MA.09.30.2012 - 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, 2012
Or
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from              to             
Commission file number: 001-32877
MasterCard Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
13-4172551
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
 
 
2000 Purchase Street
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  ¨
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  ¨
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  ¨    No  x
As of October 25, 2012, there were 119,275,914 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and 4,985,040 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

Forward-Looking Statements
This Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 personal consumption expenditures, the trend towards electronic forms of payment and growing MasterCard's share in electronic payments, including with innovative solutions and new technology;
the Company’s focus on growing its credit, debit, prepaid, commercial and payment transaction processing offerings;
the Company’s focus on diversifying its business (including seeking new areas of growth, expanding acceptance points and maintaining unsurpassed acceptance and successfully working with new business partners);
the Company’s focus on building new businesses through technology and strategic efforts and alliances with respect to electronic commerce, mobile and other initiatives;
the stability of economies around the globe;
the Company’s advertising and marketing strategy and investment;
the Memorandum of Understanding to settle the current U.S. merchant class litigation and the agreement-in-principle to settle all claims brought by the individual merchant plaintiffs, which are subject to execution of settlement agreements for both the merchant class litigation (including the completion of certain appendices to the settlement agreement) and the individual merchant plaintiff class, as well as final court approval of the class settlement and any necessary approvals for the parties;
the Company's belief that its existing cash 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 operations and potential litigation obligations; and
the manner and amount of future 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: litigation decisions, regulation and legislation related to interchange fees and related practices; regulations established under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in the United States; requirement to permit U.S. merchants to surcharge credit cards (subject to final approval of the U.S. merchant class litigation); regulation or other legislative or regulatory activity in one jurisdiction or of one product resulting in regulation in other jurisdictions or of other products; competitive issues caused by government actions; regulation of the payments industry, consumer privacy, data use and/or security; potential or incurred liability, limitations on business and other penalties resulting from litigation; potential changes in tax laws; competition in the payments industry; competitive pressure on pricing; banking industry consolidation; loss of significant business from significant customers; merchant activity; our relationship and the relationship of our competitors with our customers; brand perceptions and reputation; ability to grow our debit business, particularly in the United States; 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; disruptions to our transaction processing systems and other services; account data breaches; reputation damage from increases in fraudulent activity; the inability to keep pace with technological developments in the industry; the effect of adverse currency fluctuation; the inability to adequately manage change and effectively deliver our products and solutions; acquisition 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 Item 1A (Risk Factors) in Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Part II, Item 1A, (Risk Factors) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. 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.
In this Report, references to the “Company,” “MasterCard,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the business conducted by MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including our operating subsidiary, MasterCard International Incorporated (d/b/a MasterCard Worldwide).

3

Table of Contents

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.     Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)


MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(UNAUDITED)

 
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in millions, except share data)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,045

 
$
3,734

Investment securities available-for-sale
2,594

 
1,215

Accounts receivable
912

 
808

Settlement due from customers
815

 
601

Restricted security deposits held for customers
775

 
636

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
575

 
404

Deferred income taxes
356

 
343

Total Current Assets
9,072

 
7,741

Property, plant and equipment, net
465

 
449

Deferred income taxes
101

 
88

Goodwill
1,087

 
1,014

Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $661 and $557, respectively
676

 
665

Other assets
719

 
736

Total Assets
$
12,120

 
$
10,693

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
319

 
$
360

Settlement due to customers
839

 
699

Restricted security deposits held for customers
775

 
636

Accrued litigation
790

 
770

Accrued expenses
1,620

 
1,610

Other current liabilities
205

 
142

Total Current Liabilities
4,548

 
4,217

Deferred income taxes
103

 
113

Other liabilities
545

 
486

Total Liabilities
5,196

 
4,816

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Stockholders’ Equity
 
 

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized 3,000,000,000 shares, 133,420,992 and 132,771,392 shares issued and 119,503,347 and 121,618,059 outstanding, respectively

 

Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized 1,200,000,000 shares, 5,010,762 and 5,245,676 issued and outstanding, respectively

 

Additional paid-in-capital
3,619

 
3,519

Class A treasury stock, at cost, 13,917,645 and 11,153,333 shares, respectively
(3,527
)
 
(2,394
)
Retained earnings
6,786

 
4,745

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
34

 
(2
)
Total Stockholders’ Equity
6,912

 
5,868

Non-controlling interests
12

 
9

Total Equity
6,924

 
5,877

Total Liabilities and Equity
$
12,120

 
$
10,693


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,
 
2012

2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Revenues, net
$
1,918

 
$
1,818

 
$
5,496

 
$
4,986

Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
620

 
565

 
1,790

 
1,599

Advertising and marketing
176

 
200

 
480

 
522

Depreciation and amortization
58

 
51

 
168

 
142

Provision for litigation settlement

 

 
20

 

Total operating expenses
854

 
816

 
2,458

 
2,263

Operating income
1,064

 
1,002

 
3,038

 
2,723

Other Income (Expense)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment income
9

 
17

 
27

 
40

Interest expense
(4
)
 
(6
)
 
(13
)
 
(18
)
Other income (expense), net
(3
)
 
17

 
(14
)
 
13

Total other income (expense)
2

 
28

 

 
35

Income before income taxes
1,066

 
1,030

 
3,038

 
2,758

Income tax expense
294

 
314

 
885

 
872

Net income
772

 
716

 
2,153

 
1,886

Loss attributable to non-controlling interests

 
1

 
1

 
1

Net Income Attributable to MasterCard
$
772

 
$
717

 
$
2,154

 
$
1,887

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Earnings per Share
$
6.19

 
$
5.65

 
$
17.13

 
$
14.71

Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
125

 
127

 
126

 
128

Diluted Earnings per Share
$
6.17

 
$
5.63

 
$
17.07

 
$
14.66

Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
125

 
127

 
126

 
129


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,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(in millions)
Net Income
$
772

 
$
716

 
$
2,153

 
$
1,886

Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
78

 
(137
)
 
28

 
11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans

 

 
2

 

Income tax effect

 

 
(1
)
 

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

 

 
1

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available-for-sale
4

 
(9
)
 
10

 
(3
)
Income tax effect
(1
)
 
3

 
(3
)
 
1

Investment securities available-for-sale, net of income tax effect
3

 
(6
)
 
7

 
(2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
81

 
(143
)
 
36

 
9

Comprehensive Income
853

 
573

 
2,189

 
1,895

Loss attributable to non-controlling interests

 
1

 
1

 
1

Comprehensive Income Attributable to MasterCard
$
853

 
$
574

 
$
2,190

 
$
1,896




MASTERCARD INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(UNAUDITED)
 
Total
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss), Net of Tax
 
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, 2011
$
5,877

 
$
4,745

 
$
(2
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
3,519

 
$
(2,394
)
 
$
9

Net income (loss)
2,153

 
2,154

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1
)
Contribution by non-controlling interest
4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
4

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
36

 

 
36

 

 

 

 

 

Cash dividends declared on Class A and Class B common stock, $0.90 per share
(113
)
 
(113
)
 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of treasury stock
(1,135
)
 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,135
)
 

Issuance of treasury stock for share-based compensation
3

 

 

 

 

 
1

 
2

 

Share-based payments
66

 

 

 

 

 
66

 

 

Stock units withheld for taxes
(41
)
 

 

 

 

 
(41
)
 

 

Tax benefit for share-based compensation
46

 

 

 

 

 
46

 

 

Exercise of stock options
28

 

 

 

 

 
28

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2012
$
6,924

 
$
6,786

 
$
34

 
$

 
$

 
$
3,619

 
$
(3,527
)
 
$
12

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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,
 
2012
 
2011
 
(in millions)
Operating Activities
 
 
 
Net income
$
2,153

 
$
1,886

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
168

 
142

Share-based payments
66

 
53

Stock units withheld for taxes
(41
)
 
(33
)
Tax benefit for share-based compensation
(46
)
 
(11
)
Deferred income taxes
(40
)
 
136

Other
35

 
7

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(112
)
 
(100
)
Income taxes receivable
(53
)
 

Settlement due from customers
(213
)
 
(16
)
Prepaid expenses
(122
)
 
39

Obligations under litigation settlements
20

 
(302
)
Accounts payable
(36
)
 
(8
)
Settlement due to customers
140

 
(84
)
Accrued expenses
129

 
163

Net change in other assets and liabilities
34

 
28

Net cash provided by operating activities
2,082

 
1,900

Investing Activities
 
 
 
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
(70
)
 
(460
)
Purchases of investment securities available-for-sale
(2,123
)
 
(188
)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(68
)
 
(51
)
Capitalized software
(96
)
 
(65
)
Proceeds from sales of investment securities available-for-sale
195

 
371

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available-for-sale
576

 
36

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held-to-maturity

 
301

Investment in nonmarketable equity investments
(25
)
 
(8
)
Other investing activities
(1
)
 
9

Net cash used in investing activities
(1,612
)
 
(55
)
Financing Activities
 
 
 
Purchases of treasury stock
(1,135
)
 
(1,118
)
Dividends paid
(94
)
 
(58
)
Payment of debt

 
(21
)
Tax benefit for share-based compensation
46

 
11

Cash proceeds from exercise of stock options
28

 
15

Contribution by non-controlling interest
4

 

Net cash used in financing activities
(1,151
)
 
(1,171
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(8
)
 
12

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(689
)
 
686

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
3,734

 
3,067

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
$
3,045

 
$
3,753

 
 
 
 
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
 
 
 
Fair value of assets acquired, net of cash acquired
$
73

 
$
549

Fair value of liabilities assumed related to acquisitions
$
3

 
$
89


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 global payments and technology company that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks.  MasterCard primarily (1) offers a wide range of payment solutions, which enable its customers (which include financial institutions and other entities that act as “issuers” and “acquirers”) to develop and implement credit, debit, prepaid and related payment programs for their customers (which include individual consumers, businesses and government entities); (2) manages a family of well-known, widely-accepted payment brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, which it licenses to its customers for use in their payment programs; (3) processes payment transactions over the MasterCard Worldwide Network; and (4) provides support services to its customers and, depending upon the service, merchants and other clients.  
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 2012 presentation. The Company follows accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
On April 15, 2011, MasterCard acquired the prepaid card program management operations of Travelex Holdings Ltd., since renamed Access Prepaid Worldwide (“Access”), for 295 million U.K pound sterling, or $481 million, including adjustments for working capital, and contingent consideration. The consolidated financial statements include the results of Access since the date of its acquisition on April 15, 2011. See Note 2 (Acquisitions) in Part II, Item 8 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for further discussion.
The balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2011. The consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 and as of September 30, 2012 are unaudited, and in the opinion of management, include all normal recurring adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for interim periods. Due to seasonal fluctuations and other factors, the results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 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, 2011 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies.
Recent accounting pronouncements
Impairment testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets - In July 2012, new accounting guidance was issued that is intended to simplify how an entity tests indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. Under this guidance, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, an entity concludes that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is not more likely than not impaired, then the entity would not be required to take further action. However, if an entity concludes otherwise, then it would be required to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset and compare the fair value with the carrying amount. An entity also would have the option to bypass the qualitative assessment for any indefinite-lived intangible asset in any period and proceed directly to calculating its fair value. The amendments are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted. The Company will adopt the revised accounting guidance effective October 1, 2012, and does not anticipate that this adoption will have an impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Fair value measurement and disclosure - The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis by estimating the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company classifies these recurring fair value measurements into a three-level hierarchy ("Valuation Hierarchy") and discloses the significant assumptions utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair value.

8

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


In May 2011, the fair value accounting guidance was amended to change fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. The key changes in measurement principles include limiting the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise to nonfinancial assets, providing a framework for considering whether a premium or discount can be applied in a fair value measurement, and aligning the fair value measurement of instruments classified within an entity's shareholders' equity with the guidance for liabilities. Disclosures are required for all transfers between Levels 1 and 2 within the Valuation Hierarchy, the use of a nonfinancial asset measured at fair value if its use differs from its highest and best use, the level in the Valuation Hierarchy of assets and liabilities not recorded at fair value but for which fair value is required to be disclosed, and for Level 3 measurements, quantitative information about unobservable inputs used, a description of the valuation processes used, and qualitative discussion about the sensitivity of the measurements. The Company adopted the revised accounting standard effective January 1, 2012 via prospective adoption, as required. The adoption had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Comprehensive income - In June 2011, a new accounting standard was issued that amends existing guidance by allowing only two options for presenting the components of net income and other comprehensive income: (1) in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or (2) in two separate but consecutive financial statements, consisting of an income statement followed by a separate statement of other comprehensive income. Also, items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income must be presented on the face of the financial statements. In December 2011, a new accounting standard was issued that indefinitely deferred the effective date for the requirement to present the reclassification of items from comprehensive income to net income on the face of the financial statements. Both standards require retrospective application, and are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the revised accounting standards effective January 1, 2012. The adoption had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
Note 2. Earnings Per Share
The components of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for common shares were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to MasterCard
$
772

 
$
717

 
$
2,154

 
$
1,887

Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic EPS weighted average shares outstanding
125

 
127

 
126

 
128

Dilutive stock options and stock units

 

 

 

Diluted EPS weighted average shares outstanding *
125

 
127

 
126

 
129

Earnings per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Basic
$
6.19

 
$
5.65

 
$
17.13

 
$
14.71

Total Diluted
$
6.17

 
$
5.63

 
$
17.07

 
$
14.66


Note that table may not sum due to rounding.
* For the periods presented, the calculation of diluted EPS excluded a minimal amount of antidilutive share-based payment awards.

Note 3. Fair Value and Investment Securities
Financial Instruments
In accordance with accounting requirements for financial instruments, the Company is disclosing the estimated fair values as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 of the financial instruments that are within the scope of the accounting guidance, as well as the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of those financial instruments. Furthermore, the Company classifies its fair value measurements in the Valuation Hierarchy. No transfers were made among the three levels in the Valuation Hierarchy during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

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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, 2012
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities 1
$

 
$
495

 
$

 
$
495

U.S. Government and Agency securities

 
434

 

 
434

Taxable short-term bond funds
209

 

 

 
209

Corporate securities

 
1,140

 

 
1,140

Asset-backed securities

 
273

 

 
273

Auction rate securities

 

 
41

 
41

Other

 
47

 

 
47

Total recurring fair value measurements
$
209

 
$
2,389

 
$
41

 
$
2,639

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2011
 
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities 1
$

 
$
393

 
$

 
$
393

U.S. Government and Agency securities

 
205

 

 
205

Taxable short-term bond funds
203

 

 

 
203

Corporate securities

 
325

 

 
325

Asset-backed securities

 
69

 

 
69

Auction rate securities

 

 
70

 
70

Other

 
22

 

 
22

Total recurring fair value measurements
$
203

 
$
1,014

 
$
70

 
$
1,287

1 Available-for-sale municipal securities are carried at fair value and are included in the above tables. However, a held-to-maturity municipal bond is carried at amortized cost and excluded from the above tables.
The fair value of the Company's short-term bond funds are based on quoted prices for identical investments in active markets and are therefore included in Level 1 of the Valuation Hierarchy.
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 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 13 (Foreign Exchange Risk Management) for further details.
The Company's auction rate securities (“ARS”) investments have been classified within Level 3 of the Valuation Hierarchy as their valuation requires substantial judgment and estimation of factors that are not currently observable in the market due to the lack of trading in the securities. This valuation may be revised in future periods as market conditions evolve. The Company has considered the lack of liquidity in the ARS market and the lack of comparable, orderly transactions when estimating the fair value of its ARS portfolio. Therefore, the Company used the income approach, which included a discounted cash flow analysis of the estimated future cash flows adjusted by a risk premium for the ARS portfolio, to estimate the fair value of its ARS portfolio. The Company estimated the fair value of its ARS portfolio to be a 10% discount to the par value as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The decrease in the value of ARS outstanding from December 31, 2011 to September 30, 2012 is due to issuer calls of the securities at par value. The Company did not realize any material losses on its ARS portfolio during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. When a determination is made to classify a financial instrument within Level 3, the determination is based upon the significance of the unobservable parameters to the overall fair value measurement. However, the fair value determination for Level 3 financial instruments may include observable components.

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


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, accounts receivable, settlement due from customers, restricted security deposits held for customers, prepaid expenses, accounts payable, settlement due to customers and accrued expenses.
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, 2012 and December 31, 2011, 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 fair value 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 12 (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 not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis; however, they 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.

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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, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were as follows:
 
 
September 30, 2012
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss 1
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities
$
484

 
$
11

 
$

 
$
495

U.S. Government and Agency securities
433

 
1

 

 
434

Taxable short-term bond funds
208

 
1

 

 
209

Corporate securities
1,138

 
2

 

 
1,140

Asset-backed securities
273

 

 

 
273

Auction rate securities2
46

 

 
(5
)
 
41

Other
43

 

 

 
43

Total
$
2,625

 
$
15

 
$
(5
)
 
$
2,635

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2011
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gain
 
Gross
Unrealized
Loss 1
 
Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Municipal securities
$
382

 
$
11

 
$

 
$
393

U.S. Government and Agency securities
205

 

 

 
205

Taxable short-term bond funds
206

 

 
(3
)
 
203

Corporate securities
325

 

 

 
325

Asset-backed securities
69

 

 

 
69

Auction rate securities2
78

 

 
(8
)
 
70

Other
20

 

 

 
20

Total
$
1,285

 
$
11

 
$
(11
)
 
$
1,285


1 The unrealized losses primarily relate to ARS, which have been in an unrealized loss position longer than 12 months,
but have not been deemed other-than-temporarily impaired.
2 Included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 4 (Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets).
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 Treasury bills and bonds and U.S. government sponsored Agency bonds and discount notes. Short-term bond funds are invested in corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. 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. The ARS are exempt from U.S. federal income tax and are fully collateralized by student loans with guarantees (ranging from approximately 95% to 98% of principal and interest) by the U.S. government via the Department of Education.

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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, 2012 was as follows:
 
 
Available-For-Sale
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair Value
 
(in millions)
Due within 1 year
$
1,243

 
$
1,244

Due after 1 year through 5 years
1,060

 
1,071

Due after 5 years through 10 years
65

 
67

Due after 10 years
49

 
44

No contractual maturity
208

 
209

Total
$
2,625

 
$
2,635

The majority of the securities due after ten years are ARS. Taxable short-term bond funds have been included in the table above in the "no contractual maturity" category, as these investments do not have a stated maturity date; however, the short-term bond funds have daily liquidity.
Investment Income
Investment income was $9 million and $17 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Investment income was $27 million and $40 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Investment income primarily consisted of interest income generated from cash, cash equivalents, investment securities available-for-sale and investment securities held-to-maturity. Dividend income and gross realized gains and losses were not significant.
Note 4. Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in millions)
Customer and merchant incentives
$
220

 
$
190

Investment securities held-to-maturity
36

 

Prepaid income taxes
109

 
35

Income taxes receivable
43

 
35

Other
167

 
144

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets
$
575

 
$
404

Other assets consisted of the following:
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in millions)
Customer and merchant incentives
$
394

 
$
409

Nonmarketable equity investments
163

 
160

Auction rate securities available-for-sale, at fair value
41

 
70

Investment securities held-to-maturity

 
36

Income taxes receivable
60

 
15

Other
61

 
46

Total other assets
$
719

 
$
736

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. Once the payment is made, the liability is relieved. Costs directly related to entering into such an agreement are deferred and amortized over the life of the agreement.

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


Investments for which the equity method or historical cost method of accounting are used are recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company accounts for investments in common stock or in-substance common stock under the equity method of accounting when it has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee, generally when it holds 20% or more of the common stock in the entity. 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 investments in non-publicly traded companies under the historical cost method of accounting when those investments do not qualify for the equity method of accounting.
Note 5. Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in millions)
Property, plant and equipment
$
866

 
$
819

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(401
)
 
(370
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
$
465

 
$
449

Note 6. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
 
September 30, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
(in millions)
Customer and merchant incentives
$
957

 
$
889

Personnel costs
294

 
345

Advertising
76

 
144

Income and other taxes
163

 
82

Other
130

 
150

Total accrued expenses
$
1,620

 
$
1,610

As of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had an accrued liability of $790 million and $770 million, respectively, related to the U.S. merchant litigations. MasterCard and the other defendants had been participating in separate court-recommended mediation sessions with the individual merchant plaintiffs and the class plaintiffs. MasterCard recorded a $770 million pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter of 2011.  This charge represented MasterCard's estimate for the financial portion of a settlement in these cases. On July 13, 2012, MasterCard entered into a memorandum of understanding to settle the merchant class litigation, and separately agreed in principle to settle all claims brought by the individual merchant plaintiffs. MasterCard's financial portion of the settlements is estimated to total $790 million on a pre-tax basis, with the additional $20 million pre-tax charge having been recorded in the second quarter of 2012. This amount is not included in the accrued expense table above and is separately reported as accrued litigation on the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 11 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) for further discussion.
Note 7. Stockholders’ Equity
In June 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock (the "New Program"). The New Program became effective in June 2012 at the completion of the Company’s previously announced $2 billion Class A share repurchase program (the "Prior Program"). The Company’s Board of Directors approved $1 billion of the Prior Program in September 2010 and the additional $1 billion in April 2011. The cumulative repurchases by the Company under the Prior Program totaled approximately 6.5 million shares of Class A common stock, for an aggregate cost of approximately $2 billion and at an average price of $305.60 per share of Class A common stock. See Note 15 (Stockholders' Equity) in Part II, Item 8 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for further discussion of the Prior Program.
During the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 0.5 million shares and 0.3 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $216 million and $77 million, respectively, under these share repurchase programs. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company repurchased a total of approximately 2.8 million shares and 4.3 million shares of its Class A common stock for approximately $1.1 billion in

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


each of the periods. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had $1.2 billion of the authorized amount remaining under the New Program.
As of October 25, 2012, the cumulative repurchases by the Company under the New Program totaled approximately 0.9 million shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate cost of approximately $402 million at an average price of $437.59 per share of Class A common stock.
Note 8. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
The changes in the balances of each component of accumulated comprehensive income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 were as follows:
 
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Net of Tax
 
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale, Net of Tax
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
 
(in millions)
Balance at December 31, 2011
 
$
30

 
$
(32
)
 
$

 
$
(2
)
Current period other comprehensive income
 
28

 
1

 
7

 
36

Balance at September 30, 2012
 
$
58

 
$
(31
)
 
$
7

 
$
34

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 9. Share-Based Payment and Other Benefits
During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company granted approximately 165 thousand restricted stock units, 133 thousand stock options and 21 thousand performance stock units under the MasterCard Incorporated 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (“LTIP”). The weighted average fair value of the restricted stock units and performance stock units, based on the closing price of the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, on the New York Stock Exchange on the dates of the grants was $421.65. The weighted average fair value of the stock options estimated on the dates of the grants using a Black-Scholes option pricing model was $148.45. Vesting of the shares underlying the restricted stock units and performance stock units will generally occur three years after the date of the grant. The stock options vest in four equal annual installments beginning one year after the date of the grant, and have a term of ten years. 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.
Note 10. Income Taxes
The effective income tax rates were 27.6% and 30.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and 29.1% and 31.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2012 was lower than the tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2011 due primarily to a discrete benefit related to additional export incentives and a larger benefit from the domestic production activities deduction in the U.S. related to our authorization software. The tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 was lower than the tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due primarily to discrete benefits related to additional export incentives and the conclusion of tax examinations in certain jurisdictions.
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 statute 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 non-U.S. audits by taxing authorities for years through 2002.  It is possible that the amount of unrecognized benefit with respect to the Company's uncertain tax positions may change within the next twelve months. An estimate of the range of the possible change cannot be made until the issues are further developed, the examinations close, or the statutes expire.


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


Note 11. Legal and Regulatory Proceedings
MasterCard is a party to legal and regulatory proceedings with respect to a variety of matters in the ordinary course of business. Some of these proceedings involve complex claims that are subject to substantial uncertainties and unascertainable damages. In some instances, the probability of loss and an estimation of damages are not possible to be determined at present. While these proceedings are generally resolved over long periods of time, the probability of loss or an estimation of damages can change due to a number of developments. Accordingly, except as discussed below, MasterCard has not established reserves for any of these proceedings.
Except as described below, MasterCard does not believe that any existing legal or regulatory proceedings to which it is a party would have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows. Moreover, MasterCard believes that it has strong defenses for the pending legal and regulatory proceedings described below. Notwithstanding MasterCard's belief, however, in the event it were found liable in a large class-action lawsuit or on the basis of a claim in the United States entitling the plaintiff to treble damages or under which it were jointly and severally liable, charges it may be required to record could be significant. In addition, an adverse outcome in a regulatory proceeding could result in fines and/or lead to the filing of civil damage claims and possibly result in damage awards in amounts that could be significant. Furthermore, MasterCard could in the future incur judgments and/or fines, enter into settlements of claims or be required to change its business practices, and any of these events could have a material adverse effect on MasterCard's results of operations, financial position and cash flows (or, in the event of liability in a large class-action lawsuit, could even cause MasterCard to become insolvent).
Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation and Related Private Litigations
In October 1998, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) filed suit against MasterCard International, Visa U.S.A., Inc. and Visa International Corp. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging that both MasterCard's and Visa's governance structure and policies violated U.S. federal antitrust laws. The DOJ challenged (1) “dual governance”, where a financial institution has a representative on the Board of Directors of MasterCard or Visa while a portion of its card portfolio is issued under the brand of the other association, and (2) both MasterCard's Competitive Programs Policy (“CPP”) and a Visa bylaw provision that prohibited financial institutions participating in the respective associations from issuing competing proprietary payment cards (such as American Express or Discover). In October 2001, the judge issued an opinion upholding the legality and pro-competitive nature of dual governance. However, the judge also held that MasterCard's CPP and the Visa bylaw constituted unlawful restraints of trade under the federal antitrust laws. The judge subsequently issued a final judgment that ordered MasterCard to repeal the CPP and enjoined MasterCard from enacting or enforcing any bylaw, rule, policy or practice that prohibits its issuers from issuing general purpose credit or debit cards in the United States on any other general purpose card network.
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 piggyback on the portion of the DOJ antitrust litigation discussed above with regard to the District Court's findings concerning MasterCard's CPP and Visa's related bylaw. The Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' Cartwright Act claims but denied the defendants' motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' Section 17200 unfair competition claims. The parties have proceeded with discovery. In September 2009, MasterCard executed a settlement agreement that is subject to court approval in the separate California consumer litigations (see “U.S. Merchant and Consumer Litigations”). The agreement includes a release that the parties believe encompasses the claims asserted in the Attridge action. In August 2010, the Court in the California consumer actions granted final approval to the settlement. The plaintiff from the Attridge action and three other objectors filed appeals of the settlement approval. 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 August 2012, the parties in the California consumer actions filed a motion seeking approval of a revised settlement agreement. At this time, it is not possible to determine the outcome of, or estimate the liability related to, the Attridge action and no incremental provision for losses has been provided in connection with it.
U.S. Merchant and Consumer Litigations
Commencing in October 1996, several class action suits were brought by a number of U.S. merchants against MasterCard International and Visa U.S.A., Inc. challenging certain aspects of the payment card industry under U.S. federal antitrust law. The plaintiffs claimed that MasterCard's “Honor All Cards” rule (and a similar Visa rule), which required merchants who accept MasterCard cards to accept for payment every validly presented MasterCard card, constituted an illegal tying arrangement in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. In June 2003, MasterCard International signed a settlement agreement to settle the claims brought by the plaintiffs in this matter, which the Court approved in December 2003. Pursuant to the settlement, MasterCard

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


agreed, among other things, to create two separate “Honor All Cards” rules in the United States - one for debit cards and one for credit cards.
In addition, 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 the U.S. merchant lawsuit 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 continues to be outstanding cases. As discussed above under “Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation and Related Private Litigations,” in September 2009, the parties to the California state court actions executed a settlement agreement which required a payment by MasterCard of $6 million, subject to approval by the California state court. In August 2010, the court granted final approval of the settlement, subsequent to which MasterCard made the payment required by the settlement agreement. The plaintiff from the Attridge action described above under “Department of Justice Antitrust Litigation and Related Private Litigations” and three other objectors filed appeals of the settlement approval order. In January 2012, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court's settlement approval and remanded the matter to the trial court for further proceedings. As noted above, in August 2012, the parties in the California consumer actions filed a motion seeking approval of a revised settlement agreement.
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 charged 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. MasterCard has moved to dismiss the complaints for failure to state a claim. Oral argument on the motion was heard by the court in September 2012.
At this time, and at this early stage of the cases, it is not possible to determine the outcome of, or, estimate the liability related to, the cases and no provision for losses has been provided in connection with them.
Interchange Litigation and Regulatory Proceedings
Interchange fees represent a sharing of payment system costs among the financial institutions participating in a four-party payment card system such as MasterCard's. Typically, interchange fees are paid by the acquirer to the issuer in connection with purchase transactions initiated with the payment system's cards. These fees reimburse the issuer for a portion of the costs incurred by it in providing services which are of benefit to all participants in the system, including acquirers and merchants. MasterCard or its customer financial institutions establish default interchange fees in certain circumstances that apply when there is no other interchange fee arrangement between the issuer and the acquirer. MasterCard establishes a variety of interchange rates depending on such considerations as the location and the type of transaction, and collects the interchange fee on behalf of the institutions entitled to receive it and remits the interchange fee to eligible institutions. MasterCard's interchange fees and related practices are subject to regulatory and/or legal review and/or challenges in a number of jurisdictions, including the proceedings described below. At this time, it is not possible to determine the ultimate resolution of, or estimate the liability related to, any of these interchange

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


proceedings (except as otherwise indicated below), as the proceedings involve complex claims and/or substantial uncertainties and, in some cases, could include unascertainable damages or fines. Except as described below, no provision for losses has been provided in connection with them. Some of the proceedings described below could have a significant impact on our customers in the applicable country and on MasterCard's level of business in those countries. The proceedings reflect the significant and increasingly intense legal, regulatory and legislative scrutiny worldwide that interchange fees and related practices have been receiving. When taken as a whole, the resulting decisions, regulations and legislation with respect to interchange fees and related 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 are styled as class actions, although a few complaints are filed on behalf of individual merchant plaintiffs) against MasterCard International Incorporated, Visa U.S.A., Inc., Visa International Service Association and a number of customer financial institutions. Taken together, the claims in the complaints are generally brought under both Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Section 2 of the Sherman Act, which prohibits 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 of their customer 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 laws and engaged in unlawful tying and bundling of certain products and services. The cases have been consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in MDL No. 1720. The plaintiffs have filed a consolidated class action complaint that seeks treble damages, as well as attorneys' fees and injunctive relief.
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 its customer financial institutions in connection with the IPO: (1) violate U.S. antitrust laws and (2) constitute a fraudulent conveyance because the customer financial institutions are allegedly attempting to release, without adequate consideration, MasterCard's right to assess them for MasterCard's litigation liabilities. In November 2008, the district court granted MasterCard's motion to dismiss the plaintiffs' supplemental complaint in its entirety with leave to file an amended complaint. The class plaintiffs repled their complaint. The causes of action and claims for relief in the complaint generally mirror those in the plaintiffs' original IPO-related complaint although the plaintiffs have attempted to expand their factual allegations based upon discovery that has been garnered in the case. The class plaintiffs seek treble damages and injunctive relief including, but not limited to, an order reversing and unwinding the IPO. In July 2009, the class plaintiffs and individual plaintiffs served confidential expert reports detailing the plaintiffs' theories of liability and alleging damages in the tens of billions of dollars. The defendants served their expert reports in December 2009 rebutting the plaintiffs' assertions both with respect to liability and damages.
In February 2011, MasterCard and MasterCard International Incorporated 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 customer financial institutions; and (2) a MasterCard settlement and judgment sharing agreement with a number of customer financial institutions.  The agreements provide for the apportionment of certain costs and liabilities which MasterCard, the Visa parties and the customer 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 interchange merchant litigations.  Among a number of scenarios addressed by the agreements, in the event of a global settlement involving the Visa parties, the customer 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 customer financial institutions with respect to their issuance of MasterCard cards, MasterCard would pay 36% of the monetary portion of such settlement. 
On July 13, 2012, MasterCard entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to settle the merchant class litigation, and separately agreed in principle to settle all claims brought by the individual merchant plaintiffs. The MOU sets out a binding obligation to enter into a settlement agreement, and is subject to: (1) the successful completion of certain appendices, (2) the successful negotiation of a settlement agreement with the individual merchant plaintiffs, (3) final court approval of the class settlement, and (4) any necessary internal approvals for the parties. MasterCard's financial portion of the settlements is estimated to total $790 million on a pre-tax basis. Of that total, 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. In addition to the financial portion of the settlement, U.S. merchant class members would also receive a 10 basis point reduction in default credit interchange fees for a period of eight months, funded by a corresponding reduction in the default credit interchange fees paid by acquirers to issuers. MasterCard would also be required to modify its No Surcharge Rule to permit U.S. merchants to surcharge MasterCard credit cards, subject to certain limitations set forth in the class settlement agreement. On October 19, 2012, the parties entered into a definitive settlement agreement with respect to the merchant class litigation (consistent with the terms of the MOU), and separately also entered into a settlement agreement with the individual merchant plaintiffs. The merchant class litigation settlement agreement

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


is subject to court approval. The parties to the merchant class litigation filed a motion seeking preliminary approval of the settlement on October 19, 2012, and the court has scheduled the hearing for preliminary approval on November 9, 2012. All business and rule practice changes will occur after preliminary approval, most likely in the first half of 2013. In the event that the merchant class litigation settlement agreement is not approved by the court, or if the class settlement agreement is otherwise terminated by the defendants pursuant to the conditions in the settlement agreement and the litigations are not settled, 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, the Canadian Competition Bureau (the “CCB”) filed an application with the Canadian Competition Tribunal to strike down certain MasterCard rules related to point-of-sale acceptance, including the “honor all cards” and “no surcharge” rules. The hearing on the matter was held before the Canadian Competition Tribunal and was completed in June 2012. The parties are awaiting a decision from the Canadian Competition Tribunal. In December 2010, a complaint styled as a class action lawsuit was commenced against MasterCard in Quebec on behalf of Canadian merchants. That suit essentially repeated the allegations and arguments of the CCB application to the Canadian Competition Tribunal and sought compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts, as well as injunctive relief. In March 2011, a second purported class action lawsuit was commenced in British Columbia against MasterCard, Visa and a number of large Canadian financial institutions, and in May 2011 a third purported class action lawsuit was commenced in Ontario against the same defendants. These suits allege that MasterCard, Visa and the financial institutions have engaged in a conspiracy to increase or maintain the fees paid by merchants on credit card transactions and establish rules which force merchants to accept all MasterCard and Visa credit cards and prevent merchants from charging more for payments with MasterCard and Visa premium cards. 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 status of the proceedings: (1) the Quebec suit was stayed in June 2012 until June 2013, subject to an ongoing obligation to report to the case management judge, (2) the Ontario suit is being temporarily suspended while the British Columbia suit proceeds, and (3) the British Columbia court has scheduled a class certification hearing for April 2013. Additional complaints styled as class actions have been filed in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The claims in these complaints largely mirror the claims in the British Columbia and Ontario suits. If the CCB's challenges and/or the class action law suits are ultimately successful, negative decisions could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard's Canadian customers and on MasterCard's overall business in Canada and, in the case of the private lawsuits, could result in substantial damage awards.
European Union. In September 2003, the European Commission issued a Statement of Objections challenging MasterCard Europe's cross-border default interchange fees and, in June 2006, it issued a supplemental Statement of Objections covering credit, debit and commercial card fees. 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”), but not to commercial card transactions (the European Commission stated publicly that it has not yet finished its investigation of commercial card interchange fees). The decision required MasterCard to stop applying the MasterCard MIF, to refrain from repeating the conduct, 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 $0.6 million U.S. per day) in the event that MasterCard fails to comply. To date, MasterCard has not been assessed any such penalty. In March 2008, MasterCard filed an application for annulment of the European Commission's decision with the General Court of the European Union.
Following discussions with the European Commission, MasterCard announced that, effective June 21, 2008, MasterCard would temporarily repeal 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 in connection with the decision concerning certain pricing changes that MasterCard implemented as of October 1, 2008. In March 2009, MasterCard gave certain undertakings to the European Commission and, in response, in April 2009, the Commissioner for competition policy and DG Competition informed MasterCard that, subject to MasterCard's fulfilling its undertakings, they do 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 October 2008 pricing changes, the introduction of new cross-border consumer default interchange fees or any of the other MasterCard undertakings. MasterCard's undertakings include: (1) repealing the October 2008 pricing changes; (2) adopting a specific methodology for the setting of cross-border consumer default interchange fees; (3) establishing new default cross-border consumer card interchange fees as of July 1, 2009 such that the weighted average interchange fee for credit card transactions does not exceed 30 basis points and for debit card transactions does not exceed 20 basis points; (4) introducing a new rule prohibiting its acquirers from requiring merchants to process all of their MasterCard and Maestro transactions with the acquirer; and (5)

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


introducing a new rule requiring its acquirers to provide merchants with certain pricing information in connection with MasterCard and Maestro transactions. The undertakings were effective until a final decision by the General Court of the European Union regarding MasterCard's application for annulment of the European Commission's December 2007 decision.
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. The Company appealed the judgment to the European Union Court of Justice in August 2012. Subject to ongoing discussion with the European Commission, MasterCard intends to continue to comply with the terms of the interim agreement with the European Commission, even though that agreement, by its terms, formally ended on the day of the judgment.
Although MasterCard believes that any other business practices it would implement in response to the decision would be in compliance with the December 2007 decision, the European Commission may deem any such practice not in compliance with the decision, or in violation of European competition law, in which case MasterCard may be assessed fines for the period that it is not in compliance. Furthermore, because a balancing mechanism like default cross-border interchange fees constitutes an essential element of MasterCard Europe's operations, the December 2007 decision could also significantly impact MasterCard International's European customers' and MasterCard Europe's business. The European Commission decision could also 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 judgment of the General Court. 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, as further described below). In addition, the European Commission's decision could, and in the case of the United Kingdom has, lead to the filing of private actions against MasterCard Europe by merchants and/or consumers which, if MasterCard is unsuccessful in its appeal of the General Court decision, could result in MasterCard owing substantial damages.
Additional Litigations in Europe - United Kingdom. Since May 2012, 12 retailers have filed claims against MasterCard for unspecified damages in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Commercial Court, with respect to MasterCard's U.K. interchange fees.
Interchange Proceedings. Regulatory authorities and central banks in a number of other jurisdictions around the world have commenced proceedings or inquiries into interchange fees and related practices. These matters include:
France. In 2009, the French Competition Authority (the “FCA”) sent an information request to MasterCard as part of an investigation concerning its domestic interchange rates. The investigation was suspended until the judgment of the General Court of the European Union with respect to MasterCard's appeal of the December 2007 cross-border interchange fee decision of the European Commission and was subsequently re-opened.
Hungary. In December 2009, the Hungarian Competition Authority (the “HCA”) issued a formal decision that MasterCard's (and Visa's) historic domestic interchange fees violated Hungarian competition law and fined each of MasterCard Europe and Visa Europe approximately $3 million, which was paid during the fourth quarter of 2009. MasterCard appealed the decision to the Hungarian courts. In October 2010, the Hungarian appeals court stayed the proceeding until MasterCard's appeal to the General Court of the European Union of the European Commission's December 2007 cross-border interchange fee decision is finally decided. If the HCA's decision is not reversed on appeal, it could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard's Hungarian customers and on MasterCard's overall business in Hungary. In June 2012, the HCA commenced a separate investigation of MasterCard's alleged abuse of dominant position in what it refers to as the domestic bankcard market during the period beginning in December 2010.
Italy. In November 2010, the Italian Competition Authority (the “ICA”) adopted a decision in which it determined that MasterCard Europe's domestic interchange fees violate European Union competition law, fined MasterCard 2.7 million euro (approximately $4 million) and ordered MasterCard to refrain in the future from maintaining interchange fees that are not based on economic justifications linked to efficiency criteria and to eliminate any anticompetitive clauses from its licensing agreements. MasterCard appealed the ICA's infringement decision to the Administrative Court, and the decision was annulled by the Administrative Court in July 2011. The ICA has appealed the Administrative Court's judgment to the Council of State. If the ICA's infringement decision ultimately stands, it could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard's Italian customers and on MasterCard's overall business in Italy.
Poland. In January 2007, the Polish Office for Protection of Competition and Consumers (the “PCA”) issued a decision that MasterCard's (and Visa Europe's) domestic credit and debit default interchange fees are unlawful under Polish competition law, and imposed fines on MasterCard's (and Visa Europe's) licensed financial institutions the entities

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


responsible for setting the fees. As part of this decision, the PCA decided that MasterCard (and Visa Europe) had not violated the law because they were not responsible for setting the fees. The decision is currently being appealed. If on appeal the PCA's decision is ultimately allowed to stand, it could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard's Polish customers and on MasterCard's overall business in Poland.
United Kingdom. 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 had informed MasterCard that it did not intend to issue a Statement of Objections or otherwise commence formal proceedings with respect to the investigation prior to the judgment of the General Court of the European Union with respect to MasterCard's appeal of the December 2007 cross-border interchange fee decision of the European Commission. If 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. MasterCard would likely appeal a negative decision by the OFT in any future proceeding to the Competition Appeals Tribunal. Such an OFT decision could lead to the filing of private actions against MasterCard by merchants and/or consumers which, if its appeal of such an OFT decision were to fail, could result in an award or awards of substantial damages and could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard International's U.K. customers and MasterCard's overall business in the U.K.
Interchange Regulatory Activity.
Central banks and regulators in several jurisdictions have, instead of commencing regulatory proceedings, initiated efforts to affect MasterCard and/or Visa's respective interchange rates, including activity in 2012 by the Polish Central Bank to effectively compel MasterCard and Visa to lower their respective interchange rates (or be faced with the possibility of interchange fee legislation).
In September 2010, the South African Reserve Bank informed MasterCard that it intends to appoint an independent consultant to make a recommendation on a simplified interchange structure for all payment systems in South Africa, including MasterCard's. Such an interchange structure, if adopted, could have a significant adverse impact on the revenues of MasterCard's South African customers and on MasterCard's overall business in South Africa.
MasterCard is aware that regulatory authorities and/or central banks in certain other jurisdictions including Austria, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Russia and Singapore are reviewing MasterCard's and/or its customers' interchange fees and/or related practices (such as the “honor all cards” rule) and may seek to regulate the establishment of such fees and/or such practices.
Other Regulatory Proceedings
In addition to challenges to interchange fees, MasterCard's standards and operations are also subject to regulatory and/or legal review and/or challenges in a number of jurisdictions from time to time.  These proceedings tend to reflect the increasing global regulatory focus to which the payments industry is subject and, when taken as a whole with other regulatory and legislative action, such actions could result in the imposition of costly new compliance burdens on MasterCard and its customers and may lead to increased costs and decreased transaction volumes and revenues.
Note 12. Settlement and Other Risk Management
MasterCard's rules guarantee the payment of certain MasterCard, Cirrus and Maestro branded transactions between its customers ("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. Settlement exposure is primarily 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 its customer. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, customers may be charged for the amount of any settlement loss incurred during these ordinary course activities of the Company.

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


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 we operate, 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 merchant bank/acquirer failure. Although we are not contractually obligated under our rules to effect such payments to merchants, we 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. 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,
2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
 
(in millions)
 
Gross settlement exposure
$
35,603

 
$
39,102

 
Collateral held for settlement exposure
(4,042
)
 
(3,482
)
1 

Net uncollateralized settlement exposure
$
31,561

 
$
35,620

 
1 Represents collateral held against MasterCard-branded exposure only.
MasterCard-branded travelers cheques are no longer being issued. For previously issued travelers cheques, MasterCard guarantees the payment of MasterCard-branded travelers cheques in the event of issuer default. The term of the guarantee is unlimited, while the exposure is limited to the cheques issued but not yet cashed. The notional amount of cheques issued, but not yet cashed was $545 million and $564 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, of which $439 million and $455 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, is mitigated by collateral arrangements.
Beginning in 2008, many of the Company's financial institution customers were directly and adversely impacted by the unprecedented events that occurred in the financial markets around the world. The ongoing economic turmoil presents increased risk that the Company may have to perform under its settlement and travelers cheque guarantees. General economic conditions and political conditions in countries in which MasterCard operates also affect the Company's settlement risk. For example, the European sovereign debt crisis introduces a heightened level of risk to the Company. The Company's aggregate gross settlement exposures to Italy, Greece, Portugal and Spain, four of the countries significantly impacted by the eurozone crisis, are less than 5% of MasterCard's total gross settlement exposure as of September 30, 2012 and are being managed through various planning and mitigation practices. 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 customer financial institution failures.
MasterCard also provides guarantees to customers and certain other companies indemnifying them from losses stemming from failures of third parties to perform duties. 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 13. 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 currencies. The Company also enters into foreign currency forward contracts to offset possible changes in value due to foreign exchange fluctuations of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The objective of this activity is to reduce the Company’s exposure to transaction gains and losses resulting from fluctuations of foreign currencies against its functional currencies. The notional value of commitments to sell foreign currency increased to $1.8 billion at September 30, 2012 compared to $279 million at December 31, 2011 due to the hedging of an increase in foreign currency denominated assets and an expanded hedging program to offset the Company's foreign currency exposures arising from anticipated receipts and disbursements.

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


The Company does not designate foreign currency derivatives as hedging instruments pursuant to the accounting standards 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 to its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of operations.
As of September 30, 2012, 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, 2012
 
December 31, 2011
 
Notional
 
Estimated Fair
Value
 
Notional
 
Estimated Fair
Value
 
(in millions)
Commitments to purchase foreign currency
$
58

 
$

 
$
21

 
$

Commitments to sell foreign currency
1,838

 
4

 
279

 
2

Balance Sheet Location:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts Receivable
 
 
$
15

 
 
 
$
4

Other Current Liabilities
 
 
(11
)
 
 
 
(2
)

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income for the contracts to purchase and sell foreign currency are summarized below: 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(in millions)
Foreign currency derivative contracts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
$
25

 
$
13

 
$
15

 
$
1

Revenues

 
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
(5
)
Total
$
25

 
$
12

 
$
12

 
$
(4
)
    
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 in accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 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. Excluding the offsetting impact of the remeasurement of related monetary assets and liabilities, the effect of a hypothetical 10% adverse change in foreign currency rates could result in a fair value loss of approximately $209 million on the Company's foreign currency derivative contracts outstanding at September 30, 2012. 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.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes of MasterCard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including MasterCard International Incorporated (“MasterCard International”) (together, “MasterCard” or the “Company”), included elsewhere in this Report. 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 global payments and technology company that connects billions of consumers, thousands of financial institutions, millions of merchants, governments and businesses worldwide, enabling them to use electronic forms of payment instead of cash and checks. We envision an environment where electronic payment is the predominant means of payment. We use our technology and expertise to make payments more convenient, secure and efficient to enable consumers to meet their needs and to provide value to all stakeholders in the payments system.
We offer a wide range of payment solutions that enable our customers and partners to develop and implement credit, debit, prepaid and related payment programs and solutions to deliver value to consumers. Our customers and partners include financial institutions and other entities that act as “issuers” and “acquirers”, merchants, government entities, telecommunications companies and other businesses. We manage a family of well-known, widely-accepted payment brands, including MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus, which we license to our customers for use in their payment programs and solutions. We process payment transactions over the MasterCard Worldwide Network and provide support services to our customers and other partners. As part of managing our brands, we establish and enforce a common set of standards for adherence by our customers for the efficient and secure use of our payments network.
We generate revenues from the fees that we charge our customers for providing transaction processing and other payment-related services and by assessing our customers based primarily on the dollar volume of activity on the cards and other devices that carry our brands. As cardholder and merchant relationships are managed principally by our customers, we do not issue cards, extend credit to cardholders, determine the interest rates (if applicable) or other fees charged to cardholders by issuers, or establish the merchant discount charged by acquirers in connection with the acceptance of cards and other devices that carry our brands.
We analyze our ability to grow based on three drivers:
we track trends in personal consumption expenditures;
we focus on the trend within the global payments industry from paper-based forms of payment, such as cash and checks, toward electronic forms of payment (such as payment card transactions); and
we seek to grow our share in electronic payments, including with innovative solutions and new technology.
We support our focus on these drivers by continuing to:
grow our core businesses globally, including credit, debit, prepaid, commercial and processing payment transactions over the MasterCard Worldwide Network;
diversify our business by seeking new areas of growth in markets around the world, expanding points of acceptance for our brands throughout the world, seeking to maintain unsurpassed acceptance, and working with new partners such as merchants, government agencies and telecommunications companies; and
build new businesses through technology and continued strategic efforts and alliances with respect to innovative payment methods, such as electronic commerce (e-Commerce) and mobile capabilities.
See “-Business Environment” for a discussion of considerations related to our long-term strategic objectives.
We recorded net income of $772 million, or $6.17 per diluted share, and $2.2 billion, or $17.07 per diluted share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus net income of $717 million, or $5.63 per diluted share, and net income of $1.9 billion, or $14.66 per diluted share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, we generated cash flows from operations of $2.1 billion.
Our net revenues increased 5% and 10% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to the increased dollar volume of activity on cards carrying our brands and increased

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transactions, partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation. The net effects of pricing actions contributed approximately 2 and 3 percentage points to our net revenue growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of revenues from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced net revenues by approximately 5 and 4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Rebates and incentives as a percentage of gross revenues were 26% for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, versus 24% for each of the comparable periods in 2011.
Our revenues depend heavily upon the overall level of consumer, business and government spending. Changes in cardholder spending behavior, influenced by economic conditions, impact our ability to grow our revenues. Our revenues are primarily impacted by the dollar volume of activity on cards and other devices that carry our brands, and the number of transactions. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, volume-based revenues (domestic assessments and cross-border volume fees) and transaction-based revenues (transaction processing fees) increased from the comparable periods in 2011. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, our processed transactions increased 24% and 27%, respectively, and our volumes increased 14% and 16%, respectively, on a local currency basis compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. This compares to increased processed transactions of 21% and 17% and increased volumes of 18% and 16% on a local currency basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.
Our operating expenses increased 5% and 9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to greater general and administrative expenses. The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of expenses from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced operating expenses by approximately 3 and 2 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
Our ratios of operating income as a percentage of net revenues, or operating margins, were 55.5% and 55.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus operating margins of 55.1% and 54.6% in the comparable periods of 2011. The effective income tax rates were 27.6% and 29.1% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus effective income tax rates of 30.5% and 31.6% for the comparable periods of 2011.
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 approximately 40% of total revenue for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011. No individual country, other than the United States, generated more than 10% of total revenues in either period, but differences in market growth, economic health, and foreign exchange fluctuations in certain countries have increased the proportion of revenues 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 revenues 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. Unprecedented events which began during 2008 continue to impact the financial markets around the world, including continued distress in the credit environment, continued equity market volatility and additional government intervention. 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 adversely impacted by actions taken by individual financial institutions or by governmental or regulatory bodies. The condition of the economic environments may accelerate the timing of or increase the impact of risks to our financial performance. As a result, our revenue may be impacted, or the Company may be impacted in several ways. For a full discussion see "Risk Factors - Business Risks - Unprecedented global economic events in financial markets around the world have directly and adversely affected, and may continue to affect, many of our customers, merchants that accept our brands and cardholders who use our brands, which could result in a material and adverse impact on our prospects, growth, profitability, revenue and overall business" in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Part II, Item 1A, (Risk Factors) of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 for further discussion.

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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. See Note 11 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report for further discussion.
MasterCard continues to monitor the extent and pace of economic recovery around the world to identify opportunities for the continued growth of our business and to evaluate the evolution of the global payments industry. Despite mixed economic indicators, we continue to see growth in all of our regions. Notwithstanding recent trends, 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.
Financial Results
Our operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
(in millions, except per share data, percentages and GDV amounts)
Revenues, net
$
1,918

 
$
1,818

 
5%
 
$
5,496

 
$
4,986

 
10%
Total operating expenses
854

 
816

 
5%
 
2,458

 
2,263

 
9%
Operating income
1,064

 
1,002

 
6%
 
3,038

 
2,723

 
12%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other income (expense)
2

 
28

 
*
 

 
35

 
*
Income before income taxes
1,066

 
1,030

 
3%
 
3,038

 
2,758

 
10%
Income tax expense
294

 
314

 
(6)%
 
885

 
872

 
1%
Net income
772

 
716

 
8%
 
2,153

 
1,886

 
14%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests

 
1

 
*
 
1

 
1

 
*
Net Income Attributable to MasterCard
$
772

 
$
717

 
8%
 
$
2,154

 
$
1,887

 
14%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic Earnings per Share
$
6.19

 
$
5.65

 
10%
 
$
17.13

 
$
14.71

 
16%
Basic Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
125

 
127

 
(2)%
 
126

 
128

 
(2)%
Diluted Earnings per Share
$
6.17

 
$
5.63

 
10%
 
$
17.07

 
$
14.66

 
16%
Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
125

 
127

 
(2)%
 
126

 
129

 
(2)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective Income Tax Rate
27.6
%
 
30.5
%
 
*
 
29.1
%
 
31.6
%
 
*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Dollar Volume (“GDV”) on a U.S. dollar Converted Basis (in billions) 1
$
918

 
$
845

 
9%
 
$
2,658

 
$
2,387

 
11%
Processed transactions 2
8,679

 
7,016

 
24%
 
24,934

 
19,588

 
27%
     
* Not Meaningful

1 The data for GDV is provided by MasterCard customers and includes information with respect to MasterCard-branded transactions that are not processed by MasterCard and for which MasterCard in some instances does not earn significant revenues.  GDV may be revised by MasterCard's customers after its original submission and these revisions may be material. GDV generated by Maestro and Cirrus cards is not included. 

2 Represents total number of transactions processed by MasterCard and growth from the comparable periods.
Impact of Foreign Currency Rates
Our overall operating results are 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 and nine months ended September 30, 2012, as compared to the same periods in 2011, the U.S. dollar strengthened against both the euro and the Brazilian real. Accordingly, the net foreign currency impact of changes in the U.S. dollar average exchange rates against the euro and Brazilian real reduced net revenues by approximately 5 and 4 percentage points and operating expenses by approximately 3 and 2 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.

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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 and euro. 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, 2012, as compared to the same periods in 2011, GDV on a U.S. dollar converted basis increased 9% and 11%, respectively, versus GDV growth on a local currency basis of 14% and 16%.
During 2011 and the first nine months of 2012, approximately 60% of our revenue was generated from activities outside the United States. Some of the revenue we generate outside the United States is subject to unpredictable currency fluctuations (including devaluations of currencies). Our hedging activities attempt to protect against adverse changes in the value of only a limited number of currencies and are based on estimates of exposures to these currencies. Furthermore, we may become subject to exchange control regulations that might restrict or prohibit the conversion of currencies into U.S. dollars. The occurrence of any of these factors could impact the value of revenues we receive from our international operations and could have a material adverse impact on our business. We manage these foreign currency risks by entering into foreign currency derivative contracts. To manage our anticipated cash flow exposures for certain currencies, we utilize a rolling hedge program to reduce the anticipated foreign exchange risk. Our foreign currency risk management program reduces, but does not entirely eliminate, the impact of foreign currency exchange rate movements over time. Changes in foreign exchange rates affect the fair value of foreign currency derivatives entered into pursuant to our hedging activities. Since the Company does not designate foreign currency derivatives as hedging instruments pursuant to the accounting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activity, any changes in the fair value of the foreign currency derivatives could result in gains or losses as the Company records these derivatives at fair value on a current basis. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included within our net income. See Note 13 (Foreign Exchange Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report for further discussion.
Revenues
Revenue Descriptions
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 revenues are typically based on the volume of activity on cards and other devices that carry our brands, the number of transactions we process for our customers or the nature of other payment-related services we provide to our customers. Our revenues are 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.
We process transactions denominated in more than 150 currencies through our global system, providing cardholders with the ability to utilize, and merchants to accept, MasterCard cards across multiple country borders. We process most of the cross-border transactions using MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus-branded cards and process the majority of MasterCard-branded domestic transactions in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and a select number of other smaller countries.
Our pricing is complex and is dependent on the nature of the volumes, types of transactions and other products and services we offer to our customers. A combination of the following factors determines the pricing:
Domestic or cross-border
Signature-based (credit and debit) or PIN-based (debit, including automated teller machine (“ATM”) cash withdrawals and retail purchases)
Tiered pricing, with rates decreasing as customers meet incremental volume/transaction hurdles
Geographic region or country
Retail purchase or cash withdrawal
Processed or not processed by MasterCard
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.
We review our pricing and implement pricing changes on an ongoing basis. In addition, standard pricing varies among our regional businesses, and such pricing can be modified for our customers through incentive and rebate agreements.

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The Company classifies its net revenues into the following five categories:
1.
Domestic assessments: Domestic assessments are fees charged to issuers and acquirers based primarily on the volume of activity on cards that carry our brands where the acquirer country and the issuer country are the same. A portion of these assessments is estimated based on aggregate transaction information collected from our systems and projected customer performance and is calculated by converting the aggregate volume of usage (purchases, cash disbursements, balance transfers and convenience checks) from local currency to the billing currency and then multiplying by the specific price. In addition, 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. Acceptance development fees are charged primarily to U.S. issuers based on components of volume, and support our focus on developing merchant relationships and promoting acceptance at the point of sale. Market development fees are charged primarily to issuers and acquirers based on components of volume, and support our focus on building brand awareness and card activation, increasing purchase volumes, cross-border card usage, and other general marketing purposes.
2.
Cross-border volume fees: Cross-border volume fees are charged to issuers and acquirers based on the volume of activity on cards that carry our brands where the merchant country and the issuer country are different. Cross-border volume fees are calculated by converting the aggregate volume of usage (purchases and cash disbursements) from local currency to the billing currency and then multiplying by the specific price. Cross-border volume fees also include fees charged to issuers for performing currency conversion services.
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. These fees are calculated by multiplying the number and type of transactions by the specific price for each service. Transaction processing fees include charges for the following:
Transaction Switching – Authorization, Clearing and Settlement.
a.
Authorization refers to the process by which a transaction is routed to the issuer for approval and then a decision whether or not to approve the transaction is made by the issuer or, in certain circumstances such as when the issuer's systems are unavailable or cannot be contacted, by MasterCard or others on behalf of the issuer in accordance with either the issuer's instructions or applicable rules (also known as "stand-in"). Our standards, which may vary across regions, establish the circumstances under which merchants and acquirers must seek authorization of transactions. Fees for authorization are primarily paid by issuers.
b.
Clearing refers to 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. MasterCard clearing solutions can be managed with minimal system development, which has enabled us to accelerate our customers' ability to develop customized programs and services. Fees for clearing are primarily paid by issuers.
c.
Settlement. Once transactions have been authorized and cleared, MasterCard helps to settle the transactions by facilitating the exchange of funds between parties. Once clearing is completed, a daily reconciliation is provided to each customer involved in settlement, detailing the net amounts by clearing cycle and a final settlement position. Fees for settlement are primarily paid by issuers.
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 for other payment-related services are primarily dependent on the nature of the products or services provided to our customers but are also impacted by other factors, such as contractual agreements. Examples of other revenues are fees associated with the following:
Fraud products and services used to prevent or detect fraudulent transactions. This includes warning bulletin fees which are charged to issuers and acquirers for listing invalid or fraudulent accounts either electronically or in paper form and for distributing this listing to merchants.
Cardholder services fees are for benefits provided with MasterCard-branded cards, such as insurance, telecommunications assistance for lost cards and locating automated teller machines.

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Consulting and research fees are primarily generated by MasterCard Advisors, the Company’s professional advisory services group.
Program management services provided to prepaid card issuers.  This primarily includes foreign exchange margin, commissions, load fees, and ATM withdrawal fees charged to cardholders on the sale and encashment of prepaid cards.
The Company also charges for a variety of other payment-related services, including rules compliance, account and transaction enhancement services, holograms and publications.
5.
Rebates and incentives (contra-revenue): Rebates and incentives are provided to certain MasterCard customers and are recorded as contra-revenue in the same period that performance occurs. Performance periods vary depending on the type of rebate or incentive, including commitments to the agreement term, hurdles for volumes, transactions or issuance of new cards, launch of new programs, or the execution of marketing programs. Rebates and incentives are calculated based on estimated performance, the timing of new and renewed agreements and the terms of the related business agreements.
Revenue Analysis
Gross revenues increased $213 million and $862 million, or 9% and 13%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to increased dollar volume of activity on cards carrying our brands and increased transactions. Rebates and incentives increased $113 million and $352 million, or 20% and 22% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011. Our net revenues increased 5% and 10% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011.
Our revenues are primarily based on transactions and volumes, which are impacted by the number of transactions and the dollar volume of activity on cards and other devices carrying our brands. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, our processed transactions increased 24% and 27%, respectively, and our volumes increased 14% and 16% on a local currency basis, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011.
The effects of various pricing actions implemented in 2012 and 2011 contributed approximately 2 and 3 percentage points to our net revenue growth for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of revenues from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced net revenues by approximately 5 and 4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
The significant components of our net revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
(in millions, except percentages)
Domestic assessments
$
908

 
$
843

 
8%
 
$
2,641

 
$
2,375

 
11%
Cross-border volume fees
630

 
581

 
8%
 
1,727

 
1,554

 
11%
Transaction processing fees
763

 
693

 
10%
 
2,230

 
1,913

 
17%
Other revenues
294

 
265

 
11%
 
825

 
719

 
15%
Gross revenues
2,595

 
2,382

 
9%
 
7,423

 
6,561

 
13%
Rebates and incentives (contra-revenues)
(677
)
 
(564
)
 
20%
 
(1,927
)
 
(1,575
)
 
22%
Net revenues
$
1,918

 
$
1,818

 
5%
 
$
5,496

 
$
4,986

 
10%

Domestic assessments – There was an increase in domestic assessments of 8% and 11% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to:
GDV increased 14% and 16% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, when measured in local currency terms, and increased 9% and 11%, respectively, when measured on a U.S. dollar-converted basis versus the comparable periods in 2011.
Pricing changes implemented in 2012 and 2011 increased domestic assessments by approximately 1 and 2 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011.

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The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of domestic assessments from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced domestic assessments revenue growth by approximately 4 percentage points for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Cross-border volume fees – There was an increase in cross-border volume fees of 8% and 11% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to:
Cross-border volumes increased 14% and 16% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, when measured in local currency terms, and increased 6% and 10%, respectively, when measured on a U.S. dollar-converted basis versus the comparable periods in 2011.
Various pricing changes implemented in 2012 and 2011 increased cross-border volume fees revenue by approximately 2 percentage points for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, versus the comparable periods in 2011.
The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of cross-border volume fees from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced cross-border volume fees revenue growth by approximately 4 and 3 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
Transaction processing fees – There was an increase in transaction processing fees of 10% and 17% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to:
Processed transactions increased 24% and 27% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011. The growth included the effects of new processing deals entered into over the past year and the impact of debit regulation in the United States. As a result, the mix of processed transactions has shifted to more PIN debit transactions which typically have a lower revenue yield than our historic average.
Various pricing changes implemented in 2012 and 2011 increased transaction processing fees revenue by approximately 2 and 3 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011.
The effects of connectivity fees and other non-switching transactions also contributed to the growth in transaction processing fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.
The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of transaction processing fees from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced transaction processing fees revenue growth by approximately 5 and 3 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
Other revenues – Other revenues increased 11% and 15% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to:
Increases in other payment-related services for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and revenues from the April 2011 acquisition of Access Prepaid Worldwide (“Access”), without comparable revenues in the first quarter of 2011.
Pricing changes implemented in 2012 and 2011 increased other revenues by approximately 5 and 4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011.
The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of other revenues from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced other revenues growth by approximately 4 and 3 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.
Rebates and incentives – Rebates and incentives increased 20% and 22% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011. The amount of rebates and incentives increased primarily due to the following:
New and renewed agreements and increased volumes.
The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of rebates and incentives from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced rebates and incentives growth by approximately 5 and 4 percentage points for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively.

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Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased $38 million, or 5%, and $195 million, or 9%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to higher general and administrative expenses. Our operating expenses are comprised of general and administrative, advertising and marketing, depreciation and amortization, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a provision for litigation settlement. The components of operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
 
(in millions, except percentages)
General and administrative
 
$
620

 
$
565

 
10%
 
$
1,790

 
$
1,599

 
12%
Advertising and marketing
 
176

 
200

 
(12)%
 
480

 
522

 
(8)%
Depreciation and amortizaton
 
58

 
51

 
14%
 
168

 
142

 
18%
Provision for litigation settlement
 

 

 
*
 
20

 

 
*
Total operating expenses
 
$
854

 
$
816

 
5%
 
$
2,458

 
$
2,263

 
9%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues
 
44
%
 
45
%
 
 
 
45
%
 
45
%
 
 
* Not Meaningful
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses increased $55 million, or 10%, and $191 million, or 12%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, primarily due to an increase in personnel and other expenses. The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of general and administrative expenses from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced general and administrative expenses by approximately 2 percentage points for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.
The major components of general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
Percent Increase (Decrease)
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
2012
 
2011
 
 
(in millions, except percentages)
Personnel
$
402

 
$
371

 
9%
 
$
1,167

 
$
1,051

 
11%
Professional fees
56

 
49

 
13%
 
164

 
163

 
—%
Data processing and telecommunications
51

 
45

 
16%
 
147

 
127

 
16%
Foreign exchange activity
15

 
8

 
88%
 
20

 
4

 
*
Other
96

 
92

 
2%
 
292

 
254

 
14%
General and administrative expenses
$
620

 
$
565

 
10%
 
$
1,790

 
$
1,599

 
12%
* Not Meaningful

Personnel expense increased 9% and 11% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, versus the comparable periods in 2011. The increase was primarily due to higher salary and benefits costs, including increased compensation related to an increase in the number of employees to support the Company's strategic initiatives.
Foreign exchange activity includes gains and losses on foreign exchange derivative contracts and the impact of remeasurement of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.  See Note 13 (Foreign Exchange Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report. Since the Company does not designate foreign currency derivatives as hedging instruments pursuant to the accounting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities, it records gains and losses on foreign exchange derivatives on a current basis in general and administrative expenses, with the associated offset being recognized as the exposures materialize.
Other expenses include travel and entertainment expenses, rental expense for our facilities, cardholder services expenses, certain operational expenses associated with the operations of Access, and other

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miscellaneous operating expenses. Other expenses increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 versus the comparable periods in 2011 primarily due to the increased expenses associated with the Access operations, for which the Company did not have comparable expenses in the first quarter of 2011, and other increased operating expenses associated with expanding business operations.
Advertising and Marketing
Our brands, principally MasterCard, are valuable strategic assets that drive card acceptance and usage and facilitate our ability to successfully introduce new service offerings and access new markets globally. Our advertising and marketing strategy is to increase global MasterCard brand awareness, preference and usage through integrated advertising, sponsorship, promotional, interactive media and public relations programs on a global scale. We will continue to invest in marketing programs at the regional and local levels and sponsor diverse events aimed at multiple target audiences. Advertising and marketing expenses decreased $24 million, or 12%, and $42 million, or 8%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011, mainly due to the impact of foreign currency and the timing of sponsorship and promotional initiatives. The net impact of foreign currency relating to the translation of advertising and marketing expenses from our functional currencies to U.S. dollars reduced advertising and marketing expenses by approximately 4 percentage points for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $7 million, or 14%, and $26 million, or 18%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, versus the comparable periods in 2011. The increases in depreciation and amortization expenses reflected increased capitalized software associated with strategic projects and the amortization of intangible assets from the 2011 acquisition of Access.
Provision for Litigation Settlement
On July 13, 2012, the Company announced that it had agreed to a memorandum of understanding to settle the U.S. merchant litigations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company accrued an additional $20 million pre-tax charge related to the U.S. merchant litigations. MasterCard previously recorded a $770 million pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter of 2011 related to the U.S merchant litigations.  The total accrued liability of $790 million represents an estimate of the Company's financial liability to settle the U.S. merchant litigations.  There were no comparable charges in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  See Note 11 (Legal and Regulatory Proceedings) to the consolidated financial statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report for further discussion.
Other Income (Expense)
Other income (expense) is comprised primarily of investment income, interest expense, our share of income (losses) from equity method investments and other gains and losses. The decrease of $26 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 in other net income versus the comparable period in 2011 was primarily due to lower realized gains on sales of investments, an adjustment to the earnout related to the Company's acquisition of Access in the third quarter of 2011 and increased expenses from investments in joint ventures in the third quarter of 2012.
The decrease of $35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 in other net income versus the comparable period in 2011 was primarily due to to lower realized gains on sales of investments, increased expenses from investments in joint ventures in the third quarter