As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2019

Registration No. 333-      

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

Arias 3751, 7th Floor
Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1430CRG
(+5411) 4640-8000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Jacobo Cohen Imach
General Counsel
Arias 3751, 7th Floor
Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1430CRG
(+5411) 4640-8000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:
Nicolas Grabar
Andrea M. Basham
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
One Liberty Plaza
New York, New York 10006
(212) 225-2000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  o

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.  o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

PROSPECTUS

MercadoLibre, Inc.

Common Stock

We may offer and sell from time to time shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of the offering and to be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

This prospectus describes the general manner in which the shares of our common stock may be offered and sold. The specific manner in which shares of common stock may be offered and sold will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update, supplement or clarify information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell our common stock unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

We may offer and sell our common stock through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. We provide more information about how the shares may be offered and sold in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 11. The prospectus supplement for each offering of our common stock will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “MELI”. The last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ on March 8, 2019 was $449.59 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. Please read carefully the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 6 of this prospectus, the “Supplemental Risk Factors” section, if any, contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and the other information included in and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is March 11, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, using an automatic shelf registration process. Because we used a shelf registration statement, we may, from time to time, sell common stock in one or more offerings. Each time that we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, process and terms of the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. You should read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus related to the common stock that is prepared by us or on our behalf or that is otherwise authorized by us, together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should only assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

References in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” are to MercadoLibre, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and at our investor relations website, investor.mercadolibre.com.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of the Company, the reference is only a summary, and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s website.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference in this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information filed subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and supersede it. Therefore, before you decide to invest in a particular offering under this shelf registration, you should always check for reports we may have filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the following information:

We also incorporate by reference each of the documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (not including any information “furnished” under Item 2.02, 7.01 or 9.01 of Form 8-K and any other information that is identified as “furnished” rather than “filed”, which information is not incorporated by reference herein) prior to the termination of the offerings under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement.

Any statements made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement, if applicable, or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

Each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, may obtain a copy of any of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, without charge, by written or oral request directed to:

MercadoLibre, Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
Arias 3751, 7th Floor
Buenos Aires, Argentina, C1430CRG
(+5411) 4640-8000

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AND MARKET DATA

Any statements made or implied in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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. Forward-looking statements generally relate to information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, future economic, political and social conditions in the countries in which we operate and their possible impact on our business, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition. Such forward-looking statements reflect, among other things, our current expectations, plans, projections and strategies, anticipated financial results, future events and financial trends affecting our business, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein) 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:

You should carefully consider the risks specified under the caption “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference and in subsequent public statements or reports we file with the SEC, before making any investment decision with respect to our securities. If any of these trends, risks or uncertainties actually occurs or continues, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward looking statements made in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the SEC filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

This prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein contain, and any prospectus supplement and free writing prospectus we may prepare in connection with any offering contemplated hereby may contain, estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, markets, products and services. These estimates, projections and other information may concern, among other things, our market position, size, number of unique visitors and page views compared to other online commerce platforms, the size of our

markets, growth in internet penetration rates in our markets compared to internet penetration rates globally, the breadth and affordability of products and services listed on our websites compared to other online and offline venues, the cost to sellers of listing on our websites compared to other offline venues, credit card adoption and bank account penetration into Latin America, and similar matters. These estimates, projections and other information are generally based on data from third parties, which may include market research firms and trade, industry or governmental websites and publications, and may also be based on estimates and forecasts by our management. This information involves a number of assumptions, estimates, uncertainties and limitations and we have not independently verified any of the information provided by third parties. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated and deemed to be incorporated by reference herein. These and other factors could cause actual industry, market and other conditions to differ materially from those reflected in these estimates, projections and other information, and you should not place undue reliance on any of this information.

SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, before making an investment decision.

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.

Our platform is designed to provide users with a complete portfolio of services to facilitate commercial transactions. We are a market leader in e-commerce in each of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, based on number of unique visitors and page views. We also operate online commerce platforms in the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Salvador, Panama, Bolivia, Guatemala and Paraguay.

Through our platform, we provide buyers and sellers with a robust environment that fosters the development of a large e-commerce community in Latin America, a region with a population of over 644 million people and with one of the fastest-growing Internet penetration rates in the world. We believe that we offer technological and commercial solutions that address the distinctive cultural and geographic challenges of operating an online commerce platform in Latin America.

We offer our users an ecosystem of six integrated e-commerce services: the MercadoLibre Marketplace, the MercadoLibre FinTech Solution, the MercadoEnvios logistics service, the MercadoLibre Classifieds service, the MercadoLibre advertising solution and the MercadoShops online webstores solution.

The MercadoLibre 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 businesses and individuals to list merchandise and conduct sales and purchases online in a fixed-price format.

MercadoPago is our FinTech solution, designed to facilitate transactions both on and off our marketplaces by providing a mechanism that allows our users to securely, easily and promptly send and receive payments online. Away from our marketplaces, MercadoPago allows merchants to process payments on their websites and mobile apps as well as in their stores through QR and MPOS devices. It also enables users to transfer money in a simple way to each other. Through MercadoFondo, our users are able to invest the stored balance in their MercadoPago accounts at competitive rates and in a simple way. MercadoCredito, our lending solution, allows us to finance merchants’ working capital needs and consumers’ purchases.

Through our MercadoEnvios logistics solution, we offer sellers on our platform technological and operational integration with third party carriers and other logistics service providers, as well as fulfillment and warehousing services. Sellers using our the solution are able to offer a uniform and seamlessly integrated shipping experience to their buyers at competitive prices.

Through our MercadoLibre Classifieds, our online classifieds listing service, our users can also list and purchase motor vehicles, real estate and services in all countries in which we operate. Classifieds listings differ from Marketplace listings as they only charge optional placement fees and never final value fees. Our classifieds pages are also a major source of traffic to our website, benefitting both the Enhanced Marketplace and non-Marketplace businesses.

Our MercadoLibre advertising platform enables businesses to promote their products and services on the Internet. Through this platform, MercadoLibre’s sellers and large advertisers are able to display ads on our webpages.

Additionally, through MercadoShops, our online store solution, users can set-up, manage and promote their own online stores. These stores are hosted by MercadoLibre and offer integration with the rest of the ecosystem, namely our marketplaces and payment services. Users can select between a free model and a subscription-based model for enhanced functionalities and value added services on their store.

MercadoLibre also develops and sells enterprise software solutions to e-commerce business clients in Brazil.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider all risk factors set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by the other reports we file with the SEC in the future or by information in the applicable prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information”. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations and financial condition. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected, which could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, and you could lose all or a part of your investment in our common stock.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, we intend to use net proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered hereby for general corporate purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary of some of the terms of our capital stock is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws, each of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General matters

Our authorized capital stock consists of (1) 110,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and (2) 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

All of our existing stock is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The discussion set forth below describes the most important terms of our capital stock, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our by-laws. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws and the registration rights agreement referred to below, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and to the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation law.

Common stock

Set forth below is a brief discussion of the principal terms of our common stock.

Dividend rights

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends ratably, if as and when dividends are declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. The board of directors may, in its sole discretion, increase or decrease the amount of the quarterly dividend per share, change the frequency with which the dividend is paid or eliminate or reinstate the dividend.

As of January 1, 2018, our board of directors declared the suspension of the payment of dividends to shareholders and we currently do not pay a quarterly dividend on shares of our common stock. All dividends are declared at the discretion of our board of directors and depend on our earnings, our financial condition and other factors as our board of directors, in its sole discretion, may deem relevant from time to time.

Voting rights

Each outstanding share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of our common stock, except for stockholders that beneficially own more than 20% of the shares of our outstanding common stock, in which case 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.

Preemptive or similar rights

Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive or other similar subscription rights to purchase any of our securities.

Right to receive liquidation distributions

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive pro rata our assets which are legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding.

Conversion rights

Our common stock has no conversion rights.

NASDAQ listing

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MELI.”

Preferred stock

Our board of directors may, without further action by our stockholders, from time to time, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and may, at the time of issuance, determine the rights, preferences and limitations of each series. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of common stock. Holders of shares of preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up before any payment is made to the holders of shares of common stock. Under specified circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management. Upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, the board of directors, without stockholder approval, may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of common stock. We have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Anti-takeover effects of the Delaware general corporation law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and which may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of the company unless such takeover or change in control is approved by the board of directors, including:

Advance notice procedures

Our by-laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors or by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the by-laws do not give the board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, the by-laws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or defer a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

No cumulative voting

The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or DGCL, provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation expressly provides that no stockholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors.

No stockholder action by written consent

The DGCL permits stockholder action by written consent unless otherwise provided by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation precludes stockholder action by written consent.

Business combinations under Delaware law

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-traded Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless certain conditions are met.

Authorized but unissued shares

Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including

future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Ability to adopt a stockholder rights plan

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides our board of directors the authority to adopt a stockholder rights plan, which, if adopted, could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of a majority of our common stock by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Classified board of directors

Our board of directors is classified in three classes, with each class elected every year for a term of three years. This would delay the ability of a majority stockholder to gain majority representation in our board of directors.

Removal of directors

Our stockholders may not remove directors other than for cause, which consists of a declaration of unsound mind by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, conviction of a felony or of an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year by a court of competent jurisdiction, or declaration of liability by a court of competent jurisdiction for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of such director’s fiduciary duties. If cause exists, a vote of two-thirds of our stockholders is required for such director’s removal.

Amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that the anti-takeover provisions therein can only be amended or repealed with a vote of two-thirds of our stockholders. This would make any majority stockholder that does not have a two-thirds majority unable to amend any takeover protections in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or by-laws and therefore preclude such stockholder from exercising control over our management.

Voting limitations

Each outstanding share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of our common stock, except for stockholders that beneficially own more than 20% of the shares of our outstanding common stock, in which case our board of directors may declare that any shares of stock above such 20% do not have voting rights.

Transfer agent and registrar

Computershare serves as the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. (As used under this caption “Plan of Distribution”, the term “securities” means the common stock offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires). The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions, each of which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and which may include transactions:

Each time that we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including (i) the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them; (ii) if a fixed price offering, the public offering price of the securities; (iii) any options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; (iv) any underwriting discounts or commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; (v) terms and conditions of the offering; and (vi) any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.

To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their option, if any, to purchase additional securities from us. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be

reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of the persons participating in any such offering will be obligated to engage in these transactions and these transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, underwriters or other persons acting as agents may be authorized to solicit offers by institutions or other suitable purchasers to purchase the securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement, pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement. These purchasers may include, among others, commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. Delayed delivery contracts will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities covered by the delayed delivery contracts will not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and agents will not have any responsibility with respect to the validity or performance of these contracts.

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the effectiveness of MercadoLibre, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Co. S.A., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated by reference herein. Such consolidated financial statements have been incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the expenses payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All amounts are estimates, except for the registration fee.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides as follows:

(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.

(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.

(j) The indemnification and advancement of expense proved by, or granted pursuant to, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Reference is made to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws which require the Company to indemnify the persons whom it may indemnify under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of its directors, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Further, such limitation of liability also does not affect a director’s standard of conduct or responsibilities under any other laws, including the Federal securities laws.

The Registrant also carries liability insurance covering officers and directors.

Item 16. Exhibits.

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on March 11, 2019.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.