MA.09.30.2014 - 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 September 30, 2014
Or
 
o

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
10577
Purchase, NY
(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
 

(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  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x     No  o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):
 
Large accelerated filer
 
x
  
Accelerated filer
 
o  
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
 
o  (do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
o
    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes  o    No  x
As of October 23, 2014, there were 1,112,920,270 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and 39,934,825 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 



MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



2

Table of Contents

In this Report on Form 10-Q (“Report”), 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 our operating subsidiary, MasterCard International Incorporated.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Report contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. When used in this Report, the words “believe”, “expect”, “could”, “may”, “would”, “will”, “trend” 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, statements relating to:
the Company’s focus on growing, diversifying and building its business;
the Company’s focus on providing value to merchants, governments, consumers and financial institutions;
the Company’s development of innovative platforms and solutions;
the Company’s focus on ensuring the safety and security of the payments system;
the stability of economies around the globe;
the Company’s advertising and marketing strategy and investment;
the Company’s belief that its existing cash, cash equivalents and investment securities balances, its cash flow generating capabilities, its borrowing capacity and its access to capital resources are sufficient to satisfy its future operating cash needs, capital asset purchases, outstanding commitments and other liquidity requirements associated with its existing operations and potential obligations; and
the manner and amount of purchases by the Company pursuant to its share repurchase program, dependent upon price and market conditions.
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. Such risk factors include: legislation, competition-related regulatory proceedings, regulation by central banks and similar types of regulatory authorities, and litigation related to interchange fees and other practices; regulation established by the Dodd-Frank Act (as defined below) in the United States; the requirement to permit U.S. merchants to surcharge credit cards; regulation or other regulatory activity with respect to the payments industry in one jurisdiction or of one product resulting in regulation (or impact on pending regulatory proceedings) in other jurisdictions or of other products; competitive issues caused by preferential or protective government actions; regulation of the payments industry, consumer privacy, data use and/or security; potential or incurred liability and limitations on business resulting from litigation; potential changes in tax laws; substantial and increasingly intense competition in the payments industry; potential future changes in the competitive landscape; competitive pressure on pricing; banking industry consolidation; loss of significant business from significant customers; merchant activity; the relationship of our competitors with our issuers and acquirers; our relationship with our issuers and acquirers; brand perceptions and reputation; our work with governments; global economic events and the overall business environment; decline in cross-border travel; the effect of general economic and global political conditions on consumer spending trends; exposure to loss or illiquidity due to guarantees of settlement and certain other third-party obligations; impact of a failure or breach of our security systems or infrastructure as a result of cyber attacks; disruptions to our transaction processing systems and other services; account data breaches; reputation damage from increases in fraudulent activity; the challenges resulting from rapid technological developments in the payments industry; the effect of adverse currency fluctuation; acquisition, entry into new businesses and other integration issues; and issues relating to our Class A common stock and corporate governance structure. Please see a complete discussion of these risk factors in Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and in Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report or as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements.


3

Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.     Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
(in millions, except share data)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
4,462

 
$
3,599

Restricted cash for litigation settlement
540

 
723

Investment securities available-for-sale, at fair value
1,857

 
2,696

Accounts receivable
1,071

 
966

Settlement due from customers
1,188

 
1,351

Restricted security deposits held for customers
953

 
911

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
602

 
471

Deferred income taxes
283

 
233

Total Current Assets
10,956

 
10,950

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $433 and $394, respectively
553

 
526

Deferred income taxes
102

 
70

Goodwill
1,456

 
1,122

Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $651 and $534, respectively
705

 
672

Other assets
887

 
902

Total Assets
$
14,659

 
$
14,242

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
319

 
$
338

Settlement due to customers
1,226

 
1,433

Restricted security deposits held for customers
953

 
911

Accrued litigation
789

 
886

Accrued expenses
2,098

 
2,101

Other current liabilities
464

 
363

Total Current Liabilities
5,849

 
6,032

Long-term debt
1,494

 

Deferred income taxes
119

 
117

Other liabilities
649

 
598

Total Liabilities
8,111

 
6,747

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 13)

 

Stockholders’ Equity
 
 

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized 3,000,000,000 shares, 1,349,345,980 and 1,341,541,110 shares issued and 1,114,440,917 and 1,148,838,370 outstanding, respectively

 

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized 1,200,000,000 shares, 40,060,155 and 45,350,070 issued and outstanding, respectively

 

Additional paid-in-capital
3,843

 
3,762

Class A treasury stock, at cost, 234,905,063 and 192,702,740 shares, respectively
(9,803
)
 
(6,577
)
Retained earnings
12,553

 
10,121

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(92
)
 
178

Total Stockholders’ Equity
6,501

 
7,484

Non-controlling interests
47

 
11

Total Equity
6,548

 
7,495

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
14,659

 
$
14,242


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


4

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)


 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Net Revenue
$
2,503

 
$
2,218

 
$
7,057

 
$
6,220

Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
797

 
701

 
2,207

 
1,930

Advertising and marketing
203

 
205

 
525

 
520

Depreciation and amortization
83

 
64

 
237

 
187

Total operating expenses
1,083

 
970

 
2,969

 
2,637

Operating income
1,420

 
1,248

 
4,088

 
3,583

Other Income (Expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income
8

 
11

 
21

 
30

Interest expense
(11
)
 
3

 
(32
)
 
(7
)
Other income (expense), net
1

 
(8
)
 
(5
)
 
(17
)
Total other income (expense)
(2
)
 
6

 
(16
)
 
6

Income before income taxes
1,418

 
1,254

 
4,072

 
3,589

Income tax expense
403

 
375

 
1,256

 
1,096

Net Income
$
1,015

 
$
879

 
$
2,816

 
$
2,493

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Earnings per Share
$
0.88

 
$
0.73

 
$
2.41

 
$
2.05

Basic Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
1,157

 
1,205

 
1,169

 
1,215

Diluted Earnings per Share
$
0.87

 
$
0.73

 
$
2.40

 
$
2.05

Diluted Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
1,160

 
1,209

 
1,172

 
1,219


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



5

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Net Income
$
1,015

 
$
879

 
$
2,816

 
$
2,493

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
(274
)
 
137

 
(262
)
 
65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans

 
(2
)
 
2

 
(1
)
Income tax effect

 
1

 

 
1

Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, net of income tax effect

 
(1
)
 
2

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale
(8
)
 
(1
)
 
(14
)
 
(9
)
Income tax effect
2

 
1

 
4

 
3

Investment securities available-for-sale, net of income tax effect
(6
)
 

 
(10
)
 
(6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(280
)
 
136

 
(270
)
 
59

Comprehensive Income
$
735

 
$
1,015

 
$
2,546

 
$
2,552


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



MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)

 
Total
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
 
Class A
Treasury
Stock
 
Non-
Controlling
Interests
 
 
 
Class A
 
Class B
 
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
7,495

 
$
10,121

 
$
178

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,762

 
$
(6,577
)
 
$
11

Net income
2,816

 
2,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

Activity related to non-controlling interests
36

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
36

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
(270
)
 

 
(270
)
 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared on Class A and Class B common stock, $0.33 per share
(384
)
 
(384
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of treasury stock
(3,231
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(3,231
)
 

Share-based payments
86

 

 

 

 

 
81

 
5

 

Balance at September 30, 2014
$
6,548

 
$
12,553

 
$
(92
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
3,843

 
$
(9,803
)
 
$
47


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



6

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
2,816

 
$
2,493

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
237

 
187

Share-based payments
(43
)
 
27

Deferred income taxes
(80
)
 
(34
)
Other
24

 
48

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(96
)
 
(67
)
Income taxes receivable
(12
)
 
158

Settlement due from customers
86

 
(192
)
Prepaid expenses
(156
)
 
(44
)
Accrued litigation and legal settlements
(97
)
 

Accounts payable
(39
)
 
(76
)
Settlement due to customers
(124
)
 
126

Accrued expenses
60

 
209

Net change in other assets and liabilities
106

 
101

Net cash provided by operating activities
2,682

 
2,936

Investing Activities
 
 
 
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale
(1,977
)
 
(1,936
)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
(336
)
 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(97
)
 
(65
)
Capitalized software
(75
)
 
(88
)
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale
1,444

 
1,349

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available-for-sale
1,322

 
959

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash for litigation settlement
184

 
(1
)
Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held-to-maturity

 
36

Other investing activities
(17
)
 
(19
)
Net cash provided by investing activities
448

 
235

Financing Activities
 
 
 
Purchases of treasury stock
(3,231
)
 
(1,692
)
Proceeds from debt
1,487

 

Dividends paid
(388
)
 
(182
)
Tax benefit for share-based payments
53

 
23

Cash proceeds from exercise of stock options
23

 
22

Other financing activities
(39
)
 
(8
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(2,095
)
 
(1,837
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(172
)
 
27

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
863

 
1,361

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
3,599

 
2,052

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
$
4,462

 
$
3,413

 
 
 
 
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
 
 
 
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired
$
574

 
$

Fair value of liabilities assumed related to acquisitions
$
134

 
$


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


7

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MasterCard International Incorporated (“MasterCard International” and together with MasterCard Incorporated, “MasterCard” or the “Company”), is a technology company in the global payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks. The Company facilitates the processing of payment transactions including authorization, clearing and settlement, and delivers related products and services. The Company makes payments easier and more efficient by creating a wide range of payment solutions and services through a family of well-known brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®. The Company also provides value-added offerings such as loyalty and reward programs, information services and consulting. The Company’s network is designed to ensure safety and security for the global payments system. A typical transaction on the Company’s network involves four participants in addition to the Company: cardholder, merchant, issuer (the cardholder’s financial institution) and acquirer (the merchant’s financial institution). The Company’s customers encompass a vast array of entities, including financial institutions and other entities that act as “issuers” and “acquirers”, as well as merchants, governments, telecommunication companies and other businesses. The Company does not issue cards, extend credit, determine or receive revenue from interest rates or other fees charged to cardholders by issuers, or establish the “merchant discount” rate charged in connection with the acceptance of cards and other payment devices that carry MasterCard’s brands.
Consolidation and basis of presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MasterCard and its majority-owned and controlled entities, including any variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. The Company follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
The balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2013. The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and as of September 30, 2014 are unaudited, and in the opinion of management, include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for interim periods. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 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 for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and, consequently, do not include all of the disclosures required by GAAP. Reference should be made to the MasterCard Incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
Non-controlling interest amounts are included in the consolidated statement of operations within other income (expense). For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 income/loss from non-controlling interests was insignificant.
In December 2012, the Company made a payment into a qualified cash settlement fund related to its U.S. merchant class litigation. The Company has presented these funds as restricted cash for litigation settlement since the use of the funds under the qualified cash settlement fund is restricted for payment under the settlement agreement. In January 2014, $164 million was returned to MasterCard from the qualified cash settlement fund related to the opt-out merchants and has been reclassified to cash and cash equivalents. See Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further detail.
Recent accounting pronouncements
Revenue Recognition - In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued accounting guidance that provides a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and supersedes most of the existing revenue recognition requirements. Under this guidance, an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential effects of this guidance.


8

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Foreign currency - In March 2013, the FASB issued clarifying accounting guidance on the release of cumulative translation adjustment into net income when an entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a group of assets that is a business within a foreign entity. The revised accounting guidance became effective January 1, 2014 and did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Income taxes - In July 2013, the FASB issued accounting guidance that requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit net with certain deferred tax assets when specific requirements are met. The Company adopted the revised accounting guidance effective January 1, 2014. This new accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 2. Acquisitions
In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company acquired five businesses. Two of the business combinations were achieved in stages, with non-controlling interests acquired in previous years. One of the business combinations was a transaction for less than 100 percent of the equity interest. The total consideration transferred was $389 million, paid in cash. The Company’s preliminary estimate of the aggregate excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired of $385 million was recorded as goodwill. The goodwill is not expected to be deductible for local tax purposes. The consolidated financial statements include the operating results of the acquired businesses from the dates of their respective acquisition. Pro forma information related to acquisitions was not included because the impact on the Company's consolidated results of operations was not considered to be material. The Company acquired no businesses in the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
Note 3. Earnings Per Share
The components of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for common stock were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
1,015

 
$
879

 
$
2,816

 
$
2,493

Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
1,157

 
1,205

 
1,169

 
1,215

Dilutive stock options and stock units
3

 
4

 
3

 
4

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding 1
1,160

 
1,209

 
1,172

 
1,219

Earnings per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.88

 
$
0.73

 
$
2.41

 
$
2.05

Diluted
$
0.87

 
$
0.73

 
$
2.40

 
$
2.05


1 For the periods presented, the calculation of diluted EPS excluded a minimal amount of anti-dilutive share-based payment awards.
Note 4. Fair Value and Investment Securities
Financial Instruments – Recurring Measurements
The Company classifies its fair value measurements of financial instruments into a three-level hierarchy (the “Valuation Hierarchy”). No transfers were made among the three levels in the Valuation Hierarchy during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.


9

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


The distribution of the Company’s financial instruments which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis within the Valuation Hierarchy was as follows:
 
September 30, 2014
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities
$

 
$
147

 
$

 
$
147

U.S. government and agency securities 1

 
254

 

 
254

Corporate securities

 
1,006

 

 
1,006

Asset-backed securities

 
362

 

 
362

Other 2
11

 
71

 
11

 
93

Total
$
11

 
$
1,840

 
$
11

 
$
1,862

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities
$

 
$
267

 
$

 
$
267

U.S. government and agency securities 1

 
560

 

 
560

Corporate securities

 
1,426

 

 
1,426

Asset-backed securities

 
364

 

 
364

Other 2

 
79

 
11

 
90

Total
$

 
$
2,696

 
$
11

 
$
2,707

1 Excludes amounts held in escrow related to the U.S. merchant class litigation settlement of $540 million and $723 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, which would be included in Levels 1 and 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. See Note 6 (Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation) and Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further details.
2 The amounts classified within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy represent auction rate securities (“ARS”) with values that are not currently observable in the market due to the lack of trading in the securities.
The fair value of the Company’s available-for-sale municipal securities, U.S. government and agency securities, corporate securities, asset-backed securities and other fixed income securities included in the Other category are based on quoted prices for similar assets in active markets and are therefore included in Level 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. The Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts have also been classified within Level 2 in the Other category of the Valuation Hierarchy, as the fair value is based on broker quotes for the same or similar derivative instruments. See Note 14 (Foreign Exchange Risk Management) for further details.
Financial Instruments - Non-Recurring Measurements
Certain financial instruments are carried on the consolidated balance sheet at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term, highly liquid nature. These instruments include cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, settlement due from customers, restricted security deposits held for customers, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, settlement due to customers and accrued expenses. In addition, nonmarketable equity investments are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for purposes of initial recognition and impairment testing.
Debt
The Company estimates the fair value of its long-term debt using the market pricing approach which applies market assumptions for relevant though not directly comparable undertakings. Long-term debt is classified as Level 2 of the Valuation Hierarchy. At September 30, 2014, the carrying value and fair value of long-term debt was $1.5 billion. The Company did not have any long-term debt at December 31, 2013. See Note 7 (Debt).


10

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Settlement and Other Guarantee Liabilities
The Company estimates the fair value of its settlement and other guarantees using the market pricing approach which applies market assumptions for relevant though not directly comparable undertakings, as the latter are not observable in the market given the proprietary nature of such guarantees. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the carrying value and fair value of settlement and other guarantee liabilities were not material. Settlement and other guarantee liabilities are classified as Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy as their valuation requires substantial judgment and estimation of factors that are not currently observable in the market. For additional information regarding the Company’s settlement and other guarantee liabilities, see Note 13 (Settlement and Other Risk Management).
Refunding Revenue Bonds
The Company holds refunding revenue bonds with the same payment terms, and which contain the right of set-off with a capital lease obligation related to the Company’s global technology and operations center located in O’Fallon, Missouri. The Company has netted the refunding revenue bonds and the corresponding capital lease obligation in the consolidated balance sheet and estimates that the carrying value approximates the fair value for these bonds.
Non-Financial Instruments
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for purposes of initial recognition and impairment testing. The Company’s non-financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. These assets are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment.
The valuation methods for goodwill and other intangible assets involve assumptions concerning comparable company multiples, discount rates, growth projections and other assumptions of future business conditions. The Company uses a weighted income and market approach for estimating the fair value of its reporting unit, when necessary. As the assumptions employed to measure these assets on a nonrecurring basis are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified in Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy.


11

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Amortized Costs and Fair Values – Available-for-Sale Investment Securities
The major classes of the Company’s available-for-sale investment securities, for which unrealized gains and losses are recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, and their respective amortized cost basis and fair values as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities
$
147

 
$

 
$

 
$
147

U.S. government and agency securities
254

 

 

 
254

Corporate securities
1,005

 
1

 

 
1,006

Asset-backed securities
362

 

 

 
362

Other 1
114

 

 
(15
)
 
99

Total
$
1,882

 
$
1

 
$
(15
)
 
$
1,868

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities
$
267

 
$

 
$

 
$
267

U.S. government and agency securities
560

 

 

 
560

Corporate securities
1,425

 
2

 
(1
)
 
1,426

Asset-backed securities
364

 

 

 
364

Other 1
91

 

 
(1
)
 
90

Total
$
2,707

 
$
2

 
$
(2
)
 
$
2,707

1 Other includes ARS, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The unrealized losses related to ARS have been in an unrealized loss position longer than 12 months, but have not been deemed other-than-temporarily impaired.
The municipal securities are primarily comprised of tax-exempt bonds and are diversified across states and sectors. The U.S. government and agency securities are primarily invested in U.S. government bonds and U.S. government sponsored agency bonds. Corporate securities are comprised of commercial paper and corporate bonds. The asset-backed securities are investments in bonds which are collateralized primarily by automobile loan receivables.


12

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Investment Maturities
The maturity distribution based on the contractual terms of the Company’s investment securities at September 30, 2014 was as follows:
 
Available-For-Sale
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
(in millions)
Due within 1 year
$
1,045

 
$
1,046

Due after 1 year through 5 years
796

 
796

Due after 5 years through 10 years
4

 
4

Due after 10 years
12

 
11

No contractual maturity
25

 
11

Total
$
1,882

 
$
1,868

All the securities due after ten years are ARS. Equity securities have been included in the No contractual maturity category, as these securities do not have stated maturity dates.
Investment Income
Investment income was $8 million and $11 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $21 million and $30 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Investment income primarily consisted of interest income generated from cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities available-for-sale. Dividend income and gross realized gains and losses were not significant.
Note 5. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(in millions)
Customer and merchant incentives
$
286

 
$
239

Prepaid income taxes
159

 
36

Other
157

 
196

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
602

 
$
471

Other assets consisted of the following:
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(in millions)
Customer and merchant incentives
$
541

 
$
531

Nonmarketable equity investments
163

 
229

Income taxes receivable
92

 
78

Other
91

 
64

Total other assets
$
887

 
$
902

Certain customer and merchant business agreements provide incentives upon entering into the agreement. Customer and merchant incentives represent payments made or amounts to be paid to customers and merchants under business agreements. Amounts to be paid for these incentives and the related liability were included in accrued expenses and other liabilities. Costs directly related to entering into such an agreement are deferred and amortized over the life of the agreement.
Investments for which the equity method or historical cost method of accounting is used are recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. MasterCard’s share of net earnings or losses of entities accounted for under the equity method of accounting is included in other income (expense) on the consolidated statement of operations. The Company accounts for nonmarketable equity investments under the historical cost method of accounting when those investments do not qualify for the


13

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


equity method of accounting. In the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company acquired controlling interests in two investments previously included within nonmarketable equity investments.
Note 6. Accrued Expenses and Accrued Litigation
Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(in millions)
Customer and merchant incentives
$
1,336

 
$
1,286

Personnel costs
365

 
413

Advertising
103

 
149

Income and other taxes
150

 
95

Other
144

 
158

Total accrued expenses
$
2,098

 
$
2,101

As of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s provision related to U.S. merchant litigations was $789 million and $886 million, respectively. These amounts are not included in the accrued expenses table above and are separately reported as accrued litigation on the consolidated balance sheet. The accrued litigation item includes $68 million as of December 31, 2013 related to the timing of MasterCard's administration of the short-term reduction in default credit interchange from U.S. issuers which expired in April 2014. During the third quarter of 2014, MasterCard executed settlement agreements with a number of opt-out merchants and no adjustments to the amount reserved was deemed necessary. See Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further discussion of the U.S. merchant class litigation.
Note 7. Debt
Long-term debt at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 was as follows:
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(in millions)
2.000% Notes due 2019
$
500

 
$

3.375% Notes due 2024
1,000

 

 
1,500

 

Less: Unamortized discount
(6
)
 

Long-term debt
$
1,494

 
$


In March 2014, MasterCard Incorporated issued $500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.000% Notes due April 1, 2019 (the “2019 Notes”) and $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 3.375% Notes due April 1, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) (collectively the “Notes”). The effective interest rates were 2.081% and 3.426% on the 2019 Notes and 2024 Notes, respectively. The net proceeds from the issuance of the Notes, after deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses, were $1,484 million. The Company is not subject to any financial covenants under the Notes. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1, commencing on October 1, 2014. The Notes may be redeemed in whole, or in part, at the Company’s option at any time for a specified make-whole amount. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations and would rank equally with any future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
The Company has a $3 billion committed unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) which expires on November 15, 2018. The Credit Facility decreases to $2.95 billion during the final year of the Credit Facility agreement. MasterCard had no borrowings under the Credit Facility at September 30, 2014 or December 31, 2013.


14

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Note 8. Stockholders’ Equity
In June 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock (the “June 2012 Share Repurchase Program”). This program became effective in June 2012 at the completion of the Company’s previously announced $2 billion Class A share repurchase program.
In February 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $2 billion of its Class A common stock (the “February 2013 Share Repurchase Program”).  This program became effective at the completion of the Company’s June 2012 Share Repurchase Program, which occurred in March 2013.
In December 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $3.5 billion of its Class A common stock (the “December 2013 Share Repurchase Program”). During January 2014, the Company exhausted its purchases under the February 2013 Share Repurchase Program and began purchasing shares under the December 2013 Share Repurchase Program.
The following table summarizes the Company’s share repurchase authorizations of its Class A common stock through September 30, 2014, as well as historical purchases:
 
Authorization Dates
 
December
2013
 
February
2013
 
June
2012
 
Total
 
(in millions, except average price data)
Board authorization
$
3,500

 
$
2,000

 
$
1,500

 
$
7,000

Dollar value of shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013
**

 
$
1,088

 
$
604

 
$
1,692

Remaining authorization at December 31, 2013
$
3,500

 
$
161

 
$

 
$
3,661

Dollar value of shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014
$
3,070

 
$
161

 
$

 
$
3,231

Remaining authorization at September 30, 2014
$
430

 
$

 
$

 
$
430

Shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2013
**

 
19.4

 
11.7

 
31.1

Average price paid per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2013
**

 
$
56.19

 
$
51.72

 
$
54.50

Shares repurchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2014
40.5

 
1.9

 

 
42.4

Average price paid per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2014
$
75.96

 
$
83.22

 
$

 
$
76.30

Cumulative shares repurchased through September 30, 2014
40.5

 
31.1

 
31.1

 
102.7

Cumulative average price paid per share
$
75.96

 
$
64.26

 
$
48.16

 
$
63.98

** Not applicable
As of October 23, 2014, the cumulative repurchases by the Company under the December 2013 Share Repurchase Program in 2014 totaled approximately 42.1 million shares of Class A common stock for an aggregate cost of approximately $3.2 billion at an average price of $75.82 per share of Class A common stock. As of October 23, 2014, the Company had approximately $310 million remaining under the December 2013 Share Repurchase Program.


15

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Note 9. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans
 
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
(in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
93

 
$
(37
)
 
$
5

 
$
61

Current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1
65

 

 
(6
)
 
59

Balance at September 30, 2013
$
158

 
$
(37
)
 
$
(1
)

$
120

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
206

 
$
(29
)
 
$
1

 
$
178

Current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1
(262
)
 
2

 
(10
)
 
(270
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
$
(56
)
 
$
(27
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(92
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 During the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, $2 million and $3 million, respectively, of deferred costs related to the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to general and administrative expense. In addition, $1 million and $5 million of net gains on available-for-sale investment securities were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to investment income during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Tax amounts related to these items are insignificant.
Note 10. Share-Based Payments
During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company granted the following awards under the MasterCard Incorporated 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (“LTIP”). The LTIP is a shareholder-approved omnibus plan that permits the grant of various types of equity awards to employees.
 
Granted in 2014
 
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Non-qualified stock options
1,685
 
$14
Restricted stock units
1,332
 
$76
Performance stock units
133
 
$78
Stock options vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of grant, and have a term of ten years. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the grant date fair value of stock options and calculated the expected term and the expected volatility based on historical MasterCard information. As a result, the expected term of stock options granted in the first quarter 2014 was five years, while the expected volatility was determined to be 19.1%.
Vesting of the shares underlying the restricted stock units and performance stock units will generally occur three years after the date of grant. The fair value of restricted stock units is determined and fixed on the grant date based on the Company’s Class A common stock price, adjusted for the exclusion of dividend equivalents. The Monte Carlo simulation valuation model was used to determine the grant date fair value of performance stock units granted in the first quarter of 2014.
Compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures over the shorter of the vesting period or the date the individual becomes eligible to retire under the LTIP. The Company uses the straight-line method of attribution over the requisite service period for expensing equity awards.


16

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Note 11. Income Taxes
The effective income tax rates were 28.5% and 29.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The effective income tax rates were 30.9% and 30.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, the effective tax rate was lower versus the comparable period in 2013, due primarily to larger benefits relating to the Company’s federal domestic production activities deduction and discrete benefits related to expiring statutes, partially offset by a less favorable geographic mix of taxable earnings. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the effective tax rate was higher versus the comparable period in 2013, due primarily to a less favorable geographic mix of taxable earnings, partially offset by larger benefits relating to the Company’s federal domestic production activities deduction and discrete benefits related to expiring statutes.
The Company conducts operations in multiple countries and, as a result, is subjected to tax examinations in various jurisdictions, including the United States.  Uncertain tax positions are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are adjusted after considering facts and circumstances, including progress of tax audits, developments in case law and closing of statutes of limitations.  The Company has effectively settled its U.S. federal income tax obligations through 2008. With limited exception, the Company is no longer subject to state and local or foreign examinations by taxing authorities for years before 2006.  Within the next twelve months, the Company believes that the resolution of certain federal, foreign and state and local tax examinations are reasonably possible and that a change in estimate, reducing unrecognized tax benefits, may occur. While such a change may be significant, it is not possible to provide a range of the potential change until the examinations progress further or the related statutes of limitation expire.
Note 12. 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 are based on complex claims involving substantial uncertainties and unascertainable damages.  Accordingly, except as discussed below, it is not possible to determine the probability of loss or estimate damages, and therefore, MasterCard has not established reserves for any of these proceedings.  When the Company determines that a loss is both probable and estimable, MasterCard records a liability and discloses the amount of the liability if it is material. When a material loss contingency is only reasonably possible, MasterCard does not record a liability, but instead discloses the nature and the amount of the claim, and an estimate of the loss or range of loss, if such an estimate can be made. Unless otherwise stated below with respect to these matters, MasterCard cannot provide an estimate of the possible loss or range of loss based on one or more of the following reasons: (1) actual or potential plaintiffs have not claimed an amount of monetary damages or the amounts are unsupportable or exaggerated, (2) the matters are in early stages, (3) there is uncertainty as to the outcome of pending appeals or motions, (4) there are significant factual issues to be resolved, (5) the existence in many such proceedings of multiple defendants or potential defendants whose share of any potential financial responsibility has yet to be determined, and/or (6) there are novel legal issues presented. Furthermore, except as identified with respect to the matters below, MasterCard does not believe that the outcome of any existing legal or regulatory proceedings to which it is a party will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition or overall business.  However, with respect to the matters discussed below, an adverse judgment or other outcome or settlement with respect to any such proceedings could result in fines or payments by MasterCard and/or could require MasterCard to change its business practices. In addition, an adverse outcome in a regulatory proceeding could lead to the filing of civil damage claims and possibly result in damage awards in amounts that could be significant. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on MasterCard’s results of operations, financial condition and overall business.
Interchange Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
MasterCard’s interchange fees and other practices are subject to regulatory and/or legal review and/or challenges in a number of jurisdictions, including the proceedings described below. When taken as a whole, the resulting decisions, regulations and legislation with respect to interchange fees and acceptance practices may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s prospects for future growth and its overall results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
United States. In June 2005, the first of a series of complaints were filed on behalf of merchants (the majority of the complaints were styled as class actions, although a few complaints were filed on behalf of individual merchant plaintiffs) against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc., Visa International Service Association and a number of financial institutions. Taken together, the claims in the complaints were generally brought under both Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibit monopolization and attempts or conspiracies to monopolize a particular industry, and some of these complaints contain unfair competition law claims under state law. The complaints allege, among other things, that MasterCard, Visa, and certain financial institutions conspired to set the price of interchange fees, enacted point of sale acceptance rules (including the no surcharge rule) in violation of antitrust


17

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


laws and engaged in unlawful tying and bundling of certain products and services. The cases were consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in MDL No. 1720. The plaintiffs filed a consolidated class action complaint that seeks treble damages.
In July 2006, the group of purported merchant class plaintiffs filed a supplemental complaint alleging that MasterCard’s initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock in May 2006 (the “IPO”) and certain purported agreements entered into between MasterCard and financial institutions in connection with the IPO: (1) violate U.S. antitrust laws and (2) constituted a fraudulent conveyance because the financial institutions allegedly attempted to release, without adequate consideration, MasterCard’s right to assess them for MasterCard’s litigation liabilities. The class plaintiffs sought treble damages and injunctive relief including, but not limited to, an order reversing and unwinding the IPO.
In February 2011, MasterCard and MasterCard International entered into each of: (1) an omnibus judgment sharing and settlement sharing agreement with Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. Inc. and Visa International Service Association and a number of financial institutions; and (2) a MasterCard settlement and judgment sharing agreement with a number of financial institutions.  The agreements provide for the apportionment of certain costs and liabilities which MasterCard, the Visa parties and the financial institutions may incur, jointly and/or severally, in the event of an adverse judgment or settlement of one or all of the cases in the merchant litigations.  Among a number of scenarios addressed by the agreements, in the event of a global settlement involving the Visa parties, the financial institutions and MasterCard, MasterCard would pay 12% of the monetary portion of the settlement. In the event of a settlement involving only MasterCard and the financial institutions with respect to their issuance of MasterCard cards, MasterCard would pay 36% of the monetary portion of such settlement. 
In October 2012, the parties entered into a definitive settlement agreement with respect to the merchant class litigation (including with respect to the claims related to the IPO) and the defendants separately entered into a settlement agreement with the individual merchant plaintiffs. The settlements included cash payments that were apportioned among the defendants pursuant to the omnibus judgment sharing and settlement sharing agreement described above. MasterCard also agreed to provide class members with a short-term reduction in default credit interchange rates and to modify certain of its business practices, including its No Surcharge Rule. Objections to the settlement were filed by both merchants and certain competitors, including Discover. Discover’s objections include a challenge to the settlement on the grounds that certain of the rule changes agreed to in the settlement constitute a restraint of trade in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The court granted final approval of the settlement in December 2013, which has been appealed by objectors to the settlement.
Merchants representing slightly more than 25% of the MasterCard and Visa purchase volume over the relevant period chose to opt out of the class settlement. MasterCard anticipates that most of the larger merchants who opted out of the settlement will initiate separate actions seeking to recover damages, and over 30 opt-out complaints have been filed on behalf of numerous merchants in various jurisdictions. The defendants have consolidated all of these matters (except for one state court action in Texas) in front of the same federal district court that is overseeing the approval of the settlement. In July 2014, the district court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the opt-out merchant complaints for failure to state a claim.
MasterCard recorded a pre-tax charge of $770 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and an additional $20 million pre-tax charge in the second quarter of 2012 relating to the settlement agreements described above. In 2012, MasterCard paid $790 million with respect to the settlements, of which $726 million was paid into a qualified cash settlement fund related to the merchant class litigation. At September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, MasterCard had $540 million and $723 million, respectively, in the qualified cash settlement fund classified as restricted cash on its balance sheet. The class settlement agreement provided for a return to the defendants of a portion of the class cash settlement fund, based upon the percentage of purchase volume represented by the opt-out merchants. This resulted in $164 million from the cash settlement fund being returned to MasterCard in January 2014 and reclassified at that time from restricted cash to cash and cash equivalents. In the fourth quarter of 2013, MasterCard recorded an incremental net pre-tax charge of $95 million related to the opt-out merchants, representing a change in its estimate of probable losses relating to these matters.  During the third quarter of 2014, MasterCard executed settlement agreements with a number of opt-out merchants and no adjustments to the amount reserved was deemed necessary. As of September 30, 2014, MasterCard had accrued a liability of $789 million as a reserve for both the merchant class litigation and the filed and anticipated opt-out merchant cases.
The portion of the accrued liability relating to the opt-out merchants does not represent an estimate of a loss, if any, if the opt-out merchant matters were litigated to a final outcome, in which case MasterCard cannot estimate the potential liability. MasterCard’s estimate involves significant judgment and may change depending on progress in settlement negotiations or depending upon decisions in any opt-out merchant cases. In addition, in the event that the merchant class litigation settlement approval is overturned


18

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


on appeal, a negative outcome in the litigation could have a material adverse effect on MasterCard’s results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
Canada. In December 2010, a proposed class action complaint was commenced against MasterCard in Quebec on behalf of Canadian merchants. That suit essentially repeated the allegations and arguments of a previously filed application by the Canadian Competition Bureau to the Canadian Competition Tribunal (dismissed in MasterCard’s favor) related to certain MasterCard rules related to point-of-sale acceptance, including the “honor all cards” and “no surcharge” rules. The suit sought compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts, as well as injunctive relief. In the first half of 2011, additional purported class action lawsuits containing similar allegations to the Quebec class action were commenced in British Columbia and Ontario against MasterCard, Visa and a number of large Canadian financial institutions. The British Columbia suit seeks compensatory damages in unspecified amounts, and the Ontario suit seeks compensatory damages of $5 billion. The British Columbia and Ontario suits also seek punitive damages in unspecified amounts, as well as injunctive relief, interest and legal costs. In April 2012, the Quebec suit was amended to include the same defendants and similar claims as in the British Columbia and Ontario suits. With respect to the status of the proceedings: (1) the Quebec suit has been stayed, (2) the Ontario suit is being temporarily suspended while the British Columbia suit proceeds, and (3) the British Columbia court issued an order in March 2014 certifying a number of the merchants’ causes of action. The parties have appealed the certification decision. Additional proposed class action complaints have been filed in Saskatchewan and Alberta with claims that largely mirror those in the British Columbia and Ontario suits. If the class action lawsuits are ultimately successful, negative decisions could have a significant adverse impact on the revenue of MasterCard’s Canadian customers and on MasterCard’s overall business in Canada and could result in substantial damage awards.
European Union. In December 2007, the European Commission announced a decision that applies to MasterCard’s default cross-border interchange fees for MasterCard and Maestro branded consumer payment card transactions in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) (the European Commission refers to these as “MasterCard’s MIF”). The decision required MasterCard to stop applying the MasterCard MIF and not apply its then recently adopted (but never implemented) Maestro SEPA and Intra-Eurozone default interchange fees to debit card payment transactions within the Eurozone. The decision did not impose a fine on MasterCard, but provides for a daily penalty of up to 3.5% of MasterCard’s daily consolidated global turnover in the preceding business year (which MasterCard estimates to be approximately $1 million per day) in the event that MasterCard fails to comply.
Following discussions with the European Commission, MasterCard temporarily repealed its then current default intra-EEA cross-border consumer card interchange fees in conformity with the decision. In October 2008, MasterCard received an information request from the European Commission concerning certain pricing changes that MasterCard implemented. In March 2009, MasterCard gave certain undertakings to the European Commission including, among other things, a repeal of the pricing changes and the establishment of new default cross-border consumer card interchange fees such that the weighted average interchange fee does not exceed 30 basis points for credit card transactions and 20 basis points for debit card transactions. In April 2009, the Commissioner for competition policy and the Directorate-General for Competition informed MasterCard that, subject to MasterCard’s fulfilling its undertakings, they did not intend to pursue proceedings for non-compliance with or circumvention of the December 2007 decision or for infringing the antitrust laws in relation to the pricing changes.
In May 2012, the General Court of the European Union issued a judgment dismissing the Company’s appeal and upholding the European Commission’s decision in these matters. In September 2014, the European Union Court of Justice (the “ECJ”) rejected MasterCard’s appeal of the General Court’s judgment, upholding the European Commission’s December 2007 decision. Although the interim agreement with the European Commission, by its terms, formally ended on the day of the General Court’s judgment, MasterCard intends to act consistent with the terms of the agreement.
The European Commission decision could lead to additional competition authorities in European Union member states commencing investigations or proceedings regarding domestic interchange fees or initiating regulation. The possibility of such actions has increased due to the final judgment of the ECJ. The judgment also increases the possibility of an adverse outcome for the Company in related and pending matters (such as the interchange proceedings in Hungary, Italy and Poland referenced below). In addition, the European Commission’s decision could lead, and in the case of the United Kingdom and Belgium (as described below) has led, to the filing of private actions against MasterCard Europe by merchants and/or consumers that could result in MasterCard owing substantial damages.
In April 2013, the European Commission announced that it has opened proceedings to investigate: (1) MasterCard’s interregional interchange fees that apply when a card issued outside the EEA is used at a merchant location in the EEA, (2) central acquiring rules, which apply when a merchant uses the services of an acquirer established in another country and (3) other business rules and practices (including the “honor all cards” rule).


19

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Additional Litigations in Europe. In the United Kingdom, beginning in May 2012, a number of retailers filed claims against MasterCard seeking damages for alleged anti-competitive conduct with respect to MasterCard’s cross-border interchange fees and its U.K. and Ireland domestic interchange fees. More than 20 different retailers have filed claims or notice of claims.  An additional 13 potential claimant retailers have agreed to delay filing their claims in exchange for MasterCard agreeing to suspend the running of the time limitations on their damages claims.  Although the claimants have not quantified the full extent of their compensatory and punitive damages, their purported damages exceed $2 billion.  MasterCard has submitted statements of defense to the retailers’ claims disputing liability and damages.  The litigations are at an early stage, and the courts in two of the actions will address preliminary issues before addressing issues concerning any liability and damages.  Similarly, in Belgium, a retailer filed claims in December 2012 for unspecified damages with respect to MasterCard’s cross-border and domestic interchange fees paid in Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg.
Additional Interchange Proceedings. In February 2007, the Office for Fair Trading of the United Kingdom (the “OFT”) commenced an investigation of MasterCard’s current U.K. default credit card interchange fees and so-called “immediate debit” cards to determine whether such fees contravene U.K. and European Union competition law. The OFT informed MasterCard that it did not intend to issue a Statement of Objections or otherwise commence formal proceedings prior to the completion of the appeal to the ECJ of the December 2007 cross-border interchange fee decision. If the Competition and Markets Authority (the successor to the OFT) ultimately 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. Such a decision could lead to the filing of private actions against MasterCard by merchants and/or consumers which could result in an award or awards of substantial damages and could have a significant adverse impact on the revenue of MasterCard International’s U.K. customers and MasterCard’s overall business in the U.K.
Regulatory authorities in a number of other jurisdictions around the world, including Hungary, Italy and Poland, have commenced competition-related proceedings or inquiries into interchange fees and acceptance practices. In some of these jurisdictions, fines have been or could be assessed against MasterCard. These matters could have a negative impact on MasterCard’s business in the specific country where the regulatory authority is located but would not be expected to have a material impact on MasterCard’s overall revenue. 
Private Litigations Related to 1998 Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation
In April 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 “Attridge action”). The claims in this action seek to leverage a 1998 action by the U.S. Department of Justice against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc. and Visa International Corp. In that action, a federal district court concluded that both MasterCard’s Competitive Programs Policy 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) constituted unlawful restraints of trade under the federal antitrust laws. The state court in the Attridge action granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ state antitrust claims but denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ Section 17200 unfair competition claims. In September 2009, MasterCard executed a settlement agreement that received final approval by the court in the California consumer actions in August 2010 (see “Consumer Litigations Related to 2003 U.S. Merchant Settlement”). The agreement includes a release that the parties believe encompasses the claims asserted in the Attridge action. In January 2012, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court’s settlement approval and remanded the matter to the trial court for further proceedings. In April 2013, the trial court granted final approval of a revised settlement agreement, to which the plaintiff from the Attridge action and three other objectors have appealed.
Consumer Litigations Related to 2003 U.S. Merchant Settlement
Individual or multiple complaints have been brought in 19 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 several class action suits brought by a number of U.S. merchants against MasterCard International and Visa U.S.A., Inc., which were settled in 2003, and assert that merchants, faced with excessive interchange fees, have passed these overhead charges to consumers in the form of higher prices on goods and services sold. MasterCard has successfully resolved the cases in all of the jurisdictions except California, where there continue to be outstanding cases. As discussed above under “Private Litigations Related to 1998 Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation,” in September 2009, the parties to the California state court actions executed a settlement agreement that received final approval from the California state trial court in August 2010, subsequent to which MasterCard made a required payment of $6 million. As noted above in more


20

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


detail, the plaintiff from the Attridge action and three other objectors have filed appeals of the trial court’s final approval in April 2013 of a revised settlement.
ATM Non-Discrimination Rule Surcharge Complaints
In October 2011, a trade association of independent Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) operators and 13 independent ATM operators filed a complaint styled as a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against both MasterCard and Visa (the “ATM Operators Complaint”).  Plaintiffs seek to represent a class of non-bank operators of ATM terminals that operate ATM terminals in the United States with the discretion to determine the price of the ATM access fee for the terminals they operate. Plaintiffs allege that MasterCard and Visa have violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by imposing rules that require ATM operators to charge non-discriminatory ATM surcharges for transactions processed over MasterCard’s and Visa’s respective networks that are not greater than the surcharge for transactions over other networks accepted at the same ATM.  Plaintiffs seek both injunctive and monetary relief equal to treble the damages they claim to have sustained as a result of the alleged violations and their costs of suit, including attorneys’ fees.  Plaintiffs have not quantified their damages although they allege that they expect damages to be in the tens of millions of dollars. 
Subsequently, multiple related complaints were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging both federal antitrust and multiple state unfair competition, consumer protection and common law claims against MasterCard and Visa on behalf of putative classes of users of ATM services (the “ATM Consumer Complaints”).  The claims in these actions largely mirror the allegations made in the ATM Operators Complaint described above, although these complaints seek damages on behalf of consumers of ATM services who pay allegedly inflated ATM fees at both bank and non-bank ATM operators as a result of the defendants’ ATM rules.  Plaintiffs seek both injunctive and monetary relief equal to treble the damages they claim to have sustained as a result of the alleged violations and their costs of suit, including attorneys’ fees.  Plaintiffs have not quantified their damages although they allege that they expect damages to be in the tens of millions of dollars. 
In January 2012, the plaintiffs in the ATM Operators Complaint and the ATM Consumer Complaints filed amended class action complaints that largely mirror their prior complaints. In February 2013, the district court granted MasterCard’s motion to dismiss the complaints for failure to state a claim. The plaintiffs’ motion seeking approval to amend their complaints was denied by the district court in December 2013. The plaintiffs have appealed the dismissal of both their complaints and their motion to amend their complaints.
Note 13. Settlement and Other Risk Management
MasterCard’s rules guarantee the settlement of many of the MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions between its issuers and acquirers (“settlement risk”). Settlement exposure is the outstanding settlement risk to customers under MasterCard’s rules due to the difference in timing between the payment transaction date and subsequent settlement. While the term and amount of the guarantee are unlimited, the duration of settlement exposure is short term and typically limited to a few days. Gross settlement exposure is estimated using the average daily card volume 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. Customer-reported transaction data and the transaction clearing data underlying the settlement exposure calculation may be revised in subsequent reporting periods.
In the event that MasterCard effects a payment on behalf of a failed customer, MasterCard may seek an assignment of the underlying receivables of the failed customer. Customers may be charged for the amount of any settlement loss incurred during these ordinary course activities of the Company.
The Company’s global risk management policies and procedures are aimed at managing the settlement exposure. These risk management procedures include interaction with the bank regulators of countries in which it operates, requiring customers to make adjustments to settlement processes, and requiring collateral from customers. MasterCard requires certain customers 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 cash, letters of credit, or guarantees. This requirement is based on management’s review of the individual risk circumstances for each customer that is out of compliance. In addition to these amounts, MasterCard holds collateral to cover variability and future growth in customer programs. The Company may also hold collateral to pay merchants in the event of an acquirer failure. Although the Company is not contractually obligated under its rules to effect such payments to merchants, the Company may elect to do so to protect brand integrity. MasterCard monitors its credit risk portfolio on a regular basis and the adequacy of collateral on hand.


21

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


Additionally, from time to time, the Company reviews its risk management methodology and standards. As such, the amounts of estimated settlement exposure are revised as necessary.
The Company’s estimated settlement exposure from MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions was as follows:
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
 
(in millions)
Gross settlement exposure
$
41,827

 
$
40,657

Collateral held for settlement exposure
(3,544
)
 
(3,167
)
Net uncollateralized settlement exposure
$
38,283

 
$
37,490

General economic and political conditions in countries in which MasterCard operates affect the Company’s settlement risk. Many of the Company’s financial institution customers have been directly and adversely impacted by political instability and uncertain economic conditions. These conditions present increased risk that the Company may have to perform under its settlement guarantee. This risk could increase if political, economic and financial market conditions deteriorate further. The Company’s global risk management policies and procedures are revised and enhanced from time to time. Historically, the Company has experienced a low level of losses from financial institution failures.
MasterCard also provides guarantees to customers and certain other counterparties indemnifying them from losses stemming from failures of third parties to perform duties. This includes guarantees of MasterCard-branded travelers cheques issued, but not yet cashed of $480 million and $503 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, of which $382 million and $403 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, is mitigated by collateral arrangements. In addition, the Company enters into business agreements in the ordinary course of business under which the Company agrees to indemnify third parties against damages, losses and expenses incurred in connection with legal and other proceedings arising from relationships or transactions with the Company. Certain indemnifications do not provide a stated maximum exposure. As the extent of the Company’s obligations under these agreements depends entirely upon the occurrence of future events, the Company’s potential future liability under these agreements is not determinable. Historically, payments made by the Company under these types of contractual arrangements have not been material.
Note 14. Foreign Exchange Risk Management
The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to manage risk associated with anticipated receipts and disbursements which are either transacted in a non-functional currency or valued based on a currency other than its functional currency. The Company also enters into foreign currency derivative contracts to offset possible changes in value due to foreign exchange fluctuations of earnings, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the entity. The objective of these activities is to reduce the Company’s exposure to gains and losses resulting from fluctuations of foreign currencies against its functional currencies.
The Company does not designate foreign currency derivatives as hedging instruments pursuant to the accounting guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities. The Company records the change in the estimated fair value of the outstanding derivatives at the end of the reporting period on its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of operations.


22

Table of Contents

MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) – (Continued)


As of September 30, 2014, all forward contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency had been entered into with customers of MasterCard. MasterCard’s derivative contracts are summarized below:
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Notional
 
Estimated Fair
Value
 
Notional
 
Estimated Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Commitments to purchase foreign currency
$
57

 
$
3

 
$
23

 
$
(1
)
Commitments to sell foreign currency
1,793

 
(9
)
 
1,722

 
1

Balance sheet location:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable 1
 
 
$
20

 
 
 
$
13

Other current liabilities 1
 
 
(26
)
 
 
 
(13
)
1 The fair values of derivative contracts are presented on a gross basis on the balance sheet and are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements, which contain various netting and setoff provisions.
The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income for the contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency is summarized below: 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
(in millions)
Foreign currency derivative contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
$
(53
)
 
$
26

 
$
(79
)
 
$
38

Net revenue

 
3

 

 
2

Total
$
(53
)
 
$
29

 
$
(79
)
 
$
40

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 similar instruments. The terms of the foreign currency forward contracts are generally less than 18 months. The Company had no deferred gains or losses related to foreign exchange contracts in accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 as there were no derivative contracts accounted for under hedge accounting.
The Company’s derivative financial instruments are subject to both market and counterparty credit risk. Market risk is the risk of loss due to the potential change in an instrument’s value caused by fluctuations in interest rates and other variables related to currency exchange rates. The effect of a hypothetical 10% adverse change in foreign currency rates could result in a fair value loss of approximately $193 million on the Company’s foreign currency derivative contracts outstanding at September 30, 2014 related to the hedging program. Counterparty credit risk is the risk of loss due to failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations in accordance with contractual terms. To mitigate counterparty credit risk, the Company enters into derivative contracts with selected financial institutions based upon their credit ratings and other factors. Generally, the Company does not obtain collateral related to derivatives because of the high credit ratings of the counterparties.


23

Table of Contents

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis supplements management's discussion and analysis of MasterCard Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 2013 as contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2014. It also should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes of MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MasterCard International Incorporated (together, “MasterCard” or the “Company”), included elsewhere in this Report. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. Percentage changes provided throughout “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” were calculated on amounts rounded to the nearest thousand.
Overview
MasterCard is a technology company in the global payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks. As the operator of the world’s fastest payments network, we facilitate the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing and settlement, and deliver related products and services. We make payments easier and more efficient by creating a wide range of payment solutions and services using our family of well-known brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®. We also provide value-added offerings such as loyalty and reward programs, information services and consulting. Our network is designed to ensure safety and security for the global payments system. A typical transaction on our network involves four participants in addition to us: cardholder, merchant, issuer (the cardholder’s financial institution) and acquirer (the merchant’s financial institution). We do not issue cards, extend credit, determine or receive revenue from interest rates or other fees charged to cardholders by issuers, or establish the “merchant discount” rate charged in connection with the acceptance of cards and other payment devices that carry our brands. In most cases, cardholder relationships belong to, and are managed by, our financial institution customers.
Our ability to grow is influenced by personal consumption expenditure growth, driving paper-based forms of payment toward electronic forms of payment, increasing our share in electronic payments and providing other value-added products and services. We continue to drive growth by:
Growing our core businesses globally, both as to our products - credit, debit, prepaid and commercial - and increasing the number of payment transactions we process;
Diversifying our business by seeking new areas of growth in markets around the world by focusing on:
Existing and new markets;
Encouraging consumers and businesses to use MasterCard products for new payment areas, such as transit, parking, person-to-person transfers and paying bills;
Small merchants and merchants who have not historically accepted MasterCard products; and
Financial inclusion for the unbanked and underbanked; and
Building our business by:
Taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the ongoing convergence of the physical and digital worlds; and
Using our data analytics, loyalty solutions and fraud protection and detection services to add value.
Our technology, expertise and data make payments safe, simple and fast. We work with merchants to help them enable new sales channels, create better purchase experiences, increase revenues and fight fraud. We help national, state and local governments drive increased financial inclusion and efficiency, reduce costs, increase transparency to reduce crime and corruption and advance social programs. For consumers, we provide better, safer and more convenient ways to pay. We provide financial institutions with solutions to help them increase revenue and increase preference for their MasterCard-branded products.
We generate revenue by charging fees to issuers and acquirers for providing transaction processing and other payment-related products and services, as well as by assessing these customers based, primarily, on the dollar volume of activity, or gross dollar volume (“GDV”), on the cards and other devices that carry our brands.
See “-Business Environment” for a discussion of considerations related to our long-term strategic objectives.


24

Table of Contents

We recorded net income of $1.0 billion, or $0.87 per diluted share, and $2.8 billion, or $2.40 per diluted share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, versus net income of $879 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, and $2.5 billion, or $2.05 per diluted share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. Acquisitions impacted net income growth by (2)% and (1)% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, or $(0.02) per diluted share for each period.
Our net revenue increased 13% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 versus the comparable periods in 2013, driven by increases across our revenue categories, partially offset by higher rebates and incentives. Acquisitions contributed 3% and 1% to net revenue growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, our processed transactions increased 10% and 12%, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2013. Our volumes also increased 12% and 13% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, on a local currency basis, versus the comparable periods in 2013.
Operating expenses increased 12% and 13% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2013, primarily due to higher general and administrative expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expenses. Acquisitions contributed 9% and 5% to operating expense growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. We generated net cash flows from operations of $2.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $2.9 billion for the comparable period in 2013.
The following table provides a summary of our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(in millions, except per share data and percentages)
Net revenue
$
2,503

 
$
2,218

 
13%
 
$
7,057

 
$
6,220

 
13%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
1,083

 
970

 
12%
 
2,969

 
2,637

 
13%
Operating income
1,420

 
1,248

 
14%
 
4,088

 
3,583

 
14%
Operating margin
56.7
%
 
56.3
%
 
**
 
57.9
%
 
57.6
%
 
**
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
403

 
375

 
8%
 
1,256

 
1,096

 
15%
Effective income tax rate
28.5
%
 
29.9
%
 
**
 
30.9
%
 
30.5
%
 
**
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
1,015

 
$
879

 
15%
 
$
2,816

 
$
2,493

 
13%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share
$
0.87

 
$
0.73

 
19%
 
$
2.40

 
$
2.05

 
17%
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
1,160

 
1,209

 
(4)%
 
1,172

 
1,219

 
(4)%
     
** Not meaningful
Business Environment
We process transactions from more than 210 countries and territories and in more than 150 currencies. Net revenue generated in the United States was 37% and 39% of total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 39% and 40% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. No individual country, other than the United States, generated more than 10% of total revenue in any such period, but differences in market growth, economic health and foreign exchange fluctuations in certain countries can have an impact on the proportion of revenue generated outside the United States over time. While the global nature of our business helps protect our operating results from adverse economic conditions in a single or a few countries, the significant concentration of our revenue generated in the United States makes our business particularly susceptible to adverse economic conditions in the United States.
The competitive and evolving nature of the global payments industry provides both challenges to and opportunities for the continued growth of our business. Adverse economic events (including continued distress in the credit environment, continued equity market


25

Table of Contents

volatility and additional government intervention) have impacted the financial markets around the world. The economies of the United States and numerous countries around the world have been significantly impacted by this economic turmoil. Countries have experienced credit ratings actions by ratings agencies, including several in Europe as well as the United States. In addition, some existing customers have been placed in receivership or administration or have a significant amount of their stock owned by their governments. Many financial institutions are facing increased regulatory and governmental influence, including potential further changes in laws and regulations. Many of our financial institution customers, merchants that accept our brands and cardholders who use our brands have been directly and adversely impacted.
MasterCard’s financial results may be negatively impacted by actions taken by individual financial institutions or by governmental or regulatory bodies. In addition, further political instability or a decline in economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates may accelerate the timing of or increase the impact of risks to our financial performance. As a result, our revenue may be negatively impacted, or the Company may be impacted in several ways. MasterCard continues to monitor political and economic conditions around the world to identify opportunities for the continued growth of our business and to evaluate the evolution of the global payments industry. The extent and pace of economic recovery in various regions remains uncertain and the overall business environment may present challenges for MasterCard to grow its business. For further discussion see, “Risk Factors - Business Risks” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and in Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.
In addition, our business and our customers’ businesses are subject to regulation in many countries. Regulatory bodies may seek to impose rules and price controls on certain aspects of our business and the payments industry. For further discussion, see Note 12 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 and our risk factors in “Risk Factors - Legal and Regulatory Risks” in Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and in Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Further, information security risks for global payments and technology companies such as MasterCard have significantly increased in recent years. Although to date we have not experienced any material impacts relating to cyber-attacks or other information security breaches, there can be no assurance that we will be immune to these risks and not suffer such losses in the future. See our risk factor in “Risk Factors - Business Risks” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 related to a failure or breach of our security systems or infrastructure as a result of cyber-attacks.
Impact of Foreign Currency Rates
Our overall operating results can be impacted by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, especially the strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar versus the euro and Brazilian real. The functional currency of MasterCard Europe, our principal European operating subsidiary, is the euro, and the functional currency of our Brazilian subsidiary is the Brazilian real. Accordingly, the strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar versus the euro and Brazilian real impacts the translation of our European and Brazilian subsidiaries’ operating results into the U.S. dollar. For the three months ended September 30, 2014, as compared to the same period in 2013, the U.S. dollar remained relatively constant against the Brazilian real and the euro. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, as compared to the same period in 2013, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the Brazilian real but weakened against the euro. The net foreign currency impact of changes in the U.S. dollar average exchange rates against the euro and Brazilian real increased net revenue and operating expenses by less than 1 percentage point for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
In addition, changes in foreign currency exchange rates directly impact the calculation of gross dollar volume (“GDV”) and gross euro volume (“GEV”), which are used in the calculation of our domestic assessments, cross-border volume fees and volume-related rebates and incentives. In most non-European regions, GDV is calculated based on local currency spending volume converted to U.S. dollars using average exchange rates for the period. In Europe, GEV is calculated based on local currency spending volume converted to euros using average exchange rates for the period. As a result, our domestic assessments, cross-border volume fees and volume-related rebates and incentives are impacted by the strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar versus primarily non-European local currencies and the strengthening or weakening of the euro versus primarily European local currencies. The strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar is evident when GDV growth on a U.S. dollar-converted basis is compared to GDV growth on a local currency basis. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, as compared to the same periods in 2013, GDV on a U.S. dollar converted basis increased 11% while GDV grew on a local currency basis 12% and 13%, respectively. The Company attempts to limit the impact from these foreign currency exposures through its foreign exchange risk management activities, which are discussed further in Note 14 (Foreign Exchange Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.


26

Table of Contents

The Company generates revenue and has financial assets in countries at risk for currency devaluation. While these revenues and financial assets are not material to MasterCard on a consolidated basis, they could be negatively impacted if a devaluation of local currencies occurs relative to the U.S. dollar.
Revenue
Revenue Description
MasterCard’s business model involves four participants in addition to us: cardholders, merchants, issuers (the cardholders’ financial institutions) and acquirers (the merchants’ financial institutions). Our gross revenue is generated by assessing our customers based primarily on the dollar volume of activity on the cards and other devices that carry our brands and from the fees that we charge our customers for providing transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. Our revenue is based upon transactional information accumulated by our systems or reported by our customers. Our primary revenue billing currencies are the U.S. dollar, euro and Brazilian real.
The price structure for our products and services is complex and is dependent on the nature of volumes, types of transactions and type of products and services we offer to our customers. Our net revenue can be significantly impacted by the following:
Domestic or cross-border transactions;
Signature-based or PIN-based transactions;
Geographic region or country the transaction occurs in;
Volumes/transactions subject to tiered rates;
Processed or not processed by MasterCard;
Amount of usage of our other products or services; and
Amount of rebates and incentives provided to customers.
The Company classifies its net revenue into the following five categories:
1.
Domestic assessments: Domestic assessments are fees charged to issuers and acquirers based primarily on the dollar volume of activity on cards and other devices that carry our brands where the merchant country and the issuer country are the same. Domestic assessments include items such as card assessments, which are fees charged on the number of cards issued or assessments for specific purposes, such as acceptance development or market development programs.
2.
Cross-border volume fees: Cross-border volume fees are charged to issuers and acquirers based on the volume of activity on cards and other devices that carry our brands where the merchant country and the issuer country are different. In general, a cross-border transaction generates higher revenue than a domestic transaction since cross-border fees are higher than domestic fees, and in most cases also include fees for currency conversion.
3.
Transaction processing fees: Transaction processing fees are charged for both domestic and cross-border transactions and are primarily based on the number of transactions. Transaction processing fees include charges to issuers for the following:
Transaction Switching fees for the following products and services:
Authorization is the process by which a transaction is routed to the issuer for approval. In certain circumstances such as when the issuer’s systems are unavailable or cannot be contacted, MasterCard or others on behalf of the issuer approve in accordance with either the issuer’s instructions or applicable rules (also known as “stand-in”).
Clearing is the exchange of financial transaction information between issuers and acquirers after a transaction has been successfully conducted at the point of interaction. MasterCard clears transactions among customers through our central and regional processing systems.
Settlement is facilitating the exchange of funds between parties.


27

Table of Contents

Connectivity fees are charged to issuers and acquirers for network access, equipment and the transmission of authorization and settlement messages. These fees are based on the size of the data being transmitted through and the number of connections to the Company’s network.
4.
Other revenues: Other revenues consist of other payment-related products and services and are primarily associated with the following:
Consulting and research fees are primarily generated by MasterCard Advisors, the Company’s professional advisory services group.
Fraud products and services used to prevent or detect fraudulent transactions. This includes fees for warning bulletins provided to issuers and acquirers either electronically or in paper form.
Loyalty and rewards solution fees are charged to issuers for benefits provided directly to consumers with MasterCard-branded cards, such as insurance, assistance for lost cards, locating ATMs and rewards programs.
Program management services provided to prepaid card issuers consist of foreign exchange margin, commissions, load fees and ATM withdrawal fees paid by cardholders on the sale and encashment of prepaid cards.
The Company also charges for a variety of other payment-related products and services, including account and transaction enhancement services, rules compliance and publications.
5.
Rebates and incentives (contra-revenue): Rebates and incentives are provided to certain MasterCard customers and are recorded as contra-revenue.
Revenue Analysis
In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, gross revenue increased $415 million and $1.2 billion, respectively, or 14%, versus the comparable periods in 2013. Gross revenue growth in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was primarily driven by increases in dollar volume of activity on cards carrying our brands, transactions, other payment-related products and services and the impact of acquisitions. Rebates and incentives, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, increased $130 million and $320 million, or 19% and 16%, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2013 primarily due to the impact from new and renewed agreements and increased volumes. Our net revenue increased 13% for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, versus the comparable periods in 2013. Acquisitions contributed 3% and 1% to net revenue growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, our GDV increased 12% and 13% on a local currency basis while our processed transactions increased 10% and 12%, respectively.
The following table provides a summary of the trend in volume and transaction growth:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
Growth (USD)
 
Growth (Local)
 
Growth (USD)
 
Growth (Local)
 
Growth (USD)
 
Growth (Local)
 
Growth (USD)
 
Growth (Local)
MasterCard-Branded GDV 1
11
%
 
12
%
 
14
%
 
15
%
 
11
 %
 
13
%
 
13
%
 
14
%
Asia Pacific/Middle East/Africa
16
%
 
16
%
 
16
%
 
22
%
 
15
 %
 
18
%
 
19
%
 
22
%
Canada
%
 
5
%
 
4
%
 
9
%
 
(1
)%
 
6
%
 
4
%
 
7
%
Europe
10
%
 
12
%
 
19
%
 
17
%
 
12
 %
 
13
%
 
16
%
 
15
%
Latin America
9
%
 
15
%
 
11
%
 
17
%
 
6
 %
 
14
%
 
13
%
 
16
%
United States
7
%
 
7
%
 
9
%
 
9
%
 
8
 %
 
8
%
 
6
%
 
6
%
Cross-border Volume Growth 1
 
 
15
%
 
 
 
19
%
 
 
 
16
%
 
 
 
18
%
Processed Transactions Growth
 
 
10
%
 
 
 
16
%
 
 
 
12
%
 
 
 
13
%
1 Excludes volume generated by Maestro and Cirrus cards.
A significant portion of our revenue is concentrated among our five largest customers. The loss of any of these customers or their significant card programs could adversely impact our revenue. In addition, as part of our business strategy, MasterCard, among other efforts, enters into business agreements with customers. These agreements can be terminated in a variety of circumstances.


28

Table of Contents

The significant components of our net revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
2014
 
       2013 1
 
 
2014
 
       2013 1
 
 
(in millions, except percentages)
Domestic assessments
$
1,003

 
$
931

 
8%
 
$
2,949

 
$
2,716

 
9%
Cross-border volume fees
835

 
738

 
13%
 
2,280

 
1,985

 
15%
Transaction processing fees
1,041

 
919

 
13%
 
2,972

 
2,605

 
14%
Other revenues
460

 
336

 
38%
 
1,193

 
931

 
28%
Gross revenue
3,339

 
2,924

 
14%
 
9,394

 
8,237

 
14%
Rebates and incentives (contra-revenue)
(836
)
 
(706
)
 
19%
 
(2,337
)
 
(2,017
)
 
16%
Net revenue
$
2,503

 
$
2,218

 
13%
 
$
7,057

 
$
6,220

 
13%

1 Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. Net revenue is not impacted.
The following table summarizes the primary drivers of net revenue growth in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 versus the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Volume
 
Foreign Currency 1
 
Other
 
Total
 
2014
 
2013 2
 
2014
 
2013 2
 
2014
 
2013 2
 
2014
 
2013 2

Domestic assessments
11
%
 
16
%
 
%
 
%
 
(3
)%
3 
(8
)%
3 
8
%
 
8
%
Cross-border volume fees
13
%
 
14
%
 
%
 
2
%
 
 %
 
5
 %
 
13
%
 
21
%
Transaction processing fees
9
%
 
11
%
 
%
 
1
%
 
4
 %
 
1
 %
 
13
%
 
13
%
Other revenues
**

 
**

 
%
 
1
%
 
38
 %
4 
13
 %
4 
38
%
 
14
%
Rebates and incentives
9
%
 
5
%
 
%
 
%
 
10
 %
5 
3
 %
5 
19
%
 
8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenue
10
%
 
14
%
 
%
 
1
%
 
3
 %
 
1
 %
 
13
%
 
16
%
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Volume
 
Foreign Currency 1
 
Other
 
Total
 
2014
 
2013 2
 
2014
 
2013 2
 
2014
 
2013 2
 
2014
 
2013 2

Domestic assessments
12
%
 
13
%
 
 %
 
 %
 
(3
)%
3 
(4
)%
3 
9
%
 
9
%
Cross-border volume fees
14
%
 
15
%
 
1
 %
 
1
 %
 
 %
 
3
 %
 
15
%
 
19
%
Transaction processing fees
12
%
 
10
%
 
 %
 
 %
 
2
 %
 
 %
 
14
%
 
10
%
Other revenues
**

 
**

 
1
 %
 
1
 %
 
27
 %
4 
12
 %
4 
28
%
 
13
%
Rebates and incentives
8
%
 
6
%
 
 %
 
 %
 
8
 %
5 
2
 %
5 
16
%
 
8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net revenue
12
%
 
13
%
 
 %
 
 %
 
1
 %
 
 %
 
13
%
 
13
%
** Not applicable
1 Reflects translation from the euro and Brazilian real to the U.S. dollar.
2 Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2014 presentation. Net revenue is not impacted.
3 Includes impact of the allocation of revenue to service deliverables, which are recorded in other revenue when services are performed.
4 The 2014 activity includes the impact from the acquisitions made during the year. Additionally there are impacts from consulting fees, fraud service fees and other payment-related products and services.
5 Includes the impact from timing of new, renewed and expired agreements.


29

Table of Contents

Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses are comprised of general and administrative, advertising and marketing and depreciation and amortization expenses. Operating expenses increased $113 million and $332 million, or 12% and 13%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2013, primarily due to higher general and administrative expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expenses. Acquisitions contributed 9% and 5% to operating expense growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. The components of operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(in millions, except percentages)
General and administrative
$
797

 
$
701

 
14%
 
$
2,207

 
$
1,930

 
14%
Advertising and marketing      
203

 
205

 
(1)%
 
525

 
520