Annual Report Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (D) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Annual Report Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (D) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
X ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Delaware 98-0212790
State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization Identification Number)
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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes X No ☐
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the
correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the
registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No X
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, at June 30, 2023, held by those persons deemed by the registrant to be non-
affiliates (based upon the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 30, 2023) was approximately $47,211,780,483. Shares of the
registrant’s Common Stock held by each executive officer and director and by each entity or person that, to the registrant’s knowledge, owned 10% or more of the registrant’s
outstanding common stock as of June 30, 2023 have been excluded from this number because these persons may be deemed affiliates of the registrant. This determination
of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.
As of February 23, 2024, there were 50,697,442 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding.
Documents Incorporated By Reference
Portions of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement relating to its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within
120 days of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference in Part III, Items 10-14 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K as indicated herein.
Table of Contents
MERCADOLIBRE, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023
Page
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 4
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS 5
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 34
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY 34
SECURITIES
ITEM 6. RESERVED 35
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 36
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES 62
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 63
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS 63
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 65
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 66
EXHIBIT INDEX 67
SIGNATURES 69
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
MercadoLibre, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries "us”, "we”, "our” or the "Company”) is the largest online commerce ecosystem in Latin America based on unique visitors
and orders processed, and is present in 18 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and El Salvador. Our platform is designed to provide users with a complete portfolio of services to facilitate commercial
transactions both digitally and offline.
We offer our users an ecosystem of six integrated e-commerce and digital financial services: the Mercado Libre Marketplace, the Mercado Pago Fintech platform, the
Mercado Envios logistics service, the Mercado Ads solution, the Mercado Libre Classifieds service and the Mercado Shops online storefronts solution.
Through our e-commerce platform, we provide buyers and sellers with a robust and safe environment that fosters the development of a large e-commerce community in
Latin America, a region with a population of over 650 million people and with one of the fastest-growing Internet penetration and e-commerce growth rates in the world. We
believe that we offer world-class technological and commercial solutions that address the distinctive cultural and geographic challenges of operating a digital commerce
platform in Latin America.
The Mercado Libre Marketplace is a fully-automated, topically-arranged and user-friendly online commerce platform, which can be accessed through our website and
mobile app. This platform enables us (when we act as sellers in our first-party sales), merchants and individuals to list merchandise and conduct sales and purchases
digitally. The Marketplace has an ample assortment of products, with a wide range of categories such as consumer electronics, apparel and beauty, home goods, automotive
accessories, toys, books and entertainment and consumer packaged goods.
The Mercado Envios logistics solution, currently available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador, enables sellers on our platform to
utilize third-party carriers and other logistics service providers, while also providing them with fulfillment and warehousing services. The logistics services we offer are an
integral part of our value proposition, as they reduce friction between buyers and sellers, and allow us to have greater control over the full user experience. Sellers that opt into
our logistics solutions are not only able to offer a uniform and seamlessly integrated shipping experience to their buyers at competitive prices, but are also eligible to access
shipping subsidies to offer free or discounted shipping for many of their sales on our Marketplaces.
In 2020, we launched Meli Air with a fleet of dedicated aircraft covering routes across Brazil and Mexico, with the aim of improving our delivery times. We have also
developed a network of independent neighborhood stores and commercial points (known as "Meli Places”) to receive and store packages that are in transit using our
integrated technology. The Meli Places network allows buyers and sellers to pick-up, drop-off or return packages with a better experience, reducing the travel distance for all
parties.
To complement the Mercado Libre Marketplace and enhance the user experience for our buyers and sellers, we developed Mercado Pago, an integrated digital payments
solution. Mercado Pago was initially designed to facilitate transactions on Mercado Libre’s Marketplaces by providing a mechanism that allowed our users to securely, easily
and promptly send and receive payments. Now, Mercado Pago is a full ecosystem of financial technology solutions both in the digital and physical world. Our digital payments
solution enables any Mercado Libre registered user to securely and easily send and receive digital payments and to pay for purchases made on any of Mercado Libre’s
Marketplaces. Currently, Mercado Pago processes and settles all transactions on our Marketplaces in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador.
Beyond facilitating Marketplace transactions, over the years we have expanded our array of Mercado Pago services to third parties outside Mercado Libre’s Marketplace.
We began first by satisfying the growing demand for online-based payment solutions by providing merchants the necessary digital payment infrastructure for e-commerce to
flourish in Latin America. Today, Mercado Pago’s digital payments business allows merchants to facilitate checkout and payment processes on their websites through a
branded or white label solution or software development kits. Through Mercado Pago, we brought trust to the merchant customer relationship, allowing online consumers to
shop easily and safely, while giving them the confidence to share sensitive personal and financial data with us.
As we deployed our digitally-based payments solutions, we also observed that individuals and micro, small and medium- sized enterprises ("MSMEs”) in the physical
world were being underserved or overlooked by incumbent payment providers and financial institutions in Latin America, and that a very large number of retail transactions
were still being settled in cash throughout the region. Consequently, we have also deepened our fintech offerings by growing our online-to-offline ("O2O”) products and
services. We envision Mercado Pago as a powerful disruptive provider of end-to-end financial technology solutions that will generate financial inclusion for segments of the
population that have been historically underserved and operate in the informal economy today.
In our main markets, we currently offer the following solutions:
■ In-store physical payments by selling mobile point of sale ("MPOS”) devices and through quick response ("QR”) payment codes;
■ Digital payment solutions for utilities, mobile phone top up, peer-to-peer payments and more through our digital account;
■ Pre-paid cards and debit cards for users to spend and withdraw their account balances from their Mercado Pago digital account;
■ Merchant and consumer credits, both on and off the Mercado Libre Marketplace, and credit cards;
■ Insurance products such as extended warranties, theft and damage policies, among others;
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■ Savings and investment products to invest balances stored on Mercado Pago accounts; and
■ A cryptocurrency buy, hold and sell feature of our wallet in Brazil, Mexico and Chile, for users to buy, hold and sell selected global cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
Mercado Credito, our credit solution available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile, leverages our user base, which is loyal and engaged, and in part has also been
historically underserved or overlooked by financial institutions and suffers from a lack of access to needed credit. Facilitating credit is a key service overlay that enables us to
further strengthen the engagement and lock-in rate of our users, while also generating additional touchpoints and incentives to use Mercado Pago as an end-to-end financial
solution. Our distribution capabilities and in-depth understanding of our customers’ behavior and merchants’ sales on the Mercado Libre Marketplace and machine learning
and artificial intelligence algorithms have also allowed us to develop our own proprietary credit risk models with unique data that differentiate our scoring from traditional
financial institutions.
We offer credit lines to both our online merchants as well as MPOS device users. Because our online merchants’ business flows through Mercado Pago, we are able to
collect principal and interest payments from their existing sales on Mercado Libre’s Marketplaces, meaningfully reducing the risk of uncollectability on the loans we originate to
our merchants.
Consumers can access credit lines through us once we score and approve them through our proprietary models. Loans can be used for a purchase on the Mercado Libre
Marketplace, or on third party sites that use our payments processing technology. Since 2019, we also extend personal loans to recurring consumer credit borrowers, allowing
them to buy products and services outside of our platform via the Mercado Pago digital account. In 2021, we launched our first Mercado Pago credit card in Brazil, followed by
Mexico in 2023, which is free, internationally accepted, digitally managed and can be used on- and off-platform. An advantage of the Mercado Pago credit card is that it allows
users to pay in additional installments for purchases on the Mercado Libre Marketplace and accrue additional points to our user loyalty program.
We collect data in our proprietary credit models, which helps us better understand and more accurately predict the behavior of our users, and continue increasing the pace
of originations while maintaining levels of uncollectible debt at an acceptable level from a business perspective.
Our asset management product, which is available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile, is a critical pillar to build our alternative two-sided network vision. It incentivizes
our users to begin to fund their digital wallets with cash as opposed to credit or debit cards given that the return our product offers is greater than traditional checking accounts.
With a seamless onboarding, this product allows users to withdraw and use the value stored in their digital wallets at any given time through QR code in-store payments, pre-
paid and debit cards, or cash withdrawn from an ATM, without requiring that their funds be trapped in a money market fund or a certificate of deposit to obtain an equivalent
return. This product is another way in which we continue to innovate, leveraging the rising trust in third-party e-commerce platforms and low levels of formal sector financial
inclusion, which generate a unique opportunity for investment products aimed at users in Latin America who are unbanked or underbanked.
As an extension of our asset management and savings solutions for users, we launched a digital assets feature as part of the Mercado Pago wallet in Brazil, Mexico and
Chile, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. This service allows our millions of users to purchase, hold and sell selected digital assets through our interface without leaving
the Mercado Pago application, while a partner acts as the custodian and offers the blockchain infrastructure platform. This feature is available for all users through their
Mercado Pago wallet. In 2022 we launched savings products in Brazil that enable users to purchase certificates of deposit, which have a higher return than our basic asset
management product. In partnership with a third party, we also launched three investment fund options in Brazil, which enable our users to diversify their investment portfolio in
an accessible way and with options for quick withdrawal.
Our advertising platform, Mercado Ads, enables businesses to promote their products and services on the Mercado Libre Marketplace and Mercado Pago Fintech platform.
Through our advertising platform, brands and sellers are able to display ads on our pages through product searches, banner ads or suggested products. Our advertising
platform enables merchants and brands to access the millions of consumers that are on our Marketplaces at any given time with the intent to purchase, which increases the
likelihood of conversion. Advertisers are able to leverage our first-party data to create and target highly particularized audiences.
Through Mercado Libre Classifieds, our online classified listing service, our users can also list and purchase motor vehicles, real estate and services in the countries
where we operate. Classifieds listings differ from Marketplace listings as they only charge optional placement fees and not final value fees. Our classifieds pages are also a
major source of traffic to our platform, benefiting both the commerce and fintech businesses.
Complementing the services we offer, our digital storefront solution, Mercado Shops, allows users to set up, manage and promote their own digital stores. These stores
are hosted by Mercado Libre and offer integration with the rest of our ecosystem, namely our Marketplaces, payment services and logistics services. Users can create a store
at no cost, and can access additional functionalities and value added services on commission.
In 2023, we relaunched our loyalty program in Brazil and Mexico, simplifying the experience with the elimination of the prior levels system and offering a brand new paid
subscription, Meli+, which includes free shipping on more products, free Disney+ and Star+, as well as Deezer Music Premium free for the first 12 months. The subscription
also includes video content discounts for certain third-party content providers such as HBO Max, Paramount+ and Vix. In Argentina, Chile and Colombia we still have the
original Level 6 subscription.
In addition, in 2023 we launched Mercado Play, a streaming service available to all users in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. The platform
offers users access to content from various national and international content studios at no cost.
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The following table shows the main services currently available in each country where we operate:
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■ Continue to improve the shopping experience for our users. We intend to continually enhance our e-commerce ecosystem in order to better serve individuals,
brands, retailers and other businesses that want to buy or sell goods and services online in a convenient, simple and safe way. We are committed to continue
investing in the development of new tools and technologies that facilitate web and mobile commerce on our platform. In line with our constant focus on innovation, a
critical component of user experience is the vertical solutions that we offer across key categories. We will continue to focus on improving the functionality of our
websites and apps, building a verticalized experience in key categories, driving increased usage of our payments and shipping solutions to deliver a more efficient
and safe shopping experience and providing our users with the help of a dedicated customer support department. We will continue to focus on increasing purchase
frequency and transaction volumes from our existing users, including the development of our loyalty program for frequent users.
■ Continue to grow our business and maintain market leadership. We focus on growing our business, achieving scale-related competitive advantages and
strengthening our position as a preferred commerce and fintech platform in each of the markets in which we operate. We also intend to grow our business and
maintain our leadership by taking advantage of the expanding potential user base that has resulted from the growth of internet penetration rates in Latin America. We
intend to achieve these goals through organic growth, by introducing our services in new countries and entering new category segments, by launching new
transactional business lines, and through potential strategic acquisitions of key businesses and assets.
■ Increase monetization of our transactions. We focus on improving the revenue generation capacity of our business by implementing initiatives designed to maximize
the revenues we generate from transactions on our platform. Some of these initiatives include increasing our fee structure, selling advertising on our platform, offering
other e-commerce services and expanding our fee-based features.
■ Take advantage of the natural synergies that exist among our services. We strive to leverage our various services and our loyalty program, to promote greater
cross-usage and synergies, thereby creating a fully integrated ecosystem of e-commerce offerings. Consequently, we will continue to promote the adoption of our
Mercado Envios logistics solution, our advertising solution, our Mercado Pago payments solution on our Marketplaces and reward our users in each country for
increased usage and engagement.
Marketing
Our marketing strategy is designed to grow our platform by promoting the Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago brands, attracting new users, generating more frequent
trading by our existing users and cross-selling services among our existing user base within our entire ecosystem of commerce and fintech. To this end, we employ various
means of advertising, including placement in leading online channels across Latin America, paid and organic positioning in leading search engines, email and push
notification marketing, onsite marketing, presence in offline media, sponsorship of large events, and use of targeted promotional discount coupons. During 2023, we
strengthened our buyers acquisition and demand generation efforts in Mercado Libre with multiple initiatives that helped us drive total gross merchandise volume ("TGMV”)
while gaining efficiency in our budget investments. We also relaunched our loyalty program (Meli+) to increase users engagement and accelerated our digital financial services
positioning for Mercado Pago. These campaigns were rolled out across public TV, cable TV, radio, billboards and online media. We continued carrying out a complete
coverage of promotional campaigns on commercial dates such as Children’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas and dates specific to the e-commerce industry, such
as Hot Sale, CyberMonday, Black Friday and Buen Fin, leveraging our unique ecosystem of solutions within advertising, Mercado Credito, Mercado Shops and Mercado Envios.
Product Development and Technology
On December 31, 2023, we had 15,638 employees on our information technology and product development staff, an increase of 13% from 13,856 employees on
December 31, 2022, due to new hires and as a consequence of improvements in our ecosystem products, which increased our information technology and product
development staff.
We continually work to improve both our Mercado Libre Marketplace and Mercado Pago mobile apps and websites so that they better serve our users’ needs and function
more efficiently. A significant portion of our information technology resources are allocated to these purposes. We strive to maintain the right balance between offering new
features and enhancing the existing functionality and architecture of our software and hardware.
The effective management of the Mercado Libre Marketplace and Mercado Pago software architecture and hardware requirements is as important as introducing
additional and better features for our users. Because our business has grown relatively fast, we must ensure that our systems are capable of absorbing this incremental
volume. Therefore, our engineers work to optimize our processes and equipment by designing more effective ways to run our platform.
We design, develop, and operate most of our software and technology in-house. We have several development centers throughout Latin America. We believe having a
team as diverse as our user base gives us a distinct advantage when building products for markets as unique as the ones where we operate. Different languages and
cultures require different features and products, and our multi-disciplinary development team can draw from both data and their own culture for insights when designing,
implementing, and releasing products.
We have made acquisitions in the past to enhance our software development capabilities, and we outsource certain projects to outside developers. We believe that
outsourcing the development of certain projects allows us to have a greater operating capacity and strengthens our internal know-how by incorporating new expertise into our
business. In addition, our developers frequently interact with technology suppliers and attend technology-related events to familiarize themselves with the latest innovations
and developments in the field. We also rely on certain technologies that we license from third parties, suppliers of key database technology, operating systems and specific
hardware components for our services.
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In the past, we started a deep technology overhaul to switch from a closed and monolithic system to an open and decoupled one. We split our teams into many decoupled
and autonomous "cells”. A cell is a functional unit with its own team, hardware, data and source code. Cells interact with each other using Application Programming Interfaces,
or APIs. This successful overhaul allowed us to unlock greater developer productivity from all our teams. In the past, we opened up our platform to allow third parties to
integrate the various features of our platform into custom applications. Since then, we have seen significant adoption of our platform and entire companies built on and around
our APIs and services, all of them focused on adding even more value to our users.
During this overhaul, we built a proprietary Platform as a Service ("PAAS”) product used daily by our development team. This state-of-the-art tool helps our teams by greatly
reducing cognitive overload related to infrastructure and network management, allowing our developers to focus on adding value to our users and their code, and not which
server their applications are running on. Our PAAS is a constant area of investment which we have expanded from microservices to simplifying the building of mobile
applications, software development kits ("SDKs”) and building, testing, training, deploying and monitoring predictive Machine Learning models, all with the purpose of
increasing the rate of development and, by extension, the pace and cadence with which all our teams add value to our users.
Seasonality
Like most retail businesses, we experience the effects of seasonality in all of the countries in which we operate throughout the calendar year. Although much of our
seasonality is due to the year-end promotional campaigns and the Christmas holiday season, the geographic diversity of our operations (i.e. southern and northern
hemispheres) helps mitigate the seasonality attributed to summer vacation time and national holidays.
Typically, the fourth quarter of the year is the strongest in terms of revenue in every country where we operate due to the significant increase in transactions before the
holiday season. The first quarter of the year is generally our slowest period. The months of January, February and March correspond to summer vacation time in Argentina,
Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Additionally, the Easter holiday falls in March or April, and Brazil celebrates Carnival for one week in February or March. This first quarter
seasonality is partially mitigated by our operations in the countries located in the northern hemisphere, such as Colombia and Mexico, the slowest months for which are the
summer months of July, August and September. Lastly, commercial campaigns like Hot Sale, CyberMonday, Black Friday and Buen Fin generate an increase in transactions.
Competition
The online commerce market is rapidly evolving and is highly competitive. Barriers-to-entry for large, well-established internet companies are relatively low, and current
and new competitors can launch new sites at a relatively low cost using commercially available software. While we are currently a market leader in a number of the markets in
which we operate, we currently or potentially could compete with marketplace operators, businesses that offer business-to-consumer online e-commerce services or others
with a focus on specific vertical categories, as well as a growing number of brick and mortar retailers that have launched online offerings. Over the past few years, we have
seen competition intensify not only as local players grow their e-commerce businesses, but also as international players expand, mainly in Brazil and Mexico.
The financial services market is also becoming increasingly competitive with the growth of several fintechs established in Latin America. With respect to our payments’
business, Mercado Pago competes with existing digital and offline payment methods, including banks and other providers of traditional payment methods that service both
merchants and individuals. Mercado Pago also competes in the rapidly evolving fintech space with local and strong global players that offer digital financial services such as
access to credit, virtual and physical cards, insurance, savings accounts, and asset management.
In the classifieds and advertising market, we compete with regional and local players with general or verticalized focus. In addition, we face competition from a number of
large online communities and services that have expertise in developing e-commerce, facilitating online interaction, or both. Other large companies with strong brand
recognition and experience in e-commerce, such as large newspapers or media companies, also compete in the online listing market in Latin America.
Intellectual Property Rights
Our intellectual property rights are critical to our future success and rely on a combination of copyright, trademark, patent designs, trade secret laws and contractual
restrictions.
We pursue the registration of our intangible assets in each country where we operate. Our main trademarks and domain names are duly protected in the countries where
we have our main operations, however, we may not have effective protection or it might not be granted to us by the appropriate regulatory authority in every country where our
services are available online, meaning our ability to protect our brands against third-party infringers would be compromised and we could face claims by third-party trademark
owners. See "Item 1A. Risk factors—Intellectual Property Risks—We could face legal and financial liability upon the sale of items that infringe intellectual property rights of third
parties and for information and material disseminated through our platforms”, which describes these risks as well as our Brand Protection Program, which we make available
to IPR holders to enable them to enforce their rights against listings on our sites that allegedly infringe upon their rights.
We have entered into confidentiality and intellectual property assignment agreements with our employees and certain contractors. To prevent disclosure of our proprietary
information to unauthorized parties, we have also entered into non-disclosure agreements with our employees, strategic partners and suppliers.
We have licensed certain proprietary rights, such as trademarks or copyrights, to third parties in the past and expect to continue to license such rights in the future. While
we seek to ensure that our licensees maintain the quality of the Mercado Libre brand, they may take actions that could adversely affect the value of our proprietary rights or our
reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. See "Item 1A. Risk factors—Intellectual Property Risks—
We may not be able to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights. We could potentially face claims alleging that our technologies infringe the property rights
of others.
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Human Capital
Employees and Labor Relations
The following table shows the number of our employees by country as of December 31, 2023:
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Leading the business in every market where we operate requires attracting, engaging and developing the best talent. At MercadoLibre, we do so by offering people a
meaningful experience and co-creating the best place to work, one where our DNA multiplies. In a fast-paced, dynamic, joyful and collaborative environment, we offer people
the opportunity to develop through complex challenges, pursuing excellence and achieving outstanding results while working as a team.
Loyal to our agile and entrepreneurial culture, at MercadoLibre we seek to develop an environment that offers maximum flexibility, that connects people, and at the same
time, inspires them to give their best.
We are driven by the purpose of democratizing commerce and financial services to transform the lives of millions of people across Latin America. Everything we do as a
company begins and ends with this purpose in mind, and our culture guides and inspires every decision that we make and every initiative that we launch.
Talent, Recruitment and Hiring
Our recruitment and hiring strategy is an example of our commitment to serve as a growth engine for Latin America in response to the challenges presented in the last
years.
It is a privilege and source of pride to continue generating quality employment in Latin America. This year, we achieved a new milestone, surpassing 58,000 employees at
MercadoLibre.
This year, we welcomed over 17,500 employees across the region, with significant growth in our Technology, Product, and Logistics teams. We have been consistently
expanding over the last 10 years, and in the last three years, we have almost quadrupled our workforce (from 15,546 to 58,313 employees), without losing our distinct culture.
We remain committed to preserving the singular qualities that our DNA brings, scaling excellence and being agile to turn challenges into opportunities.
This ongoing evolution solidifies us year after year as leaders in job creation with a distinctive value proposition. The growth in direct employment, coupled with the
development of our business, has a significant impact in terms of indirect employment, by multiplying opportunities and jobs throughout the value chain and among the
hundreds of thousands of MSMEs that trust our ecosystem today.
This growth allowed us to continue to expand the shipping network and strengthen the technology team that develops our commerce and fintech solutions throughout the
region.
We want MercadoLibre to be the best choice for employment, but we are aware that we operate in a very competitive industry where talent management is critical. For this
reason, we strive to honor every day the value proposition that we offer to our employees.
Well-being
At MercadoLibre we seek to maximize human potential by sharing the "MELI stage” of each person’s life as an integrated and full course of events that can be fully taken
advantage of. As part of the vision that we share, at MercadoLibre we assign priority to the well-being of our teams and understand the correlation that exists between
effectiveness and balancing the different areas of our lives, work being one of them.
With this perspective in mind, we work on the comprehensive nature of well-being, which includes physical and emotional health, social connection, and financial well-
being.
In 2023, we organized the second edition of the Wellbeing Summit, a regional virtual event available to all our employees to discuss, alongside distinguished speakers,
the comprehensive nature of well-being, as well as habits and routines to boost productivity and performance.
Diversity and Inclusion
In our effort to democratize e-commerce, multiplying perspectives, we innovate through diversity. Being inclusive makes us more disruptive. We inspire people to develop
their skills and express their feelings in a healthy and fair environment, where prior beliefs do not determine approval and curiosity allows us to appreciate differences.
Our mission regarding diversity and inclusion is focused on three dimensions:
■ The construction of diverse teams that reflect the diversity of our users, by increasing representation and inclusion of different profiles and experiences. To include all
perspectives and accelerate the change in mindset of the organization, we set out to advance diversity especially in the following four pillars: ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation and expression, and disability. Each open position is an opportunity to add a different perspective to complement the ones already in the team.
■ The development of inclusive environments, respecting and valuing differences, and ensuring equal treatment and fairness of opportunities. We want everyone to be
heard and to be able to express themselves, give their opinion, and propose ideas to innovate and challenge their team with new perspectives.
■ The promotion of an inclusive society, fostering equal opportunities for all with products, services, and initiatives.
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We prioritize the inclusion and development of women in our sector. At MercadoLibre, four out of ten employees are women (44%), and women occupy 33% of leadership
positions (managers and up), exceeding the market averages in IT in Latin America. We also promote and measure equity in compensation by, among other methods, carrying
out a thorough analysis of equal pay to confirm that we do not have a gender pay gap. As a result of these and other diversity initiatives and priorities, women and men of the
same seniority enjoy the same income level throughout MercadoLibre.
At MercadoLibre, we are constantly progressing by promoting increasingly inclusive teams and environments, and also evolving accessible technologies for providers and
users. The percentage of our employees with disabilities doubled in 2021, and now there are more than 1,000 people with disabilities who give their maximum every day
(more than 280 of whom joined MercadoLibre during 2023). In addition, our commitment to the promotion of an increasingly inclusive society impacts our business. Our
Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago platforms have evolved significantly in terms of accessibility for visual and motor disabilities. For example, all the main streams are
developed so that they can be interpreted and converted to audio by any read application of the operating systems. We have a team dedicated to educating and raising
awareness among all of our development and user experience ("UX”) teams to build accessible solutions for everyone.
Developing policies that accompany our employees in their family planning is key at MercadoLibre. In 2018, we became the first company in the region to support women
interested in preserving eggs to extend their fertility cycle, covering 70% of the cost of the process. Since 2021, all female-identifying employees of MercadoLibre are granted 5
months of paid leave following the birth of a child. For same-gender couples or couples who are adopting, we offer the same leave opportunity: 150 days from birth or from the
moment they adopt their child. Also, we provide paid leave for women experiencing a miscarriage, to support the recovery path during this difficult moment in their lives.
Government Regulation
We are subject to a variety of laws, decrees and regulations that affect companies conducting business on the Internet in some of the countries where we operate related
to e-commerce, fintech, privacy, data protection, taxation, obligations to provide information to certain authorities about transactions occurring on our platform or about our
users, anti-money laundering regulations, transport regulations and other legislation which also applies to other companies conducting business in general. It is not clear how
existing laws governing issues such as general commercial activities, property ownership, copyrights and other intellectual property issues, taxation, libel and defamation,
obscenity, consumer protection, digital signatures and personal privacy apply to online businesses. Some of these laws were adopted before the Internet was available and,
as a result, do not contemplate or address the unique issues of the Internet. Due to these areas of legal uncertainty, and the user´s adoption of the Internet and other online
services, it is possible that new laws and regulations will be adopted with respect to the Internet or other online services. These regulations could cover a wide variety of
issues, including, without limitation, online commerce, Internet service providers’ responsibility for third party content hosted in their servers, user privacy, fintech transactions,
freedom of expression, pricing, content and quality of products and services, taxation (including VAT or sales tax collection obligations, obligation to provide certain information
about transactions that occurred through our platform, or about our users), advertising, intellectual property rights, consumer protection and information security.
There are laws and regulations that address foreign currency and exchange rates in every country in which we operate. In certain countries where we operate, we need
governmental authorization to pay invoices to a foreign supplier or send money abroad due to foreign exchange restrictions. See "Item 1A. Risk factors—Risks related to doing
business in Latin America—Local currencies used in the conduct of our business are subject to depreciation, volatility and exchange controls” for more information.
In addition, on June 10, 2019, the Argentine government enacted Law No. 27,506 (knowledge-based economy promotional regime), which established a regime that
provides certain tax benefits for companies that meet specific criteria. In August 2021, the Under Secretariat of Knowledge Economy issued the Disposition 316/2021
approving MercadoLibre S.R.L.’s application for eligibility under the knowledge-based economy promotional regime. Tax benefits granted pursuant to the promotional regime
to MercadoLibre S.R.L. were retroactive to January 1, 2020. See Item 8 of Part II, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 14 – Income taxes for further information.
We are also subject to significant general data protection and privacy-related regulations in many of the jurisdictions in which we operate (e.g. Law 13,709 (LGPD) in Brazil,
Law 25,326 in Argentina, Federal Law on the Protection of Personal Data on Private Sector Possession in Mexico, Laws No. 1581/2012 and 1266/2008 in Colombia, Law No.
19,628 in Chile, Law No. 18,331 in Uruguay and Law No. 29,733 in Peru). Data protection laws establish rules for the collection, use, processing and storage of personal data
and affect all economic sectors, including the relationship between customers and suppliers of goods and services, employees and employers and other relationships in
which personal data is collected, whether in a digital or physical environment. We have created a program to implement the relevant requirements to our business processes,
compliance infrastructures and IT systems to comply with data protection laws. Further, some jurisdictions in which we operate are considering imposing additional
restrictions or regulations.
Our Mercado Pago service is subject to regulation in the countries in which we operate, as described below:
Brazil
Mercado Pago’s activities are subject to a number of laws and regulations that relate to payment schemes and payment institutions, including Law No. 12,865/2013, which
established the first set of rules regulating the electronic payments industry within the Brazilian Payment System (the Sistema de Pagamentos Brasileiro, or "SPB”) and created
the concepts of payment schemes and payment institutions.
In addition, Law No. 12,865/2013 gave the Brazilian Central Bank ("BACEN”), according to guidelines set out by the National Monetary Council ("CMN”) authority to regulate
entities involved in the payments industry.
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Pursuant to that authority, the CMN and the BACEN created a regulatory framework regulating the operation of payment schemes and payment institutions. A payment
arrangement is a set of rules and procedures that regulate the provision of a certain payment service to the public accepted by more than one payee, through direct access by
paying and receiving end users. There are two types of payment arrangements, as defined by Resolution 150/21: (i) "Closed Loop Payment Arrangement”: payment
arrangements whereby the payment services (account management, issuance and accreditation of payment instrument) are performed by only one legal entity, which also acts
as the payment arranger (or is controlled/the controller of the payment arranger) and (ii) "Open Loop Payment Arrangement”: any payment arrangements that do not fit into the
concept of "Closed Loop Payment Arrangement”.
Payment institutions are classified into (i) issuers of electronic currency, who manage a prepaid payment account, make available a payment transaction based on the
electronic currency deposited in that account, convert such funds into physical or scriptural currency, or vice versa, can also enable its acceptance with settlement in a payment
account it manages; (ii) issuers of post-paid payment instruments, who manage post-paid payment accounts that enable users to make payments on a post-paid basis; (iii)
acquirer, who without managing payment accounts, enables payees for the acceptance of payment instruments issued by a payment or financial Institution and participates in
the settlement process of payment transactions as a creditor vis-à-vis the issuer, pursuant to the rules of the payment arrangement; and (iv) payment initiator, who initiates a
payment upon a request of a client but it does not touch the money and does not keep passwords to execute payments on behalf of users.
In November 2018, Mercado Pago obtained approval from the BACEN to become a payment institution in the modality of an issuer of electronic currency, pursuant to which
Mercado Pago carries out payment processing functions and offers payment accounts to its customers.
The funds held in a payment account: (i) constitute segregated assets in relation to the Mercado Pago’s assets; (ii) are not directly or indirectly available to settle any
obligations of Mercado Pago; (iii) cannot be subject to attachment, sequestration, search and seizure on account of the Mercado Pago’s debts; (iv) are not part of Mercado
Pago’s assets for bankruptcy or liquidation purposes; (v) cannot be given as guarantee for debts assumed by Mercado Pago; and (vi) are subject to the possibility of total
redemption of the balance by the user at any time. These are very important concepts introduced by the law that ensures more reliability to customers of services provided by
payment institutions, which offer payment accounts to its users.
According to the BACEN’s regulation, Mercado Pago is required to maintain funds in an amount equal to the value of the balance of funds held in a payment account and in
transit between payment accounts at the same payment institution in: (i) a specific account in the BACEN (Correspondent Account for Electronic Currency - CCME) or (ii) federal
government bonds, registered at the Special Settlement and Custody System ("SELIC”).
Mercado Pago is also a payment scheme owner of a closed-loop payment scheme, which is not part of the SPB and therefore does not require the BACEN’s authorization
to operate as such, relating to peer-to-peer transfers between accounts opened by our users within the Mercado Pago payment account. Pursuant to the BACEN’s regulations,
we are required to report certain operational information regarding this scheme to the BACEN on an annual basis, such as the number of users and the annual cash value of
our peer-to-peer transfer transactions.
In addition, Mercado Pago as a payment institution in Brazil is subject to:
1. Anti-Money Laundering Rules: Mercado Pago is subject to Brazilian laws and regulations relating to anti-money laundering, terrorism financing and other potentially
illegal activities. These rules require us to implement policies and internal procedures to manage, monitor, identify and, if applicable, report suspicious transactions to
the relevant authorities to prevent the practice of crimes of "money laundering” or concealment of assets.
2. Register of Receivables from Payment: Mercado Pago is also subject to rules regarding the register of credit card receivables and credit operations in a centralized
system operated by an entity authorized by the BACEN. These recent regulations aim to promote transparency in credit transactions, a broader credit offer and to allow
merchants to offer their credit card receivables as collateral to receive better loan offers, improving competition and reducing the cost of credit.
3. Cybersecurity Policies: In 2018 the BACEN published new rules setting forth cybersecurity policies and requirements for the contracting relevant data processing and
storage services as well as cloud-based computing services, which are applicable both to Mercado Pago and Mercado Credito.
4. Data Protection Law: In August 2018, Brazil approved its first comprehensive data protection law (the "Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais” or "LGPD”), which
became applicable to our business in Brazil in August 2020. In December 2018, the former president of Brazil issued Provisional Measure No. 869/2018 which
amended the LGPD and created Brazil’s national data protection authority (the "ANPDP”). We have created a program to implement the relevant changes to our
business processes, compliance infrastructures and IT systems to reflect the new requirements and comply with the LGPD. The LGPD establishes detailed rules for
the collection, use, processing and storage of personal data and affects all economic sectors, including the relationship between customers and suppliers of goods
and services, employees and employers and other relationships in which personal data is collected, whether in a digital or physical environment.
5. Secrecy rules: In addition to regulations affecting payment schemes, Mercado Pago is also subject to laws relating to internet activities and e-commerce, as well as
banking secrecy laws, consumer protection laws, tax laws (and related obligations such as the rules governing the sharing of customer information with tax and
financial authorities) and other regulations applicable to Brazilian companies generally. Internet activities in Brazil are regulated by Law No. 12,965/2014, known as the
Brazilian Civil Rights Framework for the internet, which embodies a substantial set of rights of internet users and obligations relating to internet service providers,
including data protection.
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Law No. 12,865/2013 prohibits payment institutions from performing activities that are restricted to financial institutions, such as granting loans directly. In November 2020,
the BACEN approved the application filed by MercadoLibre Inc. for authorization to incorporate a financial institution in the modality of credit, financing and investment
corporation ("SCFI”). In light of the authorization granted by BACEN, we incorporated a new entity (Mercado Crédito Sociedade de Crédito, Financiamento e Investimento S.A.),
which operates activities related to the granting of loans and obtains better funding alternatives for our business.
On March 11, 2020, Mercado Pago also obtained approval from the BACEN to operate the activities of acquiring (payment processor) and post-paid payment instruments
(credit cards) issuer, enabling the strengthening and growth of the Mercado Pago’s operations. However, according to regulation implemented by the BACEN, any payment
institution that is already licensed in another modality may operate as acquirers, post-paid payment instrument issuers and/or payment transaction initiators, provided a 90-day
prior notification is sent to the BACEN.
In 2020 the BACEN, within the Brazilian instant payment (IP) ecosystem, created Pix, the Brazilian IP scheme that enables its users — people, companies and
governmental entities — to send or receive payment transfers in a few seconds at any time, including non-business days. Mercado Pago has participated in the payment
scheme of Pix since its beginning and is subject to the applicable regulation.
The BACEN implemented the Brazilian Open Finance environment, to enable the sharing of data, products and services between regulated entities — financial institutions,
payment institutions and other entities licensed by the BACEN — at the customers’ discretion, as far as their own data is concerned (individuals or legal entities). The Brazilian
Open Finance implementation has been gradual, through incremental phases that take into account specific information/services to be shared, and Mercado Pago has been a
participant of the Brazilian Open Finance system since February 2021, when its phase 1 started.
Mercado Pago Instituição de Pagamento Ltda. and Mercado Crédito Sociedade de Crédito, Financiamento e Investimento S.A. as regulated entities in Brazil are subject to
the supervision of the BACEN and must fully comply with all the obligations established in the current regulation, or be subject to (i) formal warning establishing a deadline for
the remediation of non-compliance activity, (ii) penalties for non-compliance, or (iii) shutting down our Mercado Pago business in Brazil for an indefinite period of time, which
would be costly.
During March 2022, the Central Bank of Brazil announced new rules for payment institutions based on their size and complexity and raised standards for required capital.
The new framework, which was effective starting in July 2023 with full implementation by January 2025, will extend the application of the rule regarding proportionality of
regulatory requirements (currently applicable to conglomerates of financial institutions) to financial conglomerates led by payment institutions. The new rules require a gradual
increase in regulatory capital requirements for the Company’s regulated Brazilian subsidiaries until 2025: 6.75% from July 2023, 8.75% from January 2024 and 10.50% from
January 2025.
On May 23, 2023, the BACEN published Joint Resolution No. 6, providing requirements for financial institutions, payment institutions and other institutions authorized to
operate by the BACEN with respect to the sharing of data and information pertaining to fraud. According to this regulation, the listed institutions must share certain information
related to fraud and interoperate with centralized bureaus, which may be elected by the institutions. In October 2023, the BACEN published Resolution BCB nº 343, which
details the information that must be shared, including information relating to fraud in account opening, account maintenance, provision of payment services and credit. These
requirements became effective on November 1, 2023, and Mercado Pago is fully compliant, electing CERC as its centralized bureau.
Argentina
In January 2020, the Central Bank of Argentina ("CBA”) enacted regulations relating to payments service providers that apply to the Fintech institutions that are not financial
institutions but nevertheless, provide payment services in at least one of the stages of the payment system. Pursuant to this regulation, payment service providers had to
register by April 1, 2020, in a registry of payment service providers created by the CBA. The regulation sets forth certain specific rules related to (i) providing information to
users; (ii) depositing users’ funds in a freely available bank account; (iii) allowing users to dispose immediately of the funds credited to their accounts; and (iv) providing
information to the CBA relating to the business of payment processing. On July 7, 2020, MercadoLibre S.R.L. was registered with the CBA as a payment service provider in
accordance with applicable regulations.
As a non-financial loan provider, since March 1, 2021, we have been required to provide certain information on a monthly basis as part of a new reporting regime. We have
been registered as a "Proveedor No Financiero de Crédito” (non-financial loan provider) with the CBA since December 18, 2020. The regulation also requires that we comply
with certain rules established by the CBA regarding, among other things: (i) interest rates in loan operations; (ii) protection of users of financial services; (iii) methods of
communication with users of financial services; and (iv) such users’ access to information concerning their contractual obligations. The rules regarding interest rates became
effective on January 1, 2021, and the rules regarding the protection of users of financial services, methods of communication and access to information became effective on
February 1, 2021.
On December 30, 2021, the board of the CBA issued a regulation by which financial institutions must set up a reserve of 100% of the customer funds deposited by
payment service providers that offer payment accounts. According to this new regulation, from January 1, 2022, 100% of our customer funds that have not been invested by
users in Mercado Fondo, have remained deposited at financial institutions, and such financial institutions deposited 100% of those funds at the CBA, and available for users.
On September 22, 2022, the CBA modified the aforementioned resolution and established that financial institutions in which the Company deposits customer funds may invest
up to 45% of funds that have not already been invested by users in Mercado Fondo in Argentine, peso-denominated treasury bonds due May 23, 2027. As a result of the
amended regulation, we withdrew on September 5, 2022 the cases we had originally filed challenging the December 30, 2021 regulation. On August 24, 2023, the CBA issued
a regulation (Communication "A” 7825), which states that payment service providers who offer payment accounts ("PSPOCP” according to its Spanish acronym) must allocate
in full to their clients any compensation received from financial institutions for investing clients’ funds held in deposit accounts into Argentine treasury bonds. Since August 25,
2023, MercadoLibre S.R.L. is not receiving any compensation from financial institutions for clients’ funds held in deposit accounts. As a consequence, this regulation has no
applicable effect for MercadoLibre S.R.L.
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On September 1, 2022, the CBA issued a regulation that extended the application of the rules for the protection of users of financial services to PSPOCP. The regulation
was already applicable to non-financial loan providers. This regulation came into effect on March 1, 2023. On February 15, 2023, the CBA issued another regulation, which
establishes that PSPOCP must submit the Information Regime on Claims, with the first submission deadline was on April 24, 2023, and the Information Regime on
Transparency, Chapter II, with the first submission deadline for monthly information was on March 14, 2023.
On May 18, 2023, the CBA enacted a new regulation that established the creation of the new regulatory titles of "acceptor”, "acquirer” and "aggregator”, defining their
respective functions and requiring their registration in the registry of payment service providers maintained by the CBA as of December 18, 2023. As a result of this new
regulation, Mercado Libre S.R.L. started the registration as "aggregator” and "acceptor” and Mercado Pago Servicios de Procesamiento S.R.L. started the registration as
"acquirer”. This regulation further sets forth that acquirers and aggregators who offer their clients the possibility of accepting payments with credit cards by reading a QR Code
must allow another registered interoperable digital wallet to make payments with the associated credit cards in the event that the shop accepts them through the
corresponding aggregator or acquirer. In this way, the CBA established that QR Codes must be interoperable with credit card payments.
On September 14, 2023, the CBA issued Communication "A” 7861 establishing that starting on December 1, 2023, DEBIN (debit immediate), the main and simple funding
source of Mercado Pago users’ accounts, will be suspended and replaced with a pull transfer method that requires the consent of the client outside of Mercado Pago’s
environment before the first use. After several extensions, on January 11, 2024, the CBA issued a new regulation establishing that the suspension of DEBIN must be effective
starting on April 30, 2024.
As we continue to develop Mercado Pago and our peer-to-peer lending business, we may need to comply with regulations applicable to such payments and lending
activities and/or anti-money laundering. In this regard, two of our Argentine subsidiaries have been registered with the Argentine anti-money laundering authority as entities
subject to certain reporting obligations pursuant to anti-money laundering local regulations relating to the issuance of prepaid cards, card aggregator activities and insurance.
In September 2021, MercadoLibre S.R.L. completed the registration process with the National Insurance Superintendent to operate as appointed agent for insurance
companies ("agente institorio”), which allows MercadoLibre S.R.L. to offer its users insurance policies sold by one or more insurance companies, as well as to manage
certain aspects of such policies (payments, claims, etc.).
Mexico
In March 2018, Mexico enacted a new law that regulates both crowd-funders as well as providers of wallets and money transmittal services (the "Fintech Law”). Under the
Fintech Law, institutions that provided the aforementioned services prior to its enactment are required to submit an application to the Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores
(the Mexican National Banking Commission or the "CNBV”) to obtain a license, and may continue to provide those services while such license application is being processed.
Our Mexican subsidiary submitted an application to obtain such license in September 2019.
On April 29, 2022, MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V. Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico, a Mexican subsidiary, obtained the final approval by the CNBV to operate as an
Electronic Payment Institution (Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico or "IFPE”, as referred to by the Financial Technology Institutions Act), which enables the entity to
issue, manage, redeem and make electronic transfers of money on behalf of its clients, through computer applications, interfaces, web sites or any other means of electronic
or digital communication.
MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V. Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico became a regulated financial entity towards third parties, effective on May 11, 2022 duly published in
the Official Gazette, and is subject to the supervision and jurisdiction of the relevant Mexican financial regulators, including but not limited to the National Commission for the
Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services, CNBV and the Central Bank of Mexico. Amongst the regulatory obligations to which Electronic Payment Institutions are
subject, the following are noteworthy: a) maintain minimum capital requirements, b) maintain sufficient reserves in high-quality liquid assets (e.g. cash, treasury bills, etc.), so
as to be able to redeem, on par, the funds held on behalf of the clients, c) comply with anti-money laundering and countering of terrorism financing regulations, d) develop and
maintain sound cybersecurity and information security policies, including but not limited to the performance of recurrent vulnerability tests and the deployment of strict
infrastructure controls.
On February 13, 2024, the Mexican antitrust authority (Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica or "COFECE”) notified MercadoLibre, S.A., de C.V., Institución de
Fondos de Pago Electrónico of its preliminary findings, conclusions and recommendations regarding competition in the ecommerce sector in Mexico, including proposed
corrective measures on marketplace operators that include Mercado Libre and that, if confirmed, could require us to change certain aspects of some of our business practices
in Mexico. This preliminary report is the result of a general market study on barriers to competition in the ecommerce market, launched by COFECE in 2022 and will now be
taken to a subsequent stage of the process where MercadoLibre, S.A., de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico and other affected entities may submit their views
and additional evidence. The preliminary report and additional submissions will be analyzed by COFECE’s full board of commissioners, in accordance with applicable laws
and procedures, and the plenary will issue a final report. We expect it will take several months until there is a final report issued by COFECE’s plenary. The final report may be
subject to a special constitutional appeal before a specialized Mexican court and subsequent judicial decisions may be further appealed and may reach the Mexican Supreme
Court. This additional judicial stage may take several years until a final decision is reached. The outcome of these proceedings and the impact that any final corrective
measures may have on certain aspects of some of our business practices, is uncertain. We cannot assure you that they will not adversely affect our business, operation
results and/or financial conditions. See "Risk Factors—We are subject to extensive government regulation and oversight. Failure to comply with existing and future rules and
regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate could adversely affect the operations of one or more of our businesses in those jurisdictions—Competition”.
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Chile
In 2017 and 2018, Chile enacted regulations regarding the issuance and operation of payment cards, which could affect Mercado Pago’s operations, including
authorization to operate, anti-money laundering obligations, capital requirements and reserve funds, operational and security safeguards, among others.
In November 2021, the Chilean Commission for the Financial Market ("CMF”) granted Mercado Pago, through its entities Mercado Pago Emisora S.A. and Mercado Pago
Operadora S.A. (formerly know as MercadoPago S.A.), a prepaid card issuer license and payment card operator license, respectively. These licenses transformed Mercado
Pago Emisora S.A. and Mercado Pago Operadora S.A. into regulated entities, supervised by the CMF and the Chilean Financial Analysis Unit ("UAF", in charge of supervising
anti-money laundering activities in Chile), and became obligated, among other things, to: (i) deliver information on its financial and operational management on a regular
basis; (ii) maintain certain minimum capital required; (iii) set up a determined liquidity reserve; (iv) deposit and maintain users’ funds in specific banks’ accounts (only
applicable to Mercado Pago Emisora S.A.); and (v) perform know your client and anti-money laundering duties.
On October 12, 2022, the Chilean Congress approved the Fintech and Open-Banking Law Project, which was published on January 4, 2023, and came into effect on
February 3, 2023. This law established a regulatory framework for certain technological financial services that did not have their own legal framework. These services are: (i)
Alternative Transaction Systems, (ii) Crowdfunding Financing Platforms, (iii) Financial Instrument Intermediation, (iv) Order Routing, (v) Credit Advisory, and (vi) Investment
Advisory. Pursuant to this law, Mercado Pago Crypto S.A. shall file a license request with the CMF in order to continue offering Order Routing services through the "buy, hold and
sell” product launched in 2023 in collaboration with Ripio Chile SpAp. The rules governing the specifics of this filing and the license that CMF must grant, were issued on
January 12, 2024, giving Mercado Pago Crypto S.A. until February 2025 to file the license request. In addition, an Open Finance System is created to allow financial service
providers to exchange customer financial information. The CMF has until June 3, 2024 to issue secondary regulation.
On October 24, 2022, Mercado Pago Corredores de Seguros SpA was registered as an Insurance Broker in the Registry of Trade Assistants for Insurance of the CMF. The
main objective of the Company is the remunerated intermediation of general and life insurance contracts with any insurer based in Chile.
Colombia
Colombian regulations establish specific requirements to open accounts and provide certain financial services, as well as policies for cash and risk management. There
are also regulations requiring payment processors such as Mercado Pago to comply with certain security, privacy and anti-money laundering standards. As a result, in June
2023, MercadoPago S.A. Compañía de Financiamiento obtained a license to operate as a financial institution in Colombia, and therefore is able to offer credits, digital
accounts, investments and prepaid cards. We expect this new company to be operational by the first quarter of 2024 and be subject to minimum capital, reporting, consumer
protection and risk management requirements.
Uruguay
Uruguay has implemented comprehensive regulations governing electronic payments.
In September 2016, we obtained the registration of our Uruguayan subsidiary Deremate.com de Uruguay S.R.L. from the Central Bank of Uruguay ("BCU”) as an entity
entitled to provide services of payments and collections ("PSPC”). Thus, on November 1, 2016, Mercado Pago was launched in Uruguay. In July 2023, MercadoPago Uruguay
S.R.L. obtained the approval by the BCU to operate as an Electronic Money Issuing Institution ("IEDE”) facilitating electronic money transfers. On October 1, 2023, MercadoPago
Uruguay S.R.L. started operations, and since then, must adhere to regulations regarding the placement of user funds, including the obligation to deposit and maintain these
funds in designated local bank accounts to guarantee the availability of balances in each user’s digital account. In October 2023, MercadoPago Uruguay S.R.L. was authorized
by the BCU, subject to the terms of the regulations, to invest its user funds in short-term investments, including "overnight” bank deposits, leveraging results and assuming
associated risks.
In July 2023, Communication No. 2023/147, superseded by Communication No. 2024/018 on February 1, 2024, established regulations for reporting security incidents. In
October 2023, Communication No. 2023/196 mandated bi-monthly reports on administered fund compositions, and significant modifications addressing fast payment
systems and regulatory rules were made to the payment system rules.
Peru
On November 10, 2022, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru ("BCRP”) enacted regulations related to the card payment processing system that applies to issuers, acquirers
and payment facilitators. On January 27, 2023, MercadoPago Perú S.R.L. was registered by the BCRP as a payment facilitator entity, allowing it to (a) affiliate merchants to the
card payment system, (b) offer POS, and (c) transmit or process card payment orders and /or participate in the process of settlement to the merchants affiliated.
Offices
We are a Delaware corporation incorporated on October 15, 1999. Our registered office is located at 800 North State Street, Suite 304, Kent County, Dover, Delaware,
19901. Our principal executive offices are located at Dr. Luis Bonavita 1294, Of. 1733, Tower II, Montevideo, Uruguay, 11300.
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Available Information
Our Internet address is www.mercadolibre.com. Our investor relations website is investor.mercadolibre.com. We use our investor relations website as a means of
disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under SEC Regulation FD (Fair Disclosure). Accordingly, investors should
monitor our investor relations website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls and webcasts. We make available free of charge
through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to the SEC. The SEC
maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Our Annual Integrated Impact report and the Sustainability Bond report are available on our investor relations website. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics,
and the charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are also available on our website and are available in
print to any stockholder upon request in writing to MercadoLibre, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, Dr. Luis Bonavita 1294, Of. 1733, Tower II, Montevideo, Uruguay, 11300.
Information on or connected to our website is neither part of nor incorporated into this report on Form 10-K or any other SEC filings we make from time to time.
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The global financial services and payments industry is continuously changing and increasingly subject to regulatory supervision and continued examination. Some of the
payment services offered by our competitors operate at lower commission rates than Mercado Pago’s current rates, which has resulted in market pressures with respect to the
commissions we charge for our Mercado Pago services. Moreover, establishing a financial services and payments solution entity in Latin America has proven to be difficult and
resource intensive (time and money). Traditional banking and financial institutions in Latin America still have significant influence over sectoral regulators and have been
relatively successful at influencing the enactment of new regulations that may hinder or restrict the overall success of fintech businesses by imposing unnecessary and
cumbersome requirements or otherwise limiting their business models. This influence makes it harder to promote innovative payment solutions and policy changes to adapt
regulation to an ever changing and fast growing innovative and disrupting industry.
We rely on third-party platforms, such as Google Play and Apple app stores, to access our Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago apps
Our Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago apps are accessed through third-party platforms, such as Google and Apple’s app stores. We are subject to the standard terms and
conditions that these providers have for application developers, which govern the content, promotion, distribution, and operation of apps on their platforms or marketplaces,
and which the providers can change unilaterally on short or no notice. Those terms and conditions include limitations on the sale of digital goods and services (e.g., streaming
video services), the mandatory use of the providers’ own payment processor for the sale of digital goods with a steep fee that ranges from 15% to 30% of the product’s listed
price and anti-steering rules that forbid developers from informing users of their apps that alternative means of purchase are available outside the respective app store. Apple
also forbids the distribution and commercialization of third-party digital goods, thereby prohibiting the development of a digital goods marketplace in iOS in competition with
Apple. Apple and Google’s terms and conditions for in-app purchases of digital goods may cause friction with Mercado Libre’s initiatives for its loyalty program as well as other
new projects involving the sale of digital goods or the provision of advertisement video on demand streaming services. These limitations may prevent the deployment of
initiatives for mobile apps, thereby limiting the range of their overall impact. These limitations may materially affect our competitiveness with respect to other digital integrated
conglomerates that do not face the same limitations, thereby impacting our capacity to grow, to innovate and to enter and compete in new markets. In addition, if changes to the
existing terms and conditions interfere with the distribution of our products, if the platforms are unavailable for any prolonged period of time or if we are unable to maintain a
good relationship with these third-party providers (including as a result of ongoing or future claims of anticompetitive practices), our business and results of operations could
suffer.
Our future success depends on our ability to expand and adapt our operations to meet rapidly changing industry and technology standards in a cost-effective and timely
manner
Rapid, significant, and disruptive technological changes impact the industries in which we operate, and the effects of technological changes on our business are
uncertain. Our success depends on our ability to develop and incorporate new technologies and adapt to technological changes and evolving industry standards if we are
unable to do so in a timely or cost-effective manner, our business could be harmed.
We plan to continue to expand our operations by expanding our services internationally and developing and promoting new and complementary services. We may have
limited or no experience in our newer market segments, which can present new and difficult technology challenges. We may not succeed at expanding our operations in a
cost-effective or timely manner, and our expansion efforts may not have the same or greater overall market acceptance as our current services, which could damage our
reputation and diminish the value of our brands. Similarly, a lack of market acceptance of these services or our inability to generate satisfactory revenues from any expanded
services to offset their cost could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We must constantly add new hardware, update software, enhance and improve our billing and transaction systems, and add and train new engineering and other
personnel to accommodate the increased use of our website and the new products and features we regularly introduce. This upgrade process is expensive, and the
increasing complexity and enhancement of our website results in higher costs. Our revenues depend on prompt and accurate billing processes. Failure to upgrade our
technology, transaction-processing capabilities, features, transaction processing systems, security infrastructure, or network infrastructure to accommodate increased traffic or
transaction volume or the increased complexity of our website could materially harm our business and our ability to collect revenue.
We may also need to enter into relationships with various strategic partners, websites, other online service providers, shipping companies and other third parties
necessary to our business. The increased complexity of managing multiple commercial relationships could lead to execution problems that can affect current and future
revenues and operating margins, as well as our reputation. The expansion of our Mercado Pago and Mercado Envios businesses into new countries may also require a close
commercial relationship with one or more local banks or other intermediaries, which may prevent, delay or limit the introductions of our services in such countries.
The markets in which we operate are rapidly evolving and we may not be able to maintain our profitability
As a result of the emerging nature and related volatility of the markets and economies in the countries in which we operate, the increased variety of services and products
that we offer and the rapidly evolving nature of our business, it is particularly difficult for us to forecast our revenues or earnings accurately. Our current and future expense
levels are based largely on our investment plans and estimates of future revenues and are, to a large extent, fixed. We may not be able to adjust spending in a timely manner to
compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Accordingly, any significant shortfall in revenues relative to our planned expenditures would have an immediate adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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We may be liable for or experience reputational damage from the failure of users of our Marketplace to deliver merchandise or make required payments
Our success depends largely upon sellers accurately representing and reliably delivering the listed goods and buyers paying the agreed purchase price. We have received
in the past, and anticipate that we will receive in the future, complaints from users who did not receive the purchase price or the goods agreed to be exchanged, and regarding
the quality or the partial or non-delivery of purchased items. While we can suspend the accounts of users who fail to fulfill their obligations to other users, we do not have the
ability to force users to meet their obligations. Our Buyer Protection Program, which is generally available to all of our buyers, has been implemented to address those
situations, subject to certain conditions. As we expand the coverage of our Buyer Protection Program, the number and amount of reimbursements may increase. Effective
customer service requires significant personnel expense and investment in developing programs and technology infrastructure to help customer service representatives carry
out their functions, which if not properly managed, could significantly impact our profitability.
In addition, failure to handle customer complaints effectively and negative publicity generated as a result of the fraudulent or deceptive conduct of any of our sellers could
damage our reputation, diminish the value of our brands and negatively impact our results of operations.
Fraudulent activity by our users could negatively impact our operating results, brand and reputation and cause the use of services to decrease
We are subject to the risk of fraudulent activity by our users, including fraudulent and illicit sales, money laundering, bank fraud, fraud from means of payment entities,
employee fraud and online securities fraud. Measures to detect and reduce the occurrence of fraudulent activities are complex and require continuous improvement, and there
can be no assurance that they will be sufficient to accurately detect, prevent or deter fraud, particularly new and continually evolving forms of fraud. As our business grows, the
cost of remediating for fraudulent activity, including customer reimbursements, may materially increase and could negatively affect our operating results. In addition, users’
fraudulent or potential illegal activities when using any platform we operate or payment solutions we offer could expose us to civil or criminal liability and could have a material
adverse effect on our financial performance, our business or reputation in the future.
We incur losses from claims of customers who did not authorize a purchase, from buyer fraud and from erroneous transmissions. Third parties have attempted, and will
likely continue to attempt, to abuse access to and misuse our payments solution to commit fraud by, among other things, creating fictitious accounts using stolen or synthetic
identities or personal information, making transactions with stolen financial instruments, abusing or misusing our services for financial gain or fraudulently inducing users of
our platforms into engaging in fraudulent transactions. Due to the digital nature of our payments services, third parties may perform abusive schemes or fraud attacks that are
often difficult to detect and may reach a scale that would otherwise not be possible in physical transactions. Numerous and evolving fraud schemes and misuse of our
payments service could subject us to significant costs and liabilities, require us to change our business practices, lead to loss of customer confidence in, or decreased use of,
our products and services, damage our reputation and brands, and divert the attention of management from the operation of our business. In addition to the direct costs of
such losses, if the losses are related to credit card transactions and become excessive, they could result in Mercado Pago losing the right to accept credit cards for payment,
which could adversely affect our business.
We are subject to consumer trends and could lose revenue if certain items become less popular or if we fail to meet customer demand
Our future revenues depend on continued demand for the types of goods that we sell, that users list on the Mercado Libre Marketplace or that users pay for with Mercado
Pago on or off the Mercado Libre Marketplace. Demand for our products and services can fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including due to perceived availability,
consumer trends, seasonality, promotions, product launches, defective products or unforeseeable events, such as in response to natural or man-made disasters, public
health crises (including pandemics), extreme weather (including as a result of climate change), geopolitical events, or changes in or uncertainty about macro-economic
conditions, which could impact the overall volume of transactions on our platforms. A decline in the demand for or popularity of certain items sold through the Mercado Libre
Marketplace without an increase in demand for different items could result in reduced revenues. Also, certain consumer "fads” or other factors may temporarily inflate the
volume of certain types of items listed on the Mercado Libre Marketplace, posing an inventory risk and placing a significant strain on our infrastructure and transaction capacity.
These trends may also cause significant fluctuations in our operating results from one quarter to the next.
Although it is difficult to accurately forecast consumer trends and demand, we strive to predict these trends, as overstocking or understocking products we sell could lead
to lower sales, missed opportunities, and excessive markdowns, any of which could have a material impact on our business and operating results or reputation. Failure to
accurately forecast consumer trends and demand could significantly affect our revenue and our future growth.
Manufacturers may limit distribution of their products by distributors, prevent distributors from selling through us or encourage governments to limit e-commerce
Manufacturers may attempt to enforce minimum resale price maintenance arrangements to prevent distributors from selling on our websites or on the Internet generally,
or at prices that would make our site unattractive relative to other alternatives. Increased competition or anti-Internet distribution policies could result in reduced operating
margins, loss of market share and diminished value of our brand. In order to respond to changes in the competitive environment, we may, from time to time, make pricing,
service or marketing decisions or acquisitions that may be controversial with and lead to dissatisfaction among some of our sellers, which could reduce activity on our
websites and harm our profitability.
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Our failure or the failure of our partners to manage Mercado Pago users’ funds properly could harm our business
Our ability to manage and account accurately for Mercado Pago users’ funds requires a high level of internal controls. As Mercado Pago continues to grow, we must
strengthen our internal controls accordingly. Mercado Pago’s success requires significant consumer confidence in our ability to handle large and growing transaction volumes
and amounts of customer funds. Any failure to maintain necessary controls or to properly manage customer funds could severely reduce customer use of Mercado Pago, and
we could be found to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations, be subject to fines or other penalties or forced to cease providing this service.
Mercado Pago offers its users in Argentina, Mexico and Chile the option to use the balances stored on their Mercado Pago wallets to invest in low-risk investment funds
(money market fund equivalents). For the purposes of offering such intermediated investment functionality, Mercado Pago entered into diverse contractual relationships with
licensed third party brokers and fund managers who serve as the managers of the investment funds and the facilitators of all associated investment services, including but not
limited to the execution of investment orders. The scope of Mercado Pago’s involvement in these services is strictly limited to (i) the processing of charges and payments from
users that use their balances held with Mercado Pago to invest, and (ii) sending the appropriate instructions to our investment partners. The third party providers have complete
decision-making authority over the funds and their investment strategies. In Brazil, we have also partnered with a third party with a focus on the financial inclusion of users, to
launch three Investment Fund options, allowing users to diversify their investment portfolio in an accessible way and with options for quick withdrawal. A disruption in our
relationships with such third party providers or any of the services they provide to our users, could adversely affect our customers’ confidence in our business. In addition, the
value of the investments made by our users in the respective investment funds, may fluctuate over time as a result of market conditions and investment decisions made by our
third party providers. If there is a disruption in the services provided by our third party providers or the investments made by our users otherwise decrease in value, our users
may try to pursue claims or legal actions against us, which could affect our reputation and results of operations.
We rely on banks and investment funds which acquire Mercado Pago’s receivables and payment processors to fund transactions, and changes to card association
fees, rules or practices may adversely affect our business
Mercado Pago relies on banks, investment funds or payment processors to process the funding of Mercado Pago transactions and Mercado Libre Marketplace collections,
and must pay a fee for this service. From time to time, card associations may increase the interchange fees they charge for each transaction using one of their cards. Card
processors have the right to pass on to us any increases in interchange fees or their own fees for processing. These increased fees increase the operating costs of Mercado
Pago, reduce our profit margins from Mercado Pago operations and, to a lesser degree, affect the operating margins of the Mercado Libre Marketplace. We also offer Mercado
Pago prepaid cards in Brazil and Mercado Pago credit cards in Brazil and Mexico, all under the VISA brand, as well as an electronic payment funds card (equivalent to a debit
card) in Mexico and Argentina issued under the MasterCard brand. If any of these companies were to be unwilling or unable to provide these services to us, or if they are willing
to provide these services but at less favorable terms, our business and results of operations would be adversely affected.
We are also subject to, or required by processors to comply with, card association operating rules. The card associations and their member banks set and interpret the
card rules. Some of those member banks compete with Mercado Pago. Card companies could adopt new operating rules or re-interpret existing rules that we or Mercado
Pago’s processors may find difficult or even impossible to follow. As a result, we could lose our ability to provide Mercado Pago customers the option of using debit, prepaid or
credit cards to fund their payments and MercadoLibre users the option to pay their fees using a debit, prepaid or credit card, which could be materially adverse to our business.
We could lose the right to accept credit cards or pay fines if card processors determine that users are using Mercado Pago to engage in illegal or "high risk” activities or if
users generate a large amount of chargebacks. Accordingly, we are continually working to prevent "high risk” merchants from using Mercado Pago. Additionally, we may be
unable to access financing in the credit and capital markets at reasonable rates to fund our Mercado Pago operations and for that reason our profitability and total payments
volume could materially decline.
The failure of the financial institutions with which we conduct business may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition
If the condition of the financial services industry deteriorates or becomes weakened for an extended period of time, any of the following factors could have a material
adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition:
■ Disruptions to the capital markets or the banking system may materially adversely affect the value of investments or bank deposits we currently consider safe, liquid or
that provide a reasonable return, and we may be unable to find suitable alternative investments, which could result in lower interest income or longer investment
horizons;
■ We may be required to increase the installment and financing fees we charge to customers for purchases made in installments or cease offering installment
purchases altogether, each of which may result in a lower volume of transactions completed;
■ We may be unable to access financing in the credit and capital markets at reasonable rates in the event we find it desirable to do so. Due to the nature of our Mercado
Pago and Mercado Libre Marketplace businesses, we generate high credit card receivables and consumer and merchant loans that from time to time we sell to
financial institutions, and accordingly, lack of access to credit or significant changes to the terms of any existing credit, or bank liquidations could cause us to
experience severe difficulties; and
■ The failure of financial institution counterparties to honor their obligations to us under credit instruments could jeopardize our ability to rely on and benefit from those
instruments. Our ability to replace those instruments on the same or similar terms may be limited under difficult market conditions.
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A rise in interest rates may negatively affect our Mercado Pago payment volume
We offer users the ability to pay for goods purchased in installments using Mercado Pago in some of the countries where we operate. In 2023 and 2022, installment
payments represented 17.1% and 19.8%, respectively, of Mercado Pago’s total payment volume. To subsidize the cost of the installment payment feature, from time to time we
pay interest to discount credit card receivables, securitize credit card receivables through trusts or finance Mercado Pago business through financial debt. In all of these cases,
if interest rates increase, we may have to raise the installment fees we charge to users that would likely have a negative effect on Mercado Pago’s total payment volume.
Changes in Mercado Pago’s funding mix and ticket mix could adversely affect Mercado Pago’s results
Mercado Pago pays significant transaction fees when customers fund payment transactions using certain debit and credit cards or through unaffiliated entities, nominal
fees when customers fund payment transactions from their bank accounts and no fees when customers fund payment transactions from an existing Mercado Pago account
balance. Mercado Pago’s financial success will remain highly sensitive to changes in the rate at which its senders fund payments using credit cards. Customers may prefer to
pay using credit cards rather than bank account transfers for a number of reasons, including the ability to pay in installments, the ability to dispute and reverse charges, the
ability to earn frequent flyer miles or other incentives offered by credit cards, the ability to defer payment, or a reluctance to provide bank account information to us.
Certain costs and transactions fees that Mercado Pago pays in connection with certain payment methods are fixed regardless of the ticket price. Currently, Mercado Pago,
if applicable, charges a fee calculated as a percentage of each transaction. If Mercado Pago receives a larger percentage of low ticket transactions, our profit margin may
erode, or we may need to raise prices, which, in turn, may affect the volume of transactions.
Our Mercado Credito solution exposes us to the credit risk of our merchants and consumers, among other risks
Our Mercado Credito solution is offered to certain merchants and consumers, and the financial success of this product depends on the effective management of the credit
related risk. We assess the credit risk of merchants and/or consumers seeking a loan based on a risk model internally developed, among other factors, which may not
accurately predict their creditworthiness due to inaccurate assumptions about the particular merchant and/or consumer or the economic environment or limited product history,
among other aspects. The accuracy of the risk model and our ability to manage credit risk may also be affected by legal or regulatory changes (e.g., bankruptcy laws and
minimum payment regulations), competitors’ actions, changes in consumer behavior, funding resources, changes in the economic environment and other factors.
A decline in economic, political, market, health and social conditions could impact our users as well, and their decisions could reduce the number of cards, accounts, and
credit lines of their account holders, which ultimately impact our revenues. Any events or conditions that impair the functioning of the financial markets, tighten the credit market,
or lead to a downgrade of our current credit rating could increase our future borrowing costs and impair our ability to access the capital and credit markets on favorable terms,
which could affect our liquidity and capital resources, or significantly increase our cost of capital. Like other businesses with significant exposure to credit losses, we face the
risk that Mercado Credito merchants and consumers will default on their payment obligations, making the receivables uncollectible and creating the risk of potential charge-
offs, which could impact our liquidity. Any of these events could adversely affect our business and results of operation.
The funding and growth of our Mercado Credito business is directly related to interest rates; a rise in interest rates may negatively affect our Mercado Credito business and
results of operations.
We face significant risks related to the ongoing reliability of our logistics network and shipping service
In certain countries where we operate, we offer users our Mercado Envios shipping service through integration with local carriers. We generally pay local carriers directly for
their shipping costs, and then we decide how much of those costs we transfer to our customers. The decision to raise the shipping fees we charge to users may have a
negative effect on Mercado Envios’ shipping volume, and the decision not to do that may result in an increase in operating costs of Mercado Envios which could generate net
losses in our commerce operations.
We rely on a number of local carriers (through non-exclusivity agreements) to receive the inventories for our first-party business and on third parties to ship orders to
customers. The unavailability of the services of local carriers because of unfavorable contractual or commercial terms or performance problems or any other difficulty
experienced by the local carriers could negatively affect our ability to provide shipping services to our customers, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our
shipping service, operating results, and financial condition.
Failure to successfully operate our fulfillment network may also negatively affect our business
Through our logistics solution, Mercado Envios, we offer sellers on our platform fulfillment and warehousing services, including maintaining inventories of third parties that
sell products through our platform. We also use fulfillment and warehousing services for our first-party business. As we continue to add fulfillment centers, our fulfillment
network may become more complex, and the operation of such centers may present significant challenges including an increased complexity of tracking inventories and
operating our fulfillment network. Our failure to accurately forecast customer demand, staffing and properly handle inventories and commercial relationships with third parties
could result in excess or insufficient fulfillment capacity, service interruptions, an inability to optimize platform fulfillment or staffing, unexpected costs and adversely affect our
reputation or results of operations. Any supply chain constraints that affects us, our merchants or vendors could also adversely affect our ability to operate our fulfillment
network effectively.
We offer to sellers our Fulfillment Protection Program, for any damage or loss of seller’s inventories as a result of using our fulfillment network service, subject to certain
conditions. We may in the future receive additional requests from sellers requesting reimbursement or threatening legal action against us if we do not reimburse them, the
result of which could materially adversely affect our business and financial condition.
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We continue to build new warehouses to manage increasing demand on our logistics solution. These construction efforts are subject to a risk of delay and also to risks
relating to the quality of the construction, both of which could increase our costs and impact our ability to grow capacity in time to adequately meet demand.
Problems that affect our service providers could potentially adversely affect us as well
A number of parties provide services to us or to our users. These services include the hosting of our servers, shipping and the postal and payments infrastructures that
allow users to deliver and pay for goods and services, in addition to paying their Mercado Libre Marketplace bills. Financial, regulatory, or other problems that might prevent
these companies from providing services to us or our users could reduce the number of listings on our websites or make completing transactions on our websites more
difficult, which would harm our business. Any security breach at one of these companies could also affect our customers and harm our business.
If we are unable to compete effectively for advertising spend, or if our merchants reduce advertising spend, our business and results of operations could be materially
harmed
We developed a growing advertising business on our platform. If we are unable to compete effectively for advertising spend, or if merchants reduce advertising spend due
to adverse macroeconomic conditions or for other reasons, our business and results of operations could be materially harmed. Our ability to maintain or increase the amount
and pricing of advertising sold through our platform will depend on our ability to create more value (such as increased numbers of users, transactions and monetization, as
well as increased brand awareness) than our competitors. Some of our competitors are online sites that have larger customer bases and greater brand recognition, as well as
a better understanding of local culture and commerce in certain jurisdictions. Failing to provide superior value or deliver advertisements effectively and competitively could harm
our reputation, financial condition and operating results. Changes to our advertising policies and data privacy practices, or those of other companies, may adversely affect the
advertising that we are able to sell. In addition, the existence and development of technologies that block ads online or affect our ability to customize ads could harm our
advertising business.
We may not realize benefits from recent or future strategic investments, acquisitions of businesses, technologies, services or products despite their costs in cash and
dilution to our stockholders
We intend to continue to enter into a wide array of potential strategic transactions, including strategic investments, acquiring businesses, technologies, services or
products, as appropriate opportunities arise. We may not, however, be able to identify, negotiate or finance such future acquisitions successfully or at favorable valuations, or to
effectively integrate these acquisitions with our current business. Strategic transactions may involve significant additional challenges, uncertainties and risks, including, but not
limited to, unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, challenges of integrating new employees, systems, technologies, and business cultures; failure to develop the
acquired business adequately; disruption of our ongoing operations and diversion of our management’s attention; inadequate data security, cybersecurity and operational and
information technology resilience; failure to identify, or our underestimation of, commitments, liabilities, deficiencies and other risks associated with acquired businesses or
assets; and potential exposure to new or increased regulatory oversight and uncertain or evolving legal, regulatory and compliance requirements; potential reputational risks
that could arise from transactions with, or investments in, companies involved in new or developing businesses or industries, which may be subject to uncertain or evolving
legal, regulatory and compliance requirements; failure of the transaction to advance our business strategy and of its anticipated benefits to materialize; potential impairment of
goodwill or other acquisition-related intangible assets; and the potential for our acquisitions to result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities or significant additional debt.
Strategic transactions may also heighten many of the risks described in this "Risk Factors” section.
Acquisitions could result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities and/or amortization expenses related to intangible
assets and impairment of goodwill, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Any future acquisitions might require us
to obtain additional equity or debt financing, which might not be available on favorable terms, or at all. If debt financing for potential future acquisitions is unavailable, we may
determine to issue shares of our common stock or preferred stock in connection with such an acquisition and any such issuance could result in the dilution of our common
stock.
We depend on key personnel, the loss of which could have a material adverse effect on us
Our performance depends substantially on the continued services and on the performance of our senior management and other key personnel. Our ability to retain and
motivate these and other officers and employees, as well as our ability to successfully transition key roles, is fundamental to our performance.
Our future success also depends on our ability to identify, attract, hire, train, retain and motivate other highly skilled technical, managerial, marketing and customer service
personnel. Competition for these personnel is intense, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully attract and retain sufficiently qualified personnel. In
addition, changes we make to our current and future work environments may not meet the needs or expectations of our employees or may be perceived as less favorable
compared to other companies, which could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. Failure to successfully hire, train, manage, and retain sufficient
personnel to meet our needs, as well as successfully transition key roles, such as the Chief Financial Officer transition we recently underwent, can be inherently difficult to
manage, strain our operations, increase payroll and other costs, and harm our business and reputation.
We may have inadequate business insurance coverage, which would require us to spend significant resources in the event of a disruption of our services or other
contingency
Even though we have business insurance coverage to face major contingencies affecting our services and goods, it may be inadequate to compensate for our losses, its
coverage may be limited, or the amount of our insurance may be less than the related loss. Any business disruption, litigation, system failure or natural or man-made disaster
may cause us to incur substantial costs and divert resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.
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Our debt instruments contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business, and changes by any rating agency to our outlook or credit rating could
negatively affect us
The terms of our senior unsecured notes issued in January 2021 and certain collateralized debt under securitization transactions contain, and any debt instruments we
enter in the future may contain, covenants that restrict or could restrict, among other things, our business and operations. Failure to pay amounts due under a debt instrument
or breach any of its covenants may result in the acceleration of the indebtedness (subject in certain cases to a grace or cure period). Moreover, any such acceleration and
required repayment of, or default in respect of, any of our indebtedness could, in turn, constitute an event of default under other debt instruments, thereby resulting in the
acceleration and required repayment of other indebtedness we may have. Any of these events could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition.
In addition, changes by any rating agency to our outlook or credit rating could negatively affect the value of both our debt and equity securities and increase our borrowing
costs. If our credit ratings are downgraded or other negative action is taken, the interest rates payable by us under our indebtedness may increase. In addition, any
downgrades to our credit ratings may affect our ability to obtain additional financing in the future and the terms of any such financing. Any of these factors could adversely affect
our financial condition and results of operations.
We hold and may acquire digital assets that may be subject to volatile market prices and unique risks of loss
We used a portion of our cash reserve to purchase digital assets or certain other alternative reserve assets. During 2021, we invested an aggregate $30 million in bitcoin
and ether (both, cryptocurrencies), and we may continue acquiring and holding digital assets from time to time in the future. However, in 2023 and 2022, we have not bought
additional cryptocurrencies.
The prices of digital assets have been and may continue to be highly volatile, including as a result of various associated risks and uncertainties. For example, the
prevalence of such assets is a relatively recent development, and their long-term adoption by investors, consumers and businesses is unpredictable. Moreover, they rely on
technology for their creation, existence and transactional validation and their decentralization may subject their integrity to the threat of malicious attacks and technological
obsolescence. The status of such assets for a variety of regulatory purposes is unclear and may change in the future.
As digital assets, including bitcoin, have grown in popularity and market size, there has been increasing focus on the extent to which digital assets can be used to launder
the proceeds of illegal activities or fund criminal or terrorist activities, or entities subject to sanctions regimes. If we are found to have purchased bitcoin or other digital assets
from persons that have used the digital assets to launder money or from persons subject to sanctions, we may be subject to regulatory proceedings and further transactions or
dealings in bitcoin or other digital assets may be restricted or prohibited. The rapidly evolving regulatory landscape with respect to digital assets may subject us to additional
costs, such as the implementation of additional and potentially costly controls or other actions.
As intangible assets without centralized issuers or governing bodies, digital assets have been, and may in the future be, subject to security breaches, cyberattacks or other
malicious activities, as well as human errors or computer malfunctions, that may result in operational problems or the loss or destruction of private keys needed to access
such assets, which may be irreversible and could adversely affect the value of our digital assets and an investment in our Company. While we intend to take reasonable
measures to secure any digital assets, if such threats are realized or the measures or controls we implement to secure our digital assets fail, it could result in a partial or total
misappropriation or loss of our digital assets, and our financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected.
Increasing scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders with respect to our environmental, social and governance
practices may impose additional costs on us or expose us to new or additional risks
We have published an annual integrated impact report, sustainability bond reports in connection with the allocation of proceeds from the sale of our 2.375% Sustainability
Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Sustainability Notes”), a Sustainability Bond Framework 2020 (the "Framework”), and a specific analysis of climate related risk factors following the
guideline and recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. These reports describe, among others, our policies, practices and initiatives
across a variety of environmental, social and governance ("ESG”) matters, including our contribution to socio-economic development, diversity, inclusion and financial
education, human capital management and efforts to reduce our environmental impact. The implementation of these initiatives is complex and subject to contingencies,
dependencies, and in certain cases, reliance on third-party verification and/or performance, and may require considerable investments. As such, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to execute any of these initiatives, including, but not limited to, the Company’s intention to allocate the proceeds from the sale of the 2026 Sustainability Notes to
eligible projects meeting the criteria and within the time frame described in our Framework. Further, these efforts may contribute to increased scrutiny from customers,
regulators, investors and other stakeholders related to our ESG practices and disclosure. For example, some of our Marketplace customers may elect to reduce purchases
from us if we are unable to verify that our performance and products meet the specifications of responsible sourcing programs. Investor advocacy groups, investment funds
and institutional investors are also increasingly focused on these practices, especially as they relate to the environment, health and safety, diversity, labor conditions and
human rights.
In addition, there can be no assurance that our current policies, practices, reporting frameworks and principles will be in compliance with any new environmental and
social laws and regulations that may be promulgated in the U.S. and elsewhere. New government regulations could also result in new or more stringent forms of ESG
oversight and expanding mandatory and voluntary reporting, taxes, diligence and disclosure. The costs of changing any of our current practices to comply with any new legal
and regulatory requirements in the U.S. and elsewhere may be substantial. Furthermore, industry and market practices may further develop to become even more robust than
what is required under any new laws and regulations, and we may have to expend significant efforts and resources to keep up with market trends and stay competitive among
our peers. Increased ESG related compliance costs for us as well as among Marketplace merchants and vendors and various other parties within our supply chain could
result in increases to our overall operational costs.
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Failure or perceived failure to adapt to achieve our goals or commitments, or comply with regulatory requirements or investor or stakeholder expectations and standards
could negatively impact our reputation, ability to do business with certain partners and our stock price. Government, media or activist pressure to limit emissions could
negatively impact consumers’ perceptions of our products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, and the actions taken by governments
and other actors to reduce emissions could impose costs that could materially affect our financial condition. In addition, our sustainability initiatives may be unsuccessful for a
variety of reasons, including if we are unable to realize the expected benefits of new technologies or if we do not successfully plan or execute new strategies, or if we fail to
timely allocate the proceeds from our Sustainable Notes, which in turn could harm our business or damage our reputation.
There are potential risks related to our loyalty token program and our cryptocurrency buy, hold and sell feature
There are potential risks to MercadoLibre from the loyalty token program. Because of the novelty of digital assets, there is regulatory uncertainty about the legal and
accounting treatment of the tokens issued in connection with the loyalty program in certain jurisdictions, which has and may continue to limit our ability to roll out the program in
new jurisdictions or continue it successfully or at all under its current terms. Such uncertainty could also subject us to regulatory actions or claims. If the impact of the program
becomes material to our operations, our reported results could be affected by variations in the market price of the token, since, under the current terms of the program, the
tokens can be sold at the then prevailing market price and users may use the resulting fiat currency to purchase products and services on the Mercado Libre Marketplace. In
addition, while we have taken steps to make the tokens secure, digital assets in the custody of various other custodians have in the past been hacked or lost, and any users of
our tokens that in the future may have similar experiences might try to pursue claims against us. Despite our disclaimer of liability for any loss, damage, claim, cost and/or
expense that may arise in connection with the loyalty token program, users may also try to pursue claims against us if the loyalty token program is unsuccessful or the tokens
otherwise decrease in value. Any such claims could affect our customers’ confidence in our digital assets, affecting our reputation and results of operations. We cannot assure
that the loyalty token program will achieve its objectives relating to customer usage and customer loyalty.
We provide our customers the ability to access through our Mercado Pago platform crypto-assets trading and custody services that are rendered by third parties, which
allows users to buy, hold, sell and transfer certain global cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. We also rely on third party service providers to perform several functions in
connection with our loyalty token program. Such service providers ("SPs”) provide our customers token and crypto-assets exchange services (whereby customers can buy and
sell tokens and certain crypto-assets) as well as tokens and crypto-assets custody services. The SPs are also responsible for securing our customers’ tokens and crypto-
assets and protecting them from loss or theft. We in turn provide a platform that acts as an interface for our customers to access the SPs’ services. A disruption in our
relationship with the SPs or in any of the services provided by them to users could adversely affect our customers’ confidence in our loyalty token program, crypto-assets
offerings through the SPs and on our business.
Our SPs rely on computer software, hardware and telecommunications infrastructure and networking to provide services to our customers related to the token and crypto-
assets exchange and custody services. These computer-based services are subject to disruption, delay and/or failure, which could cause our users to lose access to our
Mercado Pago platform or to the SPs’ services. Any such technical issues could negatively affect our customers’ confidence in our loyalty token program and the crypto-assets
offering through the SPs and on our business.
The SPs maintain the cryptographic private keys which allow access to the digital wallets where our customers’ token and crypto-assets are held in custody. In the event
that those private keys are lost, destroyed, unable to be accessed or anyway compromised and no back up of such private keys exists, the SPs will not be able to access the
tokens or crypto-assets held on behalf of our customers in their custody. The SPs’ failure to safeguard the crypto-assets owned by our customers may result in losses to our
customers, which could adversely affect our customers’ confidence in our crypto-assets and on our business. In addition, the SPs’ failure to maintain necessary controls or
safeguard against improper transactions due to process or control oversight could lead to sanctions and reputational harm for the Company.
The regulatory environment concerning digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, is uncertain and evolving. Changes in laws and regulations regarding
such assets, services that involve a partnership with a custodian and blockchain infrastructure providers, as well as the perception of the market regarding this type of asset,
may negatively impact our ability to enable our customers to buy, hold and sell crypto-assets in the future and may adversely affect our business.
Natural disasters, climate change, geopolitical events, global health epidemics or pandemics and catastrophic events could materially adversely affect our financial
performance
The occurrence of one or more natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, typhoons; weather conditions such
as major or extended winter storms, droughts and tornadoes, whether as a result of climate change or otherwise; geopolitical events (such as international trade disputes and
the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East); global health epidemics or pandemics or other contagious outbreaks (such as COVID-19 and its variants); and
catastrophic events, such as war, civil unrest, terrorist attacks or other acts of violence, including active shooter situations, acts of vandalism or terrorism, labor or trade
disputes, and similar events in countries in which we operate, in which our users are located, or in other areas of the world could adversely affect our operations and financial
performance.
Such events could result (whether directly or indirectly) in physical damage to, or the complete loss of, one or more of our facilities, loss or spoilage of inventory, limits on
our ability to receive the inventories of third parties efficiently and ship orders to customers, business interruption, the lack of an adequate work force in a market, the
unavailability of our platforms to our users, changes in the purchasing patterns of consumers and in consumers’ disposable income, the temporary or long-term supply chain
and logistics disruption, the disruption of critical infrastructure and communication systems, banking systems, utility services or energy availability.
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Furthermore, the long-term impacts of climate change, whether involving physical risks (such as extreme weather conditions, drought, or rising sea levels) or transition
risks (such as regulatory or technology changes) are expected to be widespread and unpredictable. Physical risk may result in: disruption of operations and distribution, as
well as higher costs, due to increased frequency and intensity of severe storms, wildfires, high-speed wind, flooding, sea level rise, drought precipitation and rising mean
temperatures; increased insurance premiums due to increased exposure to physical weather perils; and increased heat stress to our workforce and increased costs
throughout operations, supply chain and distribution due to greater cooling needs. These events and their impacts could materially adversely affect our business.
Legal and Regulatory Risks
We are subject to extensive government regulation and oversight. Failure to comply with existing and future rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we
operate could adversely affect the operations of one or more of our businesses in those jurisdictions
Our business is subject to the laws, rules, regulations and policies of the countries in which we operate, as well as the legal interpretation of such regulations by
administrative bodies and the judiciary of those countries, including, but not limited to, those listed below. Further, because our services and products are available in a
number of countries, certain foreign jurisdictions may claim that we are required to comply with their laws. The expansion of our business may also result in increased
regulatory oversight and enforcement, as well as licensing requirements. In addition, our operations in most of the countries where we operate are subject to risks related to
compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA”) and other applicable U.S. and other local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials and other
third parties.
Any changes to, enforcement of, failure, or perceived failure to comply with these regulations, or the enactment of new regulations, could result in lawsuits, civil or criminal
penalties, or fines against the Company or its subsidiaries, forfeiture of significant assets, an outright or partial restriction on our operations, additional compliance and
licensure requirements, an adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial position, or may otherwise force us to change the way we or our users do
business, which could adversely affect the operations and reputation of our businesses in those jurisdictions. We have been and we expect that we will continue to be involved
in disputes or regulatory inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of business, the number and significance of which has increased as our business has expanded. The
media, political and regulatory scrutiny that we may face could increase or amplify these risks.
Internet Services Regulation
There is uncertainty in many of the countries where we operate with respect to the liability of Internet service providers, the application of existing regulations to our
business as they relate to, or the enactment of new regulations relating to, issues such as e-commerce, electronic or mobile payments, information requirements for Internet
providers, data collection, data protection, data security, data localization, online privacy, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and machine learning (e.g. in relation to risk
analysis) governing anti-money laundering, taxation, reporting obligations, consumer protection and businesses. This uncertainty could negatively affect our users’ perception
and use of our services and could result in significant expense should we have to defend cases in an unclear legal environment.
Privacy and user Data Protection
We are subject to laws relating to the collection, use, storage and transfer and, in general, the processing of personal data about our providers, employees and, principally,
our users. We expect that these regulations will increase both in number and in the level of stringency, in ways we cannot predict, including with respect to evolving
technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and blockchain technology. Should we fail to comply with these laws, which apply to
processing of all personal data, including the interactions with third-parties, transfers of information amongst our employees in the course of their work for us, our subsidiaries,
and other parties with which we have commercial relations, we may be subject to significant penalties and negative publicity, which would adversely affect us.
Consumer Protection
Government and consumer protection agencies have in the past received a substantial number of complaints against us. These complaints are small as a percentage of
our total transactions, but they could become large in aggregate (absolute) numbers over time.
Taxation
As far as taxation and the digital economy is concerned, many taxing jurisdictions and international organizations are moving towards the implementation of changes to tax
laws and policies in order to address so-called base erosion, profit shifting and other tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy. These discussions aim to
support and guide tax reforms that may impact e-commerce and internet based companies, including reforms related to corporate income taxation and also to value added
taxes.
In addition, we have a complex corporate structure, with entities that are subject to taxation in multiple jurisdictions, and the management of that structure and the
transactions among our entities creates potential tax exposures for us in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States as well as the jurisdictions where our subsidiaries
operate. Further, any changes to, suspension or revocation of, any tax incentive regimes or other tax benefits that we may receive, including tax benefits under the Argentina
knowledge-based economy promotional regime and under the Brazilian social security contribution regime and ICMS (Imposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias, Serviços de
Transporte Interestadual, Intermunicipal e Comunicação) tax incentive benefits, could have a material adverse effect in our business, results of operation and financial
position.
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Competition
We may receive scrutiny from various governmental agencies under competition laws in the countries where we operate. Some jurisdictions also provide private
enforcement actions for competitors or consumers to assert claims of anti-competitive conduct. Other companies or governmental agencies may allege that our actions violate
antitrust or competition laws, or otherwise constitute unfair competition. For instance, COFECE launched a market study on barriers to competition on the Mexican e-commerce
market and issued preliminary findings, conclusions and recommendations regarding different business practices deployed by marketplace operators in Mexico, including
MercadoLibre. For more information, see "Item 1. Business—Government Regulation—Mexico”. Contractual agreements and/or our business practices with buyers, sellers, or
other companies could give rise to regulatory action, antitrust investigations or litigation. Such claims and investigations, even if without foundation, typically are very expensive
to defend, involve negative publicity and substantial diversion of Management time and effort, and could result in significant judgments against us.
Banking, Money Transmission and Domestic or Cross-Border Electronic Funds Transfer
A number of jurisdictions where we operate have enacted legislation regulating money deposits, transmitters, lending activity and/or electronic payments or funds
transfers. We are subject to regulation in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Uruguay, that require or would require us to obtain licenses or regulatory
authorizations to operate certain services provided by Mercado Pago and that would subject us to additional regulatory requirements. As an authorized or licensed payment
services provider, electronic money institution, lender and/or money transmitter in certain jurisdictions where we operate, we are subject to, among other requirements,
restrictions with respect to the investment of customer funds, reporting requirements and inspection by regulatory agencies.
Any changes to, or failure to comply with, money services laws or regulations or any tax regulations, or if we engage in an unauthorized banking or financial business,
could result in liability, inability to continue doing business with residents of certain countries, changes to our business or regulatory status. Any of these changes could result
in making the service less attractive to users, decreasing the speed of trade on the Mercado Libre Marketplace, increasing our financial costs or change our financial model,
which would further harm our business and results of operations. Even if we are not forced to change our Mercado Pago business, we could be required to obtain licenses or
regulatory approvals.
Anti-Money Laundering
We are subject to anti-money laundering laws and regulations that prohibit, among other things, involvement in receiving and/or transferring the proceeds of criminal
activities and impose obligations to identify the users and request certain information and documentation that, in certain circumstances, must be shared with regulators or
government institutions. Because laws and regulations differ in each of the jurisdictions where we operate, as we roll-out and adapt our business in other countries, additional
verification and reporting requirements could apply. These regulations’ requirements, as well as any future regulation and any additional restrictions, could raise our costs
significantly and reduce the attractiveness of the Company. Failure to comply with anti-money laundering laws could result in significant criminal and civil lawsuits, penalties,
and forfeiture of significant assets.
Sanctions
As a U.S-incorporated entity, MercadoLibre is subject to U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC”). MercadoLibre’s non-U.S.
subsidiaries are required to comply not only with local, but also with U.S. sanctions in the same way that MercadoLibre is required to comply with such sanctions. OFAC has
the authority to impose civil penalties for violations of U.S. sanctions, and the U.S. Department of Justice is authorized to bring criminal actions against persons that willfully
violate U.S. sanctions. Compliance with United Nations sanctions is also mandatory under local law in the jurisdictions where MercadoLibre operates. Failure to comply with
local obligations could result in significant criminal and civil penalties, in addition to reputational and operational consequences.
Shipping
A number of jurisdictions where we operate have enacted legislation regulating shipping services. If we fail to comply with shipping services laws or regulations, or if we
engage in an unauthorized shipping business, we could be subject to liability, forced to cease doing business with residents of certain countries, or to change our business
practices or to become a postal entity. Any change to our Mercado Envios business practices that makes the service less attractive to customers or prohibits its use by
residents of a particular jurisdiction could decrease the speed of trade on the Mercado Libre Marketplace, which would further harm our business. Even if we are not forced to
change our Mercado Envios business practices, we could be required to obtain licenses or regulatory approvals that could be very expensive and time consuming, and we
cannot assure that we would be able to obtain them in a timely manner or at all.
Sale, Storage and/or Transportation of Goods and Services
Laws specifying the scope of liability of providers of online services for the activities of their users through their online service are currently unsettled in most of the Latin
American countries where we operate. This regulatory uncertainty may lead us to engage in administrative and judicial proceedings to dispute claims for fraudulent activities
committed by sellers, vendors or third-party carriers and losses incurred by buyers when purchasing items through our platform, which may give rise to high litigation or
settlement costs and other liabilities, including reputational harm.
Our policies prohibit the sale, storage and/or transport of certain items (both on our platform and/or in our fulfillment centers and/or through third party carriers providing
services to Mercado Libre) and we have implemented various actions to monitor and remove unlawful goods and services from our marketplaces, which we continually work to
improve.
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However, we are aware that certain goods, such as alcohol, tobacco, firearms, animals, adult material and other goods that may be subject to regulation by local or
national authorities of various jurisdictions have been traded by users on the Mercado Libre Marketplace in complete infringement to our policies, bypassing our various
security efforts and measures to go undetected. We have at times been and may continue to be subject to fines for certain users’ sales of products that have not been
approved or infringe laws dictated by the government. We are also aware that certain goods expressly excluded from our shipping services pursuant to our policies were stored
in our fulfillment centers and/or delivered through third-party carriers providing services to our users.
We cannot provide any assurances that we will successfully avoid civil or criminal liability for unlawful activities that our users carry out when using our services in the
future. If we suffer potential liability for any unlawful activities of our users, including as a result of damages to individuals or assets, we may need to implement additional
measures to reduce our exposure to this liability, which may require, among other things, that we spend substantial resources and/or discontinue certain service offerings. Any
costs that we incur as a result of this liability or asserted liability could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
It may be difficult to enforce judgments rendered against us in U.S. courts
Although we are a Delaware corporation, our subsidiaries and most of our assets are located outside of the U.S. Furthermore, most of our directors, officers, and some
advisors and experts named in this report reside outside the U.S. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the U.S. upon these persons. Moreover,
uncertainty exists as to whether courts outside of the U.S. would recognize or enforce judgments rendered against us, our subsidiaries, or the above mentioned persons in
U.S. courts and predicated on the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, any original or enforcement action in a court outside the U.S. will be subject
to compliance with procedural requirements under applicable local law, including the condition that the judgment does not violate the public policy of the applicable jurisdiction.
Intellectual Property Risks
We could face legal and financial liability upon the sale of items that infringe intellectual property rights of third parties and for information and material disseminated
through our platforms
We have received in the past, and anticipate that we will receive in the future, complaints alleging that certain items listed or sold through the Mercado Libre Marketplace or
Mercado Shops or using Mercado Pago, or delivered by Mercado Envios infringe third-party copyrights, trademarks and/or other intellectual property ("IP”) rights. Content
owners and other IP rights owners have been active in defending their rights against online companies, including us. Our user policy prohibits any content or sale of goods that
may infringe third-party IP rights and we may, proactively or at the request of any IP right owner who enrolls in our Brand Protection Program, remove listings based on
infringements to our policies, as well as sanction any user who infringes third-party IP rights. Further, through our Mercado Libre Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance, we partner with IP
rights owners to enhance Mercado Libre’s proactive removals and to pursue criminal enforcement against repeat offenders.
Despite these measures and our efforts to prevent IP infringements, we are not able to prevent all IP rights infringements and some IP rights owners may consider our
efforts insufficient. Mercado Libre was included on the United States Trade Representative’s ("USTR”) Notorious Markets List for 2020 and also on the European
Commission’s 2020 Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. Although we were removed from both watchlists in 2022, we anticipate that we may continue to be nominated or
included in these and/or any other similar watchlists. We have also received, and anticipate that we may continue to receive, legal claims from content and IP owners alleging
violations of their IP rights and also from users affected by listing takedowns and account restrictions, which could result in substantial monetary awards, penalties or costly
injunctions against us, as well as adversely affect our reputation. It is also possible that new laws and regulations may be adopted with respect to intermediaries’ liability or
mandatory out-of-court procedures to solve any disputes related to intermediaries’ liability that could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
It is also possible that third parties could bring claims against us for defamation, libel, invasion of privacy, negligence, or other theories based on the nature and content of
the materials disseminated through our platforms, particularly by our users. Other online services companies are facing several claims for this type of liability. If we are held
liable or potentially liable for information carried on or disseminated through our platforms, we may have to pay monetary damages, be subject to enforcement actions,
injunctions, fines or penalties, and it may have an adverse impact on our business model, including our level of exposure to liability. Any measures we may need to implement
to reduce that exposure may involve spending substantial resources and/or discontinuing certain services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results
of operations and financial condition. In addition, public attention to liability issues, lawsuits and legislative proposals could have an adverse impact on our business model
and reputation, and consequently on our business results.
We may not be able to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights. We could potentially face claims alleging that our technologies infringe the
property rights of others
Our IP rights are pivotal to our continued growth and success. These rights are safeguarded through a combination of copyright, trademark, patent designs, trade secret
laws, and contractual measures. With the rapid expansion of our business in recent years, we’ve witnessed a concurrent rise in infringements on our IP rights, notably on
social media platforms. This includes issues such as unauthorized domain registrations, deceptive apps, and counterfeit or fraudulent websites. While we have undertaken
measures to defend our IP rights, there’s no guarantee that these actions, or any future efforts, will effectively deter technology misappropriation, safeguard against the dilution
of our trademarks, or prevent third parties from creating similar or competing technologies.
Our trademark portfolio is owned by MercadoLibre Inc. and its subsidiaries. There are no material intellectual property assets jointly owned with any third party. The most
valuable intellectual property owned by us are the "Mercado” trademark family portfolio, namely, Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago, among others, its related domain names
(TLDs and ccTLDs) and software developments.
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We pursue the registration of our intangible assets in each country where we operate. However, we may not have effective protection or it might not be granted to us by the
appropriate regulatory authority in every country where our services are available online, meaning our ability to protect our brands against third-party infringers would be
compromised and we could face claims by third-party trademark owners. Any claims relating to these issues, whether meritorious or not, could cause us to enter into costly
royalty and/or licensing agreements. If any of these claims against us are successful we may also have to modify our brand name in certain countries. Any of these
circumstances could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial situation.
We have licensed in the past, and expect that we may license in the future, certain of our proprietary rights, such as trademarks or copyrighted material, to third parties. Our
licensees may take actions that could affect the value of our proprietary rights or reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
Our company extensively utilizes open source software ("OSS”), presenting significant intellectual property challenges. In 2022, we established the OSPO (Open Source
Program Office) to oversee OSS compliance, contribute to open source project development, and implement company-wide policies. Despite the implementation of OSPO, we
cannot guarantee that all of our employees accurately use and integrate OSS tools. As a result, given the high level of OSS consumption in our company, we cannot guarantee
that our use of OSS software will not inadvertently infringe upon third-party intellectual property rights or fully comply with pertinent OSS licenses.
The integration of Artificial Intelligence ("AI”) tools into our operations presents significant IP challenges. Determining IP ownership for AI-generated content remains
ambiguous, which may potentially lead to infringement claims. Using third-party AI tools raises concerns about the origin of data and algorithms, which may lead to IP
infringements that could inadvertently implicate us. AI tools might also unintentionally access or use copyrighted materials, heightening our exposure to IP disputes. As AI tools
continue to evolve, ensuring protection against IP infringements becomes progressively more challenging.
As our Company’s business grows and our reliance on OSS and AI tools increases, the potential risk of facing IP claims becomes more pronounced. Addressing these
infringement claims can be costly, time-consuming, and could significantly impact our business, operational results, financial health and reputation.
Cybersecurity and Technology Risks
Any delay or problem with operating or upgrading our existing information technology infrastructure could cause a disruption in our business and adversely impact our
financial results
Our ability to operate our business on a day-to-day basis largely depends on the efficient operation of our information technology infrastructure and our cloud providers, the
largest of which is Amazon Web Services. We have been and continue to be susceptible to hacks into our systems or other security breaches by unauthorized third parties. We
are also susceptible to errors in connection with any systems upgrade or migration to a different hardware or software system, errors or incidents of our cloud providers, bugs
or other problems for any of the software we use, either developed in-house or provided by third parties. Security breaches, financial, regulatory or other developments that
might prevent these third parties from providing services to us or our users could harm our business.
Our systems and our information technology infrastructure are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural or man-made disasters, power loss, computer viruses,
telecommunication and other operational failures, ransomware attacks or any other kind of denial of service related attacks, physical or electronic break-ins, sabotage,
intentional acts of vandalism, terrorism, public health crises (including pandemics), extreme weather (including as a result of climate change) and similar events. The public
cloud providers could also decide to close their facilities.
Any steps that we may take to upgrade and improve the stability and efficiency of our information technology may not be sufficient to avoid defects or disruptions in our
technology infrastructure, which could cause a disruption in our business and adversely impact our financial results. Our systems are not fully redundant and our disaster
recovery planning may not be sufficient. We do not have insurance coverage to compensate for any related losses. Any errors, defects, disruptions, interruptions, delays or
cessation of service could result in significant disruptions to our business that could ultimately be more expensive, time consuming, and resource intensive than anticipated.
We have experienced and will likely continue to experience defects or disruptions in our technology infrastructure, including system interruptions and delays that make our site
and services unavailable or slow to respond for periods of time, which could adversely impact our ability to process transactions on our site or fulfill shipments, which could
reduce our revenue, adversely affect our reputation with or result in the loss of users and negatively impact our financial results.
In January 2024, we implemented a new version of our enterprise resource planning ("ERP”) software, SAP, as part of a plan to integrate and upgrade our systems and
processes. While we expect this new version to strengthen our internal financial controls, there are inherent risks in implementing any new system, including loss of
information and potential disruption to our normal operations. Any material deficiencies in the design and implementation of this new software could also result in material
costs, adversely affect our ability to operate our business and negatively impact our financial reporting and internal controls. Any of these consequences could have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to security breaches or other confidential data theft from our systems, which can adversely affect our reputation and business
A significant risk associated with our business is the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks. Our business involves the collection, storage,
processing and transmission of customers’ personal data, including financial information. We rely on encryption and authentication necessary to provide the security and
authentication technology to transmit confidential information securely. Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography, or other events or
developments may result in a compromise or breach of the technology that we use to protect customer transaction data.
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The techniques used to obtain unauthorized, improper or illegal access to our systems, our data or our customers’ data, to disable or degrade service, or to sabotage
systems are constantly evolving, have become increasingly complex and sophisticated, may be difficult to detect quickly, and often are not recognized until launched against a
target. While we may not determine some of these issues as material at the time that they occur and may remedy them quickly, there is no assurance that these issues will not
ultimately result in significant legal, financial and reputational harm, including government inquiries and enforcement actions, litigation and negative publicity. Unauthorized
parties have and may continue to attempt to gain access to our systems or facilities through various means, including hacking into our systems or those of our customers,
partners or vendors, or attempting to fraudulently induce our employees, customers, partners, vendors or other users of our systems into disclosing usernames, passwords,
payment card information or other sensitive information, which may in turn be used to access our information technology systems and those of third parties with whom we
partner. Our users have been and will continue to be targeted by parties using fraudulent "spoof” and "phishing” emails that appear to be legitimate emails sent by Mercado
Libre or Mercado Pago or by a user of one of our businesses, but direct recipients to fake websites operated by the sender of the email or misstates that certain payment was
credited in Mercado Pago and request that the recipient send the product sold or send a password or other confidential information. Our information technology and
infrastructure, including our source code, and those of third parties with whom we partner have been and may continue to be vulnerable to cyberattacks, security breaches, and
third parties may be able to access our customers’ personal or proprietary information and, credit and debit card data that are stored on or accessible through those systems.
Our security measures may also be breached due to human error, malfeasance, system errors or vulnerabilities, or other irregularities. Our efforts to address undesirable
activity on our platform may also increase the risk of retaliatory attack.
Actual or perceived vulnerabilities or data breaches may lead to claims sanctions against us, subject us to investigations or liability, may compromise our reputation,
diminish the value of our brands and discourage use of our websites. We also expect to spend significant additional resources to protect against security or privacy breaches,
and may be required to address problems caused by breaches. In the case of a personal data breach, we may be required to notify the competent authorities (including central
banks and other authorities that regulate our fintech business) and/or the data subject. Additionally, while we maintain insurance policies, we do not maintain insurance
policies to reimburse us for losses caused by security breaches. Some of our systems have experienced past security breaches and, although they did not have a material
adverse effect on our operating results or reputation, there can be no assurance of a similar result in the future. We cannot assure you that our security measures will prevent
security breaches or that failure to prevent them will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation. In addition, any
breaches of network or data security of companies we acquire or of our customers, partners or vendors, including parties that provide services to us or to our customers, could
have similar negative effects.
We may not be able to secure licenses for technologies on which we rely
We rely on certain technologies that we license from third parties that supply key database technology, operating systems and specific hardware components for our
services. We cannot assure you that these technology licenses will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms. If we were not able to make use of this
technology, we would need to obtain substitute technology that may be of lower quality or performance standards or at greater cost, which could materially adversely affect our
business, results of operations and financial condition. Although we generally have been able to renew or extend the terms of contractual arrangements with these service
providers on acceptable terms, we cannot assure you that we will continue to be able to do so in the future.
Risks related to doing business in Latin America
We face the risk of political and economic crises, instability, terrorism, civil strife, labor conflicts, expropriation, corruption and other risks of doing business in
emerging markets
We conduct our operations in emerging market countries in Latin America, which have historically experienced uneven periods of economic growth, as well as recession,
periods of high inflation and economic instability. There has been increased violence, crime, social and political turmoil and unrest in some of these countries, which could
result in disruptions to our operations or present risks to our employees. These developments, as well as other economic and political developments in these countries,
including future economic changes or crises (such as inflation, currency devaluation or recession), government deadlock, social and political turmoil and unrest, changes in
laws and regulations, labor conflicts, expropriation or nationalization of property, and exchange controls could impact our operations or the market value of our common stock
and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We also have operations and deal with government entities and financial institutions in countries in Latin America known to experience corruption. Our activities in these
countries create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by our employees, contractors or agents that could be in violation of various laws including the FCPA,
even though these parties are not always subject to our control. Our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and our employees,
contractors or agents may engage in conduct for which we may be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be
subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our reputation and business. Further, to the extent corruption, bribery and similar practices continue to exist in the
region, international investor perception of the region could be negatively affected, which could in turn negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Our employees in Brazil and some of our employees in Argentina, Mexico and Uruguay are currently represented by a labor union and employees in other Latin American
countries may eventually become unionized. We may incur increased payroll costs and reduced flexibility under labor regulations if unionization in other countries were to
occur, any of which may negatively impact our business. In addition, we could be affected by conflicts between unions which claim representation of our employees that could
generate additional payroll costs and labor conflicts.
Although economic and political conditions may differ from one country to another, we cannot assure you that events in one country alone will not adversely affect our
business, financial condition or the market value of our common stock.
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Latin American governments have exercised and continue to exercise significant influence over the economies of the countries where we operate. This involvement, as
well as political and economic conditions, could adversely affect our business
Governments in Latin America frequently intervene in the economies of their respective countries and occasionally make significant changes in policy and regulations.
Governmental actions to control inflation and other policies and regulations have often involved, among other measures, price controls, currency devaluations, export duties,
capital controls and limits on imports. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected by changes in government policies or
regulations, including such factors as: exchange rates and exchange control policies; inflation rates; interest rates; tariff and inflation control policies; price control policies;
import duties and restrictions; liquidity of domestic capital and lending markets; electricity rationing; tax policies, including royalty, tax increases and retroactive tax claims; and
other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting the countries where we operate.
Reduced foreign investment in any of the countries where we operate may have a negative impact on such country’s economy, affecting interest rates and the ability of
companies such as ours to access financial markets.
Local currencies used in the conduct of our business are subject to depreciation, volatility and exchange controls
Most Latin American countries have historically experienced, and may continue to experience in the future, high rates of inflation, which could lead to further government
intervention in the economy, including the introduction of government policies that could adversely affect our results of operations. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, which together
accounted for 95.5% and 95.2% of our net revenues for 2023 and 2022, respectively, have experienced volatility and significant devaluations in the past. For the year ended
December 31, 2023, the inflation rate in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico was 4.6%, 211.4% and 4.7%, respectively. Since July 1, 2018, we have classified our Argentine operations
as highly inflationary in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and use the U.S. dollar as the functional currency of our Argentine subsidiaries for purposes of reporting our financial
statements. Argentina’s annual inflation rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was 211.4%, 94.8% and 50.9%, respectively, and Argentina’s official
exchange rate against the U.S. dollar increased 356.3%, 72.5% and 22.1%, respectively.
The depreciation of local currencies creates inflationary pressures that may have an adverse effect on our results of operations, including affecting our ability to adjust the
price of our services sufficiently to offset the effects of inflation on our cost structures and generally restricting access to the international capital markets. A high inflation
environment would also have negative effects on the level of economic activity, employment and may adversely affect our business and results of operations. On the other
hand, the appreciation of local currencies against the U.S. dollar may lead to the deterioration of public accounts and the balance of payments of the countries where we
operate, and may reduce export growth in those countries.
Because we conduct our business outside the United States and receive almost all of our revenues in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, but report our results in U.S.
dollars, we face exposure to adverse movements in currency exchange rates. The results of operations in the countries where we operate are exposed to foreign exchange rate
fluctuations as our financial results are translated from the applicable local currency into U.S. dollars upon consolidation. If the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies,
as has occurred in some years, the translation of these foreign-currency-denominated transactions will result in increased net revenues, operating expenses, and net income.
Similarly, our net revenues, operating expenses, and net income will decrease if the U.S. dollar strengthens against the foreign currencies of countries in which we operate.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, 52.5% of our net revenues were denominated in Brazilian Real, 22.4% in Argentine Pesos and 20.6% in Mexican Pesos. Certain of our
subsidiaries may be subject to exchange control regulations that might restrict their ability to convert local currencies into U.S. dollars. Brazilian law provides that whenever
there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or reason to foresee a serious imbalance, the Brazilian government may impose temporary restrictions on the
remittance to foreign investors of the proceeds of their investments in Brazil.
Further, extensive exchange controls implemented by the Argentine government control and restrict the ability of companies and individuals to exchange Argentine Pesos
for foreign currencies and their ability to remit foreign currency out of Argentina. An entity’s authorization request to the CBA to access the official exchange market to make
foreign currency payments may be denied depending on the circumstances. As a result of these exchange controls, markets in Argentina developed trading mechanisms in
which an entity or individual buys U.S. dollar denominated securities in Argentina (e.g. shares, sovereign debt) using Argentine Pesos, and subsequently sells the securities
for U.S. dollars, in Argentina, to access U.S. dollars locally, or outside Argentina, by transferring the securities abroad, prior to being sold (the latter commonly known as Blue
Chip Swap Rate).
The Blue Chip Swap Rate has diverged significantly from Argentina’s official exchange rate (commonly known as exchange spread). In recent years, the Blue Chip Swap
Rate has been higher than Argentina’s official exchange rate. As of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the spread of the Blue Chip Swap was 20.4%, 94.2% and 96.8%,
respectively (See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Argentine currency status and macroeconomic outlook and Note 25 – Share repurchase program of
our audited consolidated financial statements). The spread decrease was due to the devaluation of the Argentine Peso from 366.45 to 799.95 on December 13, 2023. As of the
issuance date of the audited consolidated financial statements the spread of the Blue Chip Swap was 30.9%. There can be no assurance that the CBA or other government
agencies will not increase such controls or restrictions, make modifications to these regulations or establish more severe restrictions on currency exchange, which could affect
the ability to make payments to foreign creditors or providers and dividend payments to foreign shareholders. These exchange controls and restrictions could materially
adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of our Argentine subsidiaries and their ability to comply with their foreign currency obligations, and
could significantly impact our ability to receive cash from our Argentine subsidiaries and our ability to meet our obligations, each of which could have a material adverse effect
on our Company.
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Our e-commerce transactions in Latin America may be impacted by the weaknesses of secure payment methods
Unlike in the United States, consumers and merchants in Latin America can be held fully liable for credit card and other losses due to third-party fraud. As secure methods
of payment for e-commerce transactions have not been widely adopted in Latin America, both consumers and merchants generally have a relatively low confidence level in the
integrity of e-commerce transactions. Unless consumer fraud laws in Latin American countries are modified to protect e-commerce merchants and consumers, and until
secure, integrated online payment processing methods are fully implemented across the region, our ability to generate revenues from e-commerce may be limited, which
could have a material adverse effect on our Company. In addition, while banks and other financial institutions in Latin America have generally granted e-commerce merchants
the right to process online transactions, adjustments to the fraud and risk management processes of these banks and financial institutions, including due to concerns about
credit card fraud, may negatively impact our payments approval rates.
Risks related to our shares
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and Delaware law could inhibit others from acquiring us, prevent a change of control, and may prevent efforts by our
stockholders to change our management
Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws may inhibit a change of control that our board of directors does not approve or changes in the composition
of our board of directors, which could result in the entrenchment of current management and may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might
otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.
These provisions include: i) advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations; ii) a staggered board of directors; iii) limitations on the
ability of stockholders to remove directors other than for cause; iv) limitations on the ability of stockholders to own and/or exercise voting power over 20% of our common stock;
v) limitations on the ability of stockholders to amend, alter or repeal our by-laws; vi) the inability of stockholders to act by written consent; vii) the authority of the board of
directors to adopt a stockholder rights plan; viii) the authority of the board of directors to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock with any terms that the board of
directors determines and additional shares of our common stock; and ix) limitations on the ability of certain stockholders to enter into certain business combinations with us,
as provided under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
We may require additional capital in the future, and this additional capital may not be available on acceptable terms or at all
We may need to raise additional funds in order to fund more rapid expansion (organically or through strategic acquisitions), to develop new or enhanced services or
products, to respond to competitive pressures or to acquire complementary products, businesses or technologies. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity
or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our stockholders will be reduced, stockholders may experience additional dilution and the securities that we issue
may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common stock. Additional financing may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all. If adequate funds
are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to fund our expansion, take advantage of unanticipated acquisition opportunities, develop or
enhance services or products or respond to competitive pressures. These inabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Shares eligible for future sale may cause the market price of our common stock to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well
The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market in the future or the perception that
these sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at
a price that we deem appropriate.
In the future, we may issue securities in connection with investments and acquisitions. The amount of our common stock issued in connection with an investment or
acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then outstanding common stock.
We cannot guarantee that any share repurchase program will be fully consummated or will enhance stockholder value, and share repurchases could increase the
volatility of our stock prices and diminish our cash reserves
From time to time, we engage in share repurchases of our common stock in accordance with authorizations from our board of directors. Our repurchase programs may
not require us to repurchase any specific required dollar amount or number of shares. Further, our repurchases could affect our share trading prices, increase their volatility,
reduce our cash reserves and may be suspended or terminated at any time, which may result in a decrease in the trading of our stock.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk Management and Strategy
We maintain a comprehensive process for assessing, identifying and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats, including risks relating to disruption of
technology infrastructure and business operations, intellectual property theft, fraud, harm to employees or customers, violation of privacy laws and confidentiality, other litigation
and legal risks, and reputational risk, as part of our overall risk management principles and processes.
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Our risk management framework includes several security pillars, including data security, identity management, cloud security, infrastructure security, application security,
incident response, and cybersecurity risk management.
Our cybersecurity risk management processes incorporate frameworks aligned with recognized cybersecurity and cyber risk established frameworks. Our cybersecurity
model is based on four criteria: (i) "Zero Trust” (e.g. a model based on continuous validation of users and devices), (ii) analysis of abnormal or unusual behavior, (iii) automatic
response, and (iv) decentralization. Our cybersecurity risk strategy aligns risks, initiatives and controls, consisting of initiatives and projects designed to identify, evaluate,
control and monitor cybersecurity risks and incidents. Our data security and privacy strategy focuses on discovery, minimization, detection, response, standardization and
awareness. Our incident response strategy is based on best practices, focusing on proactive and automatic response, preparation and prevention, detection and analysis,
containment, eradication, recovery and post-incident activity. We have also implemented a security risk management policy that provides guidance on how to identify, analyze,
and optimize risk management and subsequent risk mitigation.
We have processes in place to assess, identify, manage, and address cybersecurity threats and incidents. These include, among other things: mandatory trainings and
drills on social engineering, phishing and ransomware attacks for all our employees; tabletop exercises for employees of the information security team; cybersecurity events in
which management and/or certain employees participate and/or organize; ransomware prevention and phishing controls allowing for automatic and timely detection and
response; and penetration testing, red team exercises and a bug bounty program to help us evaluate the effectiveness of our information security processes and improve our
security measures and planning. We also conduct, with the assistance of an external auditor, annual Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) reviews of our
payment information security controls.
We also have teams in place to oversee and manage our cybersecurity risk management processes, including: (i) an information security team, organized around our
various services and products, responsible for day-to-day cybersecurity matters related to the respective services and products; (ii) a risk committee, comprised of members of
management, that oversees the Company’s financial and non-financial risks, including cybersecurity risks, and assists management in oversight; and (iii) internal local,
corporate and strategic crisis management teams that form part of our crisis management framework.
Our risk management framework further includes processes to manage cybersecurity risks associated with third parties, including, a third-party risk management
program that focuses on identifying security and data privacy risks arising out of our interactions with critical third-party suppliers and payment methods, and a program
focused on assessing risks arising in mergers and acquisitions transactions.
In connection with our cybersecurity risk management processes, while we do not regularly engage assessors, consultants, auditors, or other third parties to assess,
identify, and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats, we do involve such parties if there has been a cybersecurity incident that we believe requires an assessment by
a third party.
Our business strategy, results of operations and financial condition have not been materially affected by risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of previous
cybersecurity incidents, but we cannot provide assurance that they will not be materially affected in the future by such risks and any future material incidents. In the last fiscal
three years, we have not experienced any material information security breach incidents and the expenses we have incurred from information security breach incidents were
immaterial. See "Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information on our cybersecurity-related risks.
Governance
Management
The cybersecurity risk management processes described above are managed by our Cybersecurity VP under the supervision of the risk committee. The Audit Committee
of the board of directors provides additional oversight as needed. Our risk committee is comprised of the Chief Financial Officer, Commerce Executive VP, Fintech President
and the Heads of Corporate Affairs, Risk & Compliance, Data Privacy, Information Security, AML & Sanctions, Legal & Government Relations, Commerce Product Development,
Fintech Product Development and IT Infrastructure. Its primary purpose is to assist management and the board directly and/or indirectly through the board’s Audit Committee,
overseeing the Company’s financial and non-financial risks, including cybersecurity risks. Our Cybersecurity VP and some of our risk committee members are skilled in
technology, security and/or risk and compliance. Our Cybersecurity VP is a certified information systems security professional (CISSP) and has considerable experience in the
field of information security, fraud and prevention.
As part of our cybersecurity risk management processes, our Cybersecurity VP presents security risk matters to the risk committee on an as-necessary basis, and to the
Audit Committee annually and on an as-necessary basis. In the event of a critical incident that may impact the Company’s operations, the Company’s crisis management
framework activates the strategic crisis management team for evaluation and response. The strategic crisis management team is comprised of the Chief Executive Officer,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Commerce Executive VP, Fintech President, Corporate Affairs Executive VP and Marketing Executive VP. The risk committee also
meets quarterly and presents the status, evolution and main indicators of each security risk to management, although information security may not be deemed a risk in each
particular quarter. Further, the Company’s cybersecurity processes are formally evaluated by the Cybersecurity VP on an annual basis, which includes updating the Company’s
cybersecurity policy, security risk management policy and methodology, and classification of information.
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Board of directors
The Audit Committee is primarily responsible for the oversight of cybersecurity risks and threats. To fulfill this responsibility, the Audit Committee, assisted, as appropriate,
by the risk committee, oversees the risk management framework, including risk assessment and risk management policies and procedures established by management to
identify, evaluate, measure and manage existing and potential cybersecurity risks faced by the Company. Annually and on an as-necessary basis, members of management
and/or of the risk committee provide presentations to the Audit Committee regarding cybersecurity matters, including any material risks. These presentations include
information regarding cybersecurity risks, the evolution of those risks and initiatives to optimize and improve the processes of cybersecurity. Further, in the event of a specific
cybersecurity incident, these presentations include information about the relevant security incident, such as incident status, informed stakeholders and remediation plans.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease facilities in different countries of Latin America that are used for administrative, marketing, product development and shipping activities purposes. All of our
offices are occupied under lease agreements, except for three of our Argentine offices. The leases for our facilities provide for renewal options and after expiration, we can
renegotiate the leases with our current landlords, or move to another location. From time to time we consider various alternatives related to our long-term facility needs. While
we believe our existing facilities are adequate to meet our immediate needs, it may become necessary to lease or acquire additional or alternative space to accommodate any
future growth.
For Mercado Envios, we operate fulfillment, cross docking and service centers in multiple locations in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia.
Our headquarters are located in Montevideo, Uruguay. Our data centers are located in Virginia, United States, and occupy approximately 45 square meters. As of
December 31, 2023, our owned and leased facilities (excluding data centers) provided us with square meters as follows:
Argentina Brazil Mexico Others Total
Owned facilities 13,918 — — 880 14,798
Leased facilities 96,974 1,085,900 924,660 89,555 2,197,089
Managed by Third Parties (1) 57,223 536,627 — 92,520 686,370
Total facilities 168,115 1,622,527 924,660 182,955 2,898,257
(1) Includes properties that are leased by the Company and managed by third parties.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF
EQUITY SECURITIES
Market information for Common Stock
Shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market ("NASDAQ”) under the symbol "MELI”.
Holders of record
As of January 31, 2024, we had 198 holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not reflect the beneficial ownership of shares held in nominee name.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
There were no sales of unregistered securities by us during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Dividend Policy
After reviewing the Company’s capital allocation process, the board of directors has concluded that it has multiple investment opportunities that can generate greater
return to shareholders through investing capital into the business over a dividend policy. Consequently, the board of directors suspended the payment of dividend to
shareholders as from the first quarter of 2018.
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We cannot assure you that our share performance will continue into the future with the same or similar trends depicted in the graph above. We do not make or endorse any
predictions as to our future stock performance.
The foregoing graph and chart shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this Annual Report on Form 10-K into
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent we specifically incorporate this
information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under those acts.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our operations in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial
statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations that
involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of
factors, including those discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report.
The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations has been organized to present the following:
■ a brief overview of our company;
■ a review of our financial presentation and accounting policies, including our critical accounting policies and estimates;
■ a discussion of our principal trends and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021;
■ a discussion of the principal factors that influence our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity;
■ a discussion of our liquidity and capital resources and a discussion of our capital expenditures;
■ a description of our key performance indicators; and
■ a description of our non-GAAP financial measures.
For discussion on results from 2022 compared to 2021, please refer to "Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Certain monetary amounts included elsewhere in this document have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals and percentages in
certain tables may not be the arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
Business Overview
We are the largest online commerce ecosystem in Latin America based on unique visitors and orders processed, and we are present in 18 countries: Argentina, Brazil,
Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay and El Salvador.
Our platform is designed to provide users with a complete portfolio of services to facilitate commercial transactions both digitally and offline.
Through our e-commerce platform, we provide buyers and sellers with a robust and safe environment that fosters the development of a large e-commerce community in
Latin America, a region with a population of over 650 million people and with one of the fastest-growing Internet penetration and e-commerce growth rates in the world. We
believe that we offer world-class technological and commercial solutions that address the distinctive cultural and geographic challenges of operating a digital commerce
platform in Latin America.
We offer our users an ecosystem of six integrated e-commerce services and digital financial services: the Mercado Libre Marketplace, the Mercado Pago Fintech platform,
the Mercado Envios logistics service, the Mercado Ads solution, the Mercado Libre Classifieds service and the Mercado Shops online storefronts solution.
The Mercado Libre Marketplace, is a fully-automated, topically-arranged and user-friendly online commerce platform, which can be accessed through our website and
mobile app. This platform enables us (when we act as sellers in our first party sales), merchants and individuals to list merchandise and conduct sales and purchases
digitally. The Marketplace has an ample assortment of products, with a wide range of categories such as consumer electronics, apparel and beauty, home goods, automotive
accessories, toys, books and entertainment and consumer packaged goods.
To complement the Mercado Libre Marketplace and enhance the user experience for our buyers and sellers, we developed Mercado Pago, an integrated digital payments
solution. Mercado Pago was initially designed to facilitate transactions on Mercado Libre’s Marketplaces by providing a mechanism that allowed our users to securely, easily
and promptly send and receive payments. Now, Mercado Pago is a full ecosystem of financial technology solutions both in the digital and physical world. Our digital payments
solution enables any MercadoLibre registered user to securely and easily send and receive digital payments and to pay for purchases made on any of Mercado Libre’s
Marketplaces. Currently, Mercado Pago processes and settles all transactions on our Marketplaces in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador.
Beyond facilitating Marketplace transactions, over the years we have expanded our array of Mercado Pago services to third parties outside Mercado Libre’s Marketplace.
We began first by satisfying the growing demand for online-based payment solutions by providing merchants the necessary digital payment infrastructure for e-commerce to
flourish in Latin America. Today, Mercado Pago’s digital payments business not only allows merchants to facilitate checkout and payment processes on their websites through
a branded or white label solution or software development kits, but it also enables users to transfer money in a simple manner to each other through the Mercado Pago
website or on the Mercado Pago app. Through Mercado Pago, we brought trust to the merchant customer relationship, allowing online consumers to shop easily and safely,
while giving them the confidence to share sensitive personal and financial data with us. Finally, we have also deepened our fintech offerings by growing our online-to-offline
("O2O”) products and services.
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The Mercado Envios logistics solution enables sellers on our platform to utilize third-party carriers and other logistics service providers, while also providing them with
fulfillment and warehousing services. The logistics services we offer are an integral part of our value proposition, as they reduce friction between buyers and sellers, and allow
us to have greater control over the full user experience. Sellers that opt into our logistics solutions are not only able to offer a uniform and seamlessly integrated shipping
experience to their buyers at competitive prices, but are also eligible to access shipping subsidies to offer free or discounted shipping for many of their sales on our
Marketplaces. In 2020, we launched Meli Air with a fleet of dedicated aircraft covering routes across Brazil and Mexico, with the aim of improving our delivery times. We have
also developed a network of independent neighborhood stores and commercial points (known as "Meli Places”) to receive and store packages that are in transit using our
integrated technology. Meli Places network allows buyers and sellers to pick-up, drop-off, or return packages with a better experience, reducing the travel distance for all
parties. As of December 31, 2023, we offer our shipping solution directed towards deliveries in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador and we
also offer free shipping to buyers in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Peru.
Mercado Credito, our credit solution available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile, leverages our user base, which is loyal and engaged, and in part has also been
historically underserved or overlooked by financial institutions and suffers from a lack of access to needed credit. Facilitating credit is a key service overlay that enables us to
further strengthen the engagement and lock-in rate of our users, while also generating additional touchpoints and incentives to use Mercado Pago as an end-to-end financial
solution.
Our asset management product, which is available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Chile, is a critical pillar to build our alternative two-sided network vision. It incentivizes
our users to begin to fund their digital wallets with cash as opposed to credit or debit cards given that the return our product offers is greater than traditional checking accounts.
As an extension of our asset management and savings solutions for users, we launched a digital assets feature as part of the Mercado Pago wallet in Brazil, Mexico and
Chile, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. This service allows our millions of users to purchase, hold and sell selected digital assets through our interface without leaving
the Mercado Pago application, while a partner acts as the custodian and exchange and offers the blockchain infrastructure platform. This feature is available for all users
through their Mercado Pago wallet.
Our advertising platform, Mercado Ads, enables businesses to promote their products and services on the Mercado Libre Marketplace and Mercado Pago Fintech platform.
Through our advertising platform, MercadoLibre’s brands and sellers are able to display ads on our webpages through product searches, banner ads, or suggested products.
Our advertising platform enables merchants and brands to access the millions of consumers that are on our Marketplaces at any given time with the intent to purchase, which
increases the likelihood of conversion. Advertisers are able to leverage our first-party data to create and target highly particularized audiences.
Through Mercado Libre Classifieds, our online classified listing service, our users can also list and purchase motor vehicles, real estate and services in the countries
where we operate. Classifieds listings differ from Marketplace listings as they only charge optional placement fees and not final value fees. Our classifieds pages are also a
major source of traffic to our platform, benefiting both the commerce and fintech businesses.
Complementing the services we offer, our digital storefront solution, Mercado Shops, allows users to set-up, manage and promote their own digital stores. These stores
are hosted by Mercado Libre and offer integration with the rest of our ecosystem, namely our Marketplaces, payment services and logistics services. Users can create a store
at no cost, and can access additional functionalities and value added services on commission.
Reporting Segments and Geographic Information
Our segment reporting is based on geography, which is the criterion our Management currently uses to evaluate our segment performance. Our geographic segments are
Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Other Countries (including Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay). Although we discuss long-term trends in our business, it is
our policy not to provide earnings guidance in the traditional sense. We believe that uncertain conditions make the forecasting of near-term results difficult. Further, we seek to
make decisions focused primarily on the long-term welfare of our Company and believe focusing on short-term earnings does not best serve the interests of our stockholders.
We believe that execution of key strategic initiatives as well as our expectations for long-term growth in our markets will best create stockholder value. A long-term focus may
make it more difficult for industry analysts and the market to evaluate the value of our Company, which could reduce the value of our common stock or permit competitors with
short-term tactics to grow more rapidly than us. We, therefore, encourage potential investors to consider this strategy before making an investment in our common stock.
The following table sets forth the percentage of our consolidated net revenues by segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
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The following table summarizes the changes in our net revenues by segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Brazil $ 7,595 $ 5,666 $ 1,929 34.0 % $ 5,666 $ 3,910 $ 1,756 44.9 %
Argentina 3,240 2,500 740 29.6 2,500 1,531 969 63.3
Mexico 2,985 1,864 1,121 60.1 1,864 1,172 692 59.0
Other countries 653 507 146 28.8 507 456 51 11.2
Total net revenues $ 14,473 $ 10,537 $ 3,936 37.4 % $ 10,537 $ 7,069 $ 3,468 49.1 %
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From time to time, we are involved in disputes that arise in the ordinary course of business. We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings as discussed in "Item 3
—Legal Proceedings,” and in Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies to our audited consolidated financial statements. We believe that we have meritorious defenses to
the claims against us, and we will defend ourselves accordingly. However, even if successful, our defense could be costly and could divert Management’s time. If the plaintiffs
were to prevail on certain claims, we might be forced to pay material damages or modify our business practices. Any of these consequences could materially harm our
business and could have a material adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Income taxes
We are required to recognize a provision for income taxes based upon taxable income and temporary differences between the book and tax bases of our assets and
liabilities for each of the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. This process requires a calculation of taxes payable under currently enacted tax laws in each jurisdiction and an
analysis of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of our assets and liabilities, including various accruals, allowances, depreciation and amortization. The tax
effect of these temporary differences and the estimated tax benefit from our tax net operating losses are reported as deferred tax assets and liabilities in our consolidated
balance sheets. We also assess the likelihood that our net deferred tax assets will be realized from future taxable income. To the extent we believe that it is more likely than not
that some portion or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized, we establish a valuation allowance. As far we establish a valuation allowance or change the allowance in
a period, we reflect the change with a corresponding increase or decrease in our "Income tax expense” line in our consolidated statements of income. Please refer to Note 2 –
Summary of significant accounting policies and Note 14 – Income taxes to our audited consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding income tax.
Recent accounting pronouncements
See Item 8 of Part II, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies—Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
and Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted.
Results of operations
Principal trends in results of operations
The information include in this section sets forth, for the years presented, certain data from our consolidated statements of income. This information should be read in
conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this report.
Net revenues
We disaggregate revenues into four geographical reporting segments. Within each of our segments, the services we provide and the products we sell generally fall into
two distinct revenue streams: "Commerce” and "Fintech”.
Revenues from commerce transactions are mainly generated from:
■ marketplace fees that include final value fees and flat fees. Final value fees represent a percentage of the sale value that is charged to the seller once an item is
successfully sold and flat fees represent a fixed charge for transactions below a certain merchandise value;
■ first party sales, which are generated when control of the good is transferred, upon delivery to our customers;
■ shipping fees, which are generated when a buyer elects to receive an item through our shipping service, net of the third-party carrier costs (when we act as an agent),
and storage fees, which are charged to the seller for the utilization of the Company’s fulfillment facilities;
■ ad sales fees due to advertising services provided to sellers, vendors, brands and others, through performance products (product ads and brand ads) and display
formats, which are recognized based on the number of clicks and impressions, respectively;
■ classifieds fees due to offerings in vehicles, real estate and services, which are charged to sellers who opt to give their listings greater exposure throughout our
websites; and
■ fees from other ancillary businesses.
Fintech revenues correspond to our Mercado Pago service, which are attributable to:
■ commissions representing a percentage of the payment volume processed that are charged to sellers in connection with off Marketplace-platform transactions;
■ commissions from additional fees we charge when a buyer elects to pay in installments through our Mercado Pago platform, for transactions that occur either on or off
our Marketplace platform;
■ interest, cash advances and fees from merchant and consumer loans granted under our Mercado Credito solution;
■ commissions that we charge from transactions carried out with Mercado Pago credit and debit cards;
■ revenues from the sale of mobile points of sale products;
■ revenues from insurtech fees; and
■ commissions from additional fees we charge when our sellers elect to withdraw cash.
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Although we also process payments on the Marketplace, we do not charge sellers an added commission for this service, as it is already included in the Marketplace final
value fee that we charge.
Our Mercado Libre Marketplace is available in 18 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Panama,
Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Venezuela (deconsolidated since December 1, 2017) and Paraguay), while Mercado Pago and Mercado
Envios are available in 8 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Ecuador).
The functional currency for each country’s operations is the country’s local currency, except for Argentina, where the functional currency is the U.S. dollar due to Argentina’s
status as a highly inflationary economy. Our net revenues are generated in multiple foreign currencies and then translated into U.S. dollars at the average monthly exchange
rate. Please refer to Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies to our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on foreign currency translation.
We have a highly fragmented customer revenue base given the large numbers of sellers and buyers who use our platforms. For the years ended December 31, 2023,
2022 and 2021, no single customer accounted for more than 5.0% of our net revenues.
Our net revenues grew during the year 2023, boosted by the growth of our gross merchandise volume, total payment volume and credit portfolio. The continued execution
of our long-term strategies in Commerce and Fintech has enabled us to deliver record net revenues and profitability during the year.
The following table summarizes our consolidated net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Net revenues $ 14,473 $ 10,537 $ 3,936 37.4% $ 10,537 $ 7,069 $ 3,468 49.1%
The following table summarizes our consolidated net revenues by revenue stream and geographic segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
Consolidated net revenues
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Brazil
Commerce $ 4,512 $ 3,072 $ 1,440 46.9 % $ 3,072 $ 2,481 $ 591 23.8 %
Fintech 3,083 2,594 489 18.9 2,594 1,429 1,165 81.5
7,595 5,666 1,929 34.0 5,666 3,910 1,756 44.9
Argentina
Commerce 1,261 1,085 176 16.2 1,085 856 229 26.8
Fintech 1,979 1,415 564 39.9 1,415 675 740 109.6
3,240 2,500 740 29.6 2,500 1,531 969 63.3
Mexico
Commerce 1,979 1,282 697 54.4 1,282 924 358 38.7
Fintech 1,006 582 424 72.9 582 248 334 134.7
2,985 1,864 1,121 60.1 1,864 1,172 692 59.0
Other countries
Commerce 449 369 80 21.7 369 374 (5) -1.3
Fintech 204 138 66 47.8 138 82 56 68.3
653 507 146 28.8 507 456 51 11.2
Consolidated
Commerce 8,201 5,808 2,393 41.2 5,808 4,635 1,173 25.3
Fintech 6,272 4,729 1,543 32.6 4,729 2,434 2,295 94.3
Total $ 14,473 $ 10,537 $ 3,936 37.4 % $ 10,537 $ 7,069 $ 3,468 49.1 %
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See Note 9 – Segments of our audited consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our net revenues disaggregated by similar products and
services for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Our Commerce revenues grew $2,393 million, or 41.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase in
Commerce revenues was primarily attributable to:
■ (i) an increase of $1,990 million in Commerce services revenues mainly related to a 30% increase in gross merchandise volume, (ii) a 25% increase in our shipped
items and (iii) higher flat fee contributions for low gross merchandise volume transactions, which was offset by Shipping carrier costs, which are netted against
revenues, that increased $653 million, from $1,809 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $2,462 million for the year ended December 31, 2023; and
■ an increase of $403 million in our revenues from Commerce products sales, mainly in Brazil and Mexico.
Our Fintech revenues grew 32.6%, from $4,729 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, to $6,272 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase is
mainly generated by:
■ an increase of $1,038 million in our revenues from Fintech services, mainly related to a 48% increase in our total payment volume; and
■ an increase of $513 million in our Credits revenues, mainly as a consequence of higher originations.
The deceleration in our Fintech revenues growth responds largely to lower credits revenues growth rates, mainly in Brazil and Argentina, due to our initiatives to maintain
portfolio exposure towards lower risk customers, lower risk products and increase exposure to lower risk geographies, allowing us to continue improving our past due loans
ratio.
Brazil
Commerce revenues in Brazil increased 46.9% in the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022. This increase was generated by an increase of $1,070
million in our commerce services revenues and an increase of $370 million in our revenues from commerce products sales. Fintech revenues grew by 18.9%, a $489 million
increase, during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, mainly driven by an increase of $446 million in our revenues from fintech services and an increase
of $53 million in our credits revenues.
Argentina
Commerce revenues in Argentina increased 16.2% in the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022. This increase was generated by an increase of $222
million in our commerce services revenues, partially offset by a decrease of $46 million in our revenues from commerce products sales. Fintech revenues grew 39.9%, a $564
million increase, during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, mainly driven by an increase of $388 million in our revenues from fintech services and an
increase of $178 million in our credits revenues.
Mexico
Commerce revenues in Mexico increased 54.4% in the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022. This increase was generated by an increase of $617
million in our commerce services revenues and an increase of $80 million in our revenues from commerce products sales. Fintech revenues grew 72.9%, a $424 million
increase, during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, mainly driven by an increase of $278 million in our credits revenues and an increase of $144
million in our revenues from fintech services.
The following table sets forth our total net revenues and the sequential quarterly growth of these net revenues for the periods described below:
Quarter Ended
March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31,
(In millions, except percentages)
2023
Net revenues $ 3,037 $ 3,415 $ 3,760 $ 4,261
Percent change from prior quarter 1% 12% 10% 13%
2022
Net revenues $ 2,248 $ 2,597 $ 2,690 $ 3,002
Percent change from prior quarter 5% 16% 4% 12%
2021
Net revenues $ 1,378 $ 1,703 $ 1,858 $ 2,130
Percent change from prior quarter 4% 24% 9% 15%
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The following table sets forth the growth in net revenues in local currencies, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 as compared to the same periods in 2022
and 2021, respectively:
Changes from
(%of revenue growth in Local Currency) 2022 to 2023 (1) 2021 to 2022 (2)
Brazil 29.4 % 38.7 %
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Cost of net revenues $ 7,267 $ 5,374 $ 1,893 35.2% $ 5,374 $ 4,064 $ 1,310 32.2%
As a percentage of net revenues 50.2% 51.0% 51.0% 57.5%
For the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, the increase in cost of net revenues was primarily attributable to a: i) $625
million increase in shipping operating and carrier costs; ii) $329 million increase in sales taxes (which includes $31 million of one-off expenses regarding ICMS-DIFAL tax
contingency in Brazil, see Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies - Interstate rate of ICMS-DIFAL on interstate sales under Law No. 190/22); iii) $314 million increase in
collection fees, which was mainly attributable to our Brazilian and Mexican operations as a result of the higher transactions volume of Mercado Pago in those countries; iv)
$254 million increase in cost of goods sold mainly in Brazil and Mexico; v) $213 million increase in other Fintech costs mainly related to higher funding costs in connection with
our credits business; and vi) $140 million increase in hosting and site operation fees (which includes $58 million of one-off expenses regarding certain disputed amounts
from withholding income tax contingencies in Brazil, see note Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies).
Our subsidiaries in Brazil, Argentina and Colombia are subject to certain taxes on revenues, which are classified as a cost of net revenues. These taxes represented 7.7%,
7.5% and 8.0% of net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Gross profit margins
Our gross profit margin is defined as total net revenues minus total cost of net revenues, as a percentage of net revenues.
Our cost structure is directly affected by the level of operations of our services, and our strategic plan on gross profit is built on factors such as an ample liquidity to fund
expenses and investments and a cost-effective capital structure.
For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our gross profit margins were 49.8% and 49.0%, respectively. The increase in our gross profit margin resulted
primarily from the decrease in our cost of goods sold in Argentina and Mexico and customer experience expenses in Brazil and Mexico, partially offset by higher fintech costs in
Argentina and Mexico, as a percentage of net revenues.
In the future, our gross profit margin could decline if we continue growing our sales of goods business, which has a lower pure product margin, building up our logistics
network and if we fail to maintain an appropriate relationship between our cost of revenue structure and our net revenues trend.
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Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Product and technology development $ 1,831 $ 1,099 $ 732 66.6% $ 1,099 $ 590 $ 509 86.3%
As a percentage of net revenues 12.7% 10.4% 10.4% 8.4%
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the increase in product and technology development expenses as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, was primarily
attributable to a: i) $334 million increase in other product and technology development expenses mainly related to a one-off charge of $261 million due to the risk of losing the
case became probable in certain disputed amounts regarding withholding income tax contingencies in Brazil and higher tax withholding in connection with intercompany export
services billing duties; ii) $332 million increase in salaries and wages mainly related to the increase of 13% in our product and technology development headcount and
increases in amounts accrued under the LTRPs as a consequence of the increase in our common stock price; and iii) $49 million increase in depreciation and amortization
expenses mainly related to capitalized information and technology assets.
We believe that product and technology development is one of our key competitive advantages and we intend to continue to invest in hiring engineers to meet the
increasingly sophisticated product expectations of our customer base.
Sales and marketing expenses
Our sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of costs related to marketing our platforms through online and offline advertising and agreements with portals, search
engines and other sales expenses related to strategic marketing initiatives, charges related to our buyer protection program, the salaries of employees involved in these
activities (including long term retention program compensation), chargebacks related to our Mercado Pago operations, branding initiatives, marketing activities for our users
and depreciation and amortization expenses.
We carry out the majority of our marketing efforts on the Internet. We enter into agreements with portals, search engines, social networks, ad networks and other sites in
order to attract Internet users to the Mercado Libre Marketplace and convert them into registered users and active traders on our platform.
We also work intensively on attracting, developing and growing our seller community through our customer support efforts. We have dedicated professionals in most of our
operations that work with sellers through trade show participation, seminars and meetings to provide them with important tools and skills to become effective sellers on our
platform.
The following table presents sales and marketing expenses for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Sales and marketing $ 1,736 $ 1,296 $ 440 34.0% $ 1,296 $ 1,074 $ 222 20.7%
As a percentage of net revenues 12.0% 12.3% 12.3% 15.2%
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the increase in sales and marketing expenses as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to a:
i) $194 million increase in online and offline marketing expenses mainly in Brazil; ii) $100 million increase in our buyer protection program expenses; iii) $71 million increase
in salaries and wages mainly related to the increase of 12% in our sales and marketing headcount and increases in amounts accrued under the LTRPs as a consequence of
the increase in our common stock price; iv) $27 million increase in sales expenses; and v) $27 million increase in chargebacks.
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Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Provision for doubtful accounts $ 1,050 $ 1,073 $ (23) (2.1)% $ 1,073 $ 435 $ 638 146.7%
As a percentage of net revenues 7.3% 10.2% 10.2% 6.2%
For the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, the provision for doubtful accounts decreased $23 million. Initiatives to
maintain portfolio exposure towards lower risk customers, lower risk products and increase exposure to lower risk geographies, allowed us to continue improving our past due
loans ratio from 39.9% as of December 31, 2022 to 29.5% as of December 31, 2023.
General and administrative expenses
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries for management and administrative staff, compensation of non-employee directors, long term
retention program compensation, expenses for legal, audit and other professional services, insurance expenses, office space rental expenses, changes in the fair value (for
the year ended December 31, 2023) and impairment (for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021) of digital assets, travel and business expenses, as well as
depreciation and amortization expenses. Our general and administrative expenses include the costs of the following areas: general management, finance, treasury, internal
audit, administration, accounting, tax, legal and human resources. The following table presents general and administrative expenses for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
General and administrative $ 766 $ 661 $ 105 15.9% $ 661 $ 465 $ 196 42.2%
As a percentage of net revenues 5.3% 6.3% 6.3% 6.6%
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the increase in general and administrative expenses as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily
attributable to a $111 million increase in salaries and wages, mainly related to the increase in amounts accrued under the LTRPs as a consequence of the increase in our
common stock price, and in the Argentine segment, as a consequence of higher average monthly inflation rate than the average monthly local currency devaluation. This
increase was partially offset by a $14 million gain due to changes in the fair value of digital assets, please see Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies, recently
adopted accounting standards for further detail.
Operating income margins
Our operating income margin is defined as income from operations as a percentage of net revenues.
Our operating income margin is affected by our operating expenses structure, which mainly consists of our employees’ salaries, our sales and marketing expenses
related to those activities we incurred to promote our services, provision for doubtful accounts mainly related to our loans receivable portfolio and product and technology
development expenses, among other operating expenses. As we continue to grow and focus on expanding our leadership in the region, we will continue to invest in product
and technology development, sales and marketing and human resources in order to promote our services and capture long-term business opportunities. As a result, we may
experience decreases in our operating income margins.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, our operating margin increased from a margin of 9.8% to a margin of 12.6%.
This increase was mainly explained by a decrease in provision for doubtful accounts, as a percentage of net revenues and our improvement in cost of net revenues margins.
This increase was partially offset by one-off expenses of $351 million related to disputed amounts regarding certain tax contingencies in Brazil. The year ended December 31,
2023’s financial results reflect our ongoing commitment to deliver sustainable and profitable growth.
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Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Other income (expenses), net $ (270) $ (254) $ (16) 6.3% $ (254) $ (200) $ (54) 27.0%
As a percentage of net revenues -1.9 % -2.4% -2.4% -2.8%
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the increase in other income (expenses), net as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to a: i)
$417 million increase in our foreign currency loss, mainly due to the acquisition of our own common stock in the Argentine market at a price that reflects the additional cost of
accessing U.S. dollars through an indirect mechanism due to restrictions imposed by the Argentine government for buying U.S. dollars at the official exchange rate (refer to
Note 25 – Share repurchase program of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail), and higher foreign exchange losses from our Argentinian subsidiaries
($183 million) due to the Argentine peso devaluation during December 2023 and the acquisition of U.S. dollars in the Argentine market at a price that reflects the additional cost
of accessing U.S. dollars through an indirect mechanism due to restrictions imposed by the Argentine government for buying U.S. dollars at the official exchange rate; and ii)
$57 million increase in interest expense and other financial losses mainly attributable to higher rates (mainly in Brazil) and higher levels of indebtedness in 2023 (mainly in
Mexico). This increase was partially offset by a $458 million increase in interest income and other financial gains from our financial investments, primarily as a result of higher
interest income due to higher float and rates in Brazil and Argentina.
Income tax
We are subject to federal and state income tax in the United States, as well as foreign taxes in the multiple jurisdictions where we operate. Our tax obligations consist of
current and deferred income taxes incurred in these jurisdictions. We account for income taxes following the liability method of accounting. A valuation allowance is recorded
when, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. Therefore, our income tax expense consists
of taxes currently payable, if any (given that in certain jurisdictions we still have net operating loss carry-forwards), plus the change in our deferred tax assets and liabilities
during each period.
The following table summarizes the composition of our income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
(In millions)
Current:
U.S. $ 41 $ 12 $ —
Non-U.S. 812 383 178
853 395 178
Deferred:
U.S. 36 55 (3)
Non-U.S. (320) (152) (26)
(284) (97) (29)
Income tax expense $ 569 $ 298 $ 149
The following table presents income tax expense for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31, Change from 2022 to 2023 Year Ended December 31, Change from 2021 to 2022
2023 2022 in Dollars in % 2022 2021 in Dollars in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Income tax expense $ 569 $ 298 $ 271 90.9 % $ 298 $ 149 $ 149 100.0 %
As a percentage of net revenues 3.9 % 2.8% 2.8% 2.1%
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During the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022, income tax expense increased mainly as a result of higher income tax
expense in Argentina and Brazil as a consequence of higher pre-tax gains in those segments in 2023. This increase was partially offset by income tax gains in Mexico as a
result of the reversal of the valuation allowance in one of our Mexican subsidiaries during the third quarter of 2023 (please see Note 14 – Income taxes of our audited
consolidated financial statements for further information regarding this valuation allowance reversal) and income tax gains in Brazil related to deferred tax assets due to
deductible disputed amounts from withholding income tax contingency (please see Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies of our audited consolidated financial
statements for further information regarding this tax contingency).
Our effective tax rate is defined as income tax expense as a percentage of net income before income tax expense.
The following table summarizes the changes in our effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
Effective tax rate 36.6 % 38.2 % 61.8 %
Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, decreased largely as a result of the reversal of the valuation allowance in one of our
Mexican subsidiaries during the third quarter of 2023 (please see Note 14 – Income taxes of our audited consolidated financial statements for further information regarding this
valuation allowances reversal). This decrease was partially offset by taxable foreign exchange gains accounted for local tax purposes in Argentina, which are not recorded for
accounting purposes given that under U.S. GAAP and due to Argentina’s highly inflationary status, its functional currency is the U.S. dollar, and higher non-deductible foreign
exchange losses related to the acquisition of our own common stock in the Argentine market (please see Note 25 – Share repurchase program for further information).
The following table sets forth our effective income tax rate related to our main locations for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
The increase in the effective income tax rate in our Argentine segment during the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022 was mainly related to higher
taxable foreign exchange gains accounted for local tax purposes which are not recorded for accounting purposes since, under U.S. GAAP, Argentine operations’ functional
currency is the U.S. dollar due to the highly inflationary status of the country.
The increase in our Brazilian effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, was mainly related to a higher pre-tax gains and a
higher proportion of pre-tax results arising from entities under the general income tax treatment regime over the Brazilian segment, as compared to the same period in 2022,
the combined effect of which resulted in accounting for an income tax expense unlike the same period in 2022 where we recognized an income tax gain. As a consequence,
the effective tax rate of the Brazilian segment resulted in positive 3.9% for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to negative 11.6% for 2022.
The decrease in our Mexican negative effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, was mainly driven by the income tax gains
recognized in Mexico during the third quarter of 2023 as a result of the reversal of the valuation allowance in one of our Mexican subsidiaries due to the change in judgment
regarding the realizability of the deferred tax assets of the Mexican subsidiary, as positive trends observed in recent periods became enough evidence to support the
conclusion along with higher pre-tax gains in 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. Please see Note 14 – Income taxes of our audited consolidated financial
statements for further information regarding this valuation allowance reversal.
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As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 our deferred tax assets, were comprised mainly of i) allowance for doubtful accounts representing 21.0% and 14.5% of our total
deferred tax assets, respectively; (ii) provisions representing 24.7% and 17.3% of our total deferred tax assets, respectively; (iii) U.S. foreign tax credits representing 27.3% and
20.6% of our total deferred tax assets, respectively and (iv) loss carryforwards representing 15.9% and 33.6% of our total deferred tax assets, respectively.
The following table summarizes the composition of our deferred tax assets from loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
December 31, December 31,
Loss carryforwards 2023 in % 2022 in %
(In millions, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages)
Mexican operations $ 123 69.5 % $ 161 63.1 %
Brazilian operations 31 17.5 67 26.3
Argentine operations 10 5.6 15 5.9
Operations in other countries 13 7.4 12 4.7
Total $ 177 100.0 % $ 255 100.0 %
We also assess the likelihood that our net deferred tax assets will be realized from future taxable income. To the extent we believe that it is more likely than not that some
portion or the total deferred tax assets will not be realized, we establish a valuation allowance.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, our valuation allowance amounted to $374 million and $360 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes the composition of our valuation allowance as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Our valuation allowance is based on our assessment that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The fluctuations in the valuation
allowance will depend on the capacity of each country’s operations to generate taxable income or our execution of future tax planning strategies that allow us to use the
aforementioned deferred tax assets. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance or change the allowance in a period, we reflect the change with a corresponding increase
or decrease in our tax provision in our consolidated statements of income.
Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by earnings being lower than anticipated in countries where we have lower statutory rates and higher than
anticipated in countries where we have higher statutory rates, by changes in the valuations of our deferred tax assets or liabilities, or by changes or interpretations in tax laws,
regulations or accounting principles.
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Pillar Two
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting published the Pillar Two model rules
designed to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the global economy. The Global Anti-Base Erosion Model Rules (GLoBE Rules or Pillar Two model
rules) apply to multinational enterprises with revenue in excess of EUR 750 million per their consolidated financial statements.
While the framework for the GLoBE Rules is global, the rules would be implemented through legislation enacted in jurisdictions that adopt the rules. The GloBE Rules
have not been enacted or substantively enacted in jurisdictions in which we operate. We continue to monitor the legislation, including the effective date of the legislation by
country, transitional safe harbors relief, if any, and other significant requirements.
Segment information
See Note 9 – Segments of our audited consolidated financial statements for detailed description about our reporting segments.
Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023
Brazil Argentina Mexico Other Countries Total
(In millions, except for percentages)
Net revenues
in Dollars $ 1,929 $ 740 $ 1,121 $ 146 $ 3,936
in % 34.0% 29.6% 60.1% 28.8% 37.4%
Direct costs
in Dollars $ (1,046) $ (349) $ (792) $ (114) $ (2,301)
in % 22.2% 23.5% 50.2% 23.7% 27.8%
Direct contribution
in Dollars $ 883 $ 391 $ 329 $ 32 $ 1,635
in % 93.0% 38.6% 115.4% 123.1 % 72.0%
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Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022
Brazil Argentina Mexico Other Countries Total
(In millions, except for percentages)
Net revenues
in Dollars $ 1,756 $ 969 $ 692 $ 51 $ 3,468
in % 44.9% 63.3% 59.0% 11.2% 49.1%
Direct costs
in Dollars $ (1,484) $ (490) $ (440) $ (101) $ (2,515)
in % 45.9% 49.1% 38.6% 26.6% 43.7%
Direct contribution
in Dollars $ 272 $ 479 $ 252 $ (50) $ 953
in % 40.2% 89.9% 763.6% (65.8 %) 72.3%
Net revenues
Net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are described above in "Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations – Net revenues”.
Direct costs
Brazil
For the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, the increase in direct costs was mainly driven by a: i) $989 million increase in cost of net revenues, mainly
attributable to an increase in shipping operating and carrier costs, sales taxes, cost of goods sold and collection fees as a consequence of the higher transactions volume of
our Mercado Pago business; and ii) $183 million increase in sales and marketing expenses, mainly due to an increase in online and offline marketing expenses, buyer
protection program expenses and salaries and wages (related to headcount increase and increases in amounts accrued under the LTRPs as a consequence of the increase
in our common stock price). This was partially offset by a decrease of $140 million in provision for doubtful accounts mainly related to our initiatives to maintain portfolio
exposure towards lower risk customers, lower risk products and increase exposure to lower risk, allowing us to continue improving our past due loans ratio.
Argentina
For the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, the increase in direct costs was mainly driven by a: i) $287 million increase in cost of net revenues, mainly
attributable to an increase in other payments costs in connection with higher funding cost related to our credits business, collection fees as a consequence of the higher
transactions volume of our Mercado Pago business, sales taxes and shipping operating and carrier costs; and ii) $48 million increase in sales and marketing expenses,
mainly due to buyer protection program expenses, chargebacks, salaries and wages (related to headcount increase and increases in amounts accrued under the LTRPs as a
consequence of the increase in our common stock price) and online and offline marketing expenses.
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Mexico
For the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, the increase in direct costs was mainly driven by a: i) $522 million increase in cost of net revenues, mainly
attributable to increases in shipping operating and carrier costs, collection fees due to higher Mercado Pago penetration, cost of goods sold as a consequence of an increase
in first-party sales, other payments costs mainly related to higher funding cost related to our credits business and hosting expenses; ii) $126 million increase in sales and
marketing expenses, mainly due to online and offline marketing expenses, buyer protection program expenses, sales expenses, chargebacks and salaries and wages
(related to headcount increase and increases in amounts accrued under the LTRPs as a consequence of the increase in our common stock price); and iii) $124 million
increase in provision for doubtful accounts mainly related to our consumer credits business growth.
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Finally, on March 31, 2022, we entered into a $400 million revolving credit arrangement ("the Credit Arrangement”). The interest rates under the Credit Arrangement are
based on Adjusted Term SOFR plus an interest margin of 1.25% per annum. Any loans drawn under the Credit Arrangement must be repaid on or prior to March 31, 2025. We
are also obligated to pay a commitment fee on the unused amounts of the facility at an annual rate of 0.3125%. As of December 31, 2023, no amounts had been borrowed
under the facility. See Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.
As of December 31, 2023, our main source of liquidity was $3,747 million of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, which excludes $2,289 million
investment mainly related to the Central Bank of Brazil Mandatory Guarantee, and consists of cash generated from operations and proceeds from loans.
As of December 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments of our non-U.S. subsidiaries amounted to $6,459 million, or
86.2% of our consolidated cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments, and our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash
equivalents and investments held outside U.S. amounted to 78.3% of our consolidated cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments. Our
non-U.S. dollar-denominated cash and investments are located primarily in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.
The following table presents our cash flows from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2023, resulted primarily from our net income of $987 million, adjustments to net income
related to non-cash items of $2,103 million, a $1,502 million increase in funds payable to customers, an increase of $1,225 million in payables and accrued expenses and an
increase of $693 million in amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions, which were partially offset by a $1,321 million increase in credit card receivables and
other means of payments. The $2,200 million increase in the net cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 2022, is mainly
explained by the $505 million increase in net income together with a $776 million increase in payables and accrued expenses, an increase of $565 million in amounts payable
due to credit and debit card transactions and $458 million in funds payable to customers.
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2023 resulted mainly from the use of $2,047 million related to changes on loans receivable due to
loans granted to merchants and consumers and Mercado Pago credit card utilization under our Mercado Credito solution net of collections and $509 million in the investment
of property and equipment (mainly related to our shipping network and information technology assets in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico).
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For the year ended December 31, 2023, our net cash used in financing activities was primarily derived from the $356 million related to repurchases of our common stock
and $33 million for the payments of finance lease liabilities.
In the event that we decide to pursue strategic acquisitions in the future, we may fund them with available cash, third-party debt financing, or by raising equity capital, as
market conditions allow.
Debt
2028 Notes
On August 24, 2018, we issued $800 million of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 and on August 31, 2018 we issued an additional $80 million of notes pursuant
to the partial exercise of the initial purchasers’ option to purchase such additional notes, resulting in an aggregate principal amount of $880 million of 2.00% Convertible Senior
Notes due 2028 (collectively the "2028 Notes”). The 2028 Notes were unsecured, unsubordinated obligations, which paid interest in cash semi-annually, on February 15 and
August 15, at a rate of 2.00% per annum.
In January 2021, we signed agreements with 2028 Notes holders to repurchase $440 million principal amount of our outstanding 2028 Notes. The total amount paid
amounted to $1,865 million, which includes principal, interest accrued and premium.
On September 19, 2023, we announced our intention to redeem all our 2028 Notes on November 14, 2023. Holders of the 2028 Notes could elect to convert their notes at
any time before November 13, 2023. Each $1,000 principal amount of 2028 Notes was convertible into 2.2952 shares of MercadoLibre common stock. As of November 13,
2023, holders of the 2028 Notes converted $439 million principal amount of 2028 Notes into 1,007,597 shares of our common stock, which we held as treasury stock. As of
December 31, 2023, no principal amount of 2028 Notes remained outstanding.
Please refer to Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities to our audited consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the 2028 Notes
and the related capped call transactions.
Debt Securities Guaranteed by Subsidiaries
On January 14, 2021, we issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Sustainability Notes”) and $700 million
aggregate principal amount of 3.125% Notes due 2031 (the "2031 Notes” and collectively, the "Notes”). The payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, and all other
amounts in respect of each of the Notes, is fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the "Subsidiary Guarantees”), jointly and severally, on an unsecured basis, by certain of our
subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors”). The initial Subsidiary Guarantors were MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado
Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda., Mercado Pago Instituição de Pagamento Ltda. (formerly known as "MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda.”), MercadoLibre Chile Ltda.,
MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico (formerly known as "MercadoLibre, S. de R.L. de C.V.”), DeRemate.com de México, S. de R.L. de C.V.
and MercadoLibre Colombia Ltda. On October 27, 2021, MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico became an excluded subsidiary pursuant to the
terms of the Notes and it was released from its Subsidiary Guaranty. On October 27, 2021, MP Agregador, S. de R.L. de C.V. became a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes.
On July 1 and October 1, 2022, Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda. and Mercado Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda. were merged into eBazar.com.br Ltda, respectively.
We pay interest on the Notes on January 14 and July 14 of each year, beginning on July 14, 2021. The 2026 Sustainability Notes will mature on January 14, 2026, and the
2031 Notes will mature on January 14, 2031.
The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations. Each Subsidiary Guarantee will rank
equally in right of payment with all of the Subsidiary Guarantor’s other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations, except for statutory priorities under applicable local
law.
Each Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount that would not render the Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations subject to avoidance under applicable
fraudulent conveyance provisions of applicable law. By virtue of this limitation, a Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligation under its Subsidiary Guarantee could be significantly less
than amounts payable with respect to the Notes, or a Subsidiary Guarantor may have effectively no obligation under its Subsidiary Guarantee.
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Under the indenture governing the Notes, the Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will terminate upon: (i) the sale, exchange, disposition or other transfer
(including by way of consolidation or merger) of the Subsidiary Guarantor or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Subsidiary Guarantor (other than
to the Company or a Subsidiary) otherwise permitted by the indenture, (ii) satisfaction of the requirements for legal or covenant defeasance or discharge of the Notes, (iii) the
release or discharge of the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor of the Triggering Indebtedness (as defined in the applicable indenture) or the repayment of the Triggering
Indebtedness, in each case, that resulted in the obligation of such Subsidiary to become a Subsidiary Guarantor, provided that in no event shall the Subsidiary Guarantee of an
Initial Subsidiary Guarantor terminate pursuant to this provision, or (iv) such Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an Excluded Subsidiary (as defined in the applicable indenture) or
ceasing to be a Subsidiary.
We may, at our option, redeem the 2026 Sustainability Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 14, 2025 (the date that is one month prior to the maturity of
the 2026 Sustainability Notes) and the 2031 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to October 14, 2030 (the date that is three months prior to the maturity of the 2031
Notes), in each case by paying 100% of the principal amount of such Notes so redeemed plus the applicable "make-whole” amount and accrued and unpaid interest and
additional amounts, if any. We may, at our option, redeem the 2026 Sustainability Notes, in whole or in part, on December 14, 2025 or at any time thereafter and the 2031 Notes
on October 14, 2030 or at any time thereafter, in each case at the redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of such Notes so redeemed plus accrued and unpaid
interest and additional amounts, if any. If we experience certain change of control triggering events, we may be required to offer to purchase the notes at 101% of their principal
amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the purchase date.
During 2023, we repurchased $9 million and $70 million principal amount of the outstanding 2026 Sustainability Notes and 2031 Notes, respectively. The total amount
paid amounted to $66 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023, we recognized $14 million as a gain in Interest income and other financial gains in our consolidated
statement of income.
See Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities of our audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail.
We are presenting the following summarized financial information for the issuer and the Subsidiary Guarantors (together, the "Obligor Group”) pursuant to Rule 13-01 of
Regulation S-X, Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered. For purposes of the following summarized financial information,
transactions between the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, presented on a combined basis, have been eliminated. Financial information for the non-guarantor
subsidiaries, and any investment in a non-guarantor subsidiary by the Company or by any Subsidiary Guarantor, have been excluded. Amounts due from, due to and
transactions with the non-guarantor subsidiaries and other related parties, as applicable, have been separately presented in footnotes.
Summarized balance sheet information for the Obligor Group as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 is provided in the table below:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Current assets (1) (2) $ 11,343 $ 7,966
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Summarized statement of income information for the Obligor Group for the year ended December 31, 2023 is provided in the table below:
Year Ended
December 31,
2023
(In millions)
Net Revenues (1) $ 11,978
(1) Includes Net revenues from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $64 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
(2) Includes charges from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $698 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
(3) In addition to the charges included in Gross profit, Income from operations includes charges from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $828 million for the year ended December 31,
2023.
(4) Includes other income/(expense) from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $(52) million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cash Dividends
Our board of directors suspended the payment of dividends on our common stock as of the first quarter of 2018 after reviewing our capital allocation process and
concluding that we have multiple investment opportunities that should generate greater returns to shareholders through investing capital into the business as compared to
paying dividends. Any future determination as to the declaration of dividends on our common stock will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on
our earnings, operating and financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors, including the applicable requirements of the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
Capital expenditures
Our capital expenditures (comprised of our investments in property and equipment (such as certain assets used in our fulfillment centers) and intangible assets
(excluding digital assets) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 amounted to $509 million and $455 million, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, we invested $225 million in information and technology assets in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, and $233 million in our
Argentine, Brazilian and Mexican shipping premises and offices.
We are continually increasing our level of investment in hardware and software licenses necessary to improve and update our platform’s technology and computer
software developed internally. We anticipate continued investments in capital expenditures related to information technology and logistics network capacity in the future as we
strive to maintain our position in the Latin American e-commerce and fintech market.
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, including the sale of credit card receivables, short-term investments and cash generated from operations, will be
sufficient to fund our operating activities, property and equipment expenditures and to pay or repay obligations in the foreseeable future.
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Other Data
The following table includes eight key performance indicators, which are calculated as defined in the footnotes to the table. Each of these indicators provide a different
measure of the level of activity on our ecosystem, and we use them to monitor the performance of the business.
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Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents our net income, adjusted to eliminate the effect of depreciation and amortization charges, interest
income and other financial gains, interest expense and other financial losses, foreign currency losses, net, income tax expense and equity in earnings of an unconsolidated
entity. We have included this non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by our Management to evaluate our operating performance and trends, make strategic decisions
and the calculation of leverage ratios. Accordingly, we believe this measure provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating
results in the same manner as our Management. In addition, it provides a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business, as it removes the effect of certain
items.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the period indicated:
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Net debt
We define net debt as total debt which includes current and non-current loans payable and other financial liabilities and current and non-current operating lease liabilities,
less cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term investments, excluding foreign government debt securities restricted and held in guarantee,
securitization transactions and equity securities held at cost. We have included this non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by our Management to analyze our current
leverage ratios and set targets to be met, which will also impact other components of the Company’s balance sheet, cash flows and income statement. Accordingly, we believe
this measure provides useful information to investors and other market participants in showing the evolution of the Company’s indebtedness and its capability of repayment as
a means to, alongside other measures, monitor our leverage based on widely-used measures.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net debt for each of the periods indicated:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Current Loans payable and other financial liabilities $ 2,292 $ 2,131
Non-current Loans payable and other financial liabilities 2,203 2,627
Current Operating lease liabilities 166 142
Non-current Operating lease liabilities 672 514
Total debt 5,333 5,414
Less:
Cash and cash equivalents 2,556 1,910
Short-term investments (1) 1,191 1,120
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FX neutral
We believe that FX neutral measures provide useful information to both Management and investors by excluding the foreign currency exchange rate impact that may not be
indicative of our core operating results and business outlook.
The FX neutral measures were calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2022 and applying them to the corresponding months in
2023, so as to calculate what our results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the next. The comparative FX neutral measures were
calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2021 and applying them to the corresponding months in 2022.The table below excludes
intercompany allocation FX effects. Finally, these measures do not include any other macroeconomic effect such as local currency inflation effects, the impact on impairment
calculations or any price adjustment to compensate local currency inflation or devaluations.
The following table sets forth the FX neutral measures related to our reported results of the operations for years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Foreign currency translation – Argentine currency status and macroeconomic outlook and Argentine exchange
regulations of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on the currency status and the exchange regulations of our Argentine segment.
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Interest
Our earnings and cash flows are also affected by changes in interest rates. These changes could have an impact on the interest rates that financial institutions charge us
prior to the time we sell our Mercado Pago receivables and on the financial debt that we use to fund Mercado Pago and Mercado Credito’s operations. As of December 31,
2023, Mercado Pago’s receivables totaled $3,632 million. Interest rate fluctuations could also impact interest earned through our Mercado Credito solution. As of December 31,
2023, loans receivable net of the allowance for doubtful accounts from our Mercado Credito solution totaled $2,694 million. Interest rate fluctuations could also negatively affect
certain of our fixed rate and floating rate investments comprised primarily of time deposits, money market funds and sovereign debt securities. Investments in both fixed rate
and floating rate interest earning products carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates,
while floating rate securities may produce less income than predicted if interest rates fall.
As of December 31, 2023, our short-term investments amounted to $3,480 million and our long-term investments amounted to $162 million. Our short-term investments
can be readily converted at any time into cash or into securities with a shorter remaining time to maturity. We determine the appropriate classification of our investments at the
time of purchase and re-evaluate such designations as of each balance sheet date. See Note 3 – Fintech Regulations and Note 5 – Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash
and cash equivalents and investments of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on our restricted investments.
Fluctuations of the interest rate could also have a negative impact on interest expense related to our Loans payable and other financial liabilities, as a portion of these
instruments is subject to variable interest rates. As of December 31, 2023, our loans payable and other financial liabilities which accrue interest based on variable rates
amounted to $2,810 million, while our loans payable and other financial liabilities, which accrue interest based on fixed rates, amounted to $1,685 million. See Note 17 –
Loans payable and other financial liabilities and Note 21 – Securitization transactions of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail. Considering a
hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in the interest rates, the reported Loans payable and other financial liabilities as of December 31, 2023 would have increased by
approximately $16 million with the related impact in Interest expense and other financial losses. We have entered into swap contracts to hedge the interest rate fluctuation of
$489 million notional amount, $244 million of which have been designated as hedging instruments. See Note 24 – Derivative instruments of our audited consolidated financial
statements for further detail on derivatives instruments.
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The following table presents information as of December 31, 2023 with respect to equity compensation plans under which shares of the Company’s common stock are
authorized for issuance:
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If a stock option expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised, it shall become null and void and of no further force and effect. The term of a stock
option may not exceed beyond the tenth anniversary on which the stock option is granted (or the fifth anniversary in the case of incentive stock options granted to employees
who directly or indirectly own 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock.) A stock option terminates 30 days after a participant ceases to be an officer,
manager, employee or director as a result of a termination without cause, and after 10 days of termination in the case of a termination for cause. Cause includes the conviction
of a crime involving fraud, theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude, the participant’s continuous disregard of or willful misconduct in carrying lawful instructions of superiors,
continued use of alcohol or drugs that interfered with the performance of the participant’s duties, the conviction of participant for committing a felony or similar foreign crime,
and any other cause for termination set forth in a participant’s employment agreement. A stock option terminates three months after the death or permanent disability of a
participant, or, if the participant is a party to an employment agreement, the disability of such participant as defined in the employment agreement. Other reasons for
termination may be set out in the award agreement.
A stock option will not be considered an incentive stock option to the extent that the aggregate fair market value (on the date of the grant of the incentive stock option) of all
stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year is greater than $100,000. No stock option shall be
affected by a change of duties or position of a participant (including a transfer to our subsidiaries) as long as the participant continues to be our employee or an employee of
our subsidiaries.
Adjustments upon the occurrence of material transactions. In the event we undergo dissolution or liquidation, a reorganization, merger or consolidation in which we are not
the surviving entity, or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets (each, a "Material Transaction”), holders of stock options will be given 10-day prior written notice and will
decide within those 10 days whether to exercise their respective stock options. Any stock option that is not so exercised will terminate. However, such notice and exercise
mechanism would not apply if provision is made in connection with a Material Transaction for assumption of outstanding stock options, or substitution of stock options for new
stock options or equity securities, with any appropriate adjustments as to the number, kind and prices of shares subject to stock options.
Transferability. Unless the prior written consent of the administrator is obtained, no stock option can be assigned or otherwise transferred by any participant except by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution. Except in the case of an approved transfer, a stock option may be exercised during the lifetime of a participant only by the participant
or his/her legal representative if the participant is legally disabled.
Restricted stock. Restricted stock awards are awards of shares of common stock that vest according to the terms and conditions established by the administrator. The
administrator may impose whatever restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions as it determines. A holder of restricted stock has the rights of a
stockholder, including the right to vote the restricted stock. During the restricted period applicable to the restricted stock, it may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated,
margined or otherwise encumbered. Except as otherwise determined by the administrator, restricted stock that is subject to restrictions is subject to forfeiture upon termination
of a participant’s employment.
Other awards. The administrator of the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan may grant additional equity-based or equity-related awards in such amounts and on such terms
as it shall determine, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan. Each such award shall be denominated in, or shall have a value
determined by reference to, a number of shares that is specified at the time of the grant of the award.
Amendment. Our board of directors may modify the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan at any time. The approval by a majority of our stockholders is necessary if required
by law or necessary to comply with any applicable laws and regulations. No amendment will affect the terms of any award granted prior to the effectiveness of such
amendment, except with the consent of the holder of the award.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
The information presented under the heading "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and "Information on Our board of directors and Corporate Governance” in
our 2024 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this item will be included in our 2024 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.
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PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Financial Statements. The following financial statements are included in this report:
Page
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 76
Consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 77
Consolidated statements of equity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 78
Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 79
(b) Exhibits. The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are set forth under "Exhibit index” and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Filed (*) or Incorporated by Reference
Number Exhibit Description Furnished (**)
Herewith Form Filing Date
3.01 Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. S-1 May 11, 2007
3.02 Registrant’s Amended and Restated Bylaws. S-1 May 11, 2007
4.01 Form of Specimen Certificate for the Registrant’s Common Stock. 10-K February 27, 2009
Indenture, dated January 14, 2021, between MercadoLibre, Inc., MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com
4.02 Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda., 8-K January 14, 2021
MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda., MercadoLibre Chile Ltda., MercadoLibre, S. de R.L. de
C.V., DeRemate.com de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. and MercadoLibre Colombia Ltda. and The
Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.
First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 14, 2021, between MercadoLibre, Inc.,
4.03 MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado 8-K January 14, 2021
Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda., MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda., MercadoLibre
Chile Ltda., MercadoLibre, S. de R.L. de C.V., DeRemate.com de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. and
MercadoLibre Colombia Ltda. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.
4.04 Form of Global Note representing the Registrant’s 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026. 8-K January 14, 2021
4.05 Form of Global Note representing the Registrant’s 3.125% Notes due 2031. 8-K January 14, 2021
4.06 Description of Securities. 10-K February 23, 2022
4.07 Second Supplemental Indenture, dated October 27, 2021 among MP Agregador, S. de R.L. de 10-K February 23, 2022
C.V., MercadoLibre, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.
10.01 Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into by the Registrant with each of its directors and 10-K February 14, 2020
executive officers.
10.02 Management Incentive Bonus Plan of the Registrant. S-1/A July 13, 2007
10.03 Amended and Restated 2019 Long-Term Retention Program. 10-Q May 6, 2021
10.04 Amended and Restated 2020 Long-Term Retention Program. 10-Q May 6, 2021
10.05 2021 Long-Term Retention Program. 8-K May 5, 2021
10.06 MercadoLibre, Inc. 2022 Long Term Retention Program. 8-K May 9, 2022
10.07 MercadoLibre, Inc. 2023 Long Term Retention Program. 8-K May 8, 2023
10.08 Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation Plan. DEF 14A April 26, 2019
10.09 Form of Independent Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement. 10-Q November 4, 2022
10.10 Revolving Credit Agreement dated March 31, 2022. 8-K March 31, 2022
10.11 Advisory Services Agreement, dated April 8, 2022, between MercadoLibre, Inc and Stelleo Pasos 10-Q May 6, 2022
Tolda, the advisor.
10.12 Restricted Stock Agreement, dated April 8, 2022, between MercadoLibre, Inc and Stelleo Pasos 10-Q May 6, 2022
Tolda.
21.01 List of Subsidiaries. *
22.01 List of Subsidiary Guarantors for the Registrant’s 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026 and 10-K February 24, 2023
3.125% Notes due 2031.
23.01 Consent of Pistrelli, Henry Martin y Asociados S.R.L., Independent Registered Public Accounting *
Firm on Form S-8.
23.02 Consent of Deloitte & Co. S.A., Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Form S-8. *
31.01 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14, as *
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.02 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14, as *
adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.01 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant **
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.02 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to **
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
97 Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation. *
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The following financial statements from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
101 ended December 31, 2023, formatted in Inline XBRL: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) *
Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv)
Consolidated Statements of Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
104 The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, *
2023, formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
MERCADOLIBRE, INC.
By: /s/ Marcos Galperin
Marcos Galperin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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We began serving as the Company's auditor in 2010. In 2022 we became the predecessor auditor.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 (In millions of U.S. dollars, except par value)
December 31,
2023 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,556 $ 1,910
Restricted cash and cash equivalents 1,292 1,453
Short-term investments 3,480 2,339
Accounts receivable, net 156 130
Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net 3,632 2,946
Loans receivable, net of allowances of $1,042 and $1,074 (Note 7) 2,629 1,704
Inventories 238 152
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding assets 34 15
Other assets 277 304
Total current assets 14,294 10,953
Non-current assets:
Long-term investments 162 322
Loans receivable, net of allowances of $42 and $30 (Note 7) 65 32
Property and equipment, net 1,250 993
Operating lease right-of-use assets 899 656
Goodwill 163 153
Intangible assets, net 11 25
Intangible assets at fair value (Note 2) 24 —
Deferred tax assets 710 346
Other assets 68 256
Total non-current assets 3,352 2,783
Total assets $ 17,646 $ 13,736
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 2,117 $ 1,393
Funds payable to customers 4,475 3,454
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions 1,072 483
Salaries and social security payable 545 401
Taxes payable 477 414
Loans payable and other financial liabilities 2,292 2,131
Operating lease liabilities 166 142
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding liabilities 34 15
Other liabilities 119 129
Total current liabilities 11,297 8,562
Non-current liabilities:
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions 20 5
Loans payable and other financial liabilities 2,203 2,627
Operating lease liabilities 672 514
Deferred tax liabilities 183 106
Other liabilities 200 95
Total non-current liabilities 3,278 3,347
Total liabilities $ 14,575 $ 11,909
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Equity
Common stock, 0.001 par value, 110,000,000 shares authorized, 50,697,442 and 50,257,751 shares issued and outstanding $ — $ —
Additional paid-in capital 1,770 2,309
Treasury stock (310) (931)
Retained earnings 1,901 913
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (290) (464)
Total equity 3,071 1,827
Total liabilities and equity $ 17,646 $ 13,736
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.
MercadoLibre, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except for share data)
Operating expenses:
Product and technology development (1,831) (1,099) (590)
Sales and marketing (1,736) (1,296) (1,074)
Provision for doubtful accounts (1,050) (1,073) (435)
General and administrative (766) (661) (465)
Total operating expenses (5,383) (4,129) (2,564)
Income from operations 1,823 1,034 441
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Equity
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
Additional Accumulated
Common stock Treasury Retained other Total
paid-in Earnings comprehensive Equity
Shares Amount capital Stock (1) loss
Balance as of December 31, 2020 50 $ — $ 1,860 $ (55) $ 314 $ (468) $ 1,651
Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued — — 1 — — — 1
Common Stock issued 1 — 1,520 — — — 1,520
Common Stock repurchased (1) — — (486) — — (486)
Unwind Capped Call — — 646 (249) — — 397
Capped Call — — (101) — — — (101)
Repurchase of 2028 Notes Conversion Option — — (1,484) — — — (1,484)
Exercise of Convertible Notes — — (3) — — — (3)
Net income — — — — 83 — 83
Other comprehensive loss — — — — — (47) (47)
Balance as of December 31, 2021 50 $ — $ 2,439 $ (790) $ 397 $ (515) $ 1,531
Changes in accounting standards — — (131) — 34 — (97)
Balance as of December 31, 2021 Restated 50 $ — $ 2,308 $ (790) $ 431 $ (515) $ 1,434
Common Stock repurchased — — — (147) — — (147)
Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued — — 1 (1) — — —
Shares granted (Note 18) — — — 7 — — 7
Net income — — — — 482 — 482
Other comprehensive Income — — — — — 51 51
Balance as of December 31, 2022 50 $ — $ 2,309 $ (931) $ 913 $ (464) $ 1,827
Changes in accounting standards (Note 2) — — — — 1 — 1
Balance as of December 31, 2022 Restated 50 $ — $ 2,309 $ (931) $ 914 $ (464) $ 1,828
Capped call settlement — — 412 (412) — — —
Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued — — 1 — — — 1
Conversion of 2028 Convertible Notes — — (952) 1,389 — — 437
Common Stock repurchased — — — (356) — — (356)
Net income — — — — 987 — 987
Other comprehensive Income — — — — — 174 174
Balance as of December 31, 2023 50 $ — $ 1,770 $ (310) $ 1,901 $ (290) $ 3,071
(1) As of December 31, 2023 the Company held 224,945 shares as treasury stock.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.
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MercadoLibre, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these audited consolidated financial statements.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Use of estimates
The preparation of 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, inventories valuation reserves,
recoverability of goodwill, intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and deferred tax assets, impairment of short-term and long-term investments, impairment of long-lived
assets, separation of lease and non lease components for aircraft leases, asset retirement obligation, compensation costs relating to the Company’s long term retention
program, fair value of digital assets, fair value of certain loans payable and other financial liabilities, fair value of investments, fair value of loans receivable, fair value of
derivative instruments, income taxes, contingencies and determination of the incremental borrowing rate at commencement date of lease operating agreements. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less since holding the investment, consisting primarily of money market
funds, time deposits and U.S. and foreign government debt securities, to be cash equivalents.
The Company’s Management assesses balances for credit losses included in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents, except for those
recorded at fair value with impact on the consolidated statements of income, based on a review of the average period for which the financial asset is held, credit ratings of the
financial institutions and probability of default and loss given default models. The Company did not recognize any material credit loss on the cash and cash equivalents and
restricted cash and cash equivalents for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Time deposits are valued at amortized cost plus accrued interest. Money market funds, U.S. and foreign government debt securities (including Central Bank of Brazil and
Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantees) are valued at fair value. See Note 10 – Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities of these audited consolidated
financial statements for further details.
Investments
Time deposits are valued at amortized cost plus accrued interest.
Corporate debt securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are reported as a
component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of the related tax provisions or benefits.
Investments in equity securities without a readily determinable fair value are held at cost less impairment.
U.S. and foreign government debt securities (including Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) are valued at fair value. See Note 10 – Fair value measurement of
assets and liabilities of these audited consolidated financial statements for further details.
Investments are classified as current or non-current depending on their maturity dates or when it is expected to be converted into cash, depending on the investment.
The Company’s Management assesses balances for credit losses included in short and long-term investments, except for those recorded at fair value with impact on the
consolidated statements of income, based on a review of the average period for which the financial asset is held, credit ratings of the financial institutions and probability of
default and loss given default models. The Company did not recognize any material credit loss on the short and long-term investments for the years ended December 31,
2023, 2022 and 2021.
Fair value option applied to certain financial instruments
Under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC”) 825, U.S. GAAP provides an option to elect fair value with impact on the statement of income as an alternative
measurement for certain financial instruments and other items on the balance sheet.
The Company has elected to measure certain financial assets at fair value with impact on the consolidated statements of income for several reasons including to avoid
the mismatch generated by the recognition of certain linked instruments / transactions, separately, in the consolidated statements of income and consolidated statements of
comprehensive income and to better reflect the financial model applied for selected instruments. The Company’s election of the fair value option applies to the: i) Foreign
government debt securities, and ii) U.S. government debt securities.
Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net
Credit card receivables and other means of payments mainly relate to the Company’s payments solution and arise due to the time taken to clear transactions through
external payment networks either during the time required to collect the installments (which may be one or more than one installment) or during the period of time until those
credit card receivables are sold to financial institutions.
Credit card receivables and other means of payments are presented net of the related allowance for chargebacks and doubtful accounts.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company is exposed to losses due to credit card fraud and other payment misuse. Provisions for these items represent the Company’s estimate of actual losses
based on its historical experience, as well as economic conditions.
The Company may sell credit card receivables to financial institutions, included within "Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net”. These transactions are
accounted for as a true sale. Accounting guidance on transfer of financial assets establishes that the transferor has surrendered control over transferred assets if and only if all
of the following conditions are met: (1) the transferred assets have been isolated from the transferor, (2) each transferee has the right to pledge or exchange the assets it
received and (3) the transferor does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets. When all the conditions are met, the Company derecognizes the corresponding
financial asset from its consolidated balance sheets. Based on historical experience to date the Company assessed that it does not hold a significant credit risk exposure in
relation to transfer of financial assets with recourse.
Loans receivable, net
Loans receivable represents loans granted to certain merchants and consumers through the Company’s Mercado Credito solution.
Loans receivable are reported at amortized cost, which includes outstanding principal balances plus estimated collectible interest, net of allowance for doubtful accounts.
Past due are those loans where customers have failed to make payments in accordance with the contractual terms of their loans. The Company places loans on non-accrual
status at 90 days past due. Interests related to loans on non-accrual status are recognized on cash-basis.
Through the Company’s Mercado Credito solution, merchants can borrow a certain percentage of their monthly sales volume and are charged with a fixed interest rate
based on the overall credit assessment of the merchant. Merchant and consumers credits are repaid in a period ranging between 7 days and 48 months.
Allowances for doubtful accounts on loans receivable, accounts receivable and credit card receivables and other means of payments
The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for Management’s estimate of current expected credit losses ("CECL”) that may result if customers do not make
the required payments.
Measurement of current expected credit losses
The Company estimates its allowance for credit losses as the lifetime expected credit losses of the loans receivable, accounts receivable and credit card receivables and
other means of payments. The Company makes use of available information as of each period in which this estimate is developed and uses estimation methods according to
the information available and the level of precision needed as certain balances and transactions become more significant over time following the Company’s strategy in
connection of the launch and maturing of certain services offerings to its customers.
In 2021 and before, for example, the credit business was in a development stage, with limited historical information. The future collection estimates involved the use of
complex algorithms, and a high degree of subjectivity and estimation capability by Management, including assessing whether the economic used model reflected the changing
economic conditions, among others. This estimate required a complex and high degree of Management’s judgment.
Specifically in regards to the CECL estimate, including year 2022 information provided a wider series of historical data and the credit business showed a growth in related
balances and transactions which led Management to continue enhancing the models used to develop this estimate. CECL represents the present value of the uncollectible
portion of the principal, interest, late fees, and other allowable charges. The allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as a charge to provision for doubtful accounts.
Loans receivable
Loans receivable in this portfolio include the products that the Company offers to: 1) on-line merchant, 2) in-store merchant, 3) consumers and 4) credit card users.
For loans receivable that share similar risk characteristics such as product type, country, unpaid installments, days delinquent and other relevant factors, the Company
estimates the lifetime expected credit loss allowance based on a collective assessment. The same methodology is applied for the measurement of CECL for its exposure to
off-balance sheet unused agreed loan commitment on credit cards portfolio.
The lifetime expected credit losses is determined by applying probability of default and loss given default models to monthly projected exposures, then discounting these
cash flows to present value using the portfolio’s loans interest rate, estimated as a weighted average of the original effective interest rate of all the loans that conform the
portfolio segment.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The probability of default is an estimation of the likelihood that a loan receivable will default over a given time horizon. Probability of default models ("PD”) are estimated
using a survival methodology; these PD are constructed using individual default information through time, taking into account the expected future delinquency rate (forward-
looking models) using, since 2022, three probability-weighted macroeconomic scenarios (base, optimistic and pessimistic) following the increased complexity and possible
outcomes of the global, regional and domestic macroeconomic performance, so that the models include macroeconomic outlook or projections and recent performance,
instead of using one scenario as prior years. With this model, the Company estimates marginal monthly default probabilities for each delinquency bucket, type of product and
country. Each marginal monthly probability of default represents a different possible scenario of default.
The exposure at default is equal to the receivables’ expected outstanding principal, interest and other allowable balances. The Company estimates the exposure at default
that the portfolio of loans would have in each possible moment of default, meaning for each possible scenario mentioned above. For credit cards loans the Company
estimates an amortization scheme based on historical information. Also, for credit cards, since 2022, the Company has used, as applicable, credit conversion factor ("CCF”)
estimated according to terms and conditions, considering the increase in the volume of credit cards portfolio.
The loss given default ("LGD”) is the percentage of the exposure at default that is not recoverable. The LGD is estimated using Work-out and Chainladder approaches.
This percentage depends on days past due, type of product and country, and is estimated by measuring an average of historical recovery rates from defaulted credits.
The measurement of CECL is based on probability-weighted scenarios (probability of default for each month), in view of past events, current conditions and adjustments
to reflect the reasonable and supportable forecast of future economic conditions.
The Company writes off loans receivable when the customer balance becomes 360 days past due.
Accounts receivable
To measure the CECL, accounts receivable have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the number of days past due. The Company has therefore
concluded historical loss rates are a reasonable approximation of the expected loss rates for those assets. Accounts receivable are recovered over a period of 0-180 days,
therefore, forecasted changes to economic conditions are not expected to have a significant effect on the estimate of the allowance for doubtful accounts.
The Company writes off accounts receivable when the customer balance becomes 180 days past due.
Credit card receivables and other means of payments
Management assesses balances for credit losses included in credit card receivables and other means of payments, based on a review of the average period for which the
financial asset is held, credit ratings of the financial institutions and probability of default and loss given default models.
The Company has arrangements with some unaffiliated entities under which MercadoLibre users are able to fund their Mercado Pago accounts by depositing an
equivalent amount with the unaffiliated entity. In some of these arrangements, MercadoLibre credits the Mercado Pago account before the unaffiliated entity transfers the funds
to MercadoLibre to settle the transaction. The amounts pending settlement are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as credit card receivables and other means of
payments.
Concentration of credit risk
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, credit card receivables and other means of payments, accounts
receivable and loans receivable are potentially subject to credit risk. However, there are not significant concentrations of credit risk arising from these financial instruments.
Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments are placed with several financial institutions and financial instruments from different
countries that are highly liquid and highly rated. Accounts receivable are derived from revenue earned from customers located internationally and are settled through customer
credit cards, debit cards and Mercado Pago accounts, with the majority of accounts receivable collected upon processing of credit card transactions. Due to the relatively small
dollar amount of individual accounts receivable and loans receivable, the Company generally does not require collateral on these balances.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, no single customer accounted for more than 5% of net revenues. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, no single
customer, except for credit card processing companies, accounted for more than 5% of accounts receivable and loans receivable. Credit card receivables and other means of
payments, net line of the consolidated balance sheets shows the Company’s credit exposure to not more than 10 entities in each of the countries where the Company offers its
payments solution.
USD Coin
USD Coin ("USDC”) is accounted for as a financial instrument measured at fair value; one USDC can be redeemed for one U.S. dollar on demand from the issuer. USDC
balance is included in current other assets of the consolidated balance sheets.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Inventories
Inventories, consisting of products and mobile point of sale ("MPOS”) devices available for sale, are accounted for using the weighted average price method, and are
valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
The Company accounts for an allowance for recoverability of inventories based on Management’s analysis of the inventories, aging, consumption patterns, as well as the
lower of cost or net realizable value.
Third-party sellers whose products are stored at the Company’s fulfillment centers, maintain the ownership of their inventories hence these products are not included in
Company’s inventories balances.
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding assets and liabilities
Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB”) No. 121 expresses views of the SEC’s staff regarding the accounting for entities that have obligations to safeguard crypto-assets held for
their platform users as well as any agent acting on its behalf in safeguarding the users’ crypto-assets. As long as an entity is responsible for safeguarding the crypto-assets
held for its platform users, including maintaining the cryptographic key information necessary to access the crypto-assets, the SEC’s staff view is that the entity should present
a liability on its balance sheet to reflect its obligation to safeguard the crypto-assets held for its platform users. The entity’s safeguarding liability is measured at initial
recognition and each reporting date at the fair value of crypto-assets held for its platform users. The staff also believes it would be appropriate for the entity to recognize an
asset at the same time that it recognizes the safeguarding liability, measured at initial recognition and each reporting date at the fair value of the crypto-assets held for its
platform users.
The Company operates a platform that allows its customers to access digital asset exchange and custody services provided by third-party Service Providers ("SPs”) to buy,
sell and hold crypto-assets in an account in the customer’s name at the SPs. The Company does not provide execution, custody or safeguarding services for the customers’
crypto-assets and does not maintain (or ever have access to) the cryptographic key information and wallets necessary to access the crypto-assets, nor does the Company
have any legal title or claim to those crypto-assets. The SPs are responsible for maintaining the internal record-keeping of the customers’ crypto-assets, and for securing and
protecting them from loss or theft.
Even though the Company is not responsible for the custody or safeguarding of crypto-assets, the Company has concluded that it is in scope of SAB 121 as: (i) the
Company designed the manner in which the crypto-assets are custodied and the manner in which Mercado Pago Platform ("MP Platform”) users are able to access their
crypto-assets through the MP Platform, as well as through its agents; (ii) the MP Platform users must use the SPs designated by the Company in order to have the crypto-
assets reflected in their Mercado Pago wallets; (iii) MP Platform users that have crypto-assets reflected in their Mercado Pago wallets must access their crypto-assets through
the MP Platform; (iv) while MP Platform users do have a contractual relationship directly with the SPs, they are not able to provide transaction instructions directly to the SPs
outside the MP Platform; and (v) the Company expects that it will be involved in resolving complaints from customers about their crypto-assets holding.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value of the crypto-assets held in the customers’ names at the SPs that the Company recognized on its consolidated balance
sheets for both the crypto-asset safeguarding liability and the corresponding safeguarding asset, which are included in "Customer crypto-assets safeguarding liabilities” and
"Customer crypto-assets safeguarding assets,” respectively, was $34 million and $15 million, respectively, which consisted of $18 million and $6 million of Bitcoin, $7 million
and $5 million of Ether, and $9 million and $4 million of other crypto-assets, respectively.
Custody services of customers’ crypto-assets is provided by not more than 2 entities in each of the countries where the Company offers its digital assets feature as part of
the Mercado Pago wallet.
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment are recorded at their acquisition cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Repair and maintenance
costs are expensed as incurred.
Costs related to the planning and post implementation phases of website development are recorded as an operating expense. Direct costs incurred in the development
phase of website are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of three years. During 2023 and 2022, the Company capitalized
$240 million and $202 million, respectively.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the fair values of the reporting units were estimated using the income approach. Cash flow projections used were based on
financial budgets approved by the board of directors. The Company uses weighted average cost of capital for each reporting unit in the range of 11.5% to 21.1%. Key drivers in
the analysis include Average Selling Price ("ASP”), Take Rate defined as marketplace revenues as a percentage of Gross Merchandise Volume ("GMV”), Total Payment Volume
Off Platform ("TPV Off”), Off Platform Take Rate defined as off platform revenues as a percentage of TPV Off, Wallet and Point TPV per Payer, Wallet Users over Total Population
and Active Point devices. In addition, the analysis includes a business to e-commerce rate, which represents growth of e-commerce as a percentage of Gross Domestic
Product, Internet penetration rates as well as trends in the Company’s market share.
If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired. No impairment loss has been recognized in the years ended
December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 as Management’s assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying value.
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 strategies that would be employed by the Company to prevent tax loss carryforwards from expiring unutilized.
Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to global
intangible low-taxed income ("GILTI”) as a current period expense when incurred (the "period cost method”) or (2) factoring such amounts into a company’s measurement of its
deferred taxes (the "deferred method”). The Company selected the period cost method. Accordingly, the Company was not required to record any impact in connection with the
potential GILTI tax as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Uncertainty in income taxes
The Company recognizes, if any, uncertainty in income taxes by applying the accounting prescribed by U.S. GAAP, for which a more likely than not recognition threshold and
measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of an income tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return should be considered. It
also provides guidance on derecognition, classification of a liability for unrecognized tax benefits, accounting for interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and
expanded income tax disclosures. The Company classifies interest and penalties, if any, within income tax expense, in the consolidated statements of income.
The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various foreign jurisdictions. The material jurisdictions that are subject to examination by tax authorities primarily
include Argentina (for tax year 2017 onwards), the U.S. (for tax year 2020 onwards), and Brazil and Mexico (for tax year 2018 onwards).
Tax incentives
ICMS tax benefits
eBazar.com.br Ltda., a Brazilian wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has ICMS (Imposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias, Serviços de Transporte Interestadual,
Intermunicipal e Comunicação) tax incentives granted by the State of Minas Gerais in the form of tax credits, through a special regime signed with the State by means of a term
of agreement, which are aimed at implementing and expanding business in that State. The Company accounted for the tax benefit netting against cost of net revenues for $69
million, $36 million and $15 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Social Contribution on Gross Revenues
Meli Developers Brasil Ltda., a Brazilian wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company which provides IT services, has been granted access to the Social Contribution on
Gross Revenues ("CPRB” according to its Portuguese acronym) Regime, in accordance with Sections 7 to 9 of Law 12,546/2011, up to December 31, 2023. The CPRB
Regime comprises the payment of social security contributions at a 4.5% rate over the gross revenues, as opposed to 20% over the compensation paid to employees. The
Company accounted for the tax benefit netting against product and development technology expenses for $24 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023
and 2022, respectively (no benefit accounted for during the year ended December 31, 2021).
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Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income is comprised of two components, net income and other comprehensive income (loss). This last component is defined as all other changes in the
equity of the Company that result from transactions other than with shareholders. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes the cumulative adjustment relating to the
translation of the financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries, unrealized gains and losses on investments classified as available-for-sale, on hedging
activities and the corresponding tax effects. Total comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 amounted to $1,161 million, $533 million
and $36 million, respectively.
Foreign currency translation
All of the Company’s foreign operations have determined the local currency to be 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 year-end exchange rates while income and expense accounts are translated at the average monthly rates in effect during the year, 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 income (loss). Gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in non-functional currencies are recognized in earnings. Net
foreign currency transaction results are included in the consolidated statements of income under the caption "Foreign currency losses, net”.
Argentine currency status and macroeconomic outlook
As of July 1, 2018, the Company transitioned its Argentine 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. Argentina’s annual inflation rate for the years
ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was 211.4%, 94.8% and 50.9%, respectively.
The Company uses Argentina’s official exchange rate to account for transactions in the Argentine segment, which as of December 31, 2023,2022 and 2021 was 808.45,
177.16 and 102.72, respectively, against the U.S. dollar. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, Argentina’s official exchange rate against the U.S. dollar
increased 356.3%, 72.5% and 22.1%, respectively.
On December 10, 2023, a new Government took office with the aim to boost a deregulation of the Argentine economy and a reduction of the fiscal deficit mainly through
cutting spending (including a reduction of different type of subsidies). On December 13, 2023, the Argentine Government devalued the Argentine Peso from 366.45 to 799.95,
which has generated an acceleration of the monthly inflation rate (25.5% in December 2023 and 20.6% in January 2024). The comprehensive program pursued by the new
Government includes reforms in the economy, justice, labor and social security, and tax among other areas which should be passed by the Congress. The Company is
permanently monitoring the evolution of the aforementioned program to determine the possible impacts that these new measures could have on the Company´s business and
financial position.
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 December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Assets $ 3,298 $ 3,238
Liabilities 1,878 2,419
Net assets $ 1,420 $ 819
The following table provides information relating to net revenues and direct contribution (see Note 9 – Segments of these audited consolidated financial statements for
definition of direct contribution) for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 of the Company’s Argentine subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs:
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Fintech transactions
■ Revenues from commissions the Company charges for transactions off-platform derived from the use of the Company’s payments solution or Mercado Pago credit
and debit cards, and revenues derived from insurtech transactions, are recognized once the transaction is considered completed, when the payment is processed by
the Company, net of rebates granted. The Company also earns revenues as a result of offering financing to its Mercado Pago users, either when the Company
finances the transactions directly or when the Company sells the corresponding financial assets to financial institutions. When the Company finances the transactions
directly, the financing component is separated from the revenue amount and is recognized over the financing period using the interest method. When the Company
sells the corresponding financial assets to financial institutions, the result of such sale is accounted for as financing revenues net of financing costs at the time of
transfer of the financial assets. The aggregate gain included in "Fintech services” revenues arising from financing transactions and sales of financial assets, net of the
costs recognized on sale of credit card receivables, is $1,440 million, $1,054 million and $575 million, for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021,
respectively.
■ Revenues from sale of mobile point of sale products are recognized when control of the good is transferred.
■ Revenues from interest earned on loans and advances granted to merchants and consumers, and credit card transactions are recognized over the period of the loan
and are based on effective interest rates. The Company places loans on non-accrual status at 90 days past due.
When more than one service is included in one single arrangement with the same customer, the Company recognizes revenue according to multiple element
arrangements accounting, distinguishing between each of the services provided and allocating revenues based on their respective estimated selling prices.
Benefits granted to customers under the Company’s loyalty program are accounted for as material rights and therefore the allocated amount of revenue is deferred until
the customers exercise their material rights or until expiration, whichever occurs first.
Revenues recognized under ASC 606 "Revenue from contracts with customers” amounted to $10,487 million, $7,450 million and $5,710 million for the years ended
December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Revenues recognized under ASC 860 "Transfers and Servicing” and ASC 310 "Receivables” amounted to $ 3,986 million,
$3,087 million and $1,359 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
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. Accounts receivable and credit card receivables and other means of
payments are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts and chargebacks of $42 million and $25 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 7 –
Loans receivable, net of these audited consolidated financial statements for information related to the allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to the Company’s loans
receivable.
Deferred revenue consists of fees received related to unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of the year 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, 2022 was $44 million, of
which substantially all was recognized as revenue during the year ended December 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2023, total deferred revenue was $29 million, mainly due to fees related to classified advertising services billed and loyalty programs that are expected
to be recognized as revenue in the coming months.
Sales tax
The Company’s subsidiaries in Brazil, Argentina and Colombia are subject to certain sales taxes which are classified as cost of net revenues and totaled $1,119 million,
$790 million and $569 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Brazilian Tax Reform
In December 2023 the Brazilian National Congress approved the Tax Reform that will change the consumption taxation (goods and services), replacing ICMS (State tax)
and ISS (Municipal tax) by IBS (Goods and Services Tax) and PIS/COFINS (Federal taxes) by CBS (Goods and Services Federal Tax). Overall, IBS and CBS will have a single flat
rate, around 27% according to current studies, full non-cumulative system (taxpayer full entitlement to recover taxes paid in the previous transactions), and a 7-year transition,
starting in 2026. Also, this change will simplify the Brazilian Tax Legislation, reducing tax litigation between taxpayers and the Government.
The next step is to start discussions over the supplementary regulation that will detail the new tax system. These discussions should take place in the Brazilian Congress
in 2024 and will enable the taxpayers to better understand the impacts of all changes in their operations.
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Advertising costs
The Company expenses the costs of advertisements in the period during which the advertising space or airtime is used as sales and marketing expense. Internet
advertising expenses are recognized based on the terms of the individual agreements, which is generally over the greater of the ratio of the number of clicks delivered over the
total number of contracted clicks, on a pay-per-click basis, or on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2023,
2022 and 2021 amounted to $787 million, $593 million and $531 million, respectively.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
On October 28, 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB”) issued the ASU 2021-08 "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets
and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers”. The amendments in this update improve comparability for the recognition and measurement of acquired revenue
contracts with customers at the date of and after a business combination by specifying for all acquired revenue contracts regardless of their timing of payment (1) the
circumstances in which the acquirer should recognize contract assets and contract liabilities that are acquired in a business combination and (2) how to measure those
contract assets and contract liabilities. The amendments provide consistent recognition and measurement guidance for revenue contracts with customers acquired in a
business combination and revenue contracts with customers not acquired in a business combination. The Company adopted this standard effective as of January 1, 2023 and
it did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
On March 31, 2022, the FASB issued the ASU 2022-02 "Troubled Debt Restructurings ("TDRs”) and Vintage Disclosures (Topic 326): Financial Instruments – Credit
Losses”, which eliminates the accounting guidance on TDRs, while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a
borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. In addition, the guidance requires disclosure of current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and
net investment in leases. The amendments should be applied prospectively, except for the transition method related to the recognition and measurement of TDRs, where an
entity has the option to apply a modified retrospective transition method, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in the period of adoption. The
Company adopted this standard effective as of January 1, 2023 and it did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
On September 29, 2022, the FASB issued the ASU 2022-04 "Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program
Obligations”. The amendments in this update require entities that use supplier finance programs in connection with the purchase of goods and services to disclose the key
terms of the programs and information about their obligations outstanding at the end of the reporting period, including a rollforward of those obligations. The guidance does
not affect the recognition, measurement or financial statement presentation of supplier finance program obligations. The Company adopted this standard effective as of
January 1, 2023, except for the rollforward requirement, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance should
be applied retrospectively to all periods in which a balance sheet is presented, except for the rollforward requirement, which should be applied prospectively. The Company
and certain financial institutions participate in a supplier finance program ("SFP”) that enables certain of the Company’s suppliers, at their own election, to request the payment
of their invoices to the financial institutions earlier than the terms stated in the Company’s payment policies. Suppliers’ voluntary inclusion of invoices in the SFP does not
change the Company’s payment terms, the amounts paid or liquidity. The supplier invoices that have been confirmed as valid under the program require payment in full
according to the terms established in the Company’s payment policies (a range of 60 and 90 days from the invoicing date). There are no assets pledged as security or other
forms of guarantees provided for the committed payment to the financial institution. The Company has no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to participate in the SFP
and has no financial impact in connection with the SFP. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the obligations outstanding that the Company has confirmed as valid to the
financial institutions amounted to $381 million and $227 million, respectively, and are included in the consolidated balance sheets within accounts payable and accrued
expenses line.
On December 13, 2023, the FASB issued the ASU 2023-08 "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets (Subtopic 350-60): Accounting for and Disclosure of Crypto
Assets”. The amendments in this update improve the accounting for and disclosure of certain crypto assets. It applies to assets that meet all of the following criteria: meet the
definition of intangible assets as defined in the Codification, do not provide the asset holder with enforceable rights to or claims on underlying goods, services, or other assets,
are created or reside on a distributed ledger based on blockchain or similar technology, are secured through cryptography, are fungible and are not created or issued by the
reporting entity or its related parties. An entity is required to subsequently measure assets that meet those criteria at fair value with changes recognized in net income each
reporting period. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early
adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued (or made available for issuance). If the Company adopts the amendments
in an interim period, it must adopt them as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The amendments require a cumulative-effect adjustment to the
opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the annual reporting period in which the Company adopts the amendments. The Company adopted this standard
effective January 1, 2023, resulting in an increase of the carrying value of the digital assets of $15 million, a gain of $14 million recognized within the "General and
administrative” line item and an increase in the beginning balance of retained earnings of $1 million. The digital assets are presented within "Intangible assets at fair value” in
the consolidated balance sheets.
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The following table presents the digital assets name, cost basis, fair value, and number of units for each significant digital asset holding as of December 31, 2023:
Digital asset name Cost basis Fair value Number of units held
(in millions, except for number of units held)
Bitcoin $ 6 $ 17 412.7
Ether 3 7 3,041.6
The following table summarizes the digital assets rollforward activity during the year ended December 31, 2023:
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Argentina
On December 30, 2021, the board of the CBA issued a regulation by which financial institutions must set up a reserve of 100% of the customer funds deposited by
payment service providers that offer payment accounts. According to this new regulation, from January 1, 2022, 100% of the customer funds that have not been invested by
users in Mercado Fondo, have remained deposited at financial institutions, and such financial institutions deposited 100% of those funds at the CBA, and available for users.
On September 22, 2022, the CBA modified the aforementioned resolution and established that financial institutions in which the Company deposits customer funds may invest
up to 45% of funds that have not already been invested by users in Mercado Fondo in Argentine, peso-denominated treasury bonds due May 23, 2027. As a result of the
amended regulation, the Company withdrew on September 5, 2022 the cases it had originally filed challenging the December 30, 2021 regulation. On August 24, 2023, the
CBA issued Communication "A” 7825, which states that payment service providers who offer payment accounts ("PSPOCP” according to its Spanish acronym) must allocate in
full to their clients any compensation received from financial institutions for investing clients’ funds held in deposit accounts into Argentine treasury bonds. Since August 25,
2023, MercadoLibre S.R.L. is not receiving any compensation from financial institutions for clients’ funds held in deposit account. As a consequence, Communication "A” 7825
has no applicable effect for MercadoLibre S.R.L.
On September 14, 2023, the CBA issued Communication "A” 7861 establishing that starting on December 1, 2023, DEBIN (debit immediate), the main and simple funding
source of Mercado Pago users’ accounts, will be suspended and replaced with a pull transfer method that requires the consent of the client outside of Mercado Pago’s
environment before the first use. After several extensions, on January 11, 2024, the CBA issued a new regulation establishing that the suspension of DEBIN must be effective
starting on April 30, 2024.
Mexico
On April 29, 2022, MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico, a Mexican subsidiary obtained the final approval by the National Banking and
Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, or the "CNBV”) to operate as an Electronic Payment Institution (Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico
or "IFPE”, as referred to by the Financial Technology Institutions Act) which enables that entity to issue, manage, redeem and make electronic transfers of money on behalf of
its clients, through computer applications, interfaces, web sites or any other means of electronic or digital communication.
MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico became a regulated financial entity towards third parties, effective on May 11, 2022 duly published in
the Official Gazette, and is subject to the supervision and jurisdiction of the relevant Mexican financial regulators, including but not limited to the National Commission for the
Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services, CNBV and the Central Bank of Mexico. Amongst the regulatory obligations to which Electronic Payment Institutions are
subject, the following are noteworthy: a) maintain minimum capital requirements, b) maintain sufficient reserves in high-quality liquid assets (e.g. cash, treasury bills, etc.), so
as to be able to redeem, on par, the funds held on behalf of the clients, c) comply with anti-money laundering and countering of terrorism financing regulations, d) develop and
maintain sound cybersecurity and information security policies, including but not limited to the performance of recurrent vulnerability tests and the deployment of strict
infrastructure controls.
Chile
On October 12, 2022, the Chilean Congress approved the Fintech and Open-Banking Law Project, which was published on January 4, 2023, and came into effect on
February 3, 2023. This law established a regulatory framework for certain technological financial services that did not have their own legal framework. These services are: (i)
Alternative Transaction Systems, (ii) Crowdfunding Financing Platforms, (iii) Financial Instrument Intermediation, (iv) Order Routing, (v) Credit Advisory, and (vi) Investment
Advisory. Pursuant to this law, Mercado Pago Crypto S.A. shall file a license request with the Commission for the Financial Market ("CMF” according to its Spanish acronym) in
order to continue offering Order Routing services through the "buy, hold and sell” product launched in 2023 in collaboration with Ripio Chile SpAp. The rules governing the
specifics of this filing and the license that CMF must grant, were issued on January 12, 2024, giving Mercado Pago Crypto S.A. until February 2025 to file the license request. In
addition, an Open Finance System is created to allow financial service providers to exchange customer financial information. The CMF has until June 3, 2024 to issue
secondary regulation.
On April 27, 2023, the CMF authorized the merger of Mercado Pago Operadora S.A. (formerly known as "MercadoPago S.A.”) and Red Procesadora de Pagos Limitada,
effective on May 1, 2023. This merger allows Mercado Pago Operadora S.A. to extend the processing of transactions and enable businesses and entrepreneurs in Chile the
opportunity to access the Company’s ecosystem of Fintech services.
Colombia
In June 2023, MercadoPago S.A. Compañía de Financiamiento obtained a license to operate as a financial institution in Colombia, and therefore is able to offer credits,
digital accounts, investments and prepaid cards. We expect this new company to be operational by the first quarter of 2024 and be subject to minimum capital, reporting,
consumer protection and risk management requirements.
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Uruguay
In July 2023, MercadoPago Uruguay S.R.L. obtained the approval by the BCU to operate as an Electronic Money Issuing Institution ("IEDE”) facilitating electronic money
transfers. On October 1, 2023, MercadoPago Uruguay S.R.L. started operations, and since then, must adhere to regulations regarding the placement of user funds, including
the obligation to deposit and maintain these funds in designated local bank accounts to guarantee the availability of balances in each user’s digital account. In October 2023,
MercadoPago Uruguay S.R.L. was authorized by the BCU, subject to the terms of the regulations, to invest its user funds in short-term investments, including "overnight” bank
deposits, leveraging results and assuming associated risks.
Peru
On November 10, 2022, the Central Reserve Bank of Peru ("BCRP”) enacted regulations related to the card payment processing system that applies to issuers, acquirers
and payment facilitators. On January 27, 2023, MercadoPago Perú S.R.L. was registered by the BCRP as a payment facilitator entity, allowing it to (a) affiliate merchants to the
card payment system, (b) offer POS, and (c) transmit or process card payment orders and /or participate in the process of settlement to the merchants affiliated.
NOTE 4. NET INCOME PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share for the Company’s common stock is computed by dividing, net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding during the year.
In August, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate principal amount of $880 million of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 ("2028 Notes”) which were fully
converted or redeemed in November 2023. The conversion of these notes was included in the calculation for diluted earnings per share utilizing the "if converted” method for
the year ending December 31, 2023 and 2022. For the year ended 2021, the effect of the conversion of the 2028 Notes would have been antidilutive and, as a consequence, it
was not factored into the calculation of diluted earnings per share. Accordingly, conversion of these 2028 Notes is not assumed for purposes of computing diluted earnings per
share if the effect is antidilutive. The denominator for diluted net income per share for the years ended on December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 did not include any effect from
the capped call transactions entered into by the Company with certain financial institutions with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock ("2028 Notes Capped Call
Transactions”), which were settled on September 1, 2023, because it would be antidilutive. See Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities to these consolidated
financial statements for more details regarding the 2028 Notes and the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions.
Net income per share of common stock is as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
.
Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
Basic Diluted Basic Diluted Basic Diluted
Net income per common share (1) $ 19.64 $ 19.46 $ 9.57 $ 9.53 $ 1.67 $ 1.67
Denominator:
Weighted average of common stock outstanding for earnings per 50,262,302 50,262,302 50,345,353 50,345,353 49,802,993 49,802,993
share
Adjustment for assumed conversions — 744,558 — 990,268 — —
Adjusted weighted average of common stock outstanding for 50,262,302 51,006,860 50,345,353 51,335,621 49,802,993 49,802,993
earnings per share
(1) Figures have been calculated using non-rounded amounts.
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NOTE 5. CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND INVESTMENTS
The composition of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments is as follows:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Cash in bank accounts $ 1,458 $ 1,160
Money market 639 599
Time deposits 367 130
U.S. government debt securities 60 21
Foreign government debt securities 32 —
Total cash and cash equivalents 2,556 1,910
Securitization transactions (1) 355 459
Foreign government debt securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) 114 158
Cash in bank accounts (Argentine Central Bank regulation) 309 496
Cash in bank accounts (Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission regulation) 91 9
Time deposits (Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission regulation) 314 239
Cash in bank accounts (Chilean Commission for the Financial Market regulation) 42 4
Time deposits (Chilean Commission for the Financial Market regulation) 54 49
Money market (Secured lines of credit guarantee) 7 33
Cash in bank accounts (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee) 1 —
Time deposits (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee) 1 —
Money market (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee) 2 —
Foreign government debt securities (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee) 2 —
Cash in bank accounts (Financial Superintendence of Colombia regulation) — 1
Money market (Financial Superintendence of Colombia regulation) — 5
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents 1,292 1,453
Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents (2) $ 3,848 $ 3,363
U.S. government debt securities $ 1,009 $ 558
Foreign government debt securities (3) 2,451 1,342
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The following table summarizes the allowance for doubtful accounts activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
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The following tables summarize the allowance for chargebacks and the allowance for doubtful accounts activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and
2021:
Other assets
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
VAT credits $ 25 $ 17
Income tax credits 26 65
Sales tax credits 54 30
Advance to ATM providers 14 38
Advance to suppliers 46 17
Derivative instruments 1 1
Tax credit from promotional regime in Argentina 15 15
Incentives to be collected 35 59
Receivables with suppliers 3 9
Prepaid expenses 27 38
Other 31 15
Current other assets $ 277 $ 304
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Judicial deposits $ 8 $ 205
VAT credits 2 12
Income tax credits 4 22
Derivative instruments 22 —
Other 32 17
Non current other assets $ 68 $ 256
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Other liabilities
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Deferred revenue $ 29 $ 44
Contingent considerations and escrows from acquisitions 1 11
Customer advances 36 37
Derivative instruments 21 17
Other 32 20
Current other liabilities $ 119 $ 129
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Provisions and contingencies $ 124 $ 53
Contingent considerations and escrows from acquisitions 8 7
Joint venture — 3
Incentives collected in advance 9 13
Derivative instruments 10 7
Salaries and social security payable — 6
Other 49 6
Non current other liabilities $ 200 $ 95
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December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Loans receivable $ 107 $ 62
Allowance for doubtful accounts (42) (30)
Non current loans receivable, net $ 65 $ 32
The Company classifies loans receivable as "On-line merchant”, "Consumer”, "In-store merchant” and "Credit cards”. As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022,
Loans receivable, net were as follows:
The allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to the Company’s loans receivable amounts to $1,102 million and $1,112 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively, which includes $18 million and $8 million related to unused agreed loan commitment on credit cards portfolio presented in Other liabilities of the consolidated
balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company is exposed to off-balance sheet unused agreed loan commitment on credit cards portfolio which expose the Company
to credit risks for $934 million and $271 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 the Company recognized in Provision for doubtful accounts
$8 million and $8 million as expected credit losses, respectively.
The following tables summarize the allowance for doubtful accounts activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
The increase in write-offs, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, is mainly generated by higher originations of loans receivable in
2022, compared to the same period in 2021, generating a higher write-offs effect in the year ended December 31, 2023.
The Company closely monitors credit quality for all loans receivable on a recurring basis to assess and manage its exposure to credit risk. To assess merchants and
consumers seeking a loan under the Mercado Credito solution, the Company uses, among other indicators, risk models internally developed, as a credit quality indicator to
help predict the merchant’s and consumer’s ability to repay the principal balance and interest related to the credit. The risk model uses multiple variables as predictors of the
merchant’s and consumer’s ability to repay the credit, including external and internal indicators. Internal indicators consider user behavior related to credit/payment history, and
with lower weight in the risk models, the Company uses number of transactions in the Company’s ecosystem and merchant’s annual sales volume, among other indicators. In
addition, the Company considers external bureau information to enhance the model and the decision making process.
The amortized cost of the loans receivable classified by the Company’s credit quality internal indicator was as follows:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
1-14 days past due $ 99 $ 54
15-30 days past due 92 64
31-60 days past due 114 88
61-90 days past due 103 86
91-120 days past due 111 103
121-150 days past due 97 110
151-180 days past due 82 112
181-210 days past due 76 100
211-240 days past due 74 93
241-270 days past due 69 89
271-300 days past due 59 73
301-330 days past due 74 85
331-360 days past due 66 75
Total past due 1,116 1,132
To become due 2,662 1,708
Total $ 3,778 $ 2,840
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, renegotiations represented 2.8%% and 1% of the loans receivable portfolio, respectively.
As described in Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies, the Company places loans on non-accrual status at 90 days past due. There are no loans receivable
on non-accrual status for which there is no related allowance for doubtful accounts.
NOTE 8. BUSINESS COMBINATIONS, GOODWILL, AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Business combinations
Acquisition of a payment services company in Chile
On December 13, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiaries Mercado Pago LLC and SFSC LLC, completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest of Redelcom
S.A., a payment services provider that also offers point-of-sales terminals with the latest technology to retailers in the Republic of Chile. Redelcom is located and organized
under the laws of Chile. The objective of the acquisition was to consolidate the Company’s value proposition in Chile and enhance the growth of its multiple payment tools and
digital financial solutions.
The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition was $24 million, measured at its fair value amount, which included: (i) the total cash payment of $16 million; (ii) an
escrow of $3 million and (iii) $5 million of contingent consideration.
The Company’s consolidated statements of income include the results of operations of the acquired business as from December 2021. The net loss before intercompany
eliminations of the acquired Company included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income since the acquisition amounted to less than $1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2021.
In addition, the Company incurred in certain direct costs of the business combination which were expensed as incurred.
The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation for the acquisition:
Redelcom S.A.
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1
Convertible notes agreements 1
Other net tangible liabilities (2)
Total net tangible assets acquired $ —
Platform 1
Goodwill 23
Purchase Price $ 24
The purchase price was allocated based on the final measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed considering the information available as of
the initial accounting date. The valuation of identifiable intangible assets acquired reflects Management’s estimates based on the use of established valuation methods.
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 each of the segments identified by the Company’s Management, considering the synergies expected from this acquisition and it is expected that the
acquisition will contribute to the earnings generation process of such segments. Goodwill arising from this acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.
The results of operations for periods prior to the acquisitions, individually and in the aggregate, were not material to the Company’s consolidated statements of income
and, accordingly, pro forma information has not been presented.
Acquisition of a shipping company in Brazil
On November 3, 2021, the Company, through its subsidiary eBazar.com.br Ltda., completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest of Kangu Participações S.A. and
its subsidiaries, a logistics technology platform which connects sellers, e-commerce companies, carriers, third-party logistics providers and consumers through its vertically
integrated network of drop-off and pick-up points throughout Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. Kangu Participações S.A. is located and organized under the laws of Brazil. The
objective of the acquisition was to enhance the capabilities of the Company in terms of logistics.
The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition was $53 million, measured at its fair value amount, which included: (i) the total cash payment of $38 million at the time of
closing; (ii) an escrow of $4 million and (iii) $11 million related to the fair value at the acquisition date of a call option to purchase 20% of the equity interest of Kangu
Participações S.A. As result of the acquisition, the Company recognized a gain for the fair value amount of the option.
The Company’s consolidated statements of income include the results of operations of the acquired business as from November 2021. The acquired business
contributed net income of $1 million for the period from November 3, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
In addition, the Company incurred in certain direct costs of the business combination which were expensed as incurred.
The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation for the acquisition:
Kangu Participações
S.A.
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3
Other net tangible assets 1
Total net tangible assets acquired $ 4
Customer lists and non-compete agreements 1
Hubs network 3
Goodwill 45
Purchase Price $ 53
The purchase price was allocated based on the final measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed considering the information available as of
the initial accounting date. The valuation of identifiable intangible assets acquired reflects Management’s estimates based on the use of established valuation methods.
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 each of the segments identified by the Company’s Management, considering the synergies expected from this acquisition and it is expected that the
acquisition will contribute to the earnings generation process of such segments. Goodwill arising from this acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes in case of a merger
between eBazar.com.br Ltda. and Kangu Participações S.A.
The results of operations for periods prior to the acquisitions, individually and in the aggregate, were not material to the Company’s consolidated statements of income
and, accordingly, pro forma information has not been presented.
Goodwill and intangible assets
The composition of goodwill and intangible assets is as follows:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Goodwill $ 163 $ 153
(1) Digital assets as of December 31, 2023 are included within "Intangible assets at fair value” of the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies –
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards of these audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.
Goodwill
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
NOTE 9. SEGMENTS
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 in accordance with the criteria, as determined by Management, used to evaluate the
Company’s performance. The Company’s segments include Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and other countries (which includes Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and
Uruguay).
Direct contribution consists of net revenues from external customers less direct costs, which include costs of net revenues, product and technology development
expenses, sales and marketing expenses, provision for doubtful accounts and general and administrative expenses over which segment managers have direct discretionary
control, such as advertising and marketing programs, customer support expenses, payroll and third-party fees. All corporate related costs have been excluded from the
segment’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:
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Brazil Argentina Mexico Other Countries Total
(In millions)
Net revenues $ 7,595 $ 3,240 $ 2,985 $ 653 $ 14,473
Direct costs (5,763) (1,837) (2,371) (595) (10,566)
Direct contribution 1,832 1,403 614 58 3,907
Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues (2,084)
Income from operations 1,823
Other income (expenses):
Interest income and other financial gains 723
Interest expense and other financial losses (378)
Foreign currency losses, net (615)
Net income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of $ 1,553
unconsolidated entity
The following tables summarize net revenues per reporting segment, which have been disaggregated by similar products and services for the years ended December 31,
2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Brazil Argentina Mexico Other Countries Total
(In millions)
Commerce services (1) $ 3,655 $ 1,036 $ 1,653 $ 410 $ 6,754
(1) Includes final value fees and flat fees paid by sellers derived from intermediation services and related shipping and storage fees, classified fees derived from classified advertising services and
ad sales.
(2) Includes revenues from inventory sales and related shipping fees.
(3) Includes revenues from commissions the Company charges for transactions off-platform derived from use of the Company’s payment solution, revenues as a result of offering installments for
the payment to its Mercado Pago users, either when the Company finances the transactions directly or when the Company sells the corresponding financial assets, Mercado Pago credit and debit
card fees and insurtech fees.
(4) Includes interest earned on loans and advances granted to merchants and consumers, and interest earned on Mercado Pago credit card transactions.
(5) Includes sales of mobile point of sales devices.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the property and equipment based on geography:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
US property and equipment, net $ 2 $ 1
Other countries
Argentina 208 188
Brazil 603 514
Mexico 345 206
Other countries 92 84
1,248 992
Total property and equipment, net $ 1,250 $ 993
The following table summarizes the allocation of the operating lease right-of-use assets based on geography:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Argentina $ 51 $ 53
Brazil 396 286
Mexico 380 245
Other countries 72 72
Right of use asset, net $ 899 $ 656
The following table summarizes the allocation of the goodwill and intangible assets based on geography:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
US intangible assets at fair value (1) $ 24 $ —
$ 24 $ —
(1) Digital assets as of December 31, 2023 are included within "Intangible assets at fair value” of the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies –
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards of these audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.
Quoted Quoted
Balances as Prices in Significant Balances as Prices in Significant
of active other of active other Unobservable
December 31, markets for
identical
observable
inputs December 31, markets for
identical
observable
inputs
inputs
(Level 3)
2023 Assets (Level 2) 2022 Assets (Level 2)
(Level 1) (Level 1)
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Money market $ 639 $ 639 $ — $ 599 $ 599 $ — $ —
Foreign government debt securities (1) (3) 2,530 2,530 — 1,433 1,433 — —
Corporate debt securities 30 30 — — — — —
Other assets:
Derivative instruments 23 — 23 1 — 1 —
USDC — — — 3 3 — —
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding assets 34 — 34 15 — 15 —
Intangible assets at fair value 24 24 — — — — —
Total assets $ 4,775 $ 4,718 $ 57 $ 3,315 $ 3,299 $ 16 $ —
Long-term retention program $ 104 $ — $ 104 $ 58 $ — $ 58 $ —
Other liabilities:
Contingent considerations — — — 8 — — 8
Derivative instruments 31 — 31 24 — 24 —
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding liabilities 34 — 34 15 — 15 —
Total liabilities $ 169 $ — $ 169 $ 105 $ — $ 97 $ 8
(1) Measured at fair value with impact on the consolidated statements of income for the application of the fair value option. (See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Fair value
option applied to certain financial instruments.)
(2) As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 includes $269 million and $314 million, respectively, of money market funds from securitization transactions. (See Note 5 – Cash, cash equivalents, restricted
cash and cash equivalents and investments.)
(3) As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 includes $23 million and $21 million, respectively, of investments from securitization transactions that are restricted to the payment of amounts due to third-
party investors. In additional, includes foreign government debt securities that are also restricted due to regulations issued by the Central Banks and other regulators or because guarantees a line of
credit. (See Note 5 – Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments.)
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company’s assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis were 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); ii) Level 2 inputs: obtained from readily-available pricing sources for comparable instruments as well as instruments with inactive markets at the
measurement date; and iii) Level 3 inputs: valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting Company’s assumptions. The unobservable inputs of the fair value of
contingent considerations classified as Level 3 refer to the amounts to be paid according to the respective agreements of each acquisition, the likelihood of achievement of the
performance targets arising from each one (expected to be 100%), and the Company’s historical experience with similar arrangements. Reasonable variation on those
unobservable inputs would not significantly change the fair value of those instruments. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had not changed the methodology
nor the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the financial instruments.
There were no transfers to and from Levels 1, 2 and 3 during the year ended December 31, 2023. There were no transfers to and from Levels 1, 2 and 3 during the year
ended December 31, 2022, other than as detailed in the table below.
The following tables summarize the reconciliation of the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs as of December 31, 2022:
Year Ended December 31, 2022
Derivative Instruments, net Contingent Considerations (1)
(In millions)
Balance, beginning of the year $ 11 $ (9)
Net Additions 3 —
Settlements 7 1
Foreign Currency Translation (5) —
Losses in Other Comprehensive Income (15) —
Losses in Income Statement (28) —
Transfers out of level 3 27 —
Balance, end of the year $ — $ (8)
(1) As of December 31, 2023, the contingent considerations measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs were settled.
The Company’s election of the fair value option applies to the: i) Foreign government debt securities, and ii) U.S. government debt securities. The Company recognized fair
value changes in interest income and other financial gains which includes the related interest income of those instruments. Such fair value changes and interest income
amount to $268 million, $154 million and $36 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
As of December 31, 2023, the cost and the estimated fair value of the Company’s investment in corporate debt securities classified as available for sale amounted to
$30 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the gross unrealized gains were less than $1 million. As of December 31, 2022, the Company held no investment in
corporate debt securities classified as available for sale. However, during the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company purchased and sold these kind of instruments,
being the proceeds from the sales $156 million and the gross realized gains less than $1 million. The cost of these securities are determined under a specific identification
basis.
The following table summarizes the net carrying amount of the corporate debt securities classified as available for sale, classified by its contractual maturities:
Balances as of
December 31, 2023
(In millions)
One year or less $ 5
One year to two years 12
Two years to three years 4
Three years to four years 3
Four years to five years 6
Total available for sale investments $ 30
The following table summarizes the net carrying amount of the debt securities not classified as available for sale, classified by its contractual maturities or Management
expectation to convert the investments into cash:
Balances as of Balances as of
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
(In millions)
One year or less $ 3,668 $ 2,079
One year to two years 4 201
Two years to three years — 5
Three years to four years 35 —
Four years to five years 37 30
More than five years 3 30
$ 3,747 $ 2,345
Financial assets and liabilities not measured and recorded at fair value
The following table summarizes the estimated fair value level of the financial assets and liabilities of the Company not measured at fair value as of December 31, 2023
and 2022:
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the carrying value of the Company’s financial assets (except for loans receivable and equity securities held at cost) not measured at
fair value approximated their fair value mainly because of their short-term maturity. If these financial assets were measured at fair value in the financial statements, cash and
restricted cash would be classified as Level 1 (where cost and fair value are aligned) and the remaining financial assets would be classified as Level 2. The estimated fair
value of the loans receivable would be classified as Level 3 based on the Company’s assumptions.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the carrying value of the Company’s financial liabilities (except for 2028 Notes, 2026 Sustainability Notes and 2031 Notes) not
measured at fair value approximated their fair value mainly because of their short-term maturity and the effective interest rates are not materially different from market interest
rates. If these financial liabilities were measured at fair value in the financial statements, these would be classified as Level 2. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the
estimated fair value of the 2026 Notes would be $375 million and $359 million, respectively, and the estimated fair value of the 2026 Notes would be $599 million and $541
million, respectively, which is based on Level 2 inputs. Also, as of December 31, 2022, the estimated fair value of the 2028 Notes was $ 884 million, and was classified as
Level 2 based on the closing trading price per $100 principal amount of the 2028 Notes as of the last day of trading for the period. The fair value of the 2028 Notes was
primarily affected by the trading price of the Company’s common stock and market interest rates.
NOTE 11. COMMON STOCK
Authorized, issued and outstanding shares
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, as stated in the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company has authorized 110,000,000
shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share ("Common Stock”).
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were 50,697,442 and 50,257,751 shares of common stock issued and outstanding with a par value of $0.001 per share.
Voting rights
Each outstanding share of common stock, is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common stock, except for stockholders that beneficially
own more than 20% of the shares of the outstanding common stock, in which case the board of directors (the "Board”) may declare that any shares of stock above such 20%
do not have voting rights. The holders of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
NOTE 12. REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company is authorized to issue 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per
share. As of December 31, 2023, and 2022 the Company has no preferred stock subscribed or issued.
NOTE 13. EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
On June 10, 2019, at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved the adoption of the Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation
Plan (the "Amended and Restated 2009 Plan”), which contains terms substantially similar to the terms of the "2009 Equity Compensation Plan” (the "2009 Plan”) that expired in
2019. As of December 31, 2023, there are 989,811 shares of common stock available for granting under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan.
Equity compensation awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan are at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and may be in the form of
either incentive or non-qualified stock options. As of December 31, 2023, there were 5,658 shares of restricted stock outstanding under such plan.
MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The components of net income before tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
The following is a reconciliation of the difference between the actual charge for income tax and the expected income tax expense computed by applying the statutory
income tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 to net income before income tax:
Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
(In millions)
Net income before income tax $ 1,553 $ 780 $ 241
Income tax rate 21 % 21 % 21 %
Expected income tax expense $ 326 $ 164 $ 51
Permanent differences:
Transfer pricing adjustments 11 3 2
Non-deductible tax 7 1 4
Non-deductible expenses 107 54 29
Dividend distributions (32) 12 36
Non-taxable income (167) (62) (32)
Effect of rates different than statutory 117 37 8
Currency translation 335 48 16
Change in valuation allowance 4 92 56
Tax Inflation Adjustments (136) (35) (19)
Inventory Adjustments — — (1)
True up (3) (16) (1)
Income tax expense $ 569 $ 298 $ 149
Income taxes are determined by each subsidiary on a standalone basis according to income tax law of each jurisdiction. The Company’s consolidated effective tax rate for
year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, decreased from 38.2% to 36.6% as a result of the reversal of the valuation allowances in one of the Company´s Mexican
subsidiaries during the third quarter of 2023. This decrease was partially offset by taxable foreign exchange gains accounted for local tax purposes in Argentina, which are not
recorded for accounting purposes given that under U.S. GAAP and due to Argentina’s highly inflationary status, Argentina’s operations’ functional currency is the U.S. dollar, and
higher non-deductible foreign exchange losses related to the acquisition of the Company´s own common stock in the Argentine market (please see Note 25 – Share
repurchase program for further information).
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective
tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The following table summarizes the composition of deferred tax assets
and liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Deferred tax assets
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 234 $ 110
Unrealized net gains 3 8
Property and equipment, net 58 43
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 8 17
Payroll and social security payable 42 32
Provisions 275 131
U.S. foreign tax credit 304 156
Tax loss carryforwards 177 255
Inventories 14 3
Tax inflation adjustments — 3
Total deferred tax assets 1,115 758
Valuation allowance (374) (360)
Total deferred tax assets, net 741 398
Deferred tax liabilities
Property and equipment, net (21) (29)
Customer lists — (1)
Unrealized net losses (4) (3)
Goodwill (4) (4)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (2) (3)
Payroll and social security payable — (7)
Outside Basis Dividends (182) (103)
Provisions (1) (8)
Total deferred tax liabilities $ (214) $ (158)
$ 527 $ 240
As of December 31, 2023, consolidated deferred tax asset on tax loss carryforwards for income tax purposes were $177 million. If not utilized, tax loss carryforwards will
begin to expire as follows:
2026 $ 1
2027 2
2028 7
2029 31
2030 38
Thereafter 56
Without due dates 42
Total $ 177
Based on Management’s assessment of available objective evidence, the Company maintained a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets of $374 million and
$360 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. This valuation allowance includes $304 million and $156 million to fully reserve the outstanding U.S. foreign tax
credits as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
The valuation allowance increased as of December 31, 2023 compared to 2022, mainly related to the impairment of $148 million on U.S. foreign tax credit, offset by the
reversal of $141 million given that is more likely than not that deferred tax assets from DeRemate.com de México, S. de R.L. de C.V., a Mexican subsidiary, will be realized in the
foreseeable future. The change in judgment regarding the realizability of the deferred tax assets of the Mexican subsidiary was triggered during the year ended December 31,
2023, as positive trends observed in recent periods became enough evidence to support the conclusion.
Knowledge-based economy promotional regime in Argentina
On June 10, 2019, the Argentine government enacted Law No. 27,506 (knowledge-based economy promotional regime), which established a regime that provides certain
tax benefits for companies that meet specific criteria, such as companies that derive at least 70% of their revenues from certain specified activities related to the knowledge-
based economy. The regime was suspended on January 20, 2020, until new rules for the application of the knowledge-based economy promotional regime were issued.
On October 7, 2020, changes to the knowledge-based economy promotional regime were finally approved by the Congress. The approved regime has effect from January
1, 2020 through December 31, 2029.
Based on the amended promotional regime, companies that meet new specified criteria shall be entitled to: i) a reduction of the income tax burden (60% for micro and
small enterprises, 40% for medium-sized enterprises and 20% for large enterprises) over the promoted activities for each fiscal year, applicable to both Argentine source
income and foreign source income, ii) stability of the benefits established by the knowledge-based economy promotional regime (as long as the beneficiary is registered and
in good standing), and iii) a tax credit bond amounting to 70% (which can be up to 80% in certain specific cases) of the Company’s contribution to the social security regime of
every employee whose job is related to the promoted activities (caps on the number of employees are applicable). Such bonds can be used within 24 months from their issue
date (which period can be extended for an additional 12 months in certain cases) to offset certain federal taxes, such as value-added tax.
On December 20, 2020, Argentina’s Executive Power issued Decree No. 1034/2020, which set the rules to implement the provisions of the knowledge-based economy
promotional regime. Eligible companies must enroll in a registry according to the terms and conditions to be established by the Application Authority, which will verify
compliance with the requirements. The Decree also set the mechanism for calculating the level of investment in research and development, the level of employee retention,
exports, among others. It also establishes that exports of services from companies participating in this regime will not be subject to export duties.
On January 13, 2021, Argentina’s Ministry of Productive Development –current Application Authority of the knowledge-based economy promotional regime– issued
Resolution No. 4/2021, which was followed by Disposition N° 11/2021 issued by the Under Secretariat of Knowledge Economy on February 12, 2021. Both rules establish
further details on the requirements, terms, conditions, application, and compliance procedures to be eligible under the promotional regime. In August 2021, the Under
Secretariat of Knowledge Economy issued the Disposition 316/2021 approving MercadoLibre S.R.L.’s application for eligibility under the knowledge-based economy
promotional regime. Tax benefits granted pursuant to the promotional regime to MercadoLibre S.R.L. were retroactive to January 1, 2020.
As a result, the Company accounted for an income tax benefit of $14 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which $8 million corresponded to the year ended
December 31, 2020. The aggregate per share effect of the income tax benefit amounted to $0.29 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Furthermore, the Company recorded a
social security benefit of $45 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which $15 million corresponded to the year ended December 31, 2020. Given that the promotional
regime establishes that exports of services by eligible companies are not subject to export duties, the Company recognized a gain of $24 million related to export duties
accrued from January 2020 to August 2021 that are no longer required to be paid. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company accrued a charge of $ 4
million to pay knowledge-based economy promotional law audit fees and FONPEC ("Fondo Fiduciario para la Promoción de la Economía del Conocimiento”) contribution.
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company accounted for an income tax benefit of $42 million and $27 million, respectively. The aggregate per
share effect of the income tax benefit amounted to $0.84 and $0.54 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, the Company recorded a
social security benefit of $67 million and $54 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additionally, during the years ended December 31, 2023
and 2022, the Company accrued a charge of $6 million and $5 million, respectively, to pay knowledge-based economy promotional law audit fees and FONPEC contribution.
NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation and Other Legal Matters
The Company is subject to certain contingent liabilities with respect to existing or potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings. The Company accrues liabilities when
it considers it to be probable that future costs will be incurred and such costs can be reasonably estimated. Proceeding-related liabilities are based on developments to date
and historical information related to actions filed against the Company. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had accounted for estimated liabilities involving proceeding-
related contingencies and other estimated contingencies of $124 million within non current other liabilities to cover legal actions against the Company for 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 December 31, 2023, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain legal actions considered by Management and its legal counsels to be
reasonably possible for an aggregate amount up to $159 million. No loss amounts have been accrued for such reasonably possible legal actions, the most significant of
which are described below.
The following table summarizes the contingencies activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Tax Claims
Brazilian preliminary injunction against the Brazilian tax authorities (withholding Income tax)
On November 6, 2014, the Brazilian subsidiaries, Mercadolivre.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado Pago.com Representações Ltda. and the
Argentine subsidiary, MercadoLibre S.R.L., filed a writ of mandamus and requested a preliminary injunction with the Federal Court of Osasco against the federal tax authority to
avoid the withholding income tax ("IRRF”) over payments remitted by the Brazilian subsidiaries to MercadoLibre S.R.L. for the provision of IT support and assistance services by
the latter, and requested reimbursement of the amounts improperly withheld over the course of the preceding five (5) years. The preliminary injunction was granted on the
grounds that such withholding income tax violated the convention signed between Brazil and Argentina that prevents double taxation. In August 2015, the injunction was
revoked by the first instance judge in an award favorable to the federal tax authority. The Company appealed the decision and deposited into court the disputed amounts. In
June 2020, the Company’s appeal was dismissed. The Company submitted a new remedy before the same court in July 2020, which was dismissed on February 17, 2021.
On March 18, 2021, the Company filed two appeals with the superior courts. However, the Vice President of the local Federal Court dismissed the remittance of the appeals to
the Superior Courts and retained the cases in the local court. Against this decision, the Company filed new appeals, one interlocutory appeal in the Federal Court and other
interlocutory appeals in the Superior Courts. On November 29, 2023, the interlocutory appeal was dismissed in the Federal Court, while the interlocutory appeals in the
Superior Courts are pending judgment. Besides, in recent cases involving other taxpayers which also applied the convention signed between Brazil and Argentina to prevent
double taxation ("Convention") as amended by the 2017 protocol, the Superior Court of Justice decided the IRRF is due in the State of the source (i.e. Brazil), given that the
Convention grants such rights regardless whether the services provided between the parties contain transfer of technology or not. Management’s opinion, based on the
opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case became probable based on the technical merits of the Company’s tax position and the existence of recent
adverse decisions issued by the Superior Court of Justice. For that reason, the Company has recorded a provision for the disputed amounts, which was $327 million as of
December 31, 2023, and which was recorded in non-current other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, net of the corresponding judicial deposits for $273 million
(which includes $64 million of interest income). The provision has impacted the consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2023 within Product and
technology development expenses by $261 million, Cost of net revenues by $58 million, General and administrative expenses by $1 million, based on the classification of the
original expense to which the IRRF relates, and as a reversal of Interest income by $4 million that offsets the interest gains generated by the judicial deposits since the case
became probable.
On November 9, 2021 the Company filed a writ of mandamus which claimed the exclusion of the amounts relating to the ICMS tax benefits granted by the State of Minas
Gerais through the special regime from the tax base of the Corporate Income Tax ("IRPJ”) and of the Social Contribution on Net Profits ("CSLL”).
On January 31, 2022, a decision was rendered granting the injunction requested in order to exclude the amounts of tax benefits granted by the State of Minas Gerais in the
tax base of IRPJ and CSLL. However, the Court did not rule on the requirements set forth in article 30 of Law 12,973/14 and article 38 of Decree-Law 1577/98. On August 14,
2023, a judgment was handed down in favor of the Company and the Public Prosecutor's Office filed an appeal. During the fourth quarter of 2023 and after the judgment on
Topic 1,182, the Superior Court of Justice ("STJ”) annulled a ruling by the Federal Regional Court which had denied its jurisdictional provision, determining the return of the
files to the Court of origin so that the need to comply with the requirements could be analyzed. Requirements in article 30 of Law 12,973/14 set forth the exclusion of presumed
credits from the IRPJ and CSLL calculation basis, as in the judges' opinion this provision has not been revoked. The ruling is deemed to be innovative because these
requirements, until then, were not required in cases of presumed credit. On January 31, 2024, after the Company presented its counter-appeal, the case was sent to the
Federal Regional Court for judgment in the second instance, which is still pending. Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of
losing the case is not more likely than not based on the technical merits of the Company’s tax position. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any expense or liability
for the disputed amounts. The Company recorded an income tax benefit arising from the ICMS tax incentives during the year ended December 31, 2023 for $23 million and for
the year ended December 31, 2022 for $17 million (of which $5 million corresponded to the year ended December 31, 2021).
On April 25, 2023, the Company filed a writ of mandamus seeking an injunction and claiming the exclusion of the amounts relating to the ICMS tax benefits granted by the
State of Minas Gerais in the tax base of the Social Contributions (PIS and COFINS).
On May 26, 2023, a decision was rendered granting the injunction requested. The Company is currently waiting for the final judicial decision. Management’s opinion,
based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case is reasonably possible but not probable based on the technical merits of the Company’s tax
position. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any expense or liability for the disputed amounts. The Company recorded $12 million of PIS and COFINS tax benefits
arising from the ICMS tax incentives for the year ended December 31, 2023, of which $4 million corresponded to the period ended December 31, 2021, and $2 million
corresponded to the period ended December 31, 2022.
Marketplace joint and several liability
In the context of intermediation transactions on the marketplace platform, the Brazilian subsidiary eBazar.com.br Ltda. received four tax assessments aimed at collecting
alleged ICMS debts for the 2017 to 2019 fiscal years, in the amount of $9 million, considering the exchange rate as of December 31, 2023. The tax assessments intend to
attribute to eBazar.com.br Ltda. the joint and several liability for the payment of ICMS allegedly due by sellers on the sale of goods without compliant invoices. The Company
presented its objections in August 2023 and received unfavorable decisions from the administrative court in the first instance. The Companies filed appeals in each one of the
cases with the administrative court, which are now pending. Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case is
reasonably possible, but not probable.
Services Tax exclusion in the tax base of the Federal Contributions (PIS/COFINS)
On August 29, 2017, the Brazilian subsidiaries, Ebazar.com.br Ltda., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda., Mercado Envios
Serviços de Logística Ltda., filed a writ of mandamus and requested a preliminary injunction before the Federal Justice in Osasco against the Federal Government to exclude
the Municipal Service Tax in the tax base of the Federal Contributions (PIS/COFINS). The federal judge granted the preliminary injunction and ruled in favor of the companies on
January 15, 2019. On April 8, 2019, the Federal Government presented an appeal that was rejected by the Federal Court. Following the Federal Court's decision, the Federal
Government filed two appeals with the superior courts. However, since February 12, 2021, the mandamus remains suspended by a decision settled by the Brazilian Supreme
Court, who shall judge the leading case and set a binding jurisprudence to this case. Management, based on the opinion of external legal counsel and the current composition
of the Brazilian Supreme Court (who has shown dubious jurisprudence in similar cases), is of the opinion that the risk of losing the case is probable. For that reason, the
Company has recognized a provision for the disputed amounts of $44 million.
On April 8, 2022, the Company signed a 10-year agreement with Gol Linhas Aereas S.A. under which the Company is committed to contract a minimum amount of air
logistics services for a total annual cost of $43 million (total amount once all the dedicated aircraft are in operation). Pursuant to the agreement, Gol Linhas Aereas S.A.
provides logistics services in Brazil to Mercado Envios through six dedicated aircraft, all of which have already started operations as of December 31, 2023.
Since October 2023, the Company signed 3-year agreements with certain shipping companies in Brazil, under which the Company is committed to contract a minimum
amount of logistics services for a total cost of $31 million.
On January 10, 2024, the Company signed a 5-year agreement for the naming rights of the Complexo Pacaembu (municipal stadium of the city of São Paulo), for a total
amount of $56 million. The agreement has the option to extend the term for 5 additional independent periods of 5 years each, for the same amount indexed by the Brazilian
inflation rate index IPCA.
The following table summarizes the LTRP accrued compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
December 31,
2023 2022 2021
(In millions)
LTRP 2016 $ — $ — $ 2
LTRP 2017 — (2) 3
LTRP 2018 3 (1) 2
LTRP 2019 18 16 27
LTRP 2020 21 19 29
LTRP 2021 23 21 26
LTRP 2022 42 31 —
LTRP 2023 60 — —
$ 167 $ 84 $ 89
December 31,
2023 2022
(In millions)
Loans from banks $ 485 $ 319
Bank overdrafts 33 9
Secured lines of credit 39 115
Financial Bills — 113
Deposit Certificates 976 993
Commercial Notes 7 6
Finance lease liabilities 35 14
Collateralized debt 693 535
2028 Notes — 3
2026 Sustainability Notes 4 4
2031 Notes 9 10
Other lines of credit 11 10
Current loans payable and other financial liabilities $ 2,292 $ 2,131
Mexican Subsidiary Mexican Pesos Variable TIIE + 2.20% - January 2024 - June 2027 178 177
3.50%
Uruguayan Subsidiary Uruguayan Pesos Fixed 9.59% January 2024 50 47
Colombian Subsidiary Colombian Pesos Fixed — — — 22
Bank overdrafts
Uruguayan Subsidiary Uruguayan Pesos Fixed 10.32% January 2024 13 9
Chilean Subsidiary Chilean Pesos Variable TIB + 2.00% January 2024 20 —
Financial Bills
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais Variable CDI + 1.15% - March - September 2025 8 113
1.40%
Deposit Certificates
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais — — — — 272
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais Variable 98.5% to 200% of January - December 2024 703 565
CDI
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais Fixed 9.85% - 14.20% January - June 2024 77 114
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais Variable 106% of CDI January 2024 196 45
Commercial Notes
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais Variable DI + 0.88% January 2024 - August 2027 78 71
Brazilian Subsidiary Brazilian Reais Variable IPCA + 6.41% January 2024 - August 2029 140 122
See Note 21 – Securitization transactions and Note 23 – Leases of these audited consolidated financial statements for details regarding the Company’s collateralized
debt securitization transactions and finance lease liabilities, respectively.
2.375% Sustainability Senior Notes Due 2026 and 3.125% Senior Notes Due 2031
On January 14, 2021, the Company closed a public offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Sustainability
Notes”) and $700 million aggregate principal amount of 3.125% Notes due 2031 (the "2031 Notes”, and together with the 2026 Sustainability Notes, the "Notes”). The
Company pays interest on the Notes on January 14 and July 14 of each year, beginning on July 14, 2021. The 2026 Sustainability Notes will mature on January 14, 2026, and
the 2031 Notes will mature on January 14, 2031. In connection with the Notes, the Company capitalized $11 million of debt issuance costs, which are amortized during the
term of the Notes.
The Company may, at its option, redeem the 2026 Sustainability Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to December 14, 2025 (the date that is one month prior to the
maturity of the 2026 Sustainability Notes) and the 2031 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to October 14, 2030 (the date that is three months prior to the maturity of the
2031 Notes), in each case by paying 100% of the principal amount of such Notes so redeemed plus the applicable "make-whole” amount and accrued and unpaid interest and
additional amounts, if any. The Company may, at its option, redeem the 2026 Sustainability Notes, in whole or in part, on December 14, 2025 or at any time thereafter and the
2031 Notes on October 14, 2030 or at any time thereafter, in each case at the redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of such Notes so redeemed plus accrued and
unpaid interest and additional amounts, if any. If the Company experiences certain change of control triggering events, it may be required to offer to purchase the notes at 101%
of their principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the purchase date.
During 2023, the Company repurchased $9 million and $70 million principal amount of the outstanding 2026 Sustainability Notes and 2031 Notes, respectively plus
$1 million of interest accrued. The total amount paid amounted to $66 million. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized $14 million as a gain in
Interest income and other financial gains in the consolidated statement of income.
The Company intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Sustainability Notes to finance or refinance Eligible Projects. "Eligible
Projects” are investments and expenditures made by the Company beginning with the issuance date of the 2026 Sustainability Notes or in the 24 months prior to the issuance
of the 2026 Sustainability Notes, that: (i) contribute to environmental objectives such as: clean transportation, land conservation and preservation, energy efficiency, renewable
energy, green buildings and pollution prevention and control, (ii) aim to address or mitigate a specific social issue or seek to achieve positive social outcomes especially, but
not exclusively, for one or more target populations or (iii) combine (i) and (ii).
Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors”) fully and unconditionally guarantee the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, and all other
amounts in respect of each of the Notes (the "Subsidiary Guarantees”). The initial Subsidiary Guarantors were MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda.,
eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda., Mercado Pago Instituição de Pagamento Ltda. (formerly known as "MercadoPago.com Representações
Ltda.”), MercadoLibre Chile Ltda., MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico (formerly known as "MercadoLibre, S. de R.L. de C.V.”),
DeRemate.com de México, S. de R.L. de C.V. and MercadoLibre Colombia Ltda. On October 27, 2021, MercadoLibre, S.A. de C.V., Institución de Fondos de Pago Electrónico
became an excluded subsidiary pursuant to the terms of the Notes and it was released from its Subsidiary Guaranty. On October 27, 2021, MP Agregador, S. de R.L. de C.V.
became a Subsidiary Guarantor under the Notes. On July 1 and October 1, 2022, Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda. and Mercado Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda. were
merged into eBazar.com.br Ltda, respectively.
The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations. Each Subsidiary Guarantee will rank
equally in right of payment with all of the Subsidiary Guarantor’s other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations, except for statutory priorities under applicable local
law.
2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2028
On August 24, 2018, the Company issued $800 million of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 and issued an additional $80 million of notes on August 31, 2018
pursuant to the partial exercise of the initial purchasers’ option to purchase such additional notes, for an aggregate principal amount of $880 million of 2.00% 2028 Notes. The
2028 Notes were unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Company, which paid interest in cash semi-annually, on February 15 and August 15 of each year, at a rate of
2.00% per annum. The 2028 Notes would have matured on August 15, 2028 unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such
date. The 2028 Notes were convertible, under specific conditions, based on an initial conversion rate of 2.2553 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the
2028 Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of $443.40 per share of common stock), subject to adjustment as described in the indenture governing the 2028 Notes.
The Company did not have the right to redeem the notes prior to August 21, 2023. On or after August 21, 2023, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common
stock was at or above 130% of the conversion price during specified periods, the Company could (at its option) redeem all or any portion of the 2028 Notes for cash equal to
the 2028 Notes’ principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the redemption date.
Holders were able to convert their 2028 Notes at their option at any time prior to February 15, 2028 only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter
commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2018 (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 was
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 2028 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; (3) if the Company called any or all of the 2028 Notes for
redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; or (4) upon the occurrence of specified
corporate events. On or after February 15, 2028 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders could convert
their 2028 Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.
In January 2021, the Company repurchased $440 million principal amount of the outstanding of the 2028 Notes. The total amount paid amounted to $1,865 million, which
includes principal, interest accrued and premium. The settlement consideration was first allocated to the extinguishment of the liability component of the 2028 Notes
repurchased. The difference of $30 million between the fair value of the liability component and the net carrying amount of the liability component and unamortized debt
issuance costs was recognized as a loss on debt extinguishment; in addition, $19 million paid as a premium was recognized as a loss in Interest expense and other financial
losses line in the consolidated statement of income in January 2021. The remaining consideration of $1,484 million (net of income tax effects) was allocated to the
reacquisition of the equity component and recognized as a reduction of stockholders’ equity.
On September 19, 2023, the Company announced its intention to redeem all its 2028 Notes on November 14, 2023. Holders of the 2028 Notes could elect to convert their
notes at any time before November 13, 2023. Each $1,000 principal amount of 2028 Notes was convertible into 2.2952 shares of MercadoLibre common stock.
This conversion rate reflected an increase of 0.0399 additional shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2028 Notes above the otherwise applicable conversion rate, which
applied because the notes were called for redemption. The Company settled any conversions solely in shares of common stock, except that any fractional shares that would
otherwise be deliverable were paid out in cash. The redemption price paid for any notes that were not converted was 100% of the redeemed notes’ principal amount plus
accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date.
As of November 13, 2023, holders of the 2028 Notes converted $439 million principal amount of 2028 Notes into 1,007,597 shares of the Company’s common stock which
MercadoLibre held as treasury stock. As of December 31, 2023, no principal amount of 2028 Notes remained outstanding. As of December 31, 2022, the principal and
issuance costs of the 2028 Notes amounted to $439 million and $3 million, respectively.
The Company entered into 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions. The 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions were expected generally to reduce the potential dilution
upon conversion of the 2028 Notes in the event that the market price of the Company’s common stock was greater than the strike price and lower than the cap price of the 2028
Notes Capped Call Transactions. In June and August 2021, the Company terminated certain of its 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions and received as consideration $102
million in cash and 57,047 shares of common stock, and $295 million in cash and 89,978 shares of Common Stock, respectively. Cash proceeds of terminating certain of the
2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions in June and August 2021 were used to repurchase 71,175 shares and 158,413 shares of common stock, respectively. The settlement
averaging period with respect to the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions began on June 28, 2023 and ended on August 30, 2023, and the 2028 Notes Capped Call
Transactions settlement date was September 1, 2023. As a result the Company received 289,675 shares of common stock.
The following table presents the interest expense for contractual interest, the amortization of debt discount and of debt issuance costs:
(In millions)
Contractual coupon interest expense $ 7 $ 8 $ 9
Amortization of debt discount (1) — — 16
Amortization of debt issuance costs — 1 —
Total interest expense related to the 2028 Notes $ 7 $ 9 $ 25
(1) For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 no amortization of debt discount was recorded due to the adoption of ASU 2020-06.
Revolving Credit Agreement
On March 31, 2022, the Company, as borrower, entered into a $ 400 million revolving credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement”). Under the Credit Agreement, the
Company’s subsidiaries MercadoLibre S.R.L., eBazar.com.br Ltda, Mercado Envios Serviços de Logística Ltda. (merged into eBazar.com.br Ltda. on October 1, 2022), Mercado
Pago Instituição de Pagamento Ltda., DeRemate.com de México S. de R.L. de C.V., MP Agregador, S. de R.L. de C.V., MercadoLibre Chile Ltda., and MercadoLibre Colombia
Ltda. have guaranteed the Company’s obligations.
The interest rates under the Credit Agreement are based on Adjusted Term SOFR ("Secured Overnight Funding Rate”) plus an interest margin of 1.25% per annum. Any
loans drawn under the Credit Agreement must be repaid on or prior to March 31, 2025. The Company is also obligated to pay a commitment fee on the unused amounts of the
facility at an annual rate of 0.3125%.
As of December 31, 2023, no amounts have been borrowed under the facility.
NOTE 18. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Indemnification agreements
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of the directors and executive officers of its local subsidiaries. These agreements require the
Company to indemnify such individuals, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction where these subsidiaries operate, for certain liabilities to which they may
become subject by reason of the fact that such individuals are or were directors or executive officers of the local subsidiaries of the Company.
Advisory Agreement and Shares granted
On April 8, 2022, the Company entered into an Advisory Services Agreement with Mr. Stelleo Tolda (former MercadoLibre’s Executive officer) whereby he will provide the
Company with certain consulting and advisory services as an independent contractor for a three-year period for a fee of $10,000 per month. The Company also entered into a
restricted stock award agreement with Mr. Tolda on April 8, 2022, whereby the Company awarded Mr. Tolda a grant of 5,051 shares of restricted stock under the Amended and
Restated 2009 Equity Compensation Plan. One-fifth of the restricted stock award vests on each of the five anniversaries of the grant date, subject to Mr. Tolda’s continued
compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in the agreement. As of December 31, 2023, Mr. Tolda continues to comply with the aforementioned restrictive covenants.
2022
Net Revenues $ 2,248
$ 2,597
$ 2,690$ 3,002
Gross profit 1,073 1,284 1,348 1,458
Net Income 65 123 129 165
Net Income per share-basic 1.30 2.43 2.57 3.28
Net Income per share-diluted 1.30 2.43 2.56 3.25
Weighted average shares
Basic 50,408,754 50,364,529 50,325,075 50,284,640
Diluted 50,408,754 50,364,529 51,315,343 51,274,909
2021
Net Revenues $ 1,378
$ 1,703
$ 1,858$ 2,130
Gross profit 591 754 807 853
Net (loss) Income (34) 68 95 (46)
Net (loss) Income per share-basic (0.68) 1.37 1.92 (0.92)
Net (loss) Income per share-diluted (0.68) 1.37 1.92 (0.92)
Weighted average shares
Basic 49,867,625 49,822,272 49,597,157 49,926,533
Diluted 49,867,625 49,822,272 49,597,157 49,926,533
The following table summarizes the Company’s collateralized debt under securitization transactions, as of December 31, 2023:
Collateralized debt
SPEs as of December Interest rate Currency Maturity
31, 2023
Mercado Crédito I Brasil Fundo de Investimento Em $ 208 CDI + 2.50% Brazilian Reais May 2025
Direitos Creditórios Não Padronizados
Mercado Crédito Fundo de Investimento Em Direitos 17 CDI + 3.50% Brazilian Reais August 2025
Creditórios Não Padronizado
Olimpia Fundo de Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios 104 CDI + 1.25% Brazilian Reais November 2024
Mercado Crédito II Brasil Fundo De Investimento Em 151 CDI + 2.35% Brazilian Reais January 2030
Direitos Creditórios Nao Padronizados
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios 208 CDI + 1.60% Brazilian Reais March 2026
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios 104 CDI + 1.80% Brazilian Reais May 2026
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios 42 CDI + 1.40% Brazilian Reais September 2026
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios 21 CDI + 1.60% Brazilian Reais November 2026
Mercado Crédito Consumo XIX 1 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos February 2024
min 60% and a max 92%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XX 5 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos March 2024
min 60% and a max 92%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXI 7 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos June 2024
min 80% and a max 120%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXII 8 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos June 2024
min 80% and a max 120%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXIII 8 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos August 2024
min 80% and a max 120%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXIV 8 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos October 2024
min 100% and a max 140%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXV 9 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos November 2024
min 100% and a max 150%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXVI 9 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos November 2024
min 100% and a max 160%
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXVII 9 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos March 2025
min 100% and a max 180%
Mercado Crédito XIX 6 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos August 2024
min 100% and a max 140%
Mercado Crédito XX 4 Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a Argentine Pesos December 2024
min 100% and a max 170%
Fideicomiso de administración y fuente de pago 247 The equilibrium interbank interest rate Mexican Pesos August 2026
CIB/3756 published by Banco de Mexico in the
Diario Oficial plus 2.35%
Fideicomiso de administración y fuente de pago 30 The equilibrium interbank interest rate Mexican Pesos April 2025
CIB/3369 published by Banco de Mexico in the
Diario Oficial plus 7.0%
Fideicomiso de administración y fuente de pago 269 The equilibrium interbank interest rate Mexican Pesos April 2025
CIB/3369 published by Banco de Mexico in the
Diario Oficial plus 3.0%
$ 1,475
This secured debt is issued by the SPEs and includes collateralized securities used to fund the Company’s Fintech business. The third-party investors in the securitization
transactions have legal recourse only to the assets securing the debt and do not have recourse to the Company. Additionally, the cash flows generated by the SPEs are
restricted to the payment of amounts due to third-party investors, but the Company retains the right to residual cash flows.
The assets and liabilities of the SPEs are included in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, as follows:
December 31,
2023 2022
Assets (In millions)
Current assets:
Restricted cash and cash equivalents $ 355 $ 459
Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net 105 317
Loans receivable, net 1,198 799
Total current assets 1,658 1,575
Non-current assets:
Long-term investments 23 21
Loans receivable, net 27 24
Total non-current assets 50 45
Total assets $ 1,708 $ 1,620
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ — $ 4
Loans payable and other financial liabilities 693 535
Other liabilities 1 1
Total current liabilities 694 540
Non-current liabilities:
Loans payable and other financial liabilities 782 703
Total non-current liabilities 782 703
Total liabilities $ 1,476 $ 1,243
December 31,
2023 2022
Operating Leases (In millions)
Operating lease right-of-use assets $ 899 $ 656
Finance Leases
Property and equipment, at cost 183 87
Accumulated depreciation (50) (31)
Property and equipment, net $ 133 $ 56
The following table summarizes the weighted average remaining lease term and the weighted average incremental borrowing rate for operating leases and the weighted
average discount rate for finance leases as of December 31, 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022
Weighted average remaining lease term
Operating leases 8 Years 8 Years
Finance leases 3 Years 3 Years
(1) Variable lease payments are expensed as incurred and include charges such as flight hours above minimum, fuel, among others.
The following table summarizes the fixed, future minimum rental payments, excluding variable costs, which are discounted by the Company’s incremental borrowing rates
to calculate the lease liabilities for the operating and finance leases:
Period Ending December 31, 2023 Operating Leases Finance Leases
(In millions)
One year or less $ 190 $ 52
One year to two years 184 47
Two years to three years 153 38
Three years to four years 130 27
Four years to five years 119 9
Thereafter 404 —
Total lease payments $ 1,180 $ 173
Less imputed interest (342) (42)
Total $ 838 $ 131
December 31,
Derivative Instruments Balance sheet location
2023 2022
(In millions)
Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges Other current assets $ — $ 1
Cross currency swap contracts designated as fair value hedge Other current assets 1 —
Interest rate swap contracts not designated as hedging instruments Other non-current assets 22 —
Cross currency swap contracts designated as net investment hedge Other current liabilities 6 2
Interest rate swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges Other current liabilities — 8
Cross currency swap contracts designated as fair value hedge Other current liabilities 4 2
Interest rate swap contracts not designated as hedging instruments Other current liabilities 7 1
Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments Other current liabilities 1 2
Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges Other current liabilities 3 2
Interest rate swap contracts not designated as hedging instruments Other non-current liabilities 10 6
Cross currency swap contracts designated as net investment hedge Other non-current liabilities — 1
The effects of derivative contracts designated as hedging instruments on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as of December 31, 2023 and December
2022 were as follows:
Amount of gain (loss) Amount of (gain) loss
December 31, recognized in other reclassified from December 31,
2022 comprehensive accumulated other 2023
income comprehensive loss
(In millions)
Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges $ (2) $ (12) $ 10 $ (4)
Interest swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges (2) 8 (6) —
Cross currency swap contracts designated as net investment hedge (1) (9) 7 (3)
$ (5) $ (13) $ 11 $ (7)
The effect of the Company’s fair value hedge relationships on the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was a loss of $19
million and a loss of less than $1 million, respectively, and affected interest expense and other financial losses and foreign exchange losses, net (there were no fair value
hedge relationships during the year ended December 31, 2021).
The carrying amount of the hedged items for fair value hedges included in the "Loans payable and other financial liabilities” line item of the consolidated balance sheets
as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are $216 million and $59 million, respectively.
The effect of the Company’s fair value hedge relationships on the consolidated balance sheets related to cumulative basis adjustments for fair value hedges as of
December 31, 2023 and 2022 are $1 million and less than $1 million, respectively (there were no fair value hedge relationships during the year ended December 31, 2021).
The effects of derivative contracts not designated as hedging instruments on the consolidated statements of income during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022
and 2021 were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2023 2022 2021
(In millions)
Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments recognized in Foreign currency losses, net $ (11) $ (10) $ (2)
Currency swap contracts not designated as hedging instruments recognized in Foreign currency losses, net — (29) 2
Interest rate contracts not designated as hedging instruments recognized in Interest expense and other financial 2 (7) —
losses
$ (9) $ (46) $ —
MercadoLibre, Inc.
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
All subsidiaries are wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by MercadoLibre, Inc. unless otherwise indicated.
1. Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-151063) pertaining to the 1999 Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan of MercadoLibre, Inc.; and
2. Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-159891) pertaining to the 2009 Equity Compensation Plan of MercadoLibre, Inc.;
of our reports dated February 23, 2024 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of MercadoLibre, Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting of MercadoLibre, Inc. included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of MercadoLibre, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023.
W e consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-151063 and 333-159891 on Form S-8 of our report dated February
23, 2022, relating to the financial statements of MercadoLibre, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2021, appearing in this Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany this report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company whether made before or after the date hereof,
regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating,
acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been
provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 32.02
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of MercadoLibre, Inc. (the "Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report”), I, Martín de los Santos, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany this report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company whether made before or after the date hereof,
regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing. A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating,
acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been
provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 97
MERCADOLIBRE, INC. POLICY FOR THE
RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION
1. Purpose. The purpose of this Policy is to describe the circumstances in which Executive Officers will be required to repay or return Erroneously Awarded
Compensation to the Company in accordance with the Clawback Rules. Each Executive Officer shall be required to sign and return to the Company the Acknowledgement and
Acceptance Form attached hereto as Exhibit A, pursuant to which such Executive Officer will acknowledge that he or she is bound by the terms of this Policy; provided, however,
that this Policy shall apply to, and be enforceable against, any Executive Officer and his or her successors (as specified in Section 11 of this Policy) regardless of whether or not
such Executive Officer properly signs and returns to the Company such Acknowledgement and Acceptance Form and regardless of whether or not such Executive Officer is
aware of his or her status as such.
2. Administration. Except as specifically set forth herein, this Policy shall be administered by the Administrator. Any determinations made by the Administrator shall be
final and binding on all affected individuals and need not be uniform with respect to each individual covered by this Policy. Subject to any limitation under applicable law, the
Administrator may authorize and empower any officer or employee of the Company to take any and all actions necessary or appropriate to carry out the purpose and intent of
this Policy (other than with respect to any recovery under this Policy involving such officer or employee).
3. Definitions. For purposes of this Policy, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth below.
(a) "Accounting Restatement” shall mean an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company with any financial reporting
requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting restatement to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the
previously issued financial statements (a "Big R” restatement), or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected
in the current period (a "little r” restatement).
(b) "Administrator” shall mean the Committee or any other committee designated by the Board to administer the Policy, and in the absence of such designation,
the Board.
(c) "Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "Clawback Eligible Incentive Compensation” shall mean, with respect to each individual who served as an Executive Officer at any time during the
applicable performance period for any Incentive-based Compensation (whether or not such individual is serving as an Executive Officer at the time the Erroneously Awarded
Compensation is required to be repaid to the Company), all Incentive-based Compensation Received by such individual: (i) on or after the Effective Date; (ii) after beginning
service as an Executive Officer; (iii) while the Company has a class of securities listed on the Listing Exchange; and (iv) during the applicable Clawback Period.
(e) "Clawback Period” shall mean, with respect to any Accounting Restatement, the three completed fiscal years of the Company immediately preceding the
Restatement Date and any transition period (that results from a change in the Company’s fiscal year) of less than nine months within or immediately following those three
completed fiscal years.
(f) "Clawback Rules” shall mean Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any applicable rules or standards adopted by the SEC thereunder (including Rule 10D-1
under the Exchange Act) or the Listing Exchange pursuant to Rule 10D-1 under the Exchange Act (including Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rule 5608) in each case as may be in
effect from time to time.
(g) "Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.
(h) "Company” shall mean MercadoLibre, Inc. (and as the Administrator determines is applicable, together with each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries).
(i) "Effective Date” shall mean October 2, 2023.
(j) "Erroneously Awarded Compensation” shall mean, with respect to each Executive Officer in connection with an Accounting Restatement, the amount of
Clawback Eligible Incentive Compensation that exceeds the amount of Clawback Eligible Incentive Compensation that otherwise would have been Received had it been
determined based on the restated amounts, computed without regard to any taxes paid.
(k) "Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(l) "Executive Officer” shall mean any individual who is or was an executive officer as determined by the Administrator in accordance with the definition of
"executive officer” as set forth in the Clawback Rules and any other senior executive, employee or other personnel of the Company who may from time to time be deemed
subject to the Policy by the Administrator.
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(m) "Financial Reporting Measures” shall mean measures that are determined and presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing
the Company’s financial statements, and any measures that are derived wholly or in part from such measures. Stock price and total shareholder return shall for purposes of
this Policy be considered Financial Reporting Measures. For the avoidance of doubt, a Financial Reporting Measure need not be presented within the Company’s financial
statements or included in a filing with the SEC.
(n) "Impracticable” shall mean, in accordance with the good faith determination of the Committee, or if the Committee does not consist of independent directors,
a majority of the independent directors serving on the Board, that either: (i) the direct expenses paid to a third party to assist in enforcing the Policy against an Executive Officer
would exceed the amount to be recovered, after the Company has made a reasonable attempt to recover the applicable Erroneously Awarded Compensation, documented
such reasonable attempt(s) and provided such documentation to the Listing Exchange; (ii) recovery would violate the Company’s home country law where that law was
adopted prior to November 28, 2022, provided that, before concluding that it would be Impracticable to recover any amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation based on
violation of home country law, the Company has obtained an opinion of home country counsel, acceptable to the Listing Exchange, that recovery would result in such a violation
and a copy of the opinion is provided to the Listing Exchange; or (iii) recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly
available to employees of the Company, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations thereunder.
(o) "Incentive-based Compensation” shall mean any compensation that is granted, earned or vested based wholly or in part upon the attainment of a Financial
Reporting Measure.
(p) "Listing Exchange” shall mean the Nasdaq Stock Market.
(q) "Method of Recovery” shall include, but is not limited to: (i) requiring reimbursement of Erroneously Awarded Compensation; (ii) seeking recovery of any
gain realized on the vesting, exercise, settlement, sale, transfer, or other disposition of any equity-based awards; (iii) offsetting the Erroneously Awarded Compensation from
any compensation otherwise owed by the Company to the Executive Officer; (iv) cancelling outstanding vested or unvested equity awards; and/or (v) taking any other remedial
and recovery action permitted by applicable law, as determined by the Administrator.
(r) "Policy” shall mean this Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time.
(s) "Received” shall, with respect to any Incentive-based Compensation, mean deemed receipt and Incentive-based Compensation shall be deemed received
in the Company’s fiscal period during which the Financial Reporting Measure specified in the Incentive-based Compensation award is attained, even if the payment or grant of
the Incentive-based Compensation occurs after the end of that period. For the avoidance of doubt, Incentive-based Compensation that is subject to both a Financial Reporting
Measure vesting condition and a service-based vesting condition shall be considered received when the Financial Reporting Measure is achieved, even if the Incentive-based
Compensation continues to be subject to the service-based vesting condition.
(t) "Restatement Date” shall mean the earlier to occur of: (i) the date the Board, a committee of the Board or the officer or officers of the Company authorized to
take such action if Board action is not required, concludes, or reasonably should have concluded, that the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement; or (ii)
the date a court, regulator or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an Accounting Restatement.
(u) "SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
4. Repayment of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.
(a) In the event the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement, the Administrator shall reasonably promptly (in accordance with the applicable
Clawback Rules) determine the amount of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation for each Executive Officer in connection with such Accounting Restatement and shall
reasonably promptly thereafter provide each Executive Officer with written notice containing the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation and a demand for repayment or
return, as applicable. For Clawback Eligible Incentive Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return where the amount of Erroneously Awarded
Compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in the applicable Accounting Restatement, the amount shall be determined by the
Administrator based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the stock price or total shareholder return upon which the Clawback Eligible
Incentive Compensation was Received (in which case, the Company shall maintain documentation of such determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such
documentation to the Listing Exchange). The Administrator is authorized to engage, on behalf of the Company, any third-party advisors it deems advisable in order to perform
any calculations contemplated by this Policy. For the avoidance of doubt, recovery under this Policy with respect to an Executive Officer shall not require the finding of any
misconduct by such Executive Officer or such Executive Officer being found responsible for the accounting error leading to an Accounting Restatement.
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(b) In the event that any repayment of Erroneously Awarded Compensation is owed to the Company, the Administrator shall recover reasonably promptly the
Erroneously Awarded Compensation through any Method of Recovery it deems reasonable and appropriate in its discretion based on all applicable facts and circumstances
and taking into account the time value of money and the cost to shareholders of delaying recovery. For the avoidance of doubt, except to the extent permitted pursuant to the
Clawback Rules, in no event may the Company accept an amount that is less than the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation in satisfaction of an Executive Officer’s
obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to take the actions contemplated in this Section 4(b) if recovery
would be Impracticable. In implementing the actions contemplated in this Section 4(b), the Administrator will act in accordance with the listing standards and requirements of
the Listing Exchange and with the applicable Clawback Rules.
(c) Subject to the discretion of the Administrator, an applicable Executive Officer may be required to reimburse the Company for any and all expenses reasonably
incurred (including legal fees) by the Company in recovering Erroneously Awarded Compensation in accordance with Section 4(b).
5. Reporting and Disclosure. The Company shall file all disclosures with respect to this Policy in accordance with the requirements of U.S. federal securities laws,
including any disclosure required by applicable SEC rules.
6. Indemnification Prohibition. The Company shall not be permitted to indemnify any Executive Officer against the loss of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation that is
repaid, returned or recovered pursuant to the terms of this Policy and/or pursuant to the Clawback Rules or to pay or reimburse any Executive Officer for the cost of third-party
insurance purchased by an Executive Officer to cover any such loss under this Policy and/or pursuant to the Clawback Rules. Further, the Company shall not enter into any
agreement that exempts any Incentive-based Compensation from the application of this Policy or that waives the Company’s right to recovery of any Erroneously Awarded
Compensation and this Policy shall supersede any such agreement (whether entered into before, on or after the Effective Date). Any such purported indemnification (whether
oral or in writing) shall be null and void.
7. Interpretation. The Administrator is authorized to interpret and construe this Policy and to make all determinations necessary, appropriate, or advisable for the
administration of this Policy. It is intended that this Policy be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the Clawback Rules. The terms of this Policy
shall also be construed and enforced in such a manner as to comply with applicable law, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act, and any other law or regulation that the Administrator determines is applicable. In the event any provision of this Policy is determined to be
unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be applied to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and shall automatically be deemed
amended in a manner consistent with its objectives to the extent necessary to conform to any limitations required by applicable law.
8. Effective Date. This Policy shall be effective as of the Effective Date.
9. Amendment; Termination. The Administrator may modify or amend this Policy, in whole or in part, from time to time in its discretion and shall amend any or all of the
provisions of this Policy as it deems necessary, including as and when it determines that it is legally required by the Clawback Rules, or any federal securities law, SEC rule or
Listing Exchange rule. The Administrator may terminate this Policy at any time, and this Policy shall remain in effect only so long as the Clawback Rules apply to the Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9 to the contrary, no amendment or termination of this Policy shall be effective if such amendment or termination would (after taking
into account any actions taken by the Company contemporaneously with such amendment or termination) cause the Company to violate the Clawback Rules, or any federal
securities law, SEC rule or Listing Exchange rule. Furthermore, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or as otherwise amended, this Policy shall automatically be
deemed amended in a manner necessary to comply with any change in the Clawback Rules.
10. Other Recoupment Rights; No Additional Payments. The Administrator intends that this Policy will be applied to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The
Administrator may require that any employment agreement, equity award agreement, or any other agreement entered into on or after the Effective Date shall, as a condition to
the grant of any benefit thereunder, require an Executive Officer to agree to abide by the terms of this Policy. Executive Officers shall be deemed to have accepted continuing
employment on terms that include compliance with the Policy, to the extent of its otherwise applicable provisions, and to be contractually bound by its enforcement provisions.
Executive Officers who cease employment or service with the Company shall continue to be bound by the terms of the Policy with respect to Clawback Eligible Incentive
Compensation. Any right of recoupment under this Policy is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recoupment that may be available to the Company
under applicable law, regulation or rule or pursuant to the terms of any similar policy in any employment agreement, cash-based bonus plan, equity award agreement or
similar agreement and any other legal remedies available to the Company. To the extent that an Executive Officer has already reimbursed the Company for any Erroneously
Awarded Compensation Received under any duplicative recovery obligations established by the Company or applicable law, it shall be appropriate for any such reimbursed
amount to be credited to the amount of Erroneously Awarded Compensation that is subject to recovery under this Policy, as determined by the Administrator in its sole
discretion. Nothing in this Policy precludes the Company from implementing any additional clawback or recoupment policies with respect to Executive Officers or any other
service provider of the Company. Application of this Policy does not preclude the Company from taking any other action to enforce any Executive Officer’s obligations to the
Company, including termination of employment or institution of civil or criminal proceedings or any other remedies that may be available to the Company with respect to any
Executive Officer.
11. Successors. This Policy shall be binding and enforceable against all Executive Officers and their beneficiaries, estates, heirs, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives to the extent required by the Clawback Rules or as otherwise determined by the Administrator.
* * *
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Exhibit A
MERCADOLIBRE, INC. POLICY FOR THE
RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE FORM
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Acknowledgement and Acceptance Form shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the MercadoLibre, Inc.
Policy for the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation (the "Policy”). By signing below, the undersigned executive officer (the "Executive Officer”) acknowledges and
confirms that the Executive Officer has received and reviewed a copy of the Policy and, in addition, the Executive Officer acknowledges and agrees as follows:
(a) the Executive Officer is and will continue to be subject to the Policy and that the Policy will apply both during and after the Executive Officer’s employment with
the Company;
(b) to the extent necessary to comply with the Policy, the Policy hereby amends any employment agreement, equity award agreement or similar agreement that
the Executive Officer is a party to with the Company and shall apply and govern Incentive-based Compensation Received by any Executive Officer, notwithstanding any contrary
or supplemental term or condition in any document, plan or agreement including without limitation any employment contract, indemnification agreement, equity agreement, or
equity plan document;
(c) the Executive Officer shall abide by the terms of the Policy, including, without limitation, by returning any Erroneously Awarded Compensation to the Company
to the extent required by, and in a manner permitted by, the Policy;
(d) any amounts payable to the Executive Officer, including any Incentive-based Compensation, shall be subject to the Policy as may be in effect and modified
from time to time in the sole discretion of the Administrator or as required by applicable law or the requirements of the Listing Exchange, and that such modification will be
deemed to amend this acknowledgment;
(e) the Company may recover compensation paid to the Executive Officer through any Method of Recovery the Administrator deems appropriate, and the
Executive Officer agrees to comply with any request or demand for repayment by the Company in order to comply with the Policy;
(f) the Company may, to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law, reduce any amount that may become payable to the Executive Officer by any amount to
be recovered by the Company pursuant to the Policy to the extent such amount has not been returned by the Executive Officer to the Company prior to the date that any
subsequent amount becomes payable to the Executive Officer; and
(g) notwithstanding the terms of any indemnification agreement entered into between the Executive Officer and any member of the Company, the Company shall
not be permitted to indemnify the Executive Officer against the loss of any Erroneously Awarded Compensation that is repaid, returned or recovered pursuant to the terms of
this Policy and/or pursuant to the Clawback Rules or to pay or reimburse the Executive Officer for the cost of third-party insurance purchased by the Executive Officer to cover any
such loss under this Policy and/or pursuant to the Clawback Rules.
This Acknowledgment and Acceptance Form may be electronically signed and any digital or electronic signatures (including pdf, facsimile or electronically imaged signatures
provided by DocuSign or any other digital signature provider) appearing on this Acknowledgment and Acceptance Form are the same as handwritten signatures for the
purposes of validity, enforceability and admissibility, and that delivery of any such electronic signature to, or a signed copy of, this Acknowledgment and Acceptance Form may
be made by facsimile, email or other electronic transmission.
Signature
Print Name
Date