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MERCADOLIBRE INC - Quarter Report: 2022 June (Form 10-Q)

meli-20220630x10q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2022

-OR-

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission file number 001-33647

MercadoLibre, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Delaware

 

98-0212790

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

WTC Free Zone

Dr. Luis Bonavita 1294, Of. 1733, Tower II

Montevideo, Uruguay, 11300

(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(+598) 2-927-2770

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

MELI

  Nasdaq Global Select Market  

2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026

MELI26

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

3.125% Notes due 2031

MELI31

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).    Yes   x     No   ¨

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

Large accelerated filer

x

Accelerated filer

¨

Non-accelerated filer

¨  

Smaller reporting company

¨

Emerging growth company

¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) 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   x

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.

50,338,275 shares of the issuer’s common stock, $0.001 par value, outstanding as of August 2, 2022.

 


MERCADOLIBRE, INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 — Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

1

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

2

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

3

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

4

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

5

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

6

Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

36

Item 3 — Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk

60

Item 4 — Controls and Procedures

64

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

64

Item 1 — Legal Proceedings

64

Item 1A — Risk Factors

64

Item 2 — Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

64

Item 6 — Exhibits

65

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

65

 

 


MercadoLibre, Inc. - Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

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

June 30,

December 31,

2022

2021

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$                             1,329

$                          2,585

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

924

1,063

Short-term investments ($748 and $602 held in guarantee - see Note 4)

1,645

810

Accounts receivable, net

102

98

Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net

2,501

1,839

Loans receivable, net of allowances of $807 and $408 (see Note 5)

1,790

1,199

Prepaid expenses

77

40

Inventories

183

253

Other assets

312

288

Total current assets

8,863

8,175

Non-current assets:

Long-term investments

456

89

Loans receivable, net of allowances of $35 and $27 (see Note 5)

55

61

Property and equipment, net

932

807

Operating lease right-of-use assets

525

461

Goodwill

149

148

Intangible assets, net

31

45

Deferred tax assets

248

181

Other assets

188

134

Total non-current assets

2,584

1,926

Total assets

$                           11,447

$                        10,101

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$                             1,131

$                          1,036

Funds payable to customers

2,528

2,393

Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions

433

337

Salaries and social security payable

273

313

Taxes payable

327

291

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

1,925

1,285

Operating lease liabilities

108

92

Other liabilities

98

90

Total current liabilities

6,823

5,837

Non-current liabilities:

Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions

4

4

Salaries and social security payable

4

20

Taxes payable

20

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

2,515

2,233

Operating lease liabilities

420

372

Deferred tax liabilities

32

62

Other liabilities

49

42

Total non-current liabilities

3,044

2,733

Total liabilities

$                             9,867

$                          8,570

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)

 

 

Equity

Common stock, $0.001 par value, 110,000,000 shares authorized,

50,338,275 and 50,418,980 shares issued and outstanding at June 30,

2022 and December 31, 2021

$                                  

$                               

Additional paid-in capital

2,308

2,439

Treasury stock

(858)

(790)

Retained earnings

619

397

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(489)

(515)

Total Equity

1,580

1,531

Total Liabilities and Equity

$                           11,447

$                        10,101

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

1


MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

For the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

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

(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30

Three Months Ended June 30

2022

2021

2022

2021

Net service revenues

$                    4,329

$                    2,735

$                    2,332

$                    1,505

Net product revenues

516

346

265

198

Net revenues

4,845

3,081

2,597

1,703

Cost of net revenues

(2,488)

(1,736)

(1,313)

(949)

Gross profit

2,357

1,345

1,284

754

Operating expenses:

Product and technology development

(496)

(273)

(262)

(147)

Sales and marketing

(583)

(455)

(296)

(251)

Provision for doubtful accounts

(557)

(166)

(303)

(82)

General and administrative

(332)

(194)

(173)

(108)

Total operating expenses

(1,968)

(1,088)

(1,034)

(588)

Income from operations

389

257

250

166

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

77

49

46

24

Interest expense and other financial losses (*)

(129)

(131)

(73)

(40)

Foreign currency losses, net

(63)

(27)

(60)

(12)

Net income before income tax expense

274

148

163

138

Income tax expense

(85)

(114)

(39)

(70)

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity

(1)

(1)

Net income

$                       188

$                         34

$                       123

$                         68

(*)

Includes $49 million of loss on debt extinguishment and premium related to the 2028 Notes repurchase recognized in January 2021. See Note 11 to these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for further detail on 2028 Notes repurchase.

Six Months Ended June 30

Three Months Ended June 30

2022

2021

2022

2021

Basic EPS

Basic net income

Available to shareholders per common share

$                      3.73

$                      0.69

$                      2.43

$                      1.37

Weighted average of outstanding common shares

50,386,519

49,844,823

50,364,529

49,822,272

Diluted EPS

Diluted net income

Available to shareholders per common share

$                      3.73

$                      0.69

$                      2.43

$                      1.37

Weighted average of outstanding common shares

50,386,519

49,844,823

50,364,529

49,822,272

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

 

2


MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

(In millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30

Three Months Ended June 30

2022

2021

2022

2021

Net income

$                       188

$                         34

$                       123

$                            68

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:

Currency translation adjustment

38

24

(113)

66

Unrealized (losses) gains on hedging activities

(19)

5

(4)

Less: Reclassification adjustment for (losses) gains from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(7)

2

(5)

2

Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax

26

22

(103)

60

Total Comprehensive income

$                       214

$                         56

$                         20

$                          128

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

 


3


MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity

For the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

(In millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

Accumulated

Additional

other

Common stock

paid-in

Treasury

Retained

comprehensive

Total

Shares

Amount

capital

Stock

Earnings

loss

Equity

Balance as of December 31, 2021

50

$

$

2,439

$

(790)

$

397

$

(515)

$

1,531

Changes in accounting standards (Note 2)

(131)

34

(97)

Balance as of December 31, 2021 Restated

50

$

$

2,308

$

(790)

$

431

$

(515)

$

1,434

Common Stock repurchased

(39)

(39)

Net income

65

65

Other comprehensive income

129

129

Balance as of March 31, 2022

50

$

$

2,308

$

(829)

$

496

$

(386)

$

1,589

Shares granted (Note 17)

6

6

Common Stock repurchased

(35)

(35)

Net income

123

123

Other comprehensive loss

(103)

(103)

Balance as of June 30, 2022

50

$

$

2,308

$

(858)

$

619

$

(489)

$

1,580

Accumulated

Additional

other

Common stock

paid-in

Treasury

Retained

comprehensive

Total

Shares

Amount

capital

Stock

Earnings

loss

Equity

Balance as of December 31, 2020

50

$

$

1,861

$

(55)

$

314

$

(468)

$

1,652

Capped Call

(101)

(101)

Repurchase of 2028 Notes Conversion Option

(1,484)

(1,484)

Common Stock repurchased

(25)

(25)

Net loss

(34)

(34)

Other comprehensive loss

(38)

(38)

Balance as of March 31, 2021

50

$

$

276

$

(80)

$

280

$

(506)

$

(30)

Common Stock repurchased

(117)

(117)

Exercise of Convertible Notes

(2)

(2)

Unwind Capped Call

181

(79)

102

Net income

68

68

Other comprehensive income

60

60

Balance as of June 30, 2021

50

$

$

455

$

(276)

$

348

$

(446)

$

81

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

4


MercadoLibre, Inc.

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021

(In millions of U.S. dollars)

(Unaudited)

Six Months Ended June 30

2022

2021

Cash flows from operations:

Net income

$                       188

$                         34

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

Unrealized devaluation loss, net

134

45

Impairment of digital assets

11

7

Depreciation and amortization

184

85

Accrued interest

(65)

(9)

Non cash interest, convertible notes amortization of debt discount and amortization of debt issuance costs and other charges

155

48

Provision for doubtful accounts

557

166

Financial results on derivative instruments

22

11

LTRP accrued compensation

35

51

Deferred income taxes

(67)

16

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

(32)

(30)

Credit card receivables and other means of payments

(642)

(301)

Prepaid expenses

(36)

(29)

Inventories

81

(47)

Other assets

(81)

(92)

Payables and accrued expenses

32

10

Funds payable to customers

119

71

Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions

80

12

Other liabilities

(55)

(64)

Interest received from investments

54

15

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

674

(1)

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of investments

(6,190)

(5,208)

Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments

5,043

5,575

Receipts from settlements of derivative instruments

4

Payment for settlements of derivative instruments

(7)

(11)

Purchases of intangible assets

(1)

(20)

Changes in principal of loans receivable, net

(1,170)

(333)

Purchases of property and equipment

(236)

(263)

Net cash used in investing activities

(2,561)

(256)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from loans payable and other financial liabilities

7,315

3,502

Payments on loans payable and other financial liabilities

(6,646)

(2,240)

Payments on repurchase of the 2028 Notes

(1,865)

Payment of finance lease obligations

(9)

(9)

Purchase of convertible note capped call

(101)

Unwind of convertible note capped call

102

Common Stock repurchased

(74)

(142)

Exercise of Convertible Notes

(3)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

586

(756)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents

(94)

(64)

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents

(1,395)

(1,077)

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period

$                    3,648

$                    2,508

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of the period

$                    2,253

$                    1,431

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

5


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 largest online commerce ecosystem in Latin America, serving as an integrated regional platform and as a provider of necessary digital and technology tools that allow businesses and individuals to trade products and services in the region.

The Company enables commerce through its marketplace platform, which allows users to buy and sell in most of Latin America. Through Mercado Pago, the fintech solution, MercadoLibre enables individuals and businesses to send and receive digital payments; through Mercado Envios, MercadoLibre facilitates the shipping of goods from the Company and sellers to buyers; through the advertising products, MercadoLibre facilitates advertising services for large retailers and brands to promote their product and services on the web; through Mercado Shops, MercadoLibre allows users to set-up, manage, and promote their own on-line web-stores under a subscription-based business model; through Mercado Credito, MercadoLibre extends loans to certain merchants and consumers; and through Mercado Fondo, MercadoLibre allows users to invest funds deposited in their Mercado Pago accounts.

As of June 30, 2022, MercadoLibre, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, operated online e-commerce platforms directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay and Venezuela. Additionally, MercadoLibre operates its fintech solution in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay, and extends loans through Mercado Credito in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile. It also offers a shipping solution directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Peru.

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, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and consolidated Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”). Investments in entities where the Company holds joint control, but not control, over the investee are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars, except where 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. Long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill located in the foreign jurisdictions totaled $1,101 million and $978 million as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the Company’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. These consolidated financial statements include the Company’s consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and equity for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 and statements of cash flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021. 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. Certain comparative figures of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements were modified to provide more detailed disclosures. The Company discloses the provision for doubtful accounts as a separate line item of its operating expenses in the interim condensed consolidated statements of income. The provision for doubtful accounts amounts to $557 million and $303 million for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and $166 million and $82 million for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2021. This change has not impacted the total amount of net income and total equity.

Because all of the disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for annual consolidated financial statements are not included herein, these unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2021, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company has evaluated all subsequent events through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were issued. The condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and 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 Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. During the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, there were no material updates made to the Company’s significant accounting policies, except for the adoption of ASU 2020-06 as of January 1, 2022. See section Recently Adopted Accounting Standards of this Note.


6


Revenue recognition

Revenue recognition criteria for the services provided and goods sold by the Company are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

The aggregate gain included in net revenues arising from financing transactions, net of the costs recognized on sale of credit card receivables, is $490 million and $263 million for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2022, and $281 million and $148 million for the six and three-month periods ended June 30, 2021.

Contract Balances

Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. Receivables represent amounts invoiced and revenue recognized prior to invoicing when the Company has satisfied the performance obligation and has the unconditional right to payment. Receivables are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts and chargebacks of $868 million and $474 million as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to the Company’s loans receivables amounts to $842 million and $435 million as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Deferred revenue consists of fees received related to unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of the period in accordance with ASC 606. Due to the generally short-term duration of contracts, the majority of the performance obligations are satisfied in the following months. Deferred revenue as of December 31, 2021 was $34 million, of which $21 million was recognized as revenue during the six-month period ended June 30, 2022.

As of June 30, 2022, total deferred revenue was $29 million, mainly due to fees related to classifieds advertising services billed and loyalty programs that are expected to be recognized as revenue in the coming months.

Digital Assets

The Company accounts for its digital assetscryptocurrenciesas indefinite-lived intangible assets, in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. The Company has ownership of and control over its digital assets and uses third-party custodial services to store its digital assets. The Company’s digital assets are initially recorded at cost. Subsequently, they are measured at cost, net of any impairment losses incurred since acquisition.

The Company performs an analysis each quarter to identify whether events or changes in circumstances, principally decreases in the quoted prices on the active exchange, indicate that any decrease in the fair values of the digital assets below the carrying values for such assets subsequent to their acquisition will result in a recognition of impairment charges. The Company considers the lowest price of the digital asset on the active exchange since the acquisition of the asset to perform the impairment analysis. MercadoLibre determines the fair value of its digital assets in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement.

Impairment losses are recognized in the period in which the impairment is identified. The impaired digital assets are written down to their fair value at the time of impairment and this new cost basis will not be adjusted upward for any subsequent increase in fair value. Gains (if any) are not recorded until realized upon sale. In determining the gain to be recognized upon sale, the Company calculates the difference between the sales price and carrying value of the digital assets sold immediately prior to sale. 

Repurchase of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 - Extinguishment of debt

The derecognition of a convertible debt is based on the principle that an entity is extinguishing the liability component and reacquiring the equity component that was recognized at issuance. This approach is applied whether the debt was settled in cash, shares, other assets (or any combination), or at maturity upon conversion or upon early extinguishment. The settlement consideration is first allocated to the extinguishment of the liability component equal to the fair value of that component immediately prior to extinguishment. Any difference between that allocated amount and the net carrying amount of the liability component and unamortized debt issuance costs should be recognized as a gain or loss on debt extinguishment. Any remaining consideration is allocated to the reacquisition of the equity component and recognized as a reduction of stockholders’ equity. Any paid premium included in the repurchase price should be recognized as a loss when the debt is extinguished.

Provision for buyer protection program

The Company provides consumers with a buyer protection program (“BPP”) for all transactions completed through the Company’s online payment solution (“Mercado Pago”). The Company is exposed to losses under this program given that this program is designed to protect buyers in the Marketplace from losses due primarily to fraud or counterparty non-performance. Provisions for BPP represent the Company’s estimate of probable losses based on its historical experience. The charge for the provision for BPP is recognized in sales and marketing expense line of the consolidated statement of income.

7


Foreign currency translation

All of the Company’s consolidated foreign operations use the local currency as their functional currency, except for Argentina, which has used the U.S. dollar as its functional currency since July 1, 2018. Accordingly, the foreign subsidiaries with local currency as functional currency 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 monthly 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.

Argentine currency status

As of July 1, 2018, the Company transitioned its Argentinian operations to highly inflationary status in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and changed the functional currency for Argentine subsidiaries from Argentine Pesos to U.S. dollars, which is the functional currency of their immediate parent company.

Since the second half of 2019, the Argentine government instituted certain foreign currency exchange controls, which may restrict or partially restrict access to foreign currency, like the U.S. dollars, to make payments abroad, either for foreign debt or the importation of goods or services, dividend payments and others, without prior authorization. Those regulations have continued to evolve, sometimes making them more or less stringent depending on the Argentine government’s perception of availability of sufficient national foreign currency reserves. The above has led to the existence of an informal foreign currency market where foreign currencies quote at levels significantly higher than the official exchange rate. However, the only exchange rate available for external commerce is the official exchange rate, which as of June 30, 2022 was 125.23.

The Company uses Argentina’s official exchange rate to record the accounts of Argentine subsidiaries. The following table sets forth the assets, liabilities and net assets of the Company’s Argentine subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, before intercompany eliminations, as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

June 30,

December 31,

2022

2021

(In millions)

Assets

$                    2,488

$                    2,479

Liabilities

1,889

1,874

Net Assets

$                       599

$                       605

Income 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 carryforwards. 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 tax assets or liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. 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.

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. Accordingly, Management periodically assesses the need to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets considering positive and negative objective evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. In connection with this assessment, Management considers, among other factors, the nature, frequency and magnitude of current and cumulative losses on an individual subsidiary basis, projections of future taxable income, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, as well as feasible tax planning strategi