2.2.0.7 false Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 0202 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] 0 meli_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesAbstract meli false na duration Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. false 3 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 1 us-gaap_SignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>2.</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Basis of presentation</b> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 8pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. These financial statements are stated in US dollars. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year information to conform to current year presentation. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Substantially all revenues and operating costs are generated in the Company’s foreign operations, amounting to approximately 99.4% and 99.1% of the consolidated totals during the six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Long-lived assets located in the foreign operations totaled $66,547,693 and $67,523,246 as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Cash and cash equivalents as well as short and long-term investments, totaling $108,961,069 and $91,010,944 at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, are mainly located in the United States of America. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> <b> </b> </td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"></td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">These unaudited interim condensed financial statements reflect the Company’s consolidated financial position as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. These statements also show the Company’s consolidated statement of income for the three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, its consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity and its consolidated statement of cash flows for the six-month period ended June 30, 2010 and 2009. These statements include all normal recurring adjustments that management believes are necessary to fairly state the Company’s financial position, operating results and cash flows. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Because all of the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America for annual consolidated financial statements are not included herein, these interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and the notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2009, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 26, 2010. The condensed consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results expected for any future period. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Management has evaluated subsequent events through August 6, 2010 which is the date the financial statements were issued. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Foreign Currency Translation</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">All of the Company’s foreign operations have determined the local currency to be their functional currency, except for Venezuela for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010, as described below. Accordingly, these foreign subsidiaries translate assets and liabilities from their local currencies to U.S. dollars using year end exchange rates while income and expense accounts are translated at the average rates in effect during the year. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as part of other comprehensive income (loss), a component of shareholders’ equity (deficit). Gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in non-functional currencies are recognized in earnings. Net foreign currency transaction losses are included in the consolidated statements of income under the caption “Foreign currency gain / (loss)” and amounted to $(35,478) and $(1,346,273) for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, “Foreign currency gain / (loss)” amounted to $361,494 and $529,213, respectively. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Until September 30, 2009, the Company translated its Venezuelan subsidiaries assets, liabilities, income and expense accounts at the official rate of 2.15 “Bolivares Fuertes” per US dollar. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Starting in the fourth quarter of 2009, as a result of the changes in facts and circumstances that affected the Company’s ability to convert currency for dividends remittances using the official exchange rate in Venezuela, the Venezuelan subsidiaries assets, liabilities, income and expense accounts were translated using the parallel exchange rate resulting in the recognition in that quarter of a currency translation adjustment of $16,977,276 recorded in other comprehensive income. The average exchange rate used for translating the fourth quarter results was 5.67 “Bolivares Fuertes” per US dollar and the year-end exchange rate used for translating assets and liabilities was 6.05 “Bolivares Fuertes” per US dollar. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> <b> </b> </td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"></td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">As of the date of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements the Company did not buy US dollars at the official rate. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">According to US GAAP, we have transitioned our Venezuelan operations to highly inflationary status as of January 1, 2010 considering the US dollar as the functional currency. See “Highly inflationary status in Venezuela” below. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Therefore, no translation effect was accounted for in other comprehensive income during the three- and six-month period ended June 30, 2010 related to our Venezuelan operations. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Until May 13, 2010, the only way by which US dollars could be purchased outside the official currency market was using an indirect mechanism consisting in the purchase and sale of securities, including national public debt bonds (DPNs) denominated in Bolivares Fuertes and bonds issued by the government that were denominated in U.S. dollars. This mechanism for transactions in certain securities created an indirect “parallel” foreign currency exchange market in Venezuela that enabled entities to obtain foreign currency through financial brokers without going through Commission for the Administration of Foreign Exchange (“CADIVI”). Although the parallel exchange rate was higher, and accordingly less beneficial, than the official exchange rate, some entities have used the “parallel” market to exchange currency because, as it was already mentioned, CADIVI used not to approve in a timely manner the exchange of currency requested by such entities. Until May 13, 2010, our Venezuelan subsidiaries used this mechanism to buy US dollars and accordingly we used the parallel average exchange rate to re-measure those foreign currency transactions. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">However, on May 14th, 2010, the Venezuelan government enacted reforms to its exchange regulations and close-down such parallel market by declaring that foreign-currency-denominated securities issued by Venezuelan entities were included in the definition of foreign currency, thus making the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) the only institution that could legally authorize the purchase or sale of foreign currency bonds, thereby excluding non-authorized brokers from the foreign exchange market. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Trading of foreign currencies was re-opened as a regulated market on June 9, 2010 with the Venezuelan Central Bank as the only institution through which foreign currency-denominated transactions can be brokered. Under the new system, known as the Foreign Currency Securities Transactions System (SITME), entities domiciled in Venezuela can buy U.S. dollar–denominated securities only through banks authorized by the BCV to import goods, services or capital inputs. Additionally, the SITME imposes volume restrictions on an entity’s trading activity, limiting such activity to a maximum equivalent of $50,000 per day, not to exceed $350,000 in a calendar month. This limitation is non-cumulative, meaning that an entity cannot carry over unused volume from one month to the next. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> <b> </b> </td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"></td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">As a consequence of this new system, commencing on June 9, 2010, we have transitioned from the parallel exchange rate to the SITME rate and started re-measuring foreign currency transactions using the SITME rate published by BCV, which was 5.27 “Bolivares Fuertes” per U.S. dollar as of June 9, 2010. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">For the period beginning on May 14, 2010 and ending on June 8, 2010 (during which there was no open foreign currency markets) we applied US GAAP guidelines, which state that if exchangeability between two currencies is temporarily lacking at the transaction date or balance sheet date, the first subsequent rate at which exchanges could be made shall be used. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Accordingly, the June 9, 2010 exchange rate published by the Venezuelan Central Bank has been used to re-measure transactions during the abovementioned period. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The net investment in the Venezuelan subsidiaries amounts to $6,275,306 as of June 30, 2010. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The Company has assessed the new regulations and has concluded that, as currently formulated, there has not been a material impact on the normal running of its business in Venezuela. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Highly inflationary status in Venezuela</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">During May 2009, the International Practices Task Force discussed the highly inflationary status of the Venezuelan economy. Historically, the Task Force has used the Consumer Price Index (CPI) when considering the inflationary status of the Venezuelan economy. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The CPI has existed since 1984. However, the CPI covers only the cities of Caracas and Maracaibo. Commencing on January 1, 2008, the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) has been developed to cover the entire country of Venezuela. Since inflation data is not available to compute a cumulative three year inflation rate for the entire country solely based on the NCPI, the Company uses a blended rate using the NCPI and CPI to calculate Venezuelan inflation rate. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The cumulative three year inflation rate as of December 31, 2009 was calculated using the CPI information for periods before January 1, 2008 and NCPI information for the periods after January 1, 2008. The blended CPI/NCPI three-year inflation index (23 months of NCPI and 13 months of CPI) as of November 30, 2009 exceeded 100%. According to US GAAP, calendar year-end companies should apply highly inflationary accounting as from January 1, 2010. Therefore, the Company has transitioned its Venezuelan operations to highly inflationary status as of January 1, 2010 considering the US dollar as the functional currency. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> <b> </b> </td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Taxes on revenues</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The Company’s subsidiaries in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia are subject to certain taxes on revenues which are classified as cost of revenues. Taxes on revenues totaled $3,616,846 and $2,514,040 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Taxes on revenues totaled $6,624,934 and $4,241,442 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Income Tax</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">From fiscal year 2008 to fiscal year 2018, the Company’s Argentine subsidiary is a beneficiary of a software development law. Part of the benefits obtained from being a beneficiary of the aforementioned law is a relief of 60% of total income tax determined in each year, during these 10 years. Aggregate tax benefit totaled $1,180,802 and $686,585 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Aggregate tax benefit totaled $1,970,487 and $1,389,791 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday amounts to $0.03 and $0.02 for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday amounts to $0.04 and $0.03 for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. If the Company had not been granted the Argentine tax holiday, the Company would have pursued an alternative tax planning strategy and, therefore, the impact of not having this particular benefit would not necessarily be the abovementioned dollar and per share effect. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">As of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, MercadoLibre, Inc has included in the non-current deferred tax assets line the foreign tax credits related to the dividend distributions received from its subsidiaries for a total amount of $3,698,485 and $2,879,999, respectively. Those foreign tax credits will be used to offset the future domestic income tax payable. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Use of estimates</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used for, but not limited to accounting for allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation, amortization, impairment and useful lives of long-lived assets, compensation cost related to cash and share-based compensation and restricted shares, recognition of current and deferred income taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> <b> </b> </td> <td width="1%"></td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"> <b> </b> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Comprehensive Income</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">Comprehensive income is comprised of two components, net income and other comprehensive income (loss), and defined as all other changes in equity of the Company that result from transactions other than with shareholders. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes the cumulative translation adjustment relating to the translation of the financial statements of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries and unrealized gains on investments classified as available-for-sale securities. Total comprehensive income for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $10,420,151 and $10,701,396, respectively and for the six month periods ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 amounted to $19,411,086 and $12,706,386 respectively. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Recent Accounting Pronouncements</b> </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="font-size: 8pt"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify"><b>Accounting for stock-based compensation</b> </div></td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 10pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td> <div style="text-align: justify">On April 16, 2010, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting of stock-based compensation related to the effect of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Award in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Primarily Trades. The amendment clarifies that a share-based payment award with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity’s equity securities trades must not be considered to contain a market, performance, or service condition. Therefore, an entity should not classify such an award as a liability if it otherwise qualifies for classification in equity. The new accounting guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010, and will be applied prospectively. Management estimates that the implementation of the new accounting guidance will not have significant effect on the company’s financial statements. </div></td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: 0in; "> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock This element may be used to describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 22 -Paragraph 8 false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true