MasterCard Reports Another Successful Quarter
MasterCard Reports Another Successful Quarter in the Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa Region
Auckland, 7 August 2007 - MasterCard Worldwide today announced its second quarter 2007 operating results for the Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA) region. For the quarter, the region reported gross dollar volume (18.1%), purchase volume [Growth in gross dollar volume and purchase volume are calculated on a local currency basis. ] (21.3%), purchase transactions (21.7%), cash transactions (26.9%) and cards issued (13.3%) versus the same period in 2006.
As of 30 June 2007, over 193 million MasterCard cards (excluding Maestro® and Cirrus) had been issued by MasterCard customer financial institutions across APMEA. Cardholders in the region made 704 million purchase transactions in the second quarter of 2007 and could use their MasterCard cards at over 7.4 million acceptance locations throughout the region.
“Our sustained growth in APMEA demonstrates our consistency to deliver major benefits to our financial institution customers, consumers, businesses and merchants. The MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce™ programme launched in Q2 bears strong testimony to MasterCard's wealth of intelligence and insights to the factors which fuel global commerce, and we will continue to leverage our intellectual capital to create opportunities for customers in the rapidly evolving marketplace,” said Andre Sekulic, president, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.
In addition, the Maestro® brand mark appeared on over 221 million cards, up 18.7 per cent compared to the second quarter of 2006 in APMEA. Consumers can now make online debit point of sale purchases with their Maestro cards at nearly 974,000 merchant locations throughout the APMEA region.
MasterCard in the APMEA region also reported a number of significant business achievements for the quarter:
- MasterCard’s knowledge leadership took centre stage in Q2 with the global launch of the MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce™ programme, designed to provide insights and knowledge on how leading cities influence the global economy. Central to this new research platform is the first annual MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index™, the most comprehensive analysis to date of how major cities compare in performing critical functions that connect markets and commerce globally.
Further expansion of MasterCard’s knowledge leadership programme in APMEA included the release of a joint research with HSBC on China’s affluent. In recognition of the speed and dexterity that this segment is growing in the urban hubs of China, MasterCard and HSBC undertook this joint piece of research to capture in time this unprecedented phenomenon and understand the opportunities it holds. The research provides a deep delve into the consumption behavior, attitude and lifestyles of the Chinese affluent, offering greater insights into the immense commercial opportunities that exist and gives businesses crucial information on which to base their plans and competitive strategies.
- The strength of MasterCard® PayPassTM which is now in nine APMEA markets was further solidified with the launch of credit and prepaid cards in association with BNI, one of the largest banks in Indonesia. In addition, MasterCard collaborated with the Kaohsiung City Government in Taiwan to launch the world’s first MasterCard OneSmart™ PayPass™ Chip Combi Card. On the EMV front, MasterCard launched an EMV-compliant card in association with PT Bank Internasional Indonesia Tbk (BII), one of the largest credit card issuers in Indonesia.
- MasterCard continued to gain momentum in the global commercial products arena. In New Zealand, MasterCard launched the Westpac BusinessPLUSGold MasterCard card, New Zealand’s first business gold credit card with rewards for small businesses. In Korea, MasterCard collaborated with LG Card to introduce the MasterCard Multinational Corporate Program for LG Electronics. In Taiwan, MasterCard collaborated with Cathay United Bank to launch the Business Platinum Card, targeting the surging number of Taiwanese business travellers who prefer mileage programmes and services.
- MasterCard continued to reinforce its leadership in the premium space by working with ESSEC Business School to launch the MasterCard-ESSEC Luxury Brand Management Executive Programme. The programme gives 15 luxury industry professionals insights into the affluent consumer market in Asia/Pacific and share knowledge on how best to meet the needs of this fast evolving segment.
Customers financial institutions also continue to choose MasterCard when launching premium card programmes. In Indonesia, MasterCard launched ANZ Black, a World MasterCard card, and LippoBank Lady’s Diamond MasterCard to target the affluent. In China, MasterCard launched the first Titanium card, in association with Hua Xia Bank. In Taiwan, the Chinatrust Commercial Bank was the first to issue the Titanium MasterCard card.
In Saudi Arabia, MasterCard launched the first MasterCard Islamic Titanium card, in collaboration with the National Commercial Bank. An agreement was reached with Standard Chartered Bank in Bahrain to launch the first Titanium MasterCard credit card in the Kingdom.
- MasterCard continued to gain momentum in the debit space, announcing an exclusive debit agreement with First Gulf Bank (FGB) for conversion of its proprietary base of debit cards to MasterCard Unembossed debit cards.
- MasterCard’s innovative co-brand cards made significant inroads in APMEA. There were three co-brand card programme launches in China – China Merchant Bank-National Basketball Association MasterCard, China Merchant Bank-Egret MasterCard Card and Bank of China-Ctrip MasterCard Card – cornering the sports, travel and airline sectors.
In Saudi Arabia, MasterCard launched the Samba Al Khair Ladies Card, the first MasterCard ladies credit card offering female cardholders special benefits designed to fulfill their financial service needs.
- In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), MasterCard strengthened its footprint in Islamic finance by entering into an agreement with Noor Islamic Bank (NIB) to exclusively issue MasterCard branded debit and credit cards. Additionally, MasterCard launched the SABB Amanah credit card in collaboration with Saudi British Bank, a new Shariah compliant product in Saudi Arabia.
- To encourage cross-border usage, MasterCard launched dedicated travel campaigns in Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. MasterCard also worked closely with leading travel companies to offer MasterCard cardholders with travel promotions. In India, MasterCard had a joint promotion with Travelguru, a leading Indian online travel portal, to offer MasterCard cardholders special deals on three premier Indian airlines.
- MasterCard’s sponsorship of the ongoing Great Singapore Sale, Malaysia Mega Sale, Taipei Great Sale and Dubai Summer Surprises continues to strengthen its retail and card usage promotion platform across APMEA. In Singapore, the first month of the Great Singapore Sale has seen spend increase by 48 per cent and transactions increase 43 per cent, when compared with the same period last year.
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About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 16 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to http://www.mastercard.com.
ENDS
Forward-Looking
Statements
Statements in this press release which are not historical facts, including statements about MasterCard’s plans, strategies, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking and subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Accordingly, except for the company’s ongoing obligations under the U.S. federal securities laws, the company does not intend to update or otherwise revise the forward-looking information to reflect actual results of operations, changes in financial condition, changes in estimates, expectations or assumptions, changes in general economic or industry conditions or other circumstances arising and/or existing since the preparation of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
• growth in MasterCard-branded volume in the second quarter being indicative of the confidence that the company’s customers and merchants place in MasterCard; and
• the company’s customer-focused strategy being the key to its continued success
Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including those set forth MasterCard Incorporated’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K that it has filed with the SEC during 2007, as well as reasons including difficulties, delays or the inability of the company to achieve its strategic initiatives. Factors other than those listed above could also cause the company’s results to differ materially from expected results.