inflation rate as of December 31, 2010 exceeded 100%. The Company continues to treat the economy of Venezuela as highly-inflationary. Therefore, no translation effect was accounted for in other comprehensive income related to the Venezuelan operations.

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 (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 Central Bank of Venezuela (“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 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 going forward 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.

Considering this change in facts and circumstances and the lower U.S. dollar-equivalent cash flows then expected from the Venezuelan business, the Company 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 recorded an impairment of long-lived assets of $ 16.2 million on March 31, 2015. The carrying amount was 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.

On March 9, 2016 the BCV issued the Exchange Agreement No.35, which is effective since March 10, 2016. The agreement established a “protected” exchange rate (“DIPRO”) for certain transactions, such as but not limited to: imports of goods of the food and health sectors, as well as supplies associated with the production of said sectors; expenses relating to health treatments, sports, culture, scientific research, and other urgent matters defined by the exchange regulations. All foreign currency transactions not expressly provided in Exchange Agreement No.35 will be processed on the alternate foreign currency markets governed by the exchange regulations, at the floating supplementary market exchange rate (“DICOM”).

Additionally, the agreement established that the alternate foreign currency markets referred to in Exchange Agreement No.33 of February 10, 2015 (SIMADI) will continue to operate until replaced by others. As of the date of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the SIMADI has not been replaced and for that reason, the Company continued using SIMADI. From March 31, 2016 through June 30, 2016, the SIMADI exchange rate increased from 273 BsF per U.S. dollar to 628 BsF per U.S. dollar, a 130% increase in the exchange rate. As a consequence of the local currency devaluation, the Company recorded a foreign exchange loss of $4.9 million during the second quarter of 2016.

Considering the significant devaluation and the lower U.S. dollar-equivalent cash flows then expected from the Venezuelan business, the Company reviewed its long-lived assets (including non-current other 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 June 30, 2016 would not be fully recoverable. As a result, on June 30, 2016, the Company recorded an impairment related to offices and commercial property under construction included within non-current other assets of $13.7 million. The carrying amount of offices and commercial property under construction was adjusted to its estimated fair value of approximately $12.5 million as of June 30, 2016, by using the market approach, and considering prices for similar assets. As of September 30, 2016, the SIMADI exchange rate was 658.9 BsF per U.S. dollar.

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 at U.S. bank accounts of our Venezuelan subsidiaries, were used until 2012 for dividend distributions from our Venezuelan subsidiaries. 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 $13.4 million and $24.6 million, as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and net revenues for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:









As of September 30, 2016, net assets (before intercompany eliminations) of the Venezuelan subsidiaries amounted to approximately 10.0%  of consolidated net assets, and cash and investments of the Venezuelan subsidiaries held in local currency in Venezuela amounted to approximately 1.0% 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 interim condensed consolidated 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.

Argentine currency status

During December 2015 the Argentine peso exchange rate increased by approximately 37% against the U.S. dollar to 13.3 Argentine pesos per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2015. Due to this increase, during the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a foreign exchange gain of $18.2 million (as a result of having a net asset position in U.S. dollars) and the reported Other Comprehensive Loss increased by $22.8 million (as a result of having a net asset position in Argentine pesos). As of September 30, 2016 the Argentine Peso exchange rate against the U.S. dollar was 15.3.



Brazilian currency status

During 2015, the   Brazilian Reais exchange rate increased in approximately 44%,  relative to the U.S. dollar, from 2.7 Brazilian Reais per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2014 to 3.9 Brazilian Reais per U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2015.  Due to the fluctuations of the Brazilian foreign currency against the U.S. dollar, the Company recognized a foreign exchange gain of   $14.6 million during the year 2015. In addition, the reported Other Comprehensive Loss of our Brazilian segment increased by $9.0 million during the year 2015. As of September 30, 2016 the Brazilian Reais exchange rate against the U.S. dollar was 3.2.



Income and asset taxes

The Company is subject to U.S. and foreign income taxes. The Company accounts for income taxes following the liability method of accounting which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for tax loss carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred

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tax assets or liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded when, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the Company’s deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company’s income tax expense consists of taxes currently payable, if any, plus the change during the period in the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities.

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 requirement 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 for the Company’s Argentinean subsidiary, Mercadolibre S.R.L. Furthermore, on September 18, 2016, the Argentine Industry Secretary issued Resolutions 93/2016 and 97/2016 approving the Company’s application for eligibility under the new software development law for the Company’s Argentinean subsidiaries, Neosur S.RL. and Business Vision S.A. As a result, the Company’s Argentinean subsidiaries have 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 an income tax benefit of $16,018 and $6,823 thousands for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Furthermore, the Company recorded a labor cost benefit of $4,173 and $2,167 thousands for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Additionally, $1,416 and $631 thousands were accrued to pay software development law audit fees during the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016, respectively. During the third quarter of 2015, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $16,015 thousands, a labor cost benefit of $4,183 thousands and $1,414 million were accrued to pay software development law audit fees. Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday amounted to $0.46 and $0.20 for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the Accounting Standards Update 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (ASU 2015-17). The new guidance requires that deferred income tax liabilities and assets be classified as non-current in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted.

The company elected to apply the amendments retrospectively to all periods presented as it reduces the costs and complexity in current GAAP without affecting the quality of information provided to users of financial statements.

 The quantitative effect of the change on the December 31, 2015 balance sheet presented was a decrease in current deferred tax assets and current deferred tax liabilities of 12,290 thousands and 2,551 thousands, respectively. Those balances were reclassified to non-current deferred tax assets and non-current deferred tax liabilities as appropriate. Consequently, all deferred taxes were presented as Non-current in balance sheet. 

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company included under non-current deferred tax assets caption the foreign tax credits related to the dividend distributions received from its subsidiaries for a total amount of $15,966 thousands and $10,102 thousands, respectively. Those foreign tax credits will be used to offset the future domestic income tax payable. 

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Accumulated other comprehensive loss

The following table sets forth the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September  30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015:







The following tables summarize the changes in accumulated balances of other comprehensive loss for the nine-month period ended September  30, 2016:

 













Inventory

Inventory, consisting of points of sale (“POS”) devices 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 (including non-current other assets) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.

As explained above under “Foreign Currency Translation”, the Company has been subject to more unfavorable exchange markets in Venezuela since March 2015. Furthermore, from March 31, 2016 through June 30, 2016, the SIMADI exchange rate increased from 273 BsF per U.S. dollar to 628 BsF per U.S. dollar, a 130% increase in the exchange rate. 

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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 concluded that certain real estate investments held in Caracas, Venezuela, should be impaired. The fair value of long-lived assets was estimated through market approach using level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. These level 3 inputs included, but are not limited to, executed purchase agreements in similar assets and third party valuations. As a consequence, the Company estimated the fair value of the impaired long-lived assets, and recorded impairment losses of $13.7 million and $16.2 million on June 30, 2016 and March 31, 2015, respectively.   

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, 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 March 8, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-04. When an entity sells a prepaid stored-value product (such as gift cards, telecommunication cards, and traveler’s checks), it recognizes a financial liability for its obligation to provide the product holder with the ability to purchase goods or services at a third-party merchant. When a prepaid stored-value product goes unused wholly or partially for an indefinite time period, the amount that remains on the product is referred to as breakage. There currently is diversity in the methodology used to recognize breakage. Subtopic 405-20 includes derecognition guidance for both financial liabilities and nonfinancial liabilities, and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, includes authoritative breakage guidance but excludes financial liabilities. The amendments in this Update provide a narrow scope exception to the guidance in Subtopic 405-20 to require that breakage be accounted for consistent with the breakage guidance in Topic 606. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the company´s financial statements.

On March 14, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-06. Topic 815 requires that embedded derivatives be separated from the host contract and accounted for separately as derivatives if certain criteria are met, including the “clearly and closely related” criterion. The amendments in this Update clarify the requirements for assessing whether contingent call (put) options that can accelerate the payment of principal on debt instruments are clearly and closely related to their debt hosts. An entity performing the assessment under the amendments is required to assess the embedded call (put) options solely in accordance with the four-step decision sequence. The amendments apply to all entities that are issuers of or investors in debt instruments (or hybrid financial instruments that are determined to have a debt host) with embedded call (put) options. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the company´s financial statements.

On March 17, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-08. This update releases Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-08--Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). The amendments in this Update will clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements.

On March 30, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-09. The Board is issuing this Update as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in accounting standards. The areas for simplification in this Update involve several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Some of the areas for simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. In addition, the amendments in this Update eliminate the guidance in Topic 718 that was indefinitely deferred shortly after the issuance of FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment. This Accounting Standards Update is the final version of Proposed Accounting Standards Update—Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which has been deleted. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December

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15, 2016. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements.

On April 14, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-10.This update releases Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10—Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. This Update clarifies guidance related to identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance contained in the new revenue recognition standard. The Update includes targeted improvements based on input the Board received from the Transition Resource Group for Revenue Recognition and other stakeholders. The Update seeks to proactively address areas in which diversity in practice potentially could arise, as well as to reduce the cost and complexity of applying certain aspects of the guidance both at implementation and on an ongoing basis. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements.

On May 3, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-11 on Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in this Update eliminate some guidance related to revenue recognition and derivatives. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements.   

On May 9, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-12 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)—Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients”. The amendments in this update address narrow-scope improvements to the guidance on collectability, noncash consideration, and completed contracts at transition. Additionally, the amendments in this update provide a practical expedient for contract modifications at transition and an accounting policy election related to the presentation of sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from customers. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements. 

On June 16, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of credit losses on financial instruments”. This update amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, this update eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, requires an entity to reflect it’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however this topic will require that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements.   

On August 26, 2016 the FASB issued the “ASU 2016-15—Statement of cash flows (Topic 230): Classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments”. This update addresses the following eight specific cash flow issues: debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies (COLIs) (including bank-owned life insurance policies (BOLIs)); distributions received from equity method investees; beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on the Company´s financial statements.  

On October 24, 2016 the FASB issued the “ASU 2016-16—Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory”. This update eliminates the exception that prohibits recognizing current and deferred income tax consequences for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset or assets have been sold to an outside party. Consequently, this update requires to recognize the current and deferred income tax consequences of an intra-entity asset transfer when the transfer occurs. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have 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 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 and the effects of assumed share settlement of long term retention plans for earnings per share calculations.







Net income per share of common stock is as follows for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

 









For the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 there was no impact on the calculation of diluted earnings per share as a consequence of the consideration of the Convertible Notes and the Long term retention plan referred to above calculated using the “if converted” method and the “treasury stock method” respectively.

The denominator for diluted net income per share for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 does not include any effect from the capped call issued in connection with the notes because it would be antidilutive. In the event of conversion of any or all of the Notes, the shares that would be delivered to the Company under the Note hedges are designed to partially neutralize the dilutive effect of the shares that the Company would issue under the Notes.

 

4. Business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets

Business combinations

Acquisition of a software development company in Argentina

On February 12, 2016, the Company completed, through its subsidiaries Meli Participaciones S.L. and Marketplace Investment LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Delaware, USA (together referred to as the “Buyers”), the acquisition of the 100% of equity interest of Monits S.A., a software development company located and organized under the laws of the Buenos Aires City, Argentina. The objective of the acquisition was to enhance the capabilities of the Company in terms of software development.

The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition of the 100% of the acquired business was $3,056 thousands, measured at its fair value, amount that included: (i) the total cash payment of $1,713 thousands at closing day; (ii) an escrow of $128 thousands and iii) a contingent additional cash consideration up to $1,215 thousands.  

The Company’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated statement of income includes the results of operations of the acquired business as from February 12, 2016. The net revenues and net income before intercompany eliminations of the acquired Company included in the Company’s interim condensed consolidated statement of income since the acquisition amounted to $1,641 thousands and $93 thousands, respectively.

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

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As of September 30, 2016, the fair value of the contingent consideration recorded is $1,215 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 measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed considering the information available as of the date of acquisition. The valuation of identifiable intangible assets acquired reflects management’s estimates based on the use of established valuation methods. Such assets consist of non-solicitation agreement for an amount of $196 thousands. Management of the Company estimates that the non-solicitation agreement will be amortized over a two-year period.

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

Arising goodwill has been allocated proportionally to each of the segments 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 segments. Goodwill arising from this acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.

Acquisition of a software development company in Brazil 

On June 1, 2016, through its subsidiary Ebazar.com.br Ltda., the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Axado Informação e Tecnologia S.A. (“Axado”), a company that develops logistic software for the e-commerce industry in Brazil.

The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition of the 100% of the acquired business was $5,536 thousands, measured at its fair value, which included: (i) the total cash payment of $4,706 thousands at closing day; and (ii) an escrow of $830 thousands. Additionally, payments of $830 thousands will be transferred to the sellers by the end of the first and second year after the acquisition, aiming to continue the employment relationship as key employees. This additional payment will be expensed over the period up to fulfillment of the conditions required by the selling and purchase agreement.

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

The Company’s consolidated statement of income includes the results of operations of the acquired business as from June 1, 2016. The net revenues and net loss of the acquiree included in the Company’s statement of income since the acquisition amounted to $363 thousands and $92 thousands, respectively.

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



 

   

   



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 acquisition. The valuation of identifiable intangible assets acquired reflects management’s estimates based on the use of established valuation methods. Such assets consist of trademark, customer lists, software and non-compete and non-solicitation agreements for a total amount of $1,327 thousands. Management of the Company estimates that customer lists and non-compete agreements will be amortized over a five -year period, while trademark and software will be amortized over a three-year period. 

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

Arising goodwill was 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 arising from this acquisition 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:







 







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Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 and the year ended December 31, 2015 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 non-solicitation agreements, acquired software licenses and other acquired intangible assets including developed technologies. Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets totaled $1,144 thousands and $909 thousands for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, while for the nine-month periods ended at such dates amounted to $2,863 thousands and $2,273 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, 2016:







 

 

5. Segment reporting

Reporting segments are based upon the Company’s internal organizational structure, the manner in which the Company’s operations are managed and resources are assigned, 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, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay, 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 costs of net revenues, product and technology development expenses,  sales and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses over which segment managers have direct discretionary control, such as advertising and

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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:



 



In August 2016, the Company’s Argentine subsidiary acquired 6,057 square meters and 50 parking spaces, in an office building in process of construction located in Buenos Aires, for a total amount of Argentine pesos $481.4 million or approximately $31.4 million, plus VAT. The price of the transaction is payable as follows: i) $9.4 million was paid at the date of signing the purchase agreement and recorded as an advance for fixed assets within non-current Other assets, ii) $19.0 million will be paid in 14 monthly installments as from July 2017, and (iii) 3.0 million will be paid once the properties are delivered by the seller. According to the purchase agreement, 2,224 square meters will be delivered in September 2017 and 3,833 square meters will be delivered in

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September 2018. In connection with this acquisition, the Company may be granted with certain sales tax reliefs upon receiving definitive approval of the project from the City of Buenos Aires government.

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, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:

 













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

 



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, 2016 and December 31, 2015:







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As of September 30, 2016 and December 31,2015, 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: obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments as well as instruments with inactive markets at the measurement date.

As of June 30, 2016 and December 3

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company´s liabilities were valued at fair value using level 2 inputs and level 3 inputs (valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting Company own assumptions). Fair value of contingent considerations are determined based on the probability of achievement of the performance targets arising from each acquisition, as well as the Company’s historical experience with similar arrangements. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016 the Company recognized in earnings a loss of $305 thousands and a loss of $974 thousands within other comprehensive income, in relation with contingent considerations. In addition, during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2016, the Company assumed additional contingent considerations for an amount of $1,215 thousands and settled contingent considerations for an amount of $7,347 thousands.

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, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 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 payable,  salaries and social security payable, taxes payable, 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.  

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, 2016 and December 31, 2015:





(*) The fair value of the convertible senior notes (including the equity component) is disclosed in Note 9.



As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 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, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value of money market funds, short and long-term investments classified as available for sale securities are as follows:

 

















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

As of September 30, 2016, the estimated fair values (in thousands of U.S. dollars) of cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments classified by its effective maturities are as follows:



 







 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Update on 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, 2016, the Company had established reserves for proceeding-related contingencies and other estimated contingencies of $5,644 thousands to cover legal actions against the Company in which its Management has assessed the likelihood of a final adverse outcome as probable. Expected legal costs related to litigations are accrued when the legal service is actually provided. In addition, as of September 30, 2016, 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 $4,522 thousands.

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

As of September 30, 2016, there were 58 lawsuits pending against our Argentine subsidiaries in the Argentine ordinary courts and 1,379 pending claims in the Argentine Consumer Protection Agencies, where a lawyer is not required to file or pursue a claim.

As of September 30, 2016, there were seven claims pending against our Mexican subsidiaries in the Mexican ordinary courts and 156 claims pending against our Mexican subsidiaries in the Mexican Consumer Protection Agencies, where a lawyer is not required to file or pursue a claim.

As of September 30, 2016, 687 legal actions were pending in the Brazilian ordinary courts. In addition, as of September 30, 2016, there were 2,904 cases still pending in Brazilian consumer courts. Filing and pursuing of an action before Brazilian consumer courts do not require the assistance of a lawyer.

In most of the cases filed against the Company, the plaintiffs asserted that the Company was responsible for fraud committed against them, or responsible for damages suffered when purchasing an item on the Company’s 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.

City of São Paulo Tax Claim

In 2007, São Paulo tax authorities asserted taxes and fines against our Brazilian subsidiary relating to the period from 2005 to 2007 in an amount of $5.9 million according to the exchange rate in effect at that time. As of the date of these consolidated financial statements and following an administrative determination reducing the fine, the total amount of the claim is $4.2 million including surcharges and interest. On August 15, 2011, the Company made a deposit in court of R$9.5 million, which including accrued interests amounted to R$13.5 million or $4.2 million, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2016. The company continues to contest the assessment. On May 31, 2016, a lower court judge ruled in favor of the Company and the São Paulo Municipal Council presented a motion to clarify mentioned decision. As of the date of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company is still waiting for a decision. 

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Brazilian preliminary injunction against the Brazilian tax authorities

On November 6, 2014 the Company’s Brazilian subsidiaries requested a preliminary injunction against Receita Federal Do Brasil in order to avoid the income tax withholding over payments remitted by Brazilian subsidiaries to the Argentine subsidiary for the provision of IT support and assistance services; and requested the reimbursement of the amounts improperly withheld in the last five years. The injunction was granted on the grounds that such withholding violates the provisions of the convention signed between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Argentine Republic to prevent double taxation. In August 2015, such injunction was revoked by the first instance judge decision of merit, which was favorable to Receita Federal Do Brasil. The Company presented an appeal in September 2015 and, as of September 30, 2016, the Company is waiting for the second instance decision. As a result, the Company started making deposits in court for the controversial amounts. As of September 30, 2016, the Company recorded in the balance sheet deposits in court for R$20.4 million or $6.3 million, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2016 under the caption non-current other assets.

The Company’s management, based on the external legal counsel opinion, believes that the tax position adopted is more likely than not, based on the technical merits of the tax position and the existence of favorable decisions of the Federal Regional Courts. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any expense or liability for the controversial amounts.

Brazilian Federal Tax Claims

On September 2, 2011, the Brazilian Federal tax authority has asserted taxes and fines against the Company’s Brazilian (“MercadoLivre”) subsidiary relating to the income tax for the 2006 period in an amount of R$5.1 million or $1.5 million, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2016. 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. The same Board of Tax Appeals recognized as due part of the tax compensation made by the Company, decreasing the outstanding debit to R$2.0 million or $616 thousands, according to the exchange rate at September 30, 2016. On November 21, 2014, the Company appealed to the Superior Administrative Court of Tax Appeals. On September 8, 2016, the Company’s appeal was not accepted. MercadoLivre filed an appeal to the Superior Administrative Court of Tax Appeals. As of the date of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the Superior Administrative Court of Tax Appeals ruling was still pending. The Company’s management, based on the external legal counsel opinion, believes that the tax position adopted is more likely than not, based on the technical merits of the tax position. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any expense or liability for the controversial amounts.

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”)



On August 2, 2016, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, adopted the 2016 Long-Term Retention Plan (“2016 LTRP”). In addition to the annual salary and bonus of each employee, certain employees (“Eligible Employees”) are eligible to participate in the 2016 LTRP, which provides for the grant to an eligible employee of a cash-settled fixed (a “2016 LTRP Fixed Award”) and a cash-settled variable award, (a “2016 LTRP Variable Award”, and together with any 2016 LTRP Fixed Award, the “2016 LTRP Awards”). Each eligible employee will be granted both a 2016 LTRP Fixed Award and a 2016 LTRP Variable Award, in addition to receiving their annual salary and bonus. In order to receive payment in respect of the 2016 LTRP Awards, each eligible employee must satisfy the performance conditions established by the Board of Directors for such employee. 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 2016 LTRP Awards, payable as follows:

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The following table summarizes the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 long term retention plan accrued compensation expense for the nine and three-month periods ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, which are payable in cash according to the decision made by the Board of Directors on August 2, 2016:







(*) (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.







9. 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019

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 $126.02 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment as described in the indenture governing the Notes. 

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 the Company’s 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. 

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The price of the Company’s common stock was greater than 130% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the Company’s fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016. Therefore, as of September 30, 2016, the conversion threshold had been met and the Notes became convertible at the holders’ option beginning on October 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2016. The determination of whether or not the Notes are convertible must continue to be performed on a quarterly basis. 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 the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. The intention of the Company is to share-settle the total amount due upon conversion of the Notes.

As of the date of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, none of the holders had requested conversion of the Notes.

The total estimated fair value of the Notes was $511.9 million and $364.7 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The fair value was determined based on the closing trading price per $100 of the Notes as of the last day of trading for the period. The Company considered the fair value of the Notes as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 to be a Level 2 measurement. The fair value of the Notes is primarily affected by the trading price of our common stock and market interest rates. Based on the $185.0 closing price of the Company’s common stock on September 30, 2016, the if-converted value of the Notes exceeded their principal amount by approximately $154.4 million.

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, 2016:



 







 

The following table presents the interest expense for the contractual interest, the accretion of debt discount and the amortization of debt issuance costs:







 













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10. Cash Dividend Distribution

In each of February, April, July and November of 2015, our Board of Directors declared quarterly cash dividends of $4,548 thousands (or $0.103 per share on our outstanding shares of common stock). The dividends were paid on April 16, July 16, October 16, 2015 and January 15, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31,  June 30, September 30, and December 31, 2015.

On February 19, 2016,  May 4, 2016 and August 2, 2016, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $6,624 thousands (or $0.150 per share) on our outstanding shares of common stock. The first quarterly dividend was paid on April 15, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 31, 2016. The second quarterly dividend was paid on July 15, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 30, 2016. The third quarterly dividend was paid on October 14, 2016 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on September 30, 2016.

On November 1, 2016, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $6,624 thousands (or $0.150 per share) on our outstanding shares of common stock. This quarterly dividend is payable on January 16, 2017 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2016.



 

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.

Despite the Company does not expect that this law together with the decree issued by the Venezuelan Government will have a material adverse impact on the Company´s financial condition or results of operations, considering the current difficult macroeconomic environment in Venezuela, the final potential effects remains uncertain. The effects of such potential effects, if any, would be recognized in the financial statements once the mentioned uncertainty is resolved.