For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $41 million, or $0.30 per share. Excluding the impact of litigation settlements, net income for the quarter was $42 million, or $0.31 per share. Net revenues for the quarter were $839 million, a 17.2% increase versus the same period in 2005. Currency fluctuations (driven by the movement of the euro relative to the US dollar) contributed approximately 1.9% of the increase in revenues for the quarter. For the fourth quarter 2006, total net income, earnings per share and total operating expenses, each of which excludes litigation settlements, are non-U.S. GAAP financial measures that are reconciled to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures in the accompanying financial tables.

Fueling the higher revenue in the fourth quarter versus the same period in 2005 was growth in MasterCard's gross dollar volume (GDV), which increased 13.8%, on a local currency basis, to $532 billion; a 17.4% increase in the number of transactions processed to 4.4 billion; and a restructuring of cross- border transaction pricing which was implemented in April 2006. Worldwide purchase volume rose 16.7%, on a local currency basis, during the quarter to $391 billion, driven by increased cardholder spending on a growing number of MasterCard cards. As of December 31, 2006, the company's customers had issued 817 million MasterCard cards, an increase of 12.3% percent over the cards issued at December 31, 2005.

"Cardholders around the world used their MasterCard cards for transactions totaling almost $2 trillion in 2006 - doubling the GDV we reported only five years ago, as the pace at which we are driving commerce in markets around the world gains momentum," said Robert W. Selander, MasterCard president and chief executive officer. "Our success in displacing paper-based forms of payment reflects the strength of our brand and network as well as the opportunities to implement innovative payment programs in both emerging and developed economies.

"Having invested significantly in our global brand and payments network over the past 40 years, we enter our fifth decade with a leveragable infrastructure that will allow us to provide cutting-edge payment solutions for our financial institution customers as well as merchants, consumers, corporations and governments who are increasingly turning to the convenience and security of electronic payments," Selander noted. "We expect this will enable us to continue to drive value for our shareholders."

Total operating expenses decreased 2.6%, to $793 million, during the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. Excluding the impact of litigation settlements, operating expenses increased 0.5%. This was primarily driven by a $14.5 million cash contribution to the MasterCard Foundation, as part of MasterCard's previously disclosed intention to contribute up to $40 million in cash to the Foundation over four years; higher professional fees related to legal costs to defend outstanding litigation; and, an increase in personnel costs related to the hiring of additional staff to strengthen our capability to add value to our customers' businesses. Offsetting this increase was an 8.5% decrease in advertising and market development expenses versus the year-ago period due to a shift in the typical annual pattern of marketing spend to support the 2006 World Cup soccer events earlier in the year. Currency fluctuations contributed approximately 1.5% of the increase in expenses for the quarter.

Total other income was $24 million in the fourth quarter 2006 versus $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The increase was primarily driven by a $20 million increase in investment income.

Full-Year 2006 Results

For the year-ended December 31, 2006, MasterCard reported net income of $50 million or $0.37 per share. Excluding the impact of special items, the company reported net income of $457 million, or $3.37 per share.

Pre-tax special items for full-year 2006 included:

• A $395 million non-cash expense in the second quarter of 2006, resulting from the donation of approximately 13.5 million shares of Class A common stock to the MasterCard Foundation that occurred simultaneously with the company's IPO, which was not deductible for tax purposes;
• A $25 million reserve for litigation settlements; $23 million was recorded in the second quarter of 2006 and $2 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2006; and
• $7 million in interest income in the second quarter of 2006 earned on the IPO proceeds, which were ultimately used for redemption of shares of Class B common stock.

The company's full year 2006 net income, earnings per share and total operating expenses, each of which excludes special items, are non-U.S. GAAP financial measures that are reconciled to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures in the accompanying financial tables.

Net revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 were $3.3 billion, a 13.2% increase versus the same period in 2005. Currency fluctuations had a negligible impact on revenues during the year.

Total operating expenses increased 21.7%, to $3.1 billion, for the twelve- month period compared to the same period in 2005. Excluding the impact of the charitable donation of common stock to the MasterCard Foundation, litigation settlements, and an adjustment to reflect an accounting methodology change for cash-based executive incentive plans in the third quarter of 2005, total operating expenses increased 9.2%. This was due to increased personnel costs, professional fees and advertising and marketing expenses, as well as a total of $20 million in cash contributed to the MasterCard Foundation in 2006. Currency fluctuations had a negligible impact on operating expenses during this period.

Total other income was $65 million for the twelve-month period versus $14 million for the same period in 2005. This change was driven by a $64 million increase in investment income, including the $7 million special item of interest income earned on IPO proceeds which were used for redemption. Interest expense also decreased by $9 million primarily due to a refund of interest assessed in connection with an audit of the company's federal income tax return and a reduction of interest reserve requirements related to the company's tax reserves.

MasterCard's effective tax rate of 82.9% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2006 includes the impact of the non-deductible charitable donation of common stock to the MasterCard Foundation. Excluding this donation, the company's tax rate would have been 35.4% vs. 34.5% for the same period in 2005. The company's effective tax rate, excluding the impact of the stock donation, is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure that is reconciled to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure in the accompanying financial tables.

MasterCard Board of Directors Announces Increase in Quarterly Dividend

At a meeting on February 6, 2007, the MasterCard Incorporated Board of Directors declared an increase to the quarterly cash dividend to holders of shares of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock. A cash dividend of 15 cents per share, which represents a 66.7% increase over the prior dividend level of 9 cents per share, will be paid on May 10, 2007 to holders of record of its Class A common stock and Class B common stock as of April 9, 2007.

"We are pleased that the success of our business and the strength of our capital position has allowed us to increase our dividend, further demonstrating our commitment to drive shareholder value," said Chris A. McWilton, chief financial officer.

Read the results statement here:Download the document now 31 kb (Adobe Acrobat Document)