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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

2023

OR

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

For the transition period from                 to               

Commission file number 001-33647

MercadoLibre, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Delaware

98-0212790

Delaware

98-0212790

(State or other jurisdiction of


incorporation or organization)organization

(I.R.S. Employer


Identification Number)

PasajePosta 4789, 6th Floor

Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1430EKG

WTC Free Zone
Dr. Luis Bonavita 1294, Of. 1733, Tower II
Montevideo, Uruguay, 11300
(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(+5411) 4640-8000

(598) 2-927-2770

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

code

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

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

MELI

Nasdaq Global Select Market

2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026

MELI26

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

3.125% Notes due 2031

MELI31

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 

Yes    No   

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes   ☐ No   

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).   Yes      No   

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

Large Accelerated Filer

Accelerated Filer

Non-Accelerated Filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

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

   ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant 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      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   

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, at June 30, 2020,2023, 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, 2020)2023) was approximately $44,862,706,175.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, 20202023 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 26, 2021,23, 2024, there were 49,869,72750,697,442 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 20212024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by no later than April 30, 2021,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.



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MERCADOLIBRE,MERCADOLIBRE, INC.

FORM 10-K

FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

2023

Page

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

14

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

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28

29

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

31

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

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58

62

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64

65

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SIGNATURES

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Any statements made or implied in this report that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and should be evaluated as such. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project,” “should,” “may,” “could,” “will” and similar words and expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are contained throughout this report. Forward-lookingSuch forward looking statements generally relateinclude, but are not limited to, information concerningstatements regarding MercadoLibre, Inc.'s expectations, objectives and progress against strategic priorities; initiatives and strategies related to our possible or assumed future resultsproducts and services; business and market outlook, opportunities, strategies and trends; impacts of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industryforeign exchange; the potential impact of the uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment potential growth opportunities, future economic, political and social conditions in the countries in which we operate and their possible impact on our business,financial results; customer demand and market expansion; our planned product and services releases and capabilities; industry growth rates; future stock repurchases; our expected tax rate and tax strategies; and the effectsimpact and result of future regulationpending legal, administrative and the effects of competition.tax proceedings. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this report) that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things:

our expectations regarding the continued growth of e-commerce and Internet usage in Latin America;

our ability to expand our operations and adapt to rapidly changing technologies;

our ability to attract new customers, retain existing customers and increase revenues;

the impact of government, central bank and other regulations on our business;

litigation and legal liability;

systems interruptions or failures;

our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

consumer trends;

security breaches and illegal uses of our services;

competition;

reliance on third-party service providers;

enforcement of intellectual property rights;

seasonal fluctuations;

political, social and economic conditions in Latin America;

the expected timing and amount of MercadoLibre’s share repurchases;

our long-term sustainability goals; and

the current and potential impact of COVID-19 on our net revenues, gross profit margins, operating margins and liquidity due to future disruptions in operations as well as the macroeconomic instability caused by the pandemic.

Many of these risks are beyond our ability to control or predict. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for Management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on our company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

These statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. While we believe that our assumptions, expectations and projections are reasonable in view of the currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Some of the material risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections are described in “Item 1A—Risk Factors” in Part I of this report. You should read that information in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of Part II of this report, as well as the factors discussed in the other reports and documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). We note such information for investors as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There also may be other factors that we cannot anticipate or that are not described in this report, generally because they are unknown to us or we do not perceive them to be material that could cause results to differ materially from our expectations.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements except as may be required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the SEC.

Many of these risks are beyond our ability to control or predict. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for Management to predict all such risk factors, nor can it assess the impact of all such risk factors on our company’s business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
These statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. While we believe that our assumptions, expectations and projections are reasonable in view of the currently available information, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance.


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PARTPART I

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

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 page views,orders processed, and is present in 18 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Argentina, 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 paymentsfinancial services: the Mercado Libre Marketplace, the Mercado Pago FinTechFintech platform, the Mercado Envios logistics service, the Mercado Libre 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 646650 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(when we act as sellers in our first party business,first-party sales), merchants and individuals to list merchandise and conduct sales and purchases digitally.

To complement the Mercado Libre The Marketplace has an ample assortment of products, with a wide range of categories such as consumer electronics, apparel and enhance the user experience for our buyersbeauty, home goods, automotive accessories, toys, books 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, easilyentertainment and promptly send and receive payments, but it is now 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 Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay, and is also available for our buyers and sellers in Peru.

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 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 securely share sensitive personal and financial data with us.

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 aircraftsaircraft covering routes across Brazil and Mexico, which we expect will allow us to improvewith 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 aggressively 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 mobile wallet;digital account;

Pre-paid cards and debit cards for users to spend and withdraw their account balances from their Mercado Pago wallet, as well as co-branded credit cards in Argentina;digital account;

Merchant credits and consumer credits, both on and off the Mercado Libre Marketplace;Marketplace, and credit cards;

A money market fundInsurance 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, which we market under the name Mercado Fondo.accounts; and

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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the payments business had a positive effect on the majorityA cryptocurrency buy, hold and sell feature of our online payment flows which benefited from the same tailwinds as our e-commerce businesswallet in Brazil, Mexico and more than offset the negative impact of the pandemic on our offline payment solutions which suffered as a result of the lockdowns imposed by the governments in Latin AmericaChile, for users to buy, hold and the resulting contracted physical footprint.sell selected global cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

We launched

Mercado Credito, our credit solution in 2016available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and in 2017 in Brazil and Mexico. Mercado CreditoChile, leverages our user base, which is not only loyal and engaged, butand 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. Initially, we began offering credit to our merchants given ourOur distribution capabilities and in-depth understanding of theirour customers’ behavior and merchants’ sales on the Mercado Libre Marketplace. This hasMarketplace 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,institutions.
We offer credit lines to both our online merchants as we are able to leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms that we historically used for fraud prevention. Additionally, becausewell 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.

Having identified

Consumers can access credit lines through us once we score and approve them through our proprietary models. Loans can be used for a similar opportunity to fill a gap in terms of demand for credit,purchase on the Mercado Libre Marketplace, or on third party sites that use our payments processing technology. Since 2019, we began to originate working capitalalso extend personal loans to merchants who adopt our MPOS solutions. Merchant credit to MPOS merchants was launched in Argentina and Brazil in 2018 and in Mexico in 2019.

A significant segment of the population in Latin America does not have access to credit cards. Knowing that access to credit is an enabler for consumers when purchasing high-ticket items, in 2017 we began to extendrecurring consumer credit to our buyers as well, leveraging their existing data on Mercado Libre’s Marketplaces to proactively offer loans toborrowers, allowing them both on and off the marketplace. We introduced Mercado Credito for consumers in Argentina in 2017, in Brazil in 2018 and in Mexico in 2019. As we better understood consumer behavior on our Marketplace, we rolled out Mercado Credito to selected buyers in 2019 so that they could buy products and services off-platformoutside of our platform via the Mercado Pago digital account. In 2021, we launched our first Mercado Pago credit card in ArgentinaBrazil, followed by Mexico in 2023, which is free, internationally accepted, digitally managed and Brazil. In 2020, we also rolled out this feature in Mexico.

Our credits business was initially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the early stagescan be used on- and off-platform. An advantage of the pandemic. AsMercado Pago credit card is that it allows users to pay in additional installments for purchases on the pandemic worsenedMercado Libre Marketplace and governments increasingly imposed lockdowns in April 2020, we slowedaccrue additional points to our pace of originations as a precautionary measure to manage our exposure to merchant and consumer credit risk. As the year progressed and our business began to accelerate again we were able to mitigate default rates due to the swift preventative measures we took in April 2020. Consequently, non-performing loans began to improve and we started increasing originations again. user loyalty program.

We entered the second half of 2020 with morecollect data in our proprietary credit models, which helpedhelps us gain a better understanding of users. This understanding enabled us tounderstand and more accurately predict theirthe behavior of our users, and continue increasing the pace of originations while maintaining low levels of uncollectibility to date.

During the second half of 2018, we launched ouruncollectible debt at an acceptable level from a business perspective.

Our asset management product, for individualswhich is available in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and for individuals and businesses in Brazil. More recently, in 2020, we launched the asset management product in Mexico. This productChile, is a critical pillar to buildingbuild 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 internet.Mercado Libre Marketplace and Mercado Pago Fintech platform. Through our advertising platform, brands and sellers are able to display ads on our webpagespages 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, benefittingbenefiting 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:

Country

Marketplace

Mercado Pago

Mercado

Pago

Mercado Envios

Mercado Credito

Argentina

ü

ü

ü

ü

Brazil

ü

ü

ü

ü

Mexico

ü

ü

ü

ü

Uruguay

ü

ü

ü

Colombia

ü

üü
Chileüüüü

ColombiaPeru

ü

ü

ü

ChileEcuador

ü

ü

ü

Peru

ü

ü

Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador

ü

We have two distinctive revenue streams in our business:

Commerce Servicesrevenue

Our Commerce business is comprised of two primary revenue streams that arestreams: Services and Product Sales. Our Services revenue stream is mainly generated from:from Marketplace fees that include final value fees and flat fees for transactions below a certain merchandise value;value, related shipping fees net of third-party carrier costs (when we act as an agent); and storage fees, classifieds fees; adfees, advertising sales up-front fees; sales of goods;fees, and fees from other ancillary businesses.

Our Product Sales revenue stream entails selling merchandise on a first-party basis from our own inventory and related shipping fees.

Fintech Servicesrevenue

Our Fintech business is comprised of three primary revenue streams that are generatedstreams: (a) Fintech Services, which includes revenues from ourcommissions we charge for transactions off-platform derived from use of the payment solution, offering installments, either when we finance transactions directly or when we sell the corresponding financial assets, as well as Mercado Pago business. With respectcredit and debit card fees, and insurtech fees; (b) Credit Revenues, which includes revenues from interest earned on loans and advances granted to merchants and consumers, and interest earned on Mercado Pago we generate fees attributable to: commissions that are charged to sellers representing a percentage of the processed payment volume in connection with off-Marketplacecredit card 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; commissions from additional fees we charge when our sellers elect to withdraw cash, cash advances and fees from merchant and consumer credits granted under our Mercado Credito solution; and(c) Fintech Product Sales, which includes revenues from the salesales of MPOS products.

mobile point of sales devices.

Our strategy

Our main focus is to serve people in Latin America by enabling wider access to retail, digital payments and e-commerce services, and by providing compelling technology-based solutions that democratize commerce and money, thus contributing to the development of a large and growing digital economy in a region with a population of over 646650 million people and one of the fastest-growing e-commerce and internet penetration rates in the world.

We serve our buyers by giving them access to a broad and affordable variety of products and services, a selection we believe to be larger than otherwise available to them via other online and offline sources serving our Latin American markets. We believe we serve our sellers by giving them access to a larger and more geographically diverse user base at a lower overall cost and investment than offline venues serving our Latin American markets. Additionally, we provide payment settlement services and shipping solutions to facilitate such transactions, and advertising solutions to promote them. We also serve our users by making capital more accessible through different credit products and fostering entrepreneurship and social mobility, with the goal of creating significant value for our stakeholders.

More broadly, we strive to make inefficient markets more efficient through technology and in that process generate value for all our stakeholders.

To achieve these objectives, we intend to pursue the following strategies:

Expand into additional transactional service offerings. Our strategic focus is to enable online transactions of multiple types of goods and services throughout Latin America. Consequently, we strive to launch online transactional offerings in new product and service categories where we believe business opportunities exist. These new transactional offerings include, but are not limited to: (a) maximizing utilization of Mercado Pago on our platform and expanding off-platform in digital and offline transactions, (b) offering additional product categories in our marketplace, (c) expanding our presence in vehicle, real estate and services classifieds, (d) maximizing the value and usage of account money through savings and investment products, (e) maximizing utilization of Mercado Envios, (f) expanding our Mercado Credito service, (g) offering enterprise software solutions to our online commerce business users and (h) expanding our advertising offerings. We believe that a significant portion of our growth will be derived from these new or expanded product and service launches within our ecosystem in the future.

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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 Mercado Puntos loyalty program for frequent buyers.users.

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Continue to grow our business and maintain market leadership. We focus on growing our business, achieving as many 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 businessservices in new countries and entering new category segments, by launching new transactional business lines, and through potential strategic acquisitions of key businesses and assets.

Expand into additional transactional service offerings. Our strategic focus is to enable online transactions of multiple types of goods and services throughout Latin America. Consequently, we strive to launch online transactional offerings in new product and service categories where we believe business opportunities exist. These new transactional offerings include, but are not limited to: (a) offering additional product categories in our marketplace, (b) expanding our presence in vehicle, real estate and services classifieds, (c) maximizing utilization of Mercado Pago on our platform and expanding off-platform in digital and offline transactions, (d) maximizing the value and usage of account money through investments in Mercado Fondo ,(e) maximizing utilization of Mercado Envios, (f) expanding our Mercado Credito service, (g) offering enterprise software solutions to our online commerce business clients and (h) expanding our advertising offerings. We believe that a significant portion of our growth will be derived from these new or expanded product and service launches in the future.

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 Mercado Puntos 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.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 2020,2023, 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 launched branding campaignsrelaunched our loyalty program (Meli+) to increase users engagement and accelerated our digital financial services positioning for Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago, executed onPago. These campaigns were rolled out across public TV, cable TV, radio, billboards and on online platforms, such as YouTube.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 Black Friday. In lightBuen Fin, leveraging our unique ecosystem of the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched our new logo “Codo a Codo” (elbow to elbow) to increase awareness regarding new healthsolutions within advertising, Mercado Credito, Mercado Shops and safety protocols. This campaign included communications about how our users could use our Marketplace platform to receive goods that they needed at home in a safe way and included a branded content program aimed at thanking the heroes of the pandemic. Codo a Codo also included an initiative to support MSMEs aimed at communicating how together we could reactivate the economy across Latin America. Our expenditures on marketing and sales expenses related to our strategic marketing initiatives were $391.2 million during 2020 and $473.9 million during 2019.

Mercado Envios.

Product Development and Technology

At

On December 31, 2020,2023, we had 5,20115,638 employees on our information technology and product development staff, an increase of 13% from 1,70913,856 employees aton December 31, 2019,2022, due to new hires and as a consequence of improvements in our ecosystem products, such as Mercado Envios and our FinTech solution, which increased our information technology and product development staff. We incurred product development expenses (including salaries) in the amount of $352.5 million in 2020 and $223.8 million in 2019.

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 quickly,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 sixseveral development centers in Argentina,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 concentrate the majority ofoperate. Different languages and cultures require different features and products, and our multi-disciplinary development efforts. We have other research and/or development centers in Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico, Colombiateam can draw from both data and Chile.

their own culture for insights when designing, implementing, and releasing products.

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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 inventionsinnovations and developments in the field.

We also rely on certain technologies that we license from third parties, suppliers of key database technology, operating systemsystems and specific hardware components for our services.

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In the past, we have been continuously working onstarted a deep technology overhaul to switch from a closed and monolithic system to an open and decoupled one. We split Mercado Libreour teams into many smalldecoupled 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. AllThis successful overhaul allowed us to unlock greater developer productivity from all our teams. In the front-ends are also being rewritten on top of these APIs. This effort has consumed a large amount of capital, people and management’s focus, andpast, we intend to keep investing in this area. In October 2012, we opened up our platform to allow third parties to integrate the developer community during a launch event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We seek to further openvarious 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 in the other locations into 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 operate,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 objectivepurpose of continuing to enhanceincreasing the rate of development and, by extension, the pace and cadence with which all our ecosystem.

We anticipate that we will continue to devote significant resources to product development in the future as weteams add new features and functionalityvalue to our services. The market in which we compete is characterized by rapidly changing and disruptive technologies, evolving industry and regulatory standards, frequent new service and product announcements, introductions and enhancements and changing customer demands. Accordingly, we believe the cornerstone of our future success will depend on our ability to adapt to rapidly changing technologies, to adapt our services to evolving industry and regulatory standards and to continually improve the performance, features, user experience and reliability of our services in response to competitive product and service offerings and evolving demands of the marketplace.

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 (i.e. southern and northern hemispheres) 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 Christmasholiday season. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Seasonality”. 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 Cyber MondayBuen Fin generate an increase in transactions.

Competition

The online commerce market is rapidly evolving and is highly competitive. We expect competition to intensify even further in the future. 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 such as B2W or Magazine Luiza grow their e-commerce businesses, but also fromas international players such as Amazon, which has been operating in Mexico since 2015 and continued to establish and expanded its online retailing businessexpand, mainly in Brazil and Mexico.
The financial services market is also becoming increasingly competitive with the growth of several fintechs established in 2020.

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.methods that service both merchants and individuals. Mercado Pago also competes in the rapidly evolving FinTechfintech space with local and strong global players that are becoming increasingly interested in Latin America.

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

We regard the protection of our

Our intellectual property (“IP”) rights such as copyrights, trademarks, domain names and trade secrets asare critical to our future success and rely on a combination of intellectual property and unfair competitioncopyright, trademark, patent designs, trade secret laws and contractual restrictionsrestrictions.
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 establish andus by the appropriate regulatory authority in every country where our services are available online, meaning our ability to protect our proprietarybrands 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 inof third parties and for information and material disseminated through our products and services. 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 inventionintellectual property assignment agreements with our employees and certain contractors. WeTo prevent disclosure of our proprietary information to unauthorized parties, we have also establishedentered into non-disclosure agreements with our employees, strategic partners and some suppliers in order to limit access to and prevent disclosure of our proprietary information.

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In particular, we pursue the registration of our trademarks in each country in which we operate as well as in the United States, in the European Union, in China and in certain other strategic countries.

As part of our acquisition of Classified Media Group, Inc. (or “CMG”), we acquired trademarks of CMG in Colombia and Venezuela. We also own trademarks of Autoplaza.com.mx in Mexico. Additionally, we acquired and operate online classified advertisements platforms dedicated to the sale of real estate in Chile through the Portal Inmobiliario brand and in Mexico through the Metros Cúbicos brand. We acquired Metros Cúbicos S.A. de C.V. (“Metros Cúbicos”) and its trademarks in 2015, which is a company dedicated to the sale of real estate in Mexico. Metros Cúbicos merged into MercadoLibre, S. de R.L. de C.V. as of December 2016.

We have licensed in the past, and expect that we may license in the future, certain of our proprietary rights, such as trademarks or copyrights, to third parties.parties in the past and expect to continue to license such rights in the future. While we attemptseek to ensure that our licensees maintain the quality of the Mercado Libre brand, our licenseesthey 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.

Third parties have from time to time claimed, and others may claim in the future, that we have infringed their intellectual property rights by the content listing or the products offered on Mercado Libre. See “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and “Item 1A. Risk factors—Risks relatedIntellectual Property Risks—We may not be able to adequately protect and enforce our business—intellectual property rights. We could potentially face legal and financial liability forclaims alleging that our technologies infringe the sale of items that infringe on the intellectual property and distribution rights of others and for information and material disseminated through our platforms” below, where we explain our related measures and our Brand Protection Program, the program we provide to intellectual property rights owners to enable them to enforce their rights against listings on our sites that allegedly infringe upon those rights.others.

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Human Capital

Employees and Labor Relations

The following table shows the number of our employees by country atas of December 31, 2020:

2023:

Country

Number of Employees

ArgentinaBrazil

22,791

6,995

BrazilMexico

16,195

4,986

UruguayArgentina

10,663

1,126

MexicoColombia

4,419

1,023

ColombiaChile

2,380

965

ChileUruguay

1,780

419

VenezuelaPeru

45

16

PeruVenezuela

26

16

United States

10
Ecuador4
Total

58,313

15,546

We manage operations in the remaining countries in which we have operations remotely from our headquarters in Argentina.

remotely.

Our employees in Brazil are represented by different labor unions: i) Fetramag (“Federação dos Trabalhadores na Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral de Goiás, Bahia e Piauí”) in the States of Goias, Bahia and Piauí, ii) Fetrammergs ((“Federação dos Trabalhadores na Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral, Comércio Armazenador e Auxiliares de Administração de Armazéns Gerais do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul”) in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, and iii) by an Information Technology Companies Labor Union in the State of São Paulo (Sindiesp (“Sindicato dos Trabalhadores nas Empresas e Cursos de Informática do Estado de São Paulo”). in the State of São Paulo, iv) Fetramov (“Federação dos Trabalhadores na Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral e Operações de Logística do Estado de Minas Gerais”) in the State of Minas Gerais, v) Sintracamp (“Sindicato da Categoria Profissional dos Trabalhadores Empregados e Avulsos, na Movimentação e Ensacamento de Mercadorias e de Cargas e Descargas em Geral de Campinas e Região”) in the city of Louveira, State of São Paulo, vi) Sintrammgep (“Sindicato dos Trabalhadores em Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral de Paulínia e Região”) in the city of Cajamar, State of São Paulo, vii) Fetrammasc (“Federação dos Trabalhadores na Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral e Auxiliar de Administração em Gerais, Similares, Conexos”) in the State of Santa Catarina, viii) Sintramoju (“Sindicato dos Trabalhadores na Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral e Logistica de Jundiaí e Região”) in the city of Franco da Rocha, State of São Paulo, ix) Sintrammsp (“Sindicato dos Trabalhadores, na Movimentação de Mercadorias em Geral e Auxiliar na Administração em Geral de São Paulo”) in the city of Perus, State of São Paulo, x) Sindpd SC (“Sindicato dos Empregados em Empresas de Processamento de Dados de Santa Catarina”) in the State of Santa Catarina, and xi) Sinetrosv (“Sindicato dos Empregados em Escritório de Empresas de Transporte Rodoviário de Osasco, Sorocaba e Vale do Ribeira”) in the cities of Osasco, Sorocaba and Vale do Ribeira, State of São Paulo. Also, some of our employees in Argentina are represented by the Commercial Labor Union ((“Sindicato de Empleados de ComercioComercio”) and our fulfillment employees in Argentina are represented by “Sindicato“Sindicato de Carga y Descarga” and some of our employees in Uruguay are represented by the Commercial Labor Union (“(“Federación Uruguaya de Empleados de Comercio y Servicios”). In Mexico some of our fulfillment employees are represented by the Mexican Commercial Labor Union (“Federación Obrera Sindical de la República Mexicana”). Unions or local regulations in other countries could also require that employees be represented. We consider our relations with our employees to be good and we implement a variety of human resources practices, programs and policies that are designed to hire, develop, compensate and retain our employees.

Talent

Culture and Development

To

If we want to shed light on the most significant attribute that makes MercadoLibre a unique place to work at, we need to point to our entrepreneurial culture. This attribute, visible since our early garage days in Buenos Aires, continues to live in the more than 58,000 people that create our great team across Latin America.
MercadoLibre’s DNA, our culture, is best represented by a protagonist attitude, a relentless mandate to create value for our users to take risks and innovate, while delivering excellence as a team. Integrity nurtures our DNA and defines our identity, beliefs and conduct. For 24 years, our culture has played a major role in our Company’s exciting and successful story, becoming a competitive advantage and a major differentiating factor.
Our leadership team takes a central role in modeling our culture. One of our cultural principles is “Lead by example”. Our leaders are expected to be the first to give their best, to spread enthusiasm and, above all, to inspire the Company’s culture and DNA with their actions. Over the past year, we have trained over 1,500 leaders to become multipliers of our DNA. This included over 70 training sessions focused on maximizing the impact of our leaders, with an emphasis on overcoming challenges, embodying MercadoLibre's culture through a protagonist attitude, and the importance of effective feedback. We are excited about the positive impact these trainings have generated, not only on the participants and their teams but, consequently, on the business results. In 2024, we expect to reach a total of more than 1,800 leaders.
In 2023, our “Leading Ops” program trained over 3,400 leaders to strengthen management in our logistics operation, which has enhanced productivity and has helped us continue with our expansion goal of our logistics network reaching every home in Latin America,America.
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Leading the business in every market where we attract, engageoperate requires attracting, engaging and developdeveloping the best talenttalent. At MercadoLibre, we do so by offering people a transformativemeaningful experience and co-creating the best place to work, one where our DNA multiplies. In a fast-paced, dynamic, joyful and ensuringcollaborative 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 “DNA” (oragile 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)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 present in every corneran example of our business. Our businesscommitment to serve as a growth engine for Latin America in response to the challenges presented in the last years.
It is based on technologya privilege and knowledge. In ordersource of pride to achievecontinue 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 goalsTechnology, Product, and Logistics teams. We have been consistently expanding over the last 10 years, and in innovation and knowledge we need focused and prepared human capital; motivated and committed employees to drive sustainable results. 

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We care about developing the unique relationshiplast three years, we have with each person who choosesalmost quadrupled our workforce (from 15,546 to work at MercadoLibre. Our Human Capital team is made up of almost 300 people, who operate58,313 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 clear vision and strategy so thatdistinctive value proposition. The growth in direct employment, coupled with the behaviors and systems within our Company are consistent with our DNA. Our strategy is based on a platform of coherent, rooted and constantly developing culture. We believe that being partdevelopment of our Company is an experiencebusiness, 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 is always dynamic, collaborative, inspiringtrust our ecosystem today.
This growth allowed us to continue to expand the shipping network and full of opportunities. Our employee value proposition is designedstrengthen the technology team that develops our commerce and fintech solutions throughout the region.
We want MercadoLibre to be attractive to the profile of entrepreneurialbest choice for employment, but we are aware that we operate in a very competitive industry where talent andmanagement is aligned with our DNA.critical. For this reason, it allows everyone inwe strive to honor every day the value proposition that we offer to our Companyemployees.
Well-being
At MercadoLibre we seek to engage their experience in a unique way.

The COVID-19 pandemic has providedmaximize human potential by sharing the “MELI stage” of each person’s life as an opportunityintegrated 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 testthe well-being of our culture, which we believe isteams and understand the correlation that exists between effectiveness and balancing the different areas of our lives, work being one of our main competitive advantages,them.

With this perspective in mind, we work on the comprehensive nature of well-being, which includes physical and to assess how it responds to this unexpected context in which our business continues to grow. Surprisingly, in this challenging context,emotional health, social connection, and financial well-being.
In 2023, we believe that our teams have achieved their highest level of engagement. Despite its difficulties, 2020 will stand out in our history asorganized the year in which we established ourselves as onesecond edition of the best employment choice inWellbeing Summit, a regional virtual event available to all our employees to discuss, alongside distinguished speakers, the regioncomprehensive nature of well-being, as well as habits and among the top 10 worldwide based on the 2020 Great Placeroutines to Work rankings.

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 with respect toregarding diversity and inclusion is to: i) buildfocused on three dimensions:
The construction of diverse teams with respectthat 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 disabilities, and racial or ethnic backgrounds, ii) fosterexpression, 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 culture through the experience that each person lives in MELI: the waysociety, fostering equal opportunities for all with products, services, and initiatives.
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Table of doing things, the workspaces, the technology and the processes, and iii) nourish IT talent, expanding access to technology education, prioritizing gender. Contents
We prioritize the inclusion and the development of women within the Company. Fourin our sector. At MercadoLibre, four out of ten employees are women who make up 25%(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 leadership positions in Senior Management. We havesame seniority enjoy the same income level throughout MercadoLibre.
At MercadoLibre, we are constantly progressing by promoting increasingly inclusive teams and environments, and also made progress in our recruitment model, promoting awarenessevolving accessible technologies for providers and providing tools to our Talent Acquisition teams regarding unconscious bias when hiring, developing and engaging people.

Health and safety policies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic

When the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Latin America, we took several precautions that management deemed were necessary to safeguard employees’s health and safety, using its transformational capital to care for employees and guarantee our continued operations. In a matter of 24 hours, 90%users. The percentage of our employees transitioned to a remote working environment. The remaining 10% that were deemed to be essential staff continued working on site subject to new healthwith disabilities doubled in 2021, and safety standards.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 making remote work possiblethe promotion of an increasingly inclusive society impacts our business. Our Mercado Libre and reinforcing preventionMercado Pago platforms have evolved significantly in terms of accessibility for visual and security measuresmotor 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 essential on siteeveryone.

Developing policies that accompany our employees in their family planning is key at MercadoLibre. In 2018, we also focused onbecame the wellness experience. We increased mindfulness, yoga, gym workouts and psychological assistance services. We also scheduled and broadcasted talks with specialistsfirst company in areas relatingthe region to wellbeing, such as learning circles on howsupport women interested in preserving eggs to manage emotions, healthy sleep recommendations and resilience, among others.

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

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, electronic payments,fintech, privacy, data protection, taxation, (including value added taxes (“VAT”), or sales tax collection obligations), obligations to provide information to certain authorities about transactions occurring on our platform or about our users, anti moneyanti-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 increasing popularity and useuser´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, electronic or mobile payments,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

Since 2013, we

Mercado Pago’s activities are subject to obligationsa 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 Brazil imposed onthe 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 processing functions carried outservice to the public accepted by non-financial institutions. Onmore 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 1, 2018, weMercado Pago obtained the approval from the Central Bank of Brazil (“BACEN”)BACEN to operate as authorizedbecome a payment institution, pursuant to its regulations and controls. The approval confirmed our ability to continue carrying out the payment processing functions.

With the Authorization, Mercado Pago in Brazil is subject to the supervision of the BACEN and must fully comply with all the obligations established in the current regulation, under penalty of (i) formal warning establishing a deadline for the remediation of non-compliance activity, (ii) pay penalties for non-compliance, or (iii) shut down our Mercado Pago business in Brazil for an indefinite period of time, which would be costly. 

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In November 2020, the BACEN approved the application filed by MercadoLibre Inc. for authorization to incorporate a financial institution in the modality of savingsan issuer of electronic currency, pursuant to which Mercado Pago carries out payment processing functions and loan associations. In lightoffers 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 authorization grantedMercado 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 new institution (Mercado Crédito Sociedade de Crédito, Financiamento e Investimento S.A.Special Settlement and Custody System (“SELIC”) will be able.
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 activities relatedas such, relating to peer-to-peer transfers between accounts opened by our users within the Mercado Pago payment account. Pursuant to the grantingBACEN’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 loans in a more efficient wayusers and to obtain better funding alternatives for the business. annual cash value of our peer-to-peer transfer transactions.
In addition, Mercado CréditoPago as a payment institution in Brazil will now beis 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 supervisionrelevant 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 must fully comply withrequirements for the existing regulations.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 sincein 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 “ANDP”“ANPDP”).

We have created a program to overseeimplement the implementation of 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(the “CBA”Argentina (“CBA”) enacted regulations relating to the payments servicesservice providers that apply to the FinTechFintech 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 user’susers’ funds in a freely available bank account; (iii) allowing users to dispose immediately of the funds accreditedcredited to their accounts; and (iv) providing information to the CBA relating to the business of paymentspayment processing. On July 7, 2020, Mercado LibreMercadoLibre S.R.L. was registered onwith the CBA as a payment service provider in accordance with applicable regulations.

In October 2020, the CBA issued

As a regulation that applies to non-financial loan providers. In accordance with this regulation, we had to register in the Registry of other non-financial loan providers by December 1, 2020 and, effectiveprovider, since March 1, 2021, we will needhave 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 as ofon January 1, 2021, and the rules regarding the protection of users of financial services, methods of communication and access to information became effective as ofon 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 particularly, our peer-to-peer lending business, we may need to secure governmental authorizations or licenses or comply with regulations applicable to financial institutions, electronicsuch payments and lending activities and/or anti-money laundering in the countries where we offer this service.laundering. In this regard, since November 2016 thetwo of our Argentine subsidiary of the Company issubsidiaries have been registered beforewith the Argentine anti-money laundering authority (“Unidad de Información Financiera”) as an entityentities subject to certain reporting obligations pursuant to anti-money laundering local regulations relating to the issuance of prepaid cards, and, for 2020, card aggregator activities.

Mexico

activities and insurance.

In 2017, Mexico’s anti-competition regulatory agency (“COFECE”) began to investigate potential monopolistic practices acrossSeptember 2021, MercadoLibre S.R.L. completed the e-commerce industry in an effort to ensure complianceregistration process with the Mexican anti-competition statute. The investigation soughtNational Insurance Superintendent to ascertain whether Mercado Libre was unduly conditioning online sellers’ accessoperate as appointed agent for insurance companies (“agente institorio”), which allows MercadoLibre S.R.L. to offer its marketplaceusers insurance policies sold by one or more insurance companies, as well as to the usemanage certain aspects of its own payment solution (Mercado Pago), with anticompetitive intent or effect. After an exhaustive investigation, COFECE concluded that the alleged conduct does not unduly hinder competition and therefore is not an illegal practice. The investigation was closed on May 14, 2020.

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. The application is being currently processed
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.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 paymentfinancial 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, Mercado Pago has started the process of incorporating a new company (“in June 2023, MercadoPago S.A. Compañía de Financiamiento”) which will requestFinanciamiento obtained a license to actoperate as a financial institution in Colombia, and will therefore beis able to offer credits, digital accounts, investments and prepaid cards without any limitation.cards. We expect this new company to be fully operational by the beginningfirst quarter of June 2021.

2024 and be subject to minimum capital, reporting, consumer protection and risk management requirements.

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Uruguay

Uruguay and Peru

Uruguay and Peru have also enactedhas implemented comprehensive regulations that cover a wide variety of issues related togoverning electronic payments or e-money, including, among other things, rules related to the requirement to obtain authorization from the relevant authority to operate, offer or provide certain payment services. payments.

In September 2016, we obtained the registration of our Uruguayan subsidiary beforeDeremate.com de Uruguay S.R.L. from the Central Bank of Uruguay (“BCU”) as an entity entitled to provide services of payments and collections.collections (“PSPC”). Thus, on November 1, 2016, Mercado Pago was launched in Uruguay.

Chile

In 2017July 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 2018, Chile enactedsince then, must adhere to regulations regarding the issuanceplacement of user funds, including the obligation to deposit and operationmaintain these funds in designated local bank accounts to guarantee the availability 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.balances in each user’s digital account. In 2020,October 2023, MercadoPago Uruguay S.R.L. was authorized by the Chilean Commission for the Financial Market authorized Mercado Pago to act as a prepaid card issuer and payment card operator, which is the first phase in the process. Mercado Pago’s request for authorization to operate, which is the second phase in the process, is still pending before the Chilean Commission for the Financial Market.

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 areBCU, subject to depreciation, volatility and exchange controls” for more information.

We are also the beneficiary of certain tax regulations in various jurisdictions in which we operate.

The Argentine Industry Secretary approved our main Argentine subsidiary as beneficiaryterms of the Argentine Regimeregulations, to promote the software industry. Benefits of receiving this status included a relief of 60% of total income tax related to software development activitiesinvest its user funds in short-term investments, including “overnight” bank deposits, leveraging results and a 70% relief in payroll taxes related to software development activities. These tax benefits expiredassuming associated risks.

In July 2023, Communication No. 2023/147, superseded by Communication No. 2024/018 on December 31, 2019. On June 2019, a new law was enacted by the Argentine government (knowledge-based economy promotional regime), whichFebruary 1, 2024, established new tax benefits intended to take effect as of January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2029,regulations for certain companies that meet specific criteria. Such law allowed companies, that at the time were benefiting from the old software development law, to apply for tax benefits under the new law. On January 20, 2020, a new resolution issued by Argentina’s Ministry of Productive Development suspended the application of the new law until new provisions were issued.reporting security incidents. In October 2020, Argentina2023, 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 Law 27,570, which amended the new law by imposing new requirements to qualify for the promotional regime and modified certain benefits; additional regulations were issued in January and February 2021. The Company is currently assessing whether it will be eligible to benefit from the new law and related tax benefits, and such eligibility remaining subject to Argentine government approval. Further regulations related to the applicationcard 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 regime are expected to be released. See Item 8 of Part II, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data-Note 2-Summary of significant accounting policies-Income taxes.”merchants affiliated.

We are also subject to significant data protection and privacy-related regulations in many of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Further, some jurisdictions in which we operate are considering imposing additional restrictions or regulations.

Segment and Geographic Information

For an analysis of financial information about our segments, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Reporting Segments and Geographic Information”, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Description of Line Items—Net revenues” and Note 8, Segments to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report and incorporated by reference in this Item 1.

Offices

We are a Delaware corporation incorporated on October 15, 1999. Our registered office is located at 874 Walker Road,800 North State Street, Suite C,304, Kent County, Dover, Delaware.Delaware, 19901. Our principal executive offices are located at Pasaje Posta 4789, 6th Floor, Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1430EKG.Dr. Luis Bonavita 1294, Of. 1733, Tower II, Montevideo, Uruguay, 11300.
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Available Information

Our Internet address is www.mercadolibre.com.www.mercadolibre.com. Our investor relations website is investor.mercadolibre.cominvestor.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 sustainabilityAnnual Integrated Impact report isand the Sustainability Bond report are available on our investor relations website. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and 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, Pasaje Posta 4789, 6th floor, Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1430EKG.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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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

Set forth below are the risks that we believe are material to our stockholders and prospective stockholders. You should carefully consider the following factors in evaluating our company, our properties and our business.

Risks related to our business

and operations

Our business depends on the continued growth of online commerce and digital financial services, the commercial and financial activity that our users generate on our platformplatforms and the availability and reliability of the Internet in Latin America.

America

Online commerce isand digital financial services are still a developing market in Latin America. A significant portion of our business is based on an Internet platform for commercial and financial transactions in which almost all activity depends on our users and is therefore largely outside of our control. Except for our first party business,first-party sales, we do not choose which items will be listed, nor do we make pricing or other decisions relating to the products and services bought and sold on our platform. Our future revenues depend substantially on Latin American consumers’ and providers’ widespread acceptance and continued use of the Internet as a way to conduct commerce and to carry out specific financial transactions. For us to grow our user base successfully, more consumers and providers must accept and use new ways of conducting business and exchanging information. The price of personal computers and/or mobile devices and Internet access may limit our potential growth in certain areas or countries with low levels of Internet penetration and/or high levels of poverty. The infrastructure for the Internet in Latin America may not be able to support continued growth in the number of Internet users, their frequency of use or their bandwidth requirements.

Given that we operate in a business environment in Latin America that is different than the environment in which other companies providing e-commerce companiesand digital financial services operate, the performance of such other e-commerce companies is not an indication of our future financial performance. Availability, transaction speeds, acceptance, interest and use of the Internet across Latin America are all critical to our growth and services and the occurrence of any one or more of the above challenges to Internet usage could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We operate in a highly competitive and evolving environment.

environment

The e-commerce and omnichannel retail, e-commerce services, fintech and digital content and electronic devices industries are relatively new in Latin America, rapidly evolving, highly innovative and intensely competitive, and we expect competition to become more intense in the future. To compete successfully, we must accurately anticipate technology developments and deliver innovative, relevant and useful products and services in a timely manner. Our competitors may respond to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements faster and more effectively than we do, and they may also devote greater resources to the development, promotion, and sale of products and services.
Barriers to entry are relatively low and current offline and new competitors, including small businesses who want to create and promote their own stores or platforms, can easily launch new sites, mobile platforms or applications at relatively low cost using software that is commercially available.available or partner with other e-commerce, search, advertising or social media companies. Users who purchase or sell goods and services through us have increasingly more options and merchants have more channels to reach consumers. Competitors may also be more narrowly focused on a particular type of goods and create a compelling community.
We have many competitors in different industries, ranging from large and established companies to emerging start-ups. Mercado Libre’s Marketplace currently competes with a number of companies, includingincluding: traditional brick and mortar retailers, e-commerce and omnichannel retailers and vendors and distributors offering physical, digital and interactive media products that have launched online offerings;we offer and sell on our platform; online sales, auction services and auctioncomparison shopping websites; social media platforms and online and app-based means of search engines for the purchase of goods and services; companies that provide e-commerce related services such as inventory, storage and supply chain management, fulfillment, advertising and payment processing; other small services,online service providers, including those that serve specialty markets; business-to-consumer online commerce services; and shopping comparison sitesin each case located throughout Latin America.

In many cases, companies that directly or indirectly compete with us provide Internet access. These competitors include incumbent telephone companies, cable companies, mobile communications companies and large Internet service providers. Some of these providers may take measures that could degrade, disrupt, or increase the cost of customers’ use of our services. For example, they could restrict or prohibit the use of their lines for our services, filter, block or delay the packets containing the data associated with our products, charge increased fees to us or our users for use of their lines to provide our services, or seek to charge us for our customers’ use of our services or receipt of our e-mails. Although we have not identified any providers that intend to take these actions, any interference with our services or higher charges for access to the Internet, could cause us to lose existing users, impair our ability to attract new users, limit our potential expansion and harm our revenue and growth.

Mercado Pago competes with existing online and offline payment methods, including, among others,others: traditional banks and financial institutions; fintechs (e.g., crowdfunding institutions, electronic payment providers), and other providers of financial services, particularly credit, prepaid and debit cards, checks, money orders, and electronic bank deposits;deposits and transactions; payment networks that facilitate processing and aggregation of payments cards and retail networks; tokenized and contactless payment services, digital wallets, QR code-based solutions and other payment solutions; international and local online payments services; the use of cash, which is often preferred in Latin America; and offline funding alternatives such as cash deposit and money transfer services, person-to-personservices; peer to peer payments and electronic money remittances and other point of sale terminals and devices or technologies installed at merchants’ sites.

Competitors with larger, more well-established and well-financed companies have greater resources, longer history, greater brand recognition, more customers and better access to suppliers of critical inputs and products. This positioning allows our competitors to acquire, invest in or enter into commercial relationships with competing businesses, adopt more aggressive pricing, secure better terms from suppliers, devote more resources to technology, marketing and promotional campaigns, infrastructure, fulfillment and payment solutions. These competitive advantages could be used to harm our competitive position through the adoption of restrictive covenants with suppliers, self-preferencing their product offerings, tying and bundling services and mobile card readers. Some of these services may operate at lower commission rates than Mercado Pago’s current rates and, accordingly, we are subject to market pressures with respect to the commissions we charge for Mercado Pago services. Any or all of these companies could create competitive pressures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our competitors may respond to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements faster and more effectively. They may devote greater resources to the development, promotion, and sale of products and services.cross subsidizing. Competing services tied to established banks and other financial institutions may offer greater liquidity and create greater consumer confidence in the safety and efficacy of their services. Established banks and other financial institutions currently offer online payments and those that do not yet provide such a service could quickly and easily develop it, including mobile phone carriers.

Larger, more well-establishedit.

In many cases, companies that directly or indirectly compete with us provide Internet access. Some of these providers may take measures that could degrade, disrupt, increase the cost of customers’ use of our services or advocate in favor of government measures that could increase or change regulatory requirements resulting in increased costs for us, all of which could adversely affect our business and well-financed companiesresults of operations. Further, discrepancies in enforcement of existing laws may also acquire, invest in or enter into commercial relationships with competing businesses. Therefore,enable our lesser known competitors to aggressively interpret those laws without commensurate scrutiny, thereby affording them competitive advantages. Similarly, some of our competitors have been accused in other jurisdictions of anticompetitive business practices, which they can replicate in jurisdictions and potential competitors may be able to devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies and devote substantially more resources to website and systems development than us, which could adversely affect us.

markets where we actively compete, particularly in Latin American countries where antitrust authorities have not yet focused on such commercial practices.

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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. These expansion efforts place, and are expected to continue to place, a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources.

manner

Rapid, significant, and disruptive technological changes impact the industries in which we operate, and we cannot predict the effects of technological changes on our business.business are uncertain. Our success depends on our ability to develop and incorporate new technologies and adapt to technological changes and evolving industry standards;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.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. Furthermore, any new business or service that we launch that is not favorably received by usersservices, 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.

Our revenues depend on prompt and accurate billing processes. Our failure to grow our transaction-processing capabilities to accommodate the increasing number of transactions that must be billed on our website would materially harm our business and our ability to collect revenue.

We may also need to enter into relationships with various strategic partners, websites, and 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.margins, as well as our reputation. The expansion of our Mercado Pago businessand 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.

Our current and planned systems, procedures and controls, personnel and third party relationships may not be adequate to support our future operations. Our failure to manage growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The markets in which we operate are rapidly evolving and we may not be able to maintain our profitability.

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 offered on our websitethat we offer and the rapidly evolving nature of our business, it is particularly difficult for us to forecast our revenues or earnings accurately. In addition, we have no backlog and substantially all of our net revenues for each quarter are derived from listing fees, optional feature fees, up-front fees, final value fees, commissions on Mercado Pago payments, finance and interest fees, sale of goods, shipping fees and advertising fees that are earned during that quarter. 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 problem with operatingexperience reputational damage from the failure of users of our Marketplace to deliver merchandise or upgradingmake 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 existing informationbuyers, 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 results.

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 day-to-day basis largely depends onrisk of delay and also to risks relating to the efficient operationquality 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 information technology infrastructureservers, shipping and our cloud providers, the largest of which is Amazon Web Services. We have beenpostal and are susceptiblepayments infrastructures that allow users to hacking into our systems or other security breaches by unauthorized third parties. We are also susceptibledeliver and pay for goods and services, in addition 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.paying their Mercado Libre Marketplace bills. Financial, regulatory, or other problems that might prevent these third partiescompanies 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.

Most of our systems for operating the Mercado Libre ecosystem (Mercado Libre, Mercado Pago, Mercado Envíos, etc.) run on public cloud systems, in several locations around the United States to ensure high availability and backup locations. We also run some of our legacy systems on computer hardware located at the facilities of the Cyxtera Datacenters in Sterling, Virginia. These systems (whether over the public cloud or at the datacenter) and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, and other natural disasters, power loss, computer viruses, telecommunication failures, physical or electronic break-ins, sabotage, intentional acts of vandalism, terrorism, and similar events.

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The public cloud provider could also decide to close their facilities. Our disaster recovery plan may not be sufficient. We are working on developing an alternate cloud provider of hosting services butIf we are in an early stage andunable to compete effectively for advertising spend, or if our systems are not fully redundant. Any steps that we may take to upgrade and improve the stability and efficiency of our information techonology may not be sufficient to avoid defects or disruptions in our technology infrastructure, which could cause a disruption inmerchants 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 impactaffect 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 results. 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 related losses.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 defects, disruptions, interruptions, delays or cessationcomputer malfunctions, that may result in operational problems or the loss or destruction of serviceprivate 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 significant disruptionsa 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 ultimatelymaterially affect our financial condition. In addition, our sustainability initiatives may be more expensive, time consuming,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 resource intensive than anticipated. Defectsour 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 disruptionscontinue 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 technologydigital 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 process transactions onenable our site or fulfill shipments, which could reduce our revenue,customers to buy, hold and sell crypto-assets in the future and may adversely affect our reputation with,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 losspurchasing patterns of userconsumers and negatively impactin 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 financial results.

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.

jurisdictions

Our business is subject to the laws, rules, regulations and policies inof 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. Furthermore,Further, because our services and products are available worldwide,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.

Enforcement of, failure, or perceived failure to comply with these regulations could result in lawsuits, penalties, fines, forfeiture of significant assets, an outright or partial restriction on our operations, enforcement in one or more jurisdictions, additional compliance and licensure requirements, and force us to change the way we or our users do business, which could adversely affect the operations of our businesses in those jurisdictions.

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, such as ourselves, and howthe application of existing regulations governingto 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 in general apply to our type of Internet-based operations.Thisbusinesses. This uncertainty could negatively affect our clients’users’ perception and use of our services and could result in significant expense should we have to defend cases in an unclear legal environment. Also, new laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.

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, especially regarding financial data.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 ourprocessing 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 about both the Mercado Libre Marketplace and Mercado Pago.against us. These complaints are small as a percentage of our total transactions, but they could become large in aggregate (absolute) numbers over time. From 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 time,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 involvedsubject to taxation in disputesmultiple 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 regulatory inquiriesrevocation of, any tax incentive regimes or other tax benefits that arisewe 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 the ordinary course of business. The number and significance of these disputes and inquiries have increased as our business, has expanded. We are likely to receive new inquiries from regulatory agencies in the future, which may lead to actions against us,,results of operation and we may be subject to enforcement actions, injunctions, fines or penalties, civil damages or forced to change our operating practices in ways that could harm our business and cause us to incur substantial costs.

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 rights of actionenforcement 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. Also, our business practices could give rise to regulatory action, antitrust investigations or litigation. Some regulators may perceive our business to have such a degree of market power that otherwise uncontroversial business practices could be deemed anticompetitive. 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, and could be subject in the short term to new regulations in Colombia, 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.

If As an authorized or licensed payment services provider, electronic money institution, lender and/or money transmitter in certain jurisdictions where we failoperate, 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, we could be subjectresult in liability, inability to liability, forced to ceasecontinue doing business with residents of certain countries, changes to change our business practices or to become a financial entity.regulatory status. Any change to our Mercado Pago business practices that makesof these changes could result in making the service less attractive to users, or prohibits its use by residents of a particular jurisdiction could decreasedecreasing the speed of trade on the Mercado Libre Marketplace, increasing our financial costs or change our financial model, which would further harm our business.business and results of operations. Even if we are not forced to change our Mercado Pago 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.

approvals.

Anti-Money Laundering

Mercado Pago is or may be

We are subject to anti-money laundering laws and regulations that prohibit, among other things, its involvement in receiving and/or transferring the proceeds of criminal activities orand impose obligations to provideidentify the users and request certain information about transactionsand documentation that, have occurred in our platform,certain circumstances, must be shared with regulators or about our users.government institutions. Because laws and regulations differ in each of the jurisdictions where we operate, as we roll-out and adapt Mercado Pagoour business in other countries, additional verification and reporting requirements could apply. These regulationsregulations’ requirements, as well as any future regulation and any additional restrictions, imposed by credit card associations, could raise our Mercado Pago costs significantly and reduce the attractiveness of Mercado Pago.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. We believe we are not required to have a license under the existing statutes of Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile to operate Mercado Envios with its current structure. 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 excluderemove 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.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 Mercado Libre. 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.

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WeIt may be liable for or experience reputational damage from the failure of usersdifficult to enforce judgments rendered against us in U.S. courts

Although we are a Delaware corporation, our subsidiaries and most of our Marketplaceassets 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 deliver merchandiseeffect 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 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 priceenforce judgments rendered against us, our subsidiaries, or the goods agreed to be exchanged,above mentioned persons in U.S. courts and regardingpredicated on the quality or the partial or non-deliverycivil liability provisions 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. We have tried to reduce our liability to buyers for unfulfilled transactions or other claims related to the quality of the purchased goods by offering a free Buyer Protection Program to buyers who meet certain conditions. In addition, we may be liable in Brazil under applicable regulation for fraud committed by sellers and losses incurred by buyers when purchasing items through our platform in Brazil. We expect to continue to receive communications from users requesting reimbursement or threatening or commencing legal action against us if no reimbursement is made, and as we expand the coverage of our Buyer’s 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. These expenses, if not managed properly, could significantly impact our profitability. Failure to manage or train our customer service representatives properly could compromise our ability to handle customer complaints effectively, and in turn, adversely affect our reputation and our customers’ confidence in us.

Any litigation related to unpaid or undelivered purchases or defective items could be expensive for us, divert Management’s attention and could result in increased costs of doing business.U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, any negative publicity generated asoriginal or enforcement action in a resultcourt 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 fraudulent or deceptive conduct of any of our users could damage our reputation, diminish the value of our brands and negatively impact our results of operations.

applicable jurisdiction.

Intellectual Property Risks
We could face legal and financial liability forupon the sale of items that infringe on the intellectual property and distribution rights of othersthird parties and for information and material disseminated through our platforms.

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 IPintellectual 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 theany 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 ofto our policies, and close accounts ofas well as sanction any user who infringes third-party IP rights. Our Brand Protection Program allows anyFurther, through our Mercado Libre Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance, we partner with IP right owner, upon enrollment,rights owners to reportenhance Mercado Libre’s proactive removals and request the removal of any listing that infringes their IP rights. The program is public and available to any interested party, and registration is free. 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. In 2020, we have beenMercado Libre was included on the United States Trade Representative’s (“USTR”) Notorious MarketMarkets List for 2020 and also on the European Commission’s 2020 Counterfeit and Piracy Watch List. WeAlthough 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 lists,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 materials disseminated by our users. Other online services companies are facing several claims for this type of liability. If we or other online services providers 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, injuctions,injunctions, fines or penalties, and it may have an adverse impact on our business model, including our level of exposure to liabily, and we may have to implement measures to reduce that exposure.liability. Any measures we may need to implement to reduce that exposure may involve spending substantial resources and/or discontinuing certain services. Any costs that we incur as a result of liability or asserted liabilityservices, 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 subsequently have a negative impactconsequently on our business results.

Fraudulent activity by

We may not be able to adequately protect and enforce our usersintellectual property rights. We could negatively impactpotentially face claims alleging that our operating results, brandtechnologies infringe the property rights of others
Our IP rights are pivotal to our continued growth and reputationsuccess. These rights are safeguarded through a combination of copyright, trademark, patent designs, trade secret laws, and causecontractual measures. With the userapid expansion of services to decrease.

We are subject to the risk of fraudulent activityour business in recent years, we’ve witnessed a concurrent rise in infringements on our platforms by our users. AlthoughIP rights, notably on social media platforms. This includes issues such as unauthorized domain registrations, deceptive apps, and counterfeit or fraudulent websites. While we have implementedundertaken measures to detect and reduce the occurrence of fraudulent activities, there can bedefend our IP rights, there’s no assuranceguarantee that these measuresactions, 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 sufficientgranted to accurately detect, preventus 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 deter fraud. Asnot, 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 marketplace sales grow, the costbrand name in certain countries. Any of remediating for fraudulent activity, including customer reimbursements, may materially increase andthese circumstances could negativelyadversely affect our operating results. In addition, users’ fraudulentbusiness, 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 potential illegal activities when using any platform we operatecopyrighted material, to third parties. Our licensees may take actions that could expose us to civilaffect the value of our proprietary rights or criminal liability andreputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial performance,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 reputationproblem 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 future.

Mercado Pagoefficient 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 potentially illegal or improper uses, including, fraudulent and illicit sales, money laundering, bank fraud, fraud from means of payment entities, and online securities fraud. In addition, Mercado Pago’s service could be subject to unauthorized credit card use, identity theft, break-ins to withdraw account balances, employee fraudhacks into our systems or other internal security breaches.

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.

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TableOur 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 Contents

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 incur losses from claimsdo not have insurance coverage to compensate for any related losses. Any errors, defects, disruptions, interruptions, delays or cessation of customers who did not authorize a purchase, from buyer fraud and from erroneous transmissions. In addition to the direct costs of such losses, if they are related to credit card transactions and become excessive, theyservice could result in Mercado Pago losing the rightsignificant disruptions to accept credit cards for payment. If Mercado Pago is unable to accept credit cards, our business willthat could ultimately be adversely affected given that credit cards are the most widely used method for funding Mercado Pago accounts.more expensive, time consuming, and resource intensive than anticipated. We have taken measuresexperienced and will likely continue to detectexperience 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 riskloss of fraud on Mercado Pago, such as running card security code (“CSC”) checks in some countries, requiring users to answer personal questions to confirm their identity, requiring users to confirm small debit amounts prior to authorizing high risk transactions, implementing caps on overall spending per users and data miningnegatively 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 detect potentially fraudulent transactions. However, these measures may not be effective against currentintegrate and upgrade our systems and processes. While we expect this new formsversion to strengthen our internal financial controls, there are inherent risks in implementing any new system, including loss of fraud. If these measures do not succeed, excessive charge-backs may ariseinformation and potential disruption to our normal operations. Any material deficiencies in the futuredesign and implementation of this new software could also result in material costs, adversely affect our ability to operate our business will be adversely affected.

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.

business

A significant risk associated with e-commerce and communicationsour 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, including customer credit card numbers and other account 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 among others, 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 user names,usernames, passwords, payment card information or other sensitive information, which may in turn be used to access our information technology systems. Although we have developed systems and processes that are designed to protect our data and customer data and to prevent data loss and other security breaches, these security measures cannot provide absolute security.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, our currentwe do not maintain insurance policies may not be adequate to reimburse us for losses caused by security breaches, and we may not be able to collect fully, if at all, under these insurance policies.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.

Our revenues depend substantially on final value fees, up-front fees, fees related to our payment solution and credits revenues, sale of goods and shipping and advertising fees.

Our revenues currently depend primarily on final value fees, up-front fees, fees related to our payment solution and credits business, sale of goods and shipping and advertising fees. If market conditions force us to substantially lower our mentioned fees or if we fail to continue to attract new buyers and sellers, and if we are unable to effectively diversify and expand our sources of revenue, our profitability, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

We are subject to consumer trends and could lose revenue if certain items become less popular.

Our future revenues depend on continued demand for the types of goods that users list on the Mercado Libre Marketplace or pay with Mercado Pago on or off the Mercado Libre Marketplace. The popularity of certain categories of items, such as computer and electronic products, cellular telephones, toys, apparel and sporting goods, among consumers may vary over time due to perceived availability, subjective value, and trends of consumers and society in general. 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 reduce the overall volume of transactions on our platforms, resulting in reduced revenues.

In addition, certain consumer “fads” may temporarily inflate the volume of certain types of items listed on the Mercado Libre Marketplace, 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.

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Manufacturers may limit distribution of their products by dealers, prevent dealers 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 attractive 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.

Inventories risk may adversely affect our operating results.

We are exposed to inventories risks that may adversely affect our operating results because of seasonality, new product launches, quick changes in product cycles and pricing, defective products, changes in user demand and user spending patterns, changes in consumer tastes with respect to our products, spoilage, and other factors. We strive to predict these trends, as overstocking or understocking products we sell could lead to lower sales, missed opportunities, and excessive markdowns, each of which could have a material impact on our business and operating results. Moreover, once we launch a new product, it may be difficult to determine appropriate product selection, and accurately forecast demand which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our failure to manage Mercado Pago and Mercado Fondo users funds properly would harm our business.

Our ability to manage and account accurately for Mercado Pago and Mercado Fondo users’ funds requires a high level of internal controls. As Mercado Pago and Mercado Fondo continue to grow, we must strengthen our internal controls accordingly. Mercado Pago and Mercado Fondo’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 Mercado Fondo.

We rely on banks or payment processors to fund transactions, and changes to credit card association fees, rules or practices may adversely affect our business.

Mercado Pago relies on banks 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. The card processors of Mercado Pago and the Mercado Libre Marketplace have the right to pass any increases in interchange fees on to us as well as increase 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 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 might 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 or credit cards to fund their payments and MercadoLibre users the option to pay their fees using a debit or credit card. If Mercado Pago were unable to accept credit cards, our Mercado Pago business would be materially adversely affected.

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 or liquid. We may be unable to find suitable alternative investments that are safe, liquid, and provide a reasonable return. This 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;

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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 cards receivable, consumer and merchant loan, and consumer credit balances 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.

A rise in interest rates may negatively affect our Mercado Pago payment volume.

In each of Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Peru we offer users the ability to pay for goods purchased in installments using Mercado Pago. In 2020 and 2019, installment payments represented 27.8% and 40.2%, respectively, of Mercado Pago’s payment volume, including transactions on and off the Mercado Libre Marketplace. To facilitate the offer of the installment payment feature, from time to time we pay interest to discount credit card coupons or we securitize credit card coupons through trusts. In all of these cases, if interest rates increase, we may have to raise the installment fees we charge to users which would likely have a negative effect on Mercado Pago’s total payment volume.

Changes in Mercado Pago’s funding mix could adversely affect Mercado Pago’s results.

Mercado Pago pays significant transaction fees when customers fund payment transactions using certain credit cards or through unaffiliated entities, nominal fees when customers fund payment transactions from their bank accounts in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, and no fees when customers fund payment transactions from an existing Mercado Pago account balance. Senders funded 37.5% and 63.4% of Mercado Pago’s payment volume, including transactions on and off the Mercado Libre Marketplace, using credit cards during 2020 and 2019, respectively (either in a single payment or in installments), and 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 credit card funding rather than bank account transfers for a number of reasons, including the ability to pay in installments in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, the ability to dispute and reverse charges if merchandise is not delivered or is not as described, 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. Also, in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, senders may prefer to pay by credit card without using installments to avoid the associated financial costs resulting in lower revenues to us.

Changes in Mercado Pago’s ticket mix could adversely affect Mercado Pago’s results.

The transaction fees Mercado Pago pays in connection with certain payment methods are fixed regardless of the ticket price, and certain costs incurred in connection with the processing of credit card transactions are also fixed. Currently, Mercado Pago 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 additional 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. To assess the credit risk of a merchant and/or consumer seeking a loan under the Mercado Credito solution, we use, among other indicators, a risk model internally developed, as a credit quality indicator to help predict the merchants and/or consumer’s ability to repay the principal balance and interest related to the credit. This risk model may not accurately predict the creditworthiness of a merchant and/or consumer due to inaccurate assumptions about the particular merchant and/or consumer or the economic environment or limited product history, among other factors. The accuracy of the risk model and our ability to manage credit risk related to our Mercado Credito solution may also be affected by legal or regulatory changes (e.g., bankruptcy laws and minimum payment regulations), competitors’ actions, changes in consumer behavior, obtain funding resources, changes in the economic environment and other factors.

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.

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 Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile, we offer users our Mercado Envios shipping service through integration with local carriers and our own transportation systems. To achieve economies of scale, drive down shipping costs and eliminate friction for buyers and sellers, 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’s shipping volume, and the decision not to do that may result in increased in operating costs of Mercado Envios which could generate net losses in our commerce operations.

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We rely on a number of local carriers to receive the inventories of third parties and 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 difficult (i.e. trackers’ strike) 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. Moreover, our ability to receive the inventories of third parties efficiently and ship orders to customers also may be negatively affected by natural or man-made disasters, extreme weather, geopolitical events and security issues, labor or trade disputes, and similar events which could 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. 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 and properly handle inventories could result in excess or insufficient fulfillment capacity, an inability to optimize platform fulfillment, unexpected costs and adversely affect our reputation or results of operations. We offer to sellers a free Fulfillment Protection Program, for any damage or loss of seller’s inventories as resulted 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.

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.

We regard the protection of our IP rights as critical to our future success and rely on a combination of copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to establish and protect our proprietary rights in our products and services. We have entered into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and certain contractors, and non-disclosure agreements with our employees and certain suppliers and strategic partners for that purpose. We cannot assure you that these contractual arrangements or the other steps that we have taken or will take in the future to protect our IP will prove sufficient to prevent misappropriation of our technology, prevent counterfeit sale of our products, or deter independent third-parties from developing similar or competing technologies.

We pursue the registration of our intangible assets in each country where we operate, in the United States and in certain other countries worldwide. Effective IP protection may not be available or granted to us by the appropriate regulatory authority in every country in which our services are made available online. We cannot assure you that we will always succeed in obtaining the IP protection we need. If we are not successful, MercadoLibre’s ability to protect its brands in against third-party infringers would be compromised and we could face claims by any future 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 condition.

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. While we attempt to ensure that our licensees maintain the quality of the Mercado Libre brand, 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.

To date, we have not been notified that our technology or products infringes on the proprietary rights of third parties, but third parties may claim infringement on our part with respect to past, current or future technologies or features of our services or of our products. For instance, third parties’ claims may arise if, although it would be inconsistent with our Code of Ethics, our employees include third parties’ software without their authorization. We expect that participants in our markets will be increasingly subject to infringement claims as the number of services and competitors in the e-commerce segment grows. Any of these claims could be expensive and time consuming to litigate or settle and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may not be able to secure licenses for technologies on which we rely.

rely

We rely on certain technologies that we license from third parties that supply key database technology, operating systemsystems 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.

future.

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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.

We may not realize benefits from recent or future strategic acquisitions of businesses, technologies, services or products despite their costs in cash and dilution to our stockholders.

We intend to continue to acquire 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. The process of integrating an acquired business, technology, service or product into our business may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, and may generate unforeseen pressures and/or strains on our organizational culture.

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 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.

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 a disruption of our services, it may be inadequate to compensate for our losses. Any business disruption, litigation, system failure or natural 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.

The outbreak of COVID-19 may have in the future a negative impact on the global economy and on our business, operations and results.

The global spread of COVID-19, a novel strain of coronavirus, has resulted in government authorities and businesses throughout the world implementing numerous measures to contain or mitigate it, including travel bans and restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place and lock-down orders and business limitations and shutdowns. These measures have had dramatic adverse consequences for the global economy, including on demand, operations, supply chains and financial markets, and have significantly contributed to deteriorating macroeconomic conditions. The full extent of the nature and scope of the consequences to date are difficult to evaluate precisely, and their future course is impossible to predict with confidence.

The COVID-19 crisis had, at the beginning of the lockdowns, negative effect on our business, and may in the future have, negative effects affecting our level of operations, consumer buying trends, and consequently, our net revenues. The factors adversely affecting our operations include, but are not limited to, lockdowns imposed by Latin American governments that have restricted merchants from operating resulting at times, in our logistics business, in order backlogs and cancellations for orders delivered through drop ship and cross-docking networks; lower foot traffic in physical retail that has caused Mercado Pago to experience at times a deceleration in the number of payments processed, resulting in lower mobile point of sale and QR total payment volume growth and; weak macro-economic conditions in certain countries in which the Company operates, coupled with devaluations of certain local currencies in those countries against the U.S. dollar, which could cause a decline in year-over-year net revenues as measured in U.S. dollars.

The future impact of the COVID-19 crisis on our business, operations, or financial results is uncertain and will depend on numerous evolving factors that we cannot predict, including, but not limited to the duration, scope, and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; the speed of availability and distribution of vaccines or other treatments in the countries where we operate; disruption of our logistics network; disruption or delay of the activity of our merchants; an unexpected shift in consumer behavior; the impact of travel bans, work-from-home policies, or shelter-in-place orders; the temporary or prolonged shutdown of manufacturing facilities or retail items availability and decreased retail traffic; staffing shortages; general economic, financial, and industry conditions, particularly conditions relating to liquidity, financial performance, and related credit issues in the retail sector, which may be amplified by future effects of COVID-19 new waves; effectiveness of government stimulus programs; the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the national and global economy, including on consumer confidence and spending, financial markets and the

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availability of credit for us, our suppliers and our customers; and increased cyber and payment fraud risk related to COVID-19, as cybercriminals attempt to profit from the disruption in light of increased online-banking, e-commerce and other online activity.

A sustained or prolonged COVID-19 new outbreak, a resurgence or the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus for which current vaccines may be less effective, could exacerbate the factors described above and intensify the impact on our business. In addition, if the future potential adverse effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are sustained, they could have accounting consequences, such as impairments of fixed assets or goodwill. It could also affect our ability to execute our expansion plans or invest in products and development. The resumption of economic activity and business operations to pre-pandemic levels may be delayed or constrained by lingering effects on our merchants and consumers. Accordingly, these factors may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, even after the COVID-19 outbreak has subsided.

Our business has benefitted from the shift from in-store shopping and traditional in-store payment methods (e.g., credit cards, debit cards, cash) towards e-commerce and online payments that was accelerated by the COVID-19 outbreak. To the extent that consumer preferences revert to pre-COVID-19 behaviors as mitigation measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 are eased or lifted, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely impacted.

The COVID-19 outbreak has required and is likely to continue to require management to devote time and attention, as well as increased investments of resources across our enterprise, including as a result of our continued efforts to monitor the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic and any additional measures we may have to take to comply with the rapidly changing regulations of the countries in which we operate. The spread of COVID-19 has caused us to implement modifications to our business practices, including work-from-home policies and strict health and safety precautions for our offices and fulfillment centers. These modifications to our business practices, which may continue for an extended period of time, and subsequent reintroduction into the workplace could pose operational risk, increase cybersecurity risk, strain our business continuity plans, negatively impact productivity, give rise to claims by employees, and impair our ability to manage our business or otherwise adversely affect our business. Additionally, COVID-19 could negatively affect our ability to operate effective internal controls over financial reporting given that a significant number of our employees are required to work from home and therefore new or modified processes, procedures, and controls could be required to respond to changes in our business environment and practices. We may take further actions as may be required by government authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, and business partners. There is no certainty that those measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by COVID-19 or will otherwise be satisfactory to government authorities.

We previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting in the future, any material weakness in the future could result in loss of investor confidence and adversely affect our business or stock price.

We reported in Part II, Item 9A of Amendment N° 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on December 23, 2020 that we identified material weaknesses in our Risk Assessment, Monitoring, Information and Communication and in Control Activities relating our credit cards and other means of payments account.

Remediation of the material weaknesses does not provide assurance that our internal control over financial reporting will continue to operate properly. If we are unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or disclosure controls and procedures, our ability to record, process and report financial information accurately, and to prepare financial statements within required time periods, could be adversely affected. Any material weaknesses identified in the future could adversely affect investor confidence in our financial statements and adversely affect our business or stock price.

There are risks associated with our indebtedness.

The terms of our senior unsecured notes issued in January 2021 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.

The conditional conversion feature of the 2028 Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.

In the event the conditional conversion feature of the 2028 Notes is triggered, holders of the outstanding 2028 Notes will be entitled to convert the outstanding 2028 Notes at any time during specified periods at their option. If one or more holders elect to convert their 2028 Notes, and even though our current intention is to satisfy our conversion obligation by delivering shares of our common stock (and cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share), we can decide to settle a portion or all of our conversion obligation through the payment of cash, which could

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adversely affect our liquidity. In addition, even if holders do not elect to convert their 2028 Notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the Notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.

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.

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. EconomicThere 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 instability, terrorism, civil strife,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. Currently, as a consequence
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 adverse economic conditionsunauthorized payments or offers of payments by our employees, contractors or agents that could be in global markets dueviolation of various laws including the FCPA, even though these parties are not always subject to COVID-19 pandemicour control. Our existing safeguards and lower demandany future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and our employees, contractors or agents may engage in conduct for commodities, many Latin American economies have slow rateswhich we may be held responsible. Violations of growth,the FCPA may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and some have entered recessions. The durationwe may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our reputation and severitybusiness. Further, to the extent corruption, bribery and similar practices continue to exist in the region, international investor perception of this slowdown is hard to predict andthe region could adverselybe 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.

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.

The currenciescontrols

Most Latin American countries have historically experienced, and may continue to experience in the future, high rates of many countriesinflation, which could lead to further government intervention in Latin America,the economy, including the introduction of government policies that could adversely affect our results of operations. Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, which together accounted for 94.4%95.5% and 95.5%95.2% of our net revenues for 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively, have experienced volatility and significant devaluations in the past. Currency movements,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 wellhighly inflationary in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and use the U.S. dollar as higher interest rates, have materially and adversely affected the economies of many Latin American countries, including countries which account, or are expected to account, for a significant portionfunctional currency of our revenues. 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 usour 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 restrictsrestricting access to the international capital markets. For example, the devaluation of the Argentine Peso has had aA high inflation environment would also have negative impacteffects on the abilitylevel of Argentine businesses to service their foreign currency denominated liabilities, led to high inflation, significantly reduced real wages, had a negative impact on businesses whose success is dependent on domestic market demand,economic activity, employment and may adversely affected the government’s abilityaffect our business and private companies to service its foreign debt obligations .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, 2020, 55.2%2023, 52.5% of our net revenues were denominated in Brazilian Reais, 24.7%Real, 22.4% in Argentine Pesos and 14.5%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

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imbalance, the Brazilian government may impose temporary restrictions on the remittance to foreign investors of the proceeds of their investments in Brazil.

Exchange

Further, extensive exchange controls implemented by the Argentine Government on the acquisition of U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies could have a material adverse impact on our operations, business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Argentine government has implemented certain measures that 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. Those measures include, among other things,An entity’s authorization request to the requirementCBA to obtainaccess 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 approvalto 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 Central Bank, which could eventually restrictPeso from 366.45 to 799.95 on December 13, 2023. As of the ability to exchange Argentine pesos for other currencies, such as U.S. dollars. Moreover, restrictions also currently apply toissuance date of the acquisitionaudited consolidated financial statements the spread of any foreign currency for holding as cash within Argentina, and distribution of dividends abroad is allowed with certain limits and as long as certain requirements are met. Additionally, the Argentine government implemented a new tax with a rate of 30% on certain transactions involving the acquisition of foreign currency.

Blue Chip Swap was 30.9%. There can be no assurance that the Central Bank of ArgentinaCBA 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.

Our business, results of operations and financial condition are particularly sensitive to adverse developments in the Argentine economy.

Our results of operations and financial condition are particularly sensitive to business and economic conditions in Argentina. A significant part of our operations are conducted in Argentina, where our costs are incurred, for the most part, in Argentine Pesos.

In recent years, Argentina’s foreign debt rating has been downgraded on multiple occasions based on concerns regarding economic conditions and rising fears of increased inflationary pressures and their ability to serve their debt obligations. In 2020, the Argentine government restructured its foreign currency external bonds and its foreign currency bonds governed by Argentine law. However, as of the date of this annual report, the Argentine government still faces the challenge of restructuring its debt with the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) and the Paris Club. In August 2020, Argentina initiated formal discussions with the IMF with respect to its debt incurred under a precautionary Stand-By Arrangement pursuant to which, as of October 23, 2020, the government had drawn approximately $43.9 billion. After postponing until May 5, 2021 the $2.1 billion payment originally due on May 5, 2020, in April 2020, Argentina sent the Paris Club members a proposal to modify the existing terms of the settlement agreement that Argentina had reached with the Paris Club members on May 29, 2014. We cannot predict the outcome of these negotiations nor the impact of the result that those renegotiations will have in Argentina's ability to access international capital markets, in the Argentine economy or in our economic and financial situation This uncertainty may also adversely impact Argentina’s ability to attract capital.

The increasing level of inflation in Argentina has generated pressure for further depreciation of the Argentine Peso, which depreciated against the U.S. dollar by an approximately average of 41.7% in 2019 and 31.7% in 2020. If the current Argentine government is unable to address Argentina’s structural inflationary imbalances, the prevailing high rates of inflation may continue, which would have an adverse effect on Argentina’s economy.

Inflation in Argentina could increase our costs of operations and impact our financial condition and results of operations. Inflation rates may continue to increase in the future, and the effects and effectiveness of government measures to control inflation, adopted presently or in the future, remains uncertain.

Inflation and certain government measures to curb inflation may have adverse effects on the economies of the countries where we operate, our business and our operations.

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. In countries with high rates of inflation, such as Argentina, which was determined to be highly inflationary, we may not be able to adjust the price of our services sufficiently to offset the effects of inflation on our cost structures. A high inflation environment would also have negative effects on the level of economic activity, employment and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

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E-commerceOur e-commerce transactions in Latin America may be impededimpacted by the lackweaknesses of secure payment methods.

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. In addition, many banks and other financial institutions have generally been reluctant to give merchants the right to process online transactions due to these concerns about credit card fraud. 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.

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.

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.

These provisions may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

We may require additional capital in the future, and this additional capital may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.

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.

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.

Certain stockholders or entities controlled by them or their permitted transferees beneficially own shares of our common stock that have not been registered for resale with the SEC. The holders of these restricted shares may sell their shares in the public market from time to time without registering them, subject in the case of our affiliates, to certain limitations on the timing, amount and method of those sales imposed by regulations promulgated by the SEC. Holders of restricted stock will also have the right to cause us to register the resale of shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.

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.

It

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 difficult to enforce judgments rendered against ussuspended or terminated at any time, which may result in U.S. courts.

Although we are a Delaware corporation, our subsidiaries and mostdecrease in the trading of our assets are located outsidestock.

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 U.S. Furthermore, mostinformation 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 officersprovides 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 experts namedof our risk committee members are skilled in this report reside outsidetechnology, security and/or risk and compliance. Our Cybersecurity VP is a certified information systems security professional (CISSP) and has considerable experience in the U.S. 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 result, itcritical 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 possibledeemed 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 effect serviceidentify, evaluate, measure and manage existing and potential cybersecurity risks faced by the Company. Annually and on an as-necessary basis, members of process within the U.S. upon these persons. Moreover, uncertainty exists as to whether courts outsidemanagement and/or of the U.S. would recognize or enforce judgments rendered against us, our subsidiaries, orrisk committee provide presentations to the abovementioned personsAudit 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 U.S. courtsthe event of a specific cybersecurity incident, these presentations include information about the relevant security incident, such as incident status, informed stakeholders 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.

remediation plans.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.


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 Buenos Aires, Argentina.Montevideo, Uruguay. Our data centers are located in Virginia, United States, and occupy approximately 41845 square meters. As of December 31, 2020,2023, our owned and leased facilities (excluding data centers) provided us with square meters as follows:
ArgentinaBrazilMexicoOthersTotal
Owned facilities13,91888014,798
Leased facilities96,9741,085,900924,66089,5552,197,089
Managed by Third Parties (1)
57,223536,62792,520686,370
Total facilities168,1151,622,527924,660182,9552,898,257
(1)

Includes properties that are leased by the Company and managed by third parties.

Argentina

Brazil

México

Others

Total

Owned facilities

14,423

-

-

-

14,423

Leased facilities

120,771

1,017,055

336,390

87,269

1,561,485

Managed by third parties

20,300

4,400

5,437

8,537

38,674

Total facilities

155,494

1,021,455

341,827

95,806

1,614,582

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Please refer to Item 8 of Part II, “FinancialFinancial Statements and Supplementary Data”—Data—Note 1415 – Commitments and Contingencies—Litigation and Other Legal Matters.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.


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PARTPART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

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, or our common stock, trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “MELI.” As of December 31, 2020, the closing price of our common stock was $1,675.22 per share.

“MELI”.

Holders of record

As of January 31, 2021,2024, we had 152198 holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not reflect the beneficial ownership of shares held in nominee name. The following table sets forth, for the indicated periods, the high and low per share sale prices for our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market:

High

Low

2020

1st quarter

$

742.74

$

452.17

2nd quarter

$

985.77

$

447.34

3rd quarter

$

1225.45

$

956.62

4th quarter

$

1732.39

$

1079.33

2019

1st quarter

$

507.93

$

296.59

2nd quarter

$

641.39

$

482.35

3rd quarter

$

690.1

$

537.29

4th quarter

$

599.24

$

482.95

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

There were no sales of unregistered securities by us during the year ended December 31, 2020.

2023.

Dividend Policy

After reviewing the Company’s capital allocation process, the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors 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 Boardboard of Directorsdirectors suspended the payment of dividend to shareholders as from the first quarter of 2018.
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Equity Compensation Plan Information

Information regarding securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plan as of December 31, 20202023 is set forth in “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters.”

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period

(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased

(b) Average Price per Share (1)

(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program (in millions) (2)

October, 2020

Up to $280

November, 2020

11,116

2,563.77

11,116

Up to $280

December, 2020

Up to $251

Period

Total Number of Shares PurchasedAverage Price per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or ProgramsMaximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Program (in millions) (1)

(1)October, 2023

Average price paid per share does not include costs associated with the repurchases.

Up to $157

(2)November, 2023

On August 30, 2020 the Board authorized the repurchase of Shares for an aggregate consideration of upUp to $350 million. The share repurchase program expires on August 31, 2021 and may be suspended from time$157
December, 2023Up to time or discontinued. The repurchases are being executed from time to time, subject to general business and market and price conditions and other investment opportunities, through open-market purchases, block trades, derivatives, trading plans established in accordance with SEC rules, or privately negotiated transactions. See Note 25 to our audited consolidated financial statements for more details.$157

(1) On February 21, 2023, the Board authorized the Company to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, for aggregate consideration of up to $900 million to expire on March 31, 2024 (the “Program”). As of December 31, 2023, the estimated remaining balance available for share repurchases under this Program was $157 million. Please refer to Note 25 – Share repurchase program of our audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail.

29


Stock Performance Graph

The graph below shows the total stockholder return of an investment of $100 on December 31, 20152018 through December 31, 20202023 for (i) our common stock; (ii) The Nasdaq Composite Index; (iii) The S&P 500 Index; and (iv) the Dow Jones EcommerceIndustrial Average Index. The Dow Jones Ecommerce Index is a weighted index of stocks of companies in the e-commerce industry. Stock price performance shown in the graph below is not indicative of future stock price performance:

Imagen 1

PPT Graph 2023.jpg
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 willdo 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]

3035

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following summary financial data is qualified by reference to and should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

The figures in the tables below are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Year Ended December, 31

(in millions)

2020 (*)

2019 (*)

2018 (*)

2017 (*)

2016 (*)

Statement of income data:

Net revenues

3,973.5

2,296.3

1,439.7

1,216.5

844.4

Cost of net revenues

(2,264.3)

(1,194.2)

(742.6)

(496.9)

(307.5)

Gross profit

1,709.2

1,102.1

697.0

719.6

536.9

Operating expenses:

Product and technology development

(352.5)

(223.8)

(146.3)

(127.2)

(98.5)

Sales and marketing

(902.6)

(834.0)

(482.4)

(325.4)

(156.3)

General and administrative

(326.5)

(197.5)

(137.8)

(122.2)

(87.3)

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

(2.8)

(13.7)

Loss on Deconsolidation of Venezuelan Subsidiaries (**)

(85.8)

Total operating expenses

(1,581.5)

(1,255.3)

(766.5)

(663.3)

(355.8)

Income (Loss) from operations

127.7

(153.2)

(69.5)

56.3

181.1

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

102.8

113.5

42.0

45.9

35.4

Interest expense and other financial charges

(106.7)

(65.9)

(56.2)

(26.5)

(25.6)

Foreign currency (losses) gains

(42.5)

(1.7)

18.2

(21.6)

(5.6)

Net income (loss) before income tax (expense) gain

81.3

(107.2)

(65.5)

54.1

185.3

Income tax (expense) gain

(82.0)

(64.8)

28.9

(40.3)

(49.0)

Net (loss) Income

(0.7)

(172.0)

(36.6)

13.8

136.4

(*)The table above may not total due to rounding.

(**)Venezuelan result have been deconsolidated since December 1, 2017, therefore, our 2020, 2019 and 2018 results do not include Venezuelan segment results.

At December 31,

(in millions, except for per share data)

2020

2019

2018

  

2017

  

2016

Balance sheet data:

  

  

Total assets

$

6,526.3

$

4,781.7

$

2,239.5

  

$

1,673.2

  

$

1,367.4

Long-term debt

860.9

631.4

602.2

  

312.1

  

301.9

Total liabilities

4,874.8

2,699.7

1,902.8

  

1,347.4

  

938.6

Net assets

1,651.6

2,082.0

336.7

  

325.8

  

428.9

Mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred stock (*)

98.8

  

  

Common stock

0.05

0.05

0.05

  

0.04

  

0.04

Equity

1,651.6

1,983.1

336.7

  

325.8

  

428.9

Cash dividend declared per common share

$

$

$

  

$

0.600

  

$

0.600

(*) In September and November 2020, holders converted 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock into 208,460 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

31


  

Year Ended December 31,

  

2020

  

2019

  

2018

  

2017

  

2016

(Loss)/Earnings per share data:

  

  

  

  

  

Basic net (loss)/income available to common stockholders

per common share

  

$

(0.08)

  

$

(3.71)

  

$

(0.82)

  

$

0.31

  

$

3.09

Diluted net (loss)/income per common share

  

$

(0.08)

  

$

(3.71)

  

$

(0.82)

  

$

0.31

  

$

3.09

Weighted average shares(1):

  

  

  

  

  

Basic

  

49,740,407

  

48,692,906

  

44,529,614

  

44,157,364

  

44,157,251

Diluted

  

49,740,407

  

48,692,906

  

44,529,614

  

44,157,364

  

44,157,251

(1) Shares outstanding at December 31, 2020 were 49,869,727

The following table includes eight key performance indicators, which are calculated as defined in the footnotes to the table. Each of these indicators provides a different measure of the level of activity on our platform, and we use them to monitor the performance of the business.

  

Year ended December 31,

(in millions)

  

2020 (9)

  

2019 (9)

2018 (9)

2017 (9)

  

2016

Other data:

  

  

  

  

Unique Active Users (1)

  

132.5 

  

74.2 

  

N/A

  

N/A

  

N/A

Number of confirmed new registered users during period (2)

  

57.5 

  

53.2 

  

55.5 

  

37.7 

  

29.5 

Gross merchandise volume (3)

  

$

20,926.8 

  

$

13,997.4 

  

$

12,504.9 

  

$

11,749.3 

  

$

8,048.1 

Number of successful items sold (4)

  

719.3 

  

378.9 

  

334.7 

  

270.1 

  

181.2 

Number of successful items shipped (5)

  

649.2 

  

306.9 

221.7 

150.7 

86.5 

Total payment volume (6)

$

49,756.8 

$

28,389.9 

  

$

18,455.9 

  

$

13,731.7 

  

$

7,753.7 

Total volume of payments on marketplace (7)

$

19,951.4 

$

13,051.7 

$

11,274.5 

$

9,627.6 

$

5,627.4 

Total payment transactions (8)

1,914.5 

838.0 

389.3 

231.4 

138.7 

Capital expenditures

  

$

254.1

  

$

141.4 

  

$

102.0 

  

$

83.5 

  

$

84.7 

Depreciation and amortization

  

$

105.0 

  

$

73.3 

  

$

45.8 

  

$

40.9 

  

$

29.0 

(1)New or existing user who performed at least one of the following actions during the reported period: (1) made one purchase, or reservation, or asked one question or Mercado Libre Marketplace or Classified Marketplace (2) maintained an active listing on Mercado Libre Marketplace or Classified Marketplace (3) maintained an active account in Mercado Shops (4) made a payment, money transfer, collection and/or advance using Mercado Pago (5) maintained an outstanding credit line through Mercado Credito or (6) maintained a balance of more than $5 invested in a Mercado Fondo asset management account. Management uses this metric to evaluate the size of our community of users who interact with the ecosystem and of which we have the opportunity to generate further engagement. With the changes in our business we believe it provides a better indication of our active user base rather than a registration metric that does not reflect any sort of interaction.

(2)Measure of the number of new users who have registered on the Mercado Libre Marketplace and confirmed their registration, excluding Classifieds users.

(3)Measure of the total U.S. dollar sum of all transactions completed through the Mercado Libre Marketplace, excluding Classifieds transactions.

(4)Measure of the number of items that were sold/purchased through the Mercado Libre Marketplace, excluding Classifieds items.

(5)Measure of the number of items that were shipped through our shipping service.

(6)Measure of the total U.S. dollar sum of all transactions paid for using Mercado Pago, including marketplace and non-marketplace transactions.

(7)Measure of the total U.S. dollar sum of all marketplace transactions paid for using Mercado Pago, excluding shipping and financing fees.

(8)Measure of the number of all transactions paid for using Mercado Pago.

(9)Data for 2017 onwards includes Venezuelan metrics up to November 30, 2017 due to deconsolidation.

Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance

To supplement our audited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we present foreign exchange (“FX”) neutral measures as a non-GAAP measure. Reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure can be found in the tables below.

This non-GAAP measure should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, this non-GAAP measure is not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our results of operations as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This non-GAAP financial measure should only be used to evaluate our results of operations in conjunction with the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures.

We provide this non-GAAP financial measure to enhance overall understanding of our current financial performance and its prospects for the future, and we understand that this measure provides useful information to both Management and investors. In particular, 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.

32


The FX neutral measures were calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2019 and applying them to the corresponding months in 2020, 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 2018 and applying them to the corresponding months in 2019, so as to calculate what our results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the next. 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, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Year Ended
December 31, (*)

As reported

FX Neutral Measures

As reported

(In millions, except percentages)

2020

2019

Percentage Change

2020

2019

Percentage Change

Net revenues

$                           3,973.5

$                    2,296.3

73.0%

$                           5,200.3

$                    2,296.3

126.5%

Cost of net revenues

(2,264.3)

(1,194.2)

89.6%

(2,912.3)

(1,194.2)

143.9%

Gross profit

1,709.2

1,102.1

55.1%

2,288.0

1,102.1

107.6%

Operating expenses

(1,581.5)

(1,255.3)

26.0%

(2,060.6)

(1,255.3)

64.2%

Income (loss) from operations

127.7

(153.2)

183.4%

227.4

(153.2)

248.5%

(*) The table above may not total due to rounding.

Year Ended
December 31, (*)

As reported

FX Neutral Measures

As reported

(In millions, except percentages)

2019

2018

Percentage Change

2019

2018

Percentage Change

Net revenues

$                           2,296.3

$                    1,439.7

59.5%

$                           2,763.5

$                    1,439.7

92.0%

Cost of net revenues

(1,194.2)

(742.6)

60.8%

(1,461.8)

(742.6)

96.8%

Gross profit

1,102.1

697.0

58.1%

1,301.7

697.0

86.8%

Operating expenses

(1,255.3)

(766.5)

63.8%

(1,602.5)

(766.5)

109.1%

Loss from operations

(153.2)

(69.5)

120.4%

(300.8)

(69.5)

332.9%

(*) The table above may not total due to rounding.


33


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 “Selected Financial Data” and 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;policies and estimates;

a discussion of our principal trends and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018;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 expenditure and expenditures;
a description of our contractual obligations;key performance indicators; and

a discussiondescription of the market risks that we face.our non-GAAP financial measures.

For discussion on results from 20192022 compared to 2018,2021, 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, 2019.

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 active users,visitors and orders processed, and we are present in 18 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Argentina, 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 646650 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 solution,Fintech platform, the Mercado Envios logistics service, the Mercado Libre Ads solution, the Mercado Libre Classifieds service and the Mercado Shops online storefronts solution.

The Mercado Libre Marketplace, which we sometimes refer to as our 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 both businessesus (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 also to enhance the user experience for our buyers and sellers, we developed Mercado Pago, an integrated digital payments solution. InitiallyMercado 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, itpayments. Now, Mercado Pago is now a full ecosystem of Financial Technologyfinancial 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 MercadoLibre’sMercado Libre’s Marketplaces. Currently, Mercado Pago processes and settles all transactions on our Marketplaces in Argentina, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, and is also available for our buyers and sellers inUruguay, Peru and Uruguay. In addition,Ecuador.
Beyond facilitating Marketplace transactions, over the years we have expanded our array of Mercado Pago grantsservices 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 Mercado Credito solution, loans to sellersfintech offerings by growing our online-to-offline (“O2O”) products and buyers in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.services.
36

| MercadoLibre, Inc.


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, 2020,2023, 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, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and Colombia.

Peru.

34


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 Internet.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, benefittingbenefiting both the Commercecommerce and Fintech businesses

We alsofintech 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, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama, Peru Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Uruguay and the United States of America)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 companyCompany 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, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:2021:
Year Ended December 31,
(% of total consolidated net revenues)202320222021
Brazil52.5 %53.8 %55.3 %
Argentina22.4 23.7 21.7 
Mexico20.6 17.7 16.6 
Other countries4.5 4.8 6.5 
37

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Years Ended

December 31,

(% of total consolidated net revenues) (*)

2020

2019

2018

Brazil

55.2

%

63.6

%

60.2

%

Argentina

24.7

19.9

26.2

Mexico

14.5

12.0

7.6

Other Countries

5.6

4.5

6.1

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

The following table summarizes the changes in our net revenues by segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:

Years Ended

Change from 2019

Years Ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Net Revenues:

Brazil

$

2,194.0

$

1,461.5

$

732.5

50.1

%

$

1,461.5

$

866.2

$

595.3

68.7

%

Argentina

980.3

456.3

523.9

114.8

456.3

376.6

79.8

21.2

Mexico

575.2

275.1

300.0

109.1

275.1

109.1

166.0

152.2

Other Countries

224.0

103.3

120.6

116.7

103.3

87.8

15.5

17.7

Total Net Revenues

$

3,973.5

$

2,296.3

$

1,677.2

73.0

%

$

2,296.3

$

1,439.7

$

856.7

59.5

%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.


2021:

35


Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(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 %
Argentina3,240 2,500 740 29.6 2,500 1,531 969 63.3 
Mexico2,985 1,864 1,121 60.1 1,864 1,172 692 59.0 
Other countries653 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 %

Recent Developments

Issuance of guaranteed senior notes

On January 14, 2021, we 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 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of January 14, 2021, among the Company, MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de InternetLtda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado 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., as guarantors (the “Guarantors”), and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of January 14, 2021, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

We intend to allocate the net proceeds from the issuance of the 2026 Sustainability Notes to finance or refinance, in whole or in part, one or more new or existing Eligible Projects within 36 months from the date of the issuance of the 2026 Sustainability Notes, where feasible. “Eligible Projects” are investments and expenditures made by us or any of our subsidiaries 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)).

The net proceeds from the offering of the 2031 Notes were used to fund in part the purchase price for the repurchase of $440 million in aggregate principal amount of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) entered into in January 6, 2021 and the premium for capped call transactions entered into on January 4, 2021. For more information with respect to these transactions, see below “—Repurchase of 2028 Notes” and “—Capped call transactions related to the 2028 Notes.”

We will 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. See note 27 of our audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail.

Repurchase of the 2028 Notes

In January 2021, we repurchased $440 million principal amount of our outstanding 2028 Notes. The total amount paid amounted to $ 1,865.1 million which includes principal, interest accrued and premium, as resulted, approximately $440 million of the principal amount of the 2028 Notes remains outstanding. As of the date of the issuance of this Annual Report, we are analyzing the impact of the repurchase transaction which estimate will have, in the first quarter of 2021, a material negative impact in Other income (expense) line in our consolidated statements of income and in our total equity of the Company.

Capped call transactions related to 2028 Notes

In connection with the 2028 Notes, we paid $100.8 million (including transaction expenses) in January 2021 to enter into the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions with certain financial institutions. The 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the 2028 Notes in the event that the market price of our common stock is greater than the strike price of the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions. See Note 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions.

Description of line items

Net revenues

We recognize revenues in each of our four geographical reporting segments. Within each of our segments, the services we provide generally fall into two distinct revenue streams: “Commerce” and “Fintech.”

In 2020, we have re-named and grouped by nature our Revenue streams breakdown, given the increasing importance of our financial business in current and expected future revenue composition, which Management considers shows more meaningful information about the business. As such, the breakdown by revenue stream previously labeled as “Enhanced Marketplace” and “Non-marketplace”, is now presented under the titles of “Commerce” and “Fintech”, respectively. Also, as a result, a group of other services, including classifieds fees, ad sales and other ancillary services, which had historically been included in the “Non-marketplace” line, have as of January 1, 2020, been included as a part of the “Commerce” revenue stream. Prior-period corresponding figures have been reclassified accordingly for comparative purposes.

36


The following table summarizes our consolidated net revenues by revenue stream for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Years ended

December 31, (*)

Consolidated net revenues by revenue stream

2020

2019

2018

(in millions)

Commerce (**)

$

2,559.8

$

1,346.4

$

838.6

Fintech

1,413.7

949.9

601.0

Total

$

3,973.5

$

2,296.3

$

1,439.7

(*)

(**)

The table above may not total due to rounding.

Includes marketplace fees, shipping fees, sales of goods, ad sales, classified fees and other ancillary services.

Revenues from commerce transactions are mainly generated from:

marketplace fees that include final value fees and flat fees for transactions below a certain merchandise value;

shipping fees, net of the third-party carrier costs (when we act as an agent);

classifieds fees;

ad sales up-front fees;

sales of goods; and

fees from other ancillary businesses.

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.

Shipping revenues are generated when a buyer elects to receive an item through our shipping service net of the third-party carrier costs.

Through our classifieds offerings in vehicles, real estate and services, we generate revenues from up-front fees. These fees are charged to sellers who opt to give their listings greater exposure throughout our websites.

Our Advertising revenues are generated by selling either display product and/or text link ads throughout our websites to interested advertisers.

Revenues from inventories sales are generated when control of the good is transferred, upon delivery to our customers.

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;

commissions from additional fees we charge when our sellers elect to withdraw cash;

interest, cash advances and fees from merchant and consumer credits granted under our Mercado Credito solution; and

revenues from the sale of mobile points of sale products.

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.

When more than one service is included in one single arrangement with the same customer, we recognize revenue according to multiple element arrangements accounting, distinguishing between each of the services provided and allocating revenues based on their respective estimated selling prices.

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, 2020, 2019 and 2018, no single customer accounted for more than 5.0% of our net revenues.

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 “Critical accounting policies and estimates” in Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on foreign currency translation.

37


Cost of net revenues

Cost of net revenues primarily includes bank and credit card processing charges for transactions and fees paid with credit cards and other payment methods, shipping operation costs (including warehousing costs), carrier and other operating costs, cost of sales of goods, fraud prevention fees, certain taxes on revenues, certain taxes on bank transactions, hosting and site operation fees, compensation for customer support personnel, ISP connectivity charges and depreciation and amortization.

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 8.2%, 8.2% and 9.7% of net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Product and technology development expenses

Our product and technology development related expenses consist primarily of compensation for our engineering and web-development staff, depreciation and amortization costs related to product and technology development, telecommunications costs and payments to third-party suppliers who provide technology maintenance services to us.

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 programs, the salaries of employees involved in these activities, chargebacks related to our Mercado Pago operations, bad debt charges, branding initiatives, marketing activities for our users and depreciation and amortization costs.

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.

General and administrative expenses

Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries for management and administrative staff, compensation of outside directors, long term retention program compensation, expenses for legal, audit and other professional services, insurance expenses, office space rental expenses, travel and business expenses, as well as depreciation and amortization costs. 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.

Other income (expenses), net

Other income (expenses) consists primarily of interest income derived from our investments and cash equivalents, interest expense and other financial charges related to financial liabilities and foreign currency gains or losses.

Income tax

We are subject to federal and state taxes 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.

38


The following table summarizes the composition of our income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Year ended December 31,

(In millons)

2020 (*)

2019 (*)

2018 (*)

Current:

U.S.

-

8.7

(0.0)

Non U.S.

152.3

39.6

64.0

152.3

48.3

64.0

Deferred:

U.S.

(5.4)

(13.6)

(3.6)

Non U.S.

(64.9)

30.0

(89.3)

(70.3)

16.5

(92.9)

Income tax expense/(gain)

82.0

64.8

(28.9)

(*) The table above may not total due to rounding. No asset tax expense was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Seasonality

The following information reflects all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the periods presented. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period. Unaudited quarterly results are as follows:

Quarter Ended

(in millions, except for share data)

March 31,

June 30,

September 30, (*)

December 31,

2020

Net Revenues

$             652.1

$           878.4

$         1,115.7

$           1,327.3

Gross profit

312.8

427.2

480.2

489.0

Net (loss) Income

(21.1)

55.9

15.0

(50.6)

Net (loss) Income per share-basic

(0.44)

1.11

0.28

(1.02)

Net (loss) Income per share-diluted

(0.44)

1.11

0.28

(1.02)

Weighted average shares

Basic

49,709,955

49,709,973

49,720,854

49,820,185

Diluted

49,709,955

49,709,973

49,720,854

49,820,185

2019

Net Revenues

$             473.8

$           545.2

$            603.0

$              674.3

Gross profit

237.0

272.4

284.3

308.3

Net Income (loss)

11.9

16.2

(146.1)

(54.0)

Net Income (loss) per share-basic

0.13

0.31

(2.96)

(1.11)

Net Income (loss) per share-diluted

0.13

0.31

(2.96)

(1.11)

Weighted average shares

Basic

45,980,255

49,318,522

49,710,723

49,709,955

Diluted

45,980,255

49,318,522

49,710,723

49,709,955

2018

Net Revenues

$             321.0

$           335.4

$            355.3

$              428.0

Gross profit

162.8

159.7

169.7

204.8

Net loss

(12.9)

(11.3)

(10.1)

(2.3)

Net loss per share-basic

(0.29)

(0.25)

(0.23)

(0.05)

Net loss per share-diluted

(0.29)

(0.25)

(0.23)

(0.05)

Weighted average shares

Basic

44,157,364

44,157,364

44,588,704

45,202,859

Diluted

44,157,364

44,157,364

44,588,704

45,202,859

(*)Net Loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 includes tax valuation allowances charges from Mexican and Colombian segments of $98.8 million.

39


Seasonal fluctuations in Internet usage and retail seasonality have affected, and are likely to continue to affect, our business. Typically, the fourth quarter of the year is the strongest in terms of revenues in every country where we operate due to the significant increase in transactions before the Christmas season. Our slowest period is typically the first quarter of the year. The months of January, February and March normally 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 is partially mitigated by the countries located in the northern hemisphere, such as Colombia and Mexico for which the slowest months are their summer months of July, August and September.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes requirerequires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We have based our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these estimates with our audit committee and our board of directors. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

An accounting policy is considered to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the following critical accounting policies reflect the more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our audited consolidated financial statements. You should read the following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and other disclosures included in this report.

For an analysis of our Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates please refer to Note 2 Summary of significant accounting policies”policies to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

Impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life

We review long-lived assets for impairments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of a long-lived asset to its undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by such asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired on this basis, the impairment loss to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.

If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill or indefinite useful life intangible assets are considered impaired.

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life are reviewed at the end of the year for impairment or more frequently, if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (considering each of our segment as a reporting unit) by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair value of such reporting unit.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the fair values of the reporting units were estimated using the income approach. Cash flow projections used were based on financial budgets approved by Management. We use discount rates to each reporting unit in the range of 15.1% to 21.0%. The average discount rate used for 2020 was 17.2%. That rate reflected our estimated weighted average cost of capital. Key drivers in the analysis include Average Selling Price (“ASP”), Take Rate defined as marketplace revenues as a percentage of Gross Merchadise 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 our market share.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, based on quantitative assessments, we have determined that the fair value of all the reporting units and the intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, are greater than their respective carrying amounts.

We believe that the accounting estimate related to impairment of long lived assets and goodwill is critical since it is highly susceptible to change from period to period because: (i) it requires Management to make assumptions about gross merchandise volume growth, total payment volume, total payment transactions, future interest rates, sales and costs; and (ii) the impact that recognizing an impairment would have on the assets reported on our balance sheet as well as our net income would be material. Management’s assumptions about future sales and future costs require significant judgment.

40


AllowancesAllowance for doubtful accounts for chargebacks and credit losses.

We are exposed to losses due to uncollectable accounts, chargebacks and credits to users. The allowances for doubtful accounts and for chargebacks are recorded as charges to sales and marketing expenses. Historically, our actual losses have been consistent with our estimated charges. However, future adverse changes to our historical experience for doubtful accounts, loans receivable and chargebacks could have a material impact on our future consolidated statements of income and cash flows.

For loans receivable that share similar risk characteristics such as product type, country, unpaid installments, days delinquent, and other relevant factors, the company estimateswe estimate the lifetime expected credit loss allowance based on a collective assessment. The lifetime expected credit losses isare 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 to the portfolio segment.Thesegment. 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 (“PDs”) are estimated using a transition matrix method;survival methodology; these matricesPDs are constructed using roll rates and then transformed,individual default information through time, taking into account the expected future delinquency rate (forward-looking models). Therefore, 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.performance, instead of using one scenario as prior years. With this model, we estimate 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.Thedefault. The exposure at default is equal to the receivables’ expected outstanding principal, interest and other allowable balances. We estimate 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 we estimate 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. We estimate thisThe LGD is estimated using Work-out and Chainladder approaches. This percentage using the transition matrix method mentioned abovedepends on days past due, type of product and the portfolio segment´s interest rate.country, and is estimated by measuring an average of historical recovery rates from defaulted credits. The measurement of CECLthe current expected credit losses (“CECL”) is based on probability-weighted scenarios (probability of default for each month), in view of past events, (roll rates), current conditions and adjustments to reflect the reasonable and supportable forecast of future economic conditions which were affected, among other factors, byconditions. Considering a hypothetical increase in the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to monitor the impactprobability of the pandemic on expected credit losses estimates.

For accounts receivable, theydefault of 10%, we would have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the number of days past due. We have therefore concluded that the expected loss rates for accounts receivable is a reasonable approximation of the historical 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 therecognized an increase in our allowance for doubtful accounts.

For credit cardsaccounts for loans receivable and other means of payment, we assess balances for credit, 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.

approximately $34 million.

We believe that the accounting estimate related to allowancesallowance for doubtful accounts on loans receivable and for chargebacks is a critical accounting estimate because it requires Management to make differentcomplex assumptions and scenarios to estimate the CECL.

Legal contingencies

In connection with certain pending litigation and other claims, we have estimated the range of probable loss and provided for such losses through charges to our consolidated statementstatements of income. These estimates are based on our assessment of the facts and circumstances and historical information related to actions filed against the Company at each balance sheet date and are subject to change based upon new information and future events.
38

| MercadoLibre, Inc.


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 1415 – 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 sheet.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. At December 31, 2020, we had a valuation allowance on certain foreign net operating losses and foreign tax credit based on our assessment that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. To the extentAs 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 statementstatements of income. Please refer to noteNote 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies and 12Note 14 – Income taxes to theour audited consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding income tax and tax reforms.

tax.

41


Recent accounting pronouncements

See Item 8 of Part II, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data-Note 2-SummaryData” and Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies-Recentlypolicies—Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted”.

Adopted.

Results of operations

Principal trends in results of operations
The following tableinformation include in this section sets forth, for the year endedyears 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.

Statement

Net revenues
We disaggregate revenues into four geographical reporting segments. Within each of income dataour 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;

Years Ended

December 31,

(In millions)

2020 (*)

2019 (*)

2018 (*)

Net revenues

$

3,973.5

$

2,296.3

$

1,439.7

Cost of net revenues

(2,264.3)

(1,194.2)

(742.6)

Gross profit

1,709.2

1,102.1

697.0

Operating expenses:

Product and technology development

(352.5)

(223.8)

(146.3)

Sales and marketing

(902.6)

(834.0)

(482.4)

General and administrative

(326.5)

(197.5)

(137.8)

Total operating expenses

(1,581.5)

(1,255.3)

(766.5)

Income (loss) from operations

127.7

(153.2)

(69.5)

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

102.8

113.5

42.0

Interest expense and other financial losses

(106.7)

(65.9)

(56.2)

Foreign currency (losses) gains

(42.5)

(1.7)

18.2

Net income (loss) before income tax (expense) gain

81.3

(107.2)

(65.5)

Income tax (expense) gain

(82.0)

(64.8)

28.9

Net loss

$

(0.7)

$

(172.0)

$

(36.6)

first party sales, which are generated when control of the good is transferred, upon delivery to our customers;

(*) The table above may not totalshipping 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 rounding.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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| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Years Ended

December 31,

(% of net revenues)

2020 (*)

2019 (*)

2018

Net revenues

100.0

100.0

100.0

Cost of net revenues

(57.0)

(52.0)

(51.6)

Gross profit

43.0

48.0

48.4

Operating expenses:

Product and technology development

(8.9)

(9.7)

(10.2)

Sales and marketing

(22.7)

(36.3)

(33.5)

General and administrative

(8.2)

(8.6)

(9.6)

Total operating expenses

(39.8)

(54.7)

(53.2)

Income (loss) from operations

3.2

(6.7)

(4.8)

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

2.6

4.9

2.9

Interest expense and other financial charges

(2.7)

(2.9)

(3.9)

Foreign currency (losses) gains

(1.1)

(0.1)

1.3

Net income (loss) before income tax (expense) gain

2.0

(4.7)

(4.5)

Income tax (expense) gain

(2.1)

(2.8)

2.0

Net loss

(0.0)

(7.5)

(2.5)

(*) Percentages have been calculated using whole dollar amounts rather than appearAlthough 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 table. 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 table above may not totalfunctional 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 rounding.

Principal trends in results of operations

Net revenues

Argentina’s status as a highly inflationary economy. Our net revenues accelerated its growth trajectoryare 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 2020, specifically related to2023, boosted by the increase ingrowth of our gross merchandise volume, total payment volume and the growthcredit portfolio. The continued execution of our long-term strategies in Commerce and Fintech solution services (off-platform transactions through Mercado Pago, credits business, financing payment transactions, etc.) as a consequencehas 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 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Net revenues$14,473$10,537$3,93637.4%$10,537$7,069$3,46849.1%
The following table summarizes our consolidated net revenues by revenue stream and geographic segment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Consolidated net revenuesYear Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(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 %
Fintech3,083 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
Commerce1,261 1,085 176 16.2 1,085 856 229 26.8 
Fintech1,979 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
Commerce1,979 1,282 697 54.4 1,282 924 358 38.7 
Fintech1,006 582 424 72.9 582 248 334 134.7 
2,985 1,864 1,121 60.1 1,864 1,172 692 59.0 
Other countries
Commerce449 369 80 21.7 369 374 (5)-1.3 
Fintech204 138 66 47.8 138 82 56 68.3 
653 507 146 28.8 507 456 51 11.2 
Consolidated
Commerce8,201 5,808 2,393 41.2 5,808 4,635 1,173 25.3 
Fintech6,272 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 %
40 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

See Note 9 – Segments of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of operations— Net Revenues” section in the current documentour audited consolidated financial statements for further detail oninformation regarding our net revenues trendsdisaggregated 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, 2020.2023, 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 COVID-19 pandemic has affected many companiesdeceleration in our Fintech revenues growth responds largely to lower credits revenues growth rates, mainly in Brazil and industriesArgentina, 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 Latin America,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 Company included, especiallycommerce 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 endyear ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022, mainly driven by an increase of first quarter$446 million in our revenues from fintech services and an increase of 2020 when government-imposed$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 or partial lockdownsnet revenues and curfews throughout Latin America in late March, somethe sequential quarterly growth of which have been subsequently extended, modified or rescinded.

Despitethese net revenues for the fact that our three last quartersperiods 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 quarter1%12%10%13%
2022
Net revenues$2,248$2,597$2,690$3,002
Percent change from prior quarter5%16%4%12%
2021
Net revenues$1,378$1,703$1,858$2,130
Percent change from prior quarter4%24%9%15%
41 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

The following table sets forth the solid performance of our business and our belief that our long-term growth in net revenues will continue in the future, given our leadership in the region and the ongoing opportunities for e-commerce and Fintech solutions in Latin America, we are not able to predict the negative impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business in the future.

Lastly, our sources of revenues are denominated in local currencies; therefore,currencies, for the weak macro-economic environmentyears ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 as compared to the same periods in certain countries2022 and 2021, respectively:

Changes from
(% of revenue growth in Local Currency)
2022 to 2023 (1)
2021 to 2022 (2)
Brazil29.4 %38.7 %
Argentina (3)
184.2 126.3 
Mexico40.8 57.1 
Other countries24.9 23.2 
Total consolidated67.9 %59.7 %
(1) The local currency revenue growth was calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2022 and applying them to the corresponding months in which we operate coupled with2023, so as to calculate what our financial results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the devaluationsnext. See also the “Non-GAAP Measures of certainFinancial Performance” section for details on FX neutral measures.
(2) The local currenciescurrency revenue growth was calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2021 and applying them to the corresponding months in those countries2022, so as to calculate what our financial results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the next. See also the “Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance” section for details on FX neutral measures.
(3) Average inter-annual inflation rates in our Argentine segment for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was 70.7% and 48.1%, respectively. This effect was partially offset by an average inter-annual increase of Argentina’s official exchange rate against the U.S. dollar could cause a declineof 38.7% and 36.6% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. During the first eleven months of 2023, the average intern-annual inflation rate and the increase of the average intern-annual Argentina’s official exchange rate against the U.S. dollar were 120.4% and 107.8%, respectively. During December 2023, the Argentine government devaluated its local currency by 55.4% and monthly inflation rate was 25.5%. See also "Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks related to doing business in year-over-yearLatin America - Local currencies used in the conduct of our business are subject to depreciation, volatility and exchange controls".
Cost of net revenues
Cost of net revenues measuredprimarily includes cost of goods sold, shipping operation costs (including warehousing costs), carrier and other operating costs, collection fees, sales taxes, funding costs related to our credits business, fraud prevention expenses, certain taxes on bank transactions, hosting and site operation fees, certain tax withholding related to export duties, compensation for customer support personnel and depreciation and amortization. The following table presents cost of net revenues for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Cost of net revenues$7,267$5,374$1,89335.2%$5,374$4,064$1,31032.2%
As a percentage of net revenues50.2%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 U.S. dollars.

We continuecost of net revenues was primarily attributable to monitor the progressa: 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 COVID-19 pandemichigher transactions volume of Mercado Pago in those countries; iv) $254 million increase in cost of goods sold mainly in Brazil and will take additional measuresMexico; v) $213 million increase in other Fintech costs mainly related to complyhigher 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 rapidly changing regulations of the countries where we operateyears ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and the related macroeconomic instability.

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.

43


Our gross profit trends are directly affected by our net revenues, as stated above, and our cost of net revenues. In this sense, our main cost of net revenue are composed of bank and credit card processing charges for transactions and fees paid with credit cards and other payment methods, fraud prevention fees, certain taxes on revenues, shipping operation costs (including warehousing costs), carrier and other operating costs, cost of products sold, certain taxes on bank transactions, hosting and site operation fees, compensation for customer support personnel, ISP connectivity charges, and depreciation and amortization. This 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.

However,

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 are not able to apply appropriate measures regardingcontinue growing our sales of goods business, to prevent potential negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,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 trendtrend.
42 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

Product and iftechnology development expenses
Our product and technology development related expenses consist primarily of compensation for our engineering and web-development staff (including long term retention program compensation), depreciation and amortization expenses related to product and technology development, certain tax withholding related to export duties, telecommunications costs and payments to third-party suppliers who provide technology maintenance services to us. The following table presents product and technology development expenses for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Product and technology development$1,831$1,099$73266.6%$1,099$590$50986.3%
As a percentage of net revenues12.7%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 building upto invest in hiring engineers to meet the increasingly sophisticated product expectations of our logistic networkcustomer 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 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Sales and marketing$1,736$1,296$44034.0%$1,296$1,074$22220.7%
As a percentage of net revenues12.0%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 goods business, which has12% 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.

43 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

Provision for doubtful accounts
Provision for doubtful accounts consists of the current expected credit losses on our financial assets, mainly loans receivable. The following table presents provision for doubtful accounts expenses for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Provision for doubtful accounts$1,050$1,073$(23)(2.1)%$1,073$435$638146.7%
As a percentage of net revenues7.3%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 pure product margin.

Forrisk 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, 20202022 and 2019, our gross profit margins were 43.0%2021) of digital assets, travel and 48.0%, respectively.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 decreasefollowing table presents general and administrative expenses for the years indicated:
Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
General and administrative$766$661$10515.9%$661$465$19642.2%
As a percentage of net revenues5.3%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 gross profitcommon 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 resulted primarilyis defined as income from an increase in shipping operating costs and cost of products sold,operations as a percentage of net revenues, partially offset by a decrease in collection fees, as a percentage of net revenues.

Operating income/(loss) margins

Our operating income margin is affected by our operating expenses structure, which mainly consists of our employees’semployees’ 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, etc.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.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its potential negative impacts on our business could also have negative impacts on our operating margins if we fail to closely monitor operating expenses on demand patterns and expenses are not adjusted in order to maintain an appropriate balance of such expenses with our actual rate of business development.

For the yearsyear ended December 31, 2020,2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2022, our operating margin increased from a negative margin of 6.7%9.8% to a positive margin of 3.2%12.6%. This increase is primarilywas mainly explained by a consequence of marketing expenditures efficiencies that we achieveddecrease in provision for doubtful accounts, as a resultpercentage of the growth in organic demand brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consumer behavior.

Net revenues

For the years ended

Change from 2019

For the years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Total Net Revenues

$

3,973.5

$

2,296.3

$

1,677.2

73.0%

$

2,296.3

$

1,439.7

$

856.7

59.5%

(*) Percentages have been calculated using the whole figures instead of rounding figures. The table above may not total due to rounding.

Our net revenues grew 73.0% for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same periodand our improvement in 2019. The increase incost of net revenues was primarily attributable to:

a)an increase of 90.1% in commerce net revenues for the year resulting, mainly, from increases in local currency gross merchandise volume in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico of 192%, 60% and 101%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in our local currency gross merchandise volume for the years ended December 31, 2020 was partially offset by the devaluation of the Brazilian Reais, the Mexican Peso and the Argentine Peso;

b)an increase of $250.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019, related to the sale of goods in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico;

c) a decrease of $91.6 million, or 34.6%, in shipping subsidies that are netted from revenues, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019;

d) an increase of $99.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019, related to the flat fee we charge for transactions below a certain merchandise value mainly in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico; and

e) an increase of our Fintech revenues of 48.8%, from $949.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 to $1,413.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This increase is mainly generated by a 75.3% increase in our total payment volume, mainly associated with off-platform transactions, financing, other payment fees (as we started to monetize wallet funding operations in Brazil) and credits business for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019.

44


For the years ended

Change from 2019

For the years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

Consolidated Net Revenues by revenue stream

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Brazil

Commerce

$

1,356.8 

$

793.4 

$

563.4 

71.0%

$

793.4 

$

450.1 

$

343.3 

76.3%

Fintech

837.3 

668.1 

169.2 

25.3%

668.1 

416.0 

252.1 

60.6%

$

2,194.0 

1,461.5 

$

732.5 

50.1%

$

1,461.5 

$

866.2 

$

595.3 

68.7%

Argentina

Commerce

$

561.3

$

240.2 

$

321.1 

133.7%

$

240.2 

$

226.6

$

13.6

6.0%

Fintech

419.0 

216.2 

202.8 

93.8%

216.2 

150.0 

66.2 

44.1%

$

980.3 

456.3 

$

523.9 

114.8%

$

456.3 

$

376.6 

$

79.8 

21.2%

Mexico

Commerce

$

471.4

$

230.2 

$

241.2 

104.8%

$

230.2 

$

89.5

$

140.7

157.2%

Fintech

103.7 

44.9 

58.8 

130.8%

44.9 

19.6 

25.3 

129.3%

$

575.2 

275.1 

$

300.0 

109.1%

$

275.1 

$

109.1 

$

166.0 

152.2%

Other countries

Commerce

$

170.3

$

82.7 

$

87.6 

105.9%

$

82.7 

$

72.4

$

10.3

14.2%

Fintech

53.7 

20.6 

33.0 

160.1%

20.6 

15.4 

5.3 

34.1%

$

224.0 

103.3 

$

120.6 

116.7%

$

103.3 

$

87.8 

$

15.5 

17.7%

Consolidated

Commerce

$

2,559.8 

$

1,346.4 

$

1,213.3 

90.1%

$

1,346.4 

$

838.6 

$

507.8 

60.6%

Fintech

1,413.7 

949.9 

463.8 

48.8%

949.9 

601.0 

348.8 

58.0%

Total

$

3,973.5 

$

2,296.3 

$

1,677.2 

73.0%

$

2,296.3 

$

1,439.7 

$

856.7 

59.5%

.

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

Brazil

Commerce revenues in Brazil increased 71.0% in the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. This increase was primarily a consequence of: i) a 60% increase in local currency gross merchandise volume (partially offset by a 23.5% approximate average devaluation of the local currency); ii) a $150.1 million decrease in shipping subsidies which are presented netted from revenues; iii) an increase of $98.9 million related to the sale of goods; and iv) an increase of $62.6 million as a result of the flat fee for transactions below a certain merchandise value. Fintech revenues grew by 25.3%, a $169.2 million increase, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019, mainly driven by a 56.4% increase in the off-platform payments volume, financing and credits business and other payment fees (as we started to monetize wallet funding operations in Brazil).

Argentina

Commerce revenues in Argentina increased 133.7% in the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. This increase was primarily a consequence of: i) a 192% increase in local currency gross merchandise volume (partially offset by a 31.7% approximate average devaluation of the local currency); ii) an increase of $97.3 million related to the sale of goods; and iii) an increase of $9.7 million as a result of the flat fee for transactions below a certain merchandise value.margins. This increase was partially offset by a $31.5one-off expenses of $351 million increaserelated to disputed amounts regarding certain tax contingencies in shipping subsidies, which are presented netted from revenues. Fintech revenues grew 93.8%, a $202.8 million increase, during theBrazil. The year ended December 31, 2020 as compared2023’s financial results reflect our ongoing commitment to the same period in 2019, mainly driven by a 159.1% increase in the off-platform payments volumedeliver sustainable and financing.profitable growth.

44

Mexico |

Commerce revenues in Mexico increased 104.8% in the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019, mainly due to: i) a 101% increase in local currency gross merchandise volume (partially offset by a 10.4% approximate average devaluation MercadoLibre, Inc.


Other income (expenses), net
Other income (expenses), net consists primarily of $42.7 millioninterest income derived from our investments and cash equivalents, interest expense and other financial charges related to the sale of goods and; iii) an increase of $23.4 million as a result of the flat fee for transactions below a certain merchandise value. This increase was partially offset by a $12.5 million increase in shipping subsidies, which are presented netted from revenues. Fintech revenues grew 130.8%, a $58.8 million increase, during the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019, mainly driven by a 103.5% increase in the off-platform payments volume financingfinancial liabilities and credits business.

45


foreign currency gains or losses. The following table sets forth our totalpresents other income (expenses), 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)

(*)

2020

Net revenues

$

652.1

$

878.4

$

1,115.7

$

1,327.3

Percent change from prior quarter

-3%

35%

27%

19%

2019

Net revenues

$

473.8

$

545.2

$

603.0

$

674.3

Percent change from prior quarter

11%

15%

11%

12%

2018

Net revenues

$

321.0

$

335.4

$

355.3

$

428.0

Percent change from prior quarter

-10%

4%

6%

20%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table.

The following table set forth the growth in net revenues in local currencies for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019:

indicated:

Changes from (*)

(% of revenue growth in Local Currency)

2019 to 2020

2018 to 2019

Brazil

97.4%

81.6%

Argentina

218.4%

115.6%

Mexico

132.2%

149.9%

Other Countries

141.2%

30.5%

Total Consolidated

126.5%

92.0%

Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(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%

(*)

The local currency revenue growth was calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2019 and applying them to the corresponding months in 2020, so as to calculate what our financial results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the next.

The local currency revenue growth was calculated by using the average monthly exchange rates for each month during 2018 and applying them to the corresponding months in 2019, so as to calculate what our financial results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the next.

See also the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for details on FX neutral measures.

In Argentina, the increase in local currency growth is due to an increase in our Argentine transactions volume, our shipped items volume, increases in our off-platform transactions through Mercado Pago and a high level of inflation.

In Mexico and Brazil, the increase in local currency growth is a consequence of an increase of our Marketplace transactions volumes, increases in our off-platform transactions through Mercado Pago and shipped items volumes.

Cost of net revenues

Years ended

Change from 2019

Years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Total cost of net revenues

$

2,264.3

$

1,194.2

$

1,070.1

89.6%

$

1,194.2

$

742.6

$

451.5

60.8%

As a percentage of net revenues (*)

57.0%

52.0%

52.0%

51.6%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

For the year ended December 31, 20202023, the increase in other income (expenses), net as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, the increase of $1,070.1 million in cost of net revenues2022 was primarily attributable to:to a: i) a $310.1$417 million increase in shipping operating costs;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) a $236.3$57 million increase in costinterest expense and other financial losses mainly attributable to higher rates (mainly in Brazil) and higher levels of sales of goodsindebtedness in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico; iii)2023 (mainly in Mexico). This increase was partially offset by a $223.2$458 million increase in collection fees, which was mainly attributable tointerest income and other financial gains from our Argentine, Brazilian and Mexican operationsfinancial investments, primarily as a result of the higher transactions volume of Mercado Pago in those countries; iv) a $136.0 million increase in sales taxes; v) a $57.3 million increase in hosting expenses and; vi) a $44.9 million increase in customer support costs mainly associated to salaries and wagesinterest income due to new hireshigher float and temporary customer support workers.

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,
202320222021
(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 2023Year Ended December 31,Change from 2021 to 2022
20232022in Dollarsin %20222021in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Income tax expense$569 $298$271 90.9 %$298$149$149100.0 %
As a percentage of net revenues3.9 %2.8%2.8%2.1%

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Product and technology development

Years ended

Change from 2019

Years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Product and technology development

$

352.5

$

223.8

$

128.7

57.5%

$

223.8

$

146.3

$

77.5

53.0%

As a percentage of net revenues (*)

8.9%

9.7%

9.7%

10.2%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

ForDuring the year ended December 31, 2020, the increase in product and technology development expenses2023 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, amounted to $128.7 million. This increase was primarily attributable to: i) a $80.1 million increase in salaries and wages2022, income tax expense increased mainly related to new hiring and LTRPs as a consequence of the increase in our common stock price; ii) a $21.0 million increase in maintenance expenses mainly related to higher software licenses expenses; iii) a $14.9 million increase in other product and technology development expenses mainly related to certain tax withholdings; and iv) a $12.6 million increase in depreciation and amortization expenses. We believe that product 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

Years ended

Change from 2019

Years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Sales and marketing

$

902.6

$

834.0

$

68.5

8.2%

$

834.0

$

482.4

$

351.6

72.9%

As a percentage of net revenues (*)

22.7%

36.3%

36.3%

33.5%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the $68.5 million increase in sales and marketing expenses as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily attributable to: i) a $66.1 million increase in our buyer protection program expenses, mainly in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina; ii) a $63.1 million increase in bad debt expenses explained, mainly, by an increase in our credits business volume and the recognition of a charge of $27.0 million during the second quarter of 2020 related to accumulated receivables from an unaffiliated entity in Argentina; and iii) a $21.4 million increase in salaries and wages. This increase was partially offset by an $84.6 million decrease in online and offline marketing expenses mainly in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina as a consequence of marketing expenditures efficiencies that we achieved as a result of the growth in organic demand brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consumer behavior.

General and administrative

Years ended

Change from 2019

Years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

General and administrative

$

326.5

$

197.5

$

129.0

65.3%

$

197.5

$

137.8

$

59.7

43.3%

As a percentage of net revenues (*)

8.2%

8.6%

8.6%

9.6%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the $129.0 million increase in general and administrative expenses as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily attributable to: i) a $84.5 million increase in salaries and wages, mainly related to the LTRPs as a consequence of the increase in our common stock price; and ii) a $31.2 million increase in other general and administrative expenses mainly related to certain tax withholdings.

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Other income (expense), net

Years ended

Change from 2019

Years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Other income (expense), net

$

(46.4)

$

45.9

$

(92.3)

-201.0%

$

45.9

$

4.0

$

41.9

1039.4%

As a percentage of net revenues (*)

-1.2%

2.0%

2.0%

0.3%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the $92.3 million decrease in other income (expense), net as compared to year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily attributable to: i) a 40.8 million increase in financial expenses mainly attributable to financial loans entered into during 2020, mainly in Brazil and Argentina and interest expenses from our trusts related to the factoring of our credit cards receivable in Argentina; ii) a $40.7 million increase in our foreign currency loss mainly related to a loss of $44.5 million derived from an indirect mechanism used to obtain US dollars in Argentina which are not available at the official exchange rate at the moment of the share repurchase transaction(referred to Note 25 of our audited consolidated financial statements); and iii) a $10.8 million decrease in interest income from our financial investments as a result of lower interest rates in our investments as a consequence of the pandemic, mainly offset by higher interest income in Argentina due to higher float.

Income tax

Years ended

Change from 2019

Years ended

Change from 2018

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

December 31,

to 2019 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

2019

2018

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

Income tax (expense) gain

$

(82.0)

$

(64.8)

$

(17.3)

26.7%

$

(64.8)

$

28.9

$

(93.6)

-324.3%

As a percentage of net revenues (*)

-2.1%

-2.8%

-2.8%

2.0%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

During the year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, income tax expense increased by $17.3 million mainly as a result of: i) higher income tax expense in Argentina as a consequence of the temporary suspension of the knowledge-based economy promotional regime in 2020, which had a direct impact on the income tax rate for our Argentine business and higher income tax expenseBrazil as a consequence of higher pre-tax gains in our Argentine segmentthose segments in 2020 and ii) higher income tax expense due to withholding tax on dividends.2023. This increase was partially offset by lower income tax expensegains in Mexico and Colombia mainly as a result of the reversal of the valuation allowances accounted for on certain deferred tax assetsallowance in those countriesone of our Mexican subsidiaries during the third quarter of 2019.

U.S. and Argentine Tax Reforms

See2023 (please see Note 13 to14 – Income taxes of our audited consolidated financial statements for additionalfurther information regarding this valuation allowance reversal) and income tax reformsgains in each jurisdiction in which we operate.

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) gainexpense as a percentage of net income (loss) before income tax (expense) gain.

expense.

The following table summarizes the changes in our effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:

2021:

Years ended

December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Effective tax rate

100.9%

-60.4%

44.1%

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Effective tax rate36.6 %38.2 %61.8 %

Our effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 20202023 as compared to the same period in 2019, increased to a positive effective tax rate as compared to the same period in 2019,2022, decreased largely as a result of: i) an increase in our Argentine income tax rate mainly as a consequence of the temporary suspensionreversal of the knowledge-based economy promotional regimevaluation allowance in 2020 by Argentine government until new rulesone of our Mexican subsidiaries during the third quarter of 2023 (please see Note 14 – Income taxes of our audited consolidated financial statements for the application of the regime are issued, ii) thefurther information regarding this valuation allowances on certain accumulated deferred tax assets in Mexico and Colombiareversal). This decrease was partially offset by taxable foreign exchange gains accounted for local tax purposes in year ended December 31, 2020, iii)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 loss accountedlosses related to the acquisition of our own common stock in the Argentine market (please see Note 25 – Share repurchase program for the purchase of own shares during 2020 which is considered a non-deductible expense, and iv) higher income tax expense due to withholding tax on dividends.

further information).

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The following table sets forth our effective income tax rate related to our main locations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:

2021:

Years ended

December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,

Effective tax rate by country

Effective tax rate by country202320222021

Argentina

34.4%

5.2%

19.8%

Argentina45.0 %34.1 %22.1 %

Brazil

5.6%

16.7%

43.4%

Brazil3.9 %(11.6)%5.9 %

Mexico

-2.0%

-33.4%

28.8%

Mexico(12.3)%(27.4)%(7.2)%

The increase in the effective income tax rate in our Argentine subsidiariessegment during the year ended December 31, 20202023 as compared to the same period in 20192022 was mainly a consequence ofrelated 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 temporary suspension of the knowledge-based economy promotional regime since 2020 by the Argentine government until new rules for the application of the regime are issued, which had a direct impact on the income tax rate for our Argentine business. For information regarding the benefits grantedU.S. dollar due to the Company under the software development law and thehighly inflationary status of the knowledge-based economy promotional regime, see Note 2 and Note 13 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

country.

The decreaseincrease in our Brazilian effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 20202023 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 2019, was mainly related2022, 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 higher non-taxable pre-tax gains.

negative 11.6% for 2022.

The decrease in our Mexican negative effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 20202023 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 2019, was mainly related to a higher2022. Please see Note 14 – Income taxes of our audited consolidated financial statements for further information regarding this valuation allowance accounted for in the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared with the valuation allowances accounted for in the year ended December 31, 2020.reversal.
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Table of Contents
Deferred Income Tax

The following table summarizes the composition of our deferred tax assets for the years endedas of December 31, 20202023 and 2019:

2022:

Year Ended

Year Ended

December 31, (*)

December 31, (*)

December 31,December 31,

Deferred tax assets

2020

in %

2019

in %

Deferred tax assets2023in %2022in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)

Brazilian operations

$

101.4

30.4

%

$

88.2

34.4

%

Brazilian operations$386 34.6 34.6 %$232 30.6 30.6 %

Argentine operations

35.1

10.5

18.9

7.4

Mexican operations

162.7

48.8

118.6

46.2

U.S. deferred tax assets

18.3

5.5

13.7

5.3

Operations in other countries

16.0

4.8

17.1

6.7

Total

$

333.5

100.0

%

$

256.5

100.0

%

Total$1,115 100.0 100.0 %$758 100.0 100.0 %

(*) Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

As of December 31, 20202023 and 20192022 our deferred tax assets, were comprised mainly of loss carry forwardsi) allowance for doubtful accounts representing 48.6%21.0% and 65.3%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 provisions(iv) loss carryforwards representing 15.9% and non-deductible interest representing 21.1% and 15.8%33.6% of our total deferred tax assets, respectively.

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Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the composition of our deferred tax assets from loss carryforwards for the years endedas of December 31, 20202023 and 2019:

2022:

Year Ended

Year Ended

December 31, (*)

December 31, (*)

December 31,December 31,

Loss carryforwards

2020

in %

2019

in %

Loss carryforwards2023in %2022in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)

Mexican operations

$

125.1

77.2

%

$

102.0

61.0

%

Mexican operations$123 69.5 69.5 %$161 63.1 63.1 %

Brazilian operations

28.5

17.6

52.8

31.5

Colombian operations

4.8

3.0

8.2

4.9

U.S. loss carry forwards

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.1

Argentine operations

Operations in other countries

3.4

2.1

4.2

2.5

Total

$

162.0

100.0

%

$

167.4

100.0

%

Total$177 100.0 100.0 %$255 100.0 100.0 %

(*) Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

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.

At

As of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, our valuation allowance amounted to $179.2$374 million and $138.9$360 million, respectively.

The following table summarizes the composition of our valuation allowance for the years endedas of December 31, 20202023 and 2019:

2022:

Year Ended

Year Ended

December 31, (*)

December 31, (*)

December 31,December 31,

Valuation Allowance

2020

in %

2019

in %

Valuation Allowance2023 in %2022in %

(in millions, except percentages)

(in millions, except percentages)

(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
U.S. deferred tax assetsU.S. deferred tax assets$304 81.3 %$161 44.7 %

Mexican operations

$

151.9

84.7

%

$

115.0

82.8

%

U.S. foreign tax credits and non-deductible interest

17.5

9.8

12.8

9.2

Colombian operations

8.0

4.5

9.6

6.9

Argentine operations

1.8

1.0

1.5

1.1

Operations in other countries

Total

$

179.2

100.0

%

$

138.9

100.0

%

Total$374 100.0 100.0 %$360 100.0 100.0 %

(*) Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

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 statementstatements 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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Table of Contents

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 8 to9 – Segments of our audited consolidated financial statements for detailed description about our reporting segments.

Year Ended December 31, 2023Year Ended December 31, 2023
BrazilBrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal

(In millions, except for percentages)

Year Ended December 31, 2020 (*)

(In millions, except for percentages)

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

Net revenues

$

2,194.0

$

980.3

$

575.2

$

224.0

$

3,973.5

Net revenues$7,595$3,240$2,985$653$14,473

Direct costs

(1,766.0)

(708.7)

(586.0)

(186.4)

(3,247.1)

Direct costs(5,763)(1,837)(1,837)(2,371)(2,371)(595)(595)(10,566)(10,566)

Direct contribution

$

428.1

$

271.6

$

(10.8)

$

37.5

$

726.4

Direct contribution$1,832$1,403$614 $$58$3,907

Margin

19.5%

27.7%

-1.9%

16.8%

18.3%

Direct contribution marginDirect contribution margin24.1%43.3%20.6%8.9%27.0%

Year Ended December 31, 2019 (*)

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2022
BrazilBrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions, except for percentages)(In millions, except for percentages)

Net revenues

$

1,461.5

$

456.3

$

275.1

$

103.3

$

2,296.3

Net revenues$5,666$2,500$1,864$507$10,537

Direct costs

(1,245.4)

(347.7)

(390.2)

(105.0)

(2,088.2)

Direct costs(4,717)(1,488)(1,488)(1,579)(1,579)(481)(481)(8,265)(8,265)

Direct contribution

$

216.1

$

108.6

$

(115.0)

$

(1.6)

$

208.1

Direct contribution$949$1,012$285 $$26$2,272

Margin

14.8%

23.8%

-41.8%

-1.6%

9.1%

Direct contribution marginDirect contribution margin16.7%40.5%15.3%5.1%21.6%

Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2019 (*)

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023
BrazilBrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions, except for percentages)(In millions, except for percentages)

Net revenues

in Dollars
in Dollars

in Dollars

$

732.5

$

523.9

$

300.0

$

120.6

$

1,677.2

$1,929$740$1,121$146$3,936

in %

50.1%

114.8%

109.1%

116.7%

73.0%

in %34.0%29.6%60.1%28.8%37.4%

Direct costs

in Dollars

$

(520.6)

$

(360.9)

$

(195.9)

$

(81.5)

$

(1,158.9)

in Dollars
in Dollars

in %

41.8%

103.8%

50.2%

77.6%

55.5%

in %22.2%23.5%50.2%23.7%27.8%

Direct contribution

in Dollars

$

211.9

$

163.0

$

104.2

$

39.2

$

518.3

in Dollars
in Dollars$883$391$329$32$1,635

in %

98.1%

150.1%

90.6%

2396.7%

249.1%

in %93.0%38.6%115.4%123.1 %72.0%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

(In millions, except for percentages)

Year Ended December 31, 2019 (*)

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

Net revenues

$

1,461.5

$

456.3

$

275.1

$

103.3

$

2,296.3

Direct costs

(1,245.4)

(347.7)

(390.2)

(105.0)

(2,088.2)

Direct contribution

$

216.1

$

108.6

$

(115.0)

$

(1.6)

$

208.1

Margin

14.8%

23.8%

-41.8%

-1.6%

9.1%

Year Ended December 31, 2018 (*)

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

Net revenues

$

866.2

$

376.6

$

109.1

$

87.8

$

1,439.7

Direct costs

(762.6)

(254.5)

(164.6)

(79.6)

(1,261.4)

Direct contribution

$

103.5

$

122.0

$

(55.5)

$

8.2

$

178.3

Margin

12.0%

32.4%

-50.9%

9.4%

12.4%


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Year Ended December 31, 2022
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions, except for percentages)
Net revenues$5,666$2,500$1,864$507$10,537
Direct costs(4,717)(1,488)(1,579)(481)(8,265)
Direct contribution$949$1,012$285$26$2,272
Direct contribution margin16.7%40.5%15.3%5.1%21.6%
Year Ended December 31, 2021
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions, except for percentages)
Net revenues$3,910 $1,531 $1,172 $456 $7,069 
Direct costs(3,233)(998)(1,139)(380)(5,750)
Direct contribution$677 $533 $33 $76 $1,319 
Direct contribution margin17.3%34.8%2.9%16.6%18.7%

Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2018 (*)

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022Change from the Year Ended December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022
BrazilBrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions, except for percentages)(In millions, except for percentages)

Net revenues

in Dollars
in Dollars

in Dollars

$

595.3

$

79.8

$

166.0

$

15.5

$

856.7

$1,756$969$692$51$3,468

in %

68.7%

21.2%

152.2%

17.7%

59.5%

in %44.9%63.3%59.0%11.2%49.1%

Direct costs

in Dollars

$

(482.7)

$

(93.2)

$

(225.5)

$

(25.4)

$

(826.9)

in Dollars
in Dollars

in %

63.3%

36.6%

137.0%

31.9%

65.6%

in %45.9%49.1%38.6%26.6%43.7%

Direct contribution

in Dollars

$

112.6

$

(13.4)

$

(59.5)

$

(9.9)

$

29.8

in Dollars
in Dollars$272$479$252$(50)$953

in %

108.7%

-11.0%

-107.1%

-119.8%

16.7%

in %40.2%89.9%763.6%(65.8 %)72.3%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

Net revenues

Net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 20182021 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, 2020,2023, as compared to 2022, the same periodincrease in 2019, direct costs increased by 41.8%,was mainly driven by:by a: i) a 71.6%$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, and cost of sale of goods as a consequence of an increase in sales of products; ii) a 53.7% increase in producttaxes and technology development expenses, mainly due to an increase in salaries and wages, maintenance expenses mostly related to higher software licenses expenses, higher other product and development expenses mainly related to certain tax withholdings and depreciation and amortization expenses; and iii) a 52.2% increase in general and administrative expenses, mostly attributable to an increase in salaries and wages mainly related to the LTRPs and other general and administrative expenses principally related to certain tax withholdings. This increase was partially offset by a 3.9% decrease in sales and marketing expenses, mainly due to a decrease in online and offline marketing expenses as a consequence of marketing expenditures efficiencies that we achieved as a result of the growth in organic demand brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consumer behavior.

Argentina

For the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019, direct costs increased by 103.8%, mainly driven by: i) a 131.0% increase in cost of net revenues, mainly attributable to an increase in cost of sale of goods as a consequence of an increase in sales of products, an increase in collection fees as a consequence of the higher transactions volume of our Mercado Pago business, and an increase in shipping operating costs and sales taxes;carrier costs; and ii) a 45.2% increase in sales and marketing expenses, mainly due to an increase in bad debt expenses explained by the recognition of a charge of $27.0$48 million related to accumulated receivables from an unaffiliated entity in Argentina during the second quarter of 2020, and buyer protection program expenses partially offset by a decrease in online and offline marketing expenses as a consequence of marketing expenditures efficiencies that we achieved as a result of the growth in organic demand brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consumer behavior; iii) a 81.2% increase in product and technology development expenses, mainly due to an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses; and iv) a 68.4% increase in general and administrative expenses, mostly attributable to an increase in salaries and wages, mainly related to the LTRPs and other general and administrative expenses principally related to certain tax withholdings.

Mexico

For the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019, direct costs increased by 50.2%, mainly driven by: i) a 90.6% increase in cost of net revenues, mainly attributable to an increase in shipping operating costs, an increase in collection fees due to higher Mercado Pago penetration, cost of sale of goods as a consequence of an increase in sales of products and customer support costs; ii) a 6.6% increase in sales and marketing expenses, mainly due to buyer protection program expenses, bad debt expenses, chargebacks, from credit cards duesalaries 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 transactions volume andpenetration, cost of goods sold as a consequence of an increase in first-party sales, other sales expensespayments costs mainly related to strategichigher funding cost related to our credits business and hosting expenses; ii) $126 million increase in sales and marketing initiatives expenses, partially offset by a decrease inmainly 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 marketing expenditures efficiencies that we achieved as a result of the growth in organic demand brought about by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic consumer behavior; iii) a 73.6% increase in productour common stock price); and technology development expenses, mainly attributable to depreciation and amortization expenses and salaries and wages; and iv) a 45.1%iii) $124 million increase in general and administrative expenses,provision for doubtful accounts mainly attributable to an increase in salaries and wages and other general and administrative expenses principally related to certain tax withholdings.

our consumer credits business growth.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our main cash requirement has been working capital to fund Mercado Pago financing operations.operations and our credit business. We also require cash for capital expenditures relating to technology infrastructure, software applications, office space, business acquisitions, to fund our credit business, to build out our logistics capacity and theto make interest payments on our loans payable and other financial liabilities.
We have entered into afunded Mercado Pago mainly by selling credit card receivables and through credit lines. Additionally, we have financed our Mercado Pago and Mercado Credito businesses through the securitization of credit card receivables and certain loans through SPEs created in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Finally, we obtained funding through our financial institution in Brazil through deposit certificates and financial bills. Refer to Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities and Note 21 – Securitization transactions of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.
We committed to purchase commitment in relation to the purchase of cloud services forfor: i) a total amount of $240.5$824 million, to be paid in the following 4 years.within a 5-year period starting on October 1, 2021 and ii) a total amount of $200 million to be paid within a 3-year period starting on September 23, 2022. Please refer to Note 1415 – Commitments and Contingencies of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on purchase commitments.

Since our inception, we have funded our operations primarily through contributions received from our stockholders during

Further, in connection with the first two yearsclosing of operations, from funds raised during ourMELI Kaszek Pioneer Corp’s (“MEKA”) initial public offering on October 1, 2021, MEKA (a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by MELI Kaszek Pioneer Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), which is a joint venture between our subsidiary, MELI Capital Ventures LLC, and Kaszek Ventures Opportunity II, L.P.) entered into a forward purchase agreement with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor committed to purchase from cash generated from our operations. We issuedMEKA 5 million Class A ordinary shares at a price of $10 per share in a private placement to close substantially concurrently with the 2028 Notesconsummation of MEKA’s initial business combination. MEKA was deemed dissolved on January 2, 2024, resulting in the extinguishment of this commitment.
On April 8, 2022, we signed a 10-year agreement with Gol Linhas Aereas S.A. under which we committed to contract a minimum amount of air logistics services for net proceedsa total annual cost of approximately $864.6$43 million (total amount once all the dedicated aircraft are in operation). Pursuant to the agreement, Gol Linhas Aereas S.A. will provide 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, we signed 3-year agreements with certain shipping companies in Brazil, under which we committed to contract a minimum amount of logistics services for a total cost of $31 million. We have funded Mercado Pago mainly
On January 10, 2024, we 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 discounting credit cards receivables and credit lines.

the Brazilian inflation rate index IPCA.

Additionally, we startedhave several committed leases, mainly related to fundour fulfillment and service centers, which are one of the most important investments for our Mercado PagoEnvios business. In this sense, as of December 31, 2023, we have committed rental expenditures with our lessors for $1,180 million and Mercado Credito businesses through the securitization of credit cards receivable$173 million for operating leases and certain loans through SPEs created in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. Please refer tofinance leases, respectively. See Note 2123 – Leases of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on securitization transactions.

Finally,leases.

We and certain financial institutions participate in a supplier finance program (“SFP”) that enables certain of our suppliers, at their own election, to request the payment of their invoices to the financial institutions earlier than the terms stated in our payment policies. Suppliers’ voluntary inclusion of invoices in the SFP does not change our 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 our payment policies (between 60 and 90 days). There are no assets pledged as security or other forms of guarantees provided for the committed payment to the financial institution. We have no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to participate in the SFP and have no financial impact in connection with the SFP. As of December 31, 2023, the obligations outstanding that the Company has confirmed as valid to the financial institutions amounted to $381 million, and are included in the consolidated balance sheets within the accounts payable and accrued expenses line.
In August 2022, we issued commoncommercial notes in Brazil (denominated in Brazilian Real) for $198 million (considering the exchange rate as of the date of issuance), to continue investing in capital expenditures for our shipping business, in order to continue developing our shipping strategy. See Note 17 – Loans payable and preferred stock in the securities offerings thatother financial liabilities of our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.
In November 2021, we closed on March 15, 2019 and March 29, 2019, respectively,an equity public offering for netan aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of our Common Stock at a public offering price of $1,550 per share. The aggregate proceeds of $1,965.9the equity offering were $1,520 million which are intended to be used to fund the growthnet of our payment initiatives, build out our logistics capacity, drive the adoptionissuance costs paid. See Note 22 – Equity Offering of these services and for general corporate purposes. See note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our equity offerings.
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Finally, on March 31, 2022, we entered into a $400 million revolving credit arrangement (“the uncertain progressCredit 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 COVID-19 pandemicfacility 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 the related macroeconomic instability in the countries where we operate, it is not possible to have certainty around business development and cash generation for the year 2021. In termsother financial liabilities of liquidity and cash management, our relevant sources of funding remain available and new credit facilities have been obtained at the geographic segment level. Please refer to Note 26 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on COVID-19 impacts.

detail.

As of December 31, 2020,2023, our main source of liquidity was $2,460.8$3,747 million of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, which excludes a $565.7$2,289 million investment mainly related to the Central Bank of Brazil Mandatory Guarantee, and $71.2 million investment related to restricted escrow accounts regarding financial loans taken out in Brazil, and consists of cash generated from operations proceeds from loans, from the issuance of the 2028 Notes and proceeds from the issuance of common and preferred stock.

The significant components of our working capital are cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, loans receivable, inventories, accounts payable and accrued expenses, funds receivable from and payable to Mercado Pago users, and short-term debt.

loans.

As of December 31, 2020,2023, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments of our non-U.S. subsidiaries amounted to $2,449.7$6,459 million, 62.6%or 86.2% of our consolidated cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments, and our non-U.S. dollar-denominated cash, cash and equivalent,cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalenetequivalents and investments held outside U.S. amounted to approximately 60.8%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.

Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.

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The following table presents our cash flows from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:

2021:

Years ended

December 31, (*)

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,
2023202320222021

(In millions)

2020

2019

2018

(In millions)

Net cash (used in) provided by:

Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
Operating activities

Operating activities

$

1,182.6

$

451.1

230.9

Investing activities

(252.2)

(1,447.8)

(672.5)

Financing activities

242.3

2,021.0

608.9

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents

(115.8)

(37.6)

(90.9)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents

$

1,056.8

$

986.7

$

76.4

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash provided by operating activities consists of net lossincome adjusted for certain non-cash items, and the effect of changes in working capital and other activities:

Years ended

Change from 2019

December 31, (*)

to 2020 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023
202320232022in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)

Net Cash provided by:

 

 

Operating activities

$

1,182.6

$

451.1

$

731.5

162.2%

Operating activities
Operating activities$5,140 $2,940 $2,200 74.8 %

The

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

The $731.5 million increase in netNet cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared2023, resulted primarily from our net income of $987 million, adjustments to the same period in 2019, was primarily driven bynet income related to non-cash items of $2,103 million, a $670.3$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 merchantscredit and a $440.8 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses. This increase wasdebit card transactions, which were partially offset by a $492.7$1,321 million increase in credit cards receivablecard receivables and a $102.8other means of payments. The $2,200 million increase in inventories.

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

Years ended

Change from 2019

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023
202320232022in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)

Net Cash used in:

 

 

Investing activities

$

(252.2)

$

(1,447.8)

$

1,195.6

-82.6%

Investing activities
Investing activities$(3,450)$(3,871)$421 (10.9)%

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

Net cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 20202023 resulted mainly from purchasesthe use of investments of $5,199.9$2,047 million which was partially offset by proceeds from the sale and maturity of investments of $5,532.5 million, consistent with our treasury strategy of investing part of our available liquidity, principally, in U.S. treasury securities. We used $344.6 million in principalrelated 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 $247.0$509 million in the purchaseinvestment of property and equipment (mainly inrelated to our shipping network and information technology assets in Argentina, MexicoBrazil and Brazil)Mexico). The cash used in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2020 was partially offset by receipts from settlements of derivative instruments for $17.8 million.


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Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

Years ended

Change from 2019

December 31,

to 2020 (*)

2020

2019

in Dollars

in %

(in millions, except percentages)

Net Cash provided by:

 

 

Year Ended December 31,Year Ended December 31,Change from 2022 to 2023
202320232022in Dollarsin %
(In millions, except percentages)(In millions, except percentages)
Net Cash (used in) provided by:

Financing activities

$

242.3

$

2,021.0

$

(1778.7)

-88.0%

Financing activities
Financing activities$(267)$916 $(1,183)(129.1 %)

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than the rounded amounts that appear in the table.

For the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, our net cash provided byused in financing activities was primarily derived from $611.4the $356 million in net proceeds from loans payablerelated to repurchases of our common stock and other financial liabilities partially offset by the payment of $306.8$33 million for the purchasepayments of capped calls and $54.1 million for the Common Stock repurchased.

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

Convertible Senior

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 2028.2028 (collectively the “2028 Notes”). The 2028 Notes arewere unsecured, unsubordinated obligations, which paypaid interest in cash semi-annually, on February 15 and August 15, at a rate of 2.00% per annum. The 2028 Notes will mature on August 15, 2028 unless earlier repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The 2028 Notes may be converted, 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.

In January 2021, we signed agreements with 2028 Notes holders to repurchase $440,000 thousands$440 million principal amount of our outstanding of the 2028 Notes. The total amount paid amounted to $1,865.1$1,865 million, which includes principal, interest accrued and premium. As of the date of the issuance of the current report, approximately $440 millions of
On September 19, 2023, we announced our principal amountintention to redeem all our 2028 Notes on November 14, 2023. Holders of the 2028 Notes remainscould 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 Notes 2Note 17 – Loans payable and 16other financial liabilities to our audited consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding the 2028 Notes and the related capped call transactions.

Financial loans in Brazil

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, we have obtained new credit facilities at the geographic segment level. As of December 31, 2020, we obtained credit facilities in Brazil with an outstanding amount of $200.6 million. Please refer to Note 16 of our audited consolidated financial statements for further information on our loans and Note 26 for further detail on COVID-19 impacts.

Mercado Pago Funding

In 2020, we, through our subsidiaries, continued obtaining certain lines of credit in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay primarily to fund the Mercado Pago business. Additionally, we continue to securitize certain loans and credit card receivables through our Argentine, Mexican and Brazilian SPEs, formed to securitize loans provided by us to our users and credit cards receivable. Please refer to Note 21 to our audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail.

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 arewere MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado Envios Servicos de Logistica Ltda., MercadoPago.comMercado 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.

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We will 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´sCompany’s other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations from time to time outstanding.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, from time to time outstanding, 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

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 27Note 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 initial 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.

presented in footnotes.

Summarized balance sheet information for the Obligor Group as of December 31, 20202023 and 20192022 is provided in the table below:
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Current assets (1) (2)
$11,343 $7,966 
Non-current assets (3)
3,032 2,693 
Current Liabilities (4)
9,683 7,214 
Non-current Liabilities2,327 2,547 
(1)

Includes restricted cash and cash equivalents of $430 million and $687 million and foreign government debt securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) of $2,289 million and $1,219 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

(2)

Includes Current assets from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $1,405 million and $863 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

December 31,

(In millions)

2020

2019

Current assets (*)(**)

$

4,339.4

$

3,405.3

Non-current assets (***)

1,121.2

906.4

Current Liaibilities (****)

3,298.2

1,587.9

Non-current Liaibilities

944.3

864.7

Redeemable convertible preferred stock

-

98.8

(3) Includes Non-current assets from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $309 million and $410 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

(4)

(*)

Includes restricted cash and cash equivalents of $402.0 million and $29.3 million and guarantees in short-term investments of $636.9 million and $522.8 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Includes Current liabilities to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $1,808 million and $1,334 million as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

(**)

Includes Current assets from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $156.4 million and $47.0 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

(***)

Includes Non-current assets from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $94.9 million and $30.2 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

(****)

Includes Current liabilities to non-guarantor subsidiaries of $144.7 million and $34.6 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.


5653

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Table of Contents

Summarized statement of income information for the Obligor Group for the yearsyear ended December 31, 2020 and 20192023 is provided in the table below:

Year Ended
December 31,

(In millions)

2020

2019

Net revenues (*)

$

3,638.8

$

2,177.6

Gross Profit (**)

1,438.8

994.2

Income (loss) from operations (***)

11.4

(169.8)

Net loss (****)

(82.0)

(183.1)

Year Ended
December 31,

(*)2023

Includes Net revenues from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $85.0 million and $32.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(**)(In millions)

Includes charges from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $184.9 million and $58.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(***)Net Revenues

(1)

In addition to the charges included in $11,978 
Gross profit, Profit (2)
5,503 
Income (loss) from operations includes charges from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $171.9 million and $80.4 million for years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

(3)
1,172 

(****)Net income

(4)

Includes other income from transactions with non-guarantor subsidiaries of $9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.506 

(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

See “Item 5—Market for registrant’s common equity, related stockholder matters and issuer purchases

Our board of equity securities—Dividend Policy” for more information regarding our dividend distributions.

Our Board of Directorsdirectors 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 Boardboard of Directorsdirectors and will depend on our earnings, operating and financial condition, capital requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Boardboard of Directors,directors, including the applicable requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Capital expenditures

Our capital expenditures (composed(comprised of our payments forinvestments in property and equipment (such as certain assets used in our fulfillment centers) and intangible assets and acquired businesses)(excluding digital assets) for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 20192022 amounted to $254.1$509 million and $141.4$455 million, respectively.

We invested $105.0 million and $55.3 million in leasehold improvements in our offices and fulfillment centers in Argentina, Mexico and Brazil during

During the yearsyear ended December 31, 20202023, we invested $225 million in information and 2019, respectively. We also invested $137.2 million and $74.0 million, respectively,technology assets in Information Technology, which was concentrated across Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.

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 our 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 going forward.in the foreseeable future.

54 |

Off-balance sheet arrangements MercadoLibre, Inc.


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.
Year Ended December 31, (1)
202320222021
(In millions, except percentages)
Unique Active Users (2)
218 148 140 
Gross merchandise volume (3)
$44,749 $34,449 $28,351 
Number of items sold (4)
1,404 1,147 1,014 
Number of items shipped (5)
1,377 1,105 962 
Total payment volume (6)
$182,821 $123,633 $77,371 
Total volume of payments on marketplace (7)
$47,182 $36,281 $29,078 
Total payment transactions (8)
9,470 5,470 3,255 
NIMAL (9)
36.2 %32.0 %36.5 %
Capital expenditures$509 $455 $630 
Depreciation and amortization$524 $403 $204 
(1) Figures have been calculated using rounded amounts. Growth calculations based on this table may not total due to rounding.
(2) New or existing user who performed at least one of the following actions during the reported period: (1) made one purchase, or reservation, or asked one question on Mercado Libre Marketplace or Classified Marketplace (2) maintained an active listing on Mercado Libre Marketplace or Classified Marketplace (3) maintained an active account in Mercado Shops (4) made a payment, money transfer, collection and/or advance using Mercado Pago (5) maintained an outstanding credit line through Mercado Credito or (6) maintained a balance of more than $5 invested in a Mercado Fondo asset management account. Management uses this metric to evaluate the size of our community of users who interact with the ecosystem and of which we have the opportunity to generate further engagement. With the changes in our businesses we believe it provides a better indication of our active user base rather than our discontinued registration metric that did not reflect any sort of interaction.
(3) Total U.S. dollar sum of all transactions completed through the Mercado Libre Marketplace, excluding Classifieds transactions.
(4) Number of items that were sold/purchased through the Mercado Libre Marketplace, excluding Classifieds items.
(5) Number of items that were shipped through our shipping service.
(6) Total U.S. dollar sum of all transactions paid for using Mercado Pago, including marketplace and non-marketplace transactions.
(7) Total U.S. dollar sum of all marketplace transactions paid for using Mercado Pago. Management uses this metric to evaluate the performance of our payments services and development of our integrated ecosystem. As from January 1, 2022, we no longer disclose our total volume of payments on marketplace net of shipping and financing fees. Given the growth of our shipping and Fintech businesses, Management believes that including shipping and financing fees in the calculation of total volume of payments on marketplace results in a more accurate indicator of that performance on a go-forward basis. Consequently, total volume of payment on marketplace for the year ended December 31, 2020, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements2021 has been recast to include shipping and financing fees.
(8) Number of all transactions paid for using Mercado Pago.
(9) Net interest margins after losses (“NIMAL”) represents the annualized ratio between the total credits revenues less funding costs and provision for doubtful accounts for the period and total average gross loans receivable for the period. Management uses NIMAL to monitor how effectively the Company is pricing and managing the credit products relative to their risk and setting targets. Accordingly, management is of the opinion that have, or are reasonably likelyNIMAL provides useful information to have, a current or future material effect oninvestors and others related to the Company’s risk appetite through the different periods and shows how the Company effectively prices risk.
Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance
To supplement our audited consolidated financial condition,statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we present earnings before interest income and other financial gains, interest expense and other financial losses, foreign currency losses, net, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity (“Adjusted EBITDA”), net debt and foreign exchange (“FX”) neutral measures as non-GAAP measures. Reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures can be found in the tables below.
These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our results of operations liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.


as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures should only be used to evaluate our results of operations in conjunction with the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures.
We believe that reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure provides investors an overall understanding of our current financial performance and its prospects for the future.

5755

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Contractual Obligations

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 certain fixed contractual obligationsincluded this non-GAAP financial measure because it is used by our Management to evaluate our operating performance and commitments that include future estimated payments. Changestrends, 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, needs, cancellation provisionsas it removes the effect of certain items.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the period indicated:
Years ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Net income$987 $482 $83 
Adjustments:
Depreciation and amortization524 403 204 
Interest income and other financial gains(723)(265)(138)
Interest expense and other financial losses378 321 229 
Foreign currency losses, net615 198 109 
Income tax expense569 298 149 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity(3)— 
Adjusted EBITDA$2,347 $1,437 $645 
56 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

Net debt
We define net debt as total debt which includes current and non-current loans payable and other factorsfinancial 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,
20232022
(In millions)
Current Loans payable and other financial liabilities$2,292 $2,131 
Non-current Loans payable and other financial liabilities2,203 2,627 
Current Operating lease liabilities166 142 
Non-current Operating lease liabilities672 514 
Total debt5,333 5,414 
Less:
Cash and cash equivalents2,556 1,910 
Short-term investments (1)
1,191 1,120 
Long-term investments (2)
81 245 
Net debt$1,505 $2,139 
(1) Excludes foreign government debt securities restricted and held in guarantee.
(2) Excludes investments held in VIEs as a consequence of securitization transactions and equity securities held at cost.

57 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

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 resultnot 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 actual payments differing materially2023, so as to calculate what our results would have been had exchange rates remained stable from one year to the estimates below. We cannot provide certainty regardingnext. The comparative FX neutral measures were calculated by using the timingaverage monthly exchange rates for each month during 2021 and amountapplying 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 payments. Contractual obligations atthe operations for years ended December 31, 2020 are as follows:2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year ended December 31,
As reportedFX Neutral MeasuresAs reportedPercentage Change
20232022Percentage Change20232022
(In millions, except percentages)
Net revenues$14,473 $10,537 37.4 %$17,694 $10,537 67.9 %
Cost of net revenues(7,267)(5,374)35.2 %(8,577)(5,374)59.6 %
Gross profit7,206 5,163 39.6 %9,117 5,163 76.6 %
Operating expenses(5,383)(4,129)30.4 %(6,700)(4,129)62.3 %
Income from operations$1,823 $1,034 76.3 %$2,417 $1,034 133.8 %
Year ended December 31,
As reportedFX Neutral MeasuresAs reportedPercentage Change
20222021Percentage Change20222021
(In millions, except percentages)
Net revenues$10,537 $7,069 49.1 %$11,291 $7,069 59.7 %
Cost of net revenues(5,374)(4,064)32.2 %(5,694)(4,064)40.1 %
Gross profit5,163 3,005 71.8 %5,597 3,005 86.3 %
Operating expenses(4,129)(2,564)61.0 %(4,478)(2,564)74.6 %
Income from operations$1,034 $441 134.5 %$1,119 $441 153.7 %

See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Foreign currency translation – Argentine currency status and macroeconomic outlook and Argentine exchange regulations

  

Payment due by period

  

Total

  

Less than

  

1 to 3

  

3 to 5

  

More than

(in millions)

(*)

1 year (*)

years (*)

years (*)

5 years (*)

Long-term debt obligations (1)

  

$

1,840.7

  

$

570.0

  

$

302.7

  

$

35.2

  

$

932.8

Finance lease obligations

29.3

8.8

14.6

5.9

Operating lease obligations

  

394.0

  

58.7

115.2

  

99.3

  

120.9

Purchase obligations

  

326.7

  

127.0

  

166.0

  

33.8

  

Total

  

$

2,590.7

  

$

764.5

  

$

598.5

  

$

174.1

  

$

1,053.7

(*)

The table above may not total due to rounding.

(1)

Includes principal and interest amounts. For additional details regarding our loans payable and 2028 Notes, see Note 16; for collateralized debt securitization and finance and operating lease obligation, see Note 21 and Note 23 toof our audited consolidated financial statements respectively. Long-term debt obligations do not include principal and interest amounts of the Notes issued in January 2021 of $1,366.3 million and the impact of the repurchase of the 2028 Notes. See Note 27 and 16 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further information, respectively.

We have leases for office space, fulfillment, cross dockingfurther detail on the currency status and service centers and vehicles in certain countries in which we operate. Purchase obligation amounts include minimum purchase commitments for advertising, capital expenditures (technological equipment and software licenses) and other goods and services that were entered into in the ordinary courseexchange regulations of business. We have developed estimates to project payment obligations based upon historical trends, when available, and our anticipated future obligations. Given the significance of performance requirements within our advertising and other arrangements, actual payments could differ significantly from these estimates.Argentine segment.


Item58 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risks arising from our business operations. These market risks arise mainly from macroeconomic instability and the possibility that changes in interest rates and the U.S. dollar exchange rate with local currencies, particularly the Brazilian Real, Argentine Peso and ArgentineMexican Peso due to Brazil’s, Argentina’s and Argentine’sMexico’s respective share of our revenues, may affect the value of our financial assets and liabilities. Latin American countries in which we operate have been negatively affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, which has generated macroeconomic instability and led to the devaluation of certain Latin American currencies.

We are also exposed to market risks arising from our long-term retention plansprograms (“LTRPs”). These market risks arise from our obligations to pay employees cash payments in amounts that vary based on the market price of our stock.

Foreign currencies

We have significant operations internationally that are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the Brazilian Reais,Real, Argentine Peso, Mexican Peso, Colombian Peso and Chilean Peso, subjecting us to foreign currency risk, which may adversely impact our financial results. We transact business in various foreign currencies and have significant international revenues and costs. In addition, we charge our international subsidiaries for their use of intellectual property and technology and for certain corporate services. Our cash flows, results of operations and certain of our intercompany balances that are exposed to foreign exchange rate fluctuations may differ materially from expectations and we may record significant gains or losses due to foreign currency fluctuations and related hedging activities.

We use foreign currency exchange forward contracts and currency swaps to protect our foreign currency exposure and our investment in a foreign subsidiary from adverse changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These hedging contracts reduce, but do not entirely eliminate, the impact of adverse foreign currency exchange rate movements. We designate these contracts as cash flow, net investment and fair value hedges for accounting purposes. The derivatives’ gain or loss for cash flow and net investment hedges is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Cash flow hedges and net investment hedges are subsequently reclassified into the financial statement line item in which the hedged item is recorded in the same period the forecasted transaction affects earnings. The derivatives’ gain or loss for fair value hedges is reported in our consolidated statements of income in the same line items as the change in the value of the hedged item due to the hedged risks.
As of December 31, 2020,2023, we hold cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments in local currencies in our subsidiaries, and have receivables denominated in local currencies in all of our operations. Our subsidiaries generate revenues and incur most of their expenses in the respective local currencies of the countries in which they operate. As a result, our subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency except for our Argentine subsidiaries, whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar due to the highly inflationary environment. As of December 31, 2020,2023, the total cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalentsequivalent denominated in foreign currencies totaled $1,625.8$3,201 million, short-term investments denominated in foreign currencies totaled $762.2$2,466 million and accounts receivable, credit cards receivablecard receivables and other means of payments and loans receivable in foreign currencies totaled $1,314.0$6,482 million. As of December 31, 2020,2023, we had no$79 million long-term investments denominated in foreign currencies. To manage exchange rate risk, our treasury policy is to transfer most cash cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents in excess of working capital requirements into U.S. dollar-denominated accounts in the United States.States and to enter into certain foreign exchange derivatives, such as currency forwards contracts, in order to mitigate our exposure to foreign exchange risk. As of December 31, 2020,2023, our U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1,361.5$1,661 million and our U.S. dollar-denominated long-term investments totaled $166.1$83 million.

58


For the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, we had a consolidated loss on foreign currency of $42.5$615 million mainly related to higher foreign exchange losses attributable to our own common stock acquisition in the Argentine market at a lossprice that reflects the additional cost of $44.5 million derived fromaccessing U.S. dollars through an indirect mechanism useddue to obtain USrestrictions imposed by the Argentine government for buying U.S. dollars in Argentina which are not available at the official exchange rate, and higher foreign exchange losses from our Argentinian subsidiaries due to the devaluation of the Argentine peso 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 momentofficial exchange rate.

59 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

Table of the share repurchase transaction (refer to Note 25 of our audited consolidated financial statements)Contents, partially offset by a: i) $1.6 million gain on foreign exchange in our Argentina subsidiaries; and iii) a $1.2 million gain on foreign exchange in our Mexican subsidiaries. (See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Results of operations—Other income (expenses), net” for more information).

See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements for further detail on Argentina’s functional

Foreign currency change.

The following table sets forth the percentage of consolidated net revenues by segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

sensitivity analysis

Years Ended

December 31,

(% of total consolidated net revenues) (*)

2020

2019

2018

Brazil

55.2

%

63.6

%

60.2

%

Argentina

24.7

19.9

26.2

Mexico

14.5

12.0

7.6

Other Countries

5.6

4.5

6.1

(*)

Percentages have been calculated using whole-dollar amounts rather than rounded amounts that appear in the table. The table above may not total due to rounding.

Foreign Currency Sensitivity Analysis

The table below shows the impact on our net revenues, cost of net revenues, operating expenses, other expenses andincome (expenses), income tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity, net lossincome and equity for a positive and a negative 10% fluctuation on all the foreign currencies to which we are exposed to as of December 31, 20202023:

(10)% (1)
Actual
'+10% (2)
(In millions)
Net revenues$16,081 $14,473 $13,157 
Expenses (3)
(13,992)(12,650)(11,551)
Income from operations2,089 1,823 1,606 
Other income (expenses), income tax expense and equity in earning of unconsolidated entity related to P&L items(243)(221)(213)
Foreign Currency impact related to the remeasurement of our Net Asset position(640)(615)(595)
Net Income$1,206 $987 $798 
Total Shareholders’ Equity$3,435 $3,071 $2,763 
(1) Increase of the subsidiaries local currency against U.S. Dollar.
(2) Decrease of the subsidiaries local currency against U.S. Dollar.
(3) Includes cost of net revenues and for the year then ended:operating expenses.

Foreign Currency Sensitivity Analysis (*)

(In millions)

-10%

Actual

+10%

(1)

(2)

Net revenues

$         4,414.8

$           3,973.5

$        3,612.4

Expenses

(4,274.3)

(3,845.8)

(3,495.1)

Income from operations

140.5

127.7

117.2

Other income/(expenses) and income tax related to P&L items

(93.7)

(85.9)

(79.6)

Foreign Currency impact related to the remeasurement of our Net Asset position

(42.1)

(42.5)

(42.8)

Net Income (loss)

4.7

(0.7)

(5.1)

Total Shareholders' Equity

$         1,712.0

$           1,651.6

$        1,514.0

(1)

Appreciation of the subsidiaries local currency against U.S. Dollar

(2)

Depreciation of the subsidiaries local currency against U.S. Dollar

(*)

The table above does not total due to rounding.

The table above shows an increase in our net income when the U.S. dollar weakens against foreign currencies because of the positive impact of the increase in income from operations. On the other hand, the table above shows an increasea decrease in our net lossincome when the U.S. dollar strengthens against foreign currencies because of the negative impact of the decrease in income from operations.

During 2020,

Brazilian segment
Considering a hypothetical decrease of 10% of the Brazilian Real against the U.S. dollar on December 31, 2023, the reported net assets in our Brazilian subsidiaries would have decreased by approximately $244 million with the related impact in Other Comprehensive Income. Additionally, we entered into hedging transactions in Brazil and Mexico in order to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with changes inwould have recorded a foreign currency exchange rates. See note 24loss amounting to approximately $49 million in our audited consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Brazilian subsidiaries.

59


Table of Contents

Argentine segment

Argentine Segment

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we have classified our Argentine operations as highly inflationary since July 1, 2018, using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency for purposes of reporting our financial statements. Therefore, no translation effect has been accounted for in other comprehensive income related to our Argentine operations since July 1, 2018.

AsArgentina’s annual inflation rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was 211.4%, 94.8% and 50.9%, respectively.

We use Argentina’s official exchange rate to account for transactions in our Argentine segment, which as of December 31, 2020,2023, 2022 and 2021 was 808.45, 177.16 and 102.72, respectively, against the Argentine PesoU.S. dollar. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, Argentina’s official exchange rate against the U.S. dollar was 84.15.

In the second half of 2019, the Argentine government instituted exchange controls restricting the purchase of foreign currencies. Because of Argentine exchange controls, many Argentine entities use a trading mechanism, in which an entity buys U.S. dollar denominated securities in Argentina using Argentine Pesos, transfers the securities outside Argentinaincreased 356.3%, 72.5% and sells the securities for U.S. dollars. The number of U.S. dollars that may be obtained through this mechanism are lower than the ones that would have resulted from buying them at the official rate if such transaction was not restricted.

22.1%, respectively.

Considering a hypothetical devaluationdecrease of 10% of the Argentine Peso against the U.S. dollar on December 31, 2020,2023, the effect on non-functional currency net liability position in our Argentine subsidiaries would have been a foreign exchange gain amounting to approximately $10.3$4 million in our Argentine subsidiaries.

See Item 7, “Management’s discussionNote 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies - Foreign currency translation - Argentine currency status and analysismacroeconomic outlook of our audited consolidated financial condition and results of operations—Critical accounting policies and estimates—Foreign Currency Translation”statements for detailsfurther detail on the currency status and the exchange regulations of our Argentine segment.

BrazilianSegment

Mexican segment
Considering a hypothetical devaluationdecrease of 10% of the Brazilian ReaisMexican peso against the U.S. dollar on December 31, 2020,2023, the reported net assets in our BrazilianMexican subsidiaries would have decreased by approximately $93.1$103 million with the related impact in Other Comprehensive Income. Additionally, we would have recorded a foreign currency loss amounting to approximately $20.2 million in our Brazilian subsidiaries.

MexicanSegment

Considering a hypothetical devaluation of 10% of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar on December 31, 2020, the reported net assets in our Mexican subsidiaries would have decreased by approximately $24.3 million with the related impact in Other Comprehensive Income. Additionally, we would have recorded a foreign currency loss amounting to approximately $11.2$23 million in our Mexican subsidiaries.

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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 credit cards receivableMercado Pago receivables and on the financial debt that we use to fund our Mercado Pago and Mercado Credito’s operations. As of December 31, 2020,2023, Mercado Pago’s funds receivable from credit cardsreceivables totaled $863.1$3,632 million. Interest rate fluctuations could also impact interest earned through our Mercado Credito solution. As of December 31, 2020,2023, loans granted underreceivable net of the allowance for doubtful accounts from our Mercado Credito solution totaled $401.7$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.

Under our current policies, we do not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes.

As of December 31, 2020, the average duration of our available for sale debt securities, defined as the approximate percentage change in price for a 100-basis-point change in yield, was 0.8%. If interest rates were to instantaneously increase (decrease) by 100 basis points, the fair value of our available for sale debt securities as of December 31, 2020 could decrease (increase) by $4.8 million.

As of December 31, 2020,2023, our short-term investments amounted to $1,241.3$3,480 million and our long-term investments amounted to $166.1$162 million. These investments, except for the $565.7 million included inOur short-term investments related to the Central Bank of Brazil Mandatory Guarantee and and $71.2 million investment related to restricted escrow accounts regarding financial loans taken in Brazil, 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.

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Equity Price Risk

Our board of directors, upon the recommendationFluctuations of the compensation committee, approved the 2015, 2016, 2017,interest rate could also have a negative impact on interest expense related to our Loans payable and 2018 Long Term Retention Plan (the “2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 LTRPs”), respectively.

In order to receive an award under the 2015, 2016, 2017 and/or 2018 LTRP, each eligible employee must satisfy the performance conditions established by the Boardother financial liabilities, as a portion of Directors for such employee. If these conditions are satisfied, the eligible employee will,instruments is subject to his or her continued employmentvariable 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 each applicable payment date, receiveDecember 31, 2023 would have increased by approximately $16 million with the fullrelated 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 his or her 2015, 2016, 2017, and/or 2018 LTRP award, payablewhich have been designated as follows:

the eligible employee will receive a fixed payment, equal to 8.333% of his or her 2015, 2016, 2017, and/or 2018 LTRP bonus once a year for a period of six years in or about the first quarter of 2016, 2017, 2018 and/or 2019 respectively (the “2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018 Annual Fixed Payment”, respectively); and

on each date we pay the respective Annual Fixed Payment to an eligible employee, he or she will also receive a payment (the “2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018 Variable Payment”, respectively) equal to the product of (i) 8.333% of the applicable 2015, 2016, 2017, and/or 2018 LTRP award and (ii) the quotient of (a) divided by (b), where (a), the numerator, equals the Applicable Year Stock Price (as defined below) and (b), the denominator, equals the 2014 (with respect to the 2015 LTRP), 2015 (with respect to the 2016 LTRP), 2016 (with respect to the 2017 LTRP) and 2017 (with respect to the 2018 LTRP) Stock Price, defined as $127.29, $111.02, $164.17 and $270.84 for the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 LTRP, respectively, which was the average closing pricehedging instruments. See Note 24 – Derivative instruments of our common stockaudited consolidated financial statements for further detail on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the final 60 trading days of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The “Applicable Year Stock Price” shall equal the average closingderivatives instruments.


Equity price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the final 60 trading days of the year preceding the applicable payment date.

risk

Our board of directors, upon the recommendation of the compensation committee, approved the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 20202023 Long Term Retention ProgramPrograms (the “2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 20202023 LTRPs”), respectively, under which certain eligible employees have the opportunity to receive cash payments annually for a period of six years (with the first payment occurring in or aboutno later than April 30, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 for the first quarter of2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2021,2023 LTRPs, respectively). In order to receive the full target award under the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and/or 2020 LTRP,2023 LTRPs, each eligible employee must remain employed as of each applicable payment date. The 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 20202023 LTRP awards are payable as follows:

the eligible employee will receive 16.66% of half of his or her target 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and/or 20202023 LTRP bonus once a year for a period of six years, with the first payment occurring in or about the first quarter of no later than April 30, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 20212024, respectively (the “2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 20202023 Annual Fixed Payment”, respectively); and

on each date we pay the respective Annual Fixed Payment to an eligible employee, he or she will also receive a payment (the “2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 20202023 Variable Payment”) equal to the product of (i) 16.66 %16.66% of half of the target 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 or 20202023 LTRP award and (ii) the quotient of (a) divided by (b), where (a), the numerator, equals the Applicable Year Stock Price (as defined below) and (b), the denominator, equals the average closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the final 60 trading days of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 20192022 defined as $322.91, $553.45, $1,431.26, $1,391.81 and $553.45$888.69 for the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2020 LTRP,2023 LTRPs, respectively. The “Applicable Year Stock Price” shall equal the average closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the final 60 trading days of the year preceding the applicable payment date.

As of December 31, 2020, 2023, the total contractual obligation fair value of our outstanding LTRP Variable Award Payment obligation subject to equity price risk amounted to $307.2$418 million. As of December 31, 2020,2023, the accrued liability related to the outstanding Variable Award Payment of the LTRP included in Salaries and Socialsocial security payable in our consolidated balance sheet amounted to $136.8$104 million. The following table shows a sensitivity analysis of the risk associated with our total contractual obligation fair value related to the outstanding LTRP Variable Award Payment subject to equity price risk if our common stock price per share were to increase or decrease by up to 40%:

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Change in equity price in percentageAs of December 31, 2023
MercadoLibre, Inc
Equity Price
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 LTRP Variable contractual obligation

(In millions, except equity price)
40%2,210.74 585 
30%2,052.83 544 
20%1,894.92 502 
10%1,737.01 460 
Static (1)
1,579.10 418 
-10%1,421.19 376 
-20%1,263.28 335 
-30%1,105.37 293 
-40%947.46 251 

(1)

Present value of average closing stock price for the last 60 trading days of the year preceding the applicable payment date.

As of December 31, 2020

MercadoLibre, Inc

2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020

Equity Price

LTRP Variable contractual obligation

(In thousands, except equity price)

Change in equity price in percentage

40%

2,346.36

430,034

30%

2,178.77

399,317

20%

2,011.17

368,601

10%

1,843.57

337,884

Static

(*)

1,675.97

307,167

-10%

1,508.38

276,450

-20%

1,340.78

245,734

-30%

1,173.18

215,017

-40%

1,005.58

184,300

In November 2021, we acquired Kangu Participações S.A. Former Kangu’s shareholders who after the acquisition became the Company’s employees will receive cash payments annually over a three-year period subject to certain performance and stay conditions. The payments will be indexed based on changes in equity price of our Common Stock. As of December 31, 2023, the total contractual obligation fair value of the mentioned payments amounted to $10 million.

(*)

Present value of average closing stock price for the last 60 trading days of the year preceding the applicable payment date.

ITEM 8.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes listed in Part IV, Item 15(a)-(1) of this report are included elsewhere in this report and incorporated herein by reference.

This includes the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of our successor (PCAOB ID: 1449) and predecessor (PCAOB ID: 1088) auditors.

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controlsdisclosure controls and Procedures

procedures

Based on the evaluation of our disclosure control and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as required by Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to Management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Remediation of Previously Disclosed Material Weaknesses

As previously disclosed in our Amendment N°1 on the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the period ended December 31, 2019, Management identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting due to deficiencies in our Risk Assessment, Monitoring, Information and Communication and in Control Activities relating our credit cards and other means of payments account.

During the second half of 2020, Management implemented our previously disclosed remediation plan which included the following: i) changes to the control owners of the specific controls impacted by the material weaknesses, ii) increasing the frequency of operation of these controls, iii) enhancing the current IT application and implementation of new IT applications to support the performance of the reconciliation controls on accounts receivable from means of payments, iv) implement new controls over outstanding accounts receivable from means of payment, v) hiring resources with the appropriate expertise to assist in the execution of our remediation plan, vi) conducting a comprehensive risk assessment which includes evaluating the impact of changes in the business, to enable us to effectively identify, develop, and implement controls and procedures to address risks on a timely basis, and vii) hiring internal audit, finance, and accounting resources and expertise to assist with the evaluation of our risk management process, detail testing of newly implemented controls and other activities related to monitoring our overall remediation efforts.

Management completed the testing necessary to conclude that the material weaknesses were remediated as of December 31, 2020.

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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control Integrated Framework updated by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Management’s assessment included evaluation of elements such as the design and operating effectiveness of key financial reporting controls, process documentation, accounting policies, and our overall control environment. Based on its evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013), our Management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 20202023 to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. We reviewed the results of Management’s assessment with the Audit Committee of our board of directors.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 20202023, has been audited by DeloittePistrelli, Henry Martin y Asociados S.R.L. (member of Ernst & Co. S.A.Young Global Limited), an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears in Item 15(a) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f) that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting other than the remediation plan described above.

reporting.

Inherent Limitationslimitations on Effectivenesseffectiveness of Controls

controls

Our Management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of controls effectiveness to future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act) adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of Company securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.

PART

PART III

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information required by this Item will be provided in accordance with Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K no later than April 30, 2021.

within 120 days of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item will be providedincluded under the captions “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Executive Compensation” in accordancethe 2024 Proxy Statement, except as to information required pursuant to Item 402(v) of SEC Regulation S-K with Instruction G(3)respect to Form 10-K no later than April 30, 2021.


pay versus performance, is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS MATTERS

Except for the information regarding shares authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans (which is set forth below), the information required by this Item will be provided in accordance with Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K no later than April 30, 2021.within 120 days of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.


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The following table presents information as of December 31, 20202023 with respect to equity compensation plans under which shares of the Company’s common stock are authorized for issuance:

Plan Category

Equity Compensation Plan Information

Plan Category

Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding
options, Warrants
and Rights

Weighted-average exercise price of
outstanding options, Warrants and
rights

Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding (excluding securities reflected in column (a))

(2)

(a)

(b)

(c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1)

—  989,811

—  

1,000,000

Total

—  989,811

—  

1,000,000

(1)Represents our Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation Plan which was approved by our stockholders on June 10, 2019.

(2) Pursuant to SEC guidance, this table does not reflect grants of restricted stock made pursuant to our Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation Plan. As of December 31, 2023, there were 5,658 shares of unvested restricted stock outstanding under such plan.
Description of our Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Amended and Restated 2009 Plan”)

Our Amended and Restated 2009 Plan was adopted by our board of directors on April 24, 2019. The Amended and Restated 2009 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to our employees and non-qualified stock options, restricted stock and other equity-based or equity-related awards to our employees, directors, officers and managers. Incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options are referred to as “stock options,”options” and together with restricted stock and all other awards are referred to as “awards”. As of December 31, 2020,2023, there were no outstanding stock options to purchase shares of common stock under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan.

No stock options were granted during the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 20202023 and there were no stock-based compensation expenses related to stock options for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 2019, 2018 and 2017.2019. There is no stock option award outstanding under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan. As of December 31, 2020,2023, there were 1,000,000989,811 shares of common stock available for additional awards under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan.Plan

.

Number of shares of common stock available under the Amended and Restated 2009 PlanPlan.. The The maximum number of shares of common stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with awards under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan is 1,000,000 Shares of common stock underlyingshares. Any awards previously granted under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan that terminate without being exercised, expire, are forfeited or canceled shall again be available pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan. The shares of common stock issuable pursuant to any award granted under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan shall be (i) authorized but unissued shares, (ii) shares of common stock held in the Corporation’s treasury, (iii) shares acquired by the Corporation on any stock exchange in which such shares are traded, or (iv) a combination of the foregoing.

Administration of the Amended and Restated 2009 PlanPlan.. The Amended and Restated 2009 Plan is administered by our board of directors or a committee appointed by the board of directors (the body in charge of administering the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan is referred to as the “administrator”). If the common stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, the board of directors shall consider in selecting the administrator and the membership of any committee acting as administrator the provisions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act regarding “non-employee directors.” The administrator determines the recipients of awards, the times at which awards are granted, the number of shares subject to each type of award, the time for vesting of each award and the duration of the exercise period for stock options. The administrator additionally has the power and authority to approve forms of award agreements and other related documents used under the Amended and Restated 2009 Plan.

Price, exercise and termination of stock option awardsawards. . The exercise price for each share of common stock subject to a stock option is determined by the administrator, and in no event shall the exercise price be less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares of common stock on the date of the grant (or 110% in the case of employees who directly or indirectly own more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock).

Stock options are exercisable on their vesting date, which is determined by the administrator and set forth in the award agreement governing any particular stock option. Vesting dates can be accelerated on the occurrence of a specified event, as provided in an award agreement, or can be accelerated at the discretion of the administrator.
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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

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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 transactionstransactions.. 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.

TransferabilityTransferability. . 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 stockstock. . 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 awardsawards. . 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.

AmendmentAmendment. . 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

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 Boardboard of Directorsdirectors and Corporate Governance” in our 20212024 Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information presented under the heading “Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”required by this item will be included in our 20212024 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

PA(a)Financial Statements. RT IVThe following financial statements are included in this report:

Page

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)

Financial Statements. The following financial statements are included in this report:

Page

Consolidated Financial Statements

1

4

5

6

7

8

10

(b)

Exhibits.

(b)

Exhibits. The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are set forth under “Index to Exhibits” and is incorporated herein by reference.

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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EXHIBITEXHIBIT INDEX

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit Number

Exhibit Description

Filed (*) or Furnished (**)
Herewith

Incorporated by Reference

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 StockStock.

10-K

February 27, 2009

4.02

Indenture with respect to the Registrant’s 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028, dated as of August 24, 2018, between the Registrant and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

8-K

August 24, 2018

4.03

Indenture, dated January 14, 2021, between MercadoLibre, Inc., MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado 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.

8-K

January 14, 2021

4.044.03

First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 14, 2021, between MercadoLibre, Inc., MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado 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.

8-K

January 14, 2021

4.054.04

Form of Global Note representing the Registrant’s 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026.

8-K

January 14, 2021

4.064.05

Form of Global Note representing the Registrant’s 3.125% Notes due 2031.

8-K

January 14, 2021

4.074.06

Description of SecuritiesSecurities..

10-K

*February 23, 2022

4.07

10-KFebruary 23, 2022
10.01

Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into by the Registrant with each of its directors and executive officers.

10-K

February 14, 2020

10.02

Management Incentive Bonus Plan of the Registrant.

S-1/A

July 13, 2007

10.03

Form of Employment Agreements with Officers.

S-1/A

July 13, 2007

10.04

Employment Agreement with Osvaldo Gimenez, dated as of March 26, 2008

10-K

February 27, 2009

10.05

Free Trade Zone Direct User Agreement Aguada Park (Item 5.A.), as amended, dated August 29, 2011, between MELI Uruguay S.R.L. and ITSEN S.A. dated May 21, 2012 and May 22, 2012

10-Q

August 3, 2012

10.06

Preliminary sales contract, as of May 8, 2013, by and among Mercadolibre S.R.L., Ribera Desarrollos S.A., Inc. S.A., Sociedad Anónima La Nación and Desarrolladora Urbana S.A.

10-Q

August 7, 2013

10.07

Amended and Restated 20112019 Long-Term Retention Plan Program.

10-Q

May 6, 2021

August 5, 2016

10.0810.04

Amended and Restated 2012 Long-Term Retention Plan 

10-Q

August 5, 2016

10.09

Amended and Restated 2013 Long-Term Retention Plan 

10-Q

August 5, 2016

10.10

Amended and Restated 2014 Long-Term Retention Plan 

10-Q

August 5, 2016

10.11

Amended and Restated 2015 Long-Term Retention Plan 

10-Q

August 5, 2016

10.12

2016 Long-Term Retention Plan

10-Q

August 5, 2016

10.13

2017 Long-Term Retention Plan

8-K

April 7, 2017

10.14

Amended 2018 Long-Term Retention Plan

10-Q

May 3, 2019

10.15

2019 Long-Term Retention Plan  

10-Q

May 3, 2019

10.16

2020 Long-Term Retention PlanProgram.

10-Q

May 6, 2021

10.05

8-K

May 5, 20202021

10.1710.06

Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2019, by and between MercadoLibre, Inc. and PayPal, Inc.2022 Long Term Retention Program.

8-K

May 9, 2022

March 13, 2019

10.1810.07

MercadoLibre, Inc. 2019 Director Compensation Program2023 Long Term Retention Program.

8-K

May 8, 2023

August 7, 2019

10.1910.08

Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation PlanPlan.

DEF 14A

April 26,201926, 2019

10.09

10-QNovember 4, 2022
10.108-KMarch 31, 2022
10.1110-QMay 6, 2022
10.1210-QMay 6, 2022
21.01

List of SubsidiariesSubsidiaries.

*

22.01

List of Subsidiary Guarantors for the Registrant’s 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026 and 3.125% Notes due 2031.

10-K

February 24, 2023

S-3/ASR

December 31, 2020

23.01

*
23.02

*

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

*

67 | MercadoLibre, Inc.

Exhibit Number

Exhibit DescriptionFiled (*) or Furnished (**)
Herewith
Incorporated by Reference

FormFiling Date
101

The following financial statements from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020,2023, 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, 2020,2023, formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101

101.

*



6768

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

SIGNATURES

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

By:

/s/ Martín de los Santos

Martín de los Santos

Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: March 1, 2021

February 23, 2024

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.
69

|

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Signature

Title

Date

Signature

Title

Date

/s/ Marcos Galperin

Marcos Galperin

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

and Director

February 23, 2024

March 1, 2021

Marcos Galperin

/s/ Pedro ArntMartín de los Santos

Pedro Arnt

Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

February 23, 2024

March 1, 2021

Martín de los Santos

/s/ Mario Vazquez

DirectorFebruary 23, 2024
Mario Vazquez

Director

March 1, 2021

/s/ Susan Segal

DirectorFebruary 23, 2024
Susan Segal

Director

March 1, 2021

/s/ Nicolás Aguzin

DirectorFebruary 23, 2024
Nicolás Aguzin

Director

March 1, 2021

/s/ Nicolás Galperin

DirectorFebruary 23, 2024
Nicolás Galperin

Director

March 1, 2021

/s/ Emiliano Calemzuk

DirectorFebruary 23, 2024
Emiliano Calemzuk

/s/ Henrique Dubugras

Director

February 23, 2024

March 1, 2021

Henrique Dubugras

/s/ Andrea Mayumi Petroni Merhy

Director

February 23, 2024

Andrea Mayumi Petroni Merhy

/s/ Meyer MalkaRichard Sanders

Meyer Malka

Director

February 23, 2024

March 1, 2021

Richard Sanders

/s/ Roberto Balls Sallouti

Roberto Balls Sallouti

Director

March 1, 2021

70 |

MercadoLibre, Inc.

68



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholdersShareholders and the Board of Directors of MercadoLibre, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MercadoLibre, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company")Company) as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income,equity and cash flows for each of the threetwo years in the period ended December 31, 2020,2023, and the related notes (collectively(collectively referred to as the "financial statements"“consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the threetwo years in the period ended December 31, 2020,2023, in conformity with accounting principlesU.S. generally accepted in the United States of America.accounting principles.

We also have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020,2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — IntegratedControl-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 1, 2021,February 23, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Changes in Accounting Principles

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, in 2019, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases due to the adoption of ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), and in 2020 it has changed the method of accounting for Credit Losses of Financial Instruments due to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 (Topic 326).

thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company'sCompany’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America.PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.opini

on.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-periodcurrent period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and thatthat: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit mattersmatter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Allowance for doubtful accounts on loans receivable
Description of the matter
As more fully described

Loans receivable — Assessment of in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, under the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) methodology — Referrelated to Notes 2, 6 and 18 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

The Company estimates the allowance for uncollectible Loansloans receivable, (ECL estimate) based on lifetimeManagement’s estimate of the current expected credit losses. Expected credit losses are(CECL estimate). This allowance as of December 31, 2023, amounts to $1,102 million U.S. dollars as disclosed in Note 7, which represents a probability-weighted amount, determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes and reasonable and supportable information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.

The Company’s CECL estimate is determined based on probability-weighed scenarios of default over the life of the Loansloans receivable. Probability of default models are estimated using a transition matrix method,complex statistical model, which takes into accountestimates the expected future delinquencydefault rate. The models include a

1


macroeconomic outlook for projections and recent performance. The Company estimates marginal monthly default probabilities for each delinquency bucket, type of product and country.

Loans receivable balance These probabilities of default are combined with a set of Loss Given Default parameters, which depend on days past due, type of product and country, and are estimated by measuring an average of historical recovery rates from defaulted credits.

Auditing the CECL estimate was $479.5 millioncomplex and required the application of significant judgment due to the inherent complexity of the models, assumptions and the corresponding allowance for uncollectible accounts was $77.8 million as of December 31, 2020. The respective allowance charge for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $91 million.

We identified the assessmentinterrelationship of the allowancevariables used in measuring the CECL estimate that could have a material effect on its measurement. Significant assumptions and judgments with respect to the CECL estimate include definition of default, portfolio segmentation that considers its credit quality and key inputs used for Loans receivable as a criticalloss given default.



71| MercadoLibre, Inc.

How we addressed the matter in our audit matter because
We obtained an understanding, evaluated the loans business was in a development stage, with limited historical information.design and tested the operating effectiveness of the Company’s controls related to the CECL estimate. The future collection estimates involved the use of complex algorithms, and a high degree of subjectivity by management in order to reflect the changing COVID-19 projected impacts on borrower groups’ preferences and their repayment ability. This required a complex and high degree of auditor judgement, and an increased extent of audit effort, including the need to involve our actuarial specialists with credit risk experience.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

The procedurescontrols we performed to address the ECL estimate relating to loanstested included, among others, the following:

We tested the effectiveness of controls over the ECL estimate, including those related to the (i) development and approval of the ECL methodologymodel, as well as controls over the and (ii) determinationkey inputs and assumptions used to calculate the CECL estimate. We also tested the controls over the completeness and accuracy of the relevant methods and assumptions, including thosedata used toin the calculation.

To test the CECL estimate, the expected future delinquency rates.

We assessed the ECL estimate replicating the ECL methodologies, including assessing the expected discounted cash flows. Theseour audit procedures included, among others, testinginvolving our credit risk modelling specialists to assist us in assessing the methodology and significant assumptions used by management, including definition of default, portfolio segmentation and the key inputs identified above that the mathematical calculationswere used in the estimation of the ECL were performing correctly.

With the assistance of our actuarial specialists, we assessed the reasonableness of the ECL estimate by (i) evaluating the valuation methodology, (ii) evaluating the appropriateness of the models used in the estimate, (iii) evaluating the relevant methods and assumptions, including those usedfor loss given default. We have also performed independent recalculations to determine the expected future delinquency rates, (iv) testingtest the mathematical accuracy of management’s model and assessed the ECL estimate, and (v) evaluating the qualitative criteria used in the ECL estimate.

We read and tested the accuracy and completenessadequacy of the related disclosures within the consolidatedCECL estimate financial statements.statement disclosures.


/s/ DELOITTEPISTRELLI, HENRY MARTIN Y ASOCIADOS S.R.L.
Member of Ernst & Co. S.A.Young Global Limited

Buenos Aires, Argentina

March 1, 2021

We have served as the Company'sCompany’s auditor since 2010.

2021.


City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
February 23, 2024

272

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholdersShareholders and the Board of Directors of MercadoLibre, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control overOver Financial Reporting

We have audited theMercadoLibre, Inc. internal control over financial reporting of Mercadolibre Inc and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020,2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO)(2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, the CompanyMercadoLibre, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020,2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

the COSO criteria.

We also have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and cash flows for each of the threetwo years in the period ended December 31, 2020,2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial“consolidated financial statements”), of the Company) and our report dated March 1, 2021,February 23, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s adoption in 2020 of a new method of accounting for Credit Losses of Financial Instruments due to the adoption of ASU 2016-13 (Topic 326).

thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basisbasis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control overOver Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PISTRELLI, HENRY MARTIN Y ASOCIADOS S.R.L.
Member of Ernst & Young Global Limited

City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
February 23, 2024


73| MercadoLibre, Inc.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of MercadoLibre, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows, for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


/s/ DELOITTE & Co. S.A.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

March 1, 2021

February 23, 2022

We began serving as the Company's auditor in 2010. In 2022 we became the predecessor auditor.

374

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 31, 20202023 and 2019

(In thousands2022 (In millions of U.S. dollars, except par value)

December 31,

2020

2019

December 31,December 31,
202320232022

Assets

Current assets:

Current assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

$                    1,856,394

$                    1,384,740

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

651,830

66,684

Short-term investments (636,949 and 522,798 held in guarantee - see Note 4)

1,241,306

1,597,241

Short-term investments

Accounts receivable, net

49,691

35,446

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments, net

863,073

379,969

Loans receivable, net

385,036

182,105

Prepaid expenses

28,378

45,309

Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net
Loans receivable, net of allowances of $1,042 and $1,074 (Note 7)

Inventories

118,140

8,626

Customer crypto-assets safeguarding assets

Other assets

152,959

88,736

Total current assets

5,346,807

3,788,856

Non-current assets:

Long-term investments

166,111

263,983

Loans receivable, net

16,619

6,439

Long-term investments
Long-term investments
Loans receivable, net of allowances of $42 and $30 (Note 7)

Property and equipment, net

391,684

244,257

Operating lease right-of-use assets

303,214

200,449

Goodwill

85,211

87,609

Intangible assets, net

14,155

14,275

Intangible assets at fair value (Note 2)

Deferred tax assets

134,916

117,582

Other assets

67,615

58,241

Total non-current assets

1,179,525

992,835

Total assets

$                    6,526,332

$                    4,781,691

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

Current liabilities:
Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$                       767,336

$                       372,309

Funds payable to customers and amounts due to merchants

1,733,095

894,057

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Funds payable to customers
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions

Salaries and social security payable

207,358

101,841

Taxes payable

215,918

60,247

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

548,393

186,138

Operating lease liabilities

55,246

23,259

Customer crypto-assets safeguarding liabilities

Other liabilities

108,534

114,469

Total current liabilities

3,635,880

1,752,320

Non-current liabilities:

Salaries and social security payable

49,852

26,803

Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

860,876

631,353

Operating lease liabilities

243,601

176,673

Deferred tax liabilities

64,354

99,952

Other liabilities

20,191

12,627

Total non-current liabilities

1,238,874

947,408

Total liabilities

$                    4,874,754

$                    2,699,728

Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)

 

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 40,000,000 shares

authorized, 100,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019

$                                —

$                         98,843

Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)

Equity

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

49,869,727 and 49,709,955 shares issued and outstanding at December 31,

2020 and December 31, 2019

$                                50

$                                50

Common stock, 0.001 par value, 110,000,000 shares authorized, 50,697,442 and 50,257,751 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, 0.001 par value, 110,000,000 shares authorized, 50,697,442 and 50,257,751 shares issued and outstanding
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

1,860,502

2,067,869

Treasury stock

(54,805)

(720)

Retained earnings

314,115

322,592

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(468,284)

(406,671)

Total Equity

1,651,578

1,983,120

Total Liabilities, Redeemable convertible preferred stock and Equity

$                    6,526,332

$                    4,781,691

Total equity
Total liabilities and equity

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

475

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018

2021

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

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Net service revenues$12,983 $9,442 $6,149 
Net product revenues1,490 1,095 920 
Net revenues14,473 10,537 7,069 
Cost of net revenues(7,267)(5,374)(4,064)
Gross profit7,206 5,163 3,005 
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 operations1,823 1,034 441 
   
Other income (expenses):   
Interest income and other financial gains723 265 138 
Interest expense and other financial losses (1)
(378)(321)(229)
Foreign currency losses, net(615)(198)(109)
Net income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity1,553 780 241 
   
Income tax expense(569)(298)(149)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity— (9)
Net income$987 $482 $83 
(1)

Includes $49 million of loss on debt extinguishment and premium related to the 2028 Notes repurchase recognized in January 2021. See Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities to these audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Net revenues

$                    3,973,465

$                2,296,314

$                1,439,653

Cost of net revenues

(2,264,255)

(1,194,191)

(742,645)

Gross profit

1,709,210

1,102,123

697,008

Operating expenses:

Product and technology development

(352,474)

(223,807)

(146,273)

Sales and marketing

(902,554)

(834,022)

(482,447)

General and administrative

(326,490)

(197,455)

(137,770)

Total operating expenses

(1,581,518)

(1,255,284)

(766,490)

Income (loss) from operations

127,692

(153,161)

(69,482)

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

102,767

113,523

42,039

Interest expense and other financial losses

(106,690)

(65,876)

(56,249)

Foreign currency (losses) gains

(42,454)

(1,732)

18,240

Net income (loss) before income tax (expense) gain

81,315

(107,246)

(65,452)

Income tax (expense) gain

(82,022)

(64,753)

28,867

Net loss

$                             (707)

$                  (171,999)

$                    (36,585)

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Basic earning per share
Basic net income available to shareholders per common share$19.64 $9.57 $1.67 
Weighted average of outstanding common shares50,262,30250,345,35349,802,993
Diluted earning per share
Diluted net income available to shareholders per common share$19.46 $9.53 $1.67 
Weighted average of outstanding common shares51,006,86051,335,62149,802,993

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Basic EPS

Basic net loss

Available to shareholders per common share

$                      (0.08)

$                     (3.71)

$                   (0.82)

Weighted average of outstanding common shares

49,740,407

48,692,906

44,529,614

Diluted EPS

Diluted net loss

Available to shareholders per common share

$                      (0.08)

$                     (3.71)

$                   (0.82)

Weighted average of outstanding common shares

49,740,407

48,692,906

44,529,614

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


576

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018

2021

(In thousandsmillions of U.S. dollars)

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Net loss

$                           (707)

$              (171,999)

$               (36,585)

Other comprehensive loss, net of income tax:

Currency translation adjustment

(58,470)

(13,793)

(110,659)

Unrealized gains (losses) on hedging activities

2,784

(164)

1,533

Unrealized net gains on available for sale investments

1,592

2,729

Less: Reclassification adjustment for gains from accumulated other comprehensive income

5,927

2,729

2,329

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

(61,613)

(15,094)

(108,726)

Total Comprehensive loss

$                      (62,320)

$              (187,093)

$             (145,311)

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Net income$987 $482 $83 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax:
Currency translation adjustment178 61 (56)
Unrealized (losses) gains on hedging activities(13)(33)
Tax benefit on unrealized (losses) gains on hedging activities— 
Less: Reclassification adjustment for losses on hedging activities included in cost of net revenues, interest expense and foreign currency losses(11)(20)(2)
Less: Reclassification adjustment for estimated tax benefit on unrealized gains
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax174 51 (47)
Total comprehensive income$1,161 $533 $36 

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


677

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Consolidated StatementStatements of Equity

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018

2021

(In thousandsmillions of U.S. dollars)

Common stockAdditional
paid-in
capital
Treasury
Stock (1)
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
loss
Total
Equity
SharesAmount
Balance as of December 31, 202050$— $1,860 $(55)$314 $(468)$1,651 
Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued— — — — — 
Common Stock issued1— 1,520 — — — 1,520 
Common Stock repurchased(1)— — (486)— — (486)
Unwind Capped Call— — 646 (249)— — 397 
Capped Call— — (101)— — — (101)
Repurchase of 2028 Notes Conversion Option— — (1,484)— — — (1,484)
Exercise of Convertible Notes— — (3)— — — (3)
Net income— — — — 83 — 83 
Other comprehensive loss— — — — — (47)(47)
Balance as of December 31, 202150$— $2,439 $(790)$397 $(515)$1,531 
Changes in accounting standards— — (131)— 34 — (97)
Balance as of December 31, 2021 Restated50$— $2,308 $(790)$431 $(515)$1,434 
Common Stock repurchased— — — (147)— — (147)
Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued— — (1)— — — 
Shares granted (Note 18)— — — — — 
Net income— — — — 482 — 482 
Other comprehensive Income— — — — — 51 51 
Balance as of December 31, 202250$— $2,309 $(931)$913 $(464)$1,827 
Changes in accounting standards (Note 2)— — — — — 
Balance as of December 31, 2022 Restated50 $— $2,309 $(931)$914 $(464)$1,828 
Capped call settlement— — 412 (412)— — — 
Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued— — — — — 
Conversion of 2028 Convertible Notes— — (952)1,389 — — 437 
Common Stock repurchased— — — (356)— — (356)
Net income— — — — 987 — 987 
Other comprehensive Income— — — — — 174 174 
Balance as of December 31, 202350$— $1,770 $(310)$1,901 $(290)$3,071 
(1)

As of December 31, 2023 the Company he

ld 224,945 shares as treasury stock.

Accumulated

Additional

other

Common stock

paid-in

Treasury

Retained

comprehensive

Total

Shares

Amount

capital

Stock

Earnings

loss

Equity

Balance as of December 31, 2017

44,157

$                   44

$                   70,661

$                          —

$                 537,925

$               (282,851)

$                 325,779

Common Stock Issued in exchange of 2019 Notes

1,045

1

342,999

343,000

Exercise of Convertible Notes

1

(8)

(8)

Repurchase of 2019 Notes Conversion Option

(433,289)

(433,289)

Convertible notes - 2028 Notes Equity Component

257,277

257,277

Unwind Capped Call

136,108

136,108

Capped Call

(148,948)

(148,948)

Changes in accounting standards

2,092

2,092

Net Loss

(36,585)

(36,585)

Other comprehensive loss

(108,726)

(108,726)

Balance as of December 31, 2018

45,203

$                   45

$                 224,800

$                          —

$                 503,432

$               (391,577)

$                 336,700

Common Stock Issued

4,116

4

1,867,211

1,867,215

Exercise of Convertible Notes

523

1

65,956

65,957

Exercise of capped call option - shares retirement

(132)

30

30

Unwind Capped Call

3

3

Capped Call

(96,367)

(96,367)

Redeemable convertible preferred stock dividend distribution ($9.99 per share)

(3,000)

(3,000)

Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued

1

395

395

Common Stock repurchased

(1)

(720)

(720)

Net loss

(171,999)

(171,999)

Amortization of Preferred Stock discount

5,841

(5,841)

Other comprehensive loss

(15,094)

(15,094)

Balance as of December 31, 2019

49,710

$                   50

$              2,067,869

$                      (720)

$                 322,592

$               (406,671)

$              1,983,120

Changes in accounting standards

(4,570)

(4,570)

Balance as of December 31, 2019 Restated

49,710

$                   50

2,067,869

(720)

318,022

(406,671)

1,978,550

Capped Call

(306,789)

(306,789)

Common Stock repurchased

(49)

(54,085)

(54,085)

Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued

1

730

730

Common Stock issued — converted Preferred Shares

208

98,688

98,688

Exercise of Convertible Notes

4

4

Redeemable convertible preferred stock dividend distribution ($9.99 per share)

(3,200)

(3,200)

Net loss

(707)

(707)

Other comprehensive loss

(61,613)

(61,613)

Balance as of December 31, 2020

49,870

$                   50

$              1,860,502

$                 (54,805)

$                 314,115

$               (468,284)

$              1,651,578

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


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| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Consolidated StatementStatements of Cash Flows

For for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018

2021

(In thousandsmillions of U.S. dollars)

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Cash flows from operations:
Net income$987 $482 $83 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity(3)— 
Unrealized foreign currency losses, net487 411 91 
Impairment of digital assets— 12 
Depreciation and amortization524 403 204 
Accrued interest income(311)(166)(36)
Non cash interest expense and amortization of debt issuance costs and other charges124 138 76 
Provision for doubtful accounts1,050 1,073 435 
Brazilian withholding income tax contingency324 — — 
Results on derivative instruments39 66 — 
Results on digital assets at fair value(14)— — 
Long term retention program (“LTRP”) accrued compensation167 84 89 
Deferred income taxes(284)(97)(29)
Changes in assets and liabilities:   
Accounts receivable(92)(71)(26)
Credit card receivables and other means of payments(1,321)(1,084)(1,063)
Inventories(69)114 (142)
Other assets(55)(87)(188)
Payables and accrued expenses1,225 449 380 
Funds payable to customers1,502 1,044 808 
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions693 128 309 
Other liabilities(88)(82)(79)
Interest received from investments255 123 35 
Net cash provided by operating activities5,140 2,940 965 
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments(18,936)(12,694)(7,371)
Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments18,100 11,023 7,801 
Payments for acquired businesses, net of cash acquired— — (51)
Capital contributions in joint ventures— — (5)
Receipts from settlements of derivative instruments— 
Payments from settlements of derivative instruments(58)(45)(20)
Purchases of intangibles assets— (1)(36)
Changes in loans receivable, net(2,047)(1,701)(1,348)
Investments of property and equipment(509)(454)(573)
Net cash used in investing activities(3,450)(3,871)(1,597)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from loans payable and other financial liabilities24,963 17,017 9,262 
Payments on loans payable and other financing liabilities(24,841)(15,933)(6,782)
Payments of finance lease liabilities(33)(20)(17)
Common Stock repurchased(356)(148)(486)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net— — 1,520 
Purchase of convertible note capped calls— — (101)
Exercise of Convertible Notes— — (3)
Payments on repurchase of the 2028 Notes— — (1,865)
Unwind of convertible note capped calls— — 397 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(267)916 1,925 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents(938)(270)(153)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents485 (285)1,140 
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year3,363 3,648 2,508 
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of the year$3,848 $3,363 $3,648 

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Cash flows from operations:

Net loss

$                           (707)

$              (171,999)

$                      (36,585)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

Unrealized devaluation loss, net

89,329

44,326

11,131

Depreciation and amortization

104,992

73,320

45,792

Accrued interest

(45,593)

(54,309)

(17,811)

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

147,977

86,995

11,408

Financial results on derivative instruments

(1,935)

(301)

Stock-based compensation expense - restricted shares

730

395

Sale of fixed assets and intangible assets

3,814

LTRP accrued compensation

129,575

51,662

27,525

Deferred income taxes

(70,315)

16,453

(92,585)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

12,069

(507)

(27,105)

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments

(521,979)

(29,315)

42,655

Prepaid expenses

16,204

(17,956)

(23,342)

Inventories

(106,981)

(4,148)

(3,015)

Other assets

(113,819)

(49,390)

(17,617)

Payables and accrued expenses

584,281

143,495

90,123

Funds payable to customers and amounts due to merchants

937,639

267,293

175,398

Other liabilities

(34,586)

45,452

28,202

Interest received from investments

51,857

49,625

16,733

Net cash provided by operating activities

1,182,552

451,091

230,907

Cash flows from investing activities:

Purchase of investments

(5,199,875)

(4,490,678)

(3,176,078)

Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments

5,532,463

3,353,606

2,662,800

Payment for acquired businesses, net of cash acquired

(6,937)

(4,195)

Receipts from settlements of derivative instruments

17,779

Payment from settlements of derivative instruments

(4,136)

Receipts from the sale of fixed assets and intangible assets

274

Purchases of intangible assets

(93)

(72)

(192)

Changes in principal loans receivable, net

(344,608)

(173,848)

(57,232)

Advance for property and equipment

(4,426)

Purchases of property and equipment

(247,048)

(136,798)

(93,136)

Net cash used in investing activities

(252,181)

(1,447,790)

(672,459)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Funds received from the issuance of convertible notes

880,000

Transaction costs from the issuance of convertible notes

(16,264)

Payments on convertible note

(25)

(348,123)

Purchase of convertible note capped calls

(306,789)

(96,367)

(148,943)

Unwind of convertible note capped calls

136,108

Proceeds from loans payable and other financial liabilities

2,396,717

629,891

236,873

Payments on loans payable and other financing liabilities

(1,785,272)

(472,897)

(123,822)

Dividends paid

(6,624)

Payment of finance lease obligations

(4,949)

(1,929)

(323)

Common Stock repurchased

(54,085)

(720)

Dividends paid of preferred stock

(3,356)

(2,844)

Proceeds from issuance of convertible redeemable preferred stock, net

98,688

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net

1,867,215

Net cash provided by financing activities

242,266

2,021,012

608,882

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

(115,837)

(37,584)

(90,895)

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents

1,056,800

986,729

76,435

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

1,451,424

464,695

388,260

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

$ 2,508,224

$ 1,451,424

$ 464,695

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

879

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Table of Contents



MercadoLibre, Inc.

Consolidated StatementStatements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018

2021

(In thousandsmillions of U.S. dollars)

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid for interest

$                         53,781

$                  40,523

$                         19,511

Cash paid for income tax

$                       139,855

$                  94,954

$                         99,488

Non-cash financing activities:

Common Stock Issued in exchange of 2019 Notes

$                                —

$                         —

$                       343,000

Stock-based compensation — restricted shares issued

$                                  1

$                           1

$                                —

Exercise of convertible notes

$                                —

$                  65,957

$                                  1

Finance lease obligations

$                         12,228

$                    2,567

$                           7,125

Non-cash investing activities:

Contingent considerations and escrows from acquired business

$                           2,399

$                         —

$                           5,206

Right-of-use assets obtained under finance leases

$                         17,177

$                    4,496

$                           7,448

Acquisition of business

2020 (1)

2019

2018

Cash and cash equivalents

$                              939

$                         —

$                              507

Accounts receivable

3,333

1,145

Other current assets

1,725

202

Fixed Assets

606

90

Total assets acquired

6,603

1,944

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

1,729

149

Other liabilities

6,402

1,341

Total liabilities assumed

8,131

1,490

Net (liabilities assumed) assets acquired

(1,528)

454

Goodwill, Identifiable Intangible Assets and deferred tax liabilities

6,283

7,022

Trademarks

3,050

1,020

Customer lists

1,565

475

Non Compete and Non Solicitation Agreement

905

937

Total purchase price

10,275

9,908

Cash and cash equivalents acquired

939

507

Payment for acquired businesses, net of cash acquired

$                           9,336

$                         —

$                           9,401

(1)    Related to the acquisition of a software development company – See Note 7.

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Supplemental cash flow information:   
Cash paid for interest$608 $247 $58 
Cash paid for income tax651 437 282 
   
Non-cash financing activities:   
Finance lease liabilities$99 $18 $20 
Convertible Senior Notes Due 2028437 — — 
   
Non-cash investing activities:   
Contingent considerations and escrows from acquired business$— $— $12 
Right-of-use assets obtained under operating leases314 317 229 
Right-of-use assets obtained under finance leases99 18 37 
Acquired businesses, through call option— — 11 
Acquisition of businesses20232022
2021 (1)
Cash and cash equivalents$— $— $
Accounts receivable— — 
Other current assets— — 18 
Other non current assets— — 
Fixed Assets— — 
Total assets acquired  30 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses— — 19 
Other liabilities— — 
Total liabilities assumed  26 
Net assets acquired  4 
Goodwill and deferred tax liabilities— — 68 
Hubs network— — 
Platform— — 
Customer lists— — 
Total purchase price  77 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired— — 
Total purchase price, net of cash acquired$ $ $73 
(1)

Related to the acquisition of a shipping company and payment services company - See Note 8 – Business combinations, goodwill, and intangible assets.


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

980

| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.

Nature of Business

MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1. NATURE OF BUSINESS
MercadoLibre, Inc. (“MercadoLibre” or, and together with its consolidated entities, the “Company”) was incorporated in the state of Delaware, in the United States of America, in October 1999. MercadoLibre is the largest online commerce ecosystem in Latin America,, serving as an integrated regional platform and as a provider of necessary digital and technology tools that allow businesses and individuals to trade products and services in the region.

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

As of December 31, 2020,2023, MercadoLibre, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, operated online e-commerce platforms directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador,, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay and Venezuela. Additionally, MercadoLibre operates its fintech solution in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Uruguay,Ecuador, and extends loans through Mercado Credito in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Mexico.Chile. It also offers a shipping solution directed towards Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Uruguay.

Ecuador.

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies

NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of consolidation

The accompanying audited consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP)(“U.S. GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and consolidated Variable Interest Entities (“VIE”). Investments in entities where the Company holds joint control, but not control, over the investee are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. These audited consolidated financial statements are stated in U.S. dollars,, except for amountswhere otherwise indicated. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated for consolidation purposes.

Substantially all net revenues, cost of net revenues and operating expenses, are generated in the Company’s foreign operations. Long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill and operating lease right-of-use assets located in the foreign jurisdictions totaled $490,464 thousands$2,321 million and $345,204 thousands$1,817 million as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively.

Use

Certain comparative figures of estimates

The preparation ofthese audited consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires Managementwere modified to make estimatesprovide more detailed disclosures. This change has not impacted the total amount of net income and assumptions that affecttotal equity. Since the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities atquarter ended June 30, 2022, the date ofCompany discloses 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 allowanceprovision for doubtful accounts and chargeback provisions, allowance for loans receivable, 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, compensation costs relating to the Company’s long term retention plan, fair value of convertible debt, fair value of investments, fair value of derivative instruments, income taxes and contingencies and determination of the incremental borrowing rate at commencement date of lease operating agreements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


10


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased, consisting primarily of money market funds and time deposits, 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 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 0t recognize any credit loss on the cash and cash equivalent and restricted cash and cash equivalents in 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Money market funds and sovereign debt securities are valued at fair value. See Note 9 “Fair Value Measurement of assets and liabilities” for further details.

Investments

Time deposits are valued at amortized cost plus accrued interest. 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 componentseparate line item of other comprehensive (loss), netits operating expenses in the consolidated statements of the related tax provisions or benefits.

Investments are classified as current or non-current depending on their maturity dates and when it is expected to be converted into cash.

income. The Company’s management assesses balances for credit losses included in short and long-term investments 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 0t recognize any material credit loss on the short and long-term investments in 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Corporate and sovereign debt securities (including Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) are valued at fair value. See Note 9 “Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities” for further details.

Fair value option applied to certain financial instruments

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 statement of income from January 1, 2019 for several reasons including to avoid the mismatch generated by the recognition of certain linked instruments / transactions, separately, in consolidated statement of income and consolidated statement of other 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) Brazilian federal government bonds and ii) U.S. treasury notes. As result of the election of the fair value option, the Company recognized gains in interest income and other financial gains of $8,433 thousands and $2,295 thousands as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments, net

Credit cards 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 or during the period of time until those credit cards receivable are sold to financial institutions.

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments are presented net of the related provision for chargebacksdoubtful accounts amounts to $1,050 million, $1,073 million and doubtful accounts.


11


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments, net (continued)

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.

Transfer of financial assets

The Company may sell credit cards coupon to financial institutions, included within “Credit cards receivable 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 balance sheet. 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. The aggregate gain included in net revenuesarising from these financing transactions, net of the costs recognizedon sale of credit cards coupon, is $452,892 thousands, $359,037 thousands and $258,595 thousands,$435 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018,2021, respectively.

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 their outstanding principal balances plus estimated collectible interest, net of allowances. Loans receivable are presented net of the allowance for uncollectible accounts. The Company places loans on non-accrual status at 90 days past due.

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 3 and 24 months.

The Company closely monitors credit quality for all loans receivable on a recurring basis. To assess a merchant and consumers seeking a loan under the Mercado Credito solution, In addition, since December 31, 2023, the Company uses, among other indicators, a risk model internally developed, as a credit quality indicator to help predict the merchant's ability to repay the principalpresents its prepaid expenses balance and interest related to the credit. The risk model uses multiple variables as predictors of the merchant's ability to repay the credit, including external and internal indicators. Internal indicators consider merchant's annual sales volume, claims history, prior repayment history, and other measures. Based on internal scoring, merchants are rated from A (Prime) to H (Upper medium grade). In addition, the Company considers external bureau information to enhance the scoring model and the decision making process. The internal rating and the bureau credit score are combinedwithin “Other assets” in a risk matrix, which is also used to price the loans based on the risk profile.

Allowances for doubtful accounts on loans receivable, accounts receivable and credit cards receivable and other means of payment

Since January 1, 2020 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 accounts receivables mentioned above. The CECL represent the present value of the uncollectible portion of the principal, interest, late fees, and other allowable charges.

Loans Receivable

Loans Receivable in this portfolio include the products that the company offers to: 1) on-line merchant, 2) in-store merchant and 3) consumers.

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 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

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Allowances for doubtful accounts on loans receivable, accounts receivable and credit cards receivable and other means of payment (continued)

Loans Receivable (continued)

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 are estimated using a transition matrix method; these matrices are constructed using roll rates and then transformed, taking into account the expected future delinquency rate (forward-looking models). Therefore, the models include macroeconomic outlook or projections and recent performance. 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.

The loss given default is the percentage of the exposure at default that is not recoverable. The Company estimates this percentage using the transition matrix method mentioned above and the portfolio segment´s interest rate.

The measurement of CECL is based on probability-weighted scenarios (probability of default for each month), in view of past events (roll rates), current conditions and adjustments to reflect the reasonable and supportable forecast of future economic conditions which were affected, among other factors, by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company will continue to monitor the impact of the pandemic on expected credit losses estimates.

The Company writes off loans receivable when the customer balance becomes 180 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 that the expected loss rates for accounts receivable is a reasonable approximation of the historical 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 cards receivable and other means of payment

Management assesses balances for credit losses included in credit cards receivable and other means of payment, 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 balance sheet as credit cards receivable and other means of payment. In June 2020, the Company became aware that it had accumulated significant receivables from one such unaffiliated entity in Argentina. The aging of these receivables exceeded the expected aging for transactions of this kind, hence, the Company recorded $27,006 thousands loss on doubtful accounts.

Concentration of credit risk

Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments, credit cards receivable, accounts receivable and loans receivable are potentially subject to concentration of credit risk. Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments are placed with financial institutions and financial instruments that Management believes are of high credit quality. Accounts receivable are derived from revenue earned from customers located internationally. Accounts receivable balances 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. The allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded as a charge to sales and marketing expense.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Concentration of credit risk (continued)

During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, 0 single customer accounted for more than 5% of net revenues. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, 0 single customer, except for credit card processing companies, accounted for more than 5% of accounts receivable and loans receivable. Credit cards receivable and other means of payments, net line of the consolidated balance sheet shows the Company´s credit exposuresheets. Prepaid expenses amount to not more than 10 entities in each of the countries where the Company offers our payments solution.

Funds payable to customers$27 million and amounts due to merchants

Funds payable to customers relate also to the Company’s payments solution and are originated by the amounts due to users held by the Company. Funds, net of any amount due to the Company by the user, are maintained in the user’s current account until withdrawal is requested by the user. See Note 4 “Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalent and investments” for additional information on regulations of Mercado Pago business.

Amounts due to merchants are originated by purchase transactions carried out by the Company´s customers with debit cards issued by Mercado Pago.

Provision for buyer protection program

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

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 market 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.

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 2020 and 2019, the Company capitalized $119,491 thousands and $59,602 thousands, respectively.

Buildings, excluding lands, are depreciated from the date when they are ready to be used, using the straight-line depreciation method over a 50-year depreciable life.

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination.

Intangible assets consist of customer lists, trademarks, licenses, software, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements acquired in business combinations and valued at fair value at the acquisition date. Intangible assets with definite useful life are amortized over the period of estimated benefit to be generated by those assets and using the straight-line method; their estimated useful lives ranges from three to ten years. Trademarks with indefinite useful life are not subject to amortization, but are subject to an annual impairment test, by comparing their carrying amount with their corresponding fair value. For any given intangible asset with indefinite useful life, if its fair value exceeds its carrying amount no impairment loss shall be recognized. 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired on this basis, the impairment loss to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of such asset.

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life

Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life are reviewed at the end of the year for impairment or more frequently, if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (considering each segment of the Company as a reporting unit) by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair value of such reporting unit.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company elected to perform the quantitative impairment test for both goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the fair values of the reporting units were estimated using the income approach. Cash flow projections used were based on financial budgets approved by Management. The Company uses discount rates to each reporting unit in the range of 15.1% to 21.0%. The average discount rate used for 2020 was 17.2%. That rate reflected the Company’s estimated weighted average cost of capital. Key drivers in the analysis include Average Selling Price (“ASP”), Take Rate defined as marketplace revenues as a percentage of Gross Merchadise Volumem (“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 . NaN impairment loss has been recognized in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 as Management’s assessment of the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying value.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful life are considered impaired if the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value. NaN impairment loss has been recognized in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Revenue recognition

Revenues are recognized when control of the promised services or goods is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for them.

Contracts with customers may include promises to transfer multiple services including discounts on current or future services. Determining whether services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require judgment.

Revenues are recognized when each performance obligation is satisfied by transferring the promised service to the customer according to the following criteria described for each type of service:

a)Commerce transactions:

Revenues from intermediation services derived from listing and final value fees paid by sellers. Revenues related to final value fees are recognized at the time that the transaction is successfully concluded.

Revenues from shipping services are generated when a buyer elects to receive the item through the Company’s shipping service and the service is rendered to the customer. When the Company acts as an agent, revenues derived from the shipping services are presented net of the transportation costs charged by third-party carriers and when the Company acts as principal, revenues derived from the shipping services are presented in gross basis. As part of the Company’s business strategy, shipping costs may be fully or partially subsidized at the Company’s option.

Revenues from inventories sales are generated when control of the good is transferred to the Company’s customers, which occurs upon delivery to the customer.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Revenue recognition (continued)

Advertising revenues such as the sale of banners are recognized on accrual basis during the average advertising period, and remaining advertising services such as sponsorship of sites and improved search standing are recognized based on “per-click” (which are generated each time users on the Company’s websites click through text-based advertisements to an advertiser’s designated website) values and as the “impressions” (i.e., the number of times that an advertisement appears in pages viewed by users of the Company’s websites) are delivered.

Classified advertising services, are recorded as revenue ratably during the listing period. Those fees are charged at the time the listing is uploaded onto the Company’s platform and is not subject to successful sale of the items listed.

b)Fintech services:

Revenues from commissions we charge to sellers for transactions off-platform derived from the use of the Company’s on-line payments solution, 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, it recognizes financing revenue ratably over the period of the financing. 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.

Revenues from interest earned on loans and advances granted to merchants and consumers 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.

Contract Balances

Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. Receivables represent amounts invoiced and revenue recognized prior to invoicing when the Company has satisfied the performance obligation and has the unconditional right to payment. Receivables are presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts, loans receivables and chargebacks. The allowance for doubtful accounts, loans receivable and chargebacks was $126,661 thousands and $38,079 thousands$38 million as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively.

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 reporting period. Deferred revenue as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $16,590 thousands and $5,918 thousands, respectively, of which substantially all were recognized as revenue during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, total deferred revenue was $32,519 thousands, mainly due to loyalty program points that are expected to be accrued as revenue in the coming months and fees related to listing and optional feature services billed.

Share-based payments

The liability related to the variable portion of the long term retention plans is remeasured at fair value. See Note 15 “Long Term Retention Plan” for more details.

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 $325,316 thousands, $189,313 thousands and $139,433 thousands for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Comprehensive loss

Comprehensive loss is comprised of two components, net loss and other comprehensive 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 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 and on hedging activities. Total comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 amounted to $62,320 thousands, $187,093 thousands and $145,311 thousands, respectively.

Variable Interest Entities (VIE)

(VIEs)

A VIE is an entity (i) that has insufficient equity to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, (ii) that has equity investors who lack the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or (iii) in which the voting rights of some equity investors are disproportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or their right to receive returns and substantially all of the entity’s activities are conducted on behalf of the equity investors with disproportionately few voting rights. The Company consolidates VIEs of which it is the primary beneficiary. The Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE when it has both the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. See Note 21 to– Securitization transactions of these audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail on the VIEs used for securitization purposes.
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Table of Contents
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 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 translatereported amounts of 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 ratesdisclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the transactionfinancial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used. 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 resulting translation adjustment is recorded as a componentCompany considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of other comprehensive loss. Gainsthree months or less since holding the investment, consisting primarily of money market funds, time deposits and losses resulting from transactions denominated in non-functional currencies are recognized in earnings. NetU.S. and foreign currency transaction results aregovernment 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 financial statements of income, underbased on a review of the caption “Foreign currency (losses) gains”average period for which the financial asset is held, credit ratings of the financial institutions and amounted to $(42,454) thousands, $(1,732) thousandsprobability of default and $18,240 thousandsloss 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, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018, respectively.

Argentine currency status

As2021.

Time deposits are valued at amortized cost plus accrued interest. Money market funds, U.S. and foreign government debt securities (including Central Bank of July 1, 2018, the Company transitioned its Argentinian operations to highly inflationary status in accordance with U.S. GAAP,Brazil and changed the functional currency for Argentine subsidiaries from Argentine Pesos to U.S. dollars, which is the functional currencyCentral Bank of their inmediate parent company.

Since the second half of 2019, the Argentine government instituted certain foreign currency exchange controls which restrict or may partially restrict, the access of foreign currency, like the US dollar, for making payments abroad, either of foreign debt or imports of goods or services, dividend payments, and others, without prior authorization. Those regulations have continued to evolve, sometimes making them more or less stringent depending on the Argentine government´s perception of availability of sufficient national foreign currency reserves. The above has led to the existence of an informal foreign currency market where foreign currencies quote at levels significantly higher than the official exchange rate. However, the only exchange rate available for external commerce and financial payments is the official exchange rate, which as of December 31, 2020 was 84.15 and as of February 26, 2021 was 89.82.

The Company uses Argentina’s official exchange rate to record the accounts of Argentine subsidiaries. The following table sets forth the assets, liabilities and net assets of the Company’s Argentine subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, before intercompany eliminations, as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Assets

$              1,470,885

$                 805,605

Liabilities

1,230,326

580,402

Net Assets

$                 240,559

$                 225,203


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company’s operationsUruguay mandatory guarantees) are in various foreign currencies and consequently are exposed to foreign currency risk. The Company uses derivative instruments to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows which were designated as hedges. All outstanding derivatives are recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheetvalued at fair value. See Note 10 – Fair value exceptmeasurement of assets and liabilities of these audited consolidated financial statements for the derivatives related to the Capped Call Transactions (as defined in Note 16) whichfurther details.

Investments
Time deposits are recognized in equityvalued at amortized cost paid. The effective portion of a designated derivative’s gain or loss in a cash flow hedge is initiallyplus 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) income and is subsequently reclassified into the financial statement line item in which the variabilityloss, net of the hedged item is recordedrelated tax provisions or benefits.
Investments in the period the hedging transaction affects earnings.

The Company also hedges its economic exposure toequity securities without a readily determinable fair value are held at cost less impairment.

U.S. and foreign currency risk related to foreign currency denominated monetarygovernment debt securities (including Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) are valued at fair value. See Note 10 – Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities with foreign derivative currency contracts which were not designatedof these audited consolidated financial statements for further details.
Investments are classified as hedges. The gains and lossescurrent or non-current depending on their maturity dates or when it is expected to be converted into cash, depending on the foreigninvestment.
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 derivative contracts economically offset gainsthe 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 certain foreign currency denominated monetary assetsa 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 liabilities recognizedloss 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 earnings. Accordingly,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 outstanding non-designated derivativesarrangements, 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 Company’s consolidated balance sheetsheets 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,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 changesmobile 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 these contractsloss 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 in other income (expense), netat 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 consolidated statementdevelopment phase of income.

Leases

Atwebsite are capitalized and amortized using the beginningstraight-line method over an estimated useful life of the first quarter of 2019,three years. During 2023 and 2022, the Company adopted ASC Topic 842, Leases. capitalized $240 million and $202 million, respectively.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities
The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, which is a non-monetary asset, and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease, which is a monetary liability. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses incremental borrowing rates based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease prepaid payments made. In addition, the Company elected to not separate lease components, except for aircraft for which the Company allocates payments to the lease and other services components based on estimated stand-alone prices. The Company also elected to keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off of the balance sheet. Lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
When the Company has the option to extend the lease term, terminate the lease before the contractual expiration date, or purchase the leased asset, and it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise the option, the Company considers the option in determining the classification and measurement of the lease. The Company’s leases may include variable payments based on measures that include changes in price indices, market interest rates, or the level of sales at a physical store, which are expensed as incurred.
The Company establishes assets and liabilities for the present value of estimated future costs to retire long-lived assets at the termination or expiration of a lease. Such assets are amortized over the lease period into cost of net revenues and operating expenses, and the recorded liabilities are accreted to the future value of the estimated retirement costs.
Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination.
Intangible assets consist of customer lists, trademarks, licenses and others, non-solicitation, non-compete agreements and hubs network acquired in business combinations and valued at fair value at the acquisition date. Intangible assets with definite useful life are amortized over the period of estimated benefit to be generated by those assets and using the straight-line method; their estimated useful lives range from three

to twelve years. Trademarks with indefinite useful life are not subject to amortization, but are subject to an annual impairment test, by comparing their carrying amount with their corresponding fair value. For any given intangible asset with indefinite useful life, if its fair value exceeds its carrying amount no impairment loss shall be recognized.

Intangible assets at fair value
The Company accounts for its digital assets, except for the USDC, as indefinite-lived intangible assets, in accordance with ASC 350-60, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Crypto Assets. The Company has ownership of and control over its digital assets and uses third-party custodial services to store its digital assets. The Company’s digital assets are initially recorded at cost. Subsequently, they are measured at fair value with changes recognized in the consolidated statements of income, within the “General and administrative” line item. The Company determines the fair value of its digital assets in accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. Please refer to Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Recently Adopted Accounting Standards for further detail on the adoption of Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-08, pursuant to which the Company transitioned from a cost less impairment measurement for its digital assets to a fair value measurement.
Impairment of long-lived assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. The impairment evaluation is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows independent of other assets. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such asset is considered to be impaired on this basis, the impairment loss to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of such asset. As of December 31, 2023 there were no events or changes in circumstances that indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life
Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life are reviewed at the end of the year for impairment or more frequently, if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (considering each segment of the Company as a reporting unit) by comparing the reporting unit’s carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair value of such reporting unit.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company elected to perform the quantitative impairment test for both goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful life.
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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. The Company’s income tax expense consists of taxes currently payable, if any, plusAccordingly, Management periodically assesses the change during the period in the Company’sneed to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets considering positive and liabilities.

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)(“GILTI”) as a current-periodcurrent 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, 20202023 and 2019,2022, respectively.

On August 2011,

Uncertainty in income taxes
The Company recognizes, if any, uncertainty in income taxes by applying the Argentine government issuedaccounting prescribed by U.S. GAAP, for which a software development law which was regulated on September 2013,more likely than not recognition threshold and which expired on December 31, 2019. The Company’s Argentine subsidiary, MercadoLibre S.R.L, was eligible under said law and, as a result, it has been granted a tax holiday. A portion of the benefits obtained was a 60% relief of total income tax related to software development activities and a 70% relief of payroll taxes related to software development activities. The Argentine Industry Secretary approved the Company’s application for eligibility under the lawmeasurement attribute for the Company’s Argentine subsidiary, MercadoLibre S.R.L. As a result, the Company’s Argentine subsidiary has been granted a tax holiday retroactive from September 18, 2014. A portionfinancial statement recognition and measurement of the benefits obtained is a 60% relief of total income tax related to software development activities and a 70% relief of payroll taxes related to software development activities.


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Income taxes (continued)

As a result of the Company’s eligibility under the law, it recorded an income tax benefitposition taken or expected to be taken in a tax return should be considered. It also provides guidance on derecognition, classification of $12,007 thousandsa liability for unrecognized tax benefits, accounting for interest and $19,988 thousands during 2019penalties, 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 respectively. Furthermore,onwards).
Tax incentives
ICMS tax benefits
eBazar.com.br Ltda., a Brazilian wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, recordedhas 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 laborspecial 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 benefit of $7,970 thousandsnet revenues for $69 million, $36 million and $6,801 thousands during 2019 and 2018. Additionally, $1,398 thousands and $1,875 thousands were accrued to pay software development law audit fees during 2019 and 2018, respectively. Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday amounted to $0.25 and $0.45$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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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Derivative financial instruments
The Company’s operations are in various foreign currencies and consequently are exposed to foreign currency risk. Additionally, the funding of its operations through variable rate financial debt makes the Company exposed to interest rate fluctuation risks. As a consequence, the Company uses derivative instruments to reduce the volatility of earnings and cash flows which were designated as hedges. All outstanding derivatives are recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at fair value except for the derivatives related to the Capped Call Transactions (as defined in Note 17 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities) which are recognized in equity at cost paid. The designated derivative’s gain or loss in a cash flow hedge is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and is subsequently reclassified into the financial statement line item in which the variability of the hedged item is recorded in the period the forecasted transaction affects earnings. The designated derivative’s gain or loss in the net investment hedge is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. The gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into the consolidated statements of income in the same period that the interest expense affects earnings. Cash flows associated with the cash flow and net investment hedges are included in cash flows from investing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Additionally, the Company uses swap contracts to hedge the interest rate and the foreign currency exposure of its fixed-rate, foreign currency financial debt issued by its non-US subsidiaries. The Company designated the swap contracts as fair value hedges. The derivative’s gain or loss is reported in the consolidated statements of income in the same line items as the change in the value of the financial debt due to the hedged risks. Since the terms of the interest rate swaps match the terms of the hedged debt, changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are offset by changes in the fair value of the hedged debt attributable to changes in interest rates. Accordingly, the net impact in current earnings is that the interest expense associated with the hedged debt is recorded at the floating rate. Cash flows associated with the fair value hedges are included in cash flows from investing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Finally, the Company also hedges its economic exposure to foreign currency risk related to foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities with foreign derivative currency contracts and interest rate fluctuation with swap contracts which were not designated as hedges. Accordingly, these outstanding non-designated derivatives are recognized in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at fair value, and changes in fair value from these contracts are recorded in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of income.
Funds payable to customers
Funds payable to customers relate to the Company’s payments solution and are originated by the amounts due to users held by the Company. Funds, net of any amount due to the Company by the user, are maintained in the user’s current account until withdrawal is requested by the user. See Note 3 – Fintech Regulations of these audited consolidated financial statements for additional information on regulations over Mercado Pago business.
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions are originated by purchase transactions carried out by the Company’s customers with debit and credit cards issued by Mercado Pago.
Provision for buyer protection program
The buyer protection program (“BPP”) is designed to protect buyers in the Marketplace from losses due primarily to fraud or counterparty non-performance for all transactions completed through the Company’s online payment solution Mercado Pago (except for certain excluded categories). The Company’s BPP provides protection to consumers by reimbursing them for the total value of a purchased item and the value of any shipping service paid if it does not arrive, arrives incomplete or damaged, does not match the seller’s description or if the buyer regrets the purchase. The Company is entitled to recover from the third-party carrier companies performing the shipping service certain amounts paid under the BPP. Furthermore, in some specific circumstances, the Company enters into insurance contracts with third-party insurance companies in order to cover contingencies that may arise from the BPP. Provisions for BPP represent the Company’s estimate of probable losses based on its historical experience. The charge for the provision for BPP is recognized in sales and marketing expense line of the consolidated statements of income. See Note 15 – Commitments and Contingencies of these audited consolidated financial statements for further details.
Share-based payments
The liability related to the variable portion of the long term retention programs is remeasured at fair value. See Note 16 – Long term retention program of these audited consolidated financial statements for more details.
Treasury stock
Equity instruments of the Company that are repurchased by the Company are recognized at cost and deducted from equity. If the repurchase of the Company’s stock is carried out at a price significantly in excess of the current market price, there is a presumption that the repurchase price includes amounts attributable to items other than the stock repurchased; therefore, the Company uses the quoted market price of the common stock for purposes of determining the fair value of the treasury stock. See Note 25 – Share repurchase program of these audited consolidated financial statements for further details.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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,
20232022
(In millions)
Assets$3,298 $3,238 
Liabilities1,878 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:
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Net revenues$3,240 $2,500 $1,531 
Direct contribution1,403 1,012 533 
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Argentine exchange regulations
In the second half of 2019, the Argentine government instituted exchange controls restricting 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 Central Bank of Argentina (“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 (i.e. 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 and 2022, the spread of the Blue Chip Swap was 20.4% and 94.2%, respectively (see Note 25 – Share repurchase program of these audited consolidated financial statements.) As of the issuance date of these audited consolidated financial statements the spread of the Blue Chip Swap was 30.9%.
As part of the exchange controls, since 2019, the Argentine government imposes a tax on the acquisition of foreign currency through the official exchange market in certain circumstances. On July 24, 2023, through the Executive Power Decree No. 377/2023, the Argentine government extended the application of this tax to the following cases: (i) certain services acquired from abroad or services rendered by foreign residents in Argentina (i.e. technical, legal, accounting, management, advertising, engineering, audiovisual services, among others), which will be subject to a 25% tax rate, (ii) freight and other transportation services for import and export of goods, which will be subject to a 7.5% tax rate; and (iii) imported goods, which will be subject to a 7.5% tax rate, with certain exemptions (such as fuels and products of the basic food basket).
Revenue recognition
Revenues are recognized when control of the promised services or goods is transferred to customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for them.
Contracts with customers may include promises to transfer multiple services including discounts on current or future services. Determining whether services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require judgment.
Revenues are recognized when each performance obligation is satisfied by transferring the promised good or service to the customer according to the following criteria described for each type of service:
Commerce transactions
Revenues from intermediation services derived from final value fees and flat fees paid by sellers. Revenues related to final value fees and flat fees are recognized at the time that the transaction is successfully concluded (which occurs when the marketplace transaction is confirmed right after processing the payment).
Revenues from shipping services are generated when a buyer elects to receive the item through the Company’s shipping service and the service is rendered to the customer. When the Company acts as an agent, revenues derived from the shipping services are recognized at the time the transaction is successfully concluded for third-party sales, and presented net of the transportation costs charged by third-party carriers. When the Company acts as principal, revenues derived from the shipping services are recognized upon delivery of the good to the customer, and presented on a gross basis. As part of the Company’s business strategy, shipping costs may be fully or partially subsidized at the Company’s option. In addition, the Company generates storage fees, which are charged to sellers for utilizing the Company’s fulfillment facilities, and are recognized over time.
Revenues from inventories sales are generated when control of the good is transferred to the Company’s customers, which occurs upon delivery to the customer.
Revenues from advertising services provided to sellers, vendors, brands and others, through performance products (Product Ads and Brand Ads) and display formats, are recognized based on the number of clicks and impressions, respectively.
Classified advertising services are recorded as revenue ratably during the listing period. Those fees are charged at the time the listing is uploaded onto the Company’s platform and are not subject to successful sale of the items listed.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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 nameCost basisFair valueNumber of units held
(in millions, except for number of units held)
Bitcoin$$17 412.7
Ether3,041.6
The following table summarizes the digital assets rollforward activity during the year ended December 31, 2023:
December 31, 2023
(in millions)
Balance at beginning of year (1)
$
Adoption of ASU 2023-08
Gains included in net income14 
Balance at end of year (2)
$24
(1) Included in Intangible assets, net as of December 31, 2022.
(2) Included in Intangible assets at fair value as of December 31, 2023.
The method used by the Company for determining the cost basis of its digital assets is the weighted average price method.
Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
On November 27, 2023, the FASB issued the ASU 2023-07 “Segment Reporting (Topic 280)—Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures”. The amendments in this update improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Upon transition, the segment expense categories and amounts disclosed in the prior periods should be based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on its financial statements.
On December 14, 2023, the FASB issued the ASU 2023-09 “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”. The amendments in this update provide more transparency about income tax information through improvements to income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information, requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The other amendments in this update improve the effectiveness and comparability of disclosures by adding disclosures of pretax income (or loss) and income tax expense (or benefit) and removing disclosures that no longer are considered cost beneficial or relevant. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The guidance should be applied on a prospective basis while retrospective application is permitted. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on its financial statements.
NOTE 3. FINTECH REGULATIONS
New regulations issued by the Central Banks and other regulators of the countries where the Company operates its Fintech business are described below.
Brazil
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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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,
202320222021
Basic DilutedBasicDilutedBasicDiluted
Net income per common share (1)
$19.64 $19.46 $9.57 $9.53 $1.67 $1.67 
Numerator (in millions):
Net income$987 $987 $482 $482 $83 $83 
Effect of dilutive 2028 Notes— — — — 
Net income available to common stock$987 $993 $482 $489 $83 $83 
Denominator:
Weighted average of common stock outstanding for earnings per share50,262,30250,262,30250,345,35350,345,35349,802,99349,802,993
Adjustment for assumed conversions744,558990,268
Adjusted weighted average of common stock outstanding for earnings per share50,262,30251,006,86050,345,35351,335,62149,802,99349,802,993
(1) Figures have been calculated using non-rounded amounts.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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,
20232022
(In millions)
Cash in bank accounts$1,458 $1,160 
Money market639 599 
Time deposits367 130 
U.S. government debt securities60 21 
Foreign government debt securities32 — 
Total cash and cash equivalents2,556 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 
Time deposits (Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission regulation)314 239 
Cash in bank accounts (Chilean Commission for the Financial Market regulation)42 
Time deposits (Chilean Commission for the Financial Market regulation)54 49 
Money market (Secured lines of credit guarantee)33 
Cash in bank accounts (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee)— 
Time deposits (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee)— 
Money market (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee)— 
Foreign government debt securities (Central Bank of Uruguay mandatory guarantee)— 
Cash in bank accounts (Financial Superintendence of Colombia regulation)— 
Money market (Financial Superintendence of Colombia regulation)— 
Total restricted cash and cash equivalents1,292 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 
Time deposits (4)
15 439 
Corporate debt securities— 
Total short-term investments$3,480 $2,339 
U.S. government debt securities$— $175 
Foreign government debt securities56 70 
Securitization transactions (1)
23 21 
Corporate debt securities25 — 
Equity securities held at cost58 56 
Total long-term investments$162 $322 
(1) Investments from securitization transactions are restricted to the payment of amounts due to third-party investors.
(2)Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows.
(3) As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, includes $2,283 million and $1,219 million considered restricted due to Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee. Also, as of December 31, 2023, includes $6 million that guarantees a line of credit and is considered restricted.
(4)As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the time deposits in excess of $100 thousand, are in majority foreign deposits.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 6. BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS
Accounts receivable, net
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Accounts receivable$177 $144 
Allowance for doubtful accounts(21)(14)
Accounts receivable, net$156 $130 
The following table summarizes the allowance for doubtful accounts activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$14 $$
Net charged to Net income22 
Charges utilized/ Currency translation adjustments/ Write-offs and other adjustments(15)(3)(3)
Balance at end of year$21 $14 $8 

Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Credit card receivables and other means of payments$3,653 $2,957 
Allowance for chargebacks(17)(11)
Allowance for doubtful accounts(4)— 
Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net$3,632 $2,946 
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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:
Year ended December 31,
202320222021
Allowance for chargebacks(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$11 $14 $18 
Net charged to Net income35 13 24 
Charges utilized/ Currency translation adjustments/ Write-offs and other adjustments(29)(16)(28)
Balance at end of year$17 $11 $14 
Year ended December 31,
202320222021
Allowance for doubtful accounts(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$— $17 $24 
Net charged (credited) to Net income(2)(3)
Charges utilized/ Currency translation adjustments/ Write-offs and other adjustments— (15)(4)
Balance at end of year$4 $ $17 
Other assets
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
VAT credits$25 $17 
Income tax credits26 65 
Sales tax credits54 30 
Advance to ATM providers14 38 
Advance to suppliers46 17 
Derivative instruments
Tax credit from promotional regime in Argentina15 15 
Incentives to be collected35 59 
Receivables with suppliers
Prepaid expenses27 38 
Other31 15 
Current other assets$277 $304 
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Judicial deposits$$205 
VAT credits12 
Income tax credits22 
Derivative instruments22 — 
Other32 17 
Non current other assets$68 $256 
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Property and equipment, net
Estimated
useful life
(years)
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Equipment3-5$248 $254 
Land and building
50 (1)
145 118 
Furniture and fixtures3-10835 598 
Software3694 647 
Vehicles4151 59 
Subtotal2,073 1,676 
Accumulated depreciation(823)(683)
Property and equipment, net$1,250 $993 
(1) Estimated useful life attributable to “building”.
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Cost of net revenues$149 $101 $50 
Product and technology development232 182 83 
Sales and marketing
General and administrative16 21 10 
Depreciation and amortization$404 $309 $145 
Other liabilities
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Deferred revenue$29 $44 
Contingent considerations and escrows from acquisitions11 
Customer advances36 37 
Derivative instruments21 17 
Other32 20 
Current other liabilities$119 $129 
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Provisions and contingencies$124 $53 
Contingent considerations and escrows from acquisitions
Joint venture— 
Incentives collected in advance13 
Derivative instruments10 
Salaries and social security payable— 
Other49 
Non current other liabilities$200 $95 
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 7. LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Loans receivable$3,671 $2,778 
Allowance for doubtful accounts(1,042)(1,074)
Current loans receivable, net$2,629 $1,704 
December 31,
20232022
(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:
December 31, 2023
Loans receivableAllowance for doubtful accountsLoans receivable, net
(In millions)
On-line merchant$429 $(119)$310 
Consumer1,808 (592)1,216 
In-store merchant332 (137)195 
Credit cards1,209 (236)973 
Total$3,778 $(1,084)$2,694 

December 31, 2022
 Loans receivable Allowance for doubtful accounts Loans receivable, net
(In millions)
On-line merchant$394 $(120)$274 
Consumer1,568 (614)954 
In-store merchant267 (145)122 
Credit cards611 (225)386 
Total$2,840 $(1,104)$1,736 

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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following tables summarize the allowance for doubtful accounts activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
December 31, 2023
On-line merchantConsumerIn-store merchantCredit cardsTotal
(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$120 $614 $145 $225 $1,104 
Net charged to Net Income104 572 129 211 1,016 
Currency translation adjustments18 33 
Write-offs(111)(600)(140)(218)(1,069)
Balance at end of year$119 $592 $137 $236 $1,084 
December 31, 2022
On-line merchantConsumerIn-store merchantCredit cardsTotal
(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$79 $232 $76 $48 $435 
Net charged to Net Income109 600 139 210 1,058 
Currency translation adjustments(9)(1)(1)(10)
Write-offs(69)(209)(69)(32)(379)
Balance at end of year$120 $614 $145 $225 $1,104 

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.
December 31, 2021
On-line merchantConsumerIn-store merchantCredit cardsTotal
(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$20 $45 $13 $— $78 
Net charged to Net Income75 234 74 51 434 
Currency translation adjustments(3)(7)(3)— (13)
Write-offs(13)(40)(8)(3)(64)
Balance at end of year$79 $232 $76 $48 $435 
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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The amortized cost of the loans receivable classified by the Company’s credit quality internal indicator was as follows:
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
1-14 days past due$99 $54 
15-30 days past due92 64 
31-60 days past due114 88 
61-90 days past due103 86 
91-120 days past due111 103 
121-150 days past due97 110 
151-180 days past due82 112 
181-210 days past due76 100 
211-240 days past due74 93 
241-270 days past due69 89 
271-300 days past due59 73 
301-330 days past due74 85 
331-360 days past due66 75 
Total past due1,116 1,132 
To become due2,662 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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation for the acquisition:
Redelcom S.A.
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents$
Convertible notes agreements
Other net tangible liabilities(2)
Total net tangible assets acquired$— 
Platform
Goodwill23 
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 $1 million for the period from November 3, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
In addition, the Company incurred in certain direct costs of the business combination which were expensed as incurred.
The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation for the acquisition:
Kangu Participações S.A.
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents$
Other net tangible assets
Total net tangible assets acquired$
Customer lists and non-compete agreements
Hubs network
Goodwill45 
Purchase Price$53
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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,
20232022
(In millions)
Goodwill$163 $153 
Intangible assets with indefinite lives
Trademarks
 Digital assets (1)
— 
Amortizable intangible assets
 Licenses and others14 13 
 Non-compete agreements
 Customer lists12 12 
 Trademarks12 12 
 Hubs network
Others
Total intangible assets53 61 
Accumulated amortization(42)(36)
Total intangible assets, net$11 $25 
Intangible assets at fair value (1)
$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.
Goodwill
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
Year ended December 31, 2023
BrazilArgentinaMexicoChileColombiaOther countriesTotal
(In millions)
Balance, beginning of the period$60 $10 $39 $37 $$$153 
Effect of exchange rates changes— — — 10 
Balance, end of the period$64 $10 $44 $37 $6 $2 $163 
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year ended December 31, 2022
BrazilArgentinaMexicoChileColombiaOther CountriesTotal
(In millions)
Balance, beginning of the year$56 $10 $37 $37 $$$148 
Effect of exchange rates changes— — (1)— 
Balance, end of the year$60 $10 $39 $37 $5 $2 $153 
Intangible assets with definite useful life
Intangible assets with definite useful life are comprised of customer lists, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, hubs network, acquired software licenses and other acquired intangible assets including developed technologies and trademarks. Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets totaled $6 million, $9 million and $6 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The following table summarizes the remaining amortization of intangible assets with definite useful life as of December 31, 2023:
For year to be ended December 31, 2024$
For year to be ended December 31, 2025
For year to be ended December 31, 2026
For year to be ended December 31, 2027
Thereafter
$7

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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following tables summarize the financial performance of the Company’s reporting segments:
Year Ended December 31, 2023
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(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 contribution1,832 1,403 614 58 3,907 
Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues(2,084)
Income from operations1,823 
Other income (expenses):
Interest income and other financial gains723 
Interest expense and other financial losses(378)
Foreign currency losses, net(615)
Net income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity$1,553 
Year Ended December 31, 2022
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions)
Net revenues$5,666 $2,500 $1,864 $507 $10,537 
Direct costs(4,717)(1,488)(1,579)(481)(8,265)
Direct contribution949 1,012 285 26 2,272 
Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues(1,238)
Income from operations1,034 
Other income (expenses):
Interest income and other financial gains265 
Interest expense and other financial losses(321)
Foreign currency losses, net(198)
Net income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity$780 
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended December 31, 2021
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions)
Net revenues$3,910 $1,531 $1,172 $456 $7,069 
Direct costs(3,233)(998)(1,139)(380)(5,750)
Direct contribution677 533 33 76 1,319 
Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues(878)
Income from operations441 
Other income (expenses):
Interest income and other financial gains138 
Interest expense and other financial losses(229)
Foreign currency losses, net(109)
Net income before income tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity$241 
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
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions)
Commerce services (1)
$3,655 $1,036 $1,653 $410 $6,754 
Commerce products sales (2)
857 225 326 39 1,447 
Total commerce revenues4,512 1,261 1,979 449 8,201 
Fintech services (3)
1,910 1,292 296 185 3,683 
Credit revenues (4)
1,155 684 699 2,546 
Fintech products sales (5)
18 11 11 43 
Total fintech revenues3,083 1,979 1,006 204 6,272 
Total net revenues$7,595 $3,240 $2,985 $653 $14,473 

Year Ended December 31, 2022
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions)
Commerce services (1)
$2,585 $814 $1,036 $329 $4,764 
Commerce products sales (2)
487 271 246 40 1,044 
Total commerce revenues3,072 1,085 1,282 369 5,808 
Fintech services (3)
1,464 904 152 125 2,645 
Credit revenues (4)
1,102 506 421 2,033 
Fintech products sales (5)
28 51 
Total fintech revenues2,594 1,415 582 138 4,729 
Total net revenues$5,666 $2,500 $1,864 $507 $10,537 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended December 31, 2021
BrazilArgentinaMexicoOther CountriesTotal
(In millions)
Commerce services (1)
$2,076 $614 $756 $304 $3,750 
Commerce products sales (2)
405 242 168 70 885 
Total commerce revenues2,481 856 924 374 4,635 
Fintech services (3)
938 490 80 82 1,590 
Credit revenues (4)
468 178 163 — 809 
Fintech products sales (5)
23 — 35 
Total fintech revenues1,429 675 248 82 2,434 
Total net revenues$3,910 $1,531 $1,172 $456 $7,069 
(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,
20232022
(In millions)
US property and equipment, net$$
Other countries
Argentina208 188 
Brazil603 514 
Mexico345 206 
Other countries92 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,
20232022
(In millions)
Argentina$51 $53 
Brazil396 286 
Mexico380 245 
Other countries72 72 
Right of use asset, net$899 $656 
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table summarizes the allocation of the goodwill and intangible assets based on geography:
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
US intangible assets at fair value (1)
$24 $ 
$24 $ 
US intangible assets, net (1)
$— $
Goodwill and intangible assets, net
Argentina12 14 
Brazil68 63 
Mexico44 40 
Other countries50 52 
174 169 
Total goodwill and intangible assets$198 $178 
(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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 10. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Assets and liabilities measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis
The following table summarizes the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Balances as of
December 31, 2023
Quoted Prices in
active markets for
identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
Balances as of
December 31, 2022
Quoted Prices in
active markets for
identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
Unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Money market$639 $639 $— $599 $599 $— $— 
U.S. government debt securities (1)
60 60 — 21 21 — — 
Foreign government debt securities (1)
32 32 — — — — — 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents:
Money market (2)
278 278 — 352 352 — — 
Foreign government debt securities (1)
116 116 — 158 158 — — 
Investments:
U.S. government debt securities (1)
1,009 1,009 — 733 733 — — 
Foreign government debt securities (1) (3)
2,530 2,530 — 1,433 1,433 — — 
Corporate debt securities30 30 — — — — — 
Other assets:
Derivative instruments23 — 23 — — 
USDC— — — — — 
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding assets34 — 34 15 — 15 — 
Intangible assets at fair value24 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— — — — — 
Derivative instruments31 — 31 24 — 24 — 
Customer crypto-assets safeguarding liabilities34 — 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.)

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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 $(9)
Net Additions— 
Settlements
Foreign Currency Translation(5)— 
Losses in Other Comprehensive Income(15)— 
Losses in Income Statement(28)— 
Transfers out of level 327 — 
Balance, end of the year$ $(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 $1 million. The cost of these securities are determined under a specific identification basis.
The following table summarizes the net carrying amount of the corporate debt securities classified as available for sale, classified by its contractual maturities:
Balances as of
December 31, 2023
(In millions)
One year or less$
One year to two years12 
Two years to three years
Three years to four years
Four years to five years
Total available for sale investments$30

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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
December 31, 2023
Balances as of
December 31, 2022
(In millions)
One year or less$3,668 $2,079 
One year to two years201 
Two years to three years— 
Three years to four years35 — 
Four years to five years37 30 
More than five years30 
$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:
Balances as of
December 31, 2023
Estimated fair value as of December 31, 2023Balances as of
December 31, 2022
Estimated fair value as of December 31, 2022
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents$1,825 $1,825 $1,290 $1,290 
Restricted cash and cash equivalents898 898 943 943 
Investments15 15 439 439 
Accounts receivables, net156 156 130 130 
Credit card receivables and other means of payment, net3,632 3,632 2,946 2,946 
Loans receivable, net2,694 2,676 1,736 1,761 
Other assets131 131 273 273 
Total Assets$9,351 $9,333 $7,757 $7,782 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses$2,117 $2,117 $1,393 $1,393 
Funds payable to customers4,475 4,475 3,454 3,454 
Amounts payable due to credit and debit card transactions1,092 1,092 488 488 
Salaries and social security payable441 441 349 349 
Loans payable and other financial liabilities4,495 4,441 4,758 4,997 
Other liabilities285 285 186 186 
Total Liabilities$12,905 $12,851 $10,628 $10,867 
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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTE 14. INCOME TAXES
The components of income tax for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Income Tax:
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 $149 
The components of net income before tax expense and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
U.S.$(362)$(207)$(214)
Non-U.S.1,915 987 455 
$1,553 $780 $241 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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,
202320222021
(In millions)
Net income before income tax$1,553 $780 $241 
Income tax rate21 %21 %21 %
Expected income tax expense$326 $164 $51 
Permanent differences:   
Transfer pricing adjustments11 
Non-deductible tax
Non-deductible expenses107 54 29 
Dividend distributions(32)12 36 
Non-taxable income(167)(62)(32)
Effect of rates different than statutory117 37 
Currency translation335 48 16 
Change in valuation allowance92 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).

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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,
20232022
(In millions)
Deferred tax assets  
Allowance for doubtful accounts$234 $110 
Unrealized net gains
Property and equipment, net58 43 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses17 
Payroll and social security payable42 32 
Provisions275 131 
U.S. foreign tax credit304 156 
Tax loss carryforwards177 255 
Inventories14 
Tax inflation adjustments— 
Total deferred tax assets1,115 758 
Valuation allowance(374)(360)
Total deferred tax assets, net741 398 
Deferred tax liabilities  
Property and equipment, net(21)(29)
Customer lists— (1)
Unrealized net losses(4)(3)
Goodwill(4)(4)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses(2)(3)
Payroll and social security payable— (7)
Outside Basis Dividends(182)(103)
Provisions(1)(8)
Total deferred tax liabilities$(214)$(158)
$527 $240 
Valuation allowance on deferred tax assets
The following table summarizes the tax valuation allowance activity during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December, 31
202320222021
Tax valuation allowance(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$360 $262 $179 
Charged to Net income92 56 
Charges Utilized/Currency translation adjustments and other adjustments10 27 
Balance at end of year$374 $360 $262 
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As of December 31, 2023, consolidated deferred tax asset on tax loss carryforwards for income tax purposes were $177 million. If not utilized, tax loss carryforwards will begin to expire as follows:
2026$
2027
2028
202931 
203038 
Thereafter56 
Without due dates42 
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. Law No. 27,506 allows companies that were benefiting from the software development law, to apply for tax benefits under Law No. 27,506.

The above-mentioned regime was suspended on January 20, 2020, through a resolution issued by Argentina’s Ministry of Productive Development until new rules for the application of the knowledge-based economy promotional regime were issued.

On June 25,October 7, 2020, the Chamber of Deputies passed changes to the knowledge-based economy promotional regime. The Chamber of Senates proposed further amendments, whichregime were returned to the Chamber of Deputies and finally approved on October 7, 2020.by the Congress. The approved regime is effective as ofhas effect from January 1, 2020 untilthrough 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 up to 60% (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 non-transferable 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, but they cannot be used to offset income 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-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.

The 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 is currently assessing whether it will be eligible to benefit from the new law and related tax benefits, such eligibility remaining subject to Argentine government approval.

Uncertainty in income taxes

The Company recognizes, if any, uncertainty in income taxes by applying the accounting prescribed by U.S. GAAP,accounted 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 expectedbenefit of $14 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, which $8 million corresponded to be taken in a tax return should be considered. It also provides guidance on de-recognition, classificationthe year ended December 31, 2020. The aggregate per share effect of a liability for unrecognized tax benefits, accounting for interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and expandedthe income tax disclosures. The Company classifies interest and penalties, if any, within income taxes expense, inbenefit amounted to $0.29 for the statement 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 for tax years after 2014 primarily include the U.S., Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 – Debt Exchange

On August 24, 2018, the Company issued $800,000 thousands of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 and on Augustyear ended December 31, 2018 the Company issued an additional $80,000 thousands 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”). For more detailed information in relation to the 2028 Notes, see Note 16 to these consolidated financial statements.

The convertible debt instrument was separated into debt and equity components at issuance and a fair value was assigned. The value assigned to the debt component was the estimated fair value, as of the issuance date, of similar debt without the conversion feature. As of the issuance date the Company determined the fair value of the liability component of the 2028 Notes based on market data that was available for senior, unsecured non-convertible corporate bonds issued by comparable companies. Assumptions used in the estimate represent what market participants would use in pricing the liability component, including market interest rates, credit standing, and yield curves, all of which are defined as level 2 observable inputs. The difference between the cash proceeds and this estimated fair value represents the value assigned to the equity component and was recorded as a debt discount. The debt discount is amortized using the effective interest method from the origination date through its stated contractual maturity date.

The initial debt component of the 2028 Notes was valued at $546,532 thousands, based on the contractual cash flows discounted at an appropriate market rate for non-convertible debt at the date of issuance, which was determined to be 7.44%. The carrying value of the permanent equity component reported in additional paid-in-capital was initially valued at $333,468 thousands. The effective interest rate after allocation of transaction costs to the liability component is 7.66% and is used to amortize the debt discount and transaction costs. Additionally,2021. Furthermore, the Company recorded a deferred tax liabilitysocial 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 additional paid-in capital component of the 2028 Notes of $70,028 thousands.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

On March 29, 2019,year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issuedaccrued a charge of $4 million to pay knowledge-based economy promotional law audit fees and sold 100,000 shares of perpetual convertible preferred stock designated as Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”FONPEC (“Fondo Fiduciario para la Promoción de la Economía del Conocimiento”) of the Company for $100,000 thousands in the aggregate.

contribution.

The Company determined that the shares of Preferred Stock should be classified as mezzanine equity upon their issuance since they are contingently redeemable as explained in Note 22. The Company also determined that there is a beneficial conversion feature of $5,841 thousands attributable to the Preferred Stock because the initial conversion price was lower than the fair value of MercadoLibre’s common stock on March 29, 2019 (the commitment date). The beneficial conversion feature was fully amortized at issuance, increasing the Preferred Stock’s carrying amount, since the shares of Preferred Stock are perpetual and the holders of Preferred Stock have the right to convert immediately.

In addition, the Company determined that there were no embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation.

Treasury Stock

Equity instruments of117 the Company that are repurchased by the Company are recognized at cost and deducted from equity. If the repurchase of the Company’s stock is carried out at a price significantly in excess of the current market price, there is a presumption that the repurchase price includes amounts attributable to items other than the stock repurchased; therefore, the Company uses the quoted market price of the common stock for purposes of determining the fair value of the treasury stock.


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

On June 16, 2016 the FASB issued the ASU 2016-13 “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of credit losses on financial instruments”. This update amended guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, this update eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. For available for sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to current GAAP, however this topic requires that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach transition method, resulting in a decrease of $4,570 thousands (net of income tax) to the opening balance of retained earnings.

On August 29, 2018 the FASB issued the ASU 2018-15 “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40)”. The amendments in this update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). The amendments require an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance in Subtopic 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

On December 18, 2019 the FASB issued the ASU 2019-12 “Income taxes (Topic 740)—Simplifying the accounting for income taxes”. The amendments in this update simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and also improve consistent application by clarifying and amending existing guidance, such as franchise taxes and interim recognition of enactment of tax laws or rate changes. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on its financial statements.

On August 5, 2020 the FASB issued the ASU 2020-06 “Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging— Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40)”. The amendments in this update address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying generally accepted accounting principles for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. For convertible instruments, accounting models for specific features are removed and amendments to the disclosure requirements are included. For contracts in an entity’s own equity, simplifies the settlement assessment by removing some requirements. Additionally, the amendments in this update affect the diluted EPS calculation for instruments that may be settled in cash or shares and for convertible instruments. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is assessing the effects that the adoption of this accounting pronouncement may have on its financial statements.


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3.

Net loss per share

Basic earnings per share for the Company’s common stock is computed by dividing, net loss available to common shareholders attributable to common stock for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

On June 30, 2014, the Company issued $330,000 thousands of 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 and on August 24, 2018 and August 31, 2018 the Company issued an aggregate principal amount of $880,000 thousands of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (please refer to Note 16 to these consolidated financial statements for discussion regarding these debt notes). Additionaly, on March 29, 2019 the Company issued Preferred stock. See Note 22 to these consolidated financial statements. The conversion of these debt notes and preferred stock are considered for diluted earnings per share utilizing the “if converted” method, the effect of that conversion is not assumed for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share if the effect is antidilutive.

The denominator for diluted net loss per share for the years ended on December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 does not include any effect from the 2019 Notes Capped Call Transactions or the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions (as defined in Note 16) because it would be antidilutive. In the event of conversion of any or all of the 2028 Notes, the shares that would be delivered to the Company under The Capped Call Transactions (as defined in Note 16) are designed to partially neutralize the dilutive effect of the shares that the Company would issue under the Notes.

ForDuring the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023 and 2018,2022, the effectsCompany accounted for an income tax benefit of $42 million and $27 million, respectively. The aggregate per share effect of the conversion of the Notesincome tax benefit amounted to $0.84 and the redeemable convertible preferred stock on diluted earnings per share were antidilutive and, as a consequence, they were not computed for diluted earnings per share.

Net loss per share of common stock is as follows$0.54 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023 and 2018:

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

Basic

Diluted

Basic

Diluted

Basic

Diluted

Net loss per common share

$                     (0.08)

$                     (0.08)

$                     (3.71)

$                     (3.71)

$                     (0.82)

$                     (0.82)

Numerator:

Net loss

$                      (707)

$                      (707)

$               (171,999)

$               (171,999)

$                 (36,585)

$                 (36,585)

Amortization of redeemable convertible preferred stock

(5,841)

(5,841)

Dividends on preferred stock

(3,200)

(3,200)

(3,000)

(3,000)

Net loss corresponding to common stock

$                   (3,907)

$                   (3,907)

$               (180,840)

$               (180,840)

$                 (36,585)

$                 (36,585)

Denominator:

Weighted average of common stock outstanding for Basic earnings per share

49,740,407

48,692,906

44,529,614

Adjusted weighted average of common stock outstanding for Diluted earnings per share

49,740,407

48,692,906

44,529,614


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4.

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments

The composition of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments is as follows:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

$              1,856,394

$              1,384,740

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

Securitization Transactions

$                 249,872

$                   37,424

Sovereign Debt Securities (Secured lines of credit guarantee)

29,260

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee)

144,249

Bank account (Argentine Central Bank regulation)

237,511

Bank collateral account (Secured lines of credit guarantee)

574

Money Market Funds (Secured lines of credit guarantee)

19,469

Cash in bank account

155

Total restricted cash and cash equivalents

$                 651,830

$                   66,684

Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents (*)

$              2,508,224

$              1,451,424

Short-term investments

Time Deposits

$                 158,818

$                 189,660

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee)

565,705

506,175

Sovereign Debt Securities (Secured lines of credit guarantee)

71,244

16,623

Sovereign Debt Securities

445,539

884,720

Corporate Debt Securities

63

Total short-term investments

$              1,241,306

$              1,597,241

Long-term investments

Sovereign Debt Securities

$                 150,054

$                 260,320

Corporate Debt Securities

173

Other Investments

16,057

3,490

Total long-term investments

$                 166,111

$                 263,983

(*) Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents as reported in the consolidated statements of cash flow.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019,2022, respectively. Furthermore, the Company has 0 securities considered held-to-maturity.

Regulation issued by Central Bankrecorded a social security benefit of Argentina (“CBA”)

a)In January 2020, the CBA enacted regulations related to payment service providers that applies to Fintech companies that are not financial institutions, but nevertheless provide payment services in at least one of the processes of the payments system. On July 7, 2020, the CBA approved the registration of the Argentine subsidiary in the registry for payment service providers. These regulations sets forth certain rules that require payment services providers to, among other things, (i) deposit$67 million and maintain users’ funds in specific banks’ accounts, payable on demand; (ii) implement a monthly reporting regime with the CBA; (iii) segregate information related to users’ investments funds; (iv) maintain different bank accounts to segregate the Company’s funds from users’ funds; and (v) introduce clarifications on advertising and documents about the standard terms and conditions of the payment service provider. As of December 31, 2020, in accordance with the regulation, the Company held $237,511 thousands in a bank account, payable on demand.

b)In October 2020, the CBA issued a regulation that applies to non-financial loan providers. In accordance with this regulation, the Company must register in the "Registry of other non-financial loan providers" before December 1, 2020 and comply with a periodic information report within the framework of a monthly information regime as from March 1, 2021. In turn, the regulation establishes that the Company must comply with the obligations established by CBA rules, 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 as of January 1, 2021, and the rules regarding the protection of users of financial services, methods of communication and access to information became effective as of February 1, 2021.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4.

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and investments (continued)

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee)

On November 1, 2018, the Company obtained approval from the Central Bank of Brazil to operate as an authorized payment institution. With this authorization, Mercado Pago in Brazil is subject to the supervision of the Central Bank of Brazil and must fully comply with all obligations established by current regulations. Among other obligations, the regulations require authorized payment institutions to hold any electronic balance in a payment institution account in either a specific account of the Central Bank of Brazil that does not pay interest or Brazilian federal government bonds registered with the “Sistema Especial de Liquidacao e Custodia.” 100% of electronic funds were required to be deposited as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, in accordance with the regulation, the Company held $709,954 thousands and $506,175 thousands deposited in Brazilian federal government bonds, respectively, as a mandatory guarantee.

5.

Balance sheet components

Accounts receivable, net

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Users

$               42,012

$               27,340

Advertising

11,185

9,452

Others debtors

3,788

4,979

56,985

41,771

Allowance for doubtful accounts

(7,294)

(6,325)

Accounts receivable, net

$               49,691

$               35,446

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments, net

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Credit cards and other means of payments

$                        904,624

$                  391,279

Allowance for chargebacks

(17,688)

(11,310)

Allowance for doubtful accounts

(23,863)

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments, net

$                        863,073

$                  379,969

Other assets

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

VAT credits

$                   11,555

$                   16,997

Income tax credits

48,876

57,844

Sales tax credits

18,107

442

Advance to ATM providers

37,498

Advance to suppliers

21,520

Other

15,403

13,453

Current other assets

$                 152,959

$                   88,736


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5.

Balance sheet components (continued)

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Judicial deposits

57,525

51,364

Other

10,090

6,877

Non current other assets

$                   67,615

$                   58,241

Property and equipment, net

Estimated

useful life

December 31,

(years)

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Equipment

3-5

$                  113,669

$                    83,961

Land & Building

50 (1)

96,974

80,832

Furniture and fixtures

3-10

134,999

83,810

Software

3

282,066

179,211

Vehicles

4

17,198

4,442

644,906

432,256

Accumulated depreciation

(253,222)

(187,999)

Property and equipment, net

$                  391,684

$                  244,257

(1)

Estimated useful life attributable to “Buildings”.

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

Depreciation and amortization:

Cost of net revenues

$                   15,902

$                     8,873

$                     4,332

Product and technology development

53,530

40,920

31,852

Sales and marketing

1,776

2,076

1,643

General and administrative

10,088

7,517

7,965

$                   81,296

$                   59,386

$                   45,792

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Accounts payable

$                  728,056

$                  331,140

Accrued expenses

Advertising

24,135

33,118

Buyer protection program provision

8,364

3,808

Professional fees

5,415

2,485

Other expense provisions

1,366

1,758

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$                  767,336

$                  372,309


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5.

Balance sheet components (continued)

Funds payable to customers and amounts due to merchants

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Funds payable to customers

$               1,695,424

$                  894,057

Amounts due to merchants

37,671

Funds payable to customers and amounts due to merchants

$               1,733,095

$                  894,057

Other liabilities

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Advanced Collections

$                   15,041

$                   81,045

Deferred revenue

32,519

16,590

Provisions and contingencies

5,123

Contingent considerations and escrows from acquisitions

4,540

792

Customer advances

39,054

9,621

Derivative instruments

13,964

251

Other

3,416

1,047

Current other liabilities

$                 108,534

$                 114,469

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Provisions and contingencies

$                   10,929

$                     7,972

Contingent considerations and escrows from acquisitions

3,291

4,470

Other

5,971

185

Non current other liabilities

$                   20,191

$                   12,627

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

Foreign currency translation

$                (466,569)

$                  (408,099)

$               (394,306)

Unrealized gains on investments

2,029

3,345

Estimated tax loss on unrealized gains (loss)

754

(351)

(616)

Unrealized losses on hedging activities

(2,469)

(250)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

$                (468,284)

$                  (406,671)

$               (391,577)


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Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5.

Balance sheet components (continued)

The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated balances of other comprehensive loss for the year December 31, 2020:

Unrealized

Unrealized

Foreign

Estimated tax

(Loss) Gains on

(Losses) Gains on

Currency

(expense)

hedging activities, net

Investments

Translation

benefit

Total 2020

Total 2019

(In thousands)

Balances as of December 31, 2019

$                       (250)

$                     2,029

$                  (408,099)

$                     (351)

$                (406,671)

$                 (391,577)

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications

4,219

(58,470)

(1,435)

(55,686)

(12,365)

Amount of (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

(6,438)

(2,029)

2,540

(5,927)

(2,729)

Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income

(2,219)

(2,029)

(58,470)

1,105

(61,613)

(15,094)

Ending balance

$                    (2,469)

$                          —

$                  (466,569)

$                       754

$                (468,284)

$                 (406,671)

The following table provides details about reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss for the year ended December 31, 2020:

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Reclassified from

Details about Accumulated

Accumulated Other

Other Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive

Affected Line Item

Components

Income

in the Statement of Income

(In thousands)

Unrealized gains on investments

$                     2,029

Interest income and other financial gains

Unrealized gains on hedging activities

6,438

Cost of net revenues

Estimated tax gain on unrealized losses on investments

(2,540)

Income tax expense

Total reclassifications for the year

$                     5,927

Total, net of income taxes


27


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6.

Loans receivable, net

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Loans receivable

$                        458,946

$                  202,489

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

(73,910)

(20,384)

Current loans receivable, net

$                        385,036

$                  182,105

0

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Loans receivable

$                         20,525

$                     6,499

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

(3,906)

(60)

Non current loans receivable, net

$                         16,619

$                     6,439

The Company manages loans receivable as “On-line merchant”, “Consumer” and “In-store merchant”. As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, Loans receivable, net were as follows:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

On-line merchant

$

180,063

$

130,102

Consumer

237,956

60,179

In-store merchant

61,452

18,707

Loans receivable

479,471

208,988

Allowance for uncollectible accounts

(77,816)

(20,444)

Loans receivable, net

$

401,655

$

188,544

The credit quality analysis of loans receivable was as follows:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

1-30 days past due

$

34,706

$

20,430

31-60 days past due

16,977

6,916

61 -90 days past due

13,239

7,580

91 -120 days past due

10,632

-

121 -150 days past due

5,315

-

151 -180 days past due

3,649

-

Total past due

84,518

34,926

To become due

394,953

174,062

Total

$

479,471

$

208,988


28


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7.

Business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets

Business combinations

Acquisition of a software development company

In March 2020, the Company, through its subsidiary Meli Participaciones S.L., completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest of Kiserty S.A. and its subsidiaries, which is a software development company located and organized under the law of Uruguay. The objective of the acquisition was to enhance the capabilities of the Company in terms of software development.

The aggregate purchase price for the acquisition was $10,899 thousands, measured at its fair value amount, which included: (i) the total cash payment of $8,500 thousands at the time of closing; (ii) an escrow of $225 thousands and (iii) a contingent additional cash consideration up to $2,174 thousands.

The Company’s consolidated statement of income includes the results of operations of the acquired business as from March 9, 2020. The net income before intercompany eliminations of the acquired Company included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income since the acquisition amounted to $820 thousands for the period ended December 31, 2020.

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

The purchase price was allocated based on the measurement of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed considering the information available as of the 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.

Goodwill and intangible assets

The composition of goodwill and intangible assets is as follows:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Goodwill

$               85,211

$               87,609

Intangible assets with indefinite lives

- Trademarks

7,751

8,366

Amortizable intangible assets

- Licenses and others

4,932

5,320

- Non-compete agreement

3,426

2,703

- Customer list

14,010

13,900

- Trademarks

7,879

4,723

Total intangible assets

$               37,998

$               35,012

Accumulated amortization

(23,843)

(20,737)

Total intangible assets, net

$               14,155

$               14,275


29


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7.

Business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets (continued)

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill$54 million for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2019 are as follows: 

Year ended December 31, 2020

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Chile

Colombia

Other Countries

Total

(In thousands)

Balance, beginning of the year

$                   29,072

$                     6,991

$                   32,196

$                   14,872

$                     3,312

$                     1,166

$                   87,609

Business Acquisitions

3,603

1,062

1,241

1,246

748

7,900

Disposals

(3,480)

(3,480)

Effect of exchange rates changes

(5,830)

(1,561)

883

(168)

(142)

(6,818)

Balance, end of the year

$                   19,762

$                   10,594

$                   31,697

$                   16,996

$                     4,390

$                     1,772

$                   85,211

Year ended December 31, 2019

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Chile

Colombia

Other Countries

Total

(In thousands)

Balance, beginning of the year

$                   30,069

$                     6,946

$                   31,340

$                   16,014

$                     3,339

$                     1,175

$                   88,883

Purchase price allocations adjustments

45

45

Effect of exchange rates changes

(997)

856

(1,142)

(27)

(9)

(1,319)

Balance, end of the year

$                   29,072

$                     6,991

$                   32,196

$                   14,872

$                     3,312

$                     1,166

$                   87,609


30


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

7.

Business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets (continued)

Intangible assets with definite useful life

Intangible assets with definite useful life are comprised of customer lists and user base, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, acquired software licenses and other acquired intangible assets including developed technologies and trademarks. Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets totaled $5,293 thousands, $3,912 thousands and $6,102 thousands for2022, respectively. Additionally, during the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023 and 2018, respectively.

The following table summarizes the remaining amortization of intangible assets with definite useful life as of December 31, 2020:

For year ended 12/31/2021

$                          3,773

For year ended 12/31/2022,

1,264

For year ended 12/31/2023

982

For year ended 12/31/2024

342

Thereafter

43

$                          6,404

8.

Segments

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

Segment reporting is based on geography as the main basis of segment breakdown to reflect the evaluation of the Company’s performance defined by the Management. The Company’s segments include Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and other countries (such as Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Uruguay, Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay and the United States of America).

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 and general and administrative expenses over which segment managers have direct discretionary control, such as advertising and marketing programs, customer support expenses, allowances for doubtful accounts, payroll and third-party fees. All corporate related costs have been excluded from the Company’s direct contribution.

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

The Company has re-named and grouped by nature its Revenue streams breakdown, given the increasing importance of its financial business in current and expected future revenue composition, which Management considers shows more meaningful information about the business. As such, the breakdown by revenue stream previously labeled as “Enhanced Marketplace” and “Non-marketplace”, is now presented under the titles of “Commerce” and “Fintech”, respectively. Also, as a result, a group of other services, including classifieds fees, ad sales and other ancillary services, which had historically been included in the “Non-marketplace” line, have, as of January 1, 2020, been included as a part of the “Commerce” revenue stream. Prior-period corresponding figures have been reclassified accordingly for comparative purposes.


31


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8.

Segments (continued)

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

Year Ended December 31, 2020

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

(In thousands)

Net revenues

$                      2,194,041 

$                         980,276 

$                         575,173 

$                         223,975 

$                      3,973,465 

Direct costs

(1,765,981)

(708,661)

(586,022)

(186,435)

(3,247,099)

Direct contribution

428,060

271,615

(10,849)

37,540

726,366

Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues

(598,674)

Income from operations

127,692

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

102,767

Interest expense and other financial losses

(106,690)

Foreign currency losses

(42,454)

Net Income before income tax expense

$                           81,315 

Year Ended December 31, 2019

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

(In thousands)

Net revenues

$                      1,461,509 

$                         456,332 

$                         275,133 

$                         103,340 

$                      2,296,314 

Direct costs

(1,245,382)

(347,733)

(390,158)

(104,975)

$                   (2,088,248)

Direct contribution

216,127

108,599

(115,025)

(1,635)

208,066

Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues

(361,227)

Loss from operations

(153,161)

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

113,523

Interest expense and other financial losses

(65,876)

Foreign currency losses

(1,732)

Net loss before income tax expense

$                      (107,246)


32


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8.

Segments (continued)

Year Ended December 31, 2018

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Other Countries

Total

(In thousands)

Net revenues

$                        866,175 

$                        376,563 

$                        109,096 

$                          87,819 

$                     1,439,653 

Direct costs

(762,636)

(254,539)

(164,637)

(79,581)

(1,261,393)

Direct contribution

103,539

122,024

(55,541)

8,238

178,260

Operating expenses and indirect costs of net revenues

(247,742)

Loss from operations

(69,482)

Other income (expenses):

Interest income and other financial gains

42,039

Interest expense and other financial losses

(56,249)

Foreign currency gains

18,240

Net loss before income tax gain

$                       (65,452)

The following table summarizes the allocation of the long-lived tangible assets based on geography:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

US property and equipment, net

$                        586

$                     937

Other countries

Argentina

123,589

100,536

Brazil

171,409

103,571

Mexico

73,315

30,131

Other countries

22,785

9,082

$                 391,098

$              243,320

Total property and equipment, net

$                 391,684

$              244,257

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

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Goodwill and intangible assets

Argentina

$                   12,617

$                  8,632

Brazil

19,958

30,142

Mexico

35,338

36,003

Chile

24,707

22,237

Other countries

6,746

4,870

Total goodwill and intangible assets

$                   99,366

$              101,884

Consolidated net revenues by similar products and services for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

Consolidated Net Revenues

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

Commerce

$                   2,559,770

$                      1,346,445

$                  838,632

Fintech

$                   1,413,695

$                         949,869

$                  601,021

Total

$                   3,973,465

$                      2,296,314

$               1,439,653


33


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9.

Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:

Quoted Prices in

Quoted Prices in

Balances as of

active markets for

Significant other

Unobservable

Balances as of

active markets for

Significant other

Unobservable

December 31,

identical Assets

observable inputs

inputs

December 31,

identical Assets

observable inputs

inputs

Description

2020

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

(Level 3)

2019

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

(Level 3)

(In thousands)

Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Money Market Funds

$                           166,483 

$                               166,483 

$                                 — 

$                                   — 

$                      688,760 

$                        688,760 

$                            — 

$                          — 

Sovereign Debt Securities

37,654 

37,654 

32,874 

32,874 

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents:

Money Market Funds

257,695 

257,695 

32,829 

32,829 

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee)

144,249 

144,249 

29,260 

29,260 

Investments:

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee)

565,705 

565,705 

506,175 

506,175 

Sovereign Debt Securities

666,837 

666,837 

1,161,663 

1,161,663 

Corporate Debt Securities

236 

178 

58 

Other Assets:

Derivative Instruments

199 

199 

1,249 

1,249 

Total Financial Assets

$                       1,838,822 

$                            1,838,623 

$                                 — 

$                                 199 

$                   2,453,046 

$                     2,451,739 

$                            58 

$                     1,249 

Liabilities:

Contingent considerations

$                               4,622 

$                                        — 

$                                 — 

$                               4,622 

$                          2,201 

$                                 — 

$                            — 

$                     2,201 

Long-term retention plan

136,816 

136,816 

60,958 

60,958 

Derivative Instruments

13,964 

13,964 

251 

251 

Total Financial Liabilities

$                           155,402 

$                                        — 

$                        136,816 

$                            18,586 

$                        63,410 

$                                 — 

$                     60,958 

$                     2,452 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s financial assets valued at fair value consisted of assets valued using i) Level 1 inputs: unadjusted quoted prices in active markets (Level 1 instrument valuations are obtained from observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets in active markets); 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 assumptions. Fair value of derivative instruments are determined considering the prevailing risk free interest rate and spot exchange rate.

34


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9.

Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities (continued)

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s liabilities were valued at fair value using level 2 inputs and level 3 inputs (valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting Company own assumptions). Fair value of contingent considerations are determined based on the probability of achievement of the performance targets arising from each acquisition, as well as the Company’s historical experience with similar arrangements. Fair value of derivative instruments are determined considering the prevailing risk free interest rate and spot exchange rate.

The unrealized net gains or losses on short-term and long-term investments for which the Company has not elected the fair value option are reported asaccrued a componentcharge of other comprehensive income. The Company does not anticipate any significant realized losses associated with those investments in excess of the Company’s historical cost.

As of December 31, 2020$6 million and 2019, the carrying value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at amortized cost approximated their fair value mainly because of its short term maturity. These assets and liabilities included cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments (excluding money markets funds and debt securities), accounts receivable, credit cards receivable and other means of payments, loans receivable, funds payable$5 million, respectively, to customers and amounts due to merchants, other assets (excluding derivative instruments), accounts payable, salaries and social security payable (excluding variable LTRP), taxes payable, provisions and other liabilities (excluding contingent consideration and derivative instruments). As of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 the estimated fair value of the 2028 Notes (liability component), which is based on Level 2 inputs, is $672,345 thousands and $686,366 thousands, respectively, and were determined based on market interest rates. The rest of the loans payable and other financial liabilities approximate their fair value because the interest rates are not materially different from market interest rates.

The following table summarizes the fair value level for those financial assets and liabilities of the Company measured at amortized cost as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:

Balances as of

Significant other

Balances as of

Significant other

December 31,

observable inputs

December 31,

observable inputs

2020

(Level 2)

2019

(Level 2)

(In thousands)

Assets

Time Deposits

$                   158,818

158,818

$                  189,660

$                   189,660

Accounts receivable, net

49,691

49,691

35,446

35,446

Credit Cards receivable and other means of payments, net

863,073

863,073

379,969

379,969

Loans receivable, net

401,655

401,655

188,544

188,544

Other assets

236,432

236,432

149,218

149,218

Total Assets

$                1,709,669

$                    1,709,669

$                  942,837

$                   942,837

Liabilities

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$                   767,336

$                       767,336

$                  372,309

$                   372,309

Funds payable to customers and amounts due to merchants

1,733,095

1,733,095

894,057

894,057

Salaries and social security payable

120,394

120,394

67,686

67,686

Taxes payable

215,918

215,918

60,247

60,247

Loans payable and other financial liabilities (*)

1,409,269

1,479,165

817,491

927,903

Other liabilities

110,139

110,139

124,644

124,644

Total Liabilities

$                4,356,151

$                    4,426,047

$               2,336,434

$                2,446,846

(*) The fair value of the 2028 Notes (including the equity component) is disclosed in Note 16.

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company held 0 direct investments in auction rate securities and does 0t have any non-financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value.


35


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9.

Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities (continued)

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fair value of money market funds, sovereign and corporate debt securities classified as available for sale securities are as follows:

December 31, 2020

Cost

Financial Gains

Estimated Fair Value

(In thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

Money Market Funds

$                  166,483

$                           —

$                  166,483

Sovereign Debt Securities (1)

$                    37,595

$                           59

$                    37,654

Total Cash and cash equivalents

$                  204,078

$                           59

$                  204,137

Restricted Cash and cash equivalents

Money Market Funds

$                  257,695

$                           —

$                  257,695

Sovereign Debt Securities (1)

144,098

151

144,249

Total Restricted Cash and cash equivalents

$                  401,793

$                         151

$                  401,944

Short-term investments

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) (1)

$                  559,487

$                      6,218

$                  565,705

Sovereign Debt Securities (1)

514,894

1,889

516,783

Total Short-term investments

$               1,074,381

$                      8,107

$               1,082,488

Long-term investments

Sovereign Debt Securities (1)

$                  149,938

$                         116

$                  150,054

Total Long-term investments

$                  149,938

$                         116

$                  150,054

Total

$               1,830,190

$                      8,433

$               1,838,623

(1)

Measured at fair value with impact on the consolidated statement of income for the application of the fair value option. See Note 2 – Fair value option applied to certain financial instruments.


36


Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9.

Fair value measurement of assets and liabilities (continued)

December 31, 2019

Cost

Gross Unrealized Gains (1)

Financial Gains

Financial Losses

Estimated Fair Value

(In thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

Money Market Funds

$               688,760

$                            —

$                          —

$                          —

$               688,760

Sovereign Debt Securities

32,851

23

$                 32,874

Total Cash and cash equivalents

$               721,611

$                            —

$                          23

$                          —

$               721,634

Restricted Cash and cash equivalents

Money Market Funds

$                 32,829

$                            —

$                          —

$                          —

$                 32,829

Sovereign Debt Securities (2)

29,227

33

$                 29,260

Total Restricted Cash and cash equivalents

$                 62,056

$                            —

$                          33

$                          —

$                 62,089

Short-term investments

Sovereign Debt Securities (Central Bank of Brazil mandatory guarantee) (3)

$               504,195

$                            —

$                     1,980

$                          —

$               506,175

Sovereign Debt Securities (4)

898,922

2,080

400

(59)

901,343

Corporate Debt Securities

63

63

Total Short-term investments

$            1,403,180

$                       2,080

$                     2,380

$                        (59)

$            1,407,581

Long-term investments

Sovereign Debt Securities (5)

$               260,400

$                              2

$                            1

$                        (83)

$               260,320

Corporate Debt Securities

170

3

173

Total Long-term investments

$               260,570

$                              5

$                            1

$                        (83)

$               260,493

Total

$            2,447,417

$                       2,085

$                     2,437

$                      (142)

$            2,451,797

(1)

Unrealized gains from securities are attributable to market price movements, net foreign exchange losses and foreign currency translation. Management does not believe any remaining significant unrealized losses represent other-than-temporary impairments based on the evaluation of available evidence including the credit rating of the investments, as of December 31, 2019. 

(2)

Held by the Company’s Argentine subsidiary in guarantee for secured lines of credit. See Note 16 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities.

(3)

Brazilian government bonds measured at fair value with impact on the consolidated statement of income for the application of the fair value option. See Note 2 – Investments - Fair value option applied to certain financial instruments.

(4)

Includes $627,842 thousands of U.S treasury notes measured at fair value with impact on the consolidated statement of income for the application of the fair value option see Note 2 – Investments - Fair value option applied to certain financial instruments and $16,623 thousands held by the Company’s Argentine subsidiary in guarantee for secured lines of credit. See Note 16 – Loans payable and other financial liabilities.

(5)

Includes $260,230 thousands of U.S treasury notes measured at fair value with impact on the consolidated statement of income for the application of the fair value option. See Note 2 –Investments - Fair value option applied to certain financial instruments.

The material portion of the Sovereign Debt Securities are U.S. Treasury Notes and Brazilian federal government bonds with no significant risk associated.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As of December 31, 2020, the estimated fair values (in thousands of U.S. dollars) of money market funds and sovereign debt securities classified by its effective maturities or Management expectation to convert the investments into cash are as follows:

One year or less

1,688,568

One year to two years

150,055

Total

$                1,838,623

10.

Common stock

Authorized, issued and outstanding shares

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, as stated in the Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Fourth Amended 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, 2020 and 2019, there were 49,869,727 and 49,709,955 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 1 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.

11.

Mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred stock

Pursuant to the Fourth Amended Certificate of Incorporation, the Company authorized preferred stock consisting of 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has 0 Preferred Stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 100,000 shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.

Each share of Preferred Stock has a stated value of $1,000, is entitled to a cash dividend of 4% per annum, and is convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $479.71 (subject to adjustment). The Company may require the conversion of any or all of the Preferred Stock beginning on March 29, 2023 if certain conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designation are met. The Company may redeem any or all of the Preferred Stock for cash, shares of its Common Stock or a combination thereof (at its election, subject to certain conditions) at any time beginning on March 29, 2026 for a percentage of the stated value of each share of Preferred Stock, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends at such time. On March 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and March 15, 2027, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to redeem all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock for cash, shares of the Company’s Common Stock or a combination thereof (at the Company’s election, subject to certain conditions) to be determined by the formula set forth in the Certificate of Designation. Upon the occurrence of a change of control, the holders will have the right to redeem their shares of Preferred Stock for cash at a price set forth in the Certificate of Designation. The holders of the Preferred Stock have the right to vote on matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Stock on an as-converted basis unless required by applicable law.


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

12.

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, 2020, there are 1,000,000 shares of common stock available for grant 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 nonqualified stock options. As of December 31, 2020, there are 0 outstanding options granted under the Plan.

There was 0 granting during the period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2020.

13.

Income taxes

The components of pretax income (loss) in consolidated companies for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

United States

$               (54,425)

$                   2,900

$               (19,461)

Brazil

79,453

25,693

(38,778)

Argentina

185,054

61,217

107,913

Mexico

(133,582)

(168,310)

(91,681)

Other Countries

4,815

(28,746)

(23,445)

$                 81,315

$             (107,246)

$               (65,452)

Income tax is composed of the following:

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

Income Tax:

Current:

U.S.

$                       —

$                  8,705

$                      (10)

Non-U.S.

152,337

39,595

64,028

152,337

48,300

64,018

Deferred:

U.S.

(5,397)

(13,566)

(3,618)

Non-U.S.

(64,918)

30,019

(89,267)

(70,315)

16,453

(92,885)

Income tax expense (gain)

82,022

64,753

(28,867)


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

13.

Income taxes (continued)

The following is a reconciliation of the difference between the actual provision for income taxes and the provision computed by applying the effective income tax rate for 2020, 2019 and 2018 to income before taxes: 

Year Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

Net income (loss) before income tax

$                     81,315

$             (107,246)

$               (65,452)

Income tax rate

21%

21%

21%

Expected income tax gain (expense)

$                     17,076

$               (22,522)

$               (13,745)

Permanent differences:

Federal and assets taxes

146

203

7

Transfer pricing adjustments

1,243

1,161

1,818

Non-deductible tax

2,641

683

1,043

Non-deductible expenses

17,885

9,309

6,982

Dividend distributions

9,381

2,594

1,085

Non-taxable income

(3,741)

(15,418)

(31,562)

Effect of rates different than statutory

(3,713)

(11,521)

3,020

Currency translation

11,775

(4,201)

3,866

Change in valuation allowance

40,874

113,426

3,130

Argentine tax reform (including changes in income tax rate)

(2,175)

1,217

Colombian tax reform

442

Deferred tax reversed by merger

(3,994)

Exchange of convertible note

(1,756)

Tax Inflation Adjustments

(7,023)

(4,940)

Deferred tax reversed by spin-off

(886)

True up

(4,522)

(960)

(420)

Income tax expense (gain)

$                     82,022

$                 64,753

$               (28,867)


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

13.

Income taxes (continued)

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 bases 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, 2020 and 2019:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Deferred tax assets

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$                     17,963

$                  7,601

Unrealized net gains on investments

2,423

92

Property and equipment, net

15,594

5,467

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

5,009

2,202

Payroll and social security payable

23,516

10,255

Foreign exchange effect

5,399

1,846

Taxes payable

4,843

984

Non compete agreement

155

Provisions and non-deductible interest

70,425

40,593

Foreign tax credit

17,513

12,841

Tax loss carryforwards

162,008

167,420

Customer Lists

220

Inventories

322

Trademarks

24

Tax inflation adjustments

8,460

6,757

Total deferred tax assets

333,475

256,457

Valuation allowance

(179,177)

(138,875)

Total deferred tax assets, net

154,298

117,582

Deferred tax liabilities

Property and equipment, net

(5,771)

(26,761)

Customer lists

(713)

(1,043)

Non compete agreement

(743)

Unrealized net losses on investments

(121)

(1,160)

Trademarks

(86)

(87)

Goodwill

(2,962)

(4,392)

Convertible notes and Capped Call

(57,813)

(63,258)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

(1,783)

(1,914)

Payroll and social security payable

(5,527)

(313)

Outside Basis Dividends

(5,974)

Provisions

(2,143)

(884)

Non Solicitation Agreement

(137)

Foreign exchange effect

(100)

(3)

Total deferred tax liabilities

$                   (83,736)

$              (99,952)


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

13.

Income taxes (continued)

As of December 31, 2020, consolidated loss carryforwards for income tax purposes were $162,008 thousands. If not utilized, tax loss carryforwards will begin to expire as follows:

2023

$

1,426

2024

512

2025

2,282

2026

4,238

2027

20,620

Thereafter

103,461

Without due dates

29,469

Total

$

162,008

Tax reform in Argentina

On December 27, 2017, the Argentine Senate approved a comprehensive income tax reform effective since January 1, 2018. Argentinean tax reform, among other things, reduced the 35 percent income tax rate to 30 percent for 2018 and 2019, and to 25 percent as of 2020. The new regulation imposes a withholding income tax on dividends paid by an Argentine entity of 7 percent for 2018 and 2019, increasing to 13 percent as of 2020. Also, repeals the current “equalization tax” (i.e., 35 percent withholding applicable to dividends distributed in excess of the accumulated taxable income) for income accrued from 1 January 2018.

Subsequently, in September 2018, the Argentine Government issued the Decree 793/2018 which established a temporary exports duties of 12% with a maximum limit of 4 Argentine Pesos per each US dollar of the amount of the export invoice. This export duties are applicable for exports of years 2019 to 2021.

On December 23, 2019 the Argentine congress enacted a law which maintains corporate income tax rate of 30% for two more years, instead of reducing the rate to 25% as established under the previous law. The law also maintains the dividend withholding tax rate of 7% for two more years for profits accrued during fiscal year starting on January 1, 2020, instead of applying the 13% rate as previously established. In regard to export duties, the new law reduced the percentage from 12% (considering the mentioned limit, the effective tax rate was equivalent to 6.7% as of December 31, 2019) to 5% without limit and extended the application of export duties until December 31, 2021. Eligible companies under thepay knowledge-based economy promotional regime will be exempt from paying the export duties.

Valuation allowances on deferred tax assets

Management periodically assesses the need to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets considering positivelaw audit fees and negative objective evidence related to the realization of the deferred tax assets. Management’s judgments related to this assessment consider, 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, which would be employed by the Company to prevent tax loss carryforwards from expiring unutilized. Based on Management’s assessment of available objective evidence, the Company accounted for a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets of $179,177 thousands and $138,875 thousands as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This valuation allowance includes $17,513 thousands and $12,841 thousands to fully reserve the outstanding U.S. foreign tax credits as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Management considers the earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely reinvested, other than certain earnings of which the distributions do not imply withholdings, exchange rate differences or state income taxes, and for that reason has not recorded a .deferred tax liability except for the $5,974 thousands deferred tax liability accounted for of undistributed earnings from the Argentine segment.


FONPEC contribution.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

14.

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, 2020,2023, the Company had accounted for estimated liabilities involving proceeding-related contingencies and other estimated contingencies of $10,929 thousands$124 million within non current other liabilities to cover legal actions against the Company infor 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, 2020,2023, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain legal actions considered by the Company’s Management and its legal counsels to be reasonably possible for an aggregate amount up to $57,668 thousands. NaN$159 million. No loss amounts have been accrued for such reasonably possible legal actions, the most significant of which are described below.

Tax Claims

On September 2, 2011,

The following table summarizes the Brazilian Federal tax authority asserted taxes and fines againstcontingencies activity during the Brazilian subsidiary, Mercadolivre.com, relating to the income tax for the 2006 period in an approximate amount of $ 0.5 million according to the exchange rate in effect as ofyears ended December 31, 2020. On September 30, 2011, the Company presented administrative defenses against the authorities’ claim. On August 24, 2012, the Company presented its appeal to the Board of 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Contingencies(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year$53 $13 $11 
Charged to Net income335 16 
Reclassifications of judicial deposits(273)— — 
Charges Utilized / Currency translation adjustments / Write-offs924(3)
Balance at end of year$124 $53 $13 
Tax Appeals (CARF—Conselho Administrativo de Recursos Fiscais) against the tax authorities’ claims. On December 5, 2013, the Board of Tax Appeals ruled against MercadoLivre’s appeal. The same Board of Tax Appeals recognized as due part of the tax compensation made by the Company, partially decreasing the outstanding debt. On November 21, 2014, the Company appealed to the Board of Tax Appeals, which rejected the appeal on September 8, 2016. The Company filed an appeal against the decision, and the Câmara Superior de Recursos Fiscais (Superior Administrative Court of Tax Appeals) ruled against the Company to uphold the claimed taxes and fines. This decision closed of the administrative stage. On July 28, 2017, the Company filed an annulment court action against the federal tax authority, which to date remains in its evidentiary phase. In December 2017, the Company also posted a bank security bond in the amount of $ 0.44 million according to the exchange rate as of December 31, 2020. Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the Company’s position is more likely than not to succeed in court, based on the technical merits of the tax position. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any expense or liability for the controversial amounts.

Claims

Brazilian preliminary injunction against the Brazilian tax authorities (withholding Income tax)
O

Onn November 6, 2014, the Brazilian subsidiaries, Mercadolivre.com Ebazar.com.br Ltda,Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado Pago.com Representações LtdaLtda. and Mercado Librethe 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 IR (income tax) withholding income tax (IRRF) over payments remitted by the Brazilian subsidiaries to the Argentine subsidiary (Mercado LibreMercadoLibre 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 itsan award which was favorable to the federal tax authority. The Company filed an appeal in September 2015, which is pending judgment. As a result,appealed the Company has started making deposits indecision and deposited into court for the disputed amounts. As of December 31, 2020, the total amount of the deposits were $57.5 million (which includes $6.3 million of interest) included in non-current other assets of the consolidated balance sheet. In June 2020, the Company’s appeal was dismissed. The Company submitted a new remedy before the same Courtcourt in July 2020, which was dismissed on February 17, 2021. The company plans to appealOn March 18, 2021, the case toCompany 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 Company’s position is more likely than not to succeed in court,risk of losing the case became probable based on the technical merits of the Company’s tax position and the existence of favorablerecent 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.


118| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Interstate rate of ICMS-DIFAL on interstate sales
Interstate rate of ICMS-DIFAL on interstate sales without Complementary Law
During 2020 and 2021, the Brazilian subsidiaries, eBazar.com.br Ltda. and Mercado Pago Instituição de Pagamento Ltda., filed 15 writs of mandamus with the State Courts of Justice where these companies have sales branches in order to prevent Brazilian states from collecting the ICMS on interstate sales at a differential rate (“ICMS-DIFAL”) without the existence of a complementary law. Four of these cases were filed in 2020 (for the branches of Barueri and Louveira) and the other 11 were filed in 2021, after eBazar.com.br Ltda. opened a new branch in Extrema. On February 24, 2021, the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled on the controversy in a binding precedent, which declared the unconstitutionality of ICMS-DIFAL without the proper complementary law. In the same case, however, the Supreme Court ruled on the modulation of the effects of its decision (with retroactive effect).
From those 11 cases filed by the Company after the Supreme Court’s decision (after February 24, 2021), 6 became final and unappealable in favor of the corresponding States (cases related to the branch of Extrema: São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Distrito Federal, Bahia and Rio de Janeiro), and therefore their corresponding liabilities were settled with the corresponding judicial deposits. Another one of the 11 cases became final and unappealable in favor of Ebazar.com.br Ltda. Finally, the remaining 4 of those 11 cases are still pending and may not stand because of the modulation of effects with respect to that decision. Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing is probable. For that reason, the Company has recorded a $3 million provision for the disputed amounts related to these 4 cases.
With respect to the 4 cases filed by the Company prior to the Supreme Court’s decision (before February 24, 2021), 2 of them became final and unappealable in favor of the Company. Of the remaining 2 cases, for which a judgment is still pending, Management considers that the risk of losing is remote. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any liability for the controversial amounts.
The Company deposited into court the disputed amounts. As of December 31, 2023, the total amount of the deposits related to the ongoing cases was $7 million.
Interstate rate of ICMS-DIFAL on interstate sales under Law No. 190/22
In January 2022, (therefore, already in the course of fiscal year 2022 and already in full application of the understanding of the Supreme Court for unconstitutionality), supplementary Law No. 190/22 was published, outlining the general rules for the requirement of DIFAL and expressly mentioning the need to comply with the principle of anticipation or prospective application of taxes (pursuant to which no tax may be levied before the expiry of ninety days from the enactment of the law or in the same fiscal year of enactment). Notwithstanding this provision, which expressly points to the need to comply with the anticipation, Brazil’s Federation Units have not complied with this guarantee. Therefore, eBazar.com.br Ltda. and Mercado Pago Instituição de Pagamento Ltda., filed writs of mandamus to the 27 Federation Units, aimed at preventing the Brazilian tax authorities demand payments of the DIFAL. In this regard, the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) has issued a decision regarding the constitutionality of the supplementary Law on November 29, 2023. In the judgment, the majority of STF judges considered the supplementary Law No. 190/22 to be constitutional, therefore, the ICMS-DIFAL is due from April 5, 2022, due to the corresponding time lapse of ninety days between the law enacting and the beginning of the charge. The decision has not yet become final and unappealable and a motion to clarify is yet to be presented. However, such motion to clarify, if and when presented, is unlikely to change the merit of the decision. Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case is remote for the period between January 1, 2022 to April 4, 2022, and probable for the period between April 5, 2022 to December 31, 2022 based on the technical merits of the Company’s tax position. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any liability for the controversial amounts related to the period through April 4, 2022, and has recorded liabilities for the disputed amounts related to the period from April 5, 2022 to December 31, 2022, by $30 million, which are presented net of the corresponding judicial deposits of $29 million.
Interstate rate of ICMS-DIFAL over fixed assets
From April to September 2022, the Brazilian subsidiary Mercado Envios Serviços de Logística Ltda., now incorporated by eBazar.com.br Ltda., also filed writs of mandamus to 3 Federation Units (São Paulo, Santa Catarina e Bahia), for the purpose of preventing the Brazilian tax authorities from demanding payment of the DIFAL over their respective fixed assets not explicitly addressed by the supplementary Law No. 190/22. Regarding this topic, the STF has not expressly pointed to the principle of anticipation. Therefore, there are two controversies regarding DIFAL over fixed assets: (i) if DIFAL is applicable under the previous supplementary Law No. 87/96, and (ii) if supplementary Law No. 87/96 is deemed not applicable, if the new supplementary Law No. 190/22 needs to comply with the principle of anticipation. In this last controversy, the same decision above mentioned applies to the Brazilian subsidiary Mercado Envios Serviços de Logística Ltda., and its writs of mandamus. Therefore, Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case is reasonably possible for the period between January 1, 2022 to April 4, 2022, and probable for the period between April 5, 2022 to December 31, 2022 based on the technical merits of the Company’s tax position. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any liability for the controversial amounts related to the period until April 4, 2022, and has recorded liabilities for the disputed amounts related to the period from April 5, 2022 to December 31, 2022 for $2 million which are presented net of the corresponding judicial deposits of $2 million.
Exclusion of ICMS tax benefits from federal taxes base
The Company has ICMS tax incentives granted by the State of Minas Gerais, 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. See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies of these audited consolidated financial statements for additional detail on the ICMS tax incentives.
119| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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 Courts.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.

Administrative The Company recorded an income tax claimsbenefit 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 November 9, 2016, São Paulo tax authorities asserted taxesApril 25, 2023, the Company filed a writ of mandamus seeking an injunction and fines against its Brazilian subsidiary, Ebazar.com.br Ltda,claiming the exclusion of the amounts relating to the entitlementICMS tax benefits granted by the State of PISMinas Gerais in the tax base of the Social Contributions (PIS and COFINS credits from 2012 in an approximate amount of $0.6 million, according toCOFINS).
On May 26, 2023, a decision was rendered granting the exchange rate as of December 31, 2020.injunction requested. The Company submitted administrative defenses againstis currently waiting for the authorities’ claim, which is pending judgment. Thefinal judicial decision. Management’s opinion, of the Company´s management, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case is reasonably possible but not probable.


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 am

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Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

14.

Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Litigation and Other Legal Matters(continued)

Administrative tax claims (continued)

On December 27, 2016, São Paulo tax authorities assessed taxes and fines against its Brazilian subsidiary MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda., relating to the entitlementounts. The Company recorded $12 million of PIS and COFINS creditstax benefits arising from 2012the 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 an approximatethe amount of $2.3$9 million, according toconsidering the exchange rate as of December 31, 2020. On February 1, 2017, 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 defenses againstcourt in the authorities’ claim. On October 9, 2017, a judgment was handed down recognizing that expenses with credit card companies are essential for payment institutions. On September 22, 2017, the award rendered was partially favorable to the Company, reducing the valuefirst instance. The Companies filed appeals in each one of the tax assessment notice by approximately 60%. The Company filed an cases with the administrative appeal,court, which is pending judgment.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 July 12,August 29, 2017, São Paulo tax authorities assessed taxes and fines against the Brazilian subsidiarysubsidiaries, Ebazar.com.br Ltda., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda. relating to “ICMS” (tax on commerce, MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda., Mercado Envios Serviços de Logística Ltda., filed a writ of mandamus and services) forrequested a preliminary injunction before the period from July 2012 to December 2013Federal Justice in an amount of $2.3 million according to the exchange rate as of December 31, 2020. The Company filed administrative defenses against the claim, but the São Paulo authorities ruledOsasco against the CompanyFederal 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 upheldruled in favor of the claimed taxes and fines.companies on January 15, 2019. On October 30, 2017,April 8, 2019, the Company filedFederal 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. Tribunal de Impostos e Taxas de São Paulo (São Paulo Tax Administrative Court), which granted the appeal on February 23, 2018. The tax authorities filed a special appeal with the Câmara Superior (Superior Chamber of the Administrative Court), which was admitted on August 1, 2018 and is now pending judgment. Management’s opinion,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 reasonably possible, but not probable.

For that reason, the Company has recognized a provision for the disputed amounts of $44 million.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Administrative tax claims
On October 30, 2020 and November 9, 2020, MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda. and Ebazar.com.breBazar.com.br Ltda., respectively, received tax assessments claiming income tax payments for the period of January to December 2016 fiscal year, with respective penalties and fines. The reasons used byIn these assessments, the tax authorities are in the sense ofdo not considering specificrecognize certain expenses takenincurred by the Brazilian subsidiaries, such as technology services imported from MercadoLibre S.R.L., Meli Uruguay S.R.L., and MercadoLibre Inc., as deductible for income tax purposes. This conclusion was made withThe tax authorities concluded that the argument of not being presented,Brazilian entities failed to submit sufficient evidence during the tax assessments, sufficient evidenceassessment that these services were indeed necessary and effectively hired and paid by the Brazilian subsidiaries. The tax assessments were presented tothat MercadoPago.com Representações Ltda. and Ebazar.com.breBazar.com.br Ltda. inreceived amounted to a total amount of $15.2$20 million and $12.5$14 million, respectively, andconsidering the exchange rate as of December 31, 2023. The subsidiaries filed their defenses were filed on December 1, 2020 and December 8, 2020, respectively, arguing that the Contract Agreementsagreements and other documentsdocumentation were presentedsubmitted as evidence during the tax assessment. The defenses were also complemented withby specific descriptions for each project that was impacted by such services reflectingto justify the essentialitynecessity of all the expenses considered as deductible and assessed by the tax authorities. These cases are currently awaiting thein dispute. On May 25, 2021, MercadoPago.com received an unfavorable decision from the administrative court in the first instance, and on June 28, 2021, eBazar.com.br also received an unfavorable decision from the administrative court in the first instance. The Companies filed appeals in respect of both cases with the Administrative Court.administrative court in the second instance, which are now pending. The Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the Company’s positionrisk of losing the case is not more likely than not to succeed in court, based on the technical merits of the tax position.not. For that reason, the Company has not recorded any expense or liability for the disputed amounts.

Other parties have from time to time claimed,On December 30, 2022, eBazar.com.br Ltda. and others may claimone of the Company’s Senior Legal Directors received three tax assessments claiming corporate income taxes (IRPJ and CSLL) in the future,amount of $76 million, withholding income tax (IRRF) in the amount of $11 million, and PIS and COFINS in the amount of $12 million, all of them in relation to the taxable year of 2017, including punitive fine of 150% over the tax charged and interest on late payments based on the SELIC rate, and according to the exchange rate as of December 31, 2023. The Senior Legal Director was assessed as jointly liable with eBazar.com.br, due to his role as statutory officer, under provisions of the National Tax Code that enable joint tax liability for acts potentially in violation of the law or the by-laws. With respect to IRPJ, CSLL, PIS and COFINS, the tax authorities concluded that the Brazilian company failed to report taxable income as the company has made book entries in the profit and loss accounts, reverting previous revenues or other revenue accounts, as well as for using foreign languages such as English and Spanish in its book-keeping. The tax authorities also claimed that the company failed in the issuance of invoices, disregarding that the company indeed has a Special Tax Regime granted by the Municipality of Osasco that allows the issuance of a single invoice per period. Regarding the IRRF, the amount claimed by the tax authorities is already deposited in court under the writ of mandamus that discusses the company’s right not to pay IRRF on payments made to its affiliate in Argentina, due to the provisions of the Brazil and Argentina double tax treaty (for further details see contingency Brazilian preliminary injunction against Brazilian tax authorities (withholding Income tax)). Those deposits were incorrectly ignored by tax authorities. The Company was responsible for fraud committed against them, orpresented the objection on January 30, 2023. Taking into account the documents attached to the Company's objection, in the case of PIS and COFINS, the administrative authorities decided in December 2023 to carry out a verification diligence to analyze the documents, which may influence the outcome of the case. The Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the cases is not more likely than not in the cases of IRPJ and CSLL and reasonably possible, but not probable in the cases of PIS and COFINS, based on the technical merits. In the case of IRRF, the Management’s opinion, based on the opinion of external legal counsel, is that the risk of losing the case is remote. For that reason, the Company has infringed their intellectual property rights. The underlying laws with respect tonot recorded any expense or liability for the potential liability of online intermediaries like the Company are unclear in the jurisdictions where the Company operates. Management believes that additional lawsuits alleging that the Company has violated copyright or trademark laws will be filed against the Company in the future.disputed amounts.

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

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

Buyer protection program

The Company provides consumers with a BPP for all transactions completed through Mercado Pago. This program is designed to protect buyers in the Marketplace from losses due primarily to fraud or counterparty non-performance. The Company’s BPP provides protection to consumers by reimbursing them for the total value of a purchased item and the value of any shipping service paid if it does not arrive or does not match the seller’s description. The Company is entitled to recover from the third-party carrier companies performing the shipping service certain amounts paid under the BPP. Furthermore, in some specific circumstances (i.e. Black Friday, Hot Sale), the Company enters into insurance contracts with third-party insurance companies in order to cover contingencies that may arise from the BPP.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

14.

Commitments and Contingencies (continued)

Buyer protection program (continued)

The maximum potential exposure under this program is estimated to be the volume of payments on the Marketplace, for which claims may be made under the terms and conditions of the Company’s BPP. Based on historical losses to date, the Company does not believe that the maximum potential exposure is representative of the actual potential exposure. The Company records a liability with respect to losses under this program when they are probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Provision for buyer protection program of these audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.

As of December 31, 20202023 and 2019,2022, Management’s estimate of the maximum potential exposure related to the Company’s buyer protection program is $2,535,041 thousands$5,072 million and $1,365,815 thousands,$4,002 million, respectively, for which the Company recorded a provision of $8,364 thousands$8 million and $3,808 thousands,$6 million, respectively.

Commitments

The Company entered into acommitted to purchase commitment withcloud platform services from two U.S. suppliers in relation tobased on the purchase of cloud platform services as follows:following terms:
1.

a)for a total amount of $240,500 thousands$824 million, to be fully paid off between JuneOctober 1, 20202021 and May 31, 2024.September 30, 2026. As of December 31, 2020,2023, the Company had paid $49,286 thousands;$427 million; and

b)2.for a total amount of $30,000 thousands$200 million, to be fully paid off between November 24, 2019September 23, 2022 and MarchSeptember 23, 2023.2025. As of December 31, 2020,2023, the Company had paid $5,913 thousands$61 million.
In connection with the closing of MELI Kaszek Pioneer Corp’s (“MEKA”) initial public offering on October 1, 2021, MEKA (a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by MELI Kaszek Pioneer Sponsor LLC (the “Sponsor”), which is a joint venture between Company’s subsidiary MELI Capital Ventures LLC and Kaszek Ventures Opportunity II, L.P.) entered into a forward purchase agreement with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor committed to purchase from MEKA 5 million Class A ordinary shares at a price of $10 per share in relation thereto.a private placement to close substantially concurrently with the consummation of MEKA’s initial business combination. MEKA was deemed dissolved on January 2, 2024, resulting in the extinguishment of this commitment.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.


15.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Long term retention plan


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.

NOTE 16. LONG TERM RETENTION PROGRAM
On March 29, 2020,May 3, 2023, the Boardboard of Directors,directors, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, adopted the 20202023 Long-Term Retention PlanProgram (“20202023 LTRP”). In addition to the annual salary and bonus of each employee,, certain employees (“Eligible Employees”) are eligible to participate in the 20202023 LTRP, which provides for the grant to an Eligible Employee of a cash-settled fixed (a “2020“2023 LTRP Fixed Award”) and cash-settled variable award (a “2020“2023 LTRP Variable Award”, and together with any 20202023 LTRP Fixed Award, the “2020“2023 LTRP Awards”). In order to receive payment in respect of the 20202023 LTRP Awards, each Eligible Employee must remain employed as of each applicable payment date. The 20202023 LTRP award is payable as follows:

the eligible employee will receive 16.66% of half of his or her target 20192023 LTRP bonus once a year for a period of six years, with the first payment occurring in or about no later than April 30, 2024 (the first quarter of 2021 (the “2020“2023 Annual Fixed Payment”); and

on each date the Company pays the Annual Fixed payment to the eligible employee, he or she will also receive a payment (the “2020“2023 LTRP Variable Payment”) equal to the product of (i) 16.66% of half of the applicable 2020target 2023 LTRP Variable Award and (ii) the quotient of (a) divided by (b), where (a), the numerator, equals the Applicable Year Stock Price (as defined below) and (b), the denominator, equals the 20192022 Stock Price (as defined below). For purposes of the 20202023 LTRP, the “2019“2022 Stock Price” shall equal $553.45$888.69 (the average closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the final 60 trading days of 2019)2022) and the “Applicable Year Stock Price” shall equal the average closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market during the final 60 trading days of the year preceding the applicable payment date for so long as the Company’s common stock is listed on the NASDAQ.

The rest of LTRPthe LTRPs outstanding as of December 31, 2020, follows2023, 2022 and 2021 follow a similar calculation method as explained above for 2020the 2023 LTRP, exceptexcept that the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 LTRP havehave performance conditions established by the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors that must be achieved at the first year-end of each plan.program. Similar to the 20202023 LTRP, the rest of the outstanding LTRPs additionally have eligibility conditions to be achieved at each year-end and require the employee remain employed by the Company as of each payment date.


During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company paid
$90 million

($33 million in cash-settled fixed and $57 million in cash-settled variable award) of LTRP plus social security obligations applicable in each local jurisdiction.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

15.

Long term retention plan (continued)

The following tables summarize the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,table summarizes the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2020 2023 LTRP Variable Award contractual obligation for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:2021:

December 31, 2023December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
Aggregate
Intrinsic
value
Weighted-average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
value
Weighted-average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
value
Weighted-average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
(In millions)
Outstanding LTRP 2016— — — 15 0.08
Outstanding LTRP 2017— — 0.0824 0.58
Outstanding LTRP 20180.080.5814 1.08
Outstanding LTRP 201937 0.6135 1.0884 1.58
Outstanding LTRP 202055 1.1245 1.58100 2.09
Outstanding LTRP 202151 1.6239 2.0885 2.58
Outstanding LTRP 2022115 2.1286 2.58— 
Outstanding LTRP 2023270 2.62— — — 
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| MercadoLibre, Inc.

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

December 31, 2018

Weighted-average

Weighted-average

Weighted-average

Aggregate

remaining

Aggregate

remaining

Aggregate

remaining

Intrinsic

contractual

Intrinsic

contractual

Intrinsic

contractual

value

life (years)

value

life (years)

value

life (years)

(In thousands)

Outstanding LTRP 2011

1,738

0.25

Outstanding LTRP 2012

2,861

0.25

3,460

0.75

Outstanding LTRP 2013

4,318

0.25

Outstanding LTRP 2014

5,086

0.25

6,037

0.75

Outstanding LTRP 2015

13,237

0.08

10,484

0.75

9,398

1.25

Outstanding LTRP 2016

34,795

0.62

19,091

1.25

15,343

1.75

Outstanding LTRP 2017

41,315

1.13

19,654

1.75

14,860

2.25

Outstanding LTRP 2018

23,233

1.64

10,727

2.25

8,135

2.88

Outstanding LTRP 2019

133,052

2.14

56,322

2.75

Outstanding LTRP 2020

153,113

2.67

MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following tables summarizetable summarizes the LTRP accrued compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:

2021:

Year ended December 31,

2020

2019

2018

(In thousands)

LTRP 2010

24

LTRP 2011

26

766

LTRP 2012

69

1,755

1,398

LTRP 2013

97

2,416

LTRP 2014

125

3,743

2,921

LTRP 2015

10,025

6,266

3,984

LTRP 2016

23,152

9,838

5,975

LTRP 2017

25,267

9,737

6,639

LTRP 2018

12,268

5,089

3,402

LTRP 2019

28,523

15,111

LTRP 2020

30,146

$                       129,575

$                        51,662

$                      27,525


December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
LTRP 2016$— $— $
LTRP 2017— (2)
LTRP 2018(1)
LTRP 201918 16 27 
LTRP 202021 19 29 
LTRP 202123 21 26 
LTRP 202242 31 — 
LTRP 202360 — — 
$167 $84 $89 

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Table of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

16.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

NOTE 17. LOANS PAYABLE AND OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
The following table summarizestables summarize the Company’s LoansCompany’s loans payable and other financial liabilities as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019:2022:

December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Loans from banks$485 $319 
Bank overdrafts33 
Secured lines of credit39 115 
Financial Bills— 113 
Deposit Certificates976 993 
Commercial Notes
Finance lease liabilities35 14 
Collateralized debt693 535 
2028 Notes— 
2026 Sustainability Notes
2031 Notes10 
Other lines of credit11 10 
Current loans payable and other financial liabilities$2,292 $2,131 
Loans from banks$72 $145 
Secured lines of credit17 24 
Financial Bills— 
Deposit Certificates— 
Commercial Notes211 187 
Finance lease liabilities96 37 
Collateralized debt782 703 
2028 Notes— 436 
2026 Sustainability Notes389 398 
2031 Notes626 694 
Other lines of credit— 
Non-Current loans payable and other financial liabilities$2,203 $2,627 

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| MercadoLibre, Inc.

Book value as of

Type of instrument

Currency

Interest

Weighted Average Interest
Rate

Maturity

December 31, 2020

December 31, 2019

(In thousands)

Current loans payable and other financial liabilities:

Loans from banks

Chilean Subsidiary

Chilean Pesos

Fixed

1.44 

%

January 2021

$

92,895 

$

38,780 

Brazilian Subsidiary

Brazilian Reais

Variable

CDI + 3.35

%

March 2021

70,267 

-

Brazilian Subsidiary

Brazilian Reais

Variable

CDI + 3.25

%

May 2021

42,693 

-

Brazilian Subsidiary

Brazilian Reais

Variable

CDI + 2.10

%

June 2021

29,218 

-

Mexican Subsidiary

Mexican Peso

Variable

TIIE + 2.20

%

April 2021

18,418 

-

Argentine Subsidiary

Argentine Pesos

Fixed

37.75 

%

May 2021

14,400 

-

Uruguayan Subsidiary

Uruguayan Pesos

Fixed

6.71 

%

February - March 2021

13,406 

-

Secured lines of credit

Argentine Subsidiary

Argentine Pesos

Fixed

34.16 

%

January 2021

18,311 

49,499 

Brazilian Subsidiary (*)

Brazilian Reais

Variable

CDI + 0.55

%

July 2021

58,437 

-

Unsecured lines of credit

Uruguayan Subsidiary

Uruguayan Pesos

Fixed

7.81 

%

January 2021

20,055 

16,435 

Argentine Subsidiary

Argentine Pesos

Fixed

37.21

%

January - February 2021

116,140 

9,645 

Chilean Subsidiary

Chilean Pesos

-

-

%

-

-

1,951 

Convertible notes

6,649 

6,649 

Finance lease obligations

7,394 

2,008 

Credit card collateralized debt

12,920 

17,309 

Collateralized debt

25,342 

43,862 

Other lines of credit

1,848 

-

$

548,393 

$

186,138 

Non Current loans payable and other financial liabilities:

Convertible notes

595,800 

569,305 

Finance lease obligations

16,261 

7,368 

Collateralized debt

248,815 

54,680 

$

860,876 

$

631,353 

(*)

Under the terms of the loan agreement, the Company transferred U.S. treasury notesMercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes
to an account owned by the Company but under the sole control and dominion of the escrow agent as collateral. This collateral is shown in short-term investments and its coupon payment in Restricted cash and cash equivalents of the consolidated balance sheet, respectively.Consolidated Financial Statements


Type of instrumentCurrencyInterestWeighted Average Interest
Rate
MaturityDecember 31,
20232022
 (In millions)
Loans from banks
Chilean SubsidiariesChilean PesosFixed9.48%January 2024 - April 2025$104 $150 
Brazilian Subsidiary (1)
US Dollar— 59 
Brazilian Subsidiary (1)
US DollarFixed5.90%August - November 2024216 — 
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisVariableTJLP + 0.8%January 2024 - May 2031
Mexican SubsidiaryMexican PesosVariableTIIE + 2.20% - 3.50%January 2024 - June 2027178 177 
Uruguayan SubsidiaryUruguayan PesosFixed9.59%January 202450 47 
Colombian SubsidiaryColombian PesosFixed— 22 
Bank overdrafts
Uruguayan SubsidiaryUruguayan PesosFixed10.32%January 202413 
Chilean SubsidiaryChilean PesosVariableTIB + 2.00%January 202420 — 
Secured lines of credit
Argentine SubsidiariesArgentine PesosFixed92.27%January 202429 107 
Mexican SubsidiaryMexican PesosFixed10.24%January 2024 - July 202727 32 
Financial Bills
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisVariableCDI + 1.15% - 1.40%March - September 2025113 
Deposit Certificates
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian Reais— 272 
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisVariable98.5% to 200% of CDIJanuary - December 2024703 565 
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisFixed9.85% - 14.20%January - June 202477 114 
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisVariable106% of CDIJanuary 2024196 45 
Commercial Notes
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisVariableDI + 0.88%January 2024 - August 202778 71 
Brazilian SubsidiaryBrazilian ReaisVariableIPCA + 6.41%January 2024 - August 2029140 122 
Finance lease liabilities131 51 
Collateralized debt1,475 1,238 
2028 NotesUS Dollar— 439 
2026 Sustainability NotesUS DollarFixed2.375%January 2024 - January 2026393 402 
2031 NotesUS DollarFixed3.125%January 2024 - January 2031635 704 
Other lines of credit13 10 
$4,495 $4,758 
(1) The carrying amount includes the effect of the derivative instrument that qualified for fair value hedge accounting. See Note 24 – Derivative instruments of these audited consolidated financial statements for further detail.
125| MercadoLibre, Inc.

MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

See Note 21 – Securitization transactions and Note 23 to– Leases of these audited consolidated financial statements for details regarding the Company’s collateralized debt securitization transactions and finance lease obligations,liabilities, respectively.


2.375% Sustainability Senior Notes Due 2026 and 3.125% Senior Notes Due 2031

47


TableOn January 14, 2021, the Company closed a public offering of Contents

MercadoLibre, Inc.

$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 Consolidated Financial Statements

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.

16.

Loans payable and other financial liabilities (continued)

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.

Convertible Senior Notes

2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2028

On August 24, 2018, the Company issued $800,000 thousands$800 million of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 and issued an additional $80 million of notes on August 31, 2018 the Company issued an additional $80,000 thousands of notes pursuant to the partial exercise of the initial purchasers’ option to purchase such additional notes, resulting infor an aggregate principal amount of $880,000 thousands$880 million of 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 (collectively, the “2028 Notes”).Notes. The 2028 Notes arewere unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Company, which paypaid 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 will maturewould have matured on August 15, 2028 unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The 2028 Notes may be converted,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.See Note 2 of these consolidated financial statements for more details about the initial accounting of the 2028 Notes.

The Company willdid 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 has beenwas at or above 130% of the conversion price during specified periods, the Company maycould (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.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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 iswas greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the 5five business day period after any 5five 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 callscalled 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 maycould convert their 2028 Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.

During

In January 2021, the year ended December 31, 2020, 7 Notes were converted, for aCompany 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 $7 thousands. Additionally, during the fourth quarterliability component of 2020, the conversion threshold was met2028 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 becomeon 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 between January 1, 2021into 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 March 31, 2021. unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date.
As of November 13, 2023, holders of the date2028 Notes converted $439 million principal amount of issuance of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company received additional requests for conversion of $1 thousands. The determination of whether or not the2028 Notes are convertible must continue to be performed on a quarterly basis. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash,into 1,007,597 shares of the Company’s common stock or a combinationwhich MercadoLibre held as treasury stock. As of cashDecember 31, 2023, no principal amount of 2028 Notes remained outstanding. As of December 31, 2022, the principal and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. The intention of the Company is to share-settle the total amount due upon conversion of the Notes.

In connection with the issuance costs of the 2028 Notes theamounted to $439 million and $3 million, respectively.

The Company paid $91,784 thousands, $11,472 thousands, $88,362 thousands, $104,095 thousands, $82,682 thousands, $120,012 thousands and $100,769 thousands (including transaction expenses) in August 2018, November 2018, June 2019, June 2020, August 2020, November 2020 and January 2021, respectively, to enterentered into capped call transactions with respect to shares of the common stock with certain financial institutions (the “20282028 Notes Capped Call Transactions”). In addition, the Company paid $8,005 thousands in November 2019 to amend the strike and cap prices of the capped call transaction purchased in November 2018.Transactions. The 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions arewere 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 iswas greater than the strike price and lower than the cap price of the 2028 Notes Capped Call Transactions. The costIn 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 is included as a net reductionin June and August 2021 were used to additional paid-in capital in the stockholders’ equity sectionrepurchase 71,175 shares and 158,413 shares of the consolidated balance sheets.

The total estimated fair value of the 2028 Notes were $3,416,819 thousands and$1,338,014 thousands as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The fair value was determined 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 Company considered the fair value of the 2028 Notes as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 to be a Level 2 measurement. The fair value of the 2028 Notes is primarily affected by the trading price of the Company’s common stock, and market interest rates. Based on the $1,675.22 closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2020, the if-converted value of the 2028 Notes exceed their principal amount by $2,444,729 thousands.respectively. The intention of the Company is to share-settle the excess conversion value upon conversion of the 2028 Notes.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

16.

Loans payable and other financial liabilities (continued)

In January 2021, the Company signed agreementssettlement averaging period with 2028 Notes holders to repurchase $440,000 thousands principal amount of the outstanding of the 2028 Notes. The total amount paid amounted to $1,865,076 thousands which includes principal, interest accrued and premium, as resulted, approximately $440,000 thousands of the principal amount of the 2028 Notes remains outstanding. As of the date of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements, the Company is analyzing the impact of the repurchase transaction which estimates will have, in the first quarter of 2021, a material negative impact in Other income (expense) line in the consolidated statements of income and in the total equity of the Company.

The following table presents the carrying amounts of the liability and equity components relatedrespect to the 2028 Notes as of December 31, 2020Capped Call Transactions began on June 28, 2023 and 2019:

December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Amount of the equity component (1)

$

327,305

$

327,305

2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028

$

879,993

$

880,000

Unamortized debt discount (2)

(275,299)

(301,227)

Unamortized transaction costs related to the debt component

(8,894)

(9,468)

Contractual coupon interest accrual

41,409

23,809

Contractual coupon interest payment

(34,760)

(17,160)

Net carrying amount

$

602,449

$

575,954

(1)Net of $6,163 thousands of transaction costs related to the equity component ofended on August 30, 2023, and the 2028 Notes.

(2)Notes Capped Call Transactions settlement date was September 1, 2023. As a result the Company received 289,675 shares of December 31, 2020, the remaining period over which the unamortized debt discount will be amortized is 7.7 years.

common stock.

The following table presents the interest expense for contractual interest, the accretionamortization of debt discount and of debt issuance costs:
Year ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Contractual coupon interest expense$$$
Amortization of debt discount (1)
— — 16 
Amortization of debt issuance costs— — 
Total interest expense related to the 2028 Notes$$$25 
(1) For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 no amortization of debt issuance costs: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.
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Year ended December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Contractual coupon interest expense

$

17,600

$

17,942

Amortization of debt discount

25,929

24,556

Amortization of debt issuance costs

574

490

Total interest expense related to the 2028 Notes

$

44,103

$

42,988

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17.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Related Party Transactions


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
Transactions with Venezuelan related parties

Subsequent to Venezuelan's deconsolidation,On April 8, 2022, the Company recorded allocationentered 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 expenses$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 Venezuelan's subsidiaries amounting to $278 thousands and $4,620 thousands asrestrictive covenants set forth in the agreement. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which were expensed as incurred.2023, Mr. Tolda continues to comply with the aforementioned restrictive covenants.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

18.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Valuation and qualifying accounts

The following table summarizes valuation and qualifying accounts activity during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

Charges

Utilized/

Balance at beginning of

Adoption of ASC 326 (1)

Charged/credited to Net

Currency translation adjustments/

Balance at end of

year

loss

Write-offs and other adjustments

year

(In thousands)

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Year ended December 31, 2018

9,821

10,968

(12,087)

8,702

Year ended December 31, 2019

8,702

5,520

(7,897)

6,325

Year ended December 31, 2020

6,325

5,683

(4,714)

7,294

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments allowance for chargebacks

Year ended December 31, 2018

5,184

9,199

(6,310)

8,073

Year ended December 31, 2019

8,073

15,673

(12,436)

11,310

Year ended December 31, 2020

11,310

53,662

(47,284)

17,688

Credit cards receivable and other means of payments allowance for doubtful accounts

Year ended December 31, 2020 (2)

36,236

(12,373)

23,863

Loans receivable allowance for uncollectible accounts

Year ended December 31, 2018 (3)

4,730

27,725

(25,819)

6,636

Year ended December 31, 2019 (3)

6,636

64,341

(50,533)

20,444

Year ended December 31, 2020

20,444

4,977

91,025

(38,630)

77,816

Tax valuation allowance

Year ended December 31, 2018

15,422

3,130

(2,828)

15,724

Year ended December 31, 2019

15,724

113,426

9,725

138,875

Year ended December 31, 2020

138,875

40,874

(572)

179,177

Contingencies

Year ended December 31, 2018

5,902

7,969

(8,058)

5,813

Year ended December 31, 2019

5,813

10,978

(8,819)

7,972

Year ended December 31, 2020

7,972

3,123

(166)

10,929

(1)

Cumulative pre-tax adjustments recorded to retained earnings as of January 1, 2020.

(2)

No amounts recorded as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

(3)

The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standard in effect during 2019 and 2018.


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 19. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

19.

Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited)

The following tables present certain consolidated quarterly financial information for each of the last twelve quarters for the years ended December 31, 2020, 20192023, 2022 and 2018:

2021:

Quarter EndedQuarter Ended
March 31,March 31,June 30,September 30,December 31,
(In millions, except for share data)(In millions, except for share data)
2023
Net Revenues
Net Revenues
Net Revenues
Gross profit
Net Income
Net Income per share-basic
Net Income per share-diluted
Weighted average shares
Basic
Basic
Basic50,245,07350,162,68750,008,32050,631,669
DilutedDiluted51,235,34151,152,95550,209,43950,697,515

2022
2022
2022
Net Revenues
Net Revenues
Net Revenues
Gross profit
Net Income
Net Income per share-basic
Net Income per share-diluted
Weighted average shares
Basic
Basic
Basic50,408,75450,364,52950,325,07550,284,640
DilutedDiluted50,408,75450,364,52951,315,34351,274,909

Quarter Ended

March 31,

June 30,

September 30,

December 31,

(In thousands, except for share data)

2020

2021
2021
2021
Net Revenues
Net Revenues

Net Revenues

$                       652,091

$                       878,369

$                    1,115,701

$                    1,327,304

Gross profit

312,814

427,172

480,190

489,034

Net (loss) Income

(21,109)

55,947

15,035

(50,580)

Net (loss) Income per share-basic

(0.44)

1.11

0.28

(1.02)

Net (loss) Income per share-diluted

(0.44)

1.11

0.28

(1.02)

Weighted average shares

Basic

49,709,955

49,709,973

49,720,854

49,820,185

Diluted

49,709,955

49,709,973

49,720,854

49,820,185

2019

Net Revenues

$                       473,770

$                       545,242

$                       603,031

$                       674,271

Gross profit

237,004

272,430

284,342

308,347

Net Income (loss)

11,864

16,217

(146,082)

(53,998)

Net Income (loss) per share-basic

0.13

0.31

(2.96)

(1.11)

Net Income (loss) per share-diluted

0.13

0.31

(2.96)

(1.11)

Weighted average shares

Basic

Basic

45,980,255

49,318,522

49,710,723

49,709,955

49,867,62549,822,27249,597,15749,926,533

Diluted

45,980,255

49,318,522

49,710,723

49,709,955

Diluted49,867,62549,822,27249,597,15749,926,533

2018

Net Revenues

$                       320,976

$                       335,377

$                       355,281

$                       428,019

Gross profit

162,758

159,749

169,718

204,783

Net loss

(12,919)

(11,251)

(10,078)

(2,337)

Net loss per share-basic

(0.29)

(0.25)

(0.23)

(0.05)

Net loss per share-diluted

(0.29)

(0.25)

(0.23)

(0.05)

Weighted average shares

Basic

44,157,364

44,157,364

44,588,704

45,202,859

Diluted

44,157,364

44,157,364

44,588,704

45,202,859

20.

Cash Dividend Distribution

NOTE 20. CASH DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION
After reviewing the Company'sCompany’s capital allocation process the Boardboard of Directorsdirectors 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 Boardboard of Directorsdirectors suspended the payment of dividend to shareholders as from the first quarter of 2018.


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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

21.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Securitization transactions


NOTE 21. SECURITIZATION TRANSACTIONS
The process of securitization consists of the issuance of securities collateralized by a pool of assets through a special purpose entity (“SPEs”), often under a VIE.

The Company securitizes financial assets associated with its credit cardscard receivables and loans receivable portfolio. The Company’s securitization transactions typically involve the legal transfer of financial assets to bankruptcy remote special purpose entities (“SPEs”) or the acquisition of loans receivable portfolios through SPEs. The Company generally retains economic interests in the collateralized securitization transactions, which are retained in the form of subordinated interests. For accounting purposes, the Company is generally precluded from recording the transfers of assets in securitization transactions as sales orand is required to consolidate the SPE.

The Company securitizes certain credit cards receivablecard receivables related to user’susers’ purchases through ArgentineChilean SPEs. According toUnder the SPE contracts, the Company has determinateddetermined that it has no obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the SPESPEs that could be significant because it does not retain any equity certificate of participation or subordinated interest in the SPEs. As the Company dodoes not control the vehicule, thevehicles, its assets, liabilities and related results are not consolidated in itsthe Company’s financial statements.

Additionally, the Company intents to securitizesecuritizes certain credit cards receivablecard receivables related to user’susers’ purchases through Brazilian SPE. According toSPEs. Under the SPE contract in place,contracts, the Company has determined that it has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the SPESPEs that could be significant because it retains subordinated interest in the SPEs. As the Company controls the vehicule,vehicles, the assets, liabilities and related results are consolidated in its financial statements. As of December 31, 2020, the Company has not securitized credit cards receivable through the mentioned SPE.

The Company securitizes certain loans receivable through Brazilian, Argentine and Mexican SPEs, formed to securitize loans receivable provided by the Company to its users or purchased from financial institutions that grant loans to the Company’s users through Mercado Pago. According to the SPE contracts, the Company has determined that it has both the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could be significant because it retains the equity certificates of participation and would therefore also be consolidated. When the Company controls the vehicle, it accounts for the securitization transactions as if they were secured financing and therefore the assets, liabilities and related results are consolidated in its financial statements.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table summarizes the Company’s collateralized debt under securitization transactions, as of December 31, 2020:

2023:

SPEs

Collateralized debt as of December 31, 20202023

Interest rate

Currency

Maturity

Mercado Crédito Merchant Fundo de Investimento em Direitos Creditórios

4,839

DI plus 3.5%

Brazilian Reais

June 2021

Mercado Crédito I Brasil Fundo de Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios Não Padronizados

$

208 32,588

CDI + 2.50%

DI plus 2.5%

Brazilian Reais

May 2025

November 2023

Mercado Crédito Fundo de Investimento Em DireitosCreditóDireitos Creditórios AranduNão Padronizado

17 

189,768

CDI + 3.50%

DI plus 1.75%

Brazilian Reais

August 2025

June 2023

Olimpia Fundo de Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios

104 CDI + 1.25%Brazilian ReaisNovember 2024
Mercado Crédito II Brasil Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios Nao Padronizados151 CDI + 2.35%Brazilian ReaisJanuary 2030
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios208 CDI + 1.60%Brazilian ReaisMarch 2026
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios104 CDI + 1.80%Brazilian ReaisMay 2026
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios42 CDI + 1.40%Brazilian ReaisSeptember 2026
Seller Fundo De Investimento Em Direitos Creditórios21 CDI + 1.60%Brazilian ReaisNovember 2026
Mercado Crédito Consumo IIXIX

5,989

Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 27%60% and a max 37%

92%

Argentine Pesos

February 2024

July 2021

Mercado Crédito VIIConsumo XX

1,754

Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 27%60% and a max 37%

92%

Argentine Pesos

March 20212024

Mercado Crédito VIIIConsumo XXI

5,678

Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 29%80% and a max 39%

120%

Argentine Pesos

June 2024

July 2021

Mercado Crédito Consumo IIIXXII

6,834

Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 29%80% and a max 41%

120%

Argentine Pesos

June 2024

August 2021

Mercado Crédito Consumo XXIII

Badlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 80% and a max 120%Argentine PesosAugust 2024
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXIVBadlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 100% and a max 140%Argentine PesosOctober 2024
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXVBadlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 100% and a max 150%Argentine PesosNovember 2024
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXVIBadlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 100% and a max 160%Argentine PesosNovember 2024
Mercado Crédito Consumo XXVIIBadlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 100% and a max 180%Argentine PesosMarch 2025
Mercado Crédito XIXBadlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 100% and a max 140%Argentine PesosAugust 2024
Mercado Crédito XXBadlar rates plus 200 basis points with a min 100% and a max 170%Argentine PesosDecember 2024
Fideicomiso de administración y fuente de pago CIB/33693756

247 

26,707

The equilibrium interbank interest rate published by Banco de Mexico in the Diario Oficial plus 3.34%

2.35%

Mexican Pesos

August 2026

November 2022

Fideicomiso de administración y fuente de pago CIB/3369

30 

The equilibrium interbank interest rate published by Banco de Mexico in the Diario Oficial plus 7.0%

Mexican Pesos

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

April 2025

21.Fideicomiso de administración y fuente de pago CIB/3369

Securitization transactions (continued)269 

The equilibrium interbank interest rate published by Banco de Mexico in the Diario Oficial plus 3.0%Mexican PesosApril 2025
$1,475

This secured debt is issued by the SPEs and includes collateralized securities used to fund Mercado Creditothe 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.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The assets and liabilities of the SPEs are included in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 20202023 and 2019 are2022, as follows:

December 31,

2020

2019

December 31,December 31,
202320232022

Assets

(in thousands)

Assets(In millions)

Current assets:

Restricted cash and cash equivalents

$

249,872

$

37,424

Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
Credit card receivables and other means of payments, net

Loans receivable, net

113,846

104,419

Total current assets

363,718

141,843

Non-current assets:
Long-term investments
Long-term investments
Long-term investments

Loans receivable, net

9,581

4,395

Total non-current assets

9,581

4,395

Total assets

$

373,299

$

146,238

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

Current liabilities:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$

100

$

128

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

25,342

43,862

Other liabilities

Total current liabilities

25,442

43,990

Non-current liabilities:

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

248,815

54,680

Loans payable and other financial liabilities
Loans payable and other financial liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

248,815

54,680

Total liabilities

$

274,257

$

98,670

22.

Equity Offerings

NOTE 22. EQUITY OFFERING
On March 15, 2019,November 18, 2021, the Company closed a public equity offering of approximately $1,150,000 thousands$1,550 million of common stock at a public offering price of $480$1,550 per share (the “Offering”). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company issued 2,395,8341,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) which includes the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase $150 million of additional shares of common stock.

In addition, on March 15, 2019 the Company closed a concurrent private placement of $750,000 thousands. Pursuant to the private placement, the Company issued and sold 1,719,790 shares of Common Stock at a price of $436.10 per share.

On March 29, 2019, the Company issued and sold 100,000 shares of perpetual convertible preferred stock designated as Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) of the Company for $100,000 thousands in the aggregate. The Preferred Stock is a class of equity security that ranks senior to the Common Stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon liquidation.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

22.

Equity Offerings (continued)

Each share of Preferred Stock has a stated value of $1,000, is entitled to a cash dividend of 4% per annum, and is convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $479.71 (subject to adjustment). The Company may require the conversion of any or all of the Preferred Stock beginning on March 29, 2023 if certain conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designation are met. The Company may redeem any or all of the Preferred Stock for cash, shares of its Common Stock or a combination thereof (at its election, subject to certain conditions) at any time beginning on March 29, 2026 for a percentage of the stated value of each share of Preferred Stock, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends at such time. On March 15, 2026, September 15, 2026 and March 15, 2027, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have the right to redeem all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock for cash, shares of the Company’s Common Stock or a combination thereof (at the Company’s election, subject to certain conditions) to be determined by the formula set forth in the Certificate of Designation. Upon the occurrence of a change of control, the holders will have the right to redeem their shares of Preferred Stock for cash at a price set forth in the Certificate of Designation. The holders of the Preferred Stock have the right to vote on matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Stock on an as-converted basis unless required by applicable law.

In the aggregate, the Company raised funds in the amount of $1,965,903 thousands$1,520 million net of issuance costs paid in the amountpaid.

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Table of $34,097 thousands.Contents

In September and November 2020, holders converted 100,000 shares of Preferred Stock into 208,460 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.

23.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Leases

NOTE 23. LEASES
The Company leases certain fulfillment, cross dockingcross-docking and service centers, office space, aircraft, aircraft hangars, machines and vehicles in the various countries in which it operates. The lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.

Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

December 31,

2020

2019

Operating Leases

(In thousands)

Operating lease right-of-use assets

$

303,214

$

200,449

Operating lease liabilities

$

298,847

$

199,932

Finance Leases

Property and equipment, at cost

29,798

10,952

Accumulated depreciation

(4,086)

(1,563)

Property and equipment, net

$

25,712

$

9,389

Loans payable and other financial liabilities

$

23,655

$

9,376


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31,
20232022
Operating Leases(In millions)
Operating lease right-of-use assets$899 $656 
Operating lease liabilities$838 $656 
Finance Leases
Property and equipment, at cost183 87 
Accumulated depreciation(50)(31)
Property and equipment, net$133 $56 
Finance lease liabilities$131 $51 

23.

Leases

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 atas of December 31, 2020:

2023:

Year Ended December 31,
20232022
Weighted average remaining lease term
Operating leases8 Years8 Years
Finance leases3 Years3 Years
Weighted average discount rate (1)
Operating leases%10 %
Finance leases34 %16 %

Weighted average remaining lease term

Operating leases

7

Years

Finance leases

4

Years

Weighted average discount rate (*)

Operating leases

(1) 9

%

Finance leases

11

%

(*) Includes discount rates of leases in local currency and U.S dollar.

The components of lease expense were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(In millions)
Operating lease cost$173 $128 $80 
Finance lease cost:
Depreciation of property and equipment22 18 
Interest on lease liabilities13 
Total finance lease cost$35 $26 $14 
Variable lease cost (1)
$35 $17 $13 
(1)

Variable lease payments are expensed as incurred and include charges such as flight hours above minimum, fuel, among others.

Year ended December 31,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Operating lease cost

$

42,508

$

29,515

Finance lease cost:

Depreciation of property and equipment

2,474

1,514

Interest on lease liabilities

2,813

1,798

Total finance lease cost

$

5,287

$

3,312

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:

Year ended December 31,

2020

2019

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

(In thousands)

Operating cash flows from operating leases

$

40,339

$

25,381

Financing cash flows from finance leases

4,949

1,929

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:

Operating leases

$

137,679

$

93,160

Finance leases

17,177

4,496


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:(In millions)
Operating cash flows from operating leases$168 $117 $71 
Financing cash flows from finance leases33 20 17 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases$314 $317 $229 
Finance leases99 18 37 

23.

Leases(continued)

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, 2020

Operating Leases

Finance Leases

(In thousands)

Period Ending December 31, 2023Period Ending December 31, 2023Operating LeasesFinance Leases
(In millions)(In millions)

One year or less

$

58,651

$

8,833

One year to two years

58,860

7,638

Two years to three years

56,355

6,934

Three years to four years

54,167

4,717

Four years to five years

45,096

1,162

Thereafter

120,892

Total lease payments

$

394,021

$

29,284

Less imputed interest

(95,174)

(5,629)

Total

$

298,847

$

23,655

24.

Derivative Instruments

The Company designates certain derivatives as hedges of particular risks associated with forecasted purchases. These transactions, mainly currency forward contracts, are classified as cash

NOTE 24. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
Cash flow hedges.

hedges

As of December 31, 20202023, the Company used foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge the foreign currency effects related to the forecasted purchase of MPOS devices in U.S. dollars owed by a Brazilian subsidiary whose functional currency is the Brazilian Reais. Pursuant to these contracts, the Company will buy a notional amount of $9,350 thousands in January 2021, $8,567 thousands in February 2021, $9,735 thousands in March 2021, $7,031 thousands in April 2021, $7,325 thousands in May 2021, $7,718 thousands in June 2021, $5,324 thousands in July 2021, $5,216 thousands in August 2021, $5,417 thousands in September 2021, $2,811 thousands in October 2021, $2,746 thousands in November 2021 and $2,501 thousands in December 2021 at fixed currency rates.Real. The Company designated the foreign currency exchange contracts as cash flow hedges, the derivatives’ gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into the consolidated statements of income in the “Cost of net revenues” line item, in the same period the forecasted transaction affects earnings. As of December 31, 2023, the Company estimated that the whole amount of net derivative gains or losses related to its cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive loss will be reclassified into the consolidated statements of income within the next 12 months.
In addition, the Company has entered into swap contracts to hedge the interest rate fluctuation of its financial debt held by one of its Brazilian subsidiaries. The Company designated the swap contracts as cash flow hedges. The derivatives’ gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into the consolidated statements of income in the “Interest expense and other financial losses” line item within the next 12 months.
Fair value hedges
The Company has entered into swap contracts to hedge the interest rate and the foreign currency exposure of its fixed-rate, foreign currency financial debt held by its Brazilian subsidiaries. The Company designated the swap contracts as fair value hedges. The derivatives’ gain or loss is reported in the consolidated statements of income in the same line items as the change in the value of the financial debt due to the hedged risks. Since the terms of the interest rate swaps match the terms of the hedged debts, changes in the fair value of the interest rate swaps are offset by changes in the fair value of the hedged debts attributable to changes in interest rates. Accordingly, the net impact in current earnings is that the interest expense associated with the hedged debts is recorded at the floating rate.
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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Net investment hedge
The Company used cross currency swap contracts, to reduce the foreign currency exchange risk related to its investment in its Brazilian foreign subsidiaries and the interest rate risk. This derivative was designated as a net investment hedge and, accordingly, gains and losses are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. The derivative’s gain or loss is initially reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive incomeloss and subsequently reclassified into earningsthe consolidated statements of income in the “Interest expense and other financial losses” and “Foreign currency losses, net” line items, in the same period that the forecasted transactioninterest expense affects earnings.
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments
As of December 31, 2020, the Company estimated that the whole amount of net derivative gains related to its cash flow hedges included in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

In addition, as of December 31, 2020,2023, the Company entered into certain foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge the foreign currency fluctuations related to certain transactions denominated in U.S. dollars of acertain of its Brazilian subsidiary,subsidiaries, whose functional currency iscurrencies are the Brazilian Reais, whichReal. These transactions were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Pursuant to these contracts, the Company will buy a notional amount of $65,000 thousands in January 2021, $40,000 thousands in February 2021, $44,000 thousands in March 2021, $35,000 thousands in April 2021 and $ 31,000 thousands in May 2021, at fixed currency rates.

Finally,

In addition, the Company entered into certain foreignfull cross currency exchangeswap contracts to hedge the interest rate fluctuation and foreign currency fluctuations related to certain transactions denominatedof its financial debt nominated in U.S. dollars of a Mexican subsidiary, whose functional currency is the Mexican Peso, whichheld by its Brazilian subsidiaries. These transactions were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Pursuant to these contracts,
Finally, as of December 31, 2023, the Company will buy aentered into swap contracts to hedge the interest rate fluctuation of certain portion of its financial debt in its Brazilian subsidiaries and VIEs. These transactions were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes.
The following table presents the notional amountamounts of $10,766 thousands in January 2021, $10,572 thousands in February 2021, $37,651 thousands in March 2021, $45,000 thousands in April in 2021 and $10,000 thousands in May 2021 at fixed currency rates.

the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments:

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Notional Amount as of December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Designated as hedging instrument
Foreign exchange contracts$91 $109 
Interest rate swap contracts— 229 
Cross currency swap contracts244133 
Not designated as hedging instrument
Foreign exchange contracts16110 
Interest rate swap contracts245480 
Derivative instruments contracts

24.

Derivative Instruments (continued)

Foreign exchange contracts

The fair values of the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments as of December 31, 20202023 and December 31, 20192022 were as follows:

Derivative InstrumentsBalance sheet location
December 31,
20232022
(In millions)
Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedgesOther current assets$— $
Cross currency swap contracts designated as fair value hedgeOther current assets— 
Interest rate swap contracts not designated as hedging instrumentsOther non-current assets22 — 
Cross currency swap contracts designated as net investment hedgeOther current liabilities
Interest rate swap contracts designated as cash flow hedgesOther current liabilities— 
Cross currency swap contracts designated as fair value hedgeOther current liabilities
Interest rate swap contracts not designated as hedging instrumentsOther current liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instrumentsOther current liabilities
Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedgesOther current liabilities
Interest rate swap contracts not designated as hedging instrumentsOther non-current liabilities10 
Cross currency swap contracts designated as net investment hedgeOther non-current liabilities— 
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December 31,

Balance sheet location

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Derivatives

Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments

Other current assets

$

199

$

1,249

Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments

Other current liabilities

11,106

Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges

Other current liabilities

2,858

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MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The effects of derivative Contractscontracts designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statementthe consolidated statements of comprehensive income as of December 31, 20202023 and December 20192022 were as follows:

Amount of

Amount of gain reclassified

December 31,

Gain (Loss) recognized

from accumulated

December 31,

2019

in other comprehensive loss

other comprehensive loss (income)

2020

(In thousands)

Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges

$                      (250)

$                    4,219

$                                               (6,438)

$                      (2,469)

December 31,
2022
Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive incomeAmount of (gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive lossDecember 31,
2023
(In millions)
Foreign exchange contracts designated as cash flow hedges$(2)$(12)$10 $(4)
Interest swap contracts designated as cash flow hedges(2)(6)— 
Cross currency swap contracts designated as net investment hedge(1)(9)(3)
$(5)$(13)$11 $(7)

The effects derivative Contractseffect of the Company’s fair value hedge relationships on Consolidated Statementthe consolidated statements of Incomeincome 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, 20202021).
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 201931, 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,

2020

2019

(In thousands)

Foreign exchange contracts not designated as hedging instruments

$

1,935

$

301


Year Ended December 31,
202320222021
(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)
Interest rate contracts not designated as hedging instruments recognized in Interest expense and other financial losses(7)— 
$(9)$(46)$ 

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

25.MercadoLibre, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Share repurchase program


NOTE 25. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
On August 30, 2020,February 21, 2023, the Board of Directors of MercadoLibre authorized the Company to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, for an aggregate consideration of up to $350,000 thousands.$900 million

to expire on March 31, 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the estimated remaining balance available for share repurchases under this Program was $157 million.

The Company expects to purchase shares at any time and from time to time, in compliance with applicable federal securities laws, through open-market purchases, block trades, derivatives, trading plans established in accordance with SEC rules, or privately negotiated transactions. The timing of repurchases will depend on factors including market conditions and prices, the Company’s liquidity requirements and alternative uses of capital. The share repurchase program expires on August 31, 2021 and may be suspended from time to time or discontinued, and there is no assurance as to the number of shares that will be repurchased under the program or that there will be any additional repurchases.

As of December 31, 2020,2023, the Company had acquired278,917 shares under the aforementioned share repurchase program 48,688 shares. Theprogram.
From time to time, the Company acquires shares were acquiredof its own common stock in the Argentine market and paidpays for them in Argentine pesos, and thePesos at a price of the share repurchase transaction has embeddedthat reflects the additional cost of accessing to USU.S. dollars through an indirect mechanism,securities denominated in U.S. dollars, because of restrictions imposed by the Argentine Governmentgovernment for buying USU.S. dollars at the official exchange rate in Argentina.Argentina (See Note 2 – Summary of significant accounting policies – Argentine currency status and macroeconomic outlook of these audited consolidated financial statements). As a result, the Company recognized a foreign currency loss of $44,505 thousands.losses o

f $386 million, $141 million

26.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

In March 2020, the outbreak of a novel strain of the coronavirus, COVID-19 was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and the outbreak has become increasingly widespread around the world. Government-imposed total or partial lockdowns or curfews instituted throughout Latin America in late March 2020, some of which have been subsequently extended, modified or rescinded, have led to a weakening of the macroeconomic environment, generating recession conditions and a devaluation of the local currencies in the countries in which the Company operates.

The Company has thus far not been required to suspend its operations in any country, but the Company’s business was at the beginning of the lockdowns, and may in the future again be, negatively affected by the pandemic in terms of operations, consumer buying trends, and consequently, net revenues. Despite the uncertainty generated by the pandemic, the Company’s revenues increased 73%$90 million for the yearyears ended December 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019.

Management believes that, given the uncertainty with respect to how long the pandemic will persist, what additional measures may be introduced by governments or private parties, what effect any such additional measures may have on our business or the macroeconomic impact of the pandemic in the countries where the Company operates, it is not possible to have certainty around business development31, 2023, 2022 and its cash generation until the outbreak of COVID-19 can be definitively contained. In terms of liquidity and cash management, relevant funding sources remain available at the geographical segment level and guaranteed senior notes were issued in January 2021, of $1,100,000 thousands.respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s main source of liquidity was $2,460,751 thousands of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, which excludes a $565,705 thousands investment related to the Central Bank of Brazil Mandatory Guarantee and a $71,244 thousands investment related to a guarantee for a secured line of credit in Brazil.

Lastly, the revenues sources of the Company’s subsidiaries are denominated in local currency. As a result, the current weak macro-economic environment in certain countries in which the Company operates coupled with the devaluations of certain local currencies in those countries against the U.S. dollar could cause a decline in year-over-year net revenues as measured in U.S. dollars.

Management has made its best estimation of the potential scenarios for 2021. However it is not possible to predict at this time with certainty the impact that COVID-19 could have and its effects, including its impact on the economies of the countries in which the Company operates, and therefore the extent of the impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations if conditions persist or materially deviate from those currently used in its estimates.

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MercadoLibre, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

27.

Subsequent event

Issuance of guaranteed senior notes

In addition to the repurchase of the 2028 Notes described in Note 16, on January 14, 2021, the Company closed a public offering of $400,000 thousands aggregate principal amount of 2.375% Sustainability Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Sustainability Notes”) and $700,000 thousands aggregate principal amount of 3.125% Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”, and together with the 2026 Sustainability Notes, the “Notes”). The Company will 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.

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 are MercadoLibre S.R.L., Ibazar.com Atividades de Internet Ltda., eBazar.com.br Ltda., Mercado 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.

The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company´s other existing and future senior unsecured debt obligations from time to time outstanding. 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 from time to time outstanding, except for statutory priorities under applicable local law.

59