4.	Business combinations, goodwill and intangible assets

Business combinations

Acquisition of Software Development Company in Argentina

On March 22, 2013, the Company completed, through its subsidiaries Meli Participaciones S.L. (ETVE) and MercadoLibre S.R.L. (MercadoLibre Argentina) (together referred to as the “Buyer”), the acquisition of the 100% of equity interest in a software development company located and organized under the laws of the Province of Cordoba, Argentina. 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 of the 100% of the acquired business was $3,454,497 (settled in Argentine pesos 17,652,480). On such same date, the Buyer paid and agreed to pay the purchase price as follows: i) $2,191,781 in cash; ii) set an escrow amounting to $489,237 for a 24-months period, aiming to cover unexpected liabilities and negative working capital; iii) set an escrow amounting to $547,945 for a 36-months period, aiming to continue the employment relationship of certain key employees; and iv) on June 24, 2013 the Company paid the remaining $225,534 net of certain negative working capital adjustments.

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

The above mentioned escrow for the continuing employment relationship of $547,945 is expensed over the 36-months period or a lesser period of time if certain other conditions determined in the Selling and Purchase Agreement (SPA) occur. The escrow will be released at the end of such period, together with the accrued interest.

The Company’s interim condensed consolidated statement of income includes the results of operations of the acquired business as from March 22, 2013. The net revenues and net loss of the acquiree included in the Company’s consolidated statement of income as of December 31, 2013 since the acquisition amounted to $524,965 and $7,562, respectively.

The following table summarizes the definitive purchase price allocation for the acquisition:


Net assets acquired	$	237,891
Goodwill		2,668,661

Purchase price		2,906,552

Escrow for employment relationship		547,945

Aggregate price paid	$	3,454,497

Supplemental pro-forma information required by U.S. GAAP, is impracticable after making every reasonable effort to do so, however, amounts involved are deemed to be immaterial.

Arising goodwill has been allocated proportionally to each of the segments identified by the Company’s management, considering the synergies expected from this acquisition and it is expected that the acquiree will contribute to the earnings generation process of such segments.

The Company recognized goodwill for this acquisition based on management expectation that the acquired businesses will expand and improve the Company’s business.

Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

See additionally Note 11, “Subsequent events” for further information.

Goodwill and intangible assets

The composition of goodwill and intangible assets is as follows:


	March 31, 2014			December 31, 2013

Goodwill	$	51,959,430		$	55,101,218

Intangible assets with indefinite lives
- Trademarks		5,224,271			5,238,090
Amortizable intangible assets
- Licenses and others		3,080,543			3,430,003
- Non-compete agreement		979,402			1,025,605
- Customer list		1,484,131			1,568,190

Total intangible assets	$	10,768,347		$	11,261,888
Accumulated amortization		(4,374,743	)		(4,670,303	)


Total intangible assets, net	$	6,393,604		$	6,591,585

Goodwill

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013 are as follows:


	Period ended March 31, 2014
	Brazil		Argentina			Chile			Mexico			Venezuela		Colombia			Other Countries			Total
Balance, beginning of the period	$	10,366,018	$	14,676,145		$	6,520,194		$	11,376,140		$	5,251,667	$	5,506,062		$	1,404,992		$	55,101,218
- Effect of exchange rates changes		138,486		(2,775,163	)		(317,050	)		(68,795	)		—		(115,016	)		(4,250	)		(3,141,788	)


Balance, end of the period	$	10,504,504	$	11,900,982		$	6,203,144		$	11,307,345		$	5,251,667	$	5,391,046		$	1,400,742		$	51,959,430


	Year ended December 31, 2013
	Brazil			Argentina			Chile			Mexico			Venezuela		Colombia			Other Countries			Total
Balance, beginning of year	$	10,706,281		$	18,889,094		$	7,115,211		$	11,404,780		$	4,846,030	$	5,897,136		$	1,507,531		$	60,366,063
- Business Acquisition		1,307,644			659,159			—			186,806			405,637		69,385			40,030			2,668,661
- Effect of exchange rates changes		(1,647,907	)		(4,872,108	)		(595,017	)		(215,446	)		—		(460,459	)		(142,569	)		(7,933,506	)

Balance, end of the year	$	10,366,018		$	14,676,145		$	6,520,194		$	11,376,140		$	5,251,667	$	5,506,062		$	1,404,992		$	55,101,218

Intangible assets with definite useful life

Intangible assets with definite useful life are comprised of customer lists and user base, non-compete agreements, acquired software licenses and other acquired intangible assets including developed technologies. Aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets totaled $158,742 and $220,859 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, as of March 31, 2014 is as follows:


For year ended 12/31/2014	$	435,454
For year ended 12/31/2015		501,505
For year ended 12/31/2016		211,716
Thereafter		20,658

	$	1,169,333