MasterCard Worldwide (NYSE: MA) is a multinational corporation based in Purchase, New York, United States. Throughout the world, its principal business is to process payments between the banks of merchants and the banks of purchasers that use its "MasterCard" brand debit and credit cards to make purchases. MasterCard Worldwide has been a publicly traded company since 2006. Prior to its initial public offering, MasterCard Worldwide was a membership organization owned by the 25,000+ financial institutions that issue its card.
MasterCard, originally known as MasterCharge, was created by several California banks as a competitor to the BankAmericard issued by Bank of America, which later became the Visa credit card issued by Visa Inc.. The original banks behind MasterCharge were United California Bank (later First Interstate Bank and subsequently merged into Wells Fargo Bank), Wells Fargo, Crocker National Bank (also subsequently merged into Wells Fargo), and the Bank of California (subsequently merged into the Union Bank of California).
History
In 1966 the aforementioned group of California banks formed the Interbank Card Association (ICA). With the help of New York's Marine Midland Bank, now HSBC Bank USA, these banks joined with the ICA to create "Master Charge: The Interbank Card". The card was given a significant boost in 1969, when National City Bank joined, merging its proprietary Everything Card with Master Charge.
In 1979, "Master Charge: The Interbank Card" was renamed simply " MasterCard ". In the early 1990s MasterCard bought the British Access card and the Access name was dropped. In 2002, MasterCard International merged with Europay International SA, another large credit-card issuer association, which for many years issued cards under the name Eurocard .
In 2006, MasterCard International underwent another name change to MasterCard Worldwide. This was done in order to suggest a more global scale of operations. In addition, the company introduced a new corporate logo adding a third circle to the two that had been used in the past (the familiar card logo, resembling a Venn diagram, remains unchanged). A new corporate tagline was introduced at the same time: "The Heart of Commerce".
Features
Many issuing institutions include various features with credit card accounts, such as extended warranties on items bought with the card, damage waiver on cars rented with the card, and accident insurance during travel bought with the card.
Shareholders
Based on an SEC filing (DEF 14A) on April 24, 2008, MasterCard's largest current shareholders are:
(Class A Stock)
- 15.6% - The Mastercard Foundation
- 13.6% - Marsico Capital Management, LLC
- 8.9% - Atticus Capital, LP
- 5.1% - FMR Corp.
(Class M Stock)
- 9.5% - Citigroup, Inc.
- 8.5% - JP Morgan Chase & Co.
- 5.1% - HSBC Holdings, LLC
- 5.1% - Bank of America Corp.
See Yahoo! Finance for updated data.
IPO
The company, which had been organized as a cooperative of banks, had an initial public offering on May 25, 2006 at $39.00 USD. The stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol MA.
Litigation
Both MasterCard and Visa have paid approximately $3 billion in damages resulting from a class-action lawsuit filed by Hagens Berman in January 1996. The litigation cites several retail giants as plaintiffs, including Wal-Mart, Sears Roebuck & Company, and Safeway.
Advertising
MasterCard's current advertising campaign tagline is " Priceless ". The slogan associated with the campaign is "There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard." The Priceless campaign in more recent iterations has been applicable to both MasterCard's credit card and debit card products. They also use the 'Priceless' description to promote products such as their "priceless travel" site which features deals and offers for MasterCard holders.
The first of these Priceless ads was run during the World Series in 1997 and there are numerous different TV, radio and print ads. It was idealized by Stewart Emery. MasterCard actually registered Priceless as a trademark. Actor Billy Crudup has been the voice in the US market; in the UK, actor Jack Davenport is the voice.
The purpose of the campaign is to position MasterCard as a friendly credit card company with a sense of humor, as well as respond to the public's worry that everything is being commodified and that people are becoming too materialistic.
Many parodies have been made using this same pattern, especially on Comedy Central, though MasterCard has threatened legal action, contending that MasterCard views such parodies as a violation of its rights under the federal and state trademark and unfair competition laws, under the federal and state anti-dilution laws, and under the Copyright Act. Despite these claims, however, noted US consumer advocate and presidential candidate Ralph Nader emerged victorious (after a four-year battle) in the suit MasterCard brought against him after he produced his own "Priceless" political commercials.
During Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004, The Simpsons characters Homer Simpson, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak and Hans Moleman appeared in a Priceless commercial that aired during the US football game. The commercial begins with Homer purchasing Duff Beer, diapers, milk and laundry detergent at the Kwik-E-Mart for $25. Next, bees fly on a donut Homer's eating while changing his oil at a cost of $20. Then, while having a haircut, Homer discovers that it will cost $75. Later, while at Moe's Tavern Moe hands Homer priceless beer while thinking to spend more time with his family. Finally, while leaving the bar, Homer lets the door punch Hans Moleman in the face. The commercial then ends with two donuts making up the MasterCard logo. A year later, another MasterCard Super Bowl commercial was introduced featuring 10 legendary advertising characters from various foods and household products. The 10 characters are Chef Boyardee, Charlie the Tuna, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Count Chocula, Jovny the Vlasic Pickles stork, the Morton Salt girl, the Jolly Green Giant, Mr. Peanut from Kraft Food's Planters Peanuts, the Gorton's fisherman, and Mr. Clean.
Sports sponsorships
MasterCard currently sponsors the New Zealand All Blacks, the country's rugby union team. MasterCard also sponsors the UEFA Champions League. For many years, it also sponsored FIFA World Cup but withdrew its contract after a court settlement and its rival Visa took up the contract in 2007. It is currently the sponsor of the Memorial Cup Tournament of the Canadian Hockey League. MasterCard has just announced new sponsorship deal with Australian Cricket team and is also the founding sponsor of IPL cricket team Mumbai Indians. It was the official credit card of UEFA Euro 2008. Mastercard is also the official sponsor of the Uefa Champions League.
In 1997, MasterCard was the main sponsor of the aborted MasterCard Lola Formula One team.
On October 12, 2007 MasterCard offered $160,000 to the municipal government of Toronto so that the city could keep its ice rinks open, as the city was facing a budget shortfall.
Management and Board of Directors
Key executives include:
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