Consolidated revenue for the first quarter was $2.6 billion, up $20 million, or 1%, compared to a year ago on an increase in merchant acquiring revenue partially offset by a $71 million decline in debit network fees. These fees are passed directly to customers and therefore did not impact operating income. Adjusted revenue, which excludes certain items including debit network fees, increased $78 million, or 5% year-over-year to $1.6 billion.

For the first quarter, the net loss attributable to First Data was $153 million, compared to a loss of $217 million a year ago. The change was largely driven by a $110 million improvement in operating income. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted EBITDA) was $551 million, up $83 million, or 18%, compared to $468 million in the first quarter of 2011, driven by revenue growth in the U.S. business and cost reductions across the segments.

For the quarter, the company had a net use of $54 million in cash flows from operations driven by a $142 million increase in interest payments compared to a year ago. The company finished the quarter with $1.5 billion in unrestricted liquidity -- $74 million in cash available for corporate use plus $1.4 billion under the revolving credit facility.

"For the second quarter in a row, First Data achieved double-digit EBITDA growth on an expanding top-line, supported by improving trends in the U.S. economy, and cost management," said Chief Executive Officer Jonathan J. Judge. "Our scale, our people and our strong relationships with both merchants and financial institutions drove great results this quarter, and we are positioned to continue to benefit from emerging opportunities in mobile commerce and secular payments growth."

Segment Results

Retail and Alliance Servicessegment revenue for the first quarter was $847 million, up $82 million, or 11%, compared to $765 million in 2011. Merchant revenue was up 17% driven by lower debit interchange rates, new processing revenue from the Bank of America Merchant Services alliance and volume growth. Transaction growth was 6%, credit mix was stable at 72% and regional average ticket was $69, down slightly compared to a year ago. Product revenue was down 3% as flat results in prepaid were offset by declining check-processing as consumers migrate from checks to electronic payments. Segment EBITDA was $352 million, up $66 million, or 23%, compared to 2011 driven primarily by revenue growth. Margin for the first quarter improved to 42%, up 420 basis points. During the quarter, Retail and Alliance Services added 2 new revenue sharing agreements, 3 bank referral agreements and 13 new independent sales organizations.

Financial Services segment revenue for the first quarter was $346 million, up $8 million, or 2%, compared to $338 million in the same quarter of 2011, as new business and volume growth offset lost business and price compression. Active card accounts on file were up 17% compared to the prior year, primarily driven by a new customer conversion. Debit issuer transactions were up 1%, impacted by a large customer deconversion. Underlying growth was 12% absent this impact. Segment EBITDA was $157 million, up $20 million, or 15%, compared to $137 million in 2011. Expenses declined by $12 million compared to a year ago driven primarily by lower technology and operations costs. Margin for the first quarter improved to 46%, up 500 basis points. During the quarter, Financial Services renewed more than 250 contracts with financial institutions.

International segment revenue for the first quarter was $405 million, down $10 million, or 3%, compared to $415 million in the prior year. On a constant currency basis, segment revenue was flat. Merchant acquiring revenue, on a constant currency basis, grew 3% on higher transaction volumes and terminal sales. Issuing revenue, on a constant currency basis, declined 3% as lost business and product mix shifts away from lower margin revenue was partially offset by higher volumes and new business. Segment EBITDA was $95 million, up $3 million, or 4%, compared to $92 million in 2011, due to cost reductions. Margin improved to 24% compared to a year ago.

Recent Events

Debt Amendment and Extension

On March 13, 2012, the company entered into an amendment and extension agreement that extended $3.2 billion of the senior secured term loans previously maturing in September 2014 to March 2017. In connection with the amendment and extension, on March 23, 2012, the company issued $845 million in senior secured notes with a coupon of 7.375% due in 2019, the proceeds of which were used to repay a portion of the $3.2 billion in senior secured term loans and to extend the company's debt maturity profile. Since August 2010, the company has extended $15 billion of debt previously maturing in 2014 and 2015 to 2017 and beyond.

First Data and SunTrust Extend Successful Merchant Processing Relationship

In January, First Data and SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI), one of the nation's largest banking organizations, announced a long-term renewal of their merchant services partnership, SunTrust Merchant Services, LLC. The joint venture currently serves more than 67,000 merchant locations and processes more than $29 billion in card volume every year. Under terms of the agreement, First Data will continue managing day-to-day operations, risk management and merchant sales activities, while SunTrust will continue to build upon the growth of the business through its client-facing channels, including its retail branch network of more than 1,650 locations throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and wholesale-relationship sales force.

First Data Launches OfferWise Solution

First Data announced the availability of the First DataSM OfferWiseSM solution, a new open platform that dramatically simplifies the offer redemption process for consumers and merchants as a part of First Data's vision to deliver Universal Commerce. The First Data OfferWise solution allows offer publishers to electronically attach offers such as deals, eCoupons and loyalty programs to one or more of a consumer's payment cards or mobile wallet to enable streamlined and automatic redemption of the offer at the point of sale (POS). First Data is currently piloting its OfferWise solution with dozens of merchants and it will be made available to its more than four million U.S. merchant locations.