Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

 


 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007

Or

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number: 001-32877

MasterCard Incorporated

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   13-4172551
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification Number)

2000 Purchase Street

Purchase, NY

  10577
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(914) 249-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

Large accelerated filer  x                        Accelerated filer  ¨                        Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act)    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of April 27, 2007, there were 79,748,679 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $.0001 per share, 55,337,407 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $.0001 per share, and 1,632 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class M common stock, par value $.0001 per share.

 



Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page
No.
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets—March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006

   3

Consolidated Statements of Operations—Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006

   4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006

   5

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity—Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

   6

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income—Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006

   6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   7

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   25

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   36

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

   36

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   37
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION   

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

   38

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

   38
38

SIGNATURES

   39

 

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Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

 

    

    March 31,    

2007

   

    December 31,    

2006

 
     (In thousands, except share data)  
ASSETS     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,209,819     $ 1,185,080  

Investment securities, at fair value:

    

Trading

     5,050       12,261  

Available-for-sale

     1,294,300       1,286,580  

Accounts receivable

     450,372       451,261  

Settlement due from members

     275,709       311,953  

Restricted security deposits held for members

     112,371       109,897  

Prepaid expenses

     163,541       130,849  

Other current assets

     97,385       89,348  
                

Total Current Assets

     3,608,547       3,577,229  

Property, plant and equipment, at cost (less accumulated depreciation of $227,263 and $220,720)

     258,032       252,731  

Deferred income taxes

     274,434       216,782  

Goodwill

     220,291       217,013  

Other intangible assets (less accumulated amortization of $320,269 and $309,110)

     281,806       271,373  

Municipal bonds held-to-maturity

     192,989       193,477  

Prepaid expenses

     263,239       235,654  

Other assets

     106,815       118,211  
                

Total Assets

   $ 5,206,153     $ 5,082,470  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Accounts payable

   $ 231,443     $ 278,656  

Settlement due to members

     223,970       286,059  

Restricted security deposits held for members

     112,371       109,897  

Obligations under U.S. merchant lawsuit and other litigation settlements—current
(Note 10)

     117,275       117,275  

Accrued expenses

     802,747       936,427  

Other current liabilities

     123,937       83,276  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     1,611,743       1,811,590  

Deferred income taxes

     66,822       66,198  

Obligations under U.S. merchant lawsuit and other litigation settlements (Note 10)

     368,869       359,640  

Long-term debt

     229,685       229,668  

Other liabilities

     323,168       246,395  
                

Total Liabilities

     2,600,287       2,713,491  

Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 8 and 10)

    

Minority interest

     4,620       4,620  

Stockholders’ Equity

    

Class A common stock, $.0001 par value; authorized 3,000,000,000 shares, 79,748,393 and 79,631,983 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     8       8  

Class B common stock, $.0001 par value; authorized 1,200,000,000 shares, 55,337,407 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     6       6  

Class M common stock, $.0001 par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares, 1,636 and 1,600 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

     3,275,350       3,289,879  

Accumulated deficit

     (793,115 )     (1,029,196 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax:

    

Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments

     133,347       119,655  

Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans

     (9,683 )     (11,402 )

Investment securities available-for-sale

     (2,600 )     (3,065 )

Derivatives accounted for as hedges

     (2,067 )     (1,526 )
                

Total accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax

     118,997       103,662  
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     2,601,246       2,364,359  
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 5,206,153     $ 5,082,470  
                

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

 

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Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
             2007                     2006          
     (In thousands, except per share data)  

Revenues, net

   $ 915,103     $ 738,453  

Operating Expenses

    

General and administrative

     398,526       347,837  

Advertising and market development

     178,451       182,683  

Depreciation

     12,054       10,650  

Amortization

     12,134       14,570  
                

Total operating expenses

     601,165       555,740  
                

Operating income

     313,938       182,713  
                

Other Income (Expense)

    

Investment income, net

     36,248       20,692  

Interest expense

     (14,356 )     (10,640 )

Other income/(expense), net

     (40 )     152  
                

Total other income/(expense)

     21,852       10,204  
                

Income before income taxes

     335,790       192,917  

Income tax expense

     120,884       66,173  
                

Net Income

   $ 214,906     $ 126,744  
                

Basic Net Income per Share (Note 2)

   $ 1.58     $ .94  
                

Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Note 2)

     135,847       134,969  
                

Diluted Net Income per Share (Note 2)

   $ 1.57     $ .94  
                

Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (Note 2)

     136,594       134,969  
                

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

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

    

Three Months

Ended March 31,

 
     2007     2006  
     (In thousands)  

Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 214,906     $ 126,744  

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     24,188       25,220  

Share based compensation

     8,425       —    

Deferred income taxes

     19,444       6,723  

Taxes related to share based compensation

     (6,000 )     —    

Excess tax benefit on share based compensation

     (3,761 )     —    

Accretion of imputed interest on litigation settlements

     9,229       10,382  

Other

     2,396       3,138  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Trading securities

     7,211       3,958  

Accounts receivable

     4,037       25,995  

Settlement due from members

     40,211       20,682  

Prepaid expenses

     (31,694 )     (24,077 )

Other current assets

     (11,496 )     8,909  

Prepaid expenses, long-term

     (25,971 )     (648 )

Accounts payable

     (48,082 )     (12,706 )

Settlement due to members

     (65,616 )     (20,149 )

Accrued expenses

     (78,428 )     (143,724 )

Net change in other assets and liabilities

     11,975       10,189  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     70,974       40,636  
                

Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

     (16,855 )     (5,625 )

Capitalized software

     (19,248 )     (6,852 )

Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale

     (1,022,330 )     (739,626 )

Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities available-for-sale

     1,013,249       654,148  

Other investing activities

     1,077       (37 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (44,107 )     (97,992 )
                

Financing Activities

    

Dividends paid

     (12,157 )     —    

Excess tax benefit on share based compensation

     3,761       —    
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (8,396 )     —    
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     6,268       6,875  
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     24,739       (50,481 )

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period

     1,185,080       545,273  
                

Cash and cash equivalents—end of period

   $ 1,209,819     $ 494,792  
                

Non-Cash Financing Activities:

    

Dividends declaration

   $ 20,715       —    

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

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

 

     Total     Accumulated
Deficit
   

Accumulated

Other
Comprehensive
Income,
Net of Tax

   Common Shares   

Additional

Paid-in
Capital

 
            Class A    Class B   
     (In thousands)  

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 2,364,359     $ (1,029,196 )   $ 103,662    $ 8    $ 6    $ 3,289,879  

Net income

     214,906       214,906       —        —        —        —    

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     15,335       —         15,335      —        —        —    

Adoption of new tax accounting standard (Note 9)

     21,175       21,175       —        —        —        —    

Cash dividends declared on Class A and Class B common stock, $.15 per share

     (20,715 )     —         —        —        —        (20,715 )

Share based compensation

     8,425       —         —        —        —        8,425  

Tax withholding net of tax benefit for share based compensation

     (2,239 )     —         —        —        —        (2,239 )
                                             

Balance at March 31, 2007

   $ 2,601,246     $ (793,115 )   $ 118,997    $ 8    $ 6    $ 3,275,350  
                                             

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2007     2006  
     (In thousands)  

Net Income

   $ 214,906     $ 126,744  

Other comprehensive income:

    

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     13,692       16,924  

Defined benefit pension and postretirement plans, net of tax

     1,719       —    

Unrealized gain (loss) and reclassification adjustment for realized gain (loss) on investment securities available-for-sale, net of tax

     465       (2,654 )

Derivatives accounted for as hedges and reclassification adjustment, net of tax

     (541 )     (2,455 )
                

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     15,335       11,815  
                

Comprehensive Income

   $ 230,241     $ 138,559  
                

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

 

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Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization—MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries (“MasterCard” or the “Company”), including MasterCard International Incorporated (doing business as MasterCard Worldwide) (“MasterCard International”) and MasterCard Europe sprl, provide transaction processing and related services to customers principally in support of their credit, debit, electronic cash and Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) payment card programs, and travelers cheque programs.

Consolidation and basis of presentation—The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MasterCard and its majority-owned and controlled entities, including the Company’s variable interest entity. The Company’s variable interest entity was established for the purpose of constructing the Company’s global technology and operations center; it is not an operating entity and has no employees. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. The Company follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2006. Amounts previously reported within Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income as of December 31, 2006 have been adjusted to reflect a reclassification of $22,804 to increase cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments with a corresponding decrease in defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans. The reclassification had no impact on total accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 and as of March 31, 2007 are unaudited, and in the opinion of management include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for interim periods. Due to seasonal fluctuations and other factors, the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requirements of Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Reference should be made to the MasterCard Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements—In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of SFAS 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 allows entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. In addition, SFAS 159 includes an amendment to SFAS 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, and applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. SFAS 159 is effective for the Company commencing in 2008. We are in the process of evaluating the impact that SFAS 159 will have on our financial statements.

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

Note 2. Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)

The components of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
     2007    2006

Numerator:

     

Net income

   $ 214,906    $ 126,744
             

Denominator:

     

Basic EPS weighted-average shares outstanding

     135,847      134,969

Dilutive stock options and restricted stock units

     747      —  
             

Diluted EPS weighted-average shares outstanding

     136,594      134,969
             

Earnings per Share:

     

Basic

   $ 1.58    $ .94
             

Diluted

   $ 1.57    $ .94
             

The calculation of diluted earnings per share excluded approximately 114 stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2007 because the effect would be antidilutive. No stock options or restricted stock units were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2006.

In connection with our ownership and governance transactions in May 2006, we reclassified all of our approximately 100,000 outstanding shares of existing Class A redeemable common stock so that our previous stockholders received 1.35 shares of our Class B common stock for each share of Class A redeemable common stock that they held prior to the reclassification and a single share of our Class M common stock. Accordingly, shares and per share data were retroactively restated in the financial statements subsequent to the reclassification to reflect the reclassification as if it were effective at the start of the first period being presented in the financial statements.

Note 3. Prepaid Expenses

Prepaid expenses consist of the following:

 

     March 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

Customer and merchant incentives

   $ 333,345     $ 293,289  

Advertising

     53,999       33,321  

Other

     39,436       39,893  
                

Total prepaid expenses

     426,780       366,503  

Prepaid expenses, current

     (163,541 )     (130,849 )
                

Prepaid expenses, long-term

   $ 263,239     $ 235,654  
                

Prepaid customer and merchant incentives represent payments made to customers and merchants under business agreements.

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

Note 4. Pension Plans

The Company maintains a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the “Pension Plan”) with a cash balance feature covering substantially all of its U.S. employees. In March 2007, the Company announced it was modifying the Pension Plan by maintaining employee pay credit percentages at the 2007 level, eliminating funding for employees to purchase healthcare in retirement and limiting plan participation to employees hired before July 1, 2007. These changes are expected to reduce the benefit obligation of the Pension Plan measured as of December 31, 2006 by approximately $13,300 or 7%. The Company has determined that the reduction in the benefit obligation and the related decrease in net periodic pension cost for 2007 are not significant and do not require an interim measurement of the Pension Plan. Additionally, the Company has an unfunded nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plan that provides certain key employees with supplemental retirement benefits in excess of limits imposed on qualified plans by U.S. tax laws. For both plans, net periodic pension cost is as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Service cost

   $ 4,718     $ 4,650  

Interest cost

     3,050       2,717  

Expected return on plan assets

     (4,092 )     (3,830 )

Amortization of prior service credit

     (57 )     (52 )

Recognized actuarial loss

     —         300  
                

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 3,619     $ 3,785  
                

For the three months ended March 31, 2007, $57 of prior service credit was amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension cost.

The funded status of the Pension Plan exceeds minimum funding requirements. No voluntary contributions were made during the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.

Note 5. Postretirement Health and Life Insurance Benefits

The Company maintains a postretirement plan (the “Postretirement Plan”) providing health coverage and life insurance benefits for substantially all of its U.S. employees and retirees. Net periodic postretirement benefit cost is as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
     2007    2006

Service cost

   $ 589    $ 792

Interest cost

     848      905

Amortization of prior service cost

     —        17

Amortization of transition obligation

     53      145

Recognized actuarial loss

     —        53
             

Net periodic postretirement benefit cost

   $ 1,490    $ 1,912
             

For the three months ended March 31, 2007, $53 of transition obligation was amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic postretirement benefit cost. In addition, the Company amended the

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

life insurance benefits under the Postretirement Plan effective January 1, 2007. The impact, net of taxes, of this amendment was an increase of $1,715 to accumulated other comprehensive income in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

The Company funds its postretirement benefits as payments are required with cash flows from operations.

Note 6. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

 

     March 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006

Customer and merchant incentives

   $ 390,475    $ 386,582

Personnel costs

     114,730      248,262

Advertising

     92,206      141,864

Taxes

     98,211      83,509

Other

     107,125      76,210
             
   $ 802,747    $ 936,427
             

Note 7. Share Based Payment and Other Benefits

On March 1, 2007, the Company granted approximately 314 performance units, 330 stock options and 14 restricted stock units under the MasterCard Incorporated 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”). The fair value of the performance units and restricted stock units, based on the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant, was $106.29. The fair value of the stock options estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model was $39.67. The performance units and restricted stock units will primarily vest on or about February 28, 2010. The stock options vest ratably over four years and expire ten years from the date of grant. Compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures over the shorter of the vesting period or the date individual becomes eligible to retire under the LTIP. The Company uses the straight-line method of attribution for expensing equity awards. With regard to the performance units the ultimate number of shares to be received by the employee upon vesting will be determined by the Company’s performance against predetermined net income and return on equity goals for the three-year period commencing January 1, 2007. Estimates are adjusted as appropriate.

Note 8. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

The future minimum payments under non-cancelable leases for office buildings and equipment, sponsorships, licensing and other agreements at March 31, 2007 are as follows:

 

     Total   

Capital

Leases

  

Operating

Leases

  

Sponsorship,

Licensing and

Other

The remainder of 2007

   $ 349,008    $ 5,997    $ 27,593    $ 315,418

2008

     238,279      6,237      30,510      201,532

2009

     152,721      4,132      22,259      126,330

2010

     88,295      1,822      7,550      78,923

2011

     65,849      1,822      5,026      59,001

Thereafter

     166,140      38,656      24,937      102,547
                           

Total

   $ 1,060,292    $ 58,666    $ 117,875    $ 883,751
                           

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

Included in the table above are capital leases with imputed interest expense of $11,533 and a net present value of minimum lease payments of $47,133. In addition, at March 31, 2007, $44,889 of the future minimum payments in the table above for leases, sponsorship, licensing and other agreements was accrued. Consolidated rental expense for the Company’s office space was approximately $8,466 and $7,966 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Consolidated lease expense for automobiles, computer equipment and office equipment was $1,867 and $3,118 for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition, the table above includes approximately $180,000 relating to a sponsorship agreement which is the subject of a legal dispute. Should the Company not prevail in this dispute, it would not be obligated to make the payments.

MasterCard licenses certain software to its customers. The license agreements contain guarantees under which the Company indemnifies licensees from any adverse judgments arising from claims of intellectual property infringement by third parties. The terms of the guarantees are equal to the terms of the license to which they relate. The amount of the guarantees are limited to damages, losses, costs, expenses or other liabilities incurred by the licensee as a result of any intellectual property rights claims. The Company has historically experienced no intellectual property rights claims relating to the software it licenses to its customers and therefore management believes the probability of future claims is negligible. In addition, the Company does not generate significant revenues from software licenses. However, if circumstances in the future change, the Company may need to reassess whether it would be necessary to assess the fair value of these guarantees.

Note 9. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 36.0% and 34.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The rate in the three months ended March 31, 2007 was higher than the same period in 2006 primarily due to increased state income tax expense.

On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109” (“FIN 48”). The adoption of FIN 48 required us to inventory, evaluate, and measure all uncertain tax positions taken or to be taken on tax returns, and to record liabilities for the amount of such positions that would not be sustained, or would only partially be sustained, upon examination by the relevant taxing authorities. These liabilities represent the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits and amounted to $109,476 on January 1, 2007, the date of adoption. In certain situations, if uncertain tax positions are not sustained upon examination, the Company will have offsetting tax deductions or tax credits, the tax effects of which amounted to $48,682, resulting in a net tax impact of $60,794. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had recorded $56,870 of tax liabilities under the provisions of the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” (“SFAS 5”).

As a result of certain additional liabilities related to state tax positions recorded under FIN 48, the Company was required to increase deferred tax assets by $26,194, to reflect the higher anticipated tax rates at which such assets will reverse in future periods. In the event the Company is able to develop strategies which result in the reduction of tax liabilities under FIN 48, the deferred tax assets will be correspondingly reduced, resulting in a charge to earnings in the period such strategy is developed.

 

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Additionally, we recorded balance sheet reclassifications to reflect certain liabilities and related assets on a gross basis, as well as recording additional interest reserves. As a result of these adjustments, the impact of the adoption of FIN 48 was a net decrease to opening accumulated deficit of $21,175, and incremental impacts on the following line items in the Company’s balance sheet:

 

     Pro forma before
application of FIN 48
   FIN 48
Adjustment
    Increase
(decrease)
for quarter
ending
3/31/07
   

3/31/07

After Application
of FIN 48

Accounts Receivable

   $ 445,304    $ 5,068     $ —       $ 450,372

Other Current Assets

     83,552      13,833       —         97,385

Deferred Income Taxes

     211,013      60,103       3,318       274,434

Total Assets

   $ 5,123,831    $ 79,004     $ 3,318     $ 5,206,153

Accrued Expenses

   $ 854,394    $ (51,647 )   $ —       $ 802,747

Other Current Liabilities

     103,002      20,935       —         123,937

Other Liabilities

     224,809      88,541       9,818       323,168

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     2,586,571      21,175       (6,500 )     2,601,246

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 5,123,831    $ 79,004     $ 3,318     $ 5,206,153

For the three months ended March 31, 2007 unrecognized tax benefits increased $9,818, as a result of tax positions taken during the current period. These unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate, but the impact on the effective tax rate would be reduced by the reversal of certain related deferred tax assets totaling $3,318.

The Company previously estimated that the adoption of FIN 48 would increase accumulated deficit and increase other liabilities by approximately $5,000 to $10,000. The actual effect of the adoption differed from the estimated effect due to the additional analysis that was required to complete the determination.

It is the Company’s policy to account for interest expense related to income tax matters as interest expense in its statement of operations, and to include penalties related to income tax matters in the income tax provision. On the date of adoption, the Company had cumulatively recognized $12,466 of interest, and $2,609 of potential penalties. There were no significant changes to these balances for the three months ended March 31, 2007.

It is reasonably possible that some amount of unrecognized tax benefits will increase or decrease within twelve months of March 31, 2007, but this amount is not expected to be significant.

The Company is subject to tax in the United States and various state and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to federal, state, local, and foreign examinations by tax authorities for years before 2001.

Note 10. Legal and Regulatory Proceedings

MasterCard is a party to legal and regulatory proceedings with respect to a variety of matters in the ordinary course of business. Some of these proceedings involve complex claims that are subject to substantial uncertainties and unspecified damages, therefore, the probability of loss and an estimation of damages is not possible to ascertain at present. Accordingly, MasterCard has not established reserves for any of these proceedings other than for the currency conversion litigations. Except for those matters described below, MasterCard does not believe that any legal or regulatory proceedings to which it is a party would have a material

 

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impact on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. Although MasterCard believes that it has strong defenses for the litigations and regulatory proceedings described below, it could in the future incur judgments or fines or enter into settlements of claims that could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Notwithstanding MasterCard’s belief, in the event it was found liable in a large class-action lawsuit or on the basis of a claim entitling the plaintiff to treble damages or under which it was jointly and severally liable, charges it may be required to record could be significant and could materially and adversely affect its results of operations, cash flow and financial condition, or, in certain circumstances, even cause MasterCard to become insolvent. Moreover, an adverse outcome in a regulatory proceeding could result in fines and/or lead to the filing of civil damage claims and possibly result in damage awards in amounts that could be significant and could materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operation, cash flow and financial condition.

Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation and Related Private Litigations

In October 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) filed suit against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc. and Visa International Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging that both MasterCard’s and Visa’s governance structure and policies violated U.S. federal antitrust laws. First, the DOJ claimed that “dual governance”—the situation where a financial institution has a representative on the board of directors of MasterCard or Visa while a portion of its card portfolio is issued under the brand of the other association—was anti-competitive and acted to limit innovation within the payment card industry. Second, the DOJ challenged MasterCard’s Competitive Programs Policy (“CPP”) and a Visa bylaw provision that prohibited financial institutions participating in the respective associations from issuing competing proprietary payment cards (such as American Express or Discover). The DOJ alleged that MasterCard’s CPP and Visa’s bylaw provision acted to restrain competition.

On October 9, 2001, the District Court judge issued an opinion upholding the legality and pro-competitive nature of dual governance. However, the judge also held that MasterCard’s CPP and the Visa bylaw constituted unlawful restraints of trade under the federal antitrust laws.

On November 26, 2001, the judge issued a final judgment that ordered MasterCard to repeal the CPP insofar as it applies to issuers and enjoined MasterCard from enacting or enforcing any bylaw, rule, policy or practice that prohibits its issuers from issuing general purpose credit or debit cards in the United States on any other general purpose card network. The Second Circuit upheld the final judgment and the Supreme Court denied certiorari. The parties agreed that October 15, 2004 would serve as the effective date of the final judgment. The final judgment also provided for a two-year period of rescission rights for an issuer to enter into an agreement with American Express or Discover.

On September 18, 2003, MasterCard filed a motion before the District Court judge in the DOJ case seeking to enjoin Visa, pending completion of the appellate process, from enforcing a newly-enacted bylaw requiring Visa’s 100 largest issuers of debit cards in the United States to pay a so-called “settlement service” fee if they reduce their Visa debit volume by more than 10%. This bylaw was later modified to clarify that the settlement service fee would only be imposed if an issuer shifted its portfolio of debit cards to MasterCard. Visa implemented this bylaw provision following the settlement of the U.S. merchant lawsuit described under the heading “U.S. Merchant and Consumer Litigations” below. MasterCard believes that this bylaw is punitive and violates the final judgment in the DOJ litigation, which enjoins Visa and MasterCard from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any bylaw or policy that prohibits issuers from issuing general purpose cards or debit cards in the United States on any other general purpose card network. On July 7, 2006, a special master appointed by the District Court to conduct an evidentiary hearing issued a report and recommendation to the District Court finding

 

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that the continuation of Visa’s settlement service fee after the effective date of the final judgment on October 15, 2004 violated the final judgment. The District Court judge has indicated that she agreed with the special master’s findings which concluded that the SSF violates the final judgment in the DOJ litigation. At a recent hearing, the parties presented argument on the issue of what remedy to apply, and are awaiting a written decision by the District Court.

On October 4, 2004, Discover Financial Services, Inc. filed a complaint against MasterCard, Visa U.S.A. Inc. and Visa International Services Association. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and was designated as a related case to the DOJ litigation, and was assigned to the same judge who issued the DOJ decision described above. In an amended complaint filed on January 7, 2005, Discover alleged that the implementation and enforcement of MasterCard’s CPP, Visa’s bylaw provision and the Honor All Cards rule violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act in an alleged market for general purpose card network services and an alleged market for debit card network services. Specifically, Discover claimed that MasterCard’s CPP unreasonably restrained trade by prohibiting financial institutions who were members of MasterCard from issuing payment cards on the Discover network. Discover requested that the District Court apply collateral estoppel with respect to its final judgment in the DOJ litigation and enter an order that the CPP and Visa’s bylaw provision have injured competition and caused injury to Discover. Under the doctrine of collateral estoppel, a court has the discretion to preclude one or more issues from being relitigated in a subsequent action but only if (1) those issues are identical to issues actually litigated and determined in the prior action, (2) proof of those issues were necessary to reach the prior judgment, and (3) the party to be estopped had a full and fair opportunity to litigate those issues in the prior action. Accordingly, if the District Court were to give effect to collateral estoppel on one or more issues in the future, then significant elements of plaintiff’s claims would be established, thereby making it more likely that MasterCard would be found liable and making the possibility of an award of damages that much more likely. In the event all issues are subsequently decided against MasterCard in dispositive motions during the course of the litigation then there is the possibility that the sole issue remaining will be whether a damage award is appropriate and, if so, what the amount of damages should be. Discover seeks treble damages in an amount to be proved at trial along with attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 7, 2005, MasterCard moved to dismiss Discover’s amended complaint in its entirety for failure to state a claim. On April 14, 2005, the District Court denied, at this stage in the litigation, Discover’s request to give collateral estoppel effect to the findings in the DOJ litigation. However, the District Court indicated that Discover may refile a motion for collateral estoppel after discovery. On October 24, 2005, the District Court granted MasterCard’s motion to dismiss Discover’s Section 2 monopolization and attempted monopolization claims against MasterCard. On April 23, 2007, all parties consented to Discover’s filing of a second amended complaint that mirrored the claims in its amended complaint but deleted allegations relating to MasterCard’s Honor All Cards rule as well as Discover’s Section 2 monopolized and attempted monopolization claims against MasterCard based upon the court’s October 24, 2005 ruling. The parties are currently engaged in fact discovery that is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2007. At a recent status conference, the following dates were set: briefing on dispositive motions, including collateral estoppel, will be completed by February 8, 2008, with trial to commence on September 9, 2008. At this time, it is not possible to determine the ultimate resolution of, or estimate the liability related to, the Discover litigation. No provision for losses has been provided in connection with this matter.

On November 15, 2004, American Express filed a complaint against MasterCard, Visa and eight member banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Capital One Financial Corp., U.S. Bancorp, Household International Inc., Wells Fargo & Co., Providian Financial Corp. and USAA Federal Savings Bank. Subsequently, USAA Federal Savings Bank, Bank of America Corp. and Household International Inc. announced settlements with American Express and have been dismissed from the case. The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, was designated as a related case to the DOJ

 

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litigation and was assigned to the same judge. The complaint alleges that the implementation and enforcement of MasterCard’s CPP and Visa’s bylaw provision violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act in an alleged market for general purpose card network services and a market for debit card network services. Specifically, American Express claimed that MasterCard’s CPP unreasonably restrained trade by prohibiting financial institutions who were members of MasterCard from issuing payment cards on the American Express network. American Express seeks treble damages in an amount to be proved at trial, along with attorneys’ fees and costs. On January 14, 2005, MasterCard filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. American Express also requested that the Court apply collateral estoppel with respect to its final judgment in the DOJ litigation. On April 14, 2005, the District Court denied, at this stage in the litigation, American Express’ request to give collateral estoppel effect to the findings in the DOJ litigation. However, the Court indicated that American Express may refile a motion for collateral estoppel after discovery. As with the lawsuit brought by Discover that is described in the preceding paragraph, if the Court were to give effect to collateral estoppel on one or more issues in the future, then significant elements of plaintiff’s claims would be established, thereby making it more likely that MasterCard would be found liable and making the possibility of an award of damages that much more likely. In the event all issues are subsequently decided against MasterCard in dispositive motions during the course of the litigation then there is the possibility that the sole issue remaining will be whether a damage award is appropriate and, if so, what the amount of damages should be. The parties are currently engaged in fact discovery that is scheduled to be completed by May 31, 2007. At a recent status conference, the following dates were set: briefing on dispositive motions, including collateral estoppel, will be completed by February 8, 2008, with trial to commence on September 9, 2008. At this time, it is not possible to determine the ultimate resolution of, or estimate the liability related to, this matter. No provision for losses has been provided in connection with the American Express litigation.

Currency Conversion Litigations

MasterCard International, together with Visa U.S.A., Inc. and Visa International Corp., are defendants in a state court lawsuit in California. The lawsuit alleges that MasterCard and Visa wrongfully imposed an asserted one percent currency conversion “fee” on every credit card transaction by U.S. MasterCard and Visa cardholders involving the purchase of goods or services in a foreign country, and that such alleged “fee” is unlawful. This action, titled Schwartz v. Visa Int’l Corp., et al., was brought in the Superior Court of California in February 2000, purportedly on behalf of the general public. Trial of the Schwartz matter commenced on May 20, 2002 and concluded on November 27, 2002. The Schwartz action claims that the alleged “fee” grossly exceeds any costs the defendants might incur in connection with currency conversions relating to credit card purchase transactions made in foreign countries and is not properly disclosed to cardholders. MasterCard denies these allegations.

On April 8, 2003, the trial court judge issued a final decision in the Schwartz matter. In his decision, the trial judge found that MasterCard’s currency conversion process does not violate the Truth in Lending Act or regulations, nor is it unconscionably priced under California law. However, the judge found that the practice is deceptive under California law, and ordered that MasterCard mandate that members disclose the currency conversion process to cardholders in cardholder agreements, applications, solicitations and monthly billing statements. As to MasterCard, the judge also ordered restitution to California cardholders. The judge issued a decision on restitution on September 19, 2003, which requires a traditional notice and claims process in which consumers have approximately six months to submit their claims. The court issued its final judgment on October 31, 2003. On December 29, 2003, MasterCard appealed the judgment. The final judgment and restitution process have been stayed pending MasterCard’s appeal. On August 6, 2004, the court awarded plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees and costs in the amount of $28,224 to be paid equally by MasterCard and Visa. Accordingly, during the three months ended September 30, 2004, MasterCard accrued amounts totaling $14,112. MasterCard subsequently filed a notice of appeal on the attorneys’ fee award on October 1, 2004. With respect to restitution,

 

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MasterCard believes that it is likely to prevail on appeal. In February 2005, MasterCard filed an appeal regarding the applicability of Proposition 64, which amended sections 17203 and 17204 of the California Business and Professions Code, to this action. On September 28, 2005, the appellate court reversed the trial court, finding that the plaintiff lacked standing to pursue the action in light of Proposition 64. On December 14, 2005, the California Supreme Court granted plaintiff’s petition for review. On July 25, 2006, the plaintiff sent a letter to the Court seeking the withdrawal of the petition, to which the Court has not yet responded.

MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc., Visa International Corp., several member banks including Citibank (South Dakota), N.A., Chase Manhattan Bank USA, N.A., Bank of America, N.A. (USA), MBNA, and Citicorp Diners Club Inc. are also defendants in a number of federal putative class actions that allege, among other things, violations of federal antitrust laws based on the asserted one percent currency conversion “fee.” Pursuant to an order of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, the federal complaints have been consolidated in MDL No. 1409 before Judge William H. Pauley III in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. In January 2002, the federal plaintiffs filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint (“MDL Complaint”) adding MBNA Corporation and MBNA America Bank, N.A. as defendants. This pleading asserts two theories of antitrust conspiracy under Section 1 of the Sherman Act: (i) an alleged “inter-association” conspiracy among MasterCard (together with its members), Visa (together with its members) and Diners Club to fix currency conversion “fees” allegedly charged to cardholders of “no less than 1% of the transaction amount and frequently more;” and (ii) two alleged “intra-association” conspiracies, whereby each of Visa and MasterCard is claimed separately to have conspired with its members to fix currency conversion “fees” allegedly charged to cardholders of “no less than 1% of the transaction amount” and “to facilitate and encourage institution—and collection—of second tier currency conversion surcharges.” The MDL Complaint also asserts that the alleged currency conversion “fees” have not been disclosed as required by the Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z.

On July 20, 2006, MasterCard and the other defendants in the MDL action entered into agreements settling the MDL action and related matters, as well as the Schwartz matter. Pursuant to the settlement agreements, MasterCard has paid $72,480 to be used for defendants’ settlement fund to settle the MDL action and $13,440, which is expected to be paid in the third quarter of 2007, to settle the Schwartz matter. On November 8, 2006, Judge Pauley granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreements. The settlement agreements are subject to final approval by Judge Pauley, and resolution of all appeals. The hearing on final approval of the settlement agreements has been scheduled for November 2, 2007. On November 15, 2006, the plaintiff in one of the New York state court cases appealed the preliminary approval of the settlement agreement to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Oral argument is scheduled to take place no earlier than the week of July 9, 2007.

With regard to other state court currency conversion actions, MasterCard has reached agreements in principle with the plaintiffs for a total of $3,557, which has been accrued. Settlement agreements have been executed with plaintiffs in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Arizona, New York, Minnesota and Illinois actions.

Based upon litigation developments, certain of which were favorable to MasterCard and progress in ongoing settlement discussions in these currency conversion cases, and pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” litigation settlements were previously recorded for the amounts noted above. At this time, it is not possible to predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of these matters.

U.S. Merchant and Consumer Litigations

Commencing in October 1996, several class action suits were brought by a number of U.S. merchants against MasterCard International and Visa U.S.A., Inc. challenging certain aspects of the payment card industry

 

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under U.S. federal antitrust law. Those suits were later consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The plaintiffs claimed that MasterCard’s “Honor All Cards” rule (and a similar Visa rule), which required merchants who accept MasterCard cards to accept for payment every validly presented MasterCard card, constituted an illegal tying arrangement in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Plaintiffs claimed that MasterCard and Visa unlawfully tied acceptance of debit cards to acceptance of credit cards. The plaintiffs also claimed that MasterCard and Visa conspired to monopolize what they characterized as the point-of-sale debit card market, thereby suppressing the growth of regional networks such as ATM payment systems. On June 4, 2003, MasterCard International signed a settlement agreement to settle the claims brought by the plaintiffs in this matter, which the Court approved on December 19, 2003. On January 24, 2005, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order affirming the District Court’s approval of the settlement agreement. Accordingly, the settlement is now final.

In addition, individual or multiple complaints have been brought in 19 different states and the District of Columbia alleging state unfair competition, consumer protection and common law claims against MasterCard International (and Visa) on behalf of putative classes of consumers. The claims in these actions largely mirror the allegations made in the U.S. merchant lawsuit and assert that merchants, faced with excessive merchant discount fees, have passed these overcharges to consumers in the form of higher prices on goods and services sold. MasterCard has been successful in dismissing seventeen such cases as courts have granted MasterCard’s motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed their complaints. However, there are outstanding cases in the District of Columbia, New Mexico, California and West Virginia. The parties are awaiting decisions on MasterCard’s motion to dismiss in New Mexico and the District of Columbia. In California, the denial of MasterCard’s motion to dismiss the Section 17200 claims has been certified to the California appellate court. On March 26, 2007, the West Virginia court stayed discovery and requested that the parties brief the question of whether the state law unfair competition claims should be dismissed in light of the opinions from other states dismissing similar unfair competition claims on standing grounds. The parties are currently briefing this issue.

On April 29, 2005, a complaint was filed in California state court on behalf of a putative class of consumers under California unfair competition law (Section 17200) and the Cartwright Act. The claims in this action seek to piggyback on the portion of the DOJ antitrust litigation in which the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York found that MasterCard’s CPP and Visa’s bylaw constitute unlawful restraints of trade under the federal antitrust laws. See “—Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation and Related Private Litigations.” MasterCard and Visa moved to dismiss the complaint and the court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ Cartwright claims but denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ Section 17200 unfair competition claims. MasterCard filed an answer to the complaint on June 19, 2006 and the parties are proceeding with discovery.

At this time, it is not possible to determine the outcome of, or estimate the liability related to, these consumer cases and no provision for losses has been provided in connection with them. The consumer class actions are not covered by the terms of the settlement agreement in the U.S. merchant lawsuit.

eFunds Litigation

In December 2003, MasterCard and eFunds Corporation (“eFunds”) entered into a Marketing Sales and Services Alliance Agreement (the “Agreement”) whereby the parties agreed to work together to provide debit processing services to financial institutions. After analysis of the needs of its customers and its business, on December 13, 2006, MasterCard notified eFunds that, pursuant to one of the provisions in the Agreement, it was terminating the Agreement. On or about January 30, 2007, eFunds filed a verified complaint against MasterCard

 

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in Superior Court for the State of Arizona, alleging that MasterCard’s termination of the Agreement was improper. The complaint asserts several causes of action including declaratory judgment, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and fraudulent inducement. eFunds seeks a declaratory judgment that the Agreement remains in full force and effect, or, in the alternative, monetary damages. MasterCard’s response to the complaint is due on May 4, 2007.

At this time, it is not possible to determine the outcome of, or estimate the liability related to, the eFunds litigation and no provision for losses has been provided in connection with it.

Global Interchange Proceedings

Interchange fees represent a sharing of payment system costs among the financial institutions participating in a four-party payment card system such as MasterCard’s. Typically, interchange fees are paid by the acquirer to the issuer in connection with transactions initiated with the payment system’s cards. These fees reimburse the issuer for a portion of the costs incurred by it in providing services which are of benefit to all participants in the system, including acquirers and merchants. MasterCard or its members establish a default interchange fee in certain circumstances that applies when there is no other interchange fee arrangement between the issuer and the acquirer. MasterCard establishes a variety of interchange rates depending on such considerations as the location and the type of transaction, and collects the interchange fee on behalf of the institutions entitled to receive it and remits the interchange fee to eligible institutions. As described more fully below, MasterCard or its members’ interchange fees are subject to regulatory or legal review and/or challenges in a number of jurisdictions. At this time, it is not possible to determine the ultimate resolution of, or estimate the liability related to, any of the interchange proceedings described below. No provision for losses has been provided in connection with them.

United States. On October 8, 2004, a purported class action lawsuit was filed by a group of merchants in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc., Visa International Corp. and several member banks in California alleging, among other things, that MasterCard’s and Visa’s interchange fees contravene the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act. The plaintiffs seek damages and an injunction against MasterCard (and Visa) setting interchange and engaging in “joint marketing activities,” which plaintiffs allege include the purported negotiation of merchant discount rates with certain merchants. MasterCard moved to dismiss the claims in the complaint for failure to state a claim and, in the alternative, also moved for summary judgment with respect to certain of the claims. On July 25, 2005, the court issued an order granting MasterCard’s motion to dismiss and dismissed the complaint with prejudice which plaintiffs have appealed. Oral argument on the appeal will take place on June 12, 2007.

On June 22, 2005, a purported class action lawsuit was filed by a group of merchants in the U.S. District Court of Connecticut against MasterCard International Incorporated, Visa U.S.A., Inc. Visa International Service Association and a number of member banks alleging, among other things, that MasterCard’s and Visa’s purported setting of interchange fees violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act. In addition, the complaint alleges MasterCard’s and Visa’s purported tying and bundling of transaction fees also constitutes a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The suit seeks treble damages in an unspecified amount, attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief. Since the filing of this complaint, there have been approximately fifty similar complaints (the majority styled as class actions although a few complaints are on behalf of individual plaintiffs) filed on behalf of merchants against MasterCard and Visa (and in some cases, certain member banks) in federal courts in California, New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky and Connecticut. On October 19, 2005, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order transferring these cases to Judge Gleeson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York for coordination of pre-trial proceedings. On April 24, 2006, the group of purported class plaintiffs filed a First Amended Class Action Complaint. Taken together, the claims in

 

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the First Amended Class Action Complaint and in the complaints brought on the behalf of the individual merchants are generally brought under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. Specifically, the complaints contain some or all of the following claims: (i) that MasterCard’s and Visa’s setting of interchange fees (for both credit and offline debit transactions) violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act; (ii) that MasterCard and Visa have enacted and enforced various rules, including the no surcharge rule and purported anti-steering rules, in violation of Section 1 or 2 of the Sherman Act; (iii) that MasterCard’s and Visa’s purported bundling of the acceptance of premium credit cards to standard credit cards constitutes an unlawful tying arrangement; and (iv) that MasterCard and Visa have unlawfully tied and bundled transaction fees. In addition to the claims brought under federal antitrust law, some of these complaints contain certain state unfair competition law claims based upon the same conduct described above. These interchange-related litigations also seek treble damages in an unspecified amount (although several of the complaints allege that the plaintiffs expect that damages will range in the tens of billions of dollars), as well as attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief.

On June 9, 2006, MasterCard answered the complaint and moved to dismiss or, alternatively, moved to strike the pre-2004 damage claims that were contained in the First Amended Class Action Complaint and moved to dismiss the Section 2 claims that were brought in the individual merchant complaints. The parties are awaiting a decision. Fact discovery is proceeding and is scheduled to be completed by November 30, 2007, with briefing on case dispositive motions scheduled to be completed by November 24, 2008. On July 5, 2006, the group of purported class plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint alleging that the IPO and certain purported agreements entered into between MasterCard and its member financial institutions in connection with the IPO (1) violate Section 7 of the Clayton Act because their effect allegedly may be to substantially lessen competition, (2) violate Section 1 of the Sherman Act because they allegedly constitute an unlawful combination in restraint of trade and (3) constitute a fraudulent conveyance because the member banks are allegedly attempting to release without adequate consideration from the member banks MasterCard’s right to assess the member banks for MasterCard’s litigation liabilities in these interchange-related litigations and in other antitrust litigations pending against it. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and an order reversing and unwinding the IPO. On September 15, 2006, MasterCard moved to dismiss all of the claims contained in the supplemental complaint. The parties are awaiting a decision.

European Union. In September 2000, the European Commission issued a “Statement of Objections” challenging Visa International’s cross-border interchange fee under European Community competition rules. On July 24, 2002, the European Commission announced its decision to exempt the Visa interchange fee from these rules through the end of 2007 based on certain changes proposed by Visa to its interchange fees. Among other things, in connection with the exemption order, Visa agreed to adopt a cost-based methodology for calculating its interchange fees similar to the methodology employed by MasterCard, which considers the costs of certain specified services provided by issuers, and to reduce its interchange rates for debit and credit transactions to amounts at or below certain specified levels.

On September 25, 2003, the European Commission issued a Statement of Objections challenging MasterCard Europe’s cross-border interchange fees. MasterCard Europe filed its response to this Statement of Objections on January 5, 2004. On June 23, 2006, the European Commission issued a supplemental Statement of Objections covering credit, debit and commercial card fees. On March 23, 2007, the European Commission issued a Letter of Facts, also covering credit, debit and commercial card fees.

When the European Commission completes its review of MasterCard Europe’s cross-border interchange fees, it could issue a prohibition decision ordering MasterCard to change the manner in which it calculates its cross-border interchange fees. MasterCard Europe could appeal such a decision to the European Court of Justice. The European Commission has informed MasterCard that it does not intend to levy a fine against MasterCard

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

even if it determines that MasterCard’s cross-border interchange fees violate European Community competition rules. Because cross-border interchange fees constitute an essential element of MasterCard Europe’s operations, changes to them could significantly impact MasterCard International’s European members and MasterCard Europe’s business. In addition, a negative decision by the European Commission could lead to the filing of private actions against MasterCard Europe by merchants and/or consumers seeking substantial damages.

On June 13, 2005, the European Commission announced a “sector inquiry” into the financial services industry, which includes an investigation of interchange fees. On April 12, 2006, the European Commission released its interim report on its sector inquiry into the payments card industry. In the report, the European Commission criticizes or expresses concern about a large number of industry practices, including interchange fees, of a multiplicity of industry participants, and warns of possible regulatory or legislative action. On January 31, 2007, the European Commission issued its final report on the sector inquiry, and repeated its warnings of possible regulatory or legislative action. However, the report does not indicate against whom any such regulatory action might be taken or what legislative changes might be sought.

United Kingdom Office of Fair Trading. On September 25, 2001, the Office of Fair Trading of the United Kingdom (“OFT”) issued a Rule 14 Notice under the U.K. Competition Act 1998 challenging the MasterCard interchange fee and multilateral service fee (“MSF”), the fee paid by issuers to acquirers when a customer uses a MasterCard-branded card in the United Kingdom either at an ATM or over the counter to obtain a cash advance. Until November 2004, the interchange fee and MSF were established by MasterCard U.K. Members Forum Limited (“MMF”) (formerly MasterCard Europay U.K. Ltd. (“MEPUK”)) for domestic credit card transactions in the United Kingdom. The notice contained preliminary conclusions to the effect that the MasterCard U.K. interchange fee and MSF may infringe U.K. competition law and do not qualify for an exemption in their present forms. On February 11, 2003, the OFT issued a supplemental Rule 14 Notice, which also contained preliminary conclusions challenging MasterCard’s U.K. interchange fee under the Competition Act. On November 10, 2004, the OFT issued a third notice (now called a Statement of Objections) claiming that the interchange fee infringes U.K. and European Union competition law.

On November 18, 2004, MasterCard’s board of directors adopted a resolution withdrawing the authority of the U.K. members to set domestic MasterCard interchange fees and MSFs and conferring such authority exclusively on MasterCard’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

On September 6, 2005, the OFT issued its decision, concluding that MasterCard’s U.K. interchange fees that were established by MMF prior to November 18, 2004 contravene U.K. and European Union competition law. The OFT decided not to impose penalties on MasterCard or MMF. On November 2 and 4, 2005, respectively, MMF and MasterCard appealed the OFT’s decision to the U.K. Competition Appeals Tribunal. On June 19, 2006, the U.K. Competition Appeals Tribunal set aside the OFT’s decision, following the OFT’s request to the Tribunal to withdraw the decision and end its case against MasterCard’s U.K. interchange fees in place prior to November 18, 2004.

However, the OFT has commenced a new investigation of MasterCard’s current U.K. interchange fees and announced on February 9, 2007 that the investigation would also cover so-called “immediate debit” cards. If the OFT determines that any of MasterCard’s U.K. interchange fees contravene U.K. and European Union competition law, it may issue a new decision and possibly levy fines accruing from the date of its first decision. MasterCard would likely appeal a negative decision by the OFT in any future proceeding to the Competition Appeals Tribunal. Such an OFT decision could lead to the filing of private actions against MasterCard by merchants and/or consumers which, if its appeal of such an OFT decision were to fail, could result in an award or awards of substantial damages.

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

Poland. In April 2001, in response to merchant complaints, the Polish Office for Protection of Competition and Consumers (the “PCA”) initiated an investigation of MasterCard’s (and Visa’s) domestic credit and debit card interchange fees. MasterCard Europe filed several submissions and met with the PCA in connection with the investigation. In January 2007, the PCA issued a decision that MasterCard’s (and Visa’s) interchange fees are unlawful under Polish competition law, and imposed fines on MasterCard’s (and Visa’s) licensed financial institutions. MasterCard and the financial institutions have appealed the decision. If the appeals are unsuccessful and the PCA’s decision is allowed to stand, it could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard’s Polish members and on MasterCard’s overall business in Poland.

New Zealand. In November 2003, MasterCard assumed responsibility for setting domestic interchange fees in New Zealand, which previously had been set by MasterCard’s member financial institutions in New Zealand. In early 2004, the New Zealand Competition Commission (the “NZCC”) commenced an investigation of MasterCard’s domestic interchange fees. MasterCard has cooperated with the NZCC in its investigation, made a number of submissions concerning its New Zealand domestic interchange fees and met with the NZCC on several occasions to discuss its investigation. In November 2006, the NZCC filed a lawsuit alleging that MasterCard’s (and Visa’s) domestic interchange fees do not comply with New Zealand competition law, and is seeking penalties. Several large merchants subsequently filed similar lawsuits seeking damages. A negative decision in these lawsuits could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard’s New Zealand members and on MasterCard’s overall business in New Zealand.

Other Jurisdictions. In January 2006, a German retailers association filed a complaint with the Federal Cartel Office in Germany concerning MasterCard’s (and Visa’s) domestic interchange fees. The complaint alleges that MasterCard’s (and Visa’s) German domestic interchange fees are not transparent to merchants and include so-called “extraneous costs.” MasterCard understands that the Federal Cartel Office is continuing to review the complaint. MasterCard is aware that regulatory authorities and/or central banks in certain other jurisdictions including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, South Africa, Singapore, Hungary, Portugal and Switzerland are reviewing MasterCard’s and/or its members’ interchange fees and/or related practices and may seek to regulate the establishment of such fees and/or such practices.

Note 11. Settlement and Travelers Cheque Risk Management

MasterCard International’s rules generally guarantee the payment of certain MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions between its principal members. The term and amount of the guarantee are unlimited. Settlement risk is the exposure to members under MasterCard International’s rules (“Settlement Exposure”), due to the difference in timing between the payment transaction date and subsequent settlement. Settlement Exposure is estimated using the average daily card charges during the quarter multiplied by the estimated number of days to settle. The Company has global risk management policies and procedures, which include risk standards to provide a framework for managing the Company’s settlement risk. Member-reported transaction data and the transaction clearing data underlying the settlement risk calculation may be revised in subsequent reporting periods.

In the event that MasterCard International effects a payment on behalf of a failed member, MasterCard International may seek an assignment of the underlying receivables. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, members may be charged for the amount of any settlement loss incurred during the ordinary activities of the Company.

MasterCard requires certain members that are not in compliance with the Company’s risk standards in effect at the time of review to post collateral, typically in the form of letters of credit and bank guarantees. This

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

requirement is based on management review of the individual risk circumstances for each member that is out of compliance. In addition to these amounts, MasterCard holds collateral to cover variability and future growth in member programs. The Company also holds collateral to pay merchants in the event of merchant bank/acquirer failure. Although it is not contractually obligated under MasterCard International’s rules to effect such payments, the Company may elect to do so to protect brand integrity. MasterCard monitors its credit risk portfolio on a regular basis to estimate potential concentration risks and the adequacy of collateral on hand. Additionally, from time to time, the Company reviews its risk management methodology and standards. As such, the amounts of estimated settlement risk are revised as necessary.

Estimated Settlement Exposure, and the portion of the Company’s uncollateralized Settlement Exposure for MasterCard-branded transactions that relates to members that are deemed not to be in compliance with, or that are under review in connection with, the Company’s risk management standards, were as follows:

 

     March 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

MasterCard-branded transactions:

    

Gross Settlement Exposure

   $ 18,285,105     $ 18,059,691  

Collateral held for Settlement Exposure

     (1,782,507 )     (1,611,537 )
                

Net uncollateralized Settlement Exposure

   $ 16,502,598     $ 16,448,154  
                

Uncollateralized Settlement Exposure attributable to non-compliant members

   $ 73,035     $ 89,319  
                

Cirrus and Maestro transactions:

    

Gross Settlement Exposure

   $ 2,697,819     $ 2,626,998  
                

Although MasterCard holds collateral at the member level, the Cirrus and Maestro estimated settlement exposures are calculated at the regional level. Therefore, these settlement exposures are reported on a gross basis, rather than net of collateral.

Of the total estimated Settlement Exposure under the MasterCard brand, net of collateral, the U.S. accounted for approximately 47% and 48% at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The second largest country that accounted for this Settlement Exposure was the United Kingdom at approximately 11% at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. Of the total uncollateralized Settlement Exposure attributable to non-compliant members, five members represented approximately 59% and 60% at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

MasterCard guarantees the payment of MasterCard-branded travelers cheques in the event of issuer default. The guarantee estimate is based on all outstanding MasterCard-branded travelers cheques, reduced by an actuarial determination of cheques that are not anticipated to be presented for payment. The term and amount of the guarantee are unlimited. MasterCard calculated its MasterCard-branded travelers cheques exposure under this guarantee as $628,103 and $690,527 at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The reduction in travelers cheques exposure is attributable to a decision by our two largest issuers to stop selling MasterCard-branded cheques.

A significant portion of the Company’s travelers cheque risk is concentrated in one MasterCard travelers cheque issuer. MasterCard has obtained an unlimited guarantee estimated at $504,728 and $553,925 at March 31,

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, from a financial institution that is a member, to cover all of the exposure of outstanding travelers cheques with respect to that issuer. In addition, MasterCard has obtained guarantees estimated at $19,760 and $21,709 at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, from financial institutions that are members in order to cover the exposure of outstanding travelers cheques with respect to another issuer. These guarantee amounts have also been reduced by an actuarial determination of cheques that are not anticipated to be presented for payment.

Based on the Company’s ability to charge its members for settlement and travelers cheque losses, the effectiveness of the Company’s global risk management policies and procedures, and the historically low level of losses that the Company has experienced from settlement and travelers cheques, management believes the probability of future payments for settlement and travelers cheque losses in excess of existing reserves is negligible.

Note 12. Foreign Exchange Risk Management

The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to minimize risk associated with anticipated receipts and disbursements which are either transacted in a non-functional currency or valued based on a currency other than our functional currencies. The Company also enters into contracts to offset possible changes in value due to foreign exchange fluctuations of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. MasterCard’s forward contracts are classified by functional currency as summarized below:

U.S. Dollar Functional Currency

 

     March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006

Forward Contracts

   Notional   

Estimated

Fair Value

    Notional   

Estimated

Fair Value

Commitments to purchase foreign currency

   $ 103,147    $ 1,151     $ 34,680    $ 86

Commitments to sell foreign currency

     89,573      (544 )     17,268      86

Euro Functional Currency

 

     March 31, 2007     December 31, 2006  

Forward Contracts

   Notional   

Estimated

Fair Value

    Notional   

Estimated

Fair Value

 

Commitments to purchase foreign currency

   $ 85,355    $ (3,273 )   $ 121,351    $ (2,312 )

Commitments to sell foreign currency

     55,668      685       45,123      147  

Brazilian Real Functional Currency

 

     March 31, 2007    December 31, 2006  

Forward Contracts

   Notional   

Estimated

Fair Value

   Notional   

Estimated

Fair Value

 

Commitments to purchase foreign currency

   —      —      $ 10,954    $ (841 )

The currencies underlying the foreign currency forward contracts consist primarily of euro, U.K. pound sterling, Brazilian real, Australian dollar, Mexican peso, Canadian dollar and Japanese yen. The fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts generally reflects the estimated amounts that the Company would receive or (pay), on a pre-tax basis, to terminate the contracts at the reporting date based on broker quotes for the same or

 

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MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)—Continued

(In thousands, except per share and percent data)

 

similar instruments. The terms of the foreign currency forward contracts are generally less than 18 months. The Company has deferred $2,067 and $1,526 of net losses, after tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, all of which is expected to be reclassified to earnings as the contracts mature to provide an economic offset to the earnings impact of the anticipated cash flows hedged.

The Company’s derivative financial instruments are subject to both credit and market risk. Credit risk is the risk of loss due to failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations in accordance with contractual terms. Market risk is the potential change in an instrument’s value caused by fluctuations in interest rates and other variables related to currency exchange rates. Credit and market risk related to derivative instruments were not material at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

Generally, the Company does not obtain collateral related to forward contracts because of the high credit ratings of the counterparties, which are also members of MasterCard International. The amount of accounting loss the Company would incur if the counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of the contracts is not considered material.

Note 13. Subsequent Events

On April 27, 2007, the Company extended its committed unsecured $2,500,000 revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) for one year. The new expiration date of the Credit Facility is April 27, 2010. Except for the maturity extension, the original terms and conditions in the credit facility remain unchanged. MasterCard was in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Facility as of March 31, 2007. There were no borrowings under the Credit Facility at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The majority of Credit Facility lenders are customers or affiliates of customers of MasterCard International.

The Company’s Board of Directors has approved amendments to the Company’s certificate of incorporation designed to facilitate an accelerated, orderly conversion of Class B common stock into Class A common stock for subsequent sale. Through “conversion transactions,” in amounts and at times to be designated by the Company, current holders of shares of Class B common stock who elect to participate would be eligible to convert their shares on a one-for-one basis into shares of Class A common stock for subsequent sale to public investors within no more than 30 days. MasterCard Class B shareholders would not be allowed to participate in any Class A shareholder vote during this “transitory” ownership period. The number of shares of Class B common stock eligible for conversion transactions would be determined by the Company and limited to an annual aggregate number of up to 10% of the total combined outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock, based upon the total number of shares outstanding as of December 31st of the prior calendar year. In addition, prior to May 31, 2010, a conversion transaction would not be permitted that would cause shares of Class B common stock to represent less than 15% of total outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding. The proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation are subject to stockholder approval at the Company’s June 7, 2007 annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors approved two additional items, each of which is also contingent upon stockholder approval of the amendments to the certificate of incorporation at the Company’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders: (i) the conversion of up to 13,400 shares of Class B common stock into Class A common stock in “conversion transactions” during 2007 and (ii) the repurchase of up to $500,000 of Class A common stock in open market transactions during 2007.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes of MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries. In this discussion, references to the “Company,” “MasterCard,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the MasterCard brand generally, and to the business conducted by MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MasterCard International Incorporated (doing business as MasterCard Worldwide) and MasterCard Europe sprl.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this Report, the words “believe,” “expect,” “could,” “may,” “would”, “will” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s future prospects, developments and business strategies and include, without limitation, the Company’s belief in its ability to drive growth by further penetrating its existing customer base and by expanding its role in targeted geographies and higher-growth segments of the global payments industry, enhancing its merchant relationships, maintaining unsurpassed acceptance and continuing to invest in its brands and increasing its volume of business with key customers over time. Many factors and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, influence whether any forward-looking statements can or will be achieved. Any one of those factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in writing in any forward-looking statements made by MasterCard or on its behalf. We believe there are certain risk factors that are important to our business, and these could cause actual results to differ from our expectations. Reference should be made to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for a complete discussion of these risk factors in Item 1A—Risk Factors.

Overview

We are a global payment solutions company that provides a variety of services in support of our customers’ credit, debit and related payment programs. We manage a family of well-known, widely accepted payment card brands including MasterCard®, MasterCard Electronic, Maestro® and Cirrus®, which we license to our customers. As part of managing these brands, we also establish and enforce rules and standards surrounding the use of our payment card system. Cardholder and merchant relationships are managed principally by our customers. Accordingly, we do not issue cards, extend credit to cardholders, determine the interest rates (if applicable) or other fees charged to cardholders by issuers, or establish the merchant discount charged by acquirers in connection with the acceptance of cards that carry our brands.

We achieved revenue growth of 23.9% in the first three months of 2007 of which 2.5% is due to the impact of foreign currency fluctuation related to the euro. The growth in revenues was principally due to increased transactions and volumes and restructuring of currency conversion pricing. In April 2006, we restructured our currency conversion pricing by initiating a charge to our issuers and acquirers for all cross-border transactions regardless of whether we perform the currency conversion or it is performed by a third party at the point of sale. We also generally decreased the price we charge our issuers for performing currency conversion. The restructuring of the currency conversion pricing and other less significant pricing modifications in 2006 accounted for approximately 5% of our revenue growth for the three months ended March 31, 2007. Our revenue growth was moderated by a $54 million or 25.0% increase in rebates and incentives to our customers and merchants in the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Operating expenses increased 8.2% in the first three months of 2007 of which 1.9% is due to the impact of foreign currency fluctuation related to the euro. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in general and administrative expenses to support our customer focused strategy. Our operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues were 65.7% in the first three months of 2007 versus 75.3% in the comparable period.

 

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Our liquidity and capital position were strong, as we had $2.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities, and $2.6 billion in stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2007.

We believe that the trend within the global payments industry from paper-based forms of payment such as cash and checks toward electronic forms of payment such as cards creates significant opportunities for the continued growth of our business. Our strategy is to continue our growth by further penetrating our existing customer base and by expanding our role in targeted geographies and higher-growth segments of the global payments industry (such as corporate, premium and debit payments), enhancing our merchant relationships, maintaining unsurpassed acceptance and continuing to invest in our brands. We are committed to providing our key customers with coordinated services through integrated, dedicated account teams in a manner that allows us to capitalize on our expertise in payment programs, brand marketing, product development, technology, processing and consulting services for these customers. By investing in strong customer relationships over the long-term, we believe that we can increase our volume of business with key customers over time. In support of this strategy, we are continuing to hire additional personnel and develop our existing workforce. We intend to expand our role in targeted geographies by, among other things, pursuing incremental payment processing opportunities in the European region, Latin American and Asia/Pacific countries.

There is increased regulatory scrutiny of interchange fees and other aspects of the payments industry which could have an adverse impact on our business. In addition, we face exposure to antitrust and other types of litigation. Competition and pricing pressure within the global payments industry is increasing, due in part to consolidation within the banking sector and the growing power of merchants. Regulatory actions, litigation, and pricing pressure may lead us to change our pricing arrangements and could reduce our overall revenues. See Item 1A—Risk Factors of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for these and other risks facing our business.

Impact of Foreign Currency Rates

Our operations are impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In most regions, except Europe, assessments are calculated based on local currency volume converted to U.S. dollar volume using average exchange rates for the related assessment period. In Europe, the local currency volumes are converted to the euro. As a result, assessment revenues are impacted by the overall strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar or euro compared to the foreign currencies of the related local volumes in each period. In the first quarter of 2007, the U.S. dollar weakened as evidenced by a 19.1% increase in gross dollar volume (“GDV”) on a U.S. dollar converted basis exceeding local currency GDV growth of 16.4%, compared to the same period in the prior year.

We are especially impacted by the movements of the euro relative to the U.S. dollar since the functional currency of MasterCard Europe, our principal European operating subsidiary, is the euro. The strengthening or devaluation of the U.S. dollar against the euro impacts the translation of MasterCard Europe’s operating results into U.S. dollar amounts and is summarized as follows:

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
         2007             2006      

Euro to U.S. dollar average exchange rate

   $ 1.31     $ 1.20  

Strengthening (devaluation) of U.S. dollar related to the euro from prior year

     (9.2 )%     8.1 %

Revenue change attributable to translation of MasterCard Europe revenues to U.S. dollars

     2.5 %     (2.2 )%

Operating expense change attributable to translation of MasterCard Europe expenses to U.S. dollars

     1.9 %     (1.9 )%

Revenues

We generate revenues from the fees that we charge our customers for providing transaction processing and other payment-related services (operations fees) and by charging assessments to our customers based on the

 

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GDV of activity on the cards that carry our brands (assessments). GDV includes the aggregated dollar amount of usage (purchases, cash disbursements, balance transfers and convenience checks) on MasterCard-branded cards. Our pricing for transactions and services is complex. Each category of revenue has numerous fee components depending on the types of transactions or services provided. We review our pricing and implement pricing changes on an ongoing basis. In addition, standard pricing varies among our regional businesses, and such pricing can be customized further for our customers through incentive and rebate agreements. Our revenues are based upon transactional information accumulated by our systems or reported by our customers. We earned approximately 71.4% and 67.0% of our net revenues from net operations fees and approximately 28.6% and 33.0% of our net revenues from net assessments in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The shift of 3.4% to operations fees from assessments was due to the restructuring of the currency conversion pricing in April 2006.

Operations fees are typically transaction-based and are charged for facilitating the processing of payment transactions and information management among our customers. A typical transaction processed through MasterCard’s system involves four participants in addition to us: an issuer (the cardholders’ bank), an acquirer (the merchant’s bank), the merchant and the cardholder. Operations fees are charged to issuers, acquirers or their delegated processors for transaction processing services, specific programs to promote MasterCard-branded card acceptance and additional services to assist them in managing their businesses. The significant components of operations fees are as follows:

 

   

Authorization occurs when a merchant requests approval for a cardholder’s transaction. We charge a fee for routing the authorization for approval to or from the issuer or, in certain circumstances, such as when the issuer’s systems are unavailable, for approval by us or others on behalf of the issuer in accordance with the issuer’s instructions. Our rules, which vary across regions, establish the circumstances under which merchants and acquirers must seek authorization of transactions. These fees are primarily paid by issuers.

 

   

Settlement refers to the process in which we determine the amounts due between issuers and acquirers for payment transactions and associated fees. First, we clear a transaction by transferring the financial transaction details among issuers, acquirers or their designated third-party processors. Then we settle or exchange the related funds among the issuers and acquirers. We charge a fee for these settlement and clearing services. These fees are primarily paid by issuers.

 

   

Switch fees are charges for the use of the MasterCard Debit Switch, our debit processing system. The MasterCard Debit Switch transmits financial messages between acquirers and issuers and provides transaction and statistical reporting and performs settlement between members and other debit transaction processing networks. These fees are primarily paid by issuers.

 

   

Currency conversion and cross-border are volume-based revenues. Cross-border volumes are generated by transactions in which the cardholder and merchant geography are different. We process transactions denominated in more than 160 currencies through our global system, providing cardholders with the ability to utilize, and merchants to accept, MasterCard cards across multiple country borders. We can also perform currency conversion services by processing transactions in a merchant’s local currency and converting the amount to the currency of the issuer, who in turn may add foreign exchange charges and post the transaction on the cardholder’s statement in their own home currency. In April 2006, we restructured our currency conversion revenues by initiating a charge to our issuers and acquirers for all cross-border transaction volumes regardless of whether we perform the currency conversion or it is performed by a third party at the point-of-sale. We also generally decreased the price we charge issuers for performing currency conversion.

 

   

Acceptance development fees are charged to issuers based on components of GDV and support our focus on developing merchant relationships and promoting acceptance at the point of sale. These fees are primarily U.S.-based.

 

   

Warning bulletin fees are charged to issuers and acquirers for listing invalid or fraudulent accounts either electronically or in paper form and for distributing this listing to merchants.

 

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Connectivity fees are charged to issuers and acquirers for network access, equipment, and the transmission of authorization and settlement messages.

 

   

Consulting and research fees as well as outsourcing services fees are primarily generated by MasterCard Advisors, our professional advisory services group. We provide a wide range of consulting, information and outsourcing services associated with our customers’ payment activities and programs. Research includes revenues from subscription-based services, access to research inquiry, and peer networking services generated by our independent financial and payments industry research group. We do not anticipate consulting and research becoming a significant percentage of our business. MasterCard Advisors’ revenues, of which consulting and research fees are components, were less than 10% of our consolidated revenues.

 

   

Other operations fees are primarily user-pay services including the sale of manuals, publications, holograms, information and reports, as well as compliance programs and penalties, to assist our customers in managing their businesses. In addition, other operations fees include fees for cardholder services in connection with the benefits provided with MasterCard-branded cards, such as insurance, telecommunications assistance for lost cards and locating automated teller machines.

Generally, we process certain MasterCard-branded domestic transactions in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Australia. We process substantially all cross-border transactions using MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus-branded cards. We charge relatively higher operations fees for settlement, authorization and switch fees on cross-border transactions and earn cross-border revenues as well as currency conversion revenues if the transactions require conversion between two different currencies. Operations fees for offline debit transactions, which are generally signature-based debit transactions, are priced similar to credit transactions. Operations fees for processing domestic online debit transactions are priced in a similar manner as domestic offline debit and credit transactions, while cross-border offline debit and credit transactions are priced higher than cross-border online debit transactions.

Assessments are primarily based on GDV for a specific time period and the rates vary depending on the nature of the transactions that generate GDV. Assessment rates vary by region. Most of our assessment rates are tiered and rates decrease when customers meet incremental volume hurdles. These assessment rates also vary by the type of transaction. We generally assess at higher rates for cross-border volumes compared to domestic volumes. We also assess at higher rates for retail purchases versus cash withdrawals. Credit and offline debit transactions are assessed at higher rates than online debit transactions. In addition, from time to time the Company may introduce assessments for specific purposes such as market development programs. Assessments that are based on quarterly GDV are estimated utilizing aggregate transaction information and projected customer performance.

Gross revenues grew 24.1% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period last year. A component of our revenue growth was the result of restructuring currency conversion pricing in April 2006. Our overall revenue growth is being moderated by the demand from our customers for better pricing arrangements and greater rebates and incentives. Accordingly, we have entered into business agreements with certain customers and merchants to provide GDV and other performance-based support incentives. Rebates and incentives as a percentage of gross revenues were approximately 22.8% and 22.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These pricing arrangements reflect enhanced competition in the global payments industry, the continued consolidation and globalization of our key customers, the growing power of merchants and the impact of restructured pricing. The rebates and incentives are calculated on a monthly basis based upon estimated performance and the terms of the related business agreements. Rebates and incentives are recorded as a reduction of gross revenue in the same period that performance occurs.

The United States remains our largest geographic market based on revenues. Revenue generated in the United States was approximately 52.9% and 53.3% of total revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. No individual country, other than the United States, generated more than 10% of total

 

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revenues in any period. Certain non-U.S. economies have experienced more growth than the U.S. economy. Accordingly, some non-U.S. revenues grew at a faster rate than U.S. revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. The growth was not specifically related to any one region in which we do business.

Our business is dependent on certain world economies and consumer behaviors. In particular, a significant portion of our revenues are dependent on international travel. In the past, our revenues have been impacted by specific events such as the war in Iraq, the SARS outbreak and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack because these events impact travel patterns and related cross-border transaction volumes. Our revenues can also be impacted by a number of factors related to consumer behavior, including consumers’ confidence in the MasterCard brand.

Results of Operations

 

     For the three
months ended
March 31,
    Percent
Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs.
2006
 
     (In millions, except per share,
percent and GDV amounts)
 

Net operations fees

   $ 653     $ 495     31.9 %

Net assessments

     262       244     7.4 %
                  

Total revenue

     915       739     23.9 %

General and administrative

     399       348     14.6 %

Advertising and market development

     178       183     (2.3 )%

Depreciation and amortization

     24       25     (4.1 )%
                  

Total operating expenses

     601       556     8.2 %
                  

Operating income

     314       183     71.8 %

Total other income (expense), net

     22       10     114.2 %
                  

Income before income tax expense

     336       193     74.1 %

Income tax expense

     121       66     82.7 %
                  

Net income

   $ 215     $ 127     69.6 %
                  

Net income per share (basic)1

   $ 1.58     $ .94     68.1 %

Weighted average shares outstanding (basic)1

     136       135     0.7 %

Net income per share (diluted)1

   $ 1.57     $ .94     67.0 %

Weighted average shares outstanding (diluted)1

     137       135     1.2 %

Effective income tax rate

     36.0 %     34.3 %   * *

Gross dollar volume on a U.S. dollar converted basis (in billions)2

     509       427     19.1 %

Processed transactions

     4,205       3,521     19.4 %

** Not meaningful

1

In connection with our ownership and governance transactions in May 2006, we reclassified all of our approximately 100 outstanding shares of existing Class A redeemable common stock so that our previous stockholders received 1.35 shares of our Class B common stock for each share of Class A redeemable common stock that they held prior to the reclassification and a single share of our Class M common stock. Accordingly, shares and per share data were retroactively restated in the financial statements subsequent to the reclassification to reflect the reclassification as if it were effective at the start of the first period being presented in the financial statements.

2

GDV for the three months ended March 30, 2007 are lower due to management's decision to no longer include commercial funds transfers in China, which are generally transactions that facilitate the transfer of funds between bank branches, but do not involve traditional cash withdrawals or balance transfers, in the calculation of GDV. Data for the comparable period in 2006 has been restated to be consistent with this approach.

 

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Operations Fees

 

     For the three
months ended
March 31,
    Dollar
Increase
(Decrease)
    Percent
Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs.
2006
   

2007 vs.

2006

 
     (In millions, except percent)  

Authorization, settlement and switch

   $ 305     $ 265     $ 40     15.1 %

Currency conversion and cross-border

     186       78       108     138.5 %

Acceptance development fees

     58       47       11     23.4 %

Warning bulletin fees

     18       17       1     5.9 %

Connectivity

     22       18       4     22.2 %

Consulting and research fees

     17       17       —       —    

Other operations fees

     119       102       17     16.7 %
                          

Gross operations fees

     725       544       181     33.3 %

Rebates

     (72 )     (49 )     (23 )   46.9 %
                          

Net operations fees

   $ 653     $ 495     $ 158     31.9 %
                          

 

   

Authorization, settlement and switch revenues increased due to the number of transactions processed through our systems increasing 19.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 from the comparable period in 2006. Offsetting the 2007 increase in growth was a 3.9% reduction of revenues due to the implementation of price changes in April 2006 to make our pricing compliant with the Single European Payment Area (“SEPA”) initiative. The SEPA price changes are slightly positive on a total gross revenue basis; however, these changes impact individual revenue categories, in particular authorization, settlement and switch, currency conversion and cross-border revenues and assessments.

 

   

Currency conversion and cross-border revenues increased $108 million, or 138.5%, in the three months ended March 31, 2007 from the comparable period in 2006. This increase was primarily due to the restructuring of currency conversion pricing in April 2006. We restructured our currency conversion pricing by initiating a charge to our issuers, and, in most regions, acquirers for all cross-border transactions regardless of whether we perform the currency conversion or it is performed by a third party at the point of sale. We also generally decreased the price we charge our issuers for currency conversion. Of the increase in 2007, $31 million was due to the reclassification of certain assessment revenues in Europe to cross-border volume revenue. In addition to the restructuring of these revenues, there was an increase in cross-border transaction volumes of 18.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 from the comparable period in 2006.

 

   

Acceptance development fees in the three months ended March 31, 2007 increased compared to the same period in 2006 primarily due to increased volumes.

 

   

Warning bulletin fees fluctuate with our customer requests for distribution of invalid account information.

 

   

Connectivity revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2007 increased compared to the same period in 2006 due to increased volumes.

 

   

Consulting and research fees remained constant in the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Our business agreements with certain customers may include consulting services as an incentive. Consulting services provided to customers as a result of incentive agreements was the same in both periods.

 

   

Other operations fees represent various revenue streams including cardholder services, compliance and penalty fees, holograms, user pay for a variety of transaction enhancement services, and manuals and publications. The change in any individual revenue component was not material.

 

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Rebates relating to operations fees are primarily based on transactions and volumes and, accordingly, increase as these variables increase. Rebates have been increasing due to agreements with new customers, impact of restructured pricing, renewals of existing agreements, ongoing consolidation of our customers and competition. Rebates as a percentage of gross operations fees were 9.9% and 9.0% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Assessments

Assessments are revenues that are calculated based on our customers’ GDV. The components of assessments are as follows:

 

     For the three
months ended
March 31,
    Dollar
Increase
(Decrease)
    Percent
Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs.
2006
   

2007 vs.

2006

 
     (In millions, except percent)  

Gross assessments

   $ 460     $ 411     $ 49     11.9 %

Rebates and incentives

     (198 )     (167 )     (31 )   18.6 %
                          

Net Assessments

   $ 262     $ 244     $ 18     7.4 %
                          

GDV growth was 16.4% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 when measured in local currency terms, and 19.1% when measured on a U.S. dollar converted basis. A portion of our GDV growth relates to an increase in online debit transactions which are priced at a lower assessment rate compared to credit and offline debit transactions. Accordingly, gross assessments are increasing at a lower rate than GDV. Rebates and incentives provided to customers and merchants reduce assessments growth. Rebates and incentives as a percentage of gross assessments were 43.0% and 40.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The increase in the percentage of rebates and incentives compared to gross assessments is the result of new or revised pricing arrangements with certain large customers and merchants. Rebates and incentives are primarily based on GDV and may also contain fixed components for the issuance of new cards, launch of new programs or consulting services.

Assessments were also impacted in 2007 by a reclassification of $31 million from assessments to currency conversion and cross-border revenues, offset by $12 million in pricing increases related to our SEPA pricing changes. Our gross assessments would have increased 16.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 if these pricing modifications were not made in April 2006.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses are comprised of general and administrative, advertising and market development, U.S. merchant lawsuit and other legal settlements and depreciation and amortization expenses. In the three months ended March 31, 2007, there was an increase in operating expenses of $45 million or 8.2% compared to the same period in 2006. Also, in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, we did not have any legal settlements.

 

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General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel, professional fees, data processing, telecommunications and travel. The major components of general and administrative expenses were as follows:

 

     For the three
months ended
March 31,
   Dollar
Increase
(Decrease)
    Percent
Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007    2006    2007 vs.
2006
   

2007 vs.

2006

 
     (In millions, except percent)  

Personnel

   $ 254    $ 227    $ 27     11.9 %

Professional fees

     53      32      21     65.6 %

Telecommunications

     17      17      —       —    

Data processing

     15      15      —       —    

Travel and entertainment

     26      22      4     18.2 %

Other

     34      35      (1 )   (2.9 )%
                        

General and administrative expenses

   $ 399    $ 348    $ 51     14.6 %
                        

 

   

Personnel expense increased in the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily due to additional staff, increased performance incentives and contractor fees to support our strategic initiatives.

 

   

Professional fees increased in the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily due to legal costs to defend our outstanding litigation and consulting services used for implementing our strategic initiatives.

 

   

Telecommunications expense consists of expenses to support our global payments system infrastructure as well as our other telecommunication needs.

 

   

Data processing consists of expenses to operate and maintain MasterCard’s computer systems. These expenses vary with business volume growth, system upgrades and usage.

 

   

Travel and entertainment expenses are incurred primarily for travel to customer and regional meetings and, accordingly, have increased with the corresponding increase in our business activity.

 

   

Other includes rental expense for our facilities, foreign exchange gains and losses and other miscellaneous administrative expenses.

Advertising and Market Development

Advertising and market development consists of expenses associated with advertising, marketing, promotions and sponsorships, which promote our brand and assist our customers in achieving their goals by raising consumer awareness and usage of cards carrying our brands. Advertising and market development expenses decreased $4 million or 2.3% in the three months ended March 31, 2007 versus the comparable period in 2006. In the three months ended March 31, 2007, our initiatives continued to support our customer focused strategy while our initiatives in the three months ended March 31, 2006 also reflected our investment in the 2006 World Cup soccer events.

Our brands, principally MasterCard, are valuable strategic assets that drive card acceptance and usage and facilitate our ability to successfully introduce new service offerings and access new markets. Our approach to marketing activities combines advertising, sponsorships, promotions, interactive media and public relations as part of an integrated package designed to increase MasterCard brand awareness and preference and usage of MasterCard cards. We are committed to maintaining and enhancing our brands and image through advertising and marketing efforts on a global scale.

 

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Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) is comprised primarily of investment income, interest expense and other gains and losses. Investment income increased $16 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007 due to higher cash and short-term investment balances principally related to the proceeds received from our initial public offering in May 2006, increases in interest rates and cash generated by our business. Interest expense increased $4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2007 because 2006 included a $4 million reduction in interest expense for a refund of interest assessed in an audit of the Company’s federal income tax return, as well as the reduction of interest reserve requirements related to the Company’s tax reserves, resulting from the reassessment of such reserves.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate was 36.0% and 34.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The rate for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is higher than the comparable period in 2006 primarily due to an increase in the accrual of state income tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions as required under the recently adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1.

Liquidity

We need capital resources and liquidity to fund our global development, to provide for credit and settlement risk, to finance capital expenditures and any future acquisitions and to service the payments of principal and interest on our outstanding debt and the settlement of the U.S. merchant lawsuit. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we had $2.5 billion of cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities with which to manage operations. We expect that the cash generated from operations and our borrowing capacity will be sufficient to meet our operating, working capital and capital needs in 2007. However, our liquidity could be negatively impacted by the adverse outcome of any of the legal or regulatory proceedings to which we are a party. See Item 1A—Risk Factors of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 for these and other risks facing our business. See also Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Percent
Increase
(Decrease)
 
     2007     2006     2007 vs.
2006
 
     (In millions, except percents)  

Cash flow data:

      

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 71     $ 41     74.7 %

Net cash used in investing activities

     (44 )     (98 )   55.0 %

Net cash used in financing activities

     (8 )     —       * *
    

March 31,

2007

   

December 31,

2006

       

Balance sheet data:

      

Current assets

   $ 3,609     $ 3,577     0.9 %

Current liabilities

     1,612       1,812     (11.0 )%

Long-term liabilities

     989       902     9.6 %

Equity

     2,601       2,364     10.0 %

** Not Meaningful

Net cash provided by operating activities in the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $71 million compared to $41 million in the three months ended March 31, 2006. The increase in cash from operations was

 

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Table of Contents

principally due to stronger operating performance and lower payments of accrued expenses in the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006, partially offset by greater prepayments for rebates and incentives in the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. The use of cash from investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2007 was due to investments in fixed assets, internally developed and purchased capital software and purchases of available-for-sale-securities. In the three months ended March 31, 2006, cash used in investing activities related to the purchase of available-for-sale securities. Cash used in financing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily relates to the payment of dividends.

On February 6, 2007, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share payable on May 10, 2007 to holders of record on April 9, 2007 of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The aggregate amount payable for this dividend was $21 million. The declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, settlement guarantees, operating results, available cash and current and anticipated cash needs.

On April 27, 2007, the Company extended its committed unsecured $2.5 billion revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) for one year. The new expiration date of the Credit Facility is April 27, 2010. All remaining terms of the Credit Facility are unchanged. MasterCard was in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Facility as of March 31, 2007. There were no borrowings under the Credit Facility at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The majority of Credit Facility lenders are customers or affiliates of customers of MasterCard International.

The Company’s Board of Directors has approved amendments to the Company’s certificate of incorporation designed to facilitate an accelerated, orderly conversion of Class B common stock into Class A common stock for subsequent sale. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1. The proposed amendments to the certificate of incorporation are subject to stockholder approval at the Company’s June 7, 2007 annual meeting of stockholders. The Board of Directors approved two additional items, each of which is also subject to stockholder approval of the amendments to the certificate of incorporation at the Company’s upcoming annual meeting of stockholders: (i) the conversion of up to 13.4 million shares of Class B common stock into Class A common stock in “conversion transactions” during 2007 and (ii) the repurchase of up to $500 million of Class A common stock in open market transactions during 2007. If the Company obtains stockholder approval, it intends to utilize our cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale securities to repurchase our Class A common stock in the second half of 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

Future Obligations

The following table summarizes as of March 31, 2007 our obligations that are expected to impact liquidity and cash flow in future periods. We believe we will be able to fund these obligations through cash generated from operations and our existing cash balances.

 

     Payments Due by Period     
     Total   

Remaining

2007

   2008 – 2009    2010 –2011    2012
and thereafter
     (In millions)     

Capital leases1

   $ 59    $ 6    $ 10    $ 4    $ 39

Operating leases2

     118      28      53      12      25

Sponsorship3, licensing & other4

     884      315      328      138      103

Litigation settlements5

     617      117      200      200      100

Debt6

     237      5      232      —        —  
                                  

Total

   $ 1,915    $ 471    $ 823    $ 354    $ 267
                                  

1

Most capital leases relate to certain property, plant and equipment used in our business. Our largest capital lease relates to our Kansas City, Missouri co-processing facility.

2

We enter into operating leases in the normal course of business, including the lease on our facility in O’Fallon, Missouri. Substantially all lease agreements have fixed payment terms based on the passage of time. Some lease agreements provide us with the option to renew the lease or purchase the leased property. Our future operating lease obligations would change if we exercised these renewal options and if we entered into additional lease agreements.

3

Includes $180 million as of March 31, 2007 relating to a sponsorship agreement which is in a legal dispute. We may not be obligated to pay this amount.

4

Amounts primarily relate to sponsorships with certain organizations to promote the MasterCard brand. The amounts included are fixed and non-cancelable. In addition, these amounts include amounts due in accordance with leases for computer hardware, software licenses and other service agreements. Future cash payments that will become due to our customers under agreements which provide pricing rebates on our standard fees and other incentives in exchange for increased transaction volumes are not included in the table because the amounts due are indeterminable and contingent until such time as performance has occurred. MasterCard has accrued $390 million as of March 31, 2007 related to customer and merchant agreements.

5

Represents amounts due in accordance with the settlement agreement in the U.S. merchant lawsuit and other litigation settlements.

6

Debt primarily represents principal and interest owed on our subordinated notes due June 2008 and the principal owed on our Series A Senior Secured Notes due September 2009. We also have various credit facilities for which there were no outstanding balances at March 31, 2007 that, among other things, would provide liquidity in the event of settlement failures by our members. Our debt obligations would change if one or more of our members failed and we borrowed under these credit facilities to settle on our members’ behalf or for other reasons.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of SFAS 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 allows entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. In addition, SFAS 159 includes an amendment to SFAS 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, and applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. SFAS 159 is effective for the Company commencing in 2008. We are in the process of evaluating the impact that SFAS 159 will have on our financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

MasterCard has limited exposure to market risk or the potential for economic losses on market risk sensitive instruments arising from adverse changes in market factors such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and equity price risk. Management establishes and oversees the implementation of policies, which have been approved by the Audit Committee, governing our funding, investments, and use of derivative financial instruments. We monitor risk exposures on an ongoing basis. There have been no material changes in our market risk exposures at March 31, 2007 as compared to December 31, 2006.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The management of MasterCard Incorporated, including the President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Report. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that MasterCard Incorporated had effective disclosure controls and procedures for (i) recording, processing, summarizing and reporting information that is required to be disclosed in its reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) ensuring that information required to be disclosed in such reports is accumulated and communicated to MasterCard Incorporated’s management, including its President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

In connection with the evaluation by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter, no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was identified that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

Other Financial Information

With respect to the unaudited consolidated financial statements of MasterCard Incorporated and its subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PricewaterhouseCoopers”) reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their report dated May 2, 2007 appearing below, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. PricewaterhouseCoopers has not carried out any significant or additional audit tests beyond those which would have been necessary if their report had not been included. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 (“the Act”) for their report on the unaudited consolidated financial statements because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers within the meaning of Section 7 and 11 of the Act.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of MasterCard Incorporated:

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of MasterCard Incorporated and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, the consolidated statements of cash flows, and the consolidated condensed statements of comprehensive income for each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders’ equity for the three month period ended March 31, 2007. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of changes in stockholders’ equity, and of cash flows for the year then ended, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006; and in our report dated February 28, 2007, we expressed unqualified opinions thereon. The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting referred to above are not presented herein. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

May 2, 2007

 

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Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

FORM 10-Q

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Refer to Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

For a discussion of the Company’s risk factors, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

Refer to the Exhibit Index included herein.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 2, 2007    

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED

                (Registrant)

Date: May 2, 2007     By:   /s/    ROBERT W. SELANDER        
      Robert W. Selander
      President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 2, 2007     By:   /s/    CHRIS A. MCWILTON        
      Chris A. McWilton
      Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: May 2, 2007     By:   /s/    TARA A. MAGUIRE        
      Tara A. Maguire
      Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Exhibit Description

10.1    Form of MasterCard Incorporated Long Term Incentive Plan Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement for named executive officers.
31.1    Certification of Robert W. Selander, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Chris A. McWilton, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/ 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Robert W. Selander, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chris A. McWilton, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

40