f8k_101013.htm
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 27, 2013

MercadoLibre, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
  
001-33647
  
98-0212790
         
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
  
(Commission File Number)
  
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

Arias 3751, 7th Floor
Buenos Aires, C1430CRG, Argentina
(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  011-54-11-4640-8000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[   ]  
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
     
[   ]  
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240-14a-12)
     
[   ]  
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
     
[   ]  
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 
 
 

Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
Executive Compensation Program
 
On September 27, 2013, the board of directors (the “Board”) of MercadoLibre, Inc. (the “Company”), upon the recommendation of the compensation committee of the Board, finalized the Company’s executive compensation program for 2013 by (i) establishing the performance criteria applicable to determine eligibility for annual cash bonuses for 2013 and (ii) adopting the 2013 Long-Term Retention Plan (the “2013 LTRP”).
 
The following table includes the 2013 base salary, annual cash bonus range and target 2013 LTRP target bonus of each named executive officer effective January 1, 2013.
 
Elements of Compensation
 
 
2013 Base
Salary  (1)
  
2013 Annual
Bonus Range (1) (2)
  
Target 2013
LTRP Bonus (3)
Marcos Galperin
President and Chief Executive Officer
$  600,243
 
  
$ 415,553 – 692,588
 
  
$ 5,946,400
Pedro Arnt
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
$ 272,954
  
$ 188,968 – 314,947
  
$ 1,120,000
Stelleo Tolda
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
$ 263,646
  
$ 182,524 – 304.207
  
$ 1,120,000
Osvaldo Giménez
Executive Vice President — Payments
$ 272,954
  
$ 188,968 – 314,947
  
$ 1,120,000
Daniel Rabinovich
Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
$ 247,365
  
$ 76,112 – 152,224
  
$ 1,120,000
           
(1)           For 2013, the base salary and annual cash bonus range for Mr. Galperin have been fixed in Uruguayan pesos. For each of Messrs., Arnt, Giménez and Rabinovich have been fixed in Argentine pesos, while the base salary and annual cash bonus range for Mr. Tolda has been fixed in Brazilian reais.  Accordingly, the base salary and annual cash bonus range in U.S. dollars are approximations based on prevailing exchange rates during the period from January to August 2013.
 
(2)           See the section below entitled “Annual Cash Bonuses” below for a detailed discussion of the payment methodology for the annual cash bonuses.
 
(3)           The target 2013 LTRP bonus is determined in U.S. dollars, and paid in Uruguayan pesos, Argentine pesos or Brazilian reais (as applicable), at the applicable exchange rate as of the payment date. See the section entitled “2013 LTRP” below for a detailed discussion of the payment methodology under the 2013 LTRP.  Actual amounts to be paid under the 2013 LTRP may be more or less than the target amount shown in this table.
 
Annual Cash Bonuses
 
The annual cash bonus for each named executive officer will be based upon the Company’s achievement of pre-set goals for financial and operational performance, as well as qualitative assessment of individual performance, according to the following table:
 
 
 
 
 
   
Marcos
Galperin
     Pedro
Arnt
  
Stelleo
Tolda
  
Osvaldo
Gimenez
  
Daniel
Rabinovich
  
Overall Company Performance - U.S. GAAP (1)
              
 
Net Revenues Minus Bad Debt (excluding Venezuela) (2)
31.9%
  
28.5%
  
28.5%
  
28.5%
  
28.5%
  
 
Net Revenues Minus Bad Debt (Venezuela) (2)
1.7%
  
1.5%
  
1.5%
  
1.5%
  
1.5%
  
 
Net Income (excluding Venezuela) (3)
15.9%
  
14.3%
  
14.3%
  
14.3%
  
14.3%
  
 
Net Income (Venezuela) (3)
0.8%
  
0.8%
  
0.8%
  
0.8%
  
0.8%
  
 
Free Cash Flow (excluding Venezuela) (4)
5.3%
  
4.8%
  
4.8%
  
4.8%
  
4.8%
  
 
Free Cash Flow (Venezuela) (4)
0.3%
  
0.3%
  
0.3%
  
0.3%
  
0.3%
  
 
Weighted average
55.9%
  
50.0%
  
50.0%
  
50.0%
  
50.0%
  
                       
Overall Company Performance ― Constant Dollars (5)
            
 
Net Revenues Minus Bad Debt (excluding Venezuela) (2)
22.3%
  
20.0%
  
20.0%
  
-
  
20.0%
  
 
Net Revenues Minus Bad Debt (Venezuela) (2)
1.2%
  
1.1%
  
1.1%
  
-
  
1.1%
  
 
Net Income (excluding Venezuela) (3)
11.1%
  
10.0%
  
10.0%
  
-
  
10.0%
  
 
Net Income (Venezuela) (3)
0.6%
  
0.5%
  
0.5%
  
-
  
0.5%
  
 
Free Cash Flow (excluding Venezuela) (4)
3.7%
  
3.3%
  
3.3%
  
-
  
3.3%
  
 
Free Cash Flow (Venezuela) (4)
0.2%
  
0.2%
  
0.2%
  
-
  
0.2%
  
 
Weighted average
39.1%
  
35.0%
  
35.0%
  
-
  
35.0%
  
                       
MercadoPago Performance ― Constant Dollars (5)
              
 
TPV On/GMVe (6)
-
  
-
  
-
  
14.0%
  
-
  
 
Off Platform Net Revenues (7)
-
  
-
  
-
  
7.0%
  
-
  
 
TPV Off (excluding Brazil)  (8)
-
  
-
  
-
  
7.0%
  
-
  
 
TPV Off Brazil (Brazil)  (8)
-
  
-
  
-
  
7.0%
  
-
  
 
Weighted average
-
  
-
  
-
  
35.0%
  
-
  
                       
Individual Performance (9)
5.0%
  
15.0%
  
15.0%
  
15.0%
  
15.0%
  
 
(1)
U.S. GAAP: consolidated financial metrics in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).
(2)
Net Revenues Minus Bad Debt is defined as the Company’s net revenues for 2013, less bad debt charges and after adjustments for unusual items, if any, as determined by the compensation committee.
(3)
Net Income is defined as the Company’s net income in 2013 after adjustments for unusual items, if any, as determined by the compensation committee.
(4)
Free Cash Flow is defined as net increase in the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term investments in 2013 over 2012, after adjustments for unusual items, if any, as determined by the compensation committee, adjusted to add (a) the difference between the MercadoPago accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012 versus December 31, 2013 and (b) the difference between the MercadoPago accounts payable balance at December 31, 2012 versus December 31, 2013.
(5)
Constant Dollars: consolidated financial metrics translated to US dollars at the previous year’s applicable exchange rate, which is intended to isolate the operational performance from fluctuations in local currencies.
(6)
TPV On/GMVe is defined as MercadoPago penetration in MercadoLibre measured as the Company’s Total Payment Volume (“TPV”) on the MercadoLibre e-commerce website in 2013 divided by the Company’s Gross Merchandise Volume in 2013 excluding motor vehicles, vessels, aircraft and real estate.
(7)
Off Platform Net Revenues is defined as MercadoPago’s Net Revenues in 2013 including financing fees, off platform fees and other MercadoPago fees.
(8)
TPV Off is defined as Total Payment Volume in 2013 excluding TPV generated on MercadoLibre’s platform.
(9)
Individual Performance: a 360-degree assessment and qualitative assessment of individual performance for the 2013 fiscal year, to be carried out on each named executive officer except on the CEO, in which case only a 360-degree assessment for the 2013 fiscal year applies.
 
 
 
 
 
For a named executive officer to be eligible to receive an annual bonus or a 2013 LTRP bonus, the following conditions must be satisfied (the “Minimum Eligibility Conditions”):

●
The Company must achieve 50% of the weighted average planned growth in each financial metric category applicable to the named executive officer, according to the table above. For example, Messrs. Galperin, Arnt and Tolda must achieve 50% of the weighted average planned growth for both the Overall Company Performance ― U.S. GAAP category and the Overall Company Performance ― Constant Dollars category, while Mr. Gimenez must achieve 50% of the weighted average planned growth for both the Overall Company Performance ― U.S. GAAP category and the MercadoPago Performance ― Constant Dollars category.
 
●
 In addition, each named executive officer must achieve a minimum standard of “meets expectations” in his qualitative assessment of individual performance.
 
If the Minimum Eligibility Conditions are met for an individual named executive officer, a prorated formula will be applied to the annual cash bonus ranges described in the Elements of 2013 Compensation table above, based on the officer’s total performance tally, consistent with the Company’s 2013 annual cash bonus program. For example, if a named executive officer’s overall weighted average performance equaled the weighted average Minimum Eligibility Conditions, the officer would receive the minimum annual cash bonus set forth in the annual bonus range included in the Elements of Compensation table above. If, on the other hand, a named executive officer achieves 75% of the weighted average planned growth in each financial metric category applicable to the named executive officer, and the named executive officer achieves a qualitative assessment at a level of “2.18” (midpoint between “meets expectations” and “above expectations”), then the named executive officer would receive an annual cash bonus equal to the midpoint of the annual bonus range included in the Elements of Compensation table above. Finally, if a named executive officer achieves 100% of the weighted average planned growth in each financial metric category applicable to the named executive officer, and the named executive officer achieves a qualitative assessment at a level of “2.53” or above (“above expectations”), then the named executive officer would receive the maximum cash bonus set forth in the annual bonus range included in the Elements of Compensation table above.
 
2013 LTRP
 
In order to receive an award under the 2013 LTRP, a named executive officer must satisfy the Minimum Eligibility Conditions applicable to determine eligibility for annual cash bonuses. If these Minimum Eligibility Conditions are satisfied, the executive will, subject to his continued employment as of each applicable payment date, receive the target amount of his 2013 LTRP bonus described in the Elements of Compensation table above, payable as follows:
 
●
the officer will receive a fixed cash payment equal to 8.333% of his or her 2013 LTRP bonus once a year for a period of six years starting with the first payment in 2013 (the “Annual Fixed Payment”); and
 
●
on each date the Company pays the Annual Fixed Payment to the officer, he will also receive a cash payment equal to the product of (i) 8.333% of the applicable 2013 LTRP bonus 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 2012 Stock Price (as defined below).  For purposes of the 2013 LTRP, the “2012 Stock Price” shall equal $79.57 (the average closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market during the final 60-trading days of 2012) and the “Applicable Year Stock Price” shall equal
 
 
 
 
 
 
the average closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global 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 maximum amount of each named executive officer’s 2013 LTRP bonus will depend on the Company’s stock price for the last 60-trading days of the applicable fiscal year. To the extent the Company’s stock price exceeds $79.57  for one or more applicable periods, the amount of the executive’s 2013 LTRP bonus will exceed 8.333% of the amount in the Total Annual Compensation table described above.  To the extent the Company’s stock price is less than $79.57  for one or more applicable periods, the amount of the executive’s 2013 LTRP bonus will be less than 8.333% of the amount in the Total Annual Compensation table.  Thus, total cash payments under the 2013 LTRP over the life of the plan may be more or less than the target amount listed in the Total Annual Compensation table.

For full details of the 2013 LTRP, please see the copy of the plan filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this current report, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
 
Outside Director Compensation Program
 
On September 27, 2013, the Board, upon the recommendation of the compensation committee of the Board, adopted a new director compensation program (the “New Director Compensation Program”) that sets compensation for the Company’s outside directors for the period of June 2013 to June 2016.  The New Director Compensation Program, which became effective as of June 2013, provides that each outside director of the Company receives an annual fee for Board services, comprised of a non-adjustable Board service award and an adjustable Board service award.  The non-adjustable Board service award consists of a fixed cash payment of $50,000.  The adjustable Board service award consists of a fixed cash amount of $70,000 multiplied by the quotient of (a) the average closing sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market during the 30-trading day period preceding the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held during the respective compensation period divided by (b) the average closing sale price of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Market during the 30-trading day period preceding the prior Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

The New Director Compensation Program also includes a non-adjustable chair service award for committee services from June 2013 to June 2016.  Under the terms of the New Director Compensation Program, the chair of each of the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee and the lead independent director are entitled to receive annual cash compensation in addition to existing director compensation in the amount of $21,913, $17,531, $7,304 and $14,609, respectively.

The Company does not pay additional compensation to directors who have not been classified as outside directors, but does reimburse these directors for expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board and its committees.
 
Item 9.01.
 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
 
(c) 
Exhibits.
 
 
10.1 
2013 Long-Term Retention Plan
 
 
 
 
SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
MERCADOLIBRE, INC.
(Registrant)
 
  
Date: October 3, 2013
By:
/s/ Pedro Arnt
  
   
Pedro Arnt
  
   
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer