2
2
2
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
ANNUAL
ANNUAL
ANNUAL
REPORT
REPORT
REPORT
7458_TxtC3.indd 1
12/3/12 3:53 PM
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (ADJUSTED) 1
(in millions, except for per share data)
Operating revenues
Operating expenses
Operating income
Net income
Diluted class A common stock earnings per share
FY 2010
$ 8,065
$ 3,476
$ 4,589
$ 2,887
$ 3.91
FY 2011
$ 9,188
$ 3,732
$ 5,456
$ 3,528
$ 4.99
FY 2012
$ 10,421
$ 4,184
$ 6,237
$ 4,203
$ 6.20
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (GAAP)
(in millions, except for per share data)
Operating revenues
Operating expenses
Operating income
Net income
Stockholders' equity
Diluted class A common stock earnings per share
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
12 months ended September 30 (except where noted)
Total volume, including payments and cash volume 2
Payments volume 2
Transactions processed on Visa's networks
Cards 3
FY 2010
$ 8,065
$ 3,476
$ 4,589
$ 2,966
$ 25,011
$ 4.01
FY 2011
$ 9,188
$ 3,732
$ 5,456
$ 3,650
$ 26,437
$ 5.16
FY 2012
$ 10,421
$ 8,282
$ 2,139
$ 2,144
$ 27,630
$ 3.16
2010
2011
2012
$ 5.0 trillion
$ 5.9 trillion
$ 6.3 trillion
$ 3.1 trillion
$ 3.7 trillion
$ 3.9 trillion
45.4 billion
1.8 billion
50.9 billion
1.9 billion
53.3 billion
2.0 billion
STOCK PERFORMANCE
Visa Inc.’s class A common stock began trading publicly on the New York Stock Exchange on March 19, 2008. The graph and chart
below compares the cumulative total return on Visa’s common stock with the cumulative total return on Standard & Poor’s 500
Index and Standard & Poor’s 500 Data Processing Index from September 30, 2008, through September 30, 2012. The comparison
assumes $100 was invested on September 30, 2008, and that dividends were reinvested. Visa Inc.’s class B and C common stock
are not publicly traded or listed on any exchange or dealer quotation system.
$225
$200
$175
$150
$125
$100
$75
Base
Period
Indexed Returns
(Fiscal Year Ended)
Company / Index 9/30/08 9/30/09 9/30/10 9/30/11 9/30/12
Visa Inc.
100.00
113.35
122.60
142.60
225.13
S&P 500 Index
100.00
93.09
102.55
103.73
135.05
S&P 500 Data
Processing Index
100.00
98.59
99.68
110.10
156.34
9/30/08
9/30/09
9/30/10
9/30/11
9/30/12
Visa Inc.
S&P 500 Index
S&P 500 Data Processing Index
1 For further discussion of fi scal years 2012 and 2011 non-GAAP adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share, see ‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations—Overview—Adjusted fi nancial results’ in this Annual Report. Fiscal year 2010 non-GAAP adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share exclude the impact of the $79 million decrease
in the fair value of the Visa Europe put option.
2 Total volume is the sum of payments volume and cash volume. Payments volume is the total monetary value of transactions for goods and services that are purchased. Cash volume generally consists
of cash access transactions, balance access transactions, balance transfers and convenience checks. Payments volume for the 12 months ended June 30 is the basis for service revenue for the 12
months ended September 30. For further discussion, see ‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Overview—Nominal payments volume and
transaction counts’ in this Annual Report.
3 These fi gures represent data for the quarters ended June 30, 2012, June 30, 2011, and June 30, 2010.
7458_TxtC3.indd 2
12/3/12 3:53 PM
A LETTER FROM OUR CHAIRMAN
JOSEPH W. SAUNDERS
Executive Chairman
Visa Inc.
Dear Shareholders,
I am proud to report the results of another successful year for Visa.
For more than 50 years, Visa has helped its clients grow their payments businesses by focusing on both their short-
term performance goals and their long-term success. In fi scal year 2012, our client-focused approach helped Visa
achieve strong business results and deliver on our commitment to remain a growth company. Net operating revenue
in fi scal year 2012 was a record $10.4 billion, a 13 percent increase over 2011. Adjusted net income was $4.2 billion,
a 19 percent increase over the prior year. Full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share came in at $6.20, 24 percent
ahead of last year.
These results were achieved during a year of remarkable change within our industry. Advances in technology are
opening up opportunities to conduct transactions in new ways and in new places. Electronic payments are rapidly
expanding around the world, taking root in emerging markets and allowing more people to enjoy the benefi ts of
fi nancial inclusion. We fully expect these changes to continue, marking the beginning of another wave of growth for
electronic payments.
To guide our business, we adhere to a simple vision: to be the Best Way to Pay and Be Paid. Visa’s diff erentiated
products and services help the Company maintain strong and mutually productive relationships with its fi nancial
institutions, merchants and governments around the world. Our innovation-related investments – namely the
acquisitions of CyberSource, PlaySpan and Fundamo – create value and help partners off er leading payment
products and services. Behind these products and services are a global brand and a powerful payments network
that handled more than $3.9 trillion in payments volume during fi scal year 2012. And perhaps most important are
Visa’s 8,500 employees who deliver an unmatched depth of payments expertise and insight to our partners every
day. Collectively, these assets create a strong foundation on which to build – our foundation for the future.
In fi scal year 2012, Visa took signifi cant steps to build on this foundation and further position the Company for
future growth. Specifi cally, Visa worked to expand its core products and services business, accelerate growth in
international markets, and invest in new payments technologies.
7458_TxtC3.indd 3
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EXPANDING OUR CORE BUSINESS; GROWTH IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Visa’s long-term success is deeply rooted in continued
expansion of our core business around the world. One
important example of our success was a double-digit
payments volume increase for credit products in the United
States, as Visa added new clients and built upon our strong
existing relationships. A key contributor was our expanded
relationship with United Airlines, which began exclusively
issuing Mileage Plus Visa cards to all new customers in
January, following its merger with Continental Airlines.
Visa’s core business also adapted to signifi cant market changes in 2012, as we faced debit regulation in the United
States. Overall, the situation played out as expected and inline with our fi nancial guidance. That being said, this
regulation negatively impacted our business, resulting in reduced debit volumes as well as permanent market share
losses. Our post-regulation priority has been to work closely with our clients and help them adapt to the new
environment. And over the course of the year, we successfully secured all 15 of our top U.S. debit issuers to long-
term contracts. Finally, while we are still in the early stages of the new environment, it appears our revised debit
strategies are gaining traction and meeting Visa’s own operational and fi nancial expectations.
Importantly, revenue in Visa’s international geographies grew 16 percent during the fi scal year, accelerating progress
toward our stated goal of achieving more than 50 percent of our global revenue from international markets by
2015. In several critical markets, including Brazil, Russia, Japan, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Mexico, and sub-
Saharan Africa, we have deployed tailored acceleration plans to substantially increase revenue growth over a fi ve-
year horizon.
For example, in Brazil, Visa reached an agreement with all of our major clients that will result in more than 90 percent
of our transactions in that country being routed over VisaNet (up from 63 percent). This agreement advances one
of Visa’s top strategic goals: ensuring a greater share of transactions get processed on VisaNet, which allows us to
deliver better fraud detection, diff erentiated information products and improved transaction quality to cardholders,
merchants and our fi nancial institution customers.
In Russia, where over 80 percent of consumer spending remains cash-based, Visa made substantial progress
expanding usage in “everyday spend” merchant categories, a strategy that aligns particularly well with our strong
stable of debit cards in that country. One highlight was the launch of Visa acceptance at Magnit, the country’s
largest grocery chain with more than 5,000 stores. In fact, Visa is now accepted at the four largest food retail chains
in Russia, an important step toward accelerating growth in that country.
7458_TxtC3.indd 4
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NEW PAYMENT TECHNOLOGIES
We are aggressively investing in new and diff erentiated
technologies that will increase the number of transactions
on our core business platforms, add incremental value to
the merchant community and their acquirers, and forge
new revenue opportunities for both Visa and our fi nancial
institution clients. Importantly, we know that our innovations
must create real value for our clients’ accountholders who
ultimately use these products and services.
This year, Visa began scaling our digital wallet service, V.me, to help Visa and its clients capture signifi cant growth
opportunities in eCommerce. The technology for V.me is fully developed, and we are now focused on expanding our
network of participating fi nancial institutions and online merchants. Currently we have more than 50 agreements
with leading U.S. issuers, including four of the 10 largest fi nancial institutions. This provides the potential for us to
bring V.me to more than 50 million consumers. At the same time, we are making progress signing up merchants and
expect to have more than 1,000 online merchants using V.me by the middle of 2013.
Meanwhile, in markets around the world, Visa continued to
deploy next-generation payment innovations that address
the unique needs of particular geographies. For example,
using Fundamo’s technology, Visa introduced Visa Mobile
Prepaid with MTN Group, Vodafone and France Telecom’s
Orange Money. These programs will off er secure, reliable,
and globally interoperable electronic payment accounts to
unbanked consumers in several developing markets.
Technology is also opening up new opportunities for expanded merchant acceptance, as new mobile point-of-sale
(mPOS) devices, such as Square, are enabling merchants to accept card payments without the need for traditional
point-of-sale equipment and landline infrastructure. Since Visa’s investment in Square in 2011, we have been testing
and certifying several manufacturers around the world to provide mobile-based card acceptance solutions. Looking
ahead, we are also in advanced discussions with a variety of fi nancial institutions about launching pilot acceptance
programs in a wide range of markets over the next 12 months.
7458_TxtC3.indd 5
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DELIVERING SHARED VALUE
Visa’s products and services remove friction from commerce worldwide
by providing consumers convenient and secure access to their funds, while
reducing cash and check handling costs for merchants and governments.
Ultimately this delivers tangible economic benefi ts. According to a recent
study by Moody’s Economy.com, between 2008 and 2012, the shift away
from cash and checks toward electronic payments added $983 billion to
GDP across the global economy. Additionally, that same study predicts
that a future 1 percent increase in card usage globally would produce a
RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Visa has delivered significant value for
shareholders since its IPO in March 2008:
Net Revenue:
14% CAGR
Adjusted Diluted EPS:
29% CAGR
Dividend Payments:
$1.8 billion
Share Price:
$134.28*
0.056 percent increase in consumption and a 0.035 percent increase in
*Price at FY end, up from $44 at IPO
GDP.
Visa’s vision of being the Best Way to Pay and Be Paid has served us well for several decades. However, being the
“best way” means diff erent things in diff erent markets and to diff erent people around the world. Today, 2.5 billion
people lack access to basic fi nancial services. That’s why we are working with governments and other organizations
across the globe to deliver the benefi ts of electronic payments. This approach creates real value for local markets
through economic development while also creating new business opportunities for Visa. That’s why we are now
adding three important words – for Everyone, Everywhere – to our vision to guide our eff orts globally.
One example of how we are applying this expanded vision to our work comes from Rwanda, where Visa is proactively
engaging with policymakers and aligning our own growth agenda with domestic priorities. Our engagement with the
Rwandan government seeks to increase access to – and usage of – electronic payments in that country, with a keen
focus on fi nancial inclusion and fi nancial literacy. Through these eff orts, Visa is now processing domestic payments
and interbank ATM withdrawals and laying the groundwork for a scalable and interoperable mobile money program.
And our eff orts will help increase tourism volumes from international travelers, a key driver of economic activity and
a top government priority.
Of course, as we are successful bringing more participants into the fi nancial mainstream, it is important these new
accountholders have the knowledge and expertise to manage their fi nancial lives responsibly. That is why, for more
than a decade, Visa has provided free fi nancial literacy programs to millions of parents, teachers, children, and
accountholders around the world. Collectively, these programs have reached more than 20 million people in the
last four years.
To expand our fi nancial inclusion eff orts, Visa proudly joined forces with a group of well-respected leaders in the global
development community including the U.N. Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the U.S. Agency for International
7458_TxtC3.indd 6
12/3/12 3:53 PM
Development (USAID), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citi, Ford Foundation, and the Omidyar Network. This
new initiative – called the “Better Than Cash Alliance” – brings together governments, the development community
and the private sector to advance the use of electronic payments to support people living in poverty. We look
forward to helping this alliance achieve our shared goals of empowering people and growing emerging economies.
LOOKING AHEAD
One of the most important steps toward building on our foundation for the future was the Board’s completion of
a robust CEO succession process. On November 1, 2012, Charles W. Scharf became Visa’s new Chief Executive
Offi cer. I have every confi dence that Charlie is the right person for this job. He is a proven leader, is familiar with Visa
both as a client and as a board member and, importantly, drove innovation while at the helm of JPMorgan Chase’s
retail operation. I look forward to working with Charlie to make this transition seamless as I continue in my role as
Executive Chairman until I retire in March 2013.
As I entrust the leadership of Visa to its new CEO, its strong management team and its 8,500 employees worldwide,
I do so with great confi dence. We are in the midst of an important evolution in payments, but Visa has a strong
foundation on which to build, and we will continue to adapt, innovate and lead. This will allow Visa to remain the
partner of choice for clients and a driving force in bringing electronic payments to more people in more places
around the world.
I am proud of the many things – operational and fi nancial – we have achieved. More importantly, I remain excited
by the countless opportunities in front of this company and convinced of its ability to capture them.
JOSEPH W. SAUNDERS
Executive Chairman
Visa Inc.
7458_TxtC3.indd 7
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A LETTER FROM OUR CEO
CHARLES W. SCHARF
Chief Executive Offi cer
Visa Inc.
Dear Shareholders,
I was honored to become Visa Inc.’s second Chief Executive Offi cer in November. I am proud to be part of such a
strong and successful organization with a rich payments history. While we are still a young public company, for more
than 50 years Visa has played a central role in promoting growth in commerce across the world by encouraging
the reduction of cash and working with our partners to move transactions to Visa’s fast, convenient, and secure
methods of payment.
Our position in the payments industry is unique. Today we process more electronic payments than anyone else in
the world. We have the most recognized payments brand globally, ubiquitous acceptance across the world, the best
processing network, and the best client relationships in the industry. We face more competition than ever before,
but these assets provide a great foundation for us to compete.
We have tremendous opportunities ahead of us. We continue to benefi t from the long-term global secular trend
away from paper-based payments toward electronic transactions. This alone represents more than $10 trillion of
potential payment volume opportunity worldwide. Much of this will come from outside of the United States, where
in fi scal year 2012, our payments volume grew at 15 percent and generated 45 percent of our revenue.
The United States holds valuable opportunities for us as well. We are fortunate to have strong relationships with
fi nancial institutions of all sizes, and – while we have built great acceptance for our products across the country –
we have to do a better job creating a strong partnership with the merchant community.
The world of evolving technologies provides both risks and opportunities for us. We will not abandon our core
business model of working with fi nancial institutions and governments, but as payments technology rapidly evolves,
we need to adapt, innovate, and be open to new partnerships and platforms, such as digital wallets and mobile
payments.
I want to thank Joe Saunders for his many achievements in guiding Visa through its transformation to a successful
public company. He has been a great leader and a friend to many at Visa, and the results under his leadership are
impressive, particularly in the face of a challenging global economy and an evolving industry landscape.
7458_TxtC3.indd 8
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While I have only been CEO for a short time, I am energized by the spirit of my partners at Visa. This is an organization
fi lled with people who are proud to work here and believe in our future. This is an exciting time in our industry and
I look forward to making the Company as successful in the future as it has been in our past.
CHARLES W. SCHARF
Chief Executive Offi cer
Visa Inc.
7458_TxtC3.indd 9
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
Í ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year 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 001-33977
VISA INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
P.O. Box 8999
San Francisco, California
(Address of principal executive offices)
26-0267673
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
94128-8999
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(650) 432-3200
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each Class
Class A common stock, par value $.0001 per share
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Title of each Class
Class B common stock, par value $.0001 per share
Class C common stock, par value $.0001 per share
Indicate by check mark if
Act. Yes Í No ‘
Indicate by check mark if
Act. Yes ‘ No Í
the registrant
is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities
the registrant
is not
required to file reports pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the
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 Í No ‘
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every
Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter)
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that
the registrant was required to submit and post such
files). Yes Í No ‘
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and
will not be contained to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference
in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ‘
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. 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 Í
Non-accelerated filer ‘
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
the registrant
Indicate by check mark whether
Act). Yes ‘ No Í
Accelerated filer ‘
Smaller reporting company ‘
is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s class A common stock, par value $.0001 per share, held by non-affiliates
(using the New York Stock Exchange closing price as of March 30, 2012, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently
completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $62.1 billion. There is currently no established public trading market for the
registrant’s class B common stock, par value $.0001 per share, or the registrant’s class C common stock, par value $.0001 per
share.
As of November 8, 2012, there were 535,517,788 shares outstanding of the registrant’s class A common stock, par value
$.0001 per share, 245,513,385 shares outstanding of the registrant’s class B common stock, par value $.0001 per share, and
29,576,710 shares outstanding of the registrant’s class C common stock, par value $.0001 per share.
Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated herein by
reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the extent stated herein. Such Proxy Statement will be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item 1
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 1A Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 1B Unresolved Staff Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 2
Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Legal Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 3
Item 4 Mine Safety Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART II
Item 5 Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 6
Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 8
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Item 9
Disclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 9A Controls and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 9B Other Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART III
Item 10 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 11 Executive Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 12 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Item 13 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence . . . . . . . .
Item 14 Principal Accountant Fees and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PART IV
Item 15 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Page
5
19
36
36
36
36
37
39
41
63
65
134
134
135
136
136
136
137
137
138
Unless the context requires otherwise, reference to “Company,” “Visa,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to
Visa Inc. and its subsidiaries.
The registered trademarks of Visa Inc. and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to: “3-D
Secure;” “Bands Design—Blue, White & Gold;” “CyberSource;” “Dove Design;” “Fundamo;” “Interlink;”
“Plus;” “PlaySpan;” “V Pay Design;” “V Distribution Design;” “Verified by Visa;” “Visa;” “Visa Buxx;”
“Visa Classic;” “Visa Electron;” “Visa Infinite;” “Visa Intellilink;” “Visa Online;” “Visa Platinum;” “Visa
ReadyLink;” “Visa PassFirst;” “Visa payWave;” “Visa Select;” “Visa Signature;” “Visa SimplyOne;” “Visa
TravelMoney;” “Visa Vale;” “VisaNet;” and “Winged V Design.” Other trademarks used in this report are
the property of their respective owners.
2
Forward-Looking Statements:
This annual report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the terms
“believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “potential,” “project,” “should,” “will,”
and similar references to the future. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements we make about our earnings per share, cash flow, revenue, incentive payments,
expenses, operating margin, tax rate and capital expenditures and the growth of those items.
By their nature, forward-looking statements: (i) speak only as of the date they are made, (ii) are
neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees of future performance and (iii) are subject to risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify.
Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those forward-looking statements
because of a variety of factors, including the following:
(cid:129)
the impact of laws, regulations and marketplace barriers, including:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
rules capping debit interchange reimbursement fees promulgated under the U.S. Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act;
rules under the Dodd-Frank Act expanding issuers’ and merchants’ choice among debit
payment networks;
increased regulation outside the United States and in other product categories;
increased government support of national payment networks outside the United States;
and
rules about consumer privacy and data use and security;
developments in litigation and government enforcement, including those affecting interchange
reimbursement fees, antitrust and tax;
economic factors, such as:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
an increase or spread of the current European crisis involving sovereign debt and the
euro;
the so-called “fiscal cliff” in the United States: the combination of expiring tax cuts and
mandatory reductions in federal spending at the end of 2012;
other global economic, political and health conditions;
cross-border activity and currency exchange rates; and
(cid:129) material changes in our clients’ performance compared to our estimates;
industry developments, such as competitive pressure, rapid technological developments and
disintermediation from the payments value stream;
system developments, such as:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
disruption of our transaction processing systems or the inability to process transactions
efficiently;
account data breaches or increased fraudulent or other illegal activities involving our
cards; and
issues arising at Visa Europe, including failure to maintain interoperability between our
systems;
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(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
3
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
costs arising if Visa Europe were to exercise its right to require us to acquire all of its
outstanding stock;
loss of organizational effectiveness or key employees;
failure to integrate acquisitions successfully or to effectively develop new products and
businesses; and
the other factors discussed in Item1A—Risk Factors. You should not place undue reliance on such
statements. Unless required to do so by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking
statement because of new information or future developments or otherwise.
4
ITEM 1. Business
Overview
PART I
Visa Inc., which we refer to as Visa or the Company, is a global payments technology company
that connects consumers, businesses, banks and governments in more than 200 countries and
territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We operate one of the world’s most
advanced processing networks, VisaNet, offering fraud protection for consumers and assured payment
for merchants.
Our business primarily consists of the following:
(cid:129) we own, manage and promote a portfolio of well-known, widely-accepted payment brands,
including Visa, Visa Electron, PLUS and Interlink, which we license to our clients for use in
their payment programs;
(cid:129) we offer a wide range of branded payments product platforms, which our clients, primarily
financial institutions, use to develop and offer credit, debit, prepaid and cash access
programs, as well as digital, mobile and eCommerce platforms for their customers
(individuals, businesses and government entities);
(cid:129) we provide transaction processing and value-added services to our clients through VisaNet,
Visa Debit Processing Services, Visa Processing Services, CyberSource, PlaySpan and
Fundamo; and
(cid:129) we promote and enforce a common set of operating regulations adhered to by our clients to
ensure the efficient and secure functioning of our payments network and the maintenance and
promotion of our brands.
To ensure our long-term success and the success of our clients:
(cid:129) we invest in new services and processing platforms to facilitate more convenient and
innovative payment methods, such as mobile payments, money transfer and eCommerce;
and
(cid:129) we continually improve the speed, efficiency, security and performance of our network and
our payments services to enhance the reliability of our global processing infrastructure and
protect the security of cardholder information.
We operate an open-loop payments network, a multi-party system in which Visa connects issuing
financial institutions, or issuers, that issue cards to cardholders, and acquiring financial institutions, or
acquirers, that have the banking relationship with merchants—and manage the exchange of
information and value between them. As such, we do not issue cards, extend credit, or collect, assess
or set cardholder fees or interest charges. In most instances, cardholder and merchant relationships
belong to, and are managed by, our network of financial institution clients. We derive revenues
primarily from fees paid by our clients based on payments volume, transactions that we process and
other related services that we provide.
Business developments in fiscal 2012 included the following:
(cid:129) Regulation. New rules were implemented in the United States with respect to debit products
under the Dodd-Frank Act. The Dodd-Frank Act regulates, among other things, interchange
fees, the debit networks issuers make available, merchants’ choices among these networks
and transaction routing. These regulations resulted in our renegotiating some portions of
client contracts. See Government Regulation below.
5
(cid:129) U.S. Debit Strategy. We have designed or implemented several modifications to our U.S.
debit strategy to ensure compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act.
(cid:129)
Interchange. We established new debit interchange rate structures, effective October
2011 and revised in April 2012, for the Visa Consumer Check card, Interlink and Small
Business Debit. Two distinct interchange schedules were established: one for exempt
issuers and products and a second for regulated issuers and products. In addition, in
order to ensure that transactions within a U.S. territory, transactions between U.S.
territories, and transactions between the U.S. and U.S. territories receive the applicable,
regulated interchange rate, we established two new inter-regional schedules for regulated
debit card and Interlink transactions.
(cid:129) Certification Program. In order to correctly identify regulated issuers, their exempt
products and their compliance with the Federal Reserve’s fraud prevention standards, we
implemented a certification process for regulated issuers. The program enables issuers
to accurately register their exempt and non-exempt portfolios and to certify their
compliance with these rules and criteria. In July 2012, the Federal Reserve announced its
final fraud prevention standards, including clarifying the requirement that issuers notify
their payment networks of their compliance with the final fraud standard (rather than
“certify” such compliance).
(cid:129) Rule Changes. We implemented changes to our Operating Regulations to the extent
necessary to support the ability of issuers to enable unaffiliated payment card networks
on Visa debit cards issued in the U.S. or U.S. territories, as well as to enable Visa-owned
debit networks on non-Visa debit cards.
(cid:129) Fees. We restructured our acquirer pricing and implemented a fixed fee and lowered our
variable per transaction fees. These changes are intended to increase our
competitiveness and incent merchants to route more transactions over the Visa network.
(cid:129) PAVD: We implemented programs to ensure that Visa debit issuers were capable of
validating and authorizing PIN Authenticated Visa Debit transactions for any merchants
choosing to route Visa Debit transactions to Visa using PIN authentication.
(cid:129) Merchant Litigation Settlement. We reached a reasonable outcome that ensures the long-term
health and competitiveness of the payments industry in the United States, subject to final
court approval and the adjudication of any appeals. Visa will prepare for implementation in the
early part of 2013. See Item 1A—Risk Factors—Our retrospective responsibility plan may not
adequately insulate us from the impact of settlements or final judgments. and Item 8—
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data— Note 21—Legal Matters.
(cid:129) Client Contracts. We continued to take steps to solidify our foundation for long-term growth by
successfully executing several major client contracts throughout the year.
(cid:129) Ongoing Growth. The progress towards economic recovery and secular shift from cash and
checks to electronic payments helped to drive double-digit percentage growth across our
three primary revenue drivers—payments volume, cross-border volume and Visa-processed
transactions—which contributed to our 13% growth in year-over-year net operating revenues
for fiscal 2012.
(cid:129)
2012 Olympic Games: For this year’s Summer Olympic Games in London, Visa engaged a
record number of clients in its sponsorship program, with more than 1,000 financial institutions
and merchants across more than 70 geographies worldwide, activating Olympic-related
activities, including a large portion from priority growth markets.
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Industry Overview
We operate in the global payments industry, which is undergoing a powerful secular shift towards
electronic payments, whether delivered in physical, card-based form or virtually via mobile or
eCommerce platforms, and away from paper-based payments, such as cash and checks. For more
than 50 years, we have played a central role in driving this migration by providing payment products
and services that we believe deliver significant benefits to consumers, businesses, governments and
merchants. We believe that consumers are increasingly attracted to the convenience, security,
enhanced services and rewards associated with electronic payment forms. We also believe that
corporations and governments are shifting to electronic payments to improve efficiency, control and
security, and that a growing number of merchants are accepting electronic payments to improve sales
and customer convenience.
The global payments industry consists of all forms of payment and value transfer, including:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
paper-based payments: cash, personal checks, money orders, government checks, travelers
cheques and other paper-based means of transferring value;
card-based payments: credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, deferred debit cards, ATM
cards, prepaid cards, private label cards and other types of general-purpose and limited-use
cards;
eCommerce payments: electronic payments through desktop and laptop computers, tablets
and other devices with web browsing capabilities;
(cid:129) mobile payments: electronic payments through mobile phones and other handheld devices
using a variety of applications such as text messages, mobile billing, web browsers or
applications, contactless readers, and other means; and
(cid:129)
other electronic payments: wire transfers, electronic benefits transfers, automated clearing
house payments and other forms of electronic payment not typically tied to a payment card or
similar access device.
The most common card-based forms of payment are general purpose cards, which offer
widespread merchant acceptance. General purpose cards are typically categorized as:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
“pay now” cards, such as debit cards, which enable the cardholder to purchase goods and
services by an automatic debit to a checking, demand deposit or other account with
accessible funds;
“pay later” cards, such as credit, deferred debit and charge cards, which typically permit a
cardholder to carry a balance in a revolving credit or deferred debit account or require
payment of the full balance within a specified period; and
“pay before” cards, such as prepaid cards, which are pre-funded up to a certain monetary
value.
Primary card brands include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, and Discover/Diners
Club. While these brands, including Visa, were historically associated with consumer credit or charge
cards in the United States and other major international markets, we and others have, over time,
broadened our offerings to include debit, ATM, prepaid and commercial payment products.
Our Core Operations
We derive revenues primarily from fees paid by our clients based on payments volume,
transactions that we process and other related services we provide. Our clients deliver Visa products
and payment services to consumers and merchants based on product platforms we define and
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manage. Payments network management is a core part of our operations, as it ensures that our
payments system provides a safe, efficient, consistent and interoperable service to cardholders,
merchants and financial institutions worldwide.
Transaction Processing Services
Processing Infrastructure
We own and operate VisaNet, which consists of multiple synchronized processing centers,
including two data centers in the United States. In addition, Visa Europe, which is under separate
ownership, operates processing centers in the United Kingdom. These are part of our synchronized
system, in accordance with the terms of our Framework Agreement with Visa Europe. These centers
are linked by a global telecommunications network and are engineered for redundancy. Intelligent
access points around the world complete our global processing infrastructure and enable merchants
and financial institutions worldwide to access our core processing and value-added services.
VisaNet is built on a centralized architecture, enabling us to view and analyze each authorization
transaction we process in real time and to provide value-added information, including information
products, such as risk scoring and loyalty applications, while the transaction data is being routed
through our system.
Visa also owns and manages additional data centers in the United States and internationally,
including those we added with our acquisitions of CyberSource and PlaySpan. These secure facilities
allow for high availability transaction services and connectivity to the Internet, clients and processing
partners.
Core Processing Services
Our core processing services involve the routing of payment information and related data to
facilitate the authorization, clearing and settlement of transactions between Visa issuers and acquirers.
In addition, we offer a range of value-added processing services to support our clients’ Visa programs
and to promote the growth and security of our payments network.
Authorization is the process of approving or declining a transaction before a purchase is finalized
or cash is disbursed. Clearing is the process of delivering final transaction data from an acquirer to an
issuer for posting to the cardholder’s account, the calculation of certain fees and charges that apply to
the issuer and acquirer involved in the transaction, and the conversion of transaction amounts to the
appropriate settlement currencies. Settlement is the process of calculating, determining, reporting and
transferring the net financial position of our issuers and acquirers for all transactions that are cleared.
The issuer and acquirer involved in a typical Visa transaction perform additional functions that we
do not generally perform or monitor. For example, the acquirer credits the merchant’s account for the
amount of the transaction less any fees the acquirer charges in accordance with the contractual
agreement between the merchant and the acquirer. In addition, the issuer sends a statement to the
cardholder and collects payment, in the case of a credit or deferred debit card, or collects payment
directly from the cardholder’s deposit account, in the case of a debit card.
We process most Visa transactions occurring in the United States. We also process most Visa
transactions where the issuer and the merchant are located in different countries, which we refer to as
cross-border transactions. In countries outside the United States, processing of domestic Visa
transactions varies. In some countries, such as Canada and Brazil, Visa processes the majority of
transactions. In many other countries, transactions may be processed outside of our systems,
generally by government-controlled payments networks, our clients, independent companies or joint
ventures owned in whole or in part by our clients.
8
We perform clearing and settlement through VisaNet for transactions involving an issuer that is
located in Visa Europe’s region and an acquirer that is located in the rest of the world, or vice versa.
Visa Europe authorizes, clears and settles transactions for its members through its own processing
system.
Other Value-Added Processing Services
We offer a range of other value-added services in certain countries, including risk management,
issuer processing, loyalty, dispute management, value-added information and CyberSource-branded
services.
Risk Management Services. We provide clients in certain countries with a number of value-added
risk-management services. These services, including Visa Advanced Authorization, provide preventive,
monitoring, investigative and predictive tools, which are intended to mitigate and help eliminate fraud at
the cardholder and merchant level.
Issuer Processing Services. Visa Debit Processing Services, or DPS, provides comprehensive
issuer processing services for participating U.S. issuers of Visa debit, prepaid and ATM payment
products. In addition to core issuer authorization processing, DPS offers card management services,
exception processing, PIN and ATM network gateways, call center services, fraud detection services
and ATM terminal driving. Visa Processing Service, or VPS, provides credit, debit and prepaid issuer
processing services, including multi-currency processing functionality, outside the United States.
Loyalty Services. We offer loyalty services, which allow our clients to differentiate their Visa
program offerings, enhance the attractiveness of their Visa payment programs and strengthen their
relationships with cardholders and merchants.
Dispute Management Services. We manage Visa Resolve Online, an automated web-based
service that allows our clients’ back-office analysts and client service representatives to manage and
resolve Visa transaction disputes more efficiently than with paper-based processes.
Value-Added Information Services. We provide our clients with a range of additional information-
based business analytics and applications, as well as the transaction data and associated
infrastructure required to support them.
CyberSource-branded services. We provide technology and services that make it easier for
eCommerce merchants to accept, process and reconcile payments, manage fraud, and safeguard
payment security online. CyberSource brings these payment management solutions to market on two
platforms: CyberSource Enterprise services, targeting medium and large-sized enterprise businesses;
and Authorize.Net, targeting smaller businesses with less than $3 million in annual online sales.
Product Platforms
We offer a broad range of product platforms that enable our clients to build differentiated,
competitive payment programs for their consumer, business, government and merchant clients. Our
principal payment platforms enable credit, debit, prepaid and cash access programs, as well as virtual,
mobile and eCommerce payments for consumers, businesses and government entities. Our payment
platforms are offered under our Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands.
9
Consumer Credit
Our consumer credit product platforms allow our issuers to offer deferred payment and financing
products that can be customized to meet the needs of all consumer segments. Our baseline consumer
credit platform is marketed to our issuers as Visa Classic or Visa Traditional. In addition, we offer a
range of premium credit platforms that enable our issuers to tailor programs to consumers requiring
higher credit lines or enhanced benefits, such as loyalty programs. Our premium consumer credit
platforms are marketed to issuers, and in some cases, to cardholders, as Visa Gold, Visa Platinum,
Visa Signature, Visa Signature Preferred and Visa Infinite.
Consumer Deposit Access
Our deposit access product platforms enable our issuers to offer consumer payment and cash
access products that draw on consumers’ deposit accounts, such as checking, demand deposit or
other pre-funded accounts.
Consumer Debit. Our primary consumer debit platform in the United States and many other
countries uses the Visa brand mark. Depending on local marketplace point of sale practices, Visa Debit
transactions can be authenticated by a cardholder’s signature, or no signature if the transaction is for a
small purchase amount, or by personal identification number, or PIN, or other means of authentication.
In the United States, in addition to the Visa debit product, we also provide the Interlink debit product
platform. Interlink is a PIN-always, single message platform generally for U.S. domestic transactions.
U.S. issuers can choose to enable Interlink as a PIN network on a Visa debit card, and U.S. merchants
can choose Interlink as a PIN-always point of sale acceptance option. Additionally, Interlink can remain
as a routing alternative on both Visa and non-Visa branded debit cards. Our clients in Asia Pacific, or
AP, Latin America and Caribbean, or LAC, and Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and
Africa, or CEMEA, can use the Visa Electron debit platform, which requires all transactions initiated
from the card to be authorized electronically. It is primarily used by issuers offering payment programs
to higher-risk client segments or in countries where electronic authorization is less prevalent.
Prepaid. Our prepaid product platform enables issuers to offer products that access a pre-funded
amount, allowing cardholders to enjoy the convenience and security of a payment card in lieu of cash
or checks. Our prepaid platform includes general purpose reloadable, gift, travel, youth, payroll, money
transfer, corporate incentive, insurance reimbursement and government benefits cards.
Cash Access. Our clients can provide global cash access to their cardholders by issuing products
accepted at Visa and PLUS branded ATMs. Most Visa and Visa Electron branded cards offer cash
access at ATMs, as well as at branches of our participating financial institution clients. The PLUS
brand may also be included on issuers’ non-Visa branded cards to offer international cash access as a
complement to domestic cash access services.
Commercial
Our commercial product platforms enable small businesses, medium and large companies, and
government organizations to streamline payment processes, manage total spend, access information
reporting, automate their supply chain and reduce administrative costs.
Small Businesses. We provide tools and resources to small business owners to help them
securely manage payments and receivables through our debit, credit and acceptance solutions. Visa
Business Electron is an electronic authorization platform used in many countries outside North
America.
Large and Medium Companies. The Visa Corporate platform offers payment options for
business-to-business and employee travel and entertainment charges, including cash advances,
10
providing detailed transaction data as well as information and expense management tools. The Visa
Purchasing platform provides card and non-card electronic payment products that allow companies to
easily procure goods and services, while streamlining resource- and paper-intensive purchase order
and invoice processing. Through Syncada, our joint venture with US Bank, we market an integrated
invoice processing, payment and financing platform for financial institutions to offer to their corporate
and government commercial clients around the world.
Government Organizations. In addition to the products mentioned above, we offer government
organizations unique information- and expense-management tools, employee-fraud and misuse-
management tools and strategic sourcing tools for their card programs. In certain countries, we offer
specialized commercial products for specific government-sponsored programs, typically targeting
agriculture, small-business, freight or construction loan programs.
Product Platform Innovation
Our fundamental approach to innovation focuses on enhancing our current product platforms,
enabling more Visa transactions in every channel, and extending the utility of our products and
services to access points, such as eCommerce and mobile, and new merchant segments and
geographies. We invest in innovation, because we believe we can drive more secure, accessible and
versatile payment program options for clients, merchants and consumers. We focus on new payment
channels, payment technologies, payment account access devices and authentication methods. We
have recently made significant investments in the development of eCommerce and mobile payment
platforms, contact and contactless chip cards and devices, card product enhancements, authentication
and security technologies and platforms; and money transfer. We have the following initiatives:
(cid:129) Acquisitions. Our acquisitions of CyberSource, PlaySpan and Fundamo are allowing us to
execute our innovation strategy. For example, CyberSource is helping drive eCommerce
internationally, PlaySpan has accelerated our participation in the fast-growing digital goods
space, and Fundamo is supporting our unique partnership with the Rwandan Government to
drive access to financial services for consumers in that country.
(cid:129) Partnerships. In mature markets, we have licensed our mobile NFC payment technology to
third-party wallet providers to help ensure their solutions are enabled with Visa payment
functionality. In addition, we have signed agreements with several mobile operators to extend
payment functionality to mobile subscribers.
(cid:129) Product Innovations:
(cid:129) V.me by Visa: We have developed our new digital wallet service, V.me, to enhance the
ease of use for consumers and merchants in online payments. V.me is available in beta
for consumer enrollment and online merchant checkout in the United States, and the
V.me acceptance mark is now visible on more than twenty merchant sites.
(cid:129) Visa payWave: We have certified NFC-enabled smartphones from device manufacturers
for use with our mobile payment application, Visa payWave.
(cid:129) Visa Mobile Provisioning Services: We have developed a new service that enables banks
and operators to securely provision mobile payment accounts on NFC-enabled
smartphones.
(cid:129) Visa Mobile Prepaid: We have introduced a new product based on Fundamo technology,
bringing Visa-quality payments to unbanked consumers in developing markets.
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Payments Network Management
We devote significant resources to ensuring that Visa is the payments network of choice for
clients, merchants and cardholders. We seek to accomplish this by promoting our brand through
marketing and sponsorship activities, educating domestic and regulatory banking authorities on our
capabilities, increasing acceptance of Visa products around the world and ensuring that the system
operates reliably and securely for all of our network participants.
Brand Management, Marketing and Corporate Reputation
We engage in a variety of activities designed to maintain and enhance the value of our brand,
taking a targeted, analytical approach tailored by geography to achieve our growth and business
objectives. We combine advertising, sponsorships, promotions, public relations and, increasingly,
social media to create programs that build active preference for products carrying our brand, promote
product usage, increase product acceptance and support cardholder acquisition and retention. For
merchants, we work to ensure that the Visa brand represents timely and guaranteed payment, as well
as a way to increase sales. For our issuer clients, our marketing program is designed to support their
card issuance, activation and usage efforts while complementing and enhancing the value of their own
brands.
Sponsorship is a specific area where we have invested in developing global marketing
relationships to promote the Visa brand. For instance, we have been the exclusive payment services
sponsor for the Olympic Games since 1986 and have extended that sponsorship through 2020. We are
also one of six FIFA partners providing us with worldwide exclusive access to the FIFA World Cup™
and more than 40 other FIFA competitions. These sponsorships create a powerful opportunity to drive
business, achieve maximum exposure and improve brand lift, global reach and local relevance. In
addition, we engage in marketing and sponsorship activities with other regional, national and local
companies, sports leagues and events, such as the National Football League in the United States, and
with associations and companies, to provide customized marketing platforms to clients in certain
countries and regions.
Our client and merchant marketing activities bring added value through the development of
marketing programs designed to drive their specific business objectives. For merchant clients, these
programs generate awareness for new acceptance channels and locations and increase cardholder
spending and merchant sales revenue through special offers and promotions. For issuer clients, our
marketing programs support their card issuance, activation and usage efforts while complementing and
enhancing the value of their own brands.
In addition, we work on various fronts to maintain, enhance and protect our corporate reputation
and brand. Our Corporate Responsibility program helps ensure we positively impact the lives of those
in our global and local communities. We do so by expanding financial inclusion and literacy, providing
humanitarian aid and community support, and engaging in responsible business practices. We
continue to promote an understanding of Visa’s role as a payments network and articulate the ways
that electronic payments can advance economic empowerment, remove friction from commerce and
increase government efficiencies. To that end, Currency of Progress, our corporate reputation
campaign launched in October 2009, communicates the tangible benefits that Visa and electronic
payments deliver to individuals, businesses, governments and economies.
Merchant Acceptance Initiatives
We aim to maintain and expand our merchant base by focusing on the needs of merchants and
consumers and enhancing our programs to increase acceptance in attractive and fast-growing
segments, such as bill payment. Our efforts to address these needs include supporting the
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development of technological innovations, delivering value-added information services, and evaluating
potential modifications to our operating rules and interchange rates to enhance the value of our
payments network compared to other forms of payment. For example, we raised the limit for our “no
signature required” program from $25 to $50 for U.S. discount stores and grocery stores/
supermarkets, enabling more face-to-face merchants to accept Visa cards for transactions without
requiring a cardholder signature, PIN or providing a receipt unless requested by the cardholder. This
program can increase speed at the point of sale, enhance consumer satisfaction and deliver operating
efficiencies for merchants.
We also enter into arrangements with certain merchants under which they receive monetary
incentives and rebates for acceptance of products carrying our brands and increasing their payments
volume of products carrying our brands or indicating a preference for our products.
Client Standards
Rulemaking and Enforcement. In general, our clients are granted licenses to use our brands and
to access our transaction processing systems. Our clients are obligated to honor our rules and
standards through agreements with, and in certain cases non-equity membership interests in, our
subsidiaries. These rules and standards relate to such matters as the use of our brands and
trademarks; the standards, design and features of payment cards, devices and programs; processing;
merchant acquiring activities, including use of agents; disputes between members; risk management;
settlement indemnification; client financial failures and allocation of losses among clients.
We establish and administer dispute management procedures between clients relating to specific
transactions. For example, after a transaction is presented to an issuer, the issuer may determine that
the transaction is invalid for a variety of reasons, including fraud. If the issuer believes there is a defect
in a transaction, the issuer may return the transaction to the acquirer, an action termed a “chargeback.”
We enforce rules relating to chargebacks and maintain a dispute resolution process with respect to
chargeback disputes.
Credit Risk Management. We indemnify issuers and acquirers for any settlement loss suffered due
to the failure of another issuer or acquirer to fund its daily settlement obligations. In certain instances,
we may indemnify clients even in situations in which a transaction is not processed by our system. We
have incurred no material loss related to settlement risk in recent years. See Item 1A—Risk Factors—
We risk loss or insolvency if our clients fail to fund settlement obligations for which we have provided
indemnifications.
To manage our exposure in the event our clients fail to fund their settlement obligations, we
established a credit risk policy with a formalized set of credit standards and risk control measures. We
regularly evaluate clients with significant settlement exposure to assess risk. In certain instances, we
may require a client to post collateral or provide other guarantees. If a client becomes unable or
unwilling to meet its obligations, we are able to draw upon such collateral or guarantee in order to
minimize any potential loss. We may also apply other risk control measures, such as blocking the
authorization and settlement of transactions, limiting the use of certain types of agents, prohibiting
initiation of acquiring relationships with certain high-risk merchants or suspending or terminating a
client’s rights to participate in our payments network. The exposure to settlement losses through our
indemnification is accounted for as a settlement risk guarantee. The fair value of the settlement risk
guarantee is estimated using our proprietary model, which considers statistically derived loss factors
based on historical experience, estimated settlement exposures at period end and a standardized
grading process for clients (using, where available, third-party estimates of the probability of customer
failure). See Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 12—Settlement Guarantee
Management elsewhere in this report.
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Payment System Integrity
The integrity of our payments system is affected by fraudulent activity and other illegal uses of our
products. Fraud is most often committed in connection with counterfeit cards or card-not-present
transactions using stolen account information resulting from security breaches of systems not
associated with VisaNet that store, process or transmit cardholder or account data, including systems
operated by merchants, financial institutions and other third-party data processors.
Our fraud detection and prevention offerings include:
(cid:129) Verified by Visa, a global Internet authentication product, which permits cardholders to
authenticate themselves to their issuing financial institution using a unique personal code;
(cid:129) Visa Advanced Authorization, which provides enhanced fraud detection capability by adding
real-time risk scores to authorization messages;
(cid:129) Chip technologies, embedded microprocessors that provide enhanced security and reduce
the incidence of counterfeit card fraud. As a result, Visa has created incentives for merchants
and issuers to adopt them, including in the United States. Chip technologies can also carry
other applications that enhance the consumer payment experience; and
(cid:129) CyberSource’s Decision Manager solution, which provides access to over 200 validation tests
to assess the legitimacy of card-not-present orders.
We work with all participants in the payment system to ensure that any entity that transmits,
processes or stores sensitive card information takes necessary steps to secure that data and protect
cardholders. For example, we mandate protection of PIN data through use of the Triple Data
Encryption Standard and work with the payments industry to manage the Payment Card Industry Data
Security Standards (PCI DSS). There has been significant progress in growing industry adoption of
PCI DSS, with more than 97% percent of the largest U.S. merchants validating compliance annually.
Government Regulation
General. Government regulation affects key aspects of our business. Our clients are also subject
to numerous regulations applicable to banks and other financial institutions in the United States and
elsewhere, and consequently such regulations have the potential to affect our business indirectly. In
recent years, our business has come under increasing regulatory scrutiny. See Item 1A—Risk
Factors—Increased global regulatory focus on the payments industry may result in costly new
compliance burdens on our clients and on us, leading to increased costs and decreased payments
volume and revenues.
The Dodd-Frank Act. As noted, during the 2011 fiscal year, the U.S. Federal Reserve established
new rules under the Dodd-Frank Act affecting interchange reimbursement fees, network exclusivity and
transaction routing. We expect these rules, which include provisions effective in our fiscal 2012 and
2013, to continue to have an adverse impact on our pricing, reduce the number and volume of U.S.
debit payments we process and decrease associated revenues. See Item 1A—Risk Factors—The
Dodd-Frank Act may continue to have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition, revenues,
results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business and Item 7—Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Overview. We have
significantly modified our debit strategy as a result. See —Overview.
Interchange Reimbursement Fees. We have historically set default interchange reimbursement
fees in the United States and many other geographies. The new rules under the Dodd-Frank Act set
the maximum U.S. debit interchange reimbursement fee assessed for cards issued by large financial
institutions at twenty-one cents plus five basis points, before applying a fraud adjustment of up to an
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additional one cent. This amounts to a significant reduction from the average system-wide fees
charged previously. See Item 1A—Risk Factors—The Dodd-Frank Act may continue to have a
material, adverse impact on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects for
future growth and overall business; and Item 1A—Risk Factors—Additional regulation of interchange
reimbursement fees may have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition, revenues, results
of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business.
The United States is not the only jurisdiction to regulate debit interchange reimbursement fees. For
example, the Reserve Bank of Australia has enacted a regulation limiting the costs that can be
considered in setting interchange reimbursement fees for both our credit and our debit cards.
Interchange reimbursement fees represent a transfer of value among the financial institutions
participating in an open-loop payments network such as ours. On purchase transactions, interchange
reimbursement fees are paid to issuers by acquirers in connection with transactions initiated from
products in our payments system. We generally do not receive any portion of interchange
reimbursement fees in a transaction. They are, however, a factor on which we compete with other
payments providers and are therefore an important determinant of the volume of transactions we
process.
Default interchange reimbursement fees are an important driver of system volume and value. They
promote the efficient operation of our payments network by enabling both the issuer and the acquirer to
understand the economics of a given transaction before entering into it and by giving our clients an
alternative to negotiating transfer pricing with each other. By establishing and modifying default
interchange rates in response to marketplace conditions and strategic demands, we seek to ensure a
competitive value proposition for transactions using our cards in order to encourage electronic
transactions and to maximize participation in the Visa payments system by issuers and acquirers and,
ultimately, consumers and merchants. We believe that proper management of interchange rates
benefits consumers, merchants, our financial institution clients and us by promoting the overall growth
of our payments network in competition with other payment card systems and other forms of payment,
and by creating incentives for innovation, enhanced data quality and security.
Merchants do not directly pay interchange reimbursement fees. A merchant’s cost of acceptance
is determined by its acquirer and is called a merchant discount or merchant discount rate. The
merchant discount typically covers the costs that acquirers incur for participation in open-loop
payments networks, including those relating to interchange, and compensates them for various other
services they provide to merchants. Merchant discount rates and other merchant fees are set by our
acquirers without our involvement and by agreement with their merchant clients and are established in
competition with other acquirers, other payment card systems and other forms of payment. We do not
establish or regulate the level of merchant discount rates or any other fees charged by our acquirers. In
some cases, such as India, the governing authorities have regulated the merchant discount rate itself,
rather than the interchange reimbursement fee.
Network Exclusivity and Routing. We have historically had agreements with some issuers under
which they agree to issue certain payment cards that use only the Visa network or receive incentives if
they do so. In addition, issuers of some debit products outside the United States have historically
chosen to include only the Visa network. We refer to these various practices as network exclusivity.
The Dodd-Frank Act limits our and issuers’ ability to impose rules for, or choose various forms of,
network exclusivity and preferred routing in the debit area. See Item 1A—The Dodd-Frank Act may
continue to have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations,
prospects for future growth and overall business.
As another example, the Canadian Ministry of Finance has implemented a voluntary Code of
Conduct for payment card industry participants, with which Visa has agreed to comply. Among other
15
things, the Code of Conduct prohibits certain restrictions on merchants’ choice of payment options they
will accept. See Item 1A—Risk Factors—Additional regulations that prohibit us from contracting with
clients or requiring them to use only our network, or that deny them the option of selecting only our
network, may decrease the number of transactions we process, materially and adversely affecting our
financial condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Dodd-Frank Act created a new independent
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with responsibility for most federal consumer protection laws in
the area of financial services and new authority with respect to consumer protection issues, including
those pertaining to us to some extent. The bureau’s future actions may make payment card
transactions less attractive to card issuers, consumers and merchants by further regulating the
industry.
No-Surcharge Rules. We have historically implemented policies that prohibit merchants from
charging higher prices to consumers who pay using Visa instead of other means. Some local
jurisdictions have taken steps to limit these no-surcharge rules. For example, the Reserve Bank of
Australia enacted a regulation that prohibited us from enforcing our no-surcharge policy and effectively
allowed merchants to impose discretionary surcharges on Visa transactions without limitation.
Recently, the Reserve Bank of Australia, while reinforcing its position that surcharging is appropriate in
that market, has taken steps that would allow us to limit the level of surcharges that merchants can
impose. Additionally, in the United States there are ten states that prohibit the use of the surcharge as
an anti-consumer practice through their state legislatures.
Data Protection and Information Security. We devote substantial resources to maintain and to
continually refine our information security program in order to comply with U.S. federal and state and
foreign regulations safeguarding cardholder information and requiring consumer notification in the
event of a security breach. In addition, the U.S. Federal Financial Institution Examination Council
periodically reviews certain of our operations in the United States to examine our compliance with data
integrity, security and operational requirements and standards, as well as other requirements
applicable to us because of our role as a service provider to financial institutions.
Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism and Sanctioned Countries. In response to U.S. and other
regulations, we devote substantial resources to maintain and to continually refine a program to prevent
the use of our payments system to facilitate money laundering and the financing of terrorist activities.
We also prohibit from being Visa members all financial institutions that are domiciled in countries
sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control—currently Cuba, Iran, Syria and
Sudan. In addition, we refrain from any financial dealings with restricted third parties, such as identified
money-laundering fronts for terrorists and narcotics traffickers.
Government-Imposed Market Participation Influences and Restrictions. Our business’s reach
remains limited by certain governments’ influence on domestic payments competition and/or protection
of domestic payment card providers or payment processing providers. Most notably, none of our
financial institution clients in China have received authorization to issue cards carrying only our brands
for domestic use in China, limiting our opportunities in that market. Regulators in an increasing number
of countries around the world, including recently Thailand, Ukraine, the UAE, Mexico, Colombia and
Russia, have received statutory authority to regulate certain aspects of the payments systems in these
countries.
Regulation of Internet Transactions. Many jurisdictions have adopted or are in the process of
adopting new regulations and taxes on Internet transactions. Most notably, we have had to implement
compliance programs in response to new U.S. regulations requiring the coding and blocking of
payments for certain types of Internet gambling transactions.
16
In addition, the U.S. Congress continues to consider regulatory initiatives in the areas of Internet
prescription drug purchases, copyright and trademark infringement, and privacy, among others, that
could impose additional compliance burdens on us and/or our clients. Some U.S. states are
considering a variety of similar legislation. If implemented, these initiatives could require us or our
clients to monitor, filter, restrict, or otherwise oversee various categories of payment card transactions,
thereby increasing our costs or decreasing our transaction volumes.
Various regulatory agencies also continue to examine a wide variety of issues, including identity
theft, account management guidelines, privacy, disclosure rules, security and marketing that would
affect our clients directly. These new requirements and developments may affect our clients’ ability to
extend credit by using payment cards, which could decrease our transaction volumes. In some
circumstances, new regulations could have the effect of limiting our clients’ ability to offer new types of
payment programs or restricting their ability to offer our existing programs such as stored value cards.
Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in the United
States and other jurisdictions, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions, to
protect our proprietary technology. We own a number of patents and patent applications relating to
payments solutions, transaction processing, security systems and other matters. We own numerous
valuable trademarks and designs, covering various brands, products, programs and services, which
are essential to our business in multiple countries, including, but not limited to Visa, Interlink, PLUS,
Visa Electron, the “Winged V” design, and the “Dove” design. Through agreements with our clients, we
authorize and monitor the use of our trademarks in connection with their participation in our payments
network.
Competition
We compete in the global payment marketplace against all forms of payment, including paper-
based forms, principally cash and checks; card-based payments, including credit, charge, debit, ATM,
prepaid, private-label and other types of general purpose and limited-use cards; eCommerce and
mobile-based platforms and other electronic payments, including wire transfers, electronic benefits
transfers, automatic clearing house, or ACH, payments and electronic data interchange.
Within the general purpose payment card industry, we face substantial and intense competition
worldwide in the provision of payments services to financial institution clients and their cardholder
merchants. The leading global card brands in the general purpose payment card industry are Visa,
MasterCard, American Express, and Diners Club. Other general purpose card brands are more
concentrated in specific geographic regions, such as JCB in Japan and Discover in the United States.
In certain countries, our competitors have leading positions, such as UnionPay in China, which remains
the sole domestic inter-bank bankcard processor and operates the sole domestic bankcard acceptance
mark in China. We also compete against private-label cards, which can generally be used to make
purchases solely at the sponsoring retail store, gasoline retailer or other merchant.
In the debit card market segment, Visa and MasterCard are the primary global brands. In addition,
our Interlink and Visa Electron brands compete with Maestro, owned by MasterCard, and various
regional and country-specific debit network brands including STAR, NYCE, and PULSE in the United
States, EFTPOS in Australia, NETS in Singapore, and Interac in Canada. In addition to our PLUS
brand, the primary cash access card brands are Cirrus, owned by MasterCard, and many of the online
debit network brands referenced above. In many countries, local debit brands are the primary brands,
and our brands are used primarily to enable cross-border transactions, which typically constitute a
small portion of overall transaction volume.
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As the payments landscape evolves, we may increasingly face competition from emerging players
in the payment space, many of which are non-financial institution networks that have departed from the
more traditional “bank-centric” business model. The emergence of these potentially competitive
networks has primarily been via the online channel with a focus on eCommerce and/or mobile
technologies. PayPal, Google and Isis are examples. These providers compete with Visa directly in
some cases, yet may also be significant partners and customers of Visa.
Based on payments volume, total volume and number of transactions, Visa is the largest retail
electronic payments network in the world. The following chart compares our network with those of our
major general purpose payment network competitors for calendar year 2011:
Company
Visa Inc.(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
MasterCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
American Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Discover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diners Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments
Volume
Total
Volume
Total
Transactions
(billions)
$3,768
2,430
808
114
160
28
(billions)
$6,029
3,249
822
122
166
29
(billions)
77.6
39.8
5.3
1.9
1.4
0.2
Cards
(millions)
2,011
1,059
97
59
77
6
(1) Visa Inc. figures as reported on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 8 and May 2, 2012,
respectively. Visa figures represent total volume, payments volume and cash volume, and the
number of payments transactions, cash transactions, accounts and cards for products carrying the
Visa, Visa Electron and Interlink brands. Card counts include PLUS proprietary cards. Payments
volume represents the aggregate dollar amount of purchases made with cards carrying the Visa,
Visa Electron and Interlink brands for the relevant period. Total volume represents payments
volume plus cash volume. The data presented is reported quarterly by Visa’s clients on their
operating certificates and is subject to verification by Visa. On occasion, clients may update
previously submitted information.
Sources: MasterCard, American Express, JCB and Diners Club data sourced from The Nilson Report
issue 992 (April 2012). Includes all consumer and commercial credit, debit and prepaid cards. Some
prior year figures have been restated. Currency figures are in U.S. dollars. MasterCard excludes
Maestro and Cirrus figures. American Express includes figures for third-party issuers. JCB figures
include third-party issuers and other payment-related products. Some figures are estimates. Diners
Club figures are for the 12 months ended November 30, 2011. Discover data sourced from The
Nilson Report issue 986 (January 2012)—U.S. data only and includes business from third-party
issuers.
For more information on the concentration of our operating revenues and other financial
information, see Item 8—Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Note 14—Enterprise-wide
Disclosures and Concentration of Business included elsewhere in this report.
Working Capital Requirements
Payments settlement due from and due to issuing and acquiring clients represents a substantial
daily working capital requirement. U.S. dollar settlements are typically settled within the same day and
do not result in a receivable or payable balance, while settlement currencies other than the U.S. dollar
generally remain outstanding for one to two business days, consistent with industry practice for such
transactions.
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Seasonality
We generally do not experience any pronounced seasonality in our business. No individual quarter
of fiscal 2012 or fiscal 2011 accounted for more than 30% of our fiscal 2012 or fiscal 2011 operating
revenues.
Employees
At September 30, 2012, we employed approximately 8,500 persons worldwide. We consider our
relationships with our employees to be good.
Additional Information and SEC Reports
Visa Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in May 2007. In October 2007, we
undertook a reorganization of the global Visa enterprise. Prior to our reorganization, Visa operated as
five corporate entities related by ownership and membership, each of which operated as a separate
geographic region. As a result of the reorganization, all except Visa Europe became subsidiaries of
Visa Inc. Visa Europe entered into a set of contractual arrangements with Visa Inc. in connection with
the reorganization. We completed our initial public offering, or IPO, in March 2008.
Our corporate Internet address is http://www.corporate.visa.com. On our investor relations page,
accessible through our corporate website and at http://investor.visa.com, we make available, free of
charge our annual reports on Forms 10-K, our quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q, our current reports on
Forms 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after they are
electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained on our website, including
the information contained on our investor relations website, is not incorporated by reference into this
report or any other report filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
ITEM 1A. Risk Factors
Regulatory Risks
Additional regulation of interchange reimbursement fees may have a material, adverse impact
on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and
overall business.
Interchange reimbursement fees represent a transfer of value among the financial institutions
participating in a payments network such as ours. In connection with transactions initiated with
products in our payments system, interchange reimbursement fees are typically paid to issuers—the
financial institutions that issue Visa cards to cardholders. The fees are typically paid by acquirers—the
financial institutions that offer Visa network connectivity and payments acceptance services to
merchants. We refer to a system like ours, in which a payment network intermediates between the
issuer and the acquirer, as an open-loop system.
We generally do not receive any portion of interchange reimbursement fees in a transaction. They
are, however, a factor on which we compete with other payments providers and are therefore an
important determinant of the volume of transactions we process. Consequently, changes to these fees
can substantially affect our revenues and the pace or breadth of overall payment electronification.
We have historically set default interchange reimbursement fees in the United States and many
other geographies. However, in certain jurisdictions, interchange rates and related practices are
subject to continuing or increased government regulation. The Dodd-Frank Act has already resulted in
limitations on our ability to establish default interchange rates in the debit area in the United States.
See—The Dodd-Frank Act may continue to have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition,
19
revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business. In addition,
interchange rates have become subject to continued or increased scrutiny elsewhere, and regulatory
authorities and central banks in a number of jurisdictions have reviewed or are reviewing these rates.
These jurisdictions include Australia, Canada, Brazil and South Africa.
When we cannot set default interchange rates at optimal levels, issuers and acquirers find our
payments system less attractive. This lowers overall transaction volume and slows growth of
transactions. It also may increase the attractiveness of closed-loop payments systems—those with
direct connections to both merchants and consumers—and other forms of payment. In addition, we
believe some issuers are charging new or higher fees to consumers. In some instances, this makes
our card programs less desirable and reduces our transaction volumes and profitability. Some
acquirers elect to charge higher discount rates to merchants, regardless of the level of Visa
interchange, leading merchants not to accept cards for payment or to steer Visa cardholders to
alternate payment systems. In addition, some issuers and acquirers have obtained, and may continue
to obtain, incentives from us and reductions in the fees that we charge in an effort to reduce the
expense of their card programs. For these reasons, additional regulation of interchange reimbursement
fees may have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations,
prospects for future growth and overall business.
Additional regulations that prohibit us from contracting with clients or requiring them to use
only our network, or that deny them the option of selecting only our network, may decrease the
number of transactions we process, materially and adversely affecting our financial condition,
revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business.
In order to give Visa-branded cardholders a consistent experience, we promote certain practices
to ensure that Visa-branded cards are processed over our network. We have historically had
agreements with some issuers under which they agree to issue certain payment cards that use only
the Visa network or receive incentives if they do so. In addition, certain issuers of some products have
historically chosen to include only the Visa network. We refer to these various practices as network
exclusivity.
In addition, certain network or issuer rules or practices may be interpreted as limiting the routing
options of merchants when multiple debit networks co-reside on Visa debit cards. For example, Visa’s
rules require that an acquirer must process authorizations for all international transactions through
VisaNet and that a member must clear international transactions through VisaNet. These are
commonly referred to as routing rules.
The Dodd-Frank Act already limits our and issuers’ ability to impose rules for, or choose various
forms of, network exclusivity and preferred routing in the debit area. See—The Dodd-Frank Act may
continue to have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations,
prospects for future growth and overall business. Future regulations like the Dodd-Frank Act in the
United States and elsewhere could materially decrease the number of transactions we process. In
order to retain that transaction volume, we would have to reduce the fees we charge to issuers or
acquirers or increase the payments and other incentives we provide to issuers or acquirers or directly
to merchants. Any of these eventualities could have a material, adverse effect on our financial
condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business.
The Dodd-Frank Act may continue to have a material, adverse impact on our financial
condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business.
As of October 1, 2011, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve capped the
maximum U.S. debit interchange fee charged by large financial institutions at twenty-one cents plus
five basis points, before applying an interim fraud adjustment up to an additional one cent. This
20
amounted to a significant reduction from the average system-wide fees charged previously. The
Federal Reserve also issued regulations requiring issuers to make at least two unaffiliated networks
available for processing debit transactions on each debit card. The rules also prohibit us and issuers
from restricting a merchant’s ability to direct the routing of electronic debit transactions over any of the
networks that an issuer has enabled to process those transactions.
These regulations have adversely affected our U.S. debit business and associated revenues. They
created negative pressure on our pricing, reduced the volume and number of U.S. debit payments we
process, and diminished associated revenues, and, although we believe we have now absorbed their
principal impact, they could continue to do so.
These pressures have arisen through various channels. A number of our clients obtained fee
reductions or increased incentives from us to offset their own lost revenue. Some reduced the number
of debit cards they issue and investments they make in marketing and rewards programs. Some
imposed new or higher fees on debit cards or demand deposit account relationships. Some elected to
issue fewer cards enabled with Visa-affiliated networks. Many merchants have used the routing
regulations to redirect transactions or steer cardholders to other networks based on lowest cost or
other factors. Other clients and merchants are likely to take similar actions in the future.
The Dodd-Frank Act created a new independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with
responsibility for most federal consumer protection laws in the area of financial services and new
authority with respect to consumer protection issues, including those pertaining to us to some extent.
Although the bureau’s future actions may benefit consumers, these actions may also make payment
card transactions less attractive to card issuers, consumers and merchants by further regulating
disclosures, payment card practices, fees, routing and other matters with respect to credit, debit, and
prepaid.
Some elements of the Dodd-Frank Act lack definition and create the potential for networks to
pursue different strategies subject to their interpretation of the regulation. Our interpretation may result
in our pursuit of strategies less effective than those of our competitors.
Overall, the regulations and developments arising from the Dodd-Frank Act could continue to have
a material, adverse effect on our financial condition, revenues, results of operations, prospects for
future growth and overall business.
New regulations or legal action in one jurisdiction or of one product segment may lead to new
regulations in other jurisdictions or of other products.
Regulators around the world increasingly note each other’s approaches to the regulation of the
payments industry. Consequently, a development in any one country, state or region may influence
regulatory approaches in another. The Dodd-Frank Act is one development with such potential.
Similarly, new laws and regulations in a country, state or region involving one product segment may
cause lawmakers there to extend the regulations to another product. For example, regulations like
those affecting debit payments could eventually spread to regulate credit.
As a result, the risks created by any one new law or regulation are magnified by the potential they
have to be replicated, affecting our business in another place or involving another product segment.
These include matters like interchange reimbursement fees, network exclusivity, preferred routing,
dynamic currency conversion, point of sale transaction rules and practices, and operating regulations.
Conversely, if widely varying regulations come into existence worldwide, we may have difficulty
adjusting our products, services and fees, and other important aspects of our business. Either of these
eventualities could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
21
Government actions may prevent us from competing effectively against providers of domestic
payments services in certain countries, materially and adversely affecting our ability to
maintain or increase our revenues.
Governments in some countries provide resources or protection to select domestic payment card
networks, brands and processing providers. These governments may take this action in order to
support these providers. They may also take this action to keep us from entering these countries, to
force us to leave, or to restrict substantially our activities there. For example, the government of China
continues to maintain regulations that substantially favor China Union Pay, the only retail payments
network currently operating in the Chinese domestic market. Additionally, governments in some
countries may consider regulatory requirements that mandate processing of domestic payments
entirely in that country. This would prevent us from utilizing our global processing capabilities for our
clients. Our efforts to effect change in these countries may not succeed. This could adversely affect our
ability to maintain or increase our revenues and extend our global brands.
Regulation in the areas of consumer privacy and data use and security could decrease the
number of payment cards issued, our payments volume and our revenues.
Recently, privacy, data use and security have received heightened legislative and regulatory focus
in the United States and elsewhere. For example, in many jurisdictions consumers must be notified in
the event of a data breach. These measures may increase our and our clients’ costs. They may also
decrease the number of Visa-branded cards our clients issue. This would materially and adversely
affect our profitability. In addition, our failure or the failure of our clients to comply with these laws and
regulations could result in fines, sanctions, litigation and damage to our global reputation and our
brands.
Increased global regulatory focus on the payments industry may result in costly new
compliance burdens on our clients and on us, leading to increased costs and decreased
payments volume and revenues.
Regulation of the payments industry has increased significantly in recent years. Complying with
these and other regulations increases our costs and can reduce our revenue opportunities. Similarly,
the impact of such regulations on our clients may reduce the volume of payments we process.
Moreover, such regulations can limit the types of products and services that we offer, the countries in
which our cards are used and the types of cardholders and merchants who can obtain or accept our
cards. Any of these occurrences can materially and adversely affect our business, prospects for future
growth, financial condition and results of operations.
Examples include:
(cid:129) Data Protection and Information Security. Aspects of our operations and business are subject
to privacy and data protection regulation in the United States and elsewhere. Our financial
institution clients in the United States are subject to similar requirements under the guidelines
issued by the federal banking agencies. In addition, many U.S. states have enacted
legislation requiring consumer notification in the event of a security breach.
(cid:129) Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing. The U.S.A. PATRIOT Act and similar
laws in other jurisdictions require us to maintain an anti-money laundering program. Sanctions
imposed by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, restrict us from
dealing with certain countries and parties considered to be connected with money laundering,
terrorism or narcotics. Non-U.S. Visa International members may not be similarly restricted,
so in some cases third parties could try to use our payments system for transactions in or
involving countries or parties subject to OFAC-administered sanctions. We have controls in
place designed to ensure OFAC compliance, but if those controls should fail, we could be
subject to penalties, reputational damage and loss of business.
22
(cid:129) Regulation of the Price of Credit. Many jurisdictions in which our cards are used have
regulations that could increase the costs of card issuance or decrease the flexibility of card
issuers to charge market- based interest rates and fees on credit card accounts. These
include the Credit CARD Act in the United States and proposed regulations under it. They
also include proposed changes to the Federal Truth in Lending Act, which, if implemented
along with regulations required to be promulgated under the Credit CARD Act, could result in
a decrease in our payments volume and revenues.
(cid:129)
Increased Central Bank Oversight. Several central banks around the world have increased, or
are seeking to increase, their formal oversight of the retail electronic payments industry, in
some cases designating them as “systemically important payment systems.” Such oversight
may lead to additional regulations. These could include new settlement procedures or other
operational rules to address credit and operational risks. They could also include new criteria
for member participation and merchant access to our payments system.
(cid:129) Safety and Soundness Regulation. Recent banking regulations enacted in the United States
and elsewhere may make some financial institutions less attracted to becoming an issuer of
our cards, because they may be subject to increased risk management or higher capital
requirements.
(cid:129) Regulation of Internet Transactions. Proposed legislation in various jurisdictions may make it
less desirable or more costly to complete Internet transactions using our cards by affecting
the legality of those transactions, the law that governs them, their taxation or the allocation of
intellectual property rights.
(cid:129) Money Transfer Regulations. As we expand our product offerings, we may become subject to
U.S. state money transfer regulations, increasing regulatory oversight and costs of
compliance.
Litigation Risks
Our retrospective responsibility plan may not adequately insulate us from the impact of
settlements or final judgments.
Our retrospective responsibility plan addresses monetary liabilities from settlements of, or final
judgments in, the covered litigation, which is described in Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan to
our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report. The retrospective responsibility
plan consists of several related mechanisms to fund settlements or judgments in the covered litigation.
These include an escrow account funded with a portion of the net proceeds of our initial public offering
and potential subsequent offerings of our shares of class A common stock (or deposits of cash into the
escrow account in lieu of such offerings). They also include a loss sharing agreement and a judgment
sharing agreement. In addition, our U.S. members are obligated to indemnify us pursuant to Visa
U.S.A.’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and in accordance with their membership agreements.
These mechanisms are unique, complicated, and tiered, and if we cannot use one or more of them,
this could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and cash flows, or, in certain
circumstances, even cause us to become insolvent.
The principal remaining covered litigation involves interchange reimbursement fees. Since 2005,
approximately 55 class actions and individual complaints have been filed on behalf of merchants
against us, MasterCard and/or other defendants, including certain financial institutions that issue Visa-
branded payment cards and acquire Visa-branded payment transactions in the U.S. We refer to this as
the interchange litigation. Among other antitrust allegations, the plaintiffs have alleged that Visa’s
setting of default interchange rates violated federal and state antitrust laws. The lawsuits were
transferred to a multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
23
The plaintiffs in the interchange litigation seek damages for alleged overcharges in merchant
discount fees as well as injunctive and other relief. The consolidated class action complaint alleges that
the plaintiffs estimate that damages will range in the tens of billions of dollars. Because these lawsuits
were brought under the U.S. federal antitrust laws, any actual damages will be trebled.
The allocation of any monetary judgment or a settlement among the defendants is governed by an
omnibus agreement dated February 7, 2011. See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note
21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report. The Visa
portion of a settlement or judgment covered by the omnibus agreement would be allocated in
accordance with specified provisions of our retrospective responsibility plan.
The Company’s litigation escrow account currently contains an amount that covers our exposure
in the interchange litigation as negotiated with the class plaintiffs. On October 19, 2012, we signed
settlement agreements in these cases, including an agreement to pay approximately $4 billion to the
class plaintiffs. The court granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement with the class
plaintiffs on November 9, 2012. However, the agreement with the class plaintiffs remains subject to
final court approval and the adjudication of any appeals. We cannot assure that the court will provide
final approval of the settlement or that we will win any appeals.
Failure of our retrospective responsibility plan to insulate us adequately from the impact of such
settlements or judgments could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition and cash
flows. Such a failure could even cause us to become insolvent. The retrospective responsibility plan
addresses only the covered litigation. The plan generally does not cover other pending litigation or any
litigation that we may face in the future, except for cases that include claims for damages relating to the
period prior to our initial public offering that are transferred for pre-trial proceedings or otherwise
included in the interchange litigation. See —If we are found liable in other pending or future lawsuits,
we may have to pay substantial damages. In addition, non-monetary settlement terms and judgments
in the covered litigation may require us to modify the way we do business. See —Limitations on our
business resulting from litigation may materially and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.
Therefore, even if our retrospective responsibility plan provides us with adequate funding to satisfy our
obligations with respect to monetary liabilities from settlements of, and judgments in, the covered
litigation, it will not insulate us from the monetary impact of all litigation.
If we are found liable in other pending or future lawsuits, we may have to pay substantial
damages.
Like many other large companies, we are a defendant in a number of civil actions and
investigations alleging violations of competition/antitrust law, consumer protection law, or intellectual
property law, among others. Examples of such claims are described more fully in Note 21—Legal
Matters to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report. Some lawsuits involve
complex claims that are subject to substantial uncertainties and unspecified damages; therefore, we
cannot ascertain the probability of loss or estimate the damages. Accordingly, we have not established
allowances for such legal proceedings.
Private plaintiffs often seek class action certification in cases against us. This is particularly so in
cases involving merchants and consumers, due to the size and scope of our business. If we are found
liable in a large class action lawsuit, such as the United States or Canadian merchant class action
lawsuits, monetary damages could be significant. See Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated
financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
If we are unsuccessful in our defense against any material current or future legal proceedings, we
may have to pay substantial damages. This could result in a material and adverse effect on our results
of operations, cash flow and financial conditions and could even cause us to become insolvent.
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Limitations on our business resulting from litigation may materially and adversely affect our
revenues and profitability.
Certain limitations have been placed on our business in recent years because of litigation. We
may also have to change our business practices in response to pending or future litigation. For
example, in the pending settlement agreement in the interchange litigation, we have agreed, among
other things, to permit merchants to add surcharges to credit transactions under certain circumstances.
These and other settlements of, or judgments in, past, pending and future litigation could force us
to limit further the fees we charge, to revise further our rules about fees charged to consumers who
choose to pay with Visa, or to make other modifications to our business. These modifications could
materially and adversely affect our payments volume, revenues, operating results, prospects for future
growth and overall business.
Tax examinations or disputes, or changes in the tax laws applicable to us, could materially
increase our tax payments.
We exercise significant judgment in calculating our worldwide provision for income taxes and other
tax liabilities. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, many factors may decrease their
accuracy. We are currently under examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other tax
authorities, and we may be subject to additional examinations in the future. The tax authorities may
disagree with our tax treatment of certain material items and thereby increase our tax liability. Failure to
sustain our position in these matters could result in a material and adverse effect on our cash flow and
financial position. In addition, changes in existing laws, such as recent proposals for fundamental U.S.
and international tax reform, may also increase our effective tax rate. A substantial increase in our tax
burden could have a material, adverse effect on our financial results. See also Note 20—Income Taxes
to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
Our agreement with Visa Europe includes indemnity obligations that could expose us to
significant liabilities.
Under our framework agreement with Visa Europe, we indemnify it for losses resulting from all
claims outside its region arising from our or their activities and relating to our or their payments
business. This obligation applies even if neither we nor any of our related parties or agents participated
in the actions giving rise to such claims. Such an obligation could expose us to significant liabilities for
activities over which we have little or no control. Our retrospective responsibility plan would not cover
these liabilities.
Business Risks
The intense pressure we face on client pricing may materially and adversely affect our
revenues and profits.
We offer incentives to clients in order to increase payments volume, enter new market segments
and expand our card base. These include up-front cash payments, fee discounts, credits, performance-
based incentives, marketing support payments and other support. Over the past several years, we
have increased the use of incentives such as up-front cash payments and fee discounts in many
countries, including the United States.
In order to stay competitive, we may have to continue to increase our use of incentives. The
economic pressures on our clients arising from the Dodd-Frank Act have increased this pressure.
See—The Dodd-Frank Act may continue to have a material, adverse impact on our financial condition,
revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth and overall business. This pressure may
make the provision of certain products and services less profitable or unprofitable and may materially
and adversely affect our revenues and profits.
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Pressure on client pricing also poses indirect risks, presenting the potential for the same adverse
effects. If we continue to increase incentives to our clients, we will need to find ways to offset the
financial impact by increasing payments volume, the amount of fee-based services we provide or both.
We may not succeed in doing so, particularly in the current regulatory environment. In addition, we
benefit from long-term contracts with certain clients, including those that are large contributors to our
revenue. Continued pressure on our fees could prevent us from entering into such agreements in the
future on favorable terms. We may also have to modify existing agreements in order to maintain
relationships or comply with regulations. Finally, increased pricing pressure enhances the importance
of cost containment and productivity initiatives in areas other than those surrounding client incentives,
and we may not succeed in these efforts.
Intense competition in our industry may cause our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects for future growth to suffer.
The global payments industry is intensely competitive. Our payment programs compete against all
forms of payment. These include cash, checks, and electronic and mobile transactions. In addition, our
payment programs compete against the card-based payments systems of our competitors and private-
label cards issued by merchants. The Dodd-Frank Act has increased this competitive pressure.
Some of our competitors may develop substantially greater financial and other resources than we
have. They may offer a wider range of programs, products and services than we do, including more
innovative ones. They may use advertising and marketing strategies that are more effective than ours,
achieving broader brand recognition and merchant acceptance than we do. They may develop better
security solutions or more favorable pricing arrangements than we have.
Certain of our competitors operate with different business models, have different cost structures or
participate selectively in different market segments. These include domestic networks in the United
States, China, Canada, Australia, and other countries and regions. They may ultimately prove more
successful or more adaptable to new regulatory, technological and other developments. In many
cases, these competitors have the support of government mandates that prohibit, limit or otherwise
hinder our ability to compete for or otherwise secure transactions within those countries and regions.
Traditional or untraditional competitors may put us at a competitive disadvantage by leveraging
services or products in areas in which we do not directly compete to win business in areas where we
do compete. Our clients can reassess their commitments to us at any time or develop their own
competitive services. The risk to maintaining or securing our clients’ long-term commitments to our
products has increased with the Dodd-Frank Act’s restrictions on network exclusivity in the debit
sector. Most of our larger client relationships are not exclusive. These include those with our largest
clients: JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. In certain circumstances, our clients may terminate
these relationships, sometimes on relatively short notice, and in many cases subject to significant early
termination fees. Because a significant portion of our operating revenues is concentrated among our
largest clients, our operating revenues would decline significantly if we lost one or more of them. This
could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
See Note 14—Enterprise-wide Disclosures and Concentration of Business to our consolidated financial
statements included in Item 8 of this report.
We expect there to be changes in the competitive landscape in the future. For example:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
competitors, clients and others may develop products that compete with or replace the value-
added services we provide to support our transaction processing;
parties that process our transactions in certain countries may try to eliminate our position in
the payments value chain;
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(cid:129)
(cid:129)
participants in the payments industry may merge, form joint ventures or enter into other
business combinations that strengthen their existing business propositions or create new,
competing payment services; or
competition may increase from alternative types of payment services, such as mobile
payments services, online payment services and services that permit direct debit of consumer
checking accounts or ACH payments.
Our failure to compete effectively in light of any such developments could materially and adversely
affect our business, financial condition, revenues, results of operations and prospects for future growth.
Disintermediation from the payments value chain would harm our business.
Our position in the payments value chain underpins our business. Certain of our competitors,
including American Express, Discover, private-label card networks and certain alternative payments
systems, operate closed-loop payments systems, with direct connections to both merchants and
consumers and no intermediaries. These competitors seek to derive competitive advantages from this
business model. The Dodd-Frank Act and other regulatory actions have provided and may in the future
provide them with increased opportunity to do so. In addition, although they pursue the same or similar
lines of business using the same or similar business and commercial models, they have not attracted
the same level of legal or regulatory scrutiny of their pricing and business practices as operators of
multi-party payments systems such as ours.
We also run the risk of disintermediation by virtue of increasing bilateral agreements between
entities that would rather not use a payment network for processing payments. For example,
merchants could process transactions directly with issuers, or processors could process transactions
directly between issuers and acquirers.
Additional consolidation in the banking industry could result in our losing business and create
pressure on the fees we charge our clients, materially and adversely affecting our business,
revenues, results of operations and prospects for future growth
In the recent past, the banking industry experienced substantial, accelerated consolidation. This
could happen again. Significant consolidation in the banking industry may result in the acquisition of
one or more of our largest clients by an institution with a strong relationship with one of our
competitors. This could result in the acquired bank’s Visa business shifting to that competitor, resulting
in a substantial loss of business to us. In addition, one or more of our clients could merge with or
acquire one of our competitors, shifting its payments volume to that competitor.
Additional consolidation in the banking industry could also reduce the overall number of our clients
and potential clients and could increase the negotiating power of our remaining clients and potential
clients. This consolidation could lead financial institutions to seek greater pricing discounts or other
incentives with us. In addition, more consolidation could prompt our existing clients to seek to
renegotiate their pricing agreements with us to obtain more favorable terms. We may also be adversely
affected by price compression should one of our clients absorb another financial institution and qualify
for higher volume-based discounts on the combined volumes of the merged businesses. Pressure on
the fees we charge our clients caused by such consolidation could materially and adversely affect our
business, revenues, results of operations and prospects for future growth.
Merchants’ continued focus on the costs associated with payment card acceptance may result
in more litigation, regulation, regulatory enforcement and incentive arrangements.
We rely in part on merchants and their relationships with our clients to maintain and expand the
acceptance of our payment cards. Consolidation in the retail industry is producing a group of larger
merchants that is having a significant impact on all participants in the global payments industry. Some
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merchants have sought to reduce their costs associated with payment card acceptance by lobbying for
new legislation and regulatory enforcement and by bringing litigation. If they continue, these efforts
could materially and adversely affect our revenues, results of operations, prospects for future growth
and overall business.
We and our clients negotiate pricing discounts and other incentive arrangements with certain large
merchants to increase acceptance and usage of our payment cards. If merchants continue to
consolidate, we and our clients may have to increase the incentives provided to certain larger
merchants. This could materially and adversely affect our revenues, results of operations, prospects for
future growth and overall business. Competitive and regulatory pressures on pricing could make it
difficult to offset the cost of these incentives.
Certain financial institutions have exclusive, or nearly exclusive, relationships with our
competitors to issue payment cards, and these relationships may adversely affect our ability to
maintain or increase our revenues.
Certain financial institutions have longstanding exclusive, or nearly exclusive, relationships with
our competitors to issue payment cards. These relationships may make it difficult or cost-prohibitive for
us to conduct material amounts of business with them in order to increase our revenues. In addition,
these financial institutions may be more successful and may grow more quickly than our clients, which
could put us at a competitive disadvantage.
Failure to maintain relationships with our clients, merchant acquirers, merchants and vendors,
and the failure of clients to provide services on our behalf could materially and adversely affect
our business.
We depend and will continue to depend significantly on relationships with our clients and on their
relationships with cardholders and merchants to support our programs and services. We do not issue
cards, extend credit to cardholders or determine the interest rates, if any, or other fees charged to
cardholders using cards that carry our brands. Each issuer determines these and most other
competitive card features. With the exception of several large merchants, historically, we have
generally not solicited merchants directly to accept our cards. As a result, the success of our business
has depended significantly on, and will continue to depend on, the continued success and
competitiveness of our clients and the strength of our relationships with them.
In the wake of the Dodd-Frank Act’s changes to rules on network exclusivity, we have engaged
and expect to continue to engage in significantly more discussions with merchants and merchant
acquirers and processors. We already engage in many co-branding efforts, in which we contract with
the merchant, who directly receives incentive funding. We also engage with merchants and merchant
acquirers and processors to provide funding to promote routing and acceptance growth. As these and
other relationships take on a greater importance for both merchants and us, our success will
increasingly depend on our ability to sustain and grow these relationships.
In many countries outside the United States, our clients or other processors authorize, clear and
settle most domestic transactions using our payment cards without involving our processing systems.
This pattern is increasing with a rise in new systems endorsed by governments. In addition, we
historically have not generally had direct relationships with merchants there, and shifting technology
and development may further increase such activity. We do not have direct relationships with
cardholders. Consequently, we depend on our close working relationships with our clients to effectively
manage the processing of transactions involving our cards. Our inability to control the end-to-end
processing for cards carrying our brands in these countries may put us at a competitive disadvantage
by limiting our ability to ensure the quality of the services supporting our brands.
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In addition, we depend on third parties to provide various services on our behalf, and to the extent
that third-party vendors fail to deliver services, our business and reputation could be impaired.
The perception of our company in the marketplace may affect our brands and reputation, which
are key assets of our business.
Our brands and their attributes are key assets of our business. The ability to attract and retain
consumer cardholders and corporate clients to Visa-branded products depends highly upon the
external perceptions of our company and our industry. Our business may be affected by actions taken
by our clients that change the perception of our brands. From time to time, our clients may take actions
that we do not believe to be in the best interests of our brands, such as creditor practices that may be
subject to challenge, which may materially and adversely affect our business. Further, Visa Europe has
very broad latitude to operate the Visa business in and use our brands and technology within Visa
Europe’s region, in which we have only limited control over the operation of the Visa business. Visa
Europe is not required to spend any minimum amount of money promoting or building the Visa brands
in its region, and the strength of the Visa global brands depends in part on the efforts of Visa Europe to
maintain product and service recognition and quality in Europe. Adverse developments with respect to
our industry may also, by association, impair our reputation or result in greater regulatory or legislative
scrutiny. Finally, because we are domiciled in the United States, a negative perception of the United
States arising from its political or other positions could harm the perception of our company and our
brand. Any of these factors could materially and adversely affect our revenues, operating results,
prospects for future growth and overall business.
Unprecedented economic events in financial markets around the world have and are likely to
continue to affect our clients, merchants and cardholders, resulting in a material and adverse
impact on our prospects, growth, profitability, revenue and overall business.
Unprecedented economic events that began in 2008 continue to affect the financial markets
around the world. These include decreased consumer spending; increased unemployment; deflation;
increased savings; decreased consumer debt; excess housing inventory; lowered government
spending; decreased export activity; continued challenges in the credit environment; continued equity
market volatility; additional government intervention; bank instability; downgrades of sovereign, bank
and commercial debt; political issues affecting the handling of national debt; and the uncertainty arising
from new government policies. This economic turmoil has affected the economies of Europe, the
United States and other mature economies in particular.
The fragility of the current situation would be exacerbated if additional negative economic
developments were to arise. These include defaults on government debt, exhaustion of U.S. and other
national economic stimulus packages, significant increases in oil prices, tax increases, a significant
decline in the commercial real estate market, and policy missteps. Most recently, the economic
situation in Europe has been particularly unstable, arising from the real prospect of a default by
Greece, Portugal, Spain and other nations on their debt obligations. If such a default occurs, or if the
measures taken to avert such a default create their own instability, economic turmoil is likely to result,
and the impact is likely to be global and highly significant. In addition, the so-called “fiscal cliff” in the
United States—the combination of expiring tax cuts and mandatory reductions in federal spending at
the end of 2012—has the potential to have an impact on the economy and the stock market.
The severity of the economic environment and the response by financial institutions and
governments may create new risks or increase the impact of existing ones. These include the
following:
(cid:129) Depressed consumer and business confidence may continue to decrease cardholder
spending.
29
(cid:129) Uncertainty and volatility in the performance of our clients’ businesses may reduce the
accuracy of our estimates of our revenues, rebates, incentives and realization of prepaid
assets.
(cid:129) Our clients may implement cost-reduction initiatives that reduce or eliminate payment card
marketing or increase requests for greater incentives or additional expense reductions, which
may reduce our revenues.
(cid:129) Our clients may decrease spending for optional or enhanced services, affecting our revenue
and reducing cardholders’ desire to use these products.
(cid:129) Our clients may increase cardholder fees as a cost-recovery initiative, or as a result of
regulatory action, decreasing our value proposition to consumers and reducing consumers’
desire to use our products.
(cid:129) Government intervention or investments in our clients may negatively affect our business with
those institutions or otherwise alter their strategic direction away from our products.
(cid:129) Tightening of credit availability could affect the ability of participating financial institutions to
lend to us under the terms of our credit facility.
(cid:129) The trading markets for U.S. government securities may be adversely affected by changes in
investor sentiment. This could arise from a number of market forces, including, among others,
the U.S. government’s inability to meet its obligations or a possible further downgrade in its
debt rating. This in turn could adversely affect the liquidity of our investments, a substantial
portion of which are U.S. treasury and government securities.
(cid:129) Our clients may default on their settlement obligations, including for reasons unrelated to
payment card activity, such as mortgage matters.
(cid:129) Adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could negatively affect the dollar
value of our revenues and payments in foreign currencies.
(cid:129) The current economic environment could lead some clients to curtail or postpone near-term
investments in growing their card portfolios, limit credit lines, modify fee and loyalty programs,
or take other actions that adversely affect the growth of our volume and revenue streams from
these clients.
(cid:129) Declines in stock prices or significant instability could cause consumer spending to decline
materially.
Some existing clients have been placed in receivership or under government administration. Many
financial institutions are facing increased regulatory and governmental influence, including potential
changes in laws and regulations. Many of our clients, merchants that accept our brands, and
cardholders who use our brands have been directly and adversely affected. Any of these
developments could have a material adverse impact on our prospects, growth, revenue, profitability
and overall business.
A decline in non-U.S. and cross-border activity and in multi-currency transactions could
adversely affect our revenues and profitability, as we generate a significant portion of our
revenue from such transactions.
We generate a significant amount of our revenues from cross-border transactions, and our clients
pay us fees in connection with them. Some of those fees differ when conversion from the merchant’s
currency to the cardholder’s billing currency is required. Thus, revenue from processing cross-border
transactions for our clients fluctuates with cross-border activity and the need for transactions to be
converted into a different currency.
30
In addition, Visa derives revenue from foreign currency exchange activities that result from our
clients’ settlement in different currencies. A reduction in multi-currency transactions may reduce the
need for foreign currency exchange activities and adversely affect our revenues. Limitations or
changes in our ability to set foreign currency exchange rates for multi-currency transactions as result of
regulation, litigation, competitive pressures or other reasons may also adversely affect our revenues.
Cross-border travel may be adversely affected by world geopolitical, economic and other
conditions. These include the threat of terrorism, natural disasters, the effects of climate change and
outbreaks of diseases. A decline in cross-border travel could adversely affect our revenues and
profitability. A decline in the need for conversion of currencies might also adversely affect our revenues
and profitability.
Moreover, if our clients decide to increase cardholder fees associated with cross-border
transactions, there could be a decline in cardholder spending, since our value proposition to the
consumer could be reduced.
Transactions outside the United States represent an increasingly important part of our strategy. In
order to continue to grow in those areas, we will need to ensure that we maintain consistency in the
types of products we provide, the quality of our service and the viability of our brand. If we cannot
employ our organizational resources effectively, we will be unable to do so.
We risk loss or insolvency if our clients fail to fund settlement obligations for which we have
provided indemnifications.
We indemnify issuers and acquirers for any settlement loss they suffer due to the failure of another
issuer or acquirer to fund its daily settlement obligations. In certain instances, we may indemnify
issuers or acquirers even in situations in which a transaction is not processed by our system. This
indemnification creates settlement risk for us due to the difference in timing between the date of a
payment transaction and the date of subsequent settlement. The term and amount of our
indemnification obligations are unlimited, but restricted to the amount of unsettled Visa payment
transactions at any point in time.
Concurrent settlement failures involving more than one of our largest clients or several of our
smaller clients may exceed our available financial resources, as could systemic operational failures
lasting more than a single day. Any such failure could materially and adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations. In addition, even if we have sufficient liquidity to cover a
settlement failure, we may be unable to recover the amount of such payment. This could expose us to
significant losses, materially and adversely affecting our financial condition, results of operations and
cash flow.
We estimate settlement at risk (or exposure) based on the sum of three inputs. The first is average
daily volumes during the quarter multiplied by the estimated number of days to settle plus a safety
margin. The second is four months of rolling average chargebacks volume. The third is the total
balance for outstanding traveler’s cheques. Additionally, from time to time, we review and revise our
risk management methodology and inputs as necessary. See Note 12—Settlement Guarantee
Management to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
Some of our clients are composed of groups of financial institutions. Some of these clients have
elected to limit their responsibility for settlement losses arising from the failure of their constituent
financial institutions in exchange for managing their constituent financial institutions in accordance with
our credit risk policy. To the extent that any settlement failure resulting from a constituent financial
institution exceeds the limits established by our credit risk policy, we would have to absorb the cost of
such settlement failure, which could materially and adversely affect our cash flow.
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If we cannot keep pace with rapid technological developments to provide new and innovative
payment programs and services, the use of our products could decline, reducing our revenues
and net income.
Rapid, significant technological changes continue to confront the payments industry. These
include developments in smart cards, eCommerce, mobile commerce, and radio frequency and
proximity payment devices, such as contactless cards. We cannot predict the effect of technological
changes on our business. We rely in part on third parties, including some of our competitors and
potential competitors, for the development of and access to new technologies. We expect that new
services and technologies applicable to the payments industry will continue to emerge. These new
services and technologies may be superior to, or render obsolete, the technologies we currently use in
our products and services. In addition, our ability to adopt new services and technologies that we
develop may be inhibited by industry-wide standards, by resistance to change from clients or
merchants or by third parties’ intellectual property rights. Our success will depend in part on our ability
to develop new technologies and adapt to technological changes and evolving industry standards.
If our transaction processing systems are disrupted or we cannot process transactions
efficiently, the perception of our brands and our revenues or operating results could be
materially and adversely affected.
Our transaction processing systems may experience service interruptions or degradation because
of processing or other technology malfunction, fire, natural disasters, power loss, disruptions in long-
distance or local telecommunications access, fraud, terrorism, climate change or accident.
In addition, our visibility in the global payments industry may attract terrorists and hackers to
conduct physical or computer-based attacks. The latter could include computer viruses, worms or other
destructive or disruptive software, process breakdowns, denial of service attacks, malicious social
engineering or other malicious activities, or any combination of the foregoing. Any of these incidents
could result in a degradation or disruption of our services or damage to our properties, equipment and
data. They could also compromise data security. See—Account data breaches involving card data
stored by third parties or by us could adversely affect our reputation and revenues. If such attacks are
not detected immediately, their effect could be compounded. Finally, potential and actual attacks could
also result in increased costs, both for recovery and for prevention against future attacks.
Additionally, we rely on service providers for the timely transmission of information across our
global data network. If a service provider fails to provide the communications capacity or services we
require because of a natural disaster, operational disruption, terrorism or any other reason, the failure
could interrupt our services. Because of the centrality of our processing systems to our business, any
interruption or degradation could adversely affect the perception of our brands’ reliability and materially
reduce our revenues or profitability.
Account data breaches involving card data processed, stored or transmitted by third parties or
by us could adversely affect our reputation and revenues.
Our clients, merchants, others and we process, store or transmit cardholder account information in
connection with Visa-branded payment cards. In addition, our clients may use third-party processors to
process transactions generated by cards carrying our brands. Breach of the systems processing,
storing or transmitting sensitive cardholder data and account information could lead to fraudulent
activity involving Visa-branded cards, to reputational damage and to claims against us. If we are sued
in connection with any material data security breach, we could be involved in protracted litigation. If
unsuccessful in defending such lawsuits, we may have to pay damages or change our business
practices or pricing structure, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and
32
profitability. In addition, any reputational damage resulting from an account data breach at one or more
of our clients, merchants or other third parties could decrease the use and acceptance of our cards,
which could have a material adverse impact on our payments volume, revenues and future growth
prospects. Finally, any data security breach could result in additional regulation, which could materially
increase our costs.
An increase in fraudulent or other illegal activity involving our cards could lead to reputational
damage to our brands and reduce the use and acceptance of our cards.
Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods to capture cardholder account information.
They use the information to conduct fraudulent transactions and to engage in other forms of illegal
activities involving the payment system. Outsourcing and specialization of functions within the
payments system are increasing. As a result, more third parties are involved in processing transactions
using our cards. A rise in fraud levels and other illegal activities involving our cards could lead to
reputational damage to our brands. This could reduce the use and acceptance of our cards or lead to
greater regulation, increasing our compliance costs.
Failure to maintain interoperability between our and Visa Europe’s authorization and clearing
and settlement systems could damage the business and global perception of the Visa brands.
Visa Europe and we maintain mostly separate authorization, clearing, and settlement systems. As
a result, we have to ensure that the two systems can process every transaction involving both of our
territories, regardless of where it originates. Visa Europe’s independent system operations could
present challenges to our business due to the heightened difficulty of maintaining the interoperability of
our respective systems. Failure to authorize or clear and settle inter-territory transactions quickly and
accurately could impair the global perception of the Visa brands.
Structural and Organizational Risks
We have little ability to control Visa Europe’s operations and limited recourse if it breaches its
obligations to us.
Visa Europe has very broad rights to operate the Visa business in its region under the agreement
that governs our relationship. If we want to change a global rule or to implement certain changes that
would not have a positive return for Visa Europe and its members, then Visa Europe is not required to
implement that rule or change unless we agree to pay for the implementation costs and expenses that
Visa Europe and its members will incur as a consequence of the implementation.
If Visa Europe fails to meet its obligations, our remedies under this agreement are limited. We
cannot terminate the agreement even upon Visa Europe’s material, uncured breach. Although we have
a call right to acquire Visa Europe, we can exercise that right under only extremely limited
circumstances.
These and other features of the licenses granted under the agreement may also raise issues
concerning the characterization of the licenses for purposes of tax treatment of entry into the licenses
and payments received thereunder.
In some instances, as in the case of CyberSource and PlaySpan, Visa Europe may have the right
to control the activities of newly acquired entities within Visa Europe’s territory. In any event, Visa
Europe’s license rights in Europe may hinder our ability to acquire new entities or to operate them
effectively.
Any inconsistency in the payment processing services and products that we can provide could
negatively affect cardholders from Visa Europe using cards in the countries we serve or our
cardholders using cards in Visa Europe’s region.
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If Visa Europe makes us acquire all of its outstanding stock, we will incur substantial costs and
may suffer a material and adverse effect on our operations and net income.
We have granted Visa Europe a put option requiring us to purchase all outstanding capital stock
from its members if exercised. We will incur a financial obligation of several billion dollars or more if
Visa Europe exercises this option. Visa Europe may do so at any time. We may need to obtain third-
party financing in order to meet our obligation, by either borrowing funds or selling stock. An equity
offering, or the payment of part of the exercise price in our stock, would dilute the ownership interests
of our stockholders. We would have only 285 days to pay the exercise price. Sufficient financing might
not be available to us within that time on reasonable terms. See Note 2—Visa Europe to our
consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
If Visa Europe exercises the put option, we may encounter difficulties in integrating Visa Europe’s
business and systems into our existing operations. If we cannot do so quickly and cost-effectively, the
integration could divert the time and attention of senior management, disrupt our current operations
and adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, we would become subject to the many
regulations of the European Union that govern the operations of Visa Europe, including any regulatory
disputes.
We are required to record quarterly any change in the fair value of the put option. We record these
adjustments through our consolidated statements of operations. Consequently, the adjustments affect
our reported net income and earnings per share. These quarterly adjustments and their resulting
impact on our reported statements of operations could be significant. The existence of these changes
could adversely affect our ability to raise capital or the costs involved in raising it.
If we cannot remain organizationally effective, we will be unable to address the opportunities
and challenges presented by our strategy and by the increasingly challenging competitive,
economic and regulatory environment.
Since our reorganization in October 2007, we have increasingly centralized our management and
operations. For us to succeed, we must effectively integrate our operations, actively work to ensure
consistency throughout our organization, and incorporate a global perspective into our decisions and
processes. If we fail to do so, we may be unable to expand as rapidly as we plan, and the results of our
expansion may be unsatisfactory.
In addition, the current competitive, economic and regulatory environment will require our
organization to adapt rapidly and nimbly to new opportunities and challenges. We may not be able to
do so if we do not make important decisions quickly enough, define our appetite for risk specifically
enough, execute our strategy seamlessly enough, implement new governance, managerial and
organizational processes efficiently enough and communicate roles and responsibilities clearly enough.
We may be unable to attract and retain key management and other key employees.
Our employees, particularly our key management, are vital to our success and difficult to replace.
We may be unable to retain them or to attract other highly qualified employees, particularly if we do not
offer employment terms competitive with the rest of the market. Failure to attract and retain highly
qualified employees, or failure to develop and implement a viable succession plan, could result in
inadequate depth of institutional knowledge or skill sets, adversely affecting our business.
34
Acquisitions, strategic investments and entry into new businesses could disrupt our business
and harm our financial condition and results of operations.
Although we may continue to make strategic acquisitions or investments in complementary
businesses, products or technologies, we may be unable to successfully finance, partner with or integrate
them. The integration of CyberSource, PlaySpan and Fundamo, all acquired recently, will take time and
resources that would otherwise have been available for other acquisitions. We will be subject to the terms
of the exclusive license granted to Visa Europe in most acquisitions and major investments that involve
countries in the Visa Europe territory. Regulatory constraints, particularly competition regulations, may
affect the extent to which we can maximize the value of acquisitions or investments.
Furthermore, the integration of any acquisition or investment may divert management’s time and
resources from our core business and disrupt our operations. We may spend time and money on
projects that do not increase our revenues. Moreover, our cash reserves contract to the extent we pay
the purchase price of any acquisition or investment in cash. Although we periodically evaluate potential
acquisitions of and investments in businesses, products and technologies and anticipate continuing to
make these evaluations, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to execute and integrate any such
acquisitions and investments.
With the evolution of technology and the opening of new market segments, we may choose to
participate in areas in which we have not engaged in the past, either through acquisition or through
organic development. These include electronic and mobile payments. Relative inexperience in such
businesses requires additional resources and presents an additional degree of risk, which could
materially and adversely affect our operations and results.
Future sales of our class A common stock, or the end of transfer restrictions on our class B
stock, could result in dilution to holders of shares of our existing class A common stock,
adversely affecting their rights and depressing the market price of our class A common stock.
The market price and voting power of our class A common stock could decline because of
increases in the number of such shares outstanding. The market price of our class A common stock
may also suffer from the perception that such an increase could occur, such as upon the issuance or
conversion of securities convertible to shares of our class A common stock. Specifically, upon the final
resolution of our covered litigation, all class B stock will become transferable at once.
If funds are released from escrow after the resolution of the litigation covered by our
retrospective responsibility plan, the value of our class A common stock will be diluted.
Under our retrospective responsibility plan, funds still in the escrow account after the resolution of
all covered litigation will be released back to us. At that time, each share of class B common stock will
become convertible into an increased number of shares of class A common stock, benefiting the
holders of class B common stock. This in turn will result in dilution of the interest in Visa Inc. held by
the holders of class A common stock. In this case, the amount of funds released and the market price
of our class A common stock will determine the extent of the dilution.
Holders of our shares of our class B and C common stock have voting rights concerning
certain significant corporate transactions, and their interests in our business may be different
from those of holders of our class A common stock.
Although their voting rights are limited, holders of shares of our class B and C common stock can vote
on certain significant transactions. These include a proposed consolidation or merger, a decision to exit our
core payments business and any other vote required by Delaware law. The holders of these shares may not
have the same incentive to approve a corporate action that may be favorable to the holders of class A
common stock, and their interests may otherwise conflict with those of the holders of class A common stock.
35
Anti-takeover provisions in our governing documents and Delaware law could delay or prevent
entirely a takeover attempt or a change in control.
Provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and
Delaware law could delay or prevent a merger or acquisition that our stockholders consider favorable.
For instance, except for limited exceptions, no person may beneficially own more than 15% of our
class A common stock (or 15% of our total outstanding common stock on an as-converted basis),
unless our board of directors approves the acquisition of such shares in advance. In addition, except
for common stock issued to a member in connection with our reorganization or shares issuable on
conversion of such common stock, shares held by a competitor or an affiliate of a competitor may not
exceed 5% of our total outstanding shares on an as-converted basis.
Our ability to pay regular dividends to holders of our common stock in the future is subject to
the discretion of our board of directors and will be limited by our ability to generate sufficient
earnings and cash flows.
Since August 2008, we have paid cash dividends quarterly on our class A, B and C common
stock. Any future payment of dividends will depend upon our ability to generate earnings and cash
flows. However, sufficient cash may not be available to pay such dividends. Payment of future
dividends, if any, would be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various
factors, including our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, covenants in our debt
instruments and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant. If, because of these factors,
we cannot generate sufficient earnings and cash flows from our business, we may be unable to make
payments of dividends of our common stock. Furthermore, no dividend may be declared or paid on any
class or series of common stock, unless an equivalent dividend is contemporaneously declared and
paid on each other class of common stock.
ITEM 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not Applicable.
ITEM 2. Properties
At September 30, 2012, we owned and leased approximately 2.6 million square feet of office and
processing center space in 38 countries around the world, of which approximately 1.9 million square
feet are owned and the remaining 0.7 million square feet are leased. Our corporate headquarters is
located in the San Francisco Bay Area and consists of four buildings that we own, totaling 0.9 million
square feet. We also own an office building in Miami, totaling approximately 0.2 million square feet.
In addition, we own and operate two primary processing centers and an adjacent office facility
located in Colorado and Virginia, totaling approximately 0.8 million square feet.
We believe that these facilities are suitable and adequate to support our business needs.
ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings
Refer to Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this
report.
ITEM 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
36
PART II
ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
Price Range of Common Stock
Our class A common stock has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
“V” since March 19, 2008. At September 30, 2012, we had 359 stockholders of record of our class A
common stock. We believe that the number of beneficial owners is substantially greater than the
number of record holders, because a large portion of our class A common stock is held in “street
name” by brokers. The following table sets forth the intra-day high and low sale prices for our class A
common stock in each of our last eight fiscal quarters:
2012
High
Low
First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $103.45 $ 81.71
98.33
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
111.94
Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119.10
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
120.70
125.35
136.65
2011
High
Low
First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $81.75 $66.50
67.51
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
73.11
Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
76.11
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77.08
87.36
94.75
There is currently no established public trading market for our class B or class C common stock.
There were 1,697 and 1,128 holders of record of our class B common stock and class C common
stock, respectively, as of September 30, 2012.
Dividend Declaration and Policy
During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, we paid the following quarterly cash
dividends per share of our class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and C common
stock, on an as-converted basis) to all holders of record of our class A, B and C common stock.
2012
Dividend Per
Share
First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$0.220
0.220
0.220
0.220
2011
Dividend Per
Share
First Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Third Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fourth Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$0.150
0.150
0.150
0.150
In addition, on October 24, 2012, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of
$0.33 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and C common stock, on
an as-converted basis) payable on December 4, 2012, to holders of record as of November 16, 2012 of
our class A, B and C common stock.
37
Subject to legally available funds, we expect to continue paying quarterly cash dividends on our
outstanding class A, B and C common stock in the future. However, the declaration and payment of
future dividends is at the sole discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various
factors, including our financial condition, settlement indemnifications, operating results, available cash
and current and anticipated cash needs.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases of the Company’s common
stock made by or on behalf of the Company during the quarter ended September 30, 2012.
Period
(a)
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased(1)
(b)
Average
Price Paid
per Share
July 1-31, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
August 1-31, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
September 1-30, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
— $ —
940,288
625,816
$127.39
$131.48
(c)
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs(2)
—
937,701
625,816
(d)
Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs(2)
1,039,218,694
919,758,347
837,464,184
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,566,104
$129.02
1,563,517
(1)
Includes 2,587 shares of class A common stock withheld at an average price of $130.77 per share
(under the terms of grants under our equity incentive compensation plan) to offset tax withholding
obligations that occur upon vesting and release of restricted shares.
(2) During the three months ended September 30, 2012, we repurchased 1.6 million shares of our
class A common stock at an average price of $129.02 per share for a total cost of $202 million
under share repurchase programs previously authorized by the board of directors in July and
February 2012. The figures in the table reflect transactions according to the trade dates. For
purposes of our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K, the impact of these
repurchases is recorded according to the settlement dates.
38
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
The table below presents information as of September 30, 2012, for the Visa 2007 Equity
Incentive Compensation Plan, or the EIP, which was approved by our stockholders. We do not have
any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by our stockholders, except as noted in
note (2) in the table below. For a description of the awards issued under the EIP, see Note 17—Share-
based Compensation to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report.
Plan Category
(a)
Number of shares
of class A
common stock issuable
upon exercise of
outstanding options
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options
Number of shares of
class A
common stock
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans (excluding shares
reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved
by stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4,509,708(1)
Equity compensation plans not
approved by stockholders . . . . . . . . .
675,967(2)
Total
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5,185,675
$60.99
$49.22
$59.46
41,227,174
—
41,227,174
(1)
In addition to options, the EIP authorizes the issuance of restricted stock, restricted stock units,
performance shares and other stock-based awards. The maximum number of shares issuable as
of September 30, 2012, pursuant to outstanding restricted stock units and performance shares
totals 637,645 and 526,227, respectively.
(2) These shares may be issued upon the exercise of options issued by Visa replacing certain
CyberSource options outstanding at the time of the acquisition as discussed further in Note 5—
Acquisitions and Note 17—Share-based Compensation to our consolidated financial statements
included in Item 8 of this report. These options were issued under certain provisions of the EIP,
which permit Visa to issue options in connection with certain acquisition transactions.
ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data
The following table presents selected Visa Inc. financial data for fiscal 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and
2008. The data below should be read in conjunction with Item 7—Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8—Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data of this report.
Selected Financial Data
Statement of Operations Data:
Fiscal Year Ended September 30,
2012(1)
2011
2010
2009
2008
(in millions, except per share data)
Operating revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,421 $9,188 $8,065 $6,911 $6,263
5,031
Operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,232
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
804
Net income attributable to Visa Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0.96
Basic earnings per share—class A common stock . . . . .
0.96
Diluted earnings per share—class A common stock . . .
3,373
3,538
2,353
3.10
3.10
3,476
4,589
2,966
4.03
4.01
8,282
2,139
2,144
3.17
3.16
3,732
5,456
3,650
5.18
5.16
39
Balance Sheet Data:
2012(1)
2011
2010
2009
2008
(in millions, except per share data)
At September 30,
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,013 $34,760 $33,408 $32,281 $34,981
51
Current portion of long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2,698
Current portion of accrued litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
Long-term debt
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term accrued litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,060
21,141
Total equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0.105
Dividend declared and paid per common share . . .
12
631
32
66
25,014
0.50
12
1,394
44
323
23,193
0.42
—
4,386
—
—
—
425
—
—
27,630
0.88
26,437
0.60
(1) During fiscal 2012, we recorded: a one-time, non-cash tax benefit of $208 million related to the
remeasurement of our net deferred tax liabilities; a covered litigation provision of $4.1 billion and
related tax benefits; and the reversal of previously recorded tax reserves, which increased net
income by $326 million.
40
ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
This management’s discussion and analysis provides a review of the results of operations,
financial condition and liquidity and capital resources of Visa Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Visa,” “we,”
“our” and the “Company”) on a historical basis and outlines the factors that have affected recent
earnings, as well as those factors that may affect future earnings. The following discussion and
analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes
included in Item 8 of this report.
Overview
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial
institutions and governments around the world to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. We
provide our clients with payment processing platforms that encompass consumer credit, debit, prepaid
and commercial payments. We facilitate global commerce through the transfer of value and information
among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses and government entities. Each of
these constituencies has played a key role in the ongoing worldwide migration from paper-based to
electronic forms of payment, and we believe that this transformation continues to yield significant
growth opportunities, particularly outside the United States. We continue to explore additional
opportunities to enhance our competitive position by expanding the scope of payment services we
provide.
Overall economic conditions and regulatory environment. Our business is affected by overall
economic conditions and consumer spending. Our business performance during fiscal 2012 reflects
the impacts of a modest global economic recovery.
The Dodd-Frank Act. As of October 1, 2011, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal
Reserve capped the maximum U.S. debit interchange reimbursement fee assessed for cards issued by
large financial institutions at twenty-one cents plus five basis points, before applying an interim fraud
adjustment up to an additional one cent. This amounted to a significant reduction from the average
system-wide interchange fees charged before the Dodd-Frank Act was implemented. The Federal
Reserve has also issued regulations requiring issuers to make at least two unaffiliated networks
available for processing debit transactions on each debit card. The rules also prohibit us and issuers
from restricting a merchant’s ability to direct the routing of electronic debit transactions over any of the
networks that an issuer has enabled to process those transactions.
The interchange, exclusivity and routing regulations have impacted our pricing, reduced the
number and volume of U.S. debit payments we process and decreased associated revenues. A
number of our clients have sought fee reductions or increased incentives from us to offset their own
lost revenue. Some have reduced the number of debit cards they issue and reduced investments they
make in marketing and rewards programs. Some have imposed new or higher fees on debit cards or
demand-deposit account relationships. Some have elected to issue fewer cards enabled with Visa-
affiliated networks. Additionally, the routing regulations have allowed merchants to redirect transactions
or steer cardholders to other networks based on lowest cost or other factors.
We have had to re-examine and renegotiate certain of our client contracts to ensure that their
terms comply with new regulations and will continue to do so with others. As a result, our clients have
sought and will continue to seek to renegotiate terms relating to fees, incentives and routing. In some
cases, we may lose placement completely on issuers’ debit cards.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we began implementation of our strategy to mitigate the
negative impacts from the Dodd-Frank Act to some extent by making pricing modifications and working
41
with our clients and other business partners to win merchant preference to route transactions over our
network. For fiscal 2012, the overall net impact of the Dodd-Frank Act, including restructured pricing,
incentives, other mitigation strategies and volume loss, was a decrease of approximately $0.15 in
diluted earnings per class A common share.
Our broad platform of payment products continues to provide substantial value to both merchants
and consumers. We believe that the continuing worldwide secular shift to electronic currency may help
buffer the impacts of the Dodd-Frank Act, as reflected in our overall payments volume growth,
particularly outside the United States. As a leader in the U.S. debit industry, we continue to develop
and refine our competitive business models to adapt to the Dodd-Frank Act and mitigate some of its
negative impacts. We remain committed and prepared to adapt to and compete effectively under this
new U.S. debit regulatory environment.
Notice of Proposed Adjustment. On May 23, 2012, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”)
issued a Notice of Proposed Adjustment (NOPA) to our fiscal 2008 U.S. federal income tax return
seeking to disallow the deduction of settlement payments associated with the American Express
litigation made during that fiscal year. However, on August 15, 2012, the IRS issued a Chief Counsel
Advice (CCA), supporting our position that Visa is entitled to the deduction, and subsequently the
IRS issued a revised Revenue Agent Report (RAR) effectively withdrawing the NOPA. The IRS may
still challenge any income tax return position taken, including the deductibility of covered litigation
payments made in fiscal 2008 or any future year, until the statute of limitations has closed for each
applicable year. The statute of limitations for fiscal 2008 is expected to expire in June of 2013.
However, given the CCA and revised RAR, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we reevaluated and
reversed all previously recorded tax reserves and accrued interest associated with uncertainties
related to the deductibility of covered litigation expense recorded in fiscal 2007 through the third
quarter of fiscal 2012. This increased our net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 by
$627 million. The reversal of tax reserves and related interest included $301 million related to reserves
taken in the current year, and $326 million related to reserves taken in previous years.
Multidistrict Litigation Proceedings (MDL). On October 19, 2012, Visa, MasterCard, various
U.S. financial institution defendants and the class plaintiffs signed a settlement agreement to resolve
the class plaintiffs’ claims in the interchange MDL. We also signed a settlement agreement to resolve
the claims brought by a group of individual merchants which were consolidated with the MDL for
coordination of pre-trial proceedings. The settlement with the class plaintiffs is subject to final court
approval, which we cannot assure will be received, and to the adjudication of any appeals. See
Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial
statements.
Adjusted financial results. Our financial results for fiscal 2012 and 2011 reflect the impact of
several significant items that we believe are not indicative of our financial performance in the current or
future years, as they either are non-recurring, have no cash impact or are related to amounts covered
by the retrospective responsibility plan. As such, we believe the presentation of adjusted financial
results excluding the following amounts provides a clearer understanding of our operating performance
for the periods presented.
(cid:129) Reversal of tax reserves. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we reevaluated and
reversed all previously recorded tax reserves and accrued interest associated with
uncertainties related to the deductibility of covered litigation expense recorded in fiscal 2007
through the third quarter of fiscal 2012. This increased our net income for the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2012 by $627 million. The reversal of tax reserves and related interest included
$301 million related to reserves taken in the current year, and $326 million related to reserves
taken in previous years.
42
(cid:129)
Litigation provision. During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded a litigation provision of
$4.1 billion and related tax benefits associated with the interchange MDL, which is covered by
the retrospective responsibility plan. Monetary liabilities from settlements of, or judgments in,
the covered litigation will be paid from the litigation escrow account. See Note 3—
Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial
statements.
(cid:129) Deferred tax adjustment. During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, our reported financial
results benefited from a one-time, non-cash adjustment of $208 million related to the
remeasurement of our net deferred tax liabilities attributable to changes in the California state
apportionment rules.
(cid:129) Revaluation of Visa Europe put option. During fiscal 2011, we recorded a decrease of
$122 million in the fair value of the Visa Europe put option, which resulted in the recognition of
non-cash, non-operating other income in our financial results. This amount is not subject to
income tax and therefore had no impact on our reported income tax provision. The reduction
in the fair value of the put option was the result of declines in our estimated long-term
price-to-earnings ratio as compared to the estimated ratio applicable to Visa Europe and did
not reflect any change in the likelihood that Visa Europe will exercise its option.
The following table presents our adjusted financial results for the years ended September 30,
2012 and 2011.
Fiscal 2012
Fiscal 2011
Operating
Expenses
Operating
Margin(1)
(in millions, except margin ratio and per share data)
Net Income
Attributable
to Visa Inc.
Diluted
Earnings
Per Share(2)
Operating
Margin(1)
Operating
Expenses
Net Income
Attributable
to Visa Inc.
Diluted
Earnings
Per Share(2)
As reported . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reversal of tax
reserves . . . . . . . . . . . .
Litigation provision . . . . . .
Impact of deferred tax
adjustment
. . . . . . . . . .
Revaluation of Visa
Europe put option . . . .
Adjusted . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted weighted-
average shares
outstanding
(as reported) . . . . . . . . .
$ 8,282
21%
$2,144
$ 3.16
$3,732
59%
$3,650
$ 5.16
—
(4,098)
—
39%
(326)
2,593
(0.48)
3.82
—
—
—
—
(208)
(0.31)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(122)
(0.17)
$ 4,184
60%
$4,203
$ 6.20
$3,732
59%
$3,528
$ 4.99
678
707
(1) Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by total operating revenues.
(2) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Diluted earnings per share
figures are calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
Reduction in as-converted shares. During fiscal 2012, total as-converted class A common stock
was reduced by 22.8 million shares, using $2.4 billion of operating cash on hand. Of the $2.4 billion,
$710 million was used to repurchase class A common stock in the open market. In addition, we made
deposits totaling $1.7 billion of operating cash into the litigation escrow account previously established
under the retrospective responsibility plan. These deposits have the same economic effect on earnings
per share as repurchasing our class A common stock, because they reduce the class B conversion
rate and consequently the as-converted class A common stock share count.
In July 2012, our board of directors authorized a $1 billion share repurchase program to be in
effect through July 2013. As of September 30, 2012, the program had remaining authorized funds of
43
$865 million. In October 2012, our board of directors authorized an additional $1.5 billion share
repurchase program to be in effect through October 2013. All share repurchase programs authorized
prior to July 2012 have been completed.
Nominal payments volume and transaction counts. Payments volume is the primary driver for our
service revenues, and processed transactions are the primary driver for our data processing revenues.
Compared to the prior year, overall payments volume increased as a result of continuing double-digit
percentage growth in consumer credit and commercial payments volume worldwide. These increases
were moderated by an anticipated deceleration in consumer debit growth, primarily due to the impacts
of the Dodd-Frank Act. Excluding U.S. debit transactions, which reflect the impacts of the Dodd-Frank
Act, the number of processed transactions continues to increase at a healthy rate, reflecting the
continuing worldwide shift to electronic currency.
The following tables set forth nominal payments volume for the periods presented in nominal
dollars(1).
U.S.
Rest of World
Visa Inc.
12 months
ended
June 30,
2012(2)
12 months
ended
June 30,
2011(2)
%
Change
12 months
ended
June 30,
2012(2)
12 months
ended
June 30,
2011(2)
%
Change
12 months
ended
June 30,
2012(2)
12 months
ended
June 30,
2011(2)
%
Change
(in billions, except percentages)
Nominal Payments
Volume
Consumer credit
Consumer debit(3)
Commercial and
. . . . . . .
. . . . . .
$ 710
1,045
$ 641
1,037
other(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
311
282
11%
1%
10%
$1,370
333
$1,188
265
130
116
$2,066
430
$1,961
404
5%
7%
$1,833
1,921
$1,569
1,704
Total Nominal
Payments Volume . . .
Cash volume . . . . . . . . . .
Total Nominal
Volume(4) . . . . . . . . . . .
15%
26%
12%
17%
13%
$2,081
1,378
$1,829
1,302
440
398
$3,899
2,351
$3,530
2,108
14%
6%
11%
10%
12%
$2,496
$2,364
6%
$3,753
$3,273
15%
$6,250
$5,638
11%
U.S.
Rest of World
Visa Inc.
12 months
ended
June 30,
2011(2)
12 months
ended
June 30,
2010(2)
%
Change
12 months
ended
June 30,
2011(2)
12 months
ended
June 30,
2010(2)
%
Change
12 months
ended
June 30,
2011(2)
12 months
ended
June 30,
2010(2)
%
Change
(in billions, except percentages)
Nominal Payments
. . . . .
. . . .
$ 641
1,037
$ 599
909
other(3)
. . . . . . . . . . .
282
243
7%
14%
16%
$1,188
265
$ 987
197
116
100
20%
34%
15%
$1,829
1,302
$1,586
1,107
398
344
$1,961
404
$1,752
374
12%
8%
$1,569
1,704
$1,285
1,411
22%
21%
$3,530
2,108
$3,037
1,785
$2,364
$2,125
11%
$3,273
$2,696
21%
$5,638
$4,821
17%
(1) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are
calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
(2) Service revenues in a given quarter are assessed based on payments volume in the prior quarter.
Therefore, service revenues reported for the twelve months ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and
2010, were based on payments volume reported by our financial institution clients for the twelve
months ended June 30, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Includes prepaid volume.
(3)
44
Volume
Consumer credit
Consumer debit(3)
Commercial and
Total Nominal
Payments
Volume . . . . . . . . . .
Cash volume . . . . . . . .
Total Nominal
Volume(4) . . . . . . . . .
15%
18%
16%
16%
18%
(4) Total nominal volume is the sum of total nominal payments volume and cash volume. Total
nominal payments volume is the total monetary value of transactions for goods and services that
are purchased. Cash volume generally consists of cash access transactions, balance access
transactions, balance transfers and convenience checks. Total nominal volume is provided by our
financial institution clients, subject to verification by Visa. From time to time, previously submitted
volume information may be updated. Prior year volume information presented in these tables has
not been updated, as subsequent adjustments were not material.
The table below provides the number of transactions processed by our VisaNet system, and
billable transactions processed by CyberSource’s network during the fiscal periods presented.
Visa processed transactions(2)
CyberSource billable transactions(3) . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 53,324 50,922 45,411
5,182
4,137
3,032(4)
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
2012 vs. 2011
% Change(1)
2011 vs. 2010
% Change(1)
5%
25%
12%
36%
(1) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are
calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
(2) Represents transactions involving Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS cards processed on
Visa’s networks.
(3) Transactions include, but are not limited to, authorization, settlement payment network
connectivity, fraud management, payment security management, tax services and delivery
address verification. Since its July 2010 acquisition, CyberSource activity has primarily contributed
to our data processing revenues.
Includes CyberSource transactions prior to the July 2010 acquisition.
(4)
Results of Operations
Operating Revenues
Our operating revenues are primarily generated from payments volume on Visa-branded cards for
goods and services, as well as the number, size and type of transactions processed on our payment
processing platforms. We do not earn revenues from, or bear credit risk with respect to, interest or fees
paid by cardholders on Visa-branded cards. Our issuing clients have the responsibility for issuing cards
and determining the interest rates and fees paid by cardholders, and most other competitive card
features. We generally do not earn revenues from the fees that merchants are charged for card
acceptance by the issuing bank, including the merchant discount rate. Our acquiring clients, which are
generally responsible for soliciting merchants, establish and earn these fees.
The following sets forth the components of our operating revenues:
Service revenues consist primarily of revenues earned for providing clients with a supported global
business infrastructure and for services which support the various product platforms that enable clients
to deliver Visa products and payment services. Current quarter service revenues are primarily
assessed using a calculation of pricing applied to the prior quarter’s payments volume. Service
revenues also include assessments designed to support ongoing acceptance and volume growth
initiatives, which are recognized in the same period the related volume is transacted.
Data processing revenues are earned for authorization, clearing, settlement, transaction
processing services, network access and other maintenance and support services that facilitate
transaction and information processing among our clients globally and Visa Europe. Data processing
revenues are also earned for transactions processed by CyberSource’s online payment gateway and
45
PlaySpan’s virtual goods payment platform. Data processing revenues are recognized in the same
period the related transactions occur or services are rendered.
International transaction revenues are earned for processing cross-border transactions, and
currency conversion activities. Cross-border transactions arise when the cardholder’s issuer country is
different from the merchant’s country. International transaction revenues are generally driven by cross-
border payments and cash volume.
Other revenues consist primarily of license fees for use of the Visa brand, revenues earned from
Visa Europe in connection with the Visa Europe Framework Agreement, fees from cardholder services,
licensing and certification and certain activities related to our acquired entities. Other revenues also
include optional service or product enhancements, such as extended cardholder protection and
concierge services.
Client incentives represent contracts with clients and other business partners for various programs
designed to build payments volume, increase product acceptance and win merchant preference to
route transactions over our network. These incentives are primarily accounted for as reductions to
operating revenues.
Operating Expenses
Personnel includes salaries, incentive compensation, stock-based compensation, fringe benefits
and contractor expense.
Network and processing primarily represents expenses for the operation of our processing
network, including maintenance, equipment rental and fees for other data processing services.
Marketing includes expenses associated with advertising and marketing campaigns, sponsorships
and other related promotions to promote the Visa brand.
Professional fees consist of fees for consulting, legal and other professional services.
Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation expense for property and equipment, as well
as amortization of purchased and internally developed software. Also included in this amount is
amortization of finite-lived intangible assets primarily obtained through acquisitions.
General and administrative primarily consists of facilities costs, foreign exchange gains and losses
and other corporate expenses in support of our business.
Litigation provision is an estimate of litigation expense and is based on management’s
understanding of our litigation profile, the specifics of the cases, advice of counsel to the extent
appropriate and management’s best estimate of incurred loss at the balance sheet dates.
Other Income (Expense)
Interest income (expense) primarily includes accrued interest and penalties related to reserves for
uncertain tax positions.
Investment income represents returns on our fixed-income securities and other investments.
Investment income also includes gains on the sale of and cash dividends received from other
investments.
Other non-operating income primarily relates to gains and losses earned on equity method
investments and the change in the fair value of the Visa Europe put option.
46
Visa Inc. Fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010
Operating Revenues
The following table sets forth our operating revenues earned in the United States, in the rest of the
world and from Visa Europe. Revenues earned from Visa Europe are a result of our contractual
arrangement with Visa Europe, as governed by the Framework Agreement that provides for trademark
and technology licenses and bilateral services. See Note 2—Visa Europe to our consolidated financial
statements.
Fiscal Year ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
$ Change
% Change(1)
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
(in millions, except percentages)
U.S.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rest of world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visa Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 5,720
4,478
223
$5,135
3,846
207
$4,718
3,137
210
$ 585
632
16
$ 417
709
(3)
11% 9%
16% 23%
7% (1)%
Total Operating Revenues . . . . . . . .
$10,421
$9,188
$8,065
$1,233
$1,123
13% 14%
(1) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are
calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
The increase in operating revenues primarily reflects continued growth in our underlying business
drivers: nominal payments volume, processed transactions and cross-border volume. Operating
revenues also benefited from pricing modifications made on various services. These benefits were
partially offset by volume loss and increases to client incentives implemented in the U.S. during fiscal
2012 as part of our strategy to mitigate the impacts of the Dodd-Frank Act. We expect low double-digit
percentage growth in our operating revenues for the full 2013 fiscal year.
Our operating revenues, primarily service revenues and international transaction revenues, are
impacted by the overall strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar as payments volume and related
revenues denominated in local currencies are converted to U.S. dollars. There was no significant
impact on the year-over-year growth for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, as the effect of exchange rate
movements was substantially mitigated through our hedging program. We expect the impacts of our
hedging program to continue to minimize the effect of exchange rate movements during fiscal 2013.
See Note 13—Derivative Financial Instruments to our consolidated financial statements.
The following table sets forth the components of our total operating revenues:
Fiscal Year ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
$ Change
% Change(1)
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
(in millions, except percentages)
Service revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4,872 $ 4,261 $ 3,497 $ 611 $ 764
353
Data processing revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . .
384
International transaction revenues . . . . . .
Other revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(58)
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3,975
3,025
704
(2,155)
3,125
2,290
713
(1,560)
3,478
2,674
655
(1,880)
14% 22%
14% 11%
13% 17%
7% (8)%
(320) 15% 21%
497
351
49
(275)
Total Operating Revenues . . . . . . . . . . . $10,421 $ 9,188 $ 8,065 $1,233 $1,123
13% 14%
47
(1) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are
calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
(cid:129) Service revenues increased in fiscal 2012 primarily due to 10% growth in nominal payments
volume. The growth in service revenues was greater than the growth in nominal payments
volume primarily reflecting differences in geography-specific pricing. Service revenues
increased in fiscal 2011 primarily due to 16% growth in nominal payments volume combined
with benefits from competitive pricing actions.
(cid:129) Data processing revenues increased in fiscal 2012 primarily as a result of the implementation
of our strategy to mitigate the negative impacts from the Dodd-Frank Act to some extent
through pricing modifications and working with our clients and other business partners to win
merchant preference to route transactions over our network. This price restructuring included
the implementation of the Fixed Acquirer Network Fee, which was partially offset by
reductions in certain variable fees. While data processing fees benefited from the price
restructuring that became effective in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, increased merchant and
acquirer incentives executed as part of this strategy resulted in higher client incentive levels,
which partially offset this increase.
Data processing revenues for fiscal 2012 also benefited from overall growth in processed
transactions of 5%, which reflected an anticipated decline in U.S. debit transactions
processed as a result of certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act becoming effective the third
quarter of fiscal 2012. The deceleration in processed transaction growth was led by Interlink,
one of our lowest yielding products in the U.S., which decreased 51% in the second half of
fiscal 2012 compared to the same prior year period. This negative impact was more than
offset by solid growth in CyberSource billable transactions, Visa transactions processed
outside of the U.S., U.S. credit transactions and Visa Debit transactions, which exclude
Interlink.
Data processing revenues increased in fiscal 2011 primarily due to 12% growth in processed
transactions and inclusion of a full year of revenue attributable to CyberSource. This growth
was partially offset by the effects of negotiated pricing from certain client contracts and a
change to present revenues and offsetting expenses associated with the processing of
non-Visa network transactions on a net basis instead of a gross basis.
(cid:129)
International transaction revenues increased in fiscal 2012 and 2011 primarily reflecting
11% and 18% growth in nominal cross-border volume, respectively.
(cid:129) Other revenues increased in fiscal 2012 primarily due to an increase in license fees as a
result of payments volume growth. Other revenues decreased in fiscal 2011 primarily due to a
change to present revenues and offsetting expenses related to the Visa Extras rewards
program on a net basis instead of a gross basis, and as a result of a large issuer that
converted away from the platform entirely in June 2010. The decrease was partially offset by
increases in license fees and the inclusion of revenue from our acquired entities.
(cid:129) Client incentives increased in fiscal 2012 reflecting incentives incurred on long-term client
contracts that were initiated or renewed during fiscal 2012, including a number of significant
long-term merchant and acquirer contracts executed as part of our strategy to mitigate the
impact of the Dodd-Frank Act. Client incentives also increased as a result of overall growth in
global payments volume and certain one-time incentives incurred outside the U.S. The
amount of client incentives we record in future periods will vary based on changes in
performance expectations, actual client performance, amendments to existing contracts or the
execution of new contracts. We expect incentives as a percentage of gross revenues to be in
the range of 18% to 18.5% for the full 2013 fiscal year.
48
Increases in client incentives during fiscal 2011 reflected growth in global payments volume
and incentives incurred on significant long-term client contracts that were initiated or renewed
during fiscal 2011.
Operating Expenses
The following table sets forth components of our total operating expenses for the periods
presented.
Fiscal Year ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
$ Change
% Change(1)
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
(in millions, except percentages)
18% 19%
Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,726 $1,459 $1,222 $ 267 $237
(68)
Network and processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16% (16)%
(94) — % (10)%
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14% 18%
51
Professional fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16% 9%
23
Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9% 15%
52 NM NM
Litigation provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
414
873
385
333
451
4,100
57
3
48
45
37
4,093
425
964
286
265
359
(45)
357
870
337
288
414
7
Total Operating Expenses(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,282 $3,732 $3,476 $4,550 $256 NM
7%
(1) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are
calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
(2) Excluding the litigation provision of $4.1 billion recorded in fiscal 2012, associated with litigation
covered by the retrospective responsibility plan, operating expenses for fiscal 2012 were $4.2
billion, an increase of 12% over the prior year on an adjusted basis.
(cid:129) Personnel increased in fiscal 2012 primarily due to increases in headcount throughout the
organization combined with higher employee incentive-related costs. The increase also
reflects annualized costs from our acquisitions of PlaySpan and Fundamo in March 2011 and
June 2011, respectively. The increase in fiscal 2011 primarily reflects the inclusion of new
employees from our acquisitions of CyberSource, PlaySpan and Fundamo. The increases in
headcount reflect our strategy to invest for future growth, particularly outside the U.S., in
support of our core business, as well as our eCommerce and mobile initiatives.
(cid:129) Network and processing increased in fiscal 2012 primarily due to higher fees paid for the
operation of our processing network attributable to increased transaction volumes.
The decrease in fiscal 2011 reflects the change to present revenues and offsetting expenses
associated with the processing of non-Visa network transactions on a net basis instead of on
a gross basis. This decline was partially offset by increased investment in technology projects
and the inclusion of CyberSource and PlaySpan activities.
(cid:129) Marketing remained flat in fiscal 2012 despite an increase in spending to support new product
initiatives and our sponsorship of the 2012 Summer Olympics. We expect to incur under $1
billion of marketing expense in fiscal 2013, including incremental investment to support our
key country growth strategies and new product initiatives.
The decrease in fiscal 2011 primarily reflects a change to present revenues and offsetting
expenses related to the Visa Extras rewards program on a net basis instead of on a gross
basis, combined with the impact of a large issuer converting away from the platform entirely in
June 2010. The decline in marketing expense also reflects the absence of spending
49
associated with the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2010 FIFA World Cup incurred in the prior
year. The decline was partially offset by the inclusion of CyberSource activity.
(cid:129) Professional fees increased in fiscal 2012 and 2011, primarily reflecting greater investment in
technology projects to support our eCommerce and mobile initiatives.
(cid:129) Depreciation and amortization increased in fiscal 2012, primarily due to additional
depreciation expense from our ongoing investments in technology assets and infrastructure to
support our core business as well as our eCommerce and mobile initiatives.
The increase in fiscal 2011 primarily reflects the impact of newly acquired technology and
intangible assets from our acquisitions of CyberSource and PlaySpan in July 2010 and March
2011, respectively, offset by the absence of depreciation and amortization on the incremental
basis in assets recorded in our October 2007 reorganization, as these assets were fully
depreciated as of September 30, 2010. See Note 5—Acquisitions to our consolidated financial
statements.
(cid:129) General and administrative increased primarily due to travel activities in support of our
international expansion, combined with the absence of unrealized foreign exchange gains
recorded in fiscal 2011 upon the remeasurement of monetary asset and liabilities held by
foreign subsidiaries into their functional currencies.
The increase in fiscal 2011 is primarily due to increased travel and the inclusion of
CyberSource activity, combined with reserves for a potential government assessment in one
of our international geographies in fiscal 2011.
(cid:129)
Litigation provision in fiscal 2012 reflects a $4.1 billion accrual related to litigation covered by
the retrospective responsibility plan. The credit to the provision in fiscal 2010 was primarily the
result of a $41 million pre-tax gain recognized related to the prepayment of the remaining
obligations under the Retailers’ litigation settlement, combined with the release of accruals for
certain other legal matters settled during fiscal 2010. See Note 2—Retrospective
Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements.
Other Income (Expense)
The following table sets forth the components of our other income (expense) for the periods
presented.
Fiscal Year ended
September 30,
$ Change
% Change(1)
Interest income (expense) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29 $ (32) $(72) $ 61 $ 40 NM
Investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(72)
(121)
108
124
49
72
59
52
36
3
(67)% NM
(98)% 73%
2012
2011
2012
vs.
2011
(in millions, except percentages)
2011
vs.
2010
2010
2012
vs.
2011
2011
vs.
2010
(55)%
Total Other Income (Expense) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $68 $200 $ 49 $(132) $151
(66)% NM
(1) Figures in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding. Percentage changes are
calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.
(cid:129)
Interest income for fiscal 2012 reflects the reversal of previously accrued interest associated
with tax reserves for uncertainties related to the deductibility of covered litigation expense.
Interest expense in fiscal 2011 reflects lower interest accretion due to declining litigation
balances as well as the reversal of previously accrued interest upon the effective settlement of
50
uncertainties surrounding the timing of certain deductions for income tax purposes. See Note
20—Income Taxes and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements.
(cid:129)
Investment income includes pre-tax gains of $85 million recognized in fiscal 2011 upon the
sale of our investment in Visa Vale issuer Companhia Brasileira de Soluço˝ es e Serviços, or
CBSS, and $20 million recognized in fiscal 2010 related to our investment in the Reserve
Primary Fund.
(cid:129) Other non-operating income primarily reflects non-cash adjustments to the fair market value
of the Visa Europe put option of $122 million and $79 million in fiscal 2011 and 2010,
respectively. The changes in value are not subject to tax, and do not reflect any change in the
likelihood that Visa Europe will exercise its option. See Note 2—Visa Europe to our
consolidated financial statements.
Effective Income Tax Rate
The effective income tax rate of 3% in fiscal 2012 is lower than the effective income tax rate of
36% for fiscal 2011 and 2010, primarily due to the impact of the following in fiscal 2012:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
the reversal of previously recorded tax reserves associated with uncertainties related to the
deductibility of covered litigation expense;
a decrease in our overall state tax rate due to changes in the California apportionment rules
and the associated one-time, non-cash benefit of $208 million from the remeasurement of
existing net deferred tax liabilities primarily related to the $11 billion of indefinite-lived
intangible assets recorded in our 2007 reorganization;
a one-time benefit recognized upon initial recognition of foreign tax credits;
the effect of applying the foregoing adjustments to a pre-tax income that was reduced by a
$4.1 billion covered litigation provision; and
the absence of nontaxable revaluations of the Visa Europe put option.
We expect our fiscal 2013 effective tax rate to increase to a more normalized range of 30% to
32%.
Adjusted effective income tax rate. Our financial results for fiscal 2012 reflect the impact of several
significant items that we believe are not indicative of our financial performance in the current or future
years, as they are either non-recurring, have no cash impact or are related to amounts covered by the
retrospective responsibility plan. As such, we have presented our adjusted effective income tax rate in
the table below, which we believe provides a clearer understanding of our operating performance for
the fiscal year. Our adjusted effective income tax rate for fiscal 2012 excludes: the reversal of
previously recorded tax reserves and accrued interest associated with uncertainties related to the
deductibility of covered litigation expense; additional covered litigation provision recorded; and a
one-time, non-cash benefit from the remeasurement of existing net deferred tax liabilities attributable to
changes in the California state apportionment rules.
Income
Before
Income Taxes
Income Tax
Provision
Effective
Income Tax
Rate
As reported . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reversal of tax reserves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Litigation provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remeasurement of net deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$
(in millions, except for percentages)
$2,207
3%
(43)
4,098
—
65
283
1,505
208
Adjusted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$6,262
$2,061
33%
51
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Management of Our Liquidity
We regularly evaluate cash requirements for current operations, commitments, development
activities and capital expenditures, and we may elect to raise additional funds for these purposes in the
future through the issuance of either debt or equity. Our treasury policies provide management with the
guidelines and authority to manage liquidity risk in a manner consistent with our corporate objectives.
The objectives of our treasury policies are to:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
provide adequate liquidity to cover operating expenditures and liquidity contingency
scenarios;
ensure payments on required litigation settlements;
ensure timely completion of payments settlement activities;
(cid:129) make planned capital investments in our business;
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
pay dividends and repurchase our shares at the discretion of our board of directors; and
optimize income earned by investing excess cash in securities that enable us to meet our
working capital and liquidity needs.
Based on our current cash flow budgets and forecasts of our short-term and long-term liquidity
needs, we believe that our projected sources of liquidity will be sufficient to meet our projected liquidity
needs for more than the next 12 months. We will continue to assess our liquidity position and potential
sources of supplemental liquidity in view of our operating performance, current economic and capital
market conditions, and other relevant circumstances.
Cash Flow Data
The following table summarizes our cash flow activity for the fiscal years presented:
Total cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
$ 5,009
(2,414)
(2,655)
$ 3,872
(2,299)
(3,304)
$ 2,691
(1,904)
(1,542)
equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
(9)
5
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$
(53)
$(1,740)
$ (750)
Operating activities. Total cash provided by operating activities was higher during fiscal 2012
compared to prior year, primarily reflecting higher operating revenue in fiscal 2012. We believe that
cash flow generated from operating activities will be more than sufficient to meet our ongoing
operational needs. Total cash provided by operating activities was higher during fiscal 2011 compared
to fiscal 2010, primarily reflecting continued growth in our net income and the absence of a $682
million prepayment of our Retailers’ litigation obligation in fiscal 2010.
Investing activities. Cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 was
relatively consistent, reflecting our continued investment in available-for-sale securities. See
Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and Investments to our consolidated financial statements.
Comparatively, cash used in investing activities in fiscal 2010 primarily included $1.8 billion for the
acquisition of CyberSource.
52
Financing activities. Cash used in financing activities during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 reflects
our continued commitment to return excess cash to shareholders through reduction in the as-converted
class A share count, either through purchases in the open market or deposits made into the litigation
escrow, and increased dividends. See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and
Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity to our consolidated financial statements.
Sources of Liquidity
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash on hand, cash flow from our operations, our investment
portfolio, and access to various equity and borrowing arrangements. Funds from operations are
maintained in cash and cash equivalents, short-term available-for-sale investment securities, or long-
term available-for-sale investment securities based upon our funding requirements, access to liquidity
from these holdings, and return that these holdings provide.
Funds held by our foreign subsidiaries include cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale
investment securities, both short and long-term. If these funds are needed for our operations in the
U.S., we would be required to accrue and pay U.S. taxes to repatriate these funds, up to the amount of
$2.6 billion, which we intend to indefinitely reinvest outside of the U.S. Our current plans do not
demonstrate a need to repatriate them to fund our U.S. operations.
Available-for-sale investment securities. Our investment portfolio is designed to invest excess
cash in securities which enable us to meet our working capital and liquidity needs. Our investment
portfolio primarily consists of debt securities issued by the U.S. Treasury or U.S. government-
sponsored agencies. The majority of these investments, $3.3 billion, are classified as non-current as
they have stated maturities of more than one year from the balance sheet date. However, these
investments are generally available to meet short-term liquidity needs.
Factors that may impact the liquidity of our investment portfolio include changes to credit ratings of
the securities, uncertainty related to regulatory developments, actions by central banks and other
monetary authorities, and the ongoing strength and quality of credit markets. We will continue to review
our portfolio in light of evolving market and economic conditions. However, if current market conditions
deteriorate, the liquidity of our investment portfolio may be impacted and we could determine that some
of our investments are impaired, which could adversely impact our financial results. We have policies
that limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution or type of investment. See
Item 1A—Risk Factors.
Revolving credit facilities. In February 2008, we entered into a $3.0 billion five-year revolving credit
facility with a syndicate of banks including affiliates of certain holders of shares of our class B and class
C common stock and certain of our clients and affiliates of our clients. Loans under the five-year facility
may be in the form of: (1) Base Rate Advance, which will bear interest at a rate equal to the higher of
the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% and the Bank of America prime rate; (2) Eurocurrency Advance,
which will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR (as adjusted for applicable reserve requirements) plus
an applicable cost adjustment and an applicable margin of 0.11% to 0.30% based on our credit rating;
or (3) U.S. Swing Loan, Euro Swing Loan, or Foreign Currency Swing Loan, which will bear interest at
the rate equal to the applicable Swing Loan rate for that currency plus the same applicable margin plus
additionally for Euro and Sterling loans, an applicable reserve requirement and cost adjustment. We
also agreed to pay a facility fee on the aggregate commitment amount, whether used or unused, at a
rate ranging from 0.04% to 0.10% and a utilization fee on loans at a rate ranging from 0.05% to 0.10%
based on our credit rating. Currently, the applicable margin is 0.15%, the facility fee is 0.05% and the
utilization fee is 0.05%. This facility contains certain covenants, including financial covenant
requirements relating to a maximum level of debt to EBITDA and events of default customary for
financings of this type. This facility expires on February 15, 2013. We are in the process of replacing
this facility in fiscal 2013. There were no borrowings under this facility and we were in compliance with
all covenants during and at the end of fiscal 2012.
53
U.S. commercial paper program. We maintain a $500 million U.S. commercial paper program,
which provides for the issuance of unsecured debt with maturities up to 270 days from the date of
issuance at interest rates generally extended to companies with comparable credit ratings. The
commercial paper program is a source of short-term borrowed funds that may be used from time to
time to cover short-term cash needs. We had no obligations outstanding under this program during and
at the end of fiscal 2012. There are no financial covenants related to this program.
Universal shelf registration statement. In July 2012, we filed a registration statement with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission using a shelf registration process. As permitted by the
registration statement, we may, from time to time, sell shares of debt or equity securities in one or
more transactions. The registration statement expires in July 2015.
Litigation escrow account. Pursuant to the terms of the retrospective responsibility plan, we
maintain a litigation escrow account from which monetary liabilities from settlements of, or judgments
in, the covered litigation will be payable. When the Company funds the litigation escrow account, the
shares of class B common stock held by our stockholders are subject to dilution through an adjustment
to the conversion rate of the shares of class B common stock to shares of class A common stock.
See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated
financial statements. The balance in this account at September 30, 2012, was $4.4 billion and is
reflected as restricted cash on our consolidated balance sheet. As these funds are restricted for the
sole purpose of making payments related to the covered litigation matters, as described below under
Uses of Liquidity, we do not rely on them for other operational needs.
Credit Ratings
At September 30, 2012, our credit ratings by Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s were as follows:
Debt type
Standard and Poor’s
Moody’s
Rating
Outlook
Rating
Outlook
Short-term unsecured debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term unsecured debt
A-1
A+
Stable
Stable
P-1
A1
Stable
Stable
Various factors affect our credit ratings, including changes in our operating performance, the
economic environment, conditions in the electronic payment industry, our financial position and
changes in our business strategy. We do not currently foresee any reasonable circumstances under
which our credit ratings would be significantly downgraded. If a downgrade were to occur, it could
adversely impact, among other things, our future borrowing costs and access to capital markets.
Uses of Liquidity
Payments settlement. Payments settlement due from and due to issuing and acquiring clients
represents a substantial daily liquidity requirement. U.S. dollar settlements are typically settled within
the same day and do not result in a net receivable or payable balance, while settlement currencies
other than the U.S. dollar generally remain outstanding for one to two business days, consistent with
industry practice for such transactions. During fiscal 2012, we often did not need to fund settlement
working capital as indicated by the fact that our average daily net settlement position was a payable of
$43 million, although our greatest working capital requirement was a peak net settlement receivable
balance of $587 million.
Covered litigation. We are parties to legal and regulatory proceedings with respect to a variety of
matters, including certain litigation that we refer to as the covered litigation. As noted above, monetary
liabilities from settlements of, or judgments in, the covered litigation are payable from the litigation
54
escrow account. During fiscal 2012, we made $140 million in covered litigation payments that were
funded from the litigation escrow account. At September 30, 2012 the litigation escrow account had an
available balance of $4.4 billion. In October 2012, we made an additional payment of $350 million from
the litigation escrow account to the Individual Plaintiffs’ Settlement Fund. See Note 3—Retrospective
Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements.
Other litigation. Judgments in and settlements of litigation, other than the covered litigation, could
give rise to future liquidity needs.
Reduction in as-converted shares. During fiscal 2012, total as-converted class A common stock
was reduced by 22.8 million shares, using $2.4 billion of operating cash on hand. Of the $2.4 billion,
$710 million was used to repurchase class A common stock in the open market. In addition, we made
deposits totaling $1.7 billion of operating cash into the litigation escrow account previously established
under the retrospective responsibility plan. These deposits have the same economic effect on earnings
per share as repurchasing the Company’s class A common stock, because they reduce the class B
conversion rate and consequently the as-converted class A common stock share count.
In July 2012, our board of directors authorized a $1 billion share repurchase program to be in
effect through July 2013. At September 30, 2012, this share repurchase program had remaining
authorized funds of $865 million. In October 2012, our board of directors authorized an additional
$1.5 billion share repurchase program to be in effect through October 2013. All share repurchase
programs authorized prior to July 2012 have been completed. See Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity to
our consolidated financial statements.
Dividends. During fiscal 2012, we paid $595 million in dividends. On October 24, 2012, our board
of directors declared a quarterly dividend in the aggregate amount of $0.33 per share of class A
common stock (determined in the case of class B and class C common stock on an as-converted
basis). We expect to pay approximately $221 million in connection with this dividend in December
2012. See Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity to our consolidated financial statements. We expect to
continue paying quarterly dividends in cash, subject to approval by our board of directors. Class B and
class C common stock will share ratably on an as-converted basis in such future dividends.
Visa Europe put option. We have granted Visa Europe a perpetual put option which, if exercised,
will require us to purchase all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Visa Europe from its
members. Visa Europe may exercise the put option at any time. The put option provides a formula for
determining the purchase price of the Visa Europe shares, which subject to certain adjustments,
applies Visa Inc.’s forward price-to-earnings multiple, or the “P/E ratio” (as defined in the option
agreement) at the time the option is exercised to Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income for the
forward 12-month period, or the “adjusted sustainable income” (as defined in the option agreement).
The calculation of Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income under the terms of the put option
agreement includes potentially material adjustments for cost synergies and other negotiated items.
Upon exercise, the key inputs to this formula, including Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income, will
be the result of negotiation between us and Visa Europe. The put option provides an arbitration
mechanism in the event that the two parties are unable to agree on the ultimate purchase price.
At September 30, 2012, we determined the fair value of the put option liability to be approximately
$145 million. While this amount represents the fair value of the put option at September 30, 2012, it
does not represent the actual purchase price that we may be required to pay if the option is exercised.
The purchase price we could be obligated to pay 285 days after exercise will represent a substantial
financial obligation, which could be several billion dollars or more. We may need to obtain third-party
financing, either by borrowing funds or undertaking a subsequent equity offering in order to fund this
payment. The amount of that potential obligation could vary dramatically based on, among other
things, Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income and our P/E ratio, in each case, as negotiated at the
time the put option is exercised.
55
Given the perpetual nature of the put option and the various economic conditions which could be
present at the time of exercise, our ultimate obligation in the event of exercise cannot be reliably
estimated. The following table calculates our total obligation assuming, for illustrative purposes only, a
range of P/E ratios for Visa Inc. and assuming that Visa Europe demonstrates $100 million of adjusted
sustainable income at the date of exercise. The $100 million of assumed adjusted sustainable income
provided below is for illustrative purposes only. This does not represent an estimate of the amount of
adjusted sustainable income Visa Europe would have been able to demonstrate at September 30,
2012, or will be able to demonstrate at any point in time in the future. Should Visa Europe elect to
exercise its option, we believe it is likely that it will implement changes in its business operations to
move to a for-profit model in order to maximize its adjusted sustainable income and, as a result, to
increase the purchase price. The table also provides the amount of increase or decrease in the payout,
assuming the same range of estimated P/E ratios, for each $25 million of adjusted sustainable income
above or below the assumed $100 million demonstrated at the time of exercise. At September 30,
2012, our estimated long-term P/E ratio was 16.9x and the long-term P/E differential, the difference
between this ratio and the estimated ratio applicable to Visa Europe, was 1.9x. At September 30, 2012,
the spot P/E ratio was 18.8x and the spot P/E differential, the difference between this ratio and the
estimated spot ratio applicable to Visa Europe, was 1.8x. These ratios are for reference purposes only
and are not necessarily indicative of the ratio or differential that could be applicable if the put option
were exercised at any point in the future.
Visa Inc’s Forward
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
Payout Assuming
Adjusted Sustainable
Income of $100 million(1)
Increase/Decrease in Payout
for Each $25 million of
Adjusted Sustainable Income
Above/ Below $100 million
25
20
15
(in millions)
$2,500
$2,000
$1,500
(in millions)
$625
$500
$375
(1) Given the large range of different economic environments and circumstances under which Visa
Europe could decide to exercise its option, the ultimate purchase price could be several billion
dollars or more.
Pension and other postretirement benefits. We sponsor various qualified and non-qualified defined
benefit pension plans that generally provide benefits based on years of service, age and eligible
compensation. We also sponsor a postretirement benefit plan that provides postretirement medical
benefits for retirees and dependents upon meeting minimum age and service requirements. Our policy
with respect to our qualified pension plan is to contribute annually not less than the minimum required
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA. Our non-qualified pension and other
postretirement benefit plans are funded on a current basis. We typically fund our qualified pension plan
in September of each year. Funding does not impact current period pension expense but has the
positive impact of reducing future period expense for the plan. In fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, we made
contributions to our pension and other postretirement plans of $88 million, $74 million, and $66 million,
respectively. In fiscal 2013, we anticipate funding our defined benefit pension plans and postretirement
plan by approximately $52 million. The actual contribution amount will vary depending upon the funded
status of the pension plan, movements in the discount rate, performance of the plan assets, and
related tax consequences.
Capital expenditures. Our capital expenditures increased during fiscal 2012 due to investment in
technology, infrastructure and growth initiatives. We expect capital expenditures to be in the $425
million to $475 million range in fiscal 2013, as we continue to make ongoing investments in technology
assets and payments system infrastructure to support our core business as well as our eCommerce
and mobile initiatives.
56
Acquisitions. There were no material acquisitions during fiscal 2012, compared to fiscal 2011,
when we acquired PlaySpan and Fundamo for a total of $268 million, net of $22 million in cash
received. See Note 5—Acquisitions to our consolidated financial statements. We will continue to
pursue our growth initiatives and to expand our product offerings through acquisitions and strategic
partnerships in the future.
Fair Value Measurements—Financial Instruments
The assessment of fair value of our financial instruments is based on a fair value hierarchy that
requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable
inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs are obtained from independent sources and can
be validated by a third party, whereas unobservable inputs reflect assumptions regarding what a third
party would use in pricing an asset or liability. As of September 30, 2012, our financial instruments
measured at fair value on a recurring basis included approximately $9.8 billion of assets and $168
million of liabilities. Of these instruments, $164 million, or less than 2%, had significant unobservable
inputs, with the Visa Europe put option liability constituting $145 million of this amount. At
September 30, 2012, debt instruments in this category included $7 million of auction rate securities.
See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and Investments to our consolidated financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Our off-balance sheet arrangements are primarily comprised of guarantees and indemnifications.
Visa has no off-balance sheet debt, other than lease and purchase order commitments as discussed
below and reflected in our contractual obligations table.
Indemnifications
We indemnify clients for settlement losses suffered by failure of any other customer to honor Visa
cards, traveler’s cheques, or other instruments processed in accordance with our operating
regulations. The amount of the indemnification is limited to the amount of unsettled Visa payment
transactions at any point in time. We maintain global credit settlement risk policies and procedures to
manage settlement risk which may require clients to post collateral if certain credit standards are not
met. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 12—Settlement Guarantee
Management to our consolidated financial statements.
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into contractual arrangements with financial
institutions and other clients under which we may agree to indemnify the client for certain types of
losses incurred relating to the services we provide or otherwise relating to our performance under the
applicable agreement.
57
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual commitments will have an impact on our future liquidity. The contractual
obligations identified in the table below include both on- and off-balance sheet transactions that
represent a material expected or contractually committed future obligation as of September 30, 2012.
We believe that we will be able to fund these obligations through cash generated from our operations
and available credit facilities, or the litigation escrow account.
Payments Due by Period
Less than
1 Year
1-3
Years
3-5
Years
More than
5 Years
Total
(in millions)
Purchase orders(1)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Leases(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Client incentives(3)
Marketing and sponsorship(4)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Litigation settlement payments(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividends(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 847
101
2,537
120
4,383
221
$ 148 $
123
3,509
237
—
—
48
63
2,025
115
—
—
$ —
64
582
231
—
—
$ 1,043
351
8,653
703
4,383
221
Total(7,8,9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$8,209
$4,017 $2,251
$877
$15,354
(1) Represents agreements to purchase goods and services that specify significant terms, including:
fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased and fixed, minimum or variable price provisions, and
the approximate timing of the transaction.
Includes both operating and capital leases for premises, equipment and software licenses, which
range in terms from one to eighteen years.
(2)
(3) Represents future cash payments for incentive agreements with select clients under various
programs designed to build payments volume, increase acceptance and win merchant preference
to route transactions over our network. These agreements, which range in terms from one to
thirteen years, can provide card issuance and/or conversion support, volume / growth targets and
marketing and program support based on specific performance requirements. Payments under
these agreements will generally be offset by revenues earned from higher corresponding
payments and transaction volumes. These payment amounts are estimates and will change based
on customer performance, amendments to existing contracts or execution of new contracts.
Related amounts disclosed in Note 18—Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated
financial statements represent the associated expected reduction of revenue related to these
agreements which we estimate we will record.
(4) Visa is a party to contractual sponsorship agreements ranging from approximately three to sixteen
years. These contracts are designed to help increase Visa-branded cards and volumes. Over the
life of these contracts, Visa is required to make payments in exchange for certain advertising and
promotional rights. In connection with these contractual commitments, Visa has an obligation to
spend certain minimum amounts for advertising and marketing promotion over the life of the
contract. For obligations where the individual years of spend are not specified in the contract, we
have estimated the timing of when these amounts will be spent.
(5) Visa, MasterCard, various U.S. financial institution defendants, and the class plaintiffs signed a
settlement agreement to resolve the class plaintiffs’ claims in the interchange multidistrict litigation
proceedings on October 19, 2012. The amount in the table represents the maximum amount
expected to be paid out in fiscal 2013 under the class plaintiffs’ settlement agreement and the
individual plaintiffs’ settlement agreement from the litigation escrow account. This amount includes
the $350 million payment to the Individual Plaintiffs’ Settlement Fund made in October 2012.
A litigation provision of $4.1 billion for the covered litigation was booked during fiscal 2012. See
Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated
financial statements.
58
(6)
Includes expected dividend amount of $221 million as dividends were declared on October 24,
2012 and will be paid on December 4, 2012 to all holders of record of Visa’s common stock as of
November 16, 2012.
(7) We have liabilities for uncertain tax positions of $139 million. At September 30, 2012, we also
accrued $20 million of interest and $7 million of penalties associated with our uncertain tax
positions. We cannot determine the range of cash payments that will be made and the timing of
the cash settlements, if any, associated with our uncertain tax positions. Therefore, no amounts
related to these obligations have been included in the table.
(8) Visa granted a perpetual put option to Visa Europe, which if exercised, will require us to purchase
all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Visa Europe from its members. Due to the
perpetual nature of the instrument and the various economic conditions, which could exist when
the put is exercised, the ultimate amount and timing of Visa’s obligation, if any, cannot be reliably
estimated. Therefore, no amounts related to this obligation have been included in the table.
However, given the range of different economic environments and circumstances under which
Visa Europe could exercise its option, the ultimate purchase price could be several billion dollars
or more. The fair value of the Visa Europe put option itself totaling $145 million at September 30,
2012 has also been excluded from this table as it does not represent the amount or an estimate of
the amount of Visa’s obligation in the event of exercise. See Liquidity and Critical Accounting
Estimates sections of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations and Note 2—Visa Europe to our consolidated financial statements.
(9) We evaluate the need to make contributions to our pension plan after considering the funded
status of the pension plan, movements in the discount rate, performance of the plan assets and
related tax consequences. Expected contributions to our pension plan have not been included in
the table as such amounts are dependent upon the considerations discussed above, and may
result in a wide range of amounts. See Note 11—Pension, Postretirement and Other Benefits to
our consolidated financial statements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America which requires us to make judgments, assumptions
and estimates that affect the amounts reported. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting
Policies to our consolidated financial statements. We have established policies and control procedures
which seek to ensure that estimates and assumptions are appropriately governed and applied
consistently from period to period. However, actual results could differ from our assumptions and
estimates, and such differences could be material.
We believe that the following accounting estimates are the most critical to fully understand and
evaluate our reported financial results, as they require our most subjective or complex management
judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently
uncertain and unpredictable.
Revenue Recognition—Client Incentives
Critical Estimates. We enter into incentive agreements with select clients and other business
partners designed to build payments volume, increase product acceptance and win merchant
preference to route transactions over our network. These incentives are primarily accounted for as
reductions to operating revenues; however, if a separate identifiable benefit at fair value can be
established they are accounted for as operating expenses. We generally capitalize advance incentive
payments under these agreements if select criteria are met. The capitalization criteria include the
existence of future economic benefits to Visa, the existence of legally enforceable recoverability
clauses, such as early termination clauses, management’s ability and intent to enforce the
59
recoverability clauses and the ability to generate future earnings from the agreement in excess of
amounts deferred. Capitalized amounts are amortized over the shorter of the period of contractual
recoverability or the corresponding period of economic benefit. Incentives not yet paid are accrued
systematically and rationally based on management’s estimate of each client’s performance. These
accruals are regularly reviewed and estimates of performance are adjusted as appropriate, based on
changes in performance expectations, actual client performance, amendments to existing contracts or
the execution of new contracts
Assumptions and Judgment. Estimation of client incentives relies on forecasts of payments
volume, card issuance and card conversion. Performance is estimated using customer reported
information, transactional information accumulated from our systems, historical information and
discussions with our clients.
Impact if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. If our clients’ actual performance or recoverable
cash flows are not consistent with our estimates, client incentives may be materially different than
initially recorded. Increases in incentive payments are generally driven by increased payments and
transaction volume, which drive our net revenue. As a result, in the event incentive payments exceed
estimates, such payments are not expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, results
of operations or cash flows. The cumulative impact of a revision in estimates is recorded in the period
such revisions become probable and estimable. For the year ended September 30, 2012, client
incentives represented 17% of gross operating revenues.
Fair Value—Visa Europe Put Option
Critical Estimates. We have granted Visa Europe a perpetual put option which, if exercised, will
require us to purchase all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Visa Europe from its members.
The put option provides a formula for determining the purchase price of the Visa Europe shares, which,
subject to certain adjustments, applies our forward price-to-earnings multiple, or the P/E ratio (as
defined in the option agreement), at the time the option is exercised to Visa Europe’s projected
adjusted sustainable income for the forward 12-month period, or the adjusted sustainable income (as
defined in the option agreement). The calculation of Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income under
the terms of the put option agreement includes potentially material adjustments for cost synergies and
other negotiated items.
Upon exercise, the key inputs to this formula, including Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable
income, will be the result of negotiation between us and Visa Europe. The put option provides an
arbitration mechanism in the event that the two parties are unable to agree on the ultimate purchase
price. See Note 2—Visa Europe to our consolidated financial statements for further detail regarding the
calculation of the put exercise price under the agreement.
The fair value of Visa Europe’s option was estimated to be approximately $145 million at
September 30, 2012. While the put option is in fact non-transferable, this amount, recorded in our
financial statements, represents our estimate of the amount we would be required to pay a third-party
market participant to transfer the potential obligation in an orderly transaction. The fair value of the put
option is computed by comparing the estimated strike price, under the terms of the put agreement, to
the estimated fair value of Visa Europe. The fair value of Visa Europe is defined as the estimated
amount a third-party market participant might pay in an arm’s length transaction under normal business
conditions. A probability of exercise assumption is applied to reflect the possibility that Visa Europe will
never exercise its option.
While this amount represents the fair value of the put option at September 30, 2012, it does not
represent the actual purchase price that we may be required to pay if the option is exercised, which
60
could be several billion dollars or more. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further
discussion.
Assumptions and Judgment. The most significant estimates used in the valuation of the put option
are the assumed probability that Visa Europe will elect to exercise its option and the estimated
differential between the forward price-to-earnings multiple applicable to our common stock, as defined
in the put option agreement, and that applicable to Visa Europe on a stand-alone basis at the time of
exercise, which we refer to as the P/E differential.
Probability of Exercise—Exercise of the put option is at the sole discretion of Visa Europe (on
behalf of the Visa Europe shareholders pursuant to authority granted to Visa Europe, under its Articles
of Association). We estimate the assumed probability of exercise based on reasonably available
information including, but not limited to: (i) Visa Europe’s stated intentions; (ii) indications that Visa
Europe is preparing to exercise as reflected in its reported financial results; (iii) evaluation of market
conditions, including the regulatory environment, that could impact the potential future profitability of
Visa Europe; and (iv) qualitative factors applicable to Visa Europe’s largest members, which could
indicate a change in their need or desire to liquidate their investment holdings.
P/E Differential—The P/E differential is determined by estimating the relative difference in the
forward price-to-earnings multiples applicable to our common stock, as defined in the put option
agreement, and that applicable to Visa Europe at the time of exercise. For valuation purposes, the
forward price-to-earnings multiple applicable to our common stock at the time of exercise is estimated
by evaluating various quantitative measures and qualitative factors. Quantitatively, we estimate our P/E
ratio by dividing the average stock price over the preceding 24 months (the “long-term P/E calculation”)
and the last 30 trading dates (the “30-day P/E calculation”) prior to the measurement date by the
median estimate of our net income per share for the 12 months starting with the next calendar quarter
immediately following the reporting date. This median earnings estimate is obtained from the
Institutional Brokers’ Estimate System (I/B/E/S). We then determine the best estimate of our long-term
price-to-earnings multiple for valuation purposes by qualitatively evaluating the 30-day P/E calculation
as compared to the long-term P/E calculation. In this evaluation we examine both measures to
determine whether differences, if any, are the result of a fundamental change in our long-term value or
the result of short-term market volatility or other non-Company specific market factors that may not be
indicative of our long-term forward P/E. We believe, given the perpetual nature of the put option, that a
market participant would more heavily weight long-term value indicators, as opposed to short-term
indicators.
Factors that might indicate a fundamental change in long-term value include, but are not limited to,
changes in the regulatory environment, client portfolio, long-term growth rates or new product
innovation. A consistent methodology is applied to a group of comparable public companies used to
estimate the forward price-to-earnings multiple applicable to Visa Europe. These estimates, therefore,
are impacted by changes in stock prices and the financial market’s expectations of our future earnings
and those of the comparable companies.
Other estimates of lesser significance include growth rates and foreign currency exchange rates
applied in the calculation of Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income. The valuation model assumes
a large range of annual growth rates, reflecting the different economic environments and
circumstances under which Visa Europe could decide to exercise. The lowest growth rates assumed
reflect Visa Europe’s current business model as an association, owned by its member banks, while the
highest reflect a successful shift to a for-profit model in anticipation of exercise. The scenarios with
higher growth rates are assigned a significantly higher probability in the valuation model, as we believe
a market participant would more heavily weight these scenarios as it is likely that, should it choose to
61
exercise its option, Visa Europe will seek to maximize the purchase price by adopting a for-profit
business model in advance of exercising the put option. The foreign exchange rate used to translate
Visa Europe’s results from Euros to U.S. dollars reflects a blend of forward exchange rates observed in
the marketplace. The assumed timing of exercise of the put option used in the various modeled
scenarios is not an overly significant assumption in the valuation, as obligations calculated in later
years are more heavily discounted in the calculation of present value.
Impact if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. In the determination of the fair value of the put
option at September 30, 2012, we have assumed a 40% probability of exercise by Visa Europe at
some point in the future and an estimated long-term P/E differential at the time of exercise of
approximately 1.9x. The use of a probability of exercise that is 5% higher than our estimate would have
resulted in an increase of approximately $18 million in the value of the put option. An increase of 1.0x
in the assumed P/E differential would have resulted in an increase of approximately $84 million in the
value of the put option. The put option is exercisable at any time at the sole discretion of Visa Europe.
As such, the put option liability is included in accrued liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet at
September 30, 2012. Classification in current liabilities is not an indication of management’s
expectation of exercise and simply reflects the fact that this obligation could become payable within 12
months.
Legal and Regulatory Matters
Critical Estimates. We are currently involved in various legal proceedings, the outcomes of which
are not within our complete control or may not be known for prolonged periods of time. Management is
required to assess the probability of loss and amount of such loss, if any, in preparing our financial
statements.
Assumptions and Judgment. We evaluate the likelihood of a potential loss from legal or regulatory
proceedings to which we are a party. We record a liability for such claims when a loss is deemed
probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Significant judgment may be required in the
determination of both probability and whether an exposure is reasonably estimable. Our judgments are
subjective based on the status of the legal or regulatory proceedings, the merits of our defenses and
consultation with in-house and outside legal counsel. As additional information becomes available, we
reassess the potential liability related to pending claims and may revise our estimates.
Our retrospective responsibility plan only addresses monetary liabilities from settlements of, or
final judgments in, the covered litigation. The plan’s mechanisms include the use of the litigation
escrow account. The accrual related to the covered litigation could be either higher or lower than the
litigation escrow account balance. We recorded an additional accrual of $4.1 billion for the covered
litigation during fiscal 2012. See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal
Matters to our consolidated financial statements.
Impact if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the legal and
regulatory processes in the multiple jurisdictions in which we operate, our judgments may be materially
different than the actual outcomes, which could have material adverse effects on our business,
financial conditions and results of operations. See Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial
statements.
Income Taxes
Critical Estimates. In calculating our effective tax rate, we make judgments regarding certain tax
positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and allocations of income among various tax
jurisdictions.
62
Assumptions and Judgment. We have various tax filing positions with regard to the timing and
amount of deductions and credits, the establishment of liabilities for uncertain tax positions and the
allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. We are also required to inventory, evaluate and
measure all uncertain tax positions taken or to be taken on tax returns and to record liabilities for the
amount of such positions that may not be sustained, or may only be partially sustained, upon
examination by the relevant taxing authorities.
Impact if Actual Results Differ from Assumptions. Although we believe that our estimates and
judgments are reasonable, actual results may differ from these estimates. Some or all of these
judgments are subject to review by the taxing authorities. If one or more of the taxing authorities were
to successfully challenge our right to realize some or all of the tax benefit we have recorded, and we
were unable to realize this benefit, it could have a material and adverse effect on our financial results
and cash flows.
ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the potential economic loss arising from adverse changes in market factors. Our
exposure to financial market risks results primarily from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange
rates, interest rates and equity prices. Aggregate risk exposures are monitored on an ongoing basis.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Although most of our activities are transacted in U.S. dollars, we are exposed to adverse
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Risks from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations
are primarily related to adverse changes in the U.S. dollar value of revenues generated from foreign
currency-denominated transactions and adverse changes in the U.S. dollar value of payments in
foreign currencies, primarily for expenses at our non-U.S. locations. We manage these risks by
entering into foreign currency forward contracts that hedge exposures of the variability in the U.S.
dollar equivalent of anticipated non-U.S. dollar denominated cash flows. Our foreign currency
exchange rate risk management program reduces, but does not entirely eliminate, the impact of foreign
currency exchange rate movements.
The aggregate notional amounts of our foreign currency forward contracts outstanding in our
exchange rate risk management program were $739 million and $651 million at September 30, 2012
and 2011, respectively. The aggregate notional amount of $739 million outstanding at September 30,
2012, is fully consistent with our strategy and treasury policy aimed at reducing foreign exchange risk
below a predetermined and approved threshold. However, actual results could materially differ from
our forecast. The effect of a hypothetical 10% change of the U.S. dollar is estimated to create an
additional fair value gain or loss of approximately $40 million on our foreign currency forward contracts
outstanding at September 30, 2012. See Note 13—Derivative Financial Instruments to our
consolidated financial statements.
We are also subject to foreign currency exchange risk in daily settlement activities. This risk arises
from the timing of rate setting for settlement with clients relative to the timing of market trades for
balancing currency positions. Risk in settlement activities is limited through daily operating procedures,
including the utilization of Visa settlement systems and our interaction with foreign exchange trading
counterparties.
Interest Rate Risk
Our investment portfolio assets are held in both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate securities. These
assets are included in cash equivalents, short-term available-for-sale investments and long-term
available-for-sale investments. Investments in fixed-rate instruments carry a degree of interest rate
63
risk. The fair value of fixed-rate securities may be adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates.
Additionally, a falling-rate environment creates reinvestment risk because as securities mature, the
proceeds are reinvested at a lower rate, generating less interest income. Historically, we have been
able to hold investments until maturity. Our operating results or cash flows have not been, and are not
expected to be, materially impacted by a sudden change in market interest rates.
The fair value balances of our fixed-rate investment securities at September 30, 2012 and 2011
were $3.0 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase or decrease in
interest rates would create an estimated change in fair value of approximately $42 million on our fixed-
rate investment securities at September 30, 2012. The fair value balances of our adjustable-rate debt
securities were $923 million and $764 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Visa Europe Put Option
We have a liability related to the put option with Visa Europe which is recorded at fair value at
September 30, 2012. We are required to record any change in the fair value of the put option on a
quarterly basis. In the determination of the fair value of the put option at September 30, 2012, we have
assumed a 40% probability of exercise by Visa Europe at some point in the future and a P/E
differential, at the time of exercise, of approximately 1.9x. The use of a probability of exercise 5%
higher than our estimate would have resulted in an increase of approximately $18 million in the value
of the put option. An increase of 1.0x in the assumed P/E differential would have resulted in an
increase of approximately $84 million in the value of the put option. See Liquidity and Capital
Resources and Critical Accounting Estimates above.
Pension Plan Risk
Our U.S. defined benefit pension plan assets were $973 million and $783 million and projected
benefit obligations were $990 million and $839 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
A material adverse decline in the value of pension plan assets and/or the discount rate for benefit
obligations would result in a decrease in the funded status of the plan, an increase in pension cost and
an increase in required funding. We will continue to monitor the performance of pension plan assets
and market conditions as we evaluate the amount of our contribution to the plan for fiscal 2013, which
we expect to make in September 2013.
64
ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
VISA INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of September 30, 2012 and 2011 and for the years ended September 30, 2012, 2011 and
2010
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Balance Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
67
69
71
72
75
77
Page
65
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Visa Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Visa Inc. and subsidiaries as
of September 30, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations,
comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended September 30, 2012. We also have audited Visa Inc.’s internal control over financial
reporting as of September 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO). Visa Inc.’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement
and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness
exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on
the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and
dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made
only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or
detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject
to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Visa Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, and
the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
September 30, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our
opinion, Visa Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting
as of September 30, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
/s/ KPMG LLP
San Francisco, California
November 15, 2012
66
VISA INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restricted cash—litigation escrow (Note 3)
Investment securities (Note 4)
Trading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Settlement receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer collateral (Note 12)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current portion of client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred tax assets (Note 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investment securities, available-for-sale (Note 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Property, equipment and technology, net (Note 7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other assets (Note 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets, net (Note 8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions, except par value data)
$ 2,074
4,432
$ 2,127
2,857
66
677
454
723
823
209
2,027
301
11,786
3,283
58
1,634
151
11,420
11,681
57
1,214
412
560
931
278
489
265
9,190
711
85
1,541
129
11,436
11,668
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$40,013
$34,760
Liabilities
Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Settlement payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Customer collateral (Note 12)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued liabilities (Note 9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued litigation (Note 21)
Total current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 20) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other liabilities (Note 9)
$
152
719
823
460
830
584
4,386
7,954
4,058
371
Total liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12,383
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
$
169
449
931
387
528
562
425
3,451
4,205
667
8,323
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
67
VISA INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS—(Continued)
Equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 25 shares authorized and none
issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ —
$ —
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions, except par value data)
Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 2,001,622 shares
authorized, 535 and 520 shares issued and outstanding at
September 30, 2012, and September 30, 2011, respectively
(Note 15)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 622 shares authorized,
245 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and
September 30, 2011 (Note 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock, $0.0001 par value, 1,097 shares authorized,
31 and 47 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012,
and September 30, 2011, respectively (Note 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Additional paid-in capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investment securities, available-for-sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans . . . . . . . . .
Derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedges . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign currency translation adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27,630
Total liabilities and equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$40,013
—
—
—
—
—
—
19,992
7,809
19,907
6,706
3
(186)
13
(1)
(171)
—
(186)
18
(8)
(176)
26,437
$34,760
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
68
VISA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
(in millions, except per share data)
Operating Revenues
Service revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4,872
3,975
Data processing revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3,025
International transaction revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
704
Other revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2,155)
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 4,261
3,478
2,674
655
(1,880)
$ 3,497
3,125
2,290
713
(1,560)
Total operating revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10,421
9,188
8,065
Operating Expenses
Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Network and processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Professional fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General and administrative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Litigation provision (Note 21)
Total operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other Income (Expense)
Interest income (expense) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investment income (Note 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total other income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net income including non-controlling interest
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,726
414
873
385
333
451
4,100
8,282
2,139
29
36
3
68
2,207
65
2,142
2
1,459
357
870
337
288
414
7
3,732
5,456
(32)
108
124
200
5,656
2,010
3,646
4
1,222
425
964
286
265
359
(45)
3,476
4,589
(72)
49
72
49
4,638
1,674
2,964
2
Net income attributable to Visa Inc.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,144
$ 3,650
$ 2,966
Basic earnings per share (Note 16)
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.17
$ 5.18
$ 4.03
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1.40
$ 2.59
$ 2.31
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.17
$ 5.18
$ 4.03
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding (Note 16)
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
524
245
41
509
245
70
482
245
112
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
69
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)
VISA INC.
For the Years Ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
(in millions, except per share data)
Diluted earnings per share (Note 16)
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$3.16
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$1.39
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$3.16
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding (Note 16)
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
678
245
41
$5.16
$2.58
$5.16
707
245
70
$4.01
$2.30
$4.01
739
245
112
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
70
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
VISA INC.
For the Years Ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
Net income including non-controlling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,142 $3,646 $2,964
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Investment securities, available-for-sale
Net unrealized gain (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reclassification adjustment for net gain realized in net income
including non-controlling interest
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedges . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net unrealized gain (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) loss realized in net
income including non-controlling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign currency translation adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
(1)
—
—
—
—
3
(1)
(14)
7
7
5
(1)
—
(4)
2
(117)
46
18
(9)
62
(13)
(9)
(25)
(10)
4
(1)
—
35
(14)
(28)
6
61
(21)
5
37
Comprehensive income including non-controlling interest
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,147 $3,621 $3,001
2
4
2
Comprehensive income attributable to Visa Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,149 $3,625 $3,003
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
71
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VISA INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Years Ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
Operating Activities
Net income including non-controlling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,142 $ 3,646 $ 2,964
Adjustments to reconcile net income including non-controlling interest to
net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Amortization of client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair value adjustment for the Visa Europe put option . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Share-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Excess tax benefit for share-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Depreciation and amortization of intangible assets and property,
equipment and technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Settlement receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accounts receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Accounts payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Settlement payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued and other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2,155
—
147
(71)
333
4,101
(1,690)
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(42)
(161)
(1,757)
(26)
(17)
270
(227)
(140)
1,880
(122)
154
(18)
288
18
164
(104)
(4)
(79)
(1,857)
2
29
36
129
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1,560
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131
(14)
265
(18)
249
(32)
203
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(42)
(21)
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165
(1,002)
Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5,009
3,872
2,691
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, equipment, technology and intangible assets . . . .
Proceeds from disposal of property, equipment and technology . . . . . . . .
Investment securities, available-for-sale:
Purchases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds from sales and maturities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchases of / contributions to other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Proceeds / distributions from other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Acquisitions, net of cash received of $17, $22 and $147, respectively
(376)
2
(353)
—
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3
(4,140)
2,093
(12)
22
(1,910)
129
(13)
116
(11)
67
(17)
11
(Note 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distributions from money market investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)
—
(268)
—
(1,805)
89
Net cash used in investing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2,414)
(2,299)
(1,904)
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
75
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)
VISA INC.
Financing Activities
Repurchase of class A common stock (Note 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dividends paid (Note 15) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deposits into litigation escrow account—retrospective responsibility plan
For the Years Ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
(710)
(595)
(2,024)
(423)
(1,000)
(368)
(Note 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1,715)
(1,200)
(500)
Payments from litigation escrow account—retrospective responsibility
plan (Note 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash proceeds from exercise of stock options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Excess tax benefit for share-based compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Principal payments on capital lease obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments for earn-out related to PlaySpan acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Principal payments on debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
140
174
71
(6)
(14)
—
280
99
18
(10)
—
(44)
280
56
14
(12)
—
(12)
Net cash used in financing activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2,655)
(3,304)
(1,542)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . .
7
(9)
5
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(53)
2,127
(1,740)
3,867
(750)
4,617
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,074 $ 2,127 $ 3,867
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Income taxes paid, net of refunds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2,057 $ 1,731 $ 1,291
Amounts included in accounts payable and accrued and other liabilities
related to purchases of property, equipment, technology and intangible
assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
67 $
Interest payments on debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ — $
36 $
3 $
31
4
See accompanying notes, which are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
76
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2012
Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization. In a series of transactions from October 1 to October 3, 2007, Visa Inc. (“Visa” or
the “Company”) undertook a reorganization in which Visa U.S.A. Inc. (“Visa U.S.A.”), Visa International
Service Association (“Visa International”), Visa Canada Corporation (“Visa Canada”) and Inovant LLC
(“Inovant”) became direct or indirect subsidiaries of Visa and established the retrospective
responsibility plan (“the October 2007 reorganization” or “reorganization”). See Note 3—Retrospective
Responsibility Plan. The reorganization was reflected as a single transaction on October 1, 2007 using
the purchase method of accounting with Visa U.S.A. as the accounting acquirer. Visa Europe Limited
(“Visa Europe”) did not become a subsidiary of Visa Inc., but rather remained owned and governed by
its European member financial institutions. See Note 2—Visa Europe.
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial
institutions and governments around the world to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments. Visa
and its wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, including Visa U.S.A., Visa International, Visa
Worldwide Pte. Limited (“VWPL”), Visa Canada, Inovant and CyberSource Corporation
(“CyberSource”), operate one of the world’s most advanced processing networks, VisaNet. The
Company provides its clients with payment processing platforms that encompass consumer credit,
debit, prepaid and commercial payments, and facilitates global commerce through the transfer of value
and information among financial institutions, merchants, consumers, businesses and government
entities. The Company is not a bank and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for
consumers.
Consolidation and basis of presentation. The consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Visa and its consolidated entities and are presented in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company
consolidates its majority-owned and controlled entities, including variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for
which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investments in VIEs have not been
material to its consolidated financial statements as of and for the periods presented. Non-controlling
interests are reported as a component of equity. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions
are eliminated in consolidation.
The Company has one reportable segment, “Payment Services.” The Company’s activities are
interrelated and each activity is dependent upon and supportive of the other. Accordingly, all significant
operating decisions are based on analysis of Visa as a single global business.
Use of estimates. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S.
GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These
estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Future actual results could differ
materially from these estimates. The use of estimates in specific accounting policies is described
further below as appropriate.
Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include cash and certain highly liquid
investments with original maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase. Cash equivalents are
primarily recorded at cost, which approximates fair value.
77
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Restricted cash—litigation escrow. The Company maintains an escrow account from which
settlements of, or judgments in, the covered litigation are paid. See Note 21—Legal Matters for a
discussion of the covered litigation. The escrow funds are held in money market investments, together
with the interest earned, less applicable taxes payable, and classified as restricted cash on the
consolidated balance sheets. Interest earned on escrow funds is included in investment income, on the
consolidated statements of operations.
Investments and fair value. The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair
value is 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. Fair value measurements are
reported under a three-level valuation hierarchy. The classification of the Company’s financial assets
and liabilities within the hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for
identical assets or liabilities. The Company’s Level 1 assets include cash equivalents (money market
funds), U.S. Treasury securities and equity securities. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and
Investments.
Level 2—Inputs to the valuation methodology can include: (1) quoted prices in active markets for
similar (not identical) assets or liabilities; (2) quoted prices for identical or similar assets in non-active
markets; (3) inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or (4) inputs
that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. The Company’s Level 2
assets and liabilities include U.S. government-sponsored debt securities, commercial paper, corporate
debt securities, and foreign exchange derivative instruments. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements
and Investments.
Level 3—Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and cannot be corroborated by
observable market data. Level 3 assets include the Company’s investments in auction rate securities.
Level 3 liabilities include the Visa Europe put option and the earn-out related to the PlaySpan
acquisition. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and Investments.
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard
Update (“ASU”) 2011-04, which provides common fair value measurement and disclosure
requirements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).
The Company adopted ASU 2011-04 effective January 1, 2012. The adoption did not have a material
impact on the consolidated financial statements. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and
Investments.
Trading investment securities include mutual fund equity security investments related to various
employee compensation and benefit plans. Trading activity in these investments is at the direction of
the Company’s employees. These investments are held in a trust and are not available for the
Company’s operational or liquidity needs. Interest and dividend income and changes in fair value are
recorded in investment income, and offset in personnel expense on the consolidated statements of
operations.
Available-for-sale investment securities include investments in debt and equity securities. These
securities are recorded at cost at the time of purchase and are carried at fair value. The Company
considers these securities to be available-for-sale to meet working capital and liquidity needs.
78
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Investments with original maturities of greater than 90 days and stated maturities of less than one year
from the balance sheet date are classified as current assets, while those with stated maturities of
greater than one year from the balance sheet date are classified as non-current assets. The majority of
these investments, $3.3 billion, are classified as non-current as they have stated maturities of more
than one year from the balance sheet date. However, these investments are generally available to
meet short-term liquidity needs. Unrealized gains and losses are reported in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets until realized. The specific
identification method is used to calculate realized gain or loss on the sale of marketable securities,
which is recorded in investment income on the consolidated statements of operations. Dividend and
interest income are recognized when earned and are included in investment income on the
consolidated statements of operations.
The Company evaluates its debt and equity securities for other-than-temporary impairment, or
OTTI, on an ongoing basis. When there has been a decline in fair value of a debt or equity security
below amortized cost basis, the Company recognizes OTTI if (1) it has the intent to sell the security,
(2) it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized
cost basis, or (3) it does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. The
Company has not presented required separate disclosures because its gross unrealized loss positions
in debt or equity securities for the periods presented are not material. The Company recognized $4
million of OTTI for available-for-sale securities during fiscal 2012. The Company had no OTTI for
available-for-sale securities during fiscal 2011 and 2010.
The Company applies the equity method of accounting for investments in other entities when it
holds between 20% and 50% ownership in the entity or when it exercises significant influence. Under
the equity method, the Company’s share of each entity’s profit or loss is reflected in the other line
within the other income (expense) caption on the consolidated statements of operations. The equity
method of accounting is also used for flow-through entities such as limited partnerships and limited
liability companies when the investment ownership percentage is equal to or greater than 5% of
outstanding ownership interests, regardless of whether the Company has significant influence over the
investees.
The Company applies the historical cost method of accounting for investments in other entities
when it holds less than 20% ownership in the entity and does not exercise significant influence, or for
flow-through entities when the investment ownership is less than 5% and the Company does not
exercise significant influence. These investments consist of equity holdings in non-public companies
and are recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
The Company regularly reviews investments accounted for under the cost and equity methods for
possible impairment, which generally involves an analysis of the facts and changes in circumstances
influencing the investment, expectations of the entity’s cash flows and capital needs, and the viability of
its business model.
Financial instruments. The Company considers the following to be financial instruments: cash and
cash equivalents, restricted cash-litigation escrow, trading and available-for-sale investment securities,
settlement receivable and payable, customer collateral, non-marketable equity investments, settlement
risk guarantee, derivative instruments, the Visa Europe put option and the earn-out provision related to
the PlaySpan acquisition. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and Investments.
79
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Settlement receivable and payable. The Company operates systems for authorizing, clearing and
settling payment transactions worldwide. U.S. dollar settlements are settled within the same day and
do not result in a receivable or payable balance, while settlement currencies other than the U.S. dollar
generally remain outstanding for one to two business days, resulting in amounts due from and to
clients. These amounts are presented as settlement receivable and payable on the consolidated
balance sheets, respectively.
Customer collateral. The Company holds cash deposits and other non-cash assets from certain
clients in order to ensure their performance of settlement obligations arising from credit, debit and
travelers cheque product clearings. The cash collateral assets are restricted and fully offset by
corresponding liabilities and both balances are presented on the consolidated balance sheets.
Non-cash collateral assets are held on behalf of the Company by a third party and are not recorded on
the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 12—Settlement Guarantee Management.
Client incentives. The Company enters into incentive agreements with select clients and other
business partners designed to build payments volume, increase product acceptance and win merchant
preference to route transactions over our network. These incentives are primarily accounted for as
reductions to operating revenues or as operating expenses if a separate identifiable benefit at fair value
can be established. The Company generally capitalizes advance incentive payments under these
agreements if select criteria are met. The capitalization criteria include the existence of future economic
benefits to Visa, the existence of legally enforceable recoverability clauses, such as early termination
clauses, management’s ability and intent to enforce the recoverability clauses and the ability to generate
future earnings from the agreement in excess of amounts deferred. Capitalized amounts are amortized
over the shorter of the period of contractual recoverability or the corresponding period of economic
benefit. Incentives not yet paid are accrued systematically and rationally based on management’s
estimate of each client’s performance. These accruals are regularly reviewed and estimates of
performance are adjusted, as appropriate, based on changes in performance expectations, actual client
performance, amendments to existing contracts or the execution of new contracts.
Property, equipment and technology, net. Property, equipment and technology are recorded at
historical cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization, which are computed on a straight-line
basis over the asset’s estimated useful life. Depreciation and amortization of technology, furniture,
fixtures and equipment are computed over estimated useful lives ranging from 2 to 7 years. Capital
leases are amortized over the lease term and leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter
of the useful life of the asset or lease term. Building improvements are depreciated between 3 and 40
years, and buildings are depreciated over 40 years. Improvements that increase functionality of the
asset are capitalized and depreciated over the asset’s remaining useful life. Land and
construction-in-progress are not depreciated. Fully depreciated assets are retained in property,
equipment and technology, net, until removed from service.
Technology includes purchased and internally developed software, including technology assets
obtained through acquisitions. Internally developed software represents software primarily used by the
VisaNet electronic payment network and CyberSource platform. Internal and external costs incurred
during the preliminary project stage are expensed as incurred. Qualifying costs incurred during the
application development stage are capitalized. Once the project is substantially complete and ready for
its intended use these costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the technology’s estimated
useful life. Acquired technology assets are initially recorded at fair value and amortized on a straight-
line basis over the estimated useful life.
80
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets for impairment annually or more
frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset
group may not be recoverable. If the sum of expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the
carrying amount of an asset or asset group, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the
carrying amount of the asset or asset group exceeds its fair value.
Leases. The Company enters into operating and capital leases for the use of premises, software
and equipment. Rent expense related to operating lease agreements which may or may not contain
lease incentives is primarily recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Intangible assets, net. The Company records identifiable intangible assets at fair value on the date
of acquisition and evaluates the useful life of each asset.
Finite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships, reacquired rights, reseller
relationships and tradenames obtained through acquisitions. Finite-lived intangible assets are
amortized on a straight-line basis and are tested for recoverability if events or changes in
circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. These intangibles have
useful lives ranging from 1 to 15 years. No events or changes in circumstances indicate that
impairment existed as of September 30, 2012. See Note 5—Acquisitions and Note 8—Intangible
Assets, Net.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of tradename, customer relationships and the Visa
Europe franchise right acquired in the October 2007 reorganization. Intangible assets with indefinite
useful lives are not amortized but are evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if events or
changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may exist. The Company tests each category of
indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an aggregate basis, which may require the
allocation of cash flows and/or an estimate of fair value to the assets or asset group. Impairment exists
if the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than the carrying value. The Company
relies on a number of factors when completing impairment assessments, including a review of
discounted future cash flows, business plans and the use of present value techniques.
The Company completed its annual impairment review of indefinite-lived intangible assets as of
February 1, 2012, and concluded there was no impairment as of that date. No recent events or
changes in circumstances indicate that impairment of the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets
existed as of September 30, 2012.
Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net
assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized but is evaluated for impairment at
the reporting unit level annually as of February 1, or more frequently if events or changes in
circumstances indicate that impairment may exist.
Effective October 1, 2011, the Company adopted ASU 2011-08, which allows the Company to first
assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a
reporting unit is less than its carrying value. This step serves as the basis for determining whether it is
necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The two-step test first compares the fair
value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no
impairment exists, and the second step is not performed. If the fair value is less than the carrying
81
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
value, the second step is performed to compute the amount of the impairment by comparing the
implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The adoption did
not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
The Company evaluated its goodwill for impairment on February 1, 2012, and concluded there
was no impairment as of that date. No recent events or changes in circumstances indicate that
impairment existed as of September 30, 2012.
Accrued litigation. The Company evaluates the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome in legal or
regulatory proceedings to which it is a party and records a loss contingency when it is probable that a
liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These judgments
are subjective, based on the status of such legal or regulatory proceedings, the merits of the
Company’s defenses and consultation with corporate and external legal counsel. Actual outcomes of
these legal and regulatory proceedings may differ materially from the Company’s estimates. Litigation
accruals associated with settled obligations to be paid over periods longer than one year are recorded
at the present value of future payment obligations. The obligation is accreted to its full payment value
with the corresponding accretion charge included in interest expense on the consolidated statements
of operations. The Company expenses legal costs as incurred in professional fees. See Note 21—
Legal Matters.
Revenue recognition. The Company’s operating revenues are comprised principally of service
revenues, data processing revenues, international transaction revenues and other revenues, reduced
by costs incurred under client incentives arrangements. The Company recognizes revenue when the
price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the service is performed
and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
Service revenues consist primarily of revenues earned for providing clients with a supported global
business infrastructure and for services which support the various product platforms that enable clients
to deliver Visa products and payment services. Current quarter service revenues are primarily
assessed using a calculation of pricing applied to the prior quarter’s payments volume. The Company
also earns revenues from assessments designed to support ongoing acceptance and volume growth
initiatives, which are recognized in the same period the related volume is transacted.
Data processing revenues represent revenues earned for authorization, clearing, settlement,
transaction processing services, network access and other maintenance and support services that
facilitate transaction and information processing among the Company’s clients globally and Visa
Europe. Data processing revenues are also earned for transactions processed by CyberSource’s
online payment gateway and PlaySpan’s virtual goods payment platform. Data processing revenues
are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are rendered.
International transaction revenues are earned for processing cross-border transactions, and
currency conversion activities. Cross-border transactions arise when the cardholder’s issuer country is
different from the merchant’s country. International transaction revenues are generally driven by cross-
border payments and cash volume.
Other revenues consist primarily of license fees for use of the Visa brand, revenues earned from
Visa Europe in connection with the Visa Europe Framework Agreement (see Note 2—Visa Europe),
fees from cardholder services, licensing and certification and certain activities related to the Company’s
82
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
acquired entities. Other revenues also include optional service or product enhancements, such as
extended cardholder protection and concierge services. Other revenues are recognized in the same
period the related transactions occur or services are rendered.
Marketing. The Company expenses costs for the production of advertising as incurred. The cost of
media advertising is expensed when the advertising takes place. Sponsorship costs are recognized
over the period in which the Company benefits from the sponsorship rights. Promotional items are
expensed as incurred, when the related services are received, or when the related event occurs.
Income taxes. The Company’s income tax expense consists of two components: current and
deferred. Current income tax expense represents taxes paid or payable for the current period. Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are recognized to reflect the future tax consequences attributable to temporary
differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the respective tax basis of existing
assets and liabilities, and operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those
temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. In assessing whether deferred tax
assets are realizable, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all
of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is recorded for the portions that
are not expected to be realized based on the level of historical taxable income, projections of future
taxable income over the periods in which the temporary differences are deductible, and qualifying tax
planning strategies.
Where interpretation of the tax law may be uncertain, the Company recognizes, measures and
discloses income tax uncertainties. The Company accounts for interest expense and penalties related
to uncertain tax positions in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. The
Company files a consolidated federal income tax return and, in certain states, combined state tax
returns. Foreign taxes paid have historically been deducted to reduce federal income taxes payable.
The Company intends to elect to claim foreign tax credits in any given year if such election is beneficial
to the Company.
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans. The Company’s defined benefit pension and other
postretirement benefit plans are actuarially evaluated, incorporating various critical assumptions including
the discount rate and the expected rate of return on plan assets (for qualified pension plans). The
discount rate is based on a “bond duration matching” methodology, which reflects the matching of
projected plan obligation cash flows to an average of high-quality corporate bond yield curves whose
duration matches the projected cash flows. The expected rate of return on pension plan assets considers
the current and expected asset allocation, as well as historical and expected returns on each plan asset
class. Any difference between actual and expected plan experience, including asset return experience, in
excess of a 10% corridor is recognized in net periodic pension cost over the expected average employee
future service period, approximately 8 years for United States plans. Other assumptions involve
demographic factors such as retirement age, mortality, attrition and the rate of compensation increases.
The Company evaluates assumptions annually and modifies them as appropriate.
The Company recognizes the funded status of its benefit plans in its consolidated balance sheets
as other assets, accrued liabilities, and other liabilities. The Company recognizes settlement losses
when it settles pension benefit obligations, including making lump-sum cash payments to plan
participants in exchange for their rights to receive specified pension benefits, when certain thresholds
are met. See Note 11—Pension, Postretirement and Other Benefits.
83
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Foreign currency remeasurement and translation. The Company’s functional currency is the U.S.
dollar for the majority of its foreign operations. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the
applicable functional currency are converted to the functional currency at the exchange rate on the
transaction date. At period end, monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured to the functional
currency using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities
are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Gains and losses related to conversion and
remeasurement are recorded in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of
operations.
For certain foreign operations, the Company’s functional currency may be the local currency in
which a foreign subsidiary executes its business transactions. Translation from the local currency to
the U.S. dollar is performed for balance sheet accounts using exchange rates in effect at the balance
sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using an average exchange rate for the period.
Resulting translation adjustments are reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets.
Derivative financial instruments. The Company uses forward foreign exchange contracts to reduce
its exposure to foreign currency rate changes on non-functional currency denominated forecasted
operational cash flows. Derivatives are carried at fair value on a gross basis in either prepaid and other
current assets or accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses resulting
from changes in fair value of derivative instruments are accounted for either in accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated balance sheets, or in the consolidated statements of
operations (in the corresponding account where revenue or expense is hedged, or to general and
administrative for hedge amounts determined to be ineffective) depending on whether they are
designated and qualify for hedge accounting. Fair value represents the difference in the value of the
derivative financial instruments at the contractual rate and the value at current market rates, and
generally reflects the estimated amounts that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the
contracts at the reporting date based on broker quotes for the same or similar instruments.
Additional disclosures that demonstrate how derivative instruments and related hedged items
affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows have not been presented
because the impact of derivative instruments is immaterial to the overall consolidated financial
statements. See Note 13—Derivative Financial Instruments.
Guarantees and indemnifications. The Company recognizes an obligation at inception for
guarantees and indemnifications that qualify for recognition, regardless of the probability of occurrence.
The Company indemnifies issuing and acquiring clients from settlement losses suffered by the failure
of any other customer to honor drafts, travelers cheques, or other instruments processed in
accordance with Visa’s operating regulations. The estimated fair value of the liability for settlement
indemnification is included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and is described in
Note 12—Settlement Guarantee Management. The Company also indemnifies Visa Europe for any
claims brought against Visa Europe arising out of the provision of services by Visa’s customer financial
institutions, as described in Note 2—Visa Europe.
Share-based compensation. The Company recognizes share-based compensation cost using the
fair value method of accounting. The Company recognizes compensation cost for awards with only
service conditions on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the
vesting period. Compensation cost for performance- and market-condition-based awards is recognized
84
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
on a graded-vesting basis. The amount is initially estimated based on target performance and is
adjusted as appropriate based on management’s best estimate throughout the performance period.
See Note 17—Share-based Compensation.
Earnings per share. The Company calculates earnings per share using the two-class method to
reflect the different rights of each class and series of outstanding common stock. The dilutive effect of
incremental common stock equivalents is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the
treasury stock method. See Note 16—Earnings Per Share.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-29, which provides requirements over pro forma
revenue and earnings disclosures related to business combinations. The ASU requires disclosure of
revenue and earnings of the combined business as if the combination occurred at the start of the prior
annual reporting period only. The Company adopted ASU 2010-29 effective October 1, 2011. The
adoption did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, which impacts the presentation of comprehensive
income. The guidance requires components of other comprehensive income to be presented with net
income to arrive at total comprehensive income. This ASU impacts presentation only and does not
impact the underlying components of other comprehensive income or net income. In December 2011,
the FASB issued an amendment to ASU 2011-05, which defers the requirement to present
components of reclassifications of other comprehensive income on the face of the income statement.
All other components of ASU 2011-05 are effective October 1, 2012. Adoption is not expected to have
a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, which will allow an entity to first assess qualitative
factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test for indefinite-lived
intangible assets. The standard will be adopted on October 1, 2012, and is not expected to have a
material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Note 2—Visa Europe
As part of Visa’s October 2007 reorganization, Visa Europe exchanged its ownership interest in
Visa International and Inovant for Visa common stock, a put-call option agreement and a Framework
Agreement, as described below.
Visa Europe Put Option Agreement. The Company granted Visa Europe a perpetual put option,
which if exercised, will require Visa to purchase all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Visa
Europe from its members. The Company is required to purchase the shares of Visa Europe no later
than 285 days after exercise of the put option. The put option provides a formula for determining the
purchase price of the Visa Europe shares, which, subject to certain adjustments, applies Visa Inc.’s
forward price-to-earnings multiple, or the P/E ratio (as defined in the option agreement), at the time the
option is exercised to Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income for the forward 12-month period (as
defined in the option agreement), or the adjusted sustainable income. The calculation of Visa Europe’s
adjusted sustainable income under the terms of the put option agreement includes potentially material
85
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
adjustments for cost synergies and other negotiated items. Upon exercise, the key inputs to this
formula, including Visa Europe’s adjusted sustainable income, will be the result of negotiation between
the Company and Visa Europe. The put option provides an arbitration mechanism in the event that the
two parties are unable to agree on the ultimate purchase price.
The fair value of the put option represents the value of Visa Europe’s option, which, under certain
conditions, could obligate the Company to purchase its member equity interest for an amount above
fair value. The fair value of the put option does not represent the actual purchase price that the
Company may be required to pay if the option is exercised, which could be several billion dollars or
more. While the put option is in fact non-transferable, its fair value represents the Company’s estimate
of the amount the Company would be required to pay a third-party market participant to transfer the
potential obligation in an orderly transaction.
The fair value of the put option is computed by comparing the estimated strike price, under the
terms of the Put agreement, to the estimated fair value of Visa Europe. The fair value of Visa Europe is
defined as the estimated amount a third-party market participant might pay in an arm’s-length
transaction under normal business conditions. A probability of exercise assumption is applied to reflect
the possibility that Visa Europe will never exercise its option.
The estimated fair value of the put option represents a Level 3 accounting estimate due to a lack
of trading in active markets and a lack of observable inputs in measuring fair value. See Note 4—Fair
Value Measurements and Investments. The valuation of the put option therefore requires substantial
judgment. The most subjective of estimates applied in valuing the put option are the assumed
probability that Visa Europe will elect to exercise its option and the estimated differential between the
P/E ratio and the P/E ratio applicable to Visa Europe on a standalone basis at the time of exercise,
which the Company refers to as the “P/E differential.”
Exercise of the put option is at the sole discretion of Visa Europe (on behalf of the Visa Europe
shareholders pursuant to authority granted to Visa Europe, under its Articles of Association). The
Company estimates the assumed probability of exercise based on reasonably available information
including, but not limited to: (i) Visa Europe’s stated intentions; (ii) indications that Visa Europe is
preparing to exercise as reflected in its reported financial results; (iii) evaluation of market conditions,
including the regulatory environment, that could impact the potential future profitability of Visa Europe;
and (iv) qualitative factors applicable to Visa Europe’s largest members, which could indicate a change
in their need or desire to liquidate their investment holdings. Factors impacting the assumed P/E
differential used in the calculation include material changes in the P/E ratio of Visa and those of a
group of comparable companies used to estimate the forward price-to-earnings multiple applicable to
Visa Europe.
The Company determined the fair value of the put option to be approximately $145 million at
September 30, 2012 and 2011. In determining the fair value of the put option on these dates, the
Company assumed a 40% probability of exercise by Visa Europe at some point in the future and an
estimated long-term P/E differential at the time of exercise of 1.9x. During fiscal 2011, the Company
reduced the value of the put option by $122 million, recording non-cash, non-operating other income in
the consolidated statement of operations. The decrease in the value of the put option reflects the
overall decrease in Visa’s P/E during fiscal 2012 and 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010, and does not
reflect any change in the likelihood that Visa Europe will exercise its option. Reductions in the fair value
of the put option are recorded as non-cash other non-operating income in the Company’s consolidated
statements of operations.
86
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The put option is exercisable at any time at the sole discretion of Visa Europe. As such, the put
option liability is included in accrued liabilities on our consolidated balance sheet at September 30,
2012. Classification in current liabilities is not an indication of management’s expectation of exercise
and simply reflects the fact that the obligation resulting from the exercise of the instrument could
become payable within 12 months.
Visa Call Option Agreement. Visa Europe granted to Visa a perpetual call option under which the
Company may be entitled to purchase all of the share capital of Visa Europe. The Company may
exercise the call option in the event of certain triggering events. These triggering events involve the
performance of Visa Europe measured as an unremediated decline in the number of merchants or
ATM’s in the Visa Europe region that accepts Visa-branded products. The Company believes the
likelihood of these triggers occurring is remote.
The Framework Agreement. The relationship between Visa and Visa Europe is governed by a
Framework Agreement, which provides for trademark and technology licenses and bilateral services as
described below.
The Company granted to Visa Europe exclusive, irrevocable and perpetual licenses to use the
Visa trademarks and technology intellectual property owned by the Company and certain affiliates
within the Visa Europe region for use in the field of financial services, payments, related information
technology and information processing services and participation in the Visa system. Visa Europe may
sublicense the Visa trademarks and technology intellectual property to its members and other
sublicensees under agreed upon circumstances.
The base fee for these irrevocable and perpetual licenses is recorded in other revenues and was
approximately $143 million per year for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010. This fee is eligible for adjustment
annually based on the annual growth of the gross domestic product of the European Union, although
the adjustment can never reduce the annual fee below $143 million. The Company determined through
an analysis of the fee rates implied by the economics of the agreement that the base fee, as adjusted
in future periods based on the growth of the gross domestic product of the European Union,
approximates fair value.
In addition to the licenses, Visa provides Visa Europe with authorization, clearing and settlement
services for cross-border transactions involving Visa Europe’s region and the rest of the world. Visa
Europe must comply with certain agreed upon global rules governing the interoperability of Visa’s
systems with the systems of Visa Europe as well as the use and interoperability of the Visa
trademarks. The parties will also guarantee the obligations of their respective clients and members to
settle transactions, manage certain relationships with sponsors, clients and merchants, and comply
with rules relating to the operation of the Visa enterprise. The Company will indemnify Visa Europe for
claims arising from activities in the field of financial payment and processing services brought outside
Visa Europe’s region and Visa Europe will indemnify Visa for any likewise claims brought within Visa
Europe’s region. The Company has not recorded liabilities associated with these obligations as the fair
value of such obligations was determined to be nominal at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
The Company has determined that the value of services exchanged as a result of these various
agreements approximates fair value at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
87
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan
The Company has established several related mechanisms designed to address potential liability
under certain litigation referred to as the “covered litigation.” These mechanisms are included in and
referred to as the retrospective responsibility plan, or the plan, and consist of a litigation escrow
agreement, the conversion feature of the Company’s shares of class B common stock, the
indemnification obligations of the Visa U.S.A. members, an interchange judgment sharing agreement
and a loss sharing agreement.
Covered litigation consists of:
(cid:129) The Discover Litigation. Discover Financial Services Inc. v. Visa U.S.A. Inc., Case
No. 04-CV-07844 (S.D.N.Y) (settled);
(cid:129) The American Express Litigation. American Express Travel Related Services Co., Inc. v. Visa
U.S.A. Inc. et al., No. 04-CV-0897 (S.D.N.Y.), which we refer to as the American Express
litigation (settled);
(cid:129) The Attridge Litigation. Attridge v. Visa U.S.A. Inc. et al., Case No. CGC-04-436920 (Cal.
Super.);
(cid:129) The Interchange Litigation. In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount
Antitrust Litigation, 1:05-md-01720-JG-JO (E.D.N.Y.) or MDL 1720, including all cases
currently included in MDL 1720, any other case that includes claims for damages relating to
the period prior to our initial public offering that has been or is transferred for coordinated or
consolidated pre-trial proceedings at any time to MDL 1720 by the Judicial Panel on
Multidistrict Litigation or otherwise included at any time in MDL 1720 by order of any court of
competent jurisdiction and Kendall v. Visa U.S.A., Inc. et al., Case No. CO4-4276 JSW (N.D.
Cal.); and
(cid:129)
any claim that challenges the reorganization or the consummation thereof; provided that such
claim is transferred for coordinated or consolidated pre-trial proceedings at any time to MDL
1720 by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation or otherwise included at any time in MDL
1720 by order of any court of competent jurisdiction.
Litigation escrow agreement. In accordance with the litigation escrow agreement, the Company
maintains an escrow account, from which settlements of, or judgments in, the covered litigation are
paid. The amount of the escrow is determined by the board of directors and the Company’s litigation
committee, all members of which are affiliated with, or act for, certain Visa U.S.A. members. The
escrow funds are held in money market investments along with the interest earned, less applicable
taxes, and are classified as restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets.
88
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The following table sets forth the changes in the litigation escrow account:
Balance at October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,857
1,715
Deposits into the litigation escrow account
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(140)
American Express settlement payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
—
Interest earned, less applicable taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$1,936
1,200
(280)
1
Balance at September 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,432
$2,857
Individual Plaintiffs’ Settlement Fund payment—(See Note 21—Legal Matters)
. .
(350)
Balance at October 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,082
Fiscal 2012 Fiscal 2011
(in millions)
An accrual for the covered litigation and a change to the litigation provision are recorded when
loss is deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable. In making this determination, the Company
evaluates available information, including but not limited to recommendations made by the litigation
committee. The accrual related to the covered litigation could be either higher or lower than the
litigation escrow account balance. The Company recorded an additional $4.1 billion accrual for the
covered litigation during fiscal 2012. See Note 21—Legal Matters.
Conversion feature. Under the terms of the plan, when the Company funds the litigation escrow
account, the shares of class B common stock are subject to dilution through an adjustment to the
conversion rate of the shares of class B common stock to shares of class A common stock. This has
the same effect on earnings per share as repurchasing the Company’s class A common stock, by
reducing the class B conversion rate and consequently the as-converted class A common stock share
count. See Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity.
Indemnification obligations. To the extent that amounts available under the litigation escrow
arrangement and agreements in the plan are insufficient to fully resolve the covered litigation, the
Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to enforce the indemnification obligations of Visa
U.S.A.’s members for such excess amount, including but not limited to enforcing indemnification
obligations pursuant to Visa U.S.A.’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and in accordance with
their membership agreements.
Interchange judgment sharing agreement. Visa U.S.A. and Visa International have entered into an
interchange judgment sharing agreement with certain Visa U.S.A. members that have been named as
defendants in the interchange litigation, which is described in Note 21—Legal Matters. Under this
judgment sharing agreement, Visa U.S.A. members that are signatories will pay their membership
proportion of the amount of a final judgment not allocated to the conduct of MasterCard.
Loss sharing agreement. Visa has entered into a loss sharing agreement with Visa U.S.A., Visa
International and certain Visa U.S.A. members. The loss sharing agreement provides for the
indemnification of Visa U.S.A., Visa International and, in certain circumstances, Visa with respect to:
(i) the amount of a final judgment paid by Visa U.S.A. or Visa International in the covered litigation after
the operation of the interchange judgment sharing agreement, plus any amounts reimbursable to the
interchange judgment sharing agreement signatories; or (ii) the damages portion of a settlement of a
covered litigation that is approved as required under Visa U.S.A.’s certificate of incorporation by the
89
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
vote of Visa U.S.A.’s specified voting members. The several obligation of each bank that is a party to
the loss sharing agreement will equal the amount of any final judgment enforceable against Visa
U.S.A., Visa International or any other signatory to the interchange judgment sharing agreement, or the
amount of any approved settlement of a covered litigation, multiplied by such bank’s then-current
membership proportion as calculated in accordance with Visa U.S.A.’s certificate of incorporation.
Omnibus agreement. Visa entered into an omnibus agreement with MasterCard and certain Visa
U.S.A. members that confirmed and memorialized the signatories’ intentions with respect to the loss
sharing agreement, the interchange judgment sharing agreement and other agreements relating to the
interchange litigation. The Visa portion of a settlement or judgment in the interchange litigation covered
by the omnibus agreement would be allocated in accordance with specified provisions of the
retrospective responsibility plan. See Note 21—Legal Matters.
Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and Investments
Fair Value Measurements
The Company measures certain assets and liabilities at fair value. See Note 1—Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Fair Value Measurements at September 30
Using Inputs Considered as
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash
Money market funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,676 $4,225
U.S. government-sponsored debt
securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commercial paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investment securities
U.S. government-sponsored debt
securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
U.S. Treasury securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Auction rate securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prepaid and other current assets
Foreign exchange derivative
$ — $ 175
—
93
2,821
1,568
1,066
68
350
57
63
—
$ 7 $ 7
instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
30
$6,810 $4,632 $2,990 $1,773 $ 7 $ 7
Liabilities
Accrued liabilities
Visa Europe put option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Earn-out related to PlaySpan
acquisition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign exchange derivative
instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
$145 $145
12
24
$
11 $
7
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets during fiscal 2012.
Level 1 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Cash equivalents (money market
funds), U.S. Treasury securities and equity securities are classified as Level 1 within the fair value
hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets.
Level 2 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of
government-sponsored and corporate debt securities, as provided by third-party pricing vendors, is
based on quoted prices in active markets for similar assets. The pricing data obtained from outside
sources is reviewed internally for reasonableness, compared against benchmark quotes from
additional pricing sources and confirmed or revised accordingly. Commercial paper and foreign
exchange derivative instruments are valued using inputs that are observable in the market or can be
derived principally from or corroborated with observable market data. There were no substantive
changes to the valuation techniques and related inputs used to measure fair value during fiscal 2012.
Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Auction rate securities
are classified as Level 3 due to a lack of trading in active markets and a lack of observable inputs in
measuring fair value. There were no substantive change to the valuation techniques and related inputs
used to measure fair value during fiscal 2012.
Visa Europe put option agreement. The Company has granted Visa Europe a perpetual put option
which is carried at fair value in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of
the put option was $145 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011. During fiscal 2011, the Company
reduced the value of the put option by $122 million, recording non-cash, non-operating income in the
consolidated statement of operations. See Note 2—Visa Europe. The liability is classified within Level
3 as the assumed probability that Visa Europe will elect to exercise its option and the estimated P/E
differential are among several unobservable inputs used to value the put option.
Earn-out related to PlaySpan acquisition. In connection with the PlaySpan acquisition, the
Company initially recorded a liability of $24 million to reflect the fair value of a potential earn-out
provision included in the purchase agreement. The liability is classified as Level 3 due to a lack of
observable inputs, such as the likelihood of meeting certain future revenue targets and other
milestones. The fair value of the earn-out decreased to $12 million at September 30, 2012, primarily
reflecting payments made upon achievement of certain revenue targets and other milestones during
fiscal 2012. The remaining liability related to the earn-out is included in accrued liabilities on the
consolidated balance sheets. Changes in fair value are included in general and administrative expense
on the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 5—Acquisitions and Note 8—Intangible
Assets, Net.
A separate roll-forward of Level 3 investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis is not
presented because the primary activities during fiscal 2012 and 2011 are already discussed above.
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Non-marketable equity investments and investments accounted for under the equity method.
These investments are classified as Level 3 due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack
of liquidity, and the fact that inputs used to measure fair value are unobservable and require
management judgment. When certain events or circumstances indicate that impairment may exist, the
91
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Company revalues the investments using various assumptions, including the financial metrics and
ratios of comparable public companies. The Company recognized a $2 million OTTI during fiscal 2012,
compared with no impairment charges during fiscal 2011 and $3 million impairment loss recognized
during fiscal 2010. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, these investments totaled $86 million and $100
million, respectively. These assets are classified in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
See Note 6—Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets.
Non-financial assets and liabilities. Long-lived assets such as goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible
assets, finite-lived intangible assets, and property, equipment and technology are considered
non-financial assets. The Company does not have any non-financial liabilities measured at fair value
on a nonrecurring basis. Finite-lived intangible assets primarily consist of customer relationships,
reacquired rights, reseller relationships and tradenames obtained through acquisitions. See
Note 5—Acquisitions.
The Company primarily uses an income approach for estimating the fair values of goodwill and
indefinite-lived intangible assets when testing for and recording impairment, if any. As the assumptions
employed to measure these assets on a non-recurring basis are based on management’s judgment
using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified in Level 3 of the fair
value hierarchy. The Company completed its annual impairment review of its indefinite-lived intangible
assets and goodwill as of February 1, 2012, and concluded there was no impairment. No recent events
or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment existed at September 30, 2012. See Note 1—
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
Other Financial Instruments not Measured at Fair Value
Certain financial instruments are not measured at fair value on the Company’s consolidated
balance sheet but require disclosure of their fair values, including cash, settlement receivable and
payable, and customer collateral. The estimated fair value of such instruments at September 30, 2012,
approximates their carrying value due to their generally short maturities.
Investments
Trading Investment Securities
Trading investment securities include mutual fund equity security investments related to various
employee compensation and benefit plans. Trading activity in these investments is at the direction of
the Company’s employees. These investments are held in a trust and are not available for the
Company’s operational or liquidity needs. See Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. As
of September 30, 2012 and 2011, trading investment securities totaled $66 million and $57 million,
respectively.
92
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Available-for-sale Investment Securities
The amortized cost, unrealized gains and losses and fair value of available-for-sale investment
securities are as follows:
September 30, 2012
September 30, 2011
Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized
Gains
Losses
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized
Gains
Losses
Fair
Value
U.S. Treasury securities . . . . . . . $1,065
U.S. government-sponsored
$ 1
$— $1,066 $ 350
$—
$— $
350
(in millions)
debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate debt securities . . . . . .
Auction rate and equity
2,818
3
63 —
—
—
2,821
63
1,568 —
—
—
securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 —
(1)
10
7 —
—
—
—
1,568
—
7
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,957
Less: current portion of
available-for-sale investment
securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term available-for-sale
investment securities . . . . . . . .
$ 4
$ (1) $3,960 $1,925
$—
$— $ 1,925
(677)
$3,283
(1,214)
$
711
The available-for-sale investment securities primarily include U.S. Treasury securities, U.S.
government-sponsored debt securities and corporate debt securities. Available-for-sale debt securities
are presented below in accordance with their stated maturities. The majority of these investments, $3.3
billion, are classified as non-current, as they have stated maturities of more than one year from the
balance sheet date. However, these investments are generally available to meet short-term liquidity
needs.
September 30, 2012:
Due within one year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Due after 1 year through 5 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Due after 5 years through 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Due after 10 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortized Cost
Fair Value
(in millions)
$ 674
3,272
—
7
$ 674
3,276
—
7
Total
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$3,953
$3,957
93
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Investment Income
Investment income consisted of the following:
For the Years Ended
September 30,
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
Interest and dividend income on cash and investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 17 $ 16
92
Gain on other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investment securities—trading:
Unrealized (losses) gains, net
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Realized gains (losses), net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investment securities—available-for-sale:
Realized gains (losses), net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . —
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) —
9
(1)
17
4
(5)
1
$26
20
3
1
2
(3)
Investment income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 36 $108
$49
The gain on other investments in fiscal 2011 primarily includes the pre-tax gain from the sale of
the Company’s equity interest in Visa Vale issuer Companhia Brasileira de Soluções e Serviços, or
CBSS, of $85 million. The gain on other investments in fiscal 2010 includes the pre-tax gain of $20
million related to the Company’s investment in the Reserve Primary Fund.
Note 5—Acquisitions
The consolidated financial statements include the operating results of Fundamo, PlaySpan and
CyberSource from the date of the respective acquisition. None of the additional goodwill recognized in
these acquisitions is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.
Fundamo Acquisition. On June 9, 2011, the Company acquired Fundamo, a leading platform
provider of mobile financial services for mobile network operators and financial institutions in
developing economies. The acquisition was made to accelerate the execution of Visa’s global strategy
to provide for the next generation of payments solutions and to provide long-term growth opportunities
to connect billions of unbanked or under-banked consumers to each other and to the global economy
with a secure, reliable and globally accepted form of payment.
Total purchase consideration was $110 million, paid with cash on hand. The following table
summarizes the purchase price allocation.
Tangible assets, net(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finite-lived intangible assets with a weighted-average useful life of 5 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair Value
(in millions)
$ 27
5
80
(2)
Net assets acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$110
(1) Tangible assets, net, include $25 million of technology assets acquired, which have a useful life of
5 years and are recognized in property, equipment and technology, net, on the consolidated
balance sheets.
94
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
PlaySpan Acquisition. On March 1, 2011, the Company acquired PlaySpan, a privately held
company whose payments platform processes transactions for digital goods in online games, digital
media and social networks around the world. The acquisition of PlaySpan was made to extend Visa’s
capabilities in digital, eCommerce and mobile commerce in order to expand the scope of payment
services available to clients and consumers.
The following table presents the total purchase consideration for the PlaySpan acquisition.
Potential
Purchase
Consideration
Accounting
Purchase
Consideration
(in millions)
Cash paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Earn-out provision(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Less: Employee compensation(2)
Valuation adjustment(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$180
40
Fair value of earn-out provision (See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements
and Investments)
$180
40
(12)
(4)
24
Fair value of stock options issued(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Total purchase consideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$225
$204
(1) The acquisition agreement includes a potential earn-out provision of up to $40 million, should
PlaySpan achieve certain revenue targets and other milestones.
(2) The amount reflects personnel expense related to the earn-out provision incurred during the
performance period.
(3) Adjustment to reflect the earn-out provision at fair value based on the assumed likelihood of the
future revenue targets and other milestones being met.
(4) The Company issued non-qualified stock options to replace unvested, in-the-money stock options
held by PlaySpan employees. See Note 17—Share-based Compensation.
The following table summarizes the allocation of the accounting purchase consideration.
Tangible assets, net(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Finite-lived intangible assets with a weighted-average useful life of 2.8 years . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair Value
(in millions)
$ 67
15
141
(19)
Net assets acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$204
(1) Tangible assets, net, include $56 million of technology assets acquired, which have a weighted-
average useful life of 5 years and are recognized in property, equipment and technology, net, on
the consolidated balance sheets.
CyberSource Acquisition. On July 21, 2010, the Company completed its acquisition of all of the
outstanding shares of common stock of CyberSource Corporation, a leading provider of electronic
payment, risk management and payment security solutions to online merchants. The acquisition was
95
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
executed to accelerate the growth of Visa’s eCommerce category and enhance the value of the
Company’s network, product and service offerings to financial institutions, merchants, partners and
consumers.
Total purchase consideration was approximately $2 billion, paid with cash on hand as follows:
Acquisition of approximately 72 million shares of outstanding common stock of
CyberSource at $26.00 per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair value of earned stock options settled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total purchase price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Purchase
Consideration
(in millions)
$1,866
86
$1,952
Total purchase consideration has been allocated to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets
and to liabilities assumed based on their respective fair values on the acquisition date. Excess
purchase consideration over net assets assumed was recorded as $1.2 billion of goodwill, which
represents the value that is expected from expanding the Company’s online payment and related fraud
and security management capabilities, and other synergies. The Company allocates goodwill to
reporting units based on the reporting unit expected to benefit from the acquisition. Of the $1.2 billion,
approximately $0.8 billion was allocated to a second reporting unit. The remainder was allocated to the
Company’s original reporting unit to reflect the incremental growth and synergy this acquisition will
provide to the Company’s existing business. The following table summarizes the purchase price
allocation.
Fair Value
(in millions)
Tangible assets and liabilities
Current assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current assets(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Goodwill
$ 259
150
(45)
(256)
605
1,239
Net assets acquired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$1,952
(1) Non-current assets include $122 million of technology assets acquired, which have a weighted-
average useful life of 7 years and are recognized in property, equipment and technology, net, on
the consolidated balance sheets.
96
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The following table summarizes the fair value of the acquired intangible assets. See Note 8—
Intangible Assets, Net.
Customer relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reseller relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tradenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total amortizable intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair Value
Weighted-
Average
Useful Life
(in millions)
$320
95
190
$605
10
9
15
12
In connection with the acquisition, unvested in-the-money stock options held by CyberSource
employees on the acquisition date were terminated and replaced with approximately 1.6 million of the
Company’s non-qualified stock options, with a total fair value of approximately $46 million to be
expensed over a period of three years from the original grant date of the CyberSource options. See
Note 17—Share-based Compensation. The Company also expensed as incurred approximately
$13 million of acquisition-related costs during fiscal 2010, which consisted primarily of professional
fees related to closing the transaction. There was no contingent consideration related to the
acquisition.
Note 6—Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions)
Prepaid expenses and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Income tax receivable—(See Note 20—Income Taxes)
Foreign exchange derivative instruments—(See Note 13—Derivative
Financial Instruments) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other
$ 69
179
13
40
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$301
$ 96
112
30
27
$265
Other non-current assets consisted of the following:
Other investments—(See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and
Investments)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 86
Pension asset—(See Note 11—Pension, Postretirement and Other
Benefits) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Long-term prepaid expenses and other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
42
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$151
$100
—
29
$129
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions)
97
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Note 7—Property, Equipment and Technology, Net
Property, equipment and technology, net, consisted of the following:
Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Buildings and building improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Construction-in-progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
$
(in millions)
71
$
751
837
69
1,353
71
719
755
89
1,115
Total property, equipment and technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accumulated depreciation and amortization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3,081
(1,447)
2,749
(1,208)
Property, equipment and technology, net
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 1,634
$ 1,541
Increases to net property, equipment and technology in fiscal 2012 primarily reflect the Company’s
investment in payments system infrastructure. Technology consists of both purchased and internally
developed software. Internally developed software primarily represents software utilized by VisaNet. At
September 30, 2012 and 2011, accumulated amortization for technology was $812 million and $677
million, respectively.
At September 30, 2012, estimated future amortization expense on technology was as follows:
Fiscal (in millions)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 and
thereafter
Estimated future amortization expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $148 $132 $120 $88
$53
Total
$541
Depreciation and amortization expense related to property, equipment and technology was $265
million, $225 million and $265 million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Included in those
amounts was amortization expense on technology of $132 million, $102 million and $137 million for
fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Note 8—Intangible Assets, Net
At September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consisted of
customer relationships of $6.8 billion, Visa tradename of $2.6 billion and a Visa Europe franchise right
of $1.5 billion, all of which were acquired as part of the Company’s October 2007 reorganization.
Customer relationships represent the value of relationships with clients outside of the U.S., excluding
the European Union. Tradename represents the value of the Visa brand outside of the U.S., excluding
the European Union. Visa Europe’s franchise right represents the value of the right to franchise the use
of the Visa brand, use of Visa technology and access to the overall Visa network in the European
Union.
The Company acquired finite-lived intangible assets primarily related to the CyberSource,
PlaySpan and Fundamo acquisitions during fiscal 2011 and 2010. See Note 5—Acquisitions.
98
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Indefinite-lived and finite-lived intangible assets consisted of the following:
September 30, 2012
September 30, 2011
Gross
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Gross
(in millions)
Accumulated
Amortization
Net
Finite-lived intangible assets
Customer relationships . . . . . . . . . . $339
192
Tradenames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
95
Reseller relationships . . . . . . . . . . .
52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other
Total finite-lived intangible assets . . . . . $678
Indefinite-lived intangible assets . . . . . .
Total intangible assets, net
. . . . . . . . . .
$ (84)
(28)
(25)
(4)
$(141)
$
255 $337
192
164
95
70
2
48
$
537 $626
$(44)
(15)
(13)
(1)
$(73)
$10,883
$11,420
$
$
293
177
82
1
553
$10,883
$11,436
Amortization expense related to finite-lived intangible assets was $68 million, $63 million and $10
million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. At September 30, 2012, estimated future
amortization expense on finite-lived intangible assets is as follows:
Fiscal (in millions)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017 and
thereafter
Estimated future amortization expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $69
$66
$62
$49
$291
Total
$537
There was no impairment related to the Company’s indefinite-lived or finite-lived intangible assets
during fiscal 2012, 2011 or 2010.
Note 9—Accrued and Other Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions)
Accrued operating expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visa Europe put option—(See Note 2—Visa Europe)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Deferred revenue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued marketing and product expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued income taxes—(See Note 20—Income taxes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$194
145
59
22
58
106
$584
$175
145
63
36
63
80
$562
99
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Other long-term liabilities consisted of the following:
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions)
Accrued income taxes—(See Note 20—Income Taxes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Employee benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$171
93
107
$371
$468
106
93
$667
(1) The put option is exercisable at any time at the sole discretion of Visa Europe with payment
required 285 days thereafter. Classification in current liabilities is not an indication of
management’s expectation of exercise and simply reflects the fact that the obligation resulting
from the exercise of the instrument could become payable within 12 months.
Note 10—Debt
U.S. Commercial Paper Program. Visa maintains a U.S. commercial paper program to support its
working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes. This program allows the Company to
issue up to $500 million of unsecured debt securities, with maturities up to 270 days from the date of
issuance and at interest rates generally extended to companies with comparable credit ratings. The
Company had no outstanding obligations under this program during and at the end of fiscal 2012 and
2011.
Revolving Credit Facilities. In 2008, Visa entered into a $3.0 billion five-year revolving credit facility
(the “February 2008 Agreement”). The February 2008 Agreement matures on February 15, 2013, and
contains covenants and events of defaults customary for facilities of this type. The participating lenders
in this revolving credit facility include affiliates of certain holders of the Company’s class B and class C
common stock and certain of the Company’s clients or affiliates of its clients. This revolving credit
facility is maintained to provide liquidity in the event of settlement failures by the Company’s clients, to
back up the commercial paper program and for general corporate purposes.
Loans under the five-year facility may be in the form of: (1) Base Rate Advance, which will bear
interest at a rate equal to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% and the Bank of America
prime rate; (2) Eurocurrency Advance, which will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR (as adjusted for
applicable reserve requirements) plus an applicable cost adjustment and an applicable margin of
0.11% to 0.30% based on our credit rating; or (3) U.S. Swing Loan, Euro Swing Loan, or Foreign
Currency Swing Loan, which will bear interest at the rate equal to the applicable Swing Loan rate for
that currency plus the same applicable margin plus additionally for Euro and Sterling loans, an
applicable reserve requirement and cost adjustment. The Company also agrees to pay a facility fee on
the aggregate commitment amount, whether used or unused, at a rate ranging from 0.04% to 0.10%
and a utilization fee on loans at a rate ranging from 0.05% to 0.10% based on the Company’s credit
rating. Currently, the applicable margin is 0.15%, the facility fee is 0.05% and the utilization fee is
0.05%.
There were no borrowings under the revolving credit facility and the Company was in compliance
with all related covenants during and at the end of fiscal 2012 and 2011.
100
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Note 11—Pension, Postretirement and Other Benefits
The Company sponsors various qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension and other
postretirement benefit plans that provide for retirement and medical benefits for substantially all
employees residing in the United States. The Company uses a September 30 measurement date for its
pension and other postretirement benefit plans.
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
The defined benefit pension plan benefits are based on years of service, age, and eligible
compensation. Prior to January 1, 2011, employees hired before January 1, 2008, earned benefits
based on their pay during their last five years of employment. Employees hired or rehired on or after
January 1, 2008, earned benefits based on a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2011, all
employees began accruing benefits under the cash balance formula and ceased accruing benefits
under any other formula. An employee’s cash balance account is credited with an amount equal to 6%
of eligible compensation plus interest based on 30-year Treasury securities. The funding policy is to
contribute annually no less than the minimum required contribution under ERISA.
Postretirement Benefits Plan
The postretirement benefits plan provides medical benefits for retirees and dependents who meet
minimum age and service requirements. Benefits are provided from retirement date until age 65.
Retirees must contribute on a monthly basis for the same coverage that is generally available to active
employees and their dependents. The Company’s contributions are funded on a current basis.
101
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Summary of Plan Activities
Change in Benefit Obligation:
Pension Benefits
Other
Postretirement Benefits
September 30,
September 30,
2012
2011
2012
2011
(in millions)
Benefit obligation—beginning of fiscal year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Service cost
Interest cost
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Actuarial loss (gain) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Benefit payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Settlements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Benefit obligation—end of fiscal year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$839
38
40
132
(60)
1
$990
$743
41
38
77
(63)
3
$839
Accumulated benefit obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$982
$839
Change in Plan Assets:
Fair value of plan assets—beginning of fiscal year . . . . . . . . . . .
Actual return on plan assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Company contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Benefit payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair value of plan assets—end of fiscal year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funded status at end of fiscal year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Non-current asset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Current liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funded status at end of fiscal year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$783
166
84
(60)
$973
$ (17)
$ 23
(8)
(32)
$ (17)
$766
10
70
(63)
$783
$ (56)
$ —
(4)
(52)
$ (56)
$ 38
—
1
(3)
(4)
—
$ 32
NA
$—
—
4
(4)
$—
$(32)
$—
(4)
(28)
$(32)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income before tax:
$ 34
—
1
7
(4)
—
$ 38
NA
$—
—
4
(4)
$—
$(38)
$—
(4)
(34)
$(38)
Pension Benefits
Other
Postretirement Benefits
September 30,
September 30,
2012
2011
2012
2011
(in millions)
Net actuarial loss (gain) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prior service credit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$328
(33)
$295
$343
(42)
$301
$ (3)
(14)
$(17)
$ 1
(17)
$(16)
Amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income to be amortized into net periodic
benefit cost in fiscal 2013:
Actuarial loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prior service credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total
$28
(9)
$19
$—
(3)
$ (3)
102
Pension Benefits
Other
Postretirement
Benefits
(in millions)
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Benefit obligation and fair value of plan assets with obligations in excess of plan assets:
Accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Accumulated benefit obligation—end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair value of plan assets—end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets
Benefit obligation—end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair value of plan assets—end of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net periodic pension and other postretirement plan cost:
Pension Benefits
September 30,
2012
2011
(in millions)
$(39)
—
$(40)
—
$(839)
783
$(839)
783
Pension Benefits
Other
Postretirement Benefits
Fiscal
2012
2011
2010
2012
2011
2010
Service cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected return on assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortization of:
Prior service credit
Actuarial loss (gain)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net benefit cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Settlement loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total net periodic benefit cost
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 38
40
(55)
$ 41
38
(54)
(9)
33
$ 47
3
$ 50
(9)
19
$ 35
2
$ 37
(in millions)
$ 45 $—
1
40
(50) —
$—
1
—
$—
1
—
(3)
(9)
16 —
(3)
(1)
(3)
(1)
$ 42 $ (2)
—
—
$ (3)
—
$ (3)
—
$ 42 $ (2)
$ (3)
$ (3)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive
income:
Pension Benefits
Other
Postretirement Benefits
2012
2011
2012
2011
Current year actuarial loss (gain) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortization of actuarial (loss) gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amortization of prior service credit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 21
(36)
9
$124
(21)
9
(in millions)
$ (3)
—
3
Total (gain) loss recognized in other comprehensive income . . .
$ (6)
$112
$—
$ 7
1
3
$11
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other
comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 44
$149
$ (2)
$ 8
103
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Weighted Average Actuarial Assumptions:
Discount rate for benefit obligation(1)
Pension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Postretirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Discount rate for net periodic benefit cost
Pension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Postretirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rate of increase in compensation levels for:
Benefit obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net periodic benefit cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fiscal
2011
2010
2012
3.85% 4.70% 5.25%
2.21% 3.39% 3.45%
4.70% 5.25% 5.63%
3.39% 3.45% 4.43%
7.50% 7.50% 7.50%
4.50% 4.50% 4.50%
4.50% 4.50% 5.50%
(1) Based on a “bond duration matching” methodology, which reflects the matching of projected plan
liability cash flows to an average of high-quality corporate bond yield curves whose duration
matches the projected cash flows.
(2) Primarily based on the targeted allocation, and evaluated for reasonableness by considering such
factors as: (i) actual return on plan assets; (ii) historical rates of return on various asset classes in
the portfolio; (iii) projections of returns on various asset classes; and (iv) current and prospective
capital market conditions and economic forecasts.
The assumed annual rate of future increases in health benefits for the other postretirement
benefits plan is 7.5% for fiscal 2013. The rate is assumed to decrease to 5% by 2018 and remain at
that level thereafter. These trend rates reflect management’s expectations of future rates. Increasing or
decreasing the healthcare cost trend by 1% would change the postretirement plan benefit obligation by
less than $1 million.
Pension Plan Assets
Plan assets are managed with a long-term perspective to ensure that there is an adequate level of
assets to support benefit payments to participants over the life of the pension plan. Plan assets are
managed by external investment managers. Investment manager performance is measured against
benchmarks for each asset class on a quarterly basis. An independent consultant assists management
with investment manager selections and performance evaluations.
Plan assets are broadly diversified to maintain a prudent level of risk and to provide adequate
liquidity for benefit payments. The Company generally evaluates and rebalances the plan assets, as
appropriate, to ensure that allocations are consistent with target allocation ranges. The current target
allocation for plan assets is as follows: equity securities of 50% to 80%, fixed income securities of
25% to 35% and other, primarily consisting of cash to meet near term expected benefit payments and
expenses, of up to 7%. At September 30, 2012, plan asset allocations for the above categories were
65%, 27% and 8% respectively, which were within target allocation ranges with the exception of the
other category. Pension plan assets in the other category were temporarily above the Company’s
target allocation due to an employer contribution made at the end of the plan year. The amount was
subsequently reinvested in line with target asset allocations.
104
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the plan’s investments at fair
value as of September 30, 2012 and 2011, including the impact of unsettled transactions:
Fair Value Measurements at September 30
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
2012
2011
(in millions)
Cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 79 $ 55
Collective investment funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Corporate debt securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Debt securities of U.S. Treasury and federal
agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Asset-backed securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Equity securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
242
180
$391 $289
122
115
121
104
$ 79 $ 55
289
122
391
115
121
25
242
104
33
180
$25 $33
Total
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $321 $235 $627 $515 $25
$33 $973 $783
Level 1 assets. Cash equivalents (money market funds) and equity securities are classified as
Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, as fair value is based on quoted prices in active markets.
Level 2 assets. Collective investment funds are unregistered investment vehicles that commingle
the assets of multiple fiduciary clients, such as pension and other employee benefits plans, to invest in
portfolios of stocks, bonds, or other securities. Although the single collective investment fund held by
the plan is ultimately invested in the common stocks of companies in the S&P 500 index, its own unit
value is not directly observable, and it is therefore classified as Level 2. The fair values of government-
sponsored and corporate debt securities are based on quoted prices in active markets for similar
assets as provided by third-party pricing vendors. This pricing data is reviewed internally for
reasonableness through comparisons with benchmark quotes from independent third-party sources.
Based on this review, the valuation is confirmed or revised accordingly.
Level 3 assets. Asset-backed securities are bonds that are backed by various types of assets and
primarily consist of mortgage-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are classified as Level 3 due
to a lack of observable inputs in measuring fair value.
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 assets during fiscal 2012 or 2011. A
separate roll-forward of Level 3 plan assets measured at fair value is not presented because activities
during fiscal 2012 and 2011 were immaterial.
105
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Cash Flows
Pension
Benefits
Other
Postretirement
Benefits
(in millions)
Actual employer contributions
2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected employer contributions
2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected benefit payments
2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2018-2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 84
70
$ 48
$116
117
107
108
100
419
$ 4
4
4
$ 4
4
4
4
4
13
Other Benefits
The Company sponsors a defined contribution plan, or 401(K) plan, that covers substantially all of
its employees residing in the United States. Personnel costs included $37 million, $34 million and
$29 million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, for expenses attributable to the Company’s
employees under the plan. The Company’s contributions to this plan are funded on a current basis,
and the related expenses are recognized in the period that the payroll expenses are incurred.
Note 12—Settlement Guarantee Management
The Company indemnifies clients for settlement losses suffered due to failure of any other
customer to honor Visa cards, travelers cheques, deposit access products, point-of-sale check service
drivers and other instruments processed in accordance with the operating regulations. This
indemnification creates settlement risk for the Company due to the difference in timing between the
date of a payment transaction and the date of subsequent settlement. Settlement at risk (or exposure)
is estimated based on the sum of the following inputs: (1) average daily volumes during the quarter
multiplied by the estimated number of days to settle plus a safety margin; (2) four months of rolling
average chargebacks volume; and (3) the total balance for outstanding travelers cheques.
The Company maintains and regularly reviews global settlement risk policies and procedures to
manage settlement exposure, which may require clients to post collateral if certain credit standards are
not met.
The Company’s settlement exposure is limited to the amount of unsettled Visa payment
transactions at any point in time. The Company’s estimated maximum settlement exposure was
approximately $49.3 billion at September 30, 2012, compared to $47.5 billion at September 30, 2011.
Of these amounts, $3.5 billion and $3.2 billion at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, were
covered by collateral. The total available collateral balances presented below were greater than the
settlement exposure covered by customer collateral held due to instances in which the available
collateral exceeded the total settlement exposure for certain financial institutions at each date
presented.
106
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The Company maintained collateral as follows:
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions)
Cash equivalents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pledged securities at market value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Letters of credit
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Guarantees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 823
307
1,084
2,022
$4,236
$ 931
296
902
1,845
$3,974
Cash equivalents collateral is reflected in customer collateral on the consolidated balance sheets
as it is held in escrow in the Company’s name. All other collateral is excluded from the consolidated
balance sheets. Pledged securities are held by third parties in trust for the Company and clients.
Letters of credit are provided primarily by client financial institutions to serve as irrevocable guarantees
of payment. Guarantees are provided primarily by parent financial institutions to secure the obligations
of their subsidiaries. The Company routinely evaluates the financial viability of institutions providing the
guarantees.
The fair value of the settlement risk guarantee is estimated using a proprietary model which
considers statistically derived loss factors based on historical experience, estimated settlement
exposures at period end and a standardized grading process for clients (using, where available, third-
party estimates of the probability of customer failure). Historically, the Company experienced minimum
losses, which has contributed to an estimated probability-weighted value of the guarantee of
approximately $1 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011. These amounts were reflected in accrued
liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Note 13—Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward derivative contracts to manage the variability
in expected future cash flows attributable to changes in foreign exchange rates. At September 30,
2012, all derivative instruments outstanding mature within 12 months or less. The Company does not
use foreign exchange forward contracts for speculative or trading purposes.
Cash Flow Hedges
The Company maintains a rolling hedge program with the objective of reducing exchange rate risk
from forecasted net exposures of revenues derived from and payments made in foreign currencies
during the following 12 months. The aggregate notional amounts of the Company’s derivative contracts
outstanding in its hedge program were $690 million and $651 million at September 30, 2012 and 2011,
respectively. As of September 30, 2012, the Company’s cash flow hedges in an asset position totaled
$12 million and were classified in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the consolidated
balance sheet, while cash flow hedges in a liability position totaled $11 million and were classified in
accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements and
Investments.
To qualify for cash flow hedge accounting treatment, the Company formally documents, at
inception of the hedge, all relationships between hedging transactions and hedged items, as well as its
risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company
107
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
also formally assesses whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly
effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged items and whether those derivatives
may be expected to remain highly effective in future periods.
The Company uses regression analysis to assess effectiveness prospectively and retrospectively.
The effectiveness tests are performed on the foreign exchange forward contracts based on changes in
the spot rate of the derivative instrument compared to changes in the spot rate of the forecasted
hedged transaction. Forward points are excluded for effectiveness testing and measurement purposes.
The excluded forward points are reported in earnings. For fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, the amounts by
which earnings were reduced relating to excluded forward points was $16 million, $20 million and
$17 million, respectively.
The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow hedges is
recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the consolidated
balance sheets. When the forecasted transaction occurs and is recognized in earnings, the amount in
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to that hedge is reclassified to operating
revenue or expense. The Company expects to reclassify $19 million pre-tax, to earnings during fiscal
2013.
In the event there is recognized ineffectiveness or the underlying forecasted transaction does not
occur within the designated hedge period, or it becomes remote that the forecasted transaction will
occur, the related gains and losses on the cash flow hedges are reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income on the consolidated balance sheet to general and administrative expense on
the consolidated statement of operations at that time. The amount of gain or loss recognized in
earnings related to ineffectiveness was $1 million or less for each of fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments include foreign exchange forward contracts
used to manage the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates relative to recognized
assets and liabilities denominated in non-functional currencies. As these derivatives are not designated
in hedging relationships, related gains and losses are recorded directly in earnings as part of general
and administrative expense. The Company recorded less than $1 million of gains related to these
derivatives during fiscal 2012. At September 30, 2012, these derivative contracts had an aggregate
notional amount of $49 million, and a fair value of $1 million, which was classified in prepaid expenses
and other current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. See Note 4—Fair Value Measurements
and Investments.
The Company’s derivative financial instruments are subject to both credit and market risk. The
Company monitors the credit-worthiness of the financial institutions that are counterparties to its
derivative financial instruments and does not consider the risks of counterparty nonperformance to be
significant. The Company mitigates this risk by entering into agreements which require each party to
post collateral against its net liability position with the respective counterparty. As of September 30,
2012, the Company has posted and received collateral of $3 million and $4 million, respectively, with
counterparties, which are included in prepaid and other current assets, and accrued liabilities,
respectively, on the consolidated balance sheet. Notwithstanding the Company’s efforts to manage
foreign exchange risk, there can be no absolute assurance that its hedging activities will adequately
protect against the risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations. Credit and market risks related
to derivative instruments were not considered significant at September 30, 2012.
108
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Note 14—Enterprise-wide Disclosures and Concentration of Business
The Company’s long-lived net property, equipment and technology assets are classified by major
geographic area as follows:
U.S.
Non-U.S.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
(in millions)
$1,539
95
$1,634
$1,487
54
$1,541
Revenue by geographic market is primarily based on the location of the issuing financial
institution. Revenues earned in the U.S. were approximately 55%, 56% and 58% of total operating
revenues in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. No individual country, other than the U.S.,
generated more than 10% of total operating revenues in these years.
A significant portion of Visa’s operating revenues are concentrated among its largest clients. Loss
of business from any of these clients could have an adverse effect on the Company. The Company did
not have any customer that generated greater than 10% of its net operating revenues in fiscal 2012,
2011 or 2010.
Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity
The number of shares of each class and the number of shares of class A common stock on an
as-converted basis at September 30, 2012, are as follows:
(in millions except conversion rate)
Shares
Outstanding
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
535
245
31
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conversion
Rate Into
Class A
Common
Stock
—
0.4206
1.0000
As-converted
Class A
Common
Stock(1)
535
103
31
668
(1) Figures may not sum due to rounding. As-converted class A common stock count is calculated
based on whole numbers.
Reduction in as-converted shares. During fiscal 2012, total as-converted class A common stock
was reduced by 22.8 million shares, using $2.4 billion of operating cash on hand. Of the $2.4 billion,
$710 million was used to repurchase class A common stock in the open market. In addition, the
Company made deposits totaling $1.7 billion of operating cash into the litigation escrow account
previously established under the retrospective responsibility plan. These deposits have the same
economic effect on earnings per share as repurchasing the Company’s class A common stock,
because they reduce the class B conversion rate and consequently the as-converted class A common
stock share count.
109
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
In July 2012, the Company’s board of directors authorized a $1 billion share repurchase program
to be in effect through July 2013. As of September 30, 2012, the program had remaining authorized
funds of $865 million. In October 2012, the Company’s board of directors authorized an additional $1.5
billion share repurchase program to be in effect through October 2013. All share repurchase programs
authorized prior to July 2012 have been completed.
The following table presents share repurchases in the open market during the following fiscal
years:
(in millions, except per share data)
2012
2011
Shares repurchased in the open market(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26.6
Weighted-average repurchase price per share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $114.87 $76.08
710 $2,024
Total cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
6.2
(1) All shares repurchased in the open market have been retired and constitute authorized but
unissued shares.
Under the terms of the retrospective responsibility plan, when the Company makes a deposit into
the litigation escrow account, the shares of class B common stock are subject to dilution through an
adjustment to the conversion rate of the shares of class B common stock to shares of class A common
stock.
The following table presents as-converted class B common stock after deposits into the litigation
escrow account:
(in millions, except per share and conversion data)
Fiscal 2012
Fiscal 2011
July
2012
December
2011
March
2011
October
2010
Deposits under the retrospective responsibility plan . . . . . . . . $
Effective price per share(1)
Reduction in equivalent number of shares of class A
150
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125.50
$ 1,565
$101.75
400 $
800
$
$ 73.81 $ 72.74
common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2
15.4
5.4
11.0
Conversion rate of class B common stock to class A
common stock after deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
As-converted class B common stock after deposits . . . . . . . .
0.4206
103
0.4254
104
0.4881
120
0.5102
125
(1) Effective price per share calculated using the volume-weighted average price of the Company’s
class A common stock over a pricing period in accordance with the Company’s amended and
restated certificate of incorporation.
Class B Common Stock. The class B common stock is not convertible or transferable until the date
on which all of the covered litigation has been finally resolved. This transfer restriction is subject to
limited exceptions, including transfers to other holders of class B common stock. After termination of
the restrictions, the class B common stock will be convertible into class A common stock if transferred
to a person that was not a Visa member or similar person or affiliate of a Visa member or similar
person. Upon such transfer, each share of class B common stock will automatically convert into a
number of shares of class A common stock based upon the applicable conversion rate in effect at the
time of such transfer.
110
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Adjustment of the conversion rate occurs upon: (i) the completion of any follow-on offering of class
A common stock completed to increase the size of the litigation escrow account (or any cash deposit
by the Company in lieu thereof) resulting in a further corresponding decrease in the conversion rate; or
(ii) the final resolution of the covered litigation and the release of funds remaining on deposit in the
litigation escrow account to the Company resulting in a corresponding increase in the conversion rate.
Class C Common Stock. As of September 30, 2012, all of the shares of class C common stock
have been released from transfer restrictions, and 121 million shares have been converted from class
C to class A common stock upon their sale into the public market.
Preferred Stock. Preferred stock may be issued as redeemable or non-redeemable, and it has
preference over any class of common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of
the Company’s assets in the event of a liquidation or dissolution. The Company had no shares of
preferred stock outstanding during and at the end of fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Voting Rights. The holders of class A common stock have the right to vote on all matters on which
stockholders generally are entitled to vote. All holders of class B and class C common stock have no
right to vote on any matters, except for certain defined matters, including any consolidation, merger,
combination or any decision to exit the core payments business, in which case the holders of class B
and class C common stock are entitled to cast a number of votes equal to the number of shares of
class B or class C common stock held multiplied by the applicable conversion rate in effect on the
record date.
Dividends Declared. On October 24, 2012, the Company’s board of directors declared a quarterly
cash dividend of $0.33 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and
class C common stock on an as-converted basis), which will be paid on December 4, 2012, to all
holders of record of the Company’s class A, class B and class C common stock as of November 16,
2012. The Company declared and paid $595 million in dividends in fiscal 2012 at a quarterly rate of
$0.22 per share.
Note 16—Earnings Per Share
The following table presents basic and diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2012.
Basic Earnings Per Share
Diluted Earnings Per Share
(in millions, except per share data)
Income
Allocation
(A)(1)
Weighted
Average
Shares
Outstanding (B)
Earnings per
Share =
(A)/(B)(2)
Income
Allocation
(A)(1)
Weighted
Average
Shares
Outstanding (B)
Earnings per
Share =
(A)/(B)(2)
Class A common stock . . . .
Class B common stock . . . .
Class C common stock . . . .
. .
Participating securities(4)
$1,664
343
130
7
524 $
245
41
Not presented
3.17
1.40
3.17
Not presented
$2,144
341
129
7
678(3) $
245
41
Not presented
3.16
1.39
3.16
Not presented
Net income attributable to
Visa Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$2,144
111
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The following table presents basic and diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2011.
Basic Earnings Per Share
Diluted Earnings Per Share
(in millions, except per share data)
Income
Allocation
(A)(1)
Weighted
Average
Shares
Outstanding (B)
Earnings per
Share =
(A)/(B)(2)
Income
Allocation
(A)(1)
Weighted
Average
Shares
Outstanding (B)
Earnings per
Share =
(A)/(B)(2)
Class A common stock . . . .
Class B common stock . . . .
Class C common stock . . . .
. .
Participating securities(4)
$2,638
636
364
12
509 $
245
70
Not presented
5.18
2.59
5.18
Not presented
$3,650
633
363
12
707(3) $
245
70
Not presented
5.16
2.58
5.16
Not presented
Net income attributable to
Visa Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$3,650
The following table presents basic and diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2010.
Basic Earnings Per Share
Diluted Earnings Per Share
(in millions, except per share data)
Income
Allocation
(A)(1)
Weighted
Average
Shares
Outstanding (B)
Earnings per
Share =
(A)/(B)(2)
Income
Allocation
(A)(1)
Weighted
Average
Shares
Outstanding (B)
Earnings per
Share =
(A)/(B)(2)
Class A common stock . . . .
Class B common stock . . . .
Class C common stock . . . .
. .
Participating securities(4)
$1,940
566
451
9
482 $
245
112
Not presented
4.03
2.31
4.03
Not presented
$2,966
565
449
9
739(3) $
245
112
Not presented
4.01
2.30
4.01
Not presented
Net income attributable to
Visa Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$2,966
(1) Net income attributable to Visa Inc. is allocated based on proportional ownership on an as-converted basis. The
weighted average numbers of shares of as-converted class B common stock used in the income allocation were
108 million, 123 million and 141 million for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
(2) Earnings per share calculated based on whole numbers, not rounded numbers.
(3) Weighted-average dilutive shares outstanding is calculated on an as-converted basis, and includes incremental
common stock equivalents, as calculated under the treasury stock method. The computation includes 3 million
common stock equivalents for fiscal 2012 and 2011, and 2 million common stock equivalents for fiscal 2010,
respectively, because their effect would have been dilutive, and excludes less than 1 million, 2 million and 3 million
common stock equivalents for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, because their effect would have been anti-
dilutive.
(4) Participating securities are unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or
dividend equivalents, such as the Company’s restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and earned
performance-based shares.
Note 17—Share-based Compensation
The Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, or the EIP, authorizes the
compensation committee of the board of directors to grant non-qualified stock options (“options”),
restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance-based shares to its
employees and non-employee directors, for up to 59 million shares of class A common stock. Shares
available for award may be either authorized and unissued or previously issued shares subsequently
112
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
acquired by the Company. The EIP will continue to be in effect until all of the common stock available
under the EIP is delivered and all restrictions on those shares have lapsed, unless the EIP is
terminated earlier by the Company’s board of directors. No awards may be granted under the plan on
or after 10 years from its effective date.
Share-based compensation cost is recorded net of estimated forfeitures on a straight-line basis for
awards with service conditions only, and on a graded-vesting basis for awards with service,
performance and market conditions. The Company’s estimated forfeiture rate is based on an
evaluation of historical, actual and trended forfeiture data. For fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010, the
Company recorded share-based compensation cost of $147 million, $154 million and $135 million,
respectively, in personnel on its consolidated statements of operations. The amount of capitalized
share-based compensation cost was immaterial during fiscal 2012, 2011, and 2010.
Options
Options issued under the EIP expire 10 years from the date of grant and vest ratably over three
years from the date of grant, subject to earlier vesting in full under certain conditions.
During fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, the fair value of each stock option was estimated on the date
of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:
2012
2011
2010(1)
Expected term (in years)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Risk-free rate of return(3)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected volatility(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Expected dividend yield(5)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fair value per option granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $29.65 $27.50 $29.46
1.2% 1.2% 1.4%
34.9% 33.4% 36.4%
0.9% 0.8% 0.7%
5.16
6.02
3.46
(1)
Includes the impact of 1.6 million replacement awards issued to former CyberSource employees
as part of the CyberSource acquisition in July 2010. These awards have a weighted-average
exercise price of $47.34 per share and vest over a period of less than three years from the
replacement grant date.
(2) Based on a set of peer companies that management believes is generally comparable to Visa.
(3) Based upon the zero coupon U.S. treasury bond rate over the expected term of the awards.
(4) Based on the average of the Company’s implied and historical volatility. As the Company’s publicly
traded stock history is relatively short, historical volatility relies in part on the historical volatility of a
group of peer companies that management believes is generally comparable to Visa. The
expected volatilities ranged from 31% to 35% in fiscal 2012.
(5) Based on the Company’s annual dividend rate on the date of grant.
113
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The following table summarizes the Company’s option activity for fiscal 2012:
Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
Per Share
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value(1)
(in millions)
Outstanding at October 1, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forfeited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exercised . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outstanding at September 30, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . .
Options exercisable at September 30, 2012 . . . . . .
Options exercisable and expected to be vested at
Options
8,554,389
441,191
(140,590)
(3,669,315)
5,185,675
3,746,662
$52.81
93.22
72.90
47.50
59.46
51.98
September 30, 2012(2)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5,039,896
$58.92
6.1
5.6
6.1
$388
$308
$380
(1) Calculated using the closing stock price on the last trading day of fiscal 2012 of $134.28, less the
option exercise price, multiplied by the number of instruments.
(2) Applies a forfeiture rate to unvested options outstanding at September 30, 2012 to estimate the
number expected to vest in the future.
For the options exercised during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, the total intrinsic value was $247
million, $77 million and $42 million, respectively, and the tax benefit realized was $86 million, $28
million and $15 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2012, there was $17 million of total
unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options, which is expected to be recognized over
a weighted-average period of approximately 0.9 years.
Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units
RSAs and RSUs issued under the EIP primarily vest ratably over three years from the date of
grant, subject to earlier vesting in full under certain conditions.
Upon vesting, the RSAs are settled in class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. During the
vesting period, RSA award recipients are eligible to receive dividends and participate in the same
voting rights as those granted to the holders of the underlying class A common stock. Upon vesting,
RSUs can be settled in class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or in cash, or a combination
thereof, at the Company’s option. The Company does not currently intend to settle any RSUs in cash.
During the vesting period, RSU award recipients are eligible to receive dividend equivalents but do not
participate in the voting rights granted to the holders of the underlying class A common stock.
The fair value and compensation cost before estimated forfeitures for RSAs and RSUs is
calculated using the closing price of class A common stock on the date of grant. The weighted-average
grant-date fair value of RSAs granted during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $96.39, $79.80 and
$79.58, respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of RSUs granted during fiscal 2012,
2011 and 2010 was $96.97, $79.97 and $79.59, respectively. The total grant-date fair value of RSAs
and RSUs vested during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $81 million, $55 million and $32 million,
respectively.
114
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The following table summarizes the Company’s RSA and RSU activity for fiscal 2012:
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value(1)
(in millions)
Restricted Stock
Awards
Units
RSA
RSU
RSA RSU
RSA
RSU
Outstanding at October 1, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . 1,785,975
974,233
Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(911,877)
Vested . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(111,342)
Forfeited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
467,803 $75.28 $76.65
96.97
432,763
73.24
(224,401)
84.49
(38,520)
96.39
71.03
84.44
Outstanding at September 30, 2012 . . . . . . 1,736,989
637,645 $88.77 $91.17
1.6
1.4
$233
$86
(1) Calculated by multiplying the closing stock price on the last trading day of fiscal 2012 of $134.28
by the number of instruments.
At September 30, 2012, there was $89 million and $30 million of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to unvested RSAs and RSUs, respectively.
Performance-based Shares
The following table summarizes the maximum number of performance-based shares which could
be earned and related activity for fiscal 2012:
Outstanding at October 1, 2011 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Granted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vested and earned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unearned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Forfeited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value(1)
(in millions)
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
$80.69
97.84
70.41
88.06
89.75
Shares
632,786
132,227
(213,801)
(6,977)
(18,008)
Outstanding at September 30, 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
526,227
$88.56
0.9
$71
(1) Calculated by multiplying the closing stock price on the last trading day of fiscal 2012 of $134.28
by the number of instruments.
For the Company’s performance-based shares, in addition to service conditions, the ultimate
number of shares to be earned depends on the achievement of both performance and market
conditions. The performance condition is based on either (1) the Company’s earnings per share target
or; (2) the Company’s achievement of specified cumulative net income performance targets. The
market condition is based on the Company’s total shareholder return ranked against that of other
companies that are included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The fair value of the performance-
based shares, incorporating the market condition, is estimated on the grant date using a Monte Carlo
simulation model. The grant-date fair value of performance-based shares in fiscal 2012, 2011 and
2010 was $97.84, $85.05 and $88.06 per share, respectively. Earned performance shares granted in
115
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
fiscal 2012 vest approximately three years from the initial grant date. Earned performance shares
granted in fiscal 2011 and 2010 vest in two equal installments approximately two and three years from
their respective grant dates. All performance awards are subject to earlier vesting in full under certain
conditions.
Compensation cost for performance-based shares is initially estimated based on target
performance. It is recorded net of estimated forfeitures and adjusted as appropriate throughout the
performance period. At September 30, 2012, there was $8 million of total unrecognized compensation
cost related to unvested performance-based shares, which is expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of approximately 0.9 years.
Note 18—Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments. The Company leases certain premises and equipment throughout the world with
varying expiration dates. The Company incurred total rent expense of $89 million, $76 million and $59
million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Future minimum payments on leases and marketing
and sponsorship agreements per fiscal year, at September 30, 2012, are as follows:
(in millions)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Thereafter
Total
Operating leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 95 $ 75 $ 48 $ 35 $ 28
Capital leases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Marketing and sponsorships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
—
117
—
54
—
61
6 —
120
120
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $221 $195 $165 $ 96 $ 82
$ 64
—
231
$295
$ 345
6
703
$1,054
Select sponsorship agreements require the Company to spend certain minimum amounts for
advertising and marketing promotion over the life of the contract. For commitments where the
individual years of spend are not specified in the contract, the Company has estimated the timing of
when these amounts will be spent. In addition to the fixed payments stated above, select sponsorship
agreements require the Company to undertake marketing, promotional or other activities up to stated
monetary values to support events which the Company is sponsoring. The stated monetary value of
these activities typically represents the value in the marketplace, which may be significantly in excess
of the actual costs incurred by the Company.
Client Incentives. The Company has agreements with select clients and other business partners
designed to build payments volume, increase acceptance and win merchant preference to route
transactions over our network. These agreements, with original terms ranging from one to thirteen
years, can provide card issuance and/or conversion support, volume / growth targets and marketing
and program support based on specific performance requirements. These agreements are designed to
encourage client business and to increase overall Visa-branded payment and transaction volume,
thereby reducing per unit transaction processing costs and increasing brand awareness for all Visa
clients.
Payments made that qualify for capitalization and obligations incurred under these programs are
reflected on the balance sheet. Client Incentives are recognized primarily as a reduction to revenue in
the period the related volumes and transactions occur, based on management’s estimate of the
customer’s performance in accordance with the terms of the incentive agreement. The agreements
may or may not limit the amount of customer incentive payments.
116
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The table below sets forth the expected future reduction of revenue for client incentive agreements
in effect at September 30, 2012:
(in millions)
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Thereafter
Total
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,277 $1,947 $1,590 $1,189 $675
$523
$8,201
The amount of client incentives recorded as a reduction of revenue in future periods under the
Company’s incentive arrangements, will be greater or less than the estimates above due to changes in
performance expectations, actual client performance, amendments to existing contracts or the
execution of new contracts. Based on these agreements, increases in incentive payments are
generally driven by increased payment and transaction volume, and as a result, in the event incentive
payments exceed the above estimates, such payments are not expected to have a material effect on
the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 19—Related Parties
Visa considers an entity to be a related party for purposes of this disclosure if that entity owns
more than 10% of Visa’s total voting common stock at the end of the fiscal year or if an officer or
employee of that entity also serves on the Company’s board of directors. The Company considers an
investee to be a related party if the Company’s (i) ownership interest in the investee is greater than or
equal to 10% or (ii) if the investment is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. There
were no material operating expenses incurred during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, or material amounts
due to or from related parties at the end of fiscal 2012 and 2011.
Ownership. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, no entity owned more than 10% of the Company’s
total voting common stock.
Board representation. In January 2011, the Company’s board made the decision to reduce its
overall size. Subsequently, the non-executive board members have been comprised exclusively of
independent directors. The Company generated total operating revenues of approximately $172 million
and $597 million from clients represented on its board of directors during fiscal 2011 and 2010,
respectively.
Investees. The Company generated total operating revenues of $19 million, $28 million and $27
million, and received dividend income of $1 million, $1 million and $2 million from related party
investees during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Note 20—Income Taxes
The Company’s income before taxes by fiscal year consisted of the following:
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,030 $4,650 $3,973
665
Non-U.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,177
1,006
Total income before taxes and non-controlling interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,207 $5,656 $4,638
117
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
U.S. income before taxes included $1.6 billion, $1.3 billion and $1.1 billion from non-U.S. clients
for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Income tax provision by fiscal year consisted of the following:
2012
2011
2010
(in millions)
Current:
U.S. federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1,376 $1,365 $1,089
260
State and local
76
Non-U.S.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
311
168
165
214
Total current taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1,755
1,844
1,425
Deferred:
U.S. federal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
State and local
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-U.S.
(1,276)
(415)
1
Total deferred taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1,690)
160
(2)
8
166
209
35
5
249
Total income tax provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
65 $2,010 $1,674
The tax effect of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets
and liabilities at September 30, 2012 and 2011, are presented below:
2012
2011
(in millions)
Deferred Tax Assets
Accrued compensation and benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $
Comprehensive income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Investments in joint ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accrued litigation obligation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Client incentives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net operating loss carryforward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tax credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Federal benefit of state taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Federal benefit of foreign taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Valuation allowance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
103 $
102
11
1,654
227
33
23
90
16
92
(13)
Deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2,338
96
104
15
128
184
38
26
300
7
76
—
974
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Property, equipment and technology, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intangible assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreign taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(288)
(4,027)
(44)
(10)
(266)
(4,374)
(40)
(10)
Deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4,369)
(4,690)
Net deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(2,031) $(3,716)
118
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Total net deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in the Company’s consolidated balance
sheets as follows:
September 30,
2012
September 30,
2011
Current deferred tax assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Non-current deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$ 2,027
(4,058)
489
(4,205)
(in millions)
$
Net deferred tax liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
$(2,031)
$(3,716)
The increase in the deferred tax asset for accrued litigation obligation is primarily due to the
covered litigation provision in fiscal 2012. The decrease in the Company’s deferred tax liabilities is
primarily due to the one-time, non-cash remeasurement as a result of changes in California state
apportionment rules in fiscal 2012.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more
likely than not that all or some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate
realization of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during
the periods in which those temporary differences are deductible. The fiscal 2012 valuation allowance
relates primarily to foreign net operating losses from subsidiaries acquired in recent years.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company had $20 million federal, $116 million state and $70
million foreign net operating loss carryforwards. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards
will expire in fiscal 2021 through 2031. The foreign net operating loss may be carried forward
indefinitely. Internal Revenue Code Section 382 imposes substantial restrictions on the utilization of net
operating losses and tax credits in the event of a corporation’s ownership change, as defined in the
Internal Revenue Code. Although the Company’s ability to utilize the U.S. net operating loss
carryforwards was limited in fiscal 2012, the Company expects to fully utilize the net operating loss
carryforwards in future years.
As of September 30, 2012, the Company also had federal and state research and development
tax credit carryforwards of $4 million and $19 million, respectively. The federal carryforwards will expire
in fiscal 2021 through 2029. The state carryforwards may be carried forward indefinitely. The Company
also has federal alternative minimum tax credits of approximately $1 million, which do not expire. The
Company expects to realize the benefit of the credit carryforwards in future years.
119
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The income tax provision differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the
applicable U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% to pretax income, as a result of the following:
For the Years Ended September 30
2012
2011
2010
Dollars Percent
Dollars
Percent
Dollars
Percent
U.S. federal income tax at statutory rate . . . . . . . . $ 772
36
State income taxes, net of federal benefit . . . . . . .
Non-U.S. tax effect, net of federal benefit . . . . . . .
(257)
Reversal of tax reserves related to the
(in millions)
35% $1,980
203
(12)% (150)
2%
35% $1,623
177
4%
(2)% (124)
35%
4%
(2)%
deductibility of covered litigation expense . . . . .
(299)
(14)%
—
— %
—
— %
Remeasurement of deferred taxes due to:
California state apportionment rule changes . . . .
Other state apportionment changes . . . . . . . . . . .
Revaluation of Visa Europe put option . . . . . . . . .
Other, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(9)%
(208)
1%
11
—
— %
10 — %
—
— %
(3) — %
(43)
(1)%
23 — %
—
— %
15 — %
(28)
(1)%
11 — %
Income tax provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 65
3% $2,010
36% $1,674
36%
The effective income tax rate in fiscal 2012 was lower than that in fiscal 2011 and 2010 primarily
due to:
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
(cid:129)
the fiscal 2012 reversal of previously recorded tax reserves associated with uncertainties
related to the deductibility of covered litigation expense;
a decrease in the overall state tax rate due to changes in the California apportionment rules
and the associated one-time, non-cash remeasurement of existing net deferred tax liabilities
in fiscal 2012;
a one-time benefit recognized upon initial recognition of foreign tax credits in fiscal 2012;
the effect of applying the foregoing adjustments to a pre-tax income that was reduced by a
$4.1 billion covered litigation provision; and
the absence of nontaxable revaluations of the Visa Europe put option in fiscal 2012.
Income taxes receivable of $179 million and $112 million are included in prepaid and other current
assets at September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 6—Prepaid Expenses and Other
Assets. At September 30, 2012 and 2011, income taxes payable of $58 million and $63 million,
respectively, are included in accrued income taxes as part of accrued liabilities, and accrued income
taxes of $171 million and $468 million, respectively, are included in other long-term liabilities. See
Note 9—Accrued and Other Liabilities.
Cumulative undistributed earnings of the Company’s international subsidiaries that are intended to
be reinvested indefinitely outside the U.S. amounted to $2.6 billion at September 30, 2012. The
amount of income taxes that would have resulted had such earnings been repatriated is not practicably
determinable.
The Company’s largest operating hub outside the U.S. is located in Singapore. It operates under a
tax incentive agreement which is effective through September 30, 2014, and may be extended through
September 30, 2023, if certain additional requirements are satisfied. The tax incentive agreement is
120
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
conditional upon certain employment and investment thresholds being met by the Company. The tax
incentive agreement decreased Singapore tax by $130 million, $111 million and $93 million, and the
benefit of the tax incentive agreement on diluted earnings per share was $0.19, $0.16 and $0.13 in
fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
In accordance with ASC 740, the Company is required to inventory, evaluate, and measure all
uncertain tax positions taken or to be taken on tax returns, and to record liabilities for the amount of
such positions that may not be sustained, or may only partially be sustained, upon examination by the
relevant taxing authorities.
At September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits were $679
million and $850 million, respectively, exclusive of interest and penalties described below. Included in
the $679 million and $850 million are $537 million and $696 million of unrecognized tax benefits,
respectively, that if recognized, would reduce the effective tax rate in a future period.
A reconciliation of beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits by fiscal year is as follows:
Beginning balance at October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 850 $545
206
Increases of unrecognized tax benefits related to prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(52)
Decreases of unrecognized tax benefits related to prior years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
158
Increases of unrecognized tax benefits related to current year
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(7)
Reductions related to lapsing statute of limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
186
(445)
89
(1)
Ending balance at September 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 679 $850
2012
2011
(in millions)
It is the Company’s policy to account for interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax
positions as interest expense, and general and administrative expense, respectively, in its consolidated
statements of operations. In fiscal 2012, the Company reversed $45 million of interest expense
primarily associated with uncertainties related to the deductibility of covered litigation expense. In fiscal
2011 and 2010, the Company recognized $7 million and $37 million of interest expense, respectively,
related to uncertain tax positions. In fiscal 2012 and 2011, the Company reversed $1 million and
$2 million of penalties, respectively. In fiscal 2010, the Company recognized $5 million of penalties. At
September 30, 2012 and 2011, the Company had accrued interest of $20 million and $65 million,
respectively, and accrued penalties of $7 million and $8 million, respectively, related to uncertain tax
positions in its other long-term liabilities.
In September 2012, the IRS completed the examination of the Company’s fiscal 2006, 2007 and
2008 U.S. federal income tax returns with no significant adjustments. The statute of limitations for
these years is expected to expire in June of 2013. Upon the successful completion of this examination
in fiscal 2012, the Company reversed $425 million of unrecognized tax benefits, primarily related to the
deductibility of covered litigation.
The IRS will begin the examination of the Company’s fiscal 2009, 2010 and 2011 tax returns in
fiscal 2013. The Company’s California fiscal 2006, 2007 and 2008 tax returns are currently under
examination. Except for certain outstanding refund claims, the federal and California statutes of
limitations have expired for fiscal years prior to fiscal 2006. The Company’s fiscal 2003 to 2009
Canadian income tax returns are currently under examination by the Canada Revenue Agency. The
121
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Company is also subject to examinations by various state and foreign tax authorities. All material state
and foreign tax matters have been concluded for years through fiscal 2002. The timings and outcomes
of the final resolutions of the federal, state and foreign tax examinations and refund claims are
uncertain. As such, it is not reasonably possible to estimate the impacts that the final outcomes could
have on the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits in the next 12 months.
Note 21—Legal Matters
The Company is party to various legal and regulatory proceedings. Some of these proceedings
involve complex claims that are subject to substantial uncertainties and unascertainable damages.
Accordingly, except as disclosed, the Company has not established reserves or ranges of possible loss
related to these proceedings, as at this time in the proceedings, the matters do not relate to a probable
loss and/or amounts are not reasonably estimable. Although the Company believes that it has strong
defenses for the litigation and regulatory proceedings described below, it could in the future incur
judgments or fines or enter into settlements of claims that could have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows. From time to time, the Company may
engage in settlement discussions or mediations with respect to one or more of its outstanding litigation
matters, either on its own behalf or collectively with other parties.
The Company recorded litigation provisions of $4.1 billion, $7 million and $(45) million in fiscal
2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The credit to the provision in fiscal 2010 was primarily the result of
a $41 million pre-tax gain recognized related to the prepayment of the remaining obligations under the
settlement agreement in the Retailers’ litigation (discussed in Other Litigation below). The remaining
credit balance was due to the release of accruals for certain legal matters settled during fiscal 2010.
The litigation accrual is an estimate and is based on management’s understanding of its litigation
profile, the specifics of each case, advice of counsel to the extent appropriate and management’s best
estimate of incurred loss at the balance sheet date.
The following table summarizes the activity related to accrued litigation for both covered and other
non-covered litigation for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011:
2012
2011
(in millions)
Balance at October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 425 $ 697
Provision for unsettled legal matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
—
Provision for settled legal matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reclassification of settled matters(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Interest accretion on settled matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Payments on settled matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4,100
—
—
7
12
11
(302)
1
(140)
Balance at September 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,386 $ 425
(1) Reclassification of amount previously recorded in accrued liabilities.
Covered Litigation
Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. and Visa International are parties to certain legal proceedings that are
covered by the retrospective responsibility plan, which the Company refers to as the covered litigation.
See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan. An accrual for the covered litigation and a charge to
122
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
the litigation provision are recorded when loss is deemed to be probable and reasonably estimable. In
making this determination, the Company evaluates available information, including but not limited to
actions taken by the litigation committee. The Company recorded an additional accrual of $4.1 billion
for the covered litigation during fiscal 2012, which increased its total reserve for the covered litigation
from $285 million to $4.4 billion. The current uncommitted balance of the covered litigation escrow
account of $4.4 billion was deposited by the Company primarily with a view toward resolving the
Interchange Litigation. The total accrual related to the covered litigation could be either higher or lower
than the escrow account balance.
The Discover Litigation. On October 4, 2004, Discover Financial Services, Inc. filed a complaint
against Visa U.S.A., Visa International and MasterCard International Incorporated (MasterCard). The
complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and was designated
as a related case to a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1998. The complaint
alleged, among other things, that the implementation and enforcement of Visa’s bylaw 2.10(e) and
MasterCard’s Competitive Programs Policy, or CPP, which prohibited their respective members from
issuing American Express or Discover cards violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act and
California’s Unfair Competition Law, and sought money damages (subject to trebling) and attorneys’
fees and costs.
On October 13, 2008, Visa, MasterCard and Discover reached an agreement in principle to settle
the litigation. The parties executed a final settlement agreement on October 27, 2008 that became
effective on November 4, 2008 upon approval by holders of Visa’s class B common stock. Visa’s net
share of the settlement totaled $1.8 billion, of which $1.74 billion was paid over four quarters from the
escrow account established by the retrospective responsibility plan. Visa Inc. also paid $80 million
toward Visa’s share in connection with releases obtained from MasterCard with respect to certain
potential claims. Visa Inc. also paid an additional $65 million, which was refunded by Morgan Stanley,
under a separate agreement related to the settlement. Visa’s settlement obligations were fully satisfied
with the September 2009 payment to Discover.
The American Express Litigation. On November 15, 2004, American Express filed a complaint
against Visa U.S.A., Visa International, MasterCard and several Visa U.S.A. and Visa International
member financial institutions in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The
complaint alleged that the implementation and enforcement of Visa U.S.A.’s bylaw 2.10(e) and
MasterCard’s CPP violated Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, and sought money damages (subject
to trebling) and attorneys’ fees and costs.
Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. and Visa International entered into a settlement agreement with American
Express that became effective on November 9, 2007. Under the settlement agreement, American
Express received payments of $2.25 billion, including $2.07 billion from Visa Inc. and $185 million from
five co-defendant banks. An initial payment of $1.13 billion was made on March 31, 2008, including
$945 million funded through the litigation escrow account established under the retrospective
responsibility plan and $185 million from the five co-defendant banks. Beginning April 2008, Visa Inc.
paid American Express an additional amount of $70 million each quarter for 16 quarters, for a total of
$1.12 billion. Visa’s settlement obligations were fully satisfied with the January 2012 payment to
American Express. The quarterly settlement payments were also covered by the retrospective
responsibility plan. The total settlement was recorded in fiscal 2007 at a discounted value of $1.9 billion
using a rate of 4.72% over the payment term.
123
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The Attridge Litigation. On December 8, 2004, a complaint was filed in California state court on
behalf of an alleged class of consumers asserting claims against Visa U.S.A., Visa International and
MasterCard under California’s Cartwright Act and Unfair Competition Law. The claims in this action,
Attridge v. Visa U.S.A. Inc., et al., seek to piggyback on the portion of the DOJ litigation in which the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York found that Visa’s bylaw 2.10(e) and
MasterCard’s CPP constitute unlawful restraints of trade under the federal antitrust laws. On May 19,
2006, the court entered an order dismissing plaintiff’s Cartwright Act claims with prejudice but allowing
the plaintiff to proceed with his Unfair Competition Law claims, which seek restitution, injunctive relief,
and attorneys’ fees and costs. On December 14, 2007, the plaintiff amended his complaint to add Visa
Inc. as a defendant. No new claims were added to the complaint.
On July 1, 2009, the court denied in part the Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment or
Summary Adjudication, but ordered the parties to submit affidavits as to whether further discovery
should be conducted prior to the court rendering judgment on the Motion for Summary Adjudication.
On August 3, 2009, the court ruled the Motion submitted without any such further discovery.
In the separate “Indirect Purchaser” Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases, also pending in California
state court, Visa entered into a settlement agreement on September 14, 2009 which potentially could
have had the effect of releasing the claims asserted in the Attridge case, subject to the ruling of the
Attridge court. On September 24, 2009, the Attridge court deferred its decision on the Motion for
Summary Adjudication pending court approval of the settlement in the Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases.
On August 23, 2010, final approval of the Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases settlement was granted. The
plaintiff in Attridge and others appealed the final approval order. On February 15, 2011, the court
ordered that the Attridge case be stayed until 30 days following the final resolution of the appeals in the
Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases. On January 9, 2012, the appeals court reversed the approval of the
Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases settlement, and the case was remanded to the trial court for
consideration of the fairness and adequacy of the settlement in light of the inclusion of the Attridge
claims in the release. Attridge filed a motion to disqualify the trial judge in the Credit/Debit Card Tying
Cases, which was granted. On June 4, 2012, the Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases were reassigned to
the Honorable John E. Munter, the same judge in the Attridge case. On July 17, 2012, the Attridge
case was stayed until January 16, 2013.
The Interchange Litigation
Multidistrict Litigation Proceedings (MDL). Beginning in May 2005, approximately 55 complaints,
all but 13 of which were styled as class actions, have been filed in U.S. federal district courts on behalf
of merchants against Visa U.S.A. and/or MasterCard, and in some cases, certain Visa member
financial institutions. Visa International was also named as a defendant in more than 30 of these
complaints. The cases allege, among other things, that Visa’s and MasterCard’s purported setting of
interchange reimbursement fees, their “no surcharge” rules, and alleged tying and bundling of
transaction fees violate federal antitrust laws. On October 19, 2005, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict
Litigation issued an order transferring these cases to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
New York for coordination of pre-trial proceedings (MDL 1720). On April 24, 2006, the group of
purported class plaintiffs filed a First Amended Class Action Complaint. Taken together, the claims in
the First Amended Class Action Complaint and in the 13 complaints brought on behalf of individual
merchants are generally brought under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act. In addition, some of
these complaints contain certain state unfair competition law claims. These interchange-related cases
124
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
seek money damages (alleged in the consolidated class action complaint to range in the tens of billions
of dollars), subject to trebling, as well as attorneys’ fees and injunctive relief.
As part of the retrospective responsibility plan, Visa U.S.A. and Visa International entered into an
interchange judgment sharing agreement with certain member financial institutions of Visa U.S.A. on
July 1, 2007.
On January 8, 2008, the district court adopted the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge and
granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the class plaintiffs’ claims for damages incurred prior to
January 1, 2004.
On January 29, 2009, class plaintiffs filed a Second Consolidated Amended Class Action
Complaint. Among other things, this complaint: (i) added new claims for damages and injunctive relief
against Visa and the bank defendants regarding interchange reimbursement fees for Visa PIN-debit
cards; (ii) added new claims for damages and injunctive relief against Visa and the bank defendants
since the time of Visa’s IPO regarding interchange reimbursement fees for Visa’s credit, offline debit,
and PIN-debit cards; (iii) eliminated claims for damages relating to the so-called “no-surcharge” rule
and “anti-steering” rules; (iv) eliminated claims for damages based on the alleged tie of network
processing services and payment guarantee services to the payment card system services; and
(v) added Visa Inc. as a defendant.
In addition, class plaintiffs filed a Second Supplemental Class Action Complaint (the
“Supplemental Complaint”) against Visa Inc. and several financial institutions challenging Visa’s
reorganization and IPO under Section 1 of the Sherman Act and Section 7 of the Clayton Act. In the
Supplemental Complaint, class plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages and declaratory and
injunctive relief, including an order that the IPO be unwound.
On February 7, 2011, Visa entered into an omnibus agreement that confirmed and memorialized
the signatories’ intentions with respect to the loss sharing agreement, the judgment sharing agreement
and other agreements relating to certain interchange litigation. Under the omnibus agreement, the
monetary portion of any settlement of the interchange litigation covered by the omnibus agreement
would be divided into a MasterCard portion at 33.3333% and a Visa portion at 66.6667%. In addition,
the monetary portion of any judgment assigned to Visa-related claims in accordance with the omnibus
agreement would be treated as a Visa portion. Visa would have no liability for the monetary portion of
any judgment assigned to MasterCard-related claims in accordance with the omnibus agreement, and
if a judgment is not assigned to Visa-related claims or MasterCard-related claims in accordance with
the omnibus agreement, then any monetary liability would be divided into a MasterCard portion at
33.3333% and a Visa portion at 66.6667%. The Visa portion of a settlement or judgment covered by
the omnibus agreement would be allocated in accordance with specified provisions of the
Company’s retrospective responsibility plan. The litigation provision on the consolidated
statements of operations is not impacted by the execution of the omnibus agreement.
On July 13, 2012, Visa Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries Visa U.S.A. and Visa International,
MasterCard Incorporated, MasterCard International Incorporated, various U.S. financial institution
defendants, and the class plaintiffs signed a memorandum of understanding (the “MOU”) which
obligated the parties to enter into a settlement agreement in the form attached to the MOU to resolve
the class plaintiffs’ claims. On October 19, 2012, those same parties signed a settlement agreement
(the “Settlement Agreement”) to resolve the class plaintiffs’ claims.
125
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
The terms of the Settlement Agreement include, among other terms:
(cid:129) A comprehensive release from participating class members for liability arising out of claims
asserted in the litigation, and a further release to protect against future litigation regarding
default interchange and the other U.S. rules at issue in the MDL;
(cid:129) Settlement payments from the Company of approximately $4.0 billion, to be paid from the
Company’s previously funded litigation escrow account established under the retrospective
responsibility plan, see Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan;
(cid:129) Distribution to class merchants of an amount equal to 10 basis points of default interchange
across all credit rate categories for a period of eight consecutive months, which otherwise
would have been paid to issuers and which effectively reduces credit interchange for that
period of time. The eight month period for the reduction would begin within 60 days after
completion of the court- ordered period during which individual class members may opt out of
this settlement;
(cid:129) Certain modifications to the Company’s rules, including modifications to permit surcharging on
credit transactions under certain circumstances, subject to a cap and a level playing field with
other general purpose card competitors; and
(cid:129) Agreement that the Company will meet with merchant buying groups that seek to negotiate
interchange rates collectively.
On October 19, 2012, the class plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary approval of the Settlement
Agreement. Objections to preliminary approval were filed before the preliminary approval hearing,
which was held on November 9, 2012. The court granted preliminary approval of the Settlement
Agreement on November 9, 2012. Until the Settlement Agreement is finally approved by the court and
any appeals are finally adjudicated, no assurance can be provided that the Company will be able to
resolve the class plaintiffs’ claims as contemplated by the Settlement Agreement.
In addition, on October 19, 2012, the Company and the individual plaintiffs whose claims were
consolidated with the MDL for coordination of pre-trial proceedings (the “Individual Plaintiffs”) signed a
settlement agreement to resolve the Individual Plaintiffs’ claims against the Company for approximately
$350 million. This payment was made from the litigation escrow account under the retrospective
responsibility plan on October 29, 2012. On November 6, 2012, the court entered an order dismissing
the Individual Plaintiffs’ claims with prejudice.
For the quarter ended June 30, 2012, the Company recorded a litigation provision of $4.1 billion,
which increased its total reserve for the covered litigation from $285 million to $4.4 billion, to reflect the
class plaintiffs’ Settlement Agreement and the resolution of the Individual Plaintiffs’ claims.
Other Litigation
In re Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation (“the Retailers’ litigation”). Beginning in October
1996, several antitrust class action lawsuits were brought by U.S. merchants against Visa U.S.A. and
MasterCard. The suits were later consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
New York, In re Visa Check/ MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation. Among other claims, the plaintiffs
alleged that Visa U.S.A.’s “Honor All Cards” rule, which required merchants that accepted Visa cards to
accept for payment every validly presented Visa card, and a similar MasterCard rule, constituted an
126
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
illegal tying arrangement in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. On June 4, 2003, the parties
signed a settlement agreement that was approved by the court on December 19, 2003. Pursuant to the
settlement agreement, Visa agreed to modify its “Honor All Cards” rule such that a merchant may
accept only Visa check cards, only Visa credit cards, or both. Visa also agreed to pay approximately
$2.0 billion to the merchant class over 10 years in equal annual installments of $200 million per year,
among other things.
On August 31, 2009, Visa entered into an agreement to prepay its remaining $800 million in
settlement payments for $682 million. On October 2, 2009, the court entered a final order approving
the prepayment agreement, and Visa made the prepayment on October 5, 2009. Pursuant to its terms,
the prepayment agreement became final after no appeals to the approval order were filed within the
30-day appeal period.
“Indirect Purchaser” Actions. Complaints were also filed in 19 different states and the District of
Columbia alleging state antitrust, consumer protection and common law claims against Visa U.S.A.
and MasterCard (and, in California, Visa International) on behalf of consumers. The claims in these
class actions included allegations mirroring those made in the U.S. merchant lawsuit and asserting that
merchants, faced with excessive merchant discount fees, passed on some portion of those fees to
consumers in the form of higher prices on goods and services sold. Plaintiffs seek money damages
and injunctive relief. Visa U.S.A. has been successful in the majority of these cases, as courts in 17
jurisdictions have granted Visa U.S.A.’s motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or plaintiffs have
voluntarily dismissed their complaints. In New Mexico, the court granted Visa U.S.A.’s motion to
dismiss at a hearing on May 14, 2010, and entered an order and judgment dismissing the case on
June 9, 2010. The plaintiff filed a notice of appeal from that order and judgment on June 14, 2010. On
April 18, 2012, the state appellate court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the case. In California, in
the consolidated Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases, the court dismissed claims brought under the
Cartwright Act, but denied a similar motion with respect to Unfair Competition Law claims for unlawful,
unfair and/or fraudulent business practices. On October 31, 2007, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion
to give collateral estoppel effect to certain elements of their “tying” claim based on statements in the
ruling on cross-motions for summary judgment in In re Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litigation.
On October 3, 2008, the parties agreed to confidential settlement terms to resolve the dispute. A
written settlement agreement executed on September 14, 2009, was submitted to the court for
approval. After the parties amended the settlement agreement in certain respects, the court entered an
order preliminarily approving the settlement on January 5, 2010 and entered an order granting final
approval on August 23, 2010. The plaintiff in Attridge, who had filed objections to the settlement, filed a
notice of appeal from the final approval order, as have other objectors to the settlement. The amount of
the settlement is not considered material to the consolidated financial statements.
On January 9, 2012, the Court of Appeal of the State of California reversed the judgment
approving the settlement agreement, and the case was remanded to the trial court for consideration of
the fairness and adequacy of the settlement in light of the inclusion of the Attridge claims in the
release. Attridge filed a motion to disqualify the trial judge in the Credit/Debit Card Tying Cases, which
was granted. On June 4, 2012, the court issued an order reassigning the case to the Honorable John
E. Munter, the same judge in the Attridge case.
The parties subsequently agreed upon a revised written settlement agreement, which was
submitted to the court for preliminary approval on August 20, 2012 and executed as of September 6,
2012.
127
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Vale Canjeable. On November 21, 2006, Vale Canjeable Ticketven, C.A. filed an action in the Fifth
Municipal Court of Caracas (“Fifth Municipal court”), Venezuela against Todoticket 2004, C.A., and
Visa International seeking a preliminary injunction preventing use of the Visa Vale mark in Venezuela.
On November 29, 2006, the Fifth Municipal court granted a preliminary injunction prohibiting
defendants’ use of “Vale” in the Venezuelan market of food vouchers. Visa filed a constitutional
objection to that ruling on December 6, 2006. The objection was dismissed, and Visa appealed the
decision through the appellate courts.
After all appeals to the lower appellate courts had been rejected, on March 14, 2008, Visa filed an
extraordinary appeal of the preliminary injunction ruling with the Commercial Chamber of the Supreme
Court (the “Supreme Court”). On August 6, 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in Visa’s favor, declared the
lower court’s decision null and void, and remanded the case to the appellate court. Following the
Supreme Court’s order, on March 25, 2009, the First Commercial Judge of Appeals of Caracas issued
a new decision, affirming the preliminary injunction and finding Visa and Todoticket liable for legal fees
and costs in connection with the appeal. On July 9, 2009, Visa filed a further appeal, and on
December 10, 2009, the Supreme Court again decided in Visa’s favor, overturning the appellate ruling.
The Supreme Court ordered a new appellate judge to consider the preliminary injunction that
prevented Visa from using the Visa Vale trademark in Venezuela. On August 10, 2011, the court
rejected Visa’s appeal of the preliminary injunction and ordered the defendants to pay costs.
In parallel to this proceeding, in December 2006, the plaintiff also filed a claim with the Fourth
Commercial Court of First Instance of Caracas (“First Instance court”), alleging that the defendants
infringed the plaintiff’s rights as the holder of the trademark registries and requesting declarative,
injunctive and monetary relief. On September 25, 2007, Visa’s request for removal of the First Instance
judge from the case was granted. A new judge was assigned to finalize the discovery phase of the
case. On February 11, 2010, the First Instance court dismissed in its entirety the plaintiff’s claim
against Visa and other defendants for damages based on trademark infringement. The plaintiff
appealed. On August 10, 2011, the appellate court overturned the First Instance court’s dismissal in
part. The court refused to award plaintiff any damages or costs, but enjoined Visa and Todoticket from
using the expression “Vale” in the Venezuelan food voucher market.
Visa filed extraordinary appeals of both August 10 rulings with the Supreme Court.
European Interchange Proceedings. On April 3, 2009, the European Commission issued a
Statement of Objections (“SO”) to Visa Europe, Visa International and Visa Inc. alleging a breach of
European competition law. Visa Inc. and Visa International were served with the Statement of
Objections on June 1, 2009. The SO alleged a breach of Article 81 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of
the EEA Agreement. The SO was directed to Visa Inc. and Visa International with respect to the
“Honor All Cards” rule, the “no-surcharge” rule, and certain debit interchange fee practices. On
August 10, 2009, Visa Inc. and Visa International filed a response to the SO.
On April 26, 2010, Visa Europe announced an agreement with the European Commission, subject to
public consultation, to end the proceedings with respect to Visa Europe’s immediate debit interchange
fees. After public consultation, on December 8, 2010, the European Commission concluded that the
proposed agreement with Visa Europe addressed its competition concerns, made the agreement legally
binding upon Visa Europe, and closed its investigation with regard to interchange fees for debit card
transactions. On July 31, 2012, the European Commission announced a supplementary Statement of
128
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
Objections that was sent to Visa Europe concerning interchange for consumer credit card transactions.
Pursuant to existing agreements among the parties, Visa Europe is obligated to indemnify Visa
International and Visa Inc. in connection with this proceeding, including payment of any fines that may be
imposed.
Canadian Competition Proceedings
Competition Bureau. On April 21, 2009, Visa Canada Corporation (“Visa Canada”) received an
oral notification from the Canadian Competition Bureau that it had initiated a civil inquiry regarding
interchange and certain of Visa policies relating to merchant acceptance practices. The Bureau issued
a voluntary draft information request to Visa on August 4, 2010, seeking information about certain
merchant acceptance practices, interchange (including the setting of default interchange), and fees
paid by issuers and acquirers to Visa.
On December 15, 2010, the Commissioner of Competition filed a Notice of Application against
Visa Canada and MasterCard. The proceeding challenges certain Visa policies regarding merchant
acceptance practices, including Visa’s “no-surcharge” and “honour all cards” policies under the
Competition Act. Visa Canada filed a Response to the Notice of Application on January 31, 2011. On
February 10, 2011, Toronto Dominion Bank and the Canadian Bankers Association sought leave to
intervene in the proceeding; Visa supported such requests. Following a hearing on March 7, 2011, the
Competition Tribunal granted the intervention requests.
The hearing before the Competition Tribunal on the merits of the case was held from May 8, 2012
through June 21, 2012.
Merchant Litigation. On December 17, 2010, a purported civil follow-on case to the Competition
Bureau’s proceeding was filed against Visa Canada and MasterCard in the Superior Court of Québec,
Canada, on behalf of a class of merchants and a class of consumers. The action, 9085-4886 Quebec
Inc. et al. v. Visa Canada et al., asserts claims under Section 76 of the Competition Act, which does
not provide for a civil cause of action. Plaintiff seeks unspecified money damages and injunctive relief.
On March 28, 2011, Mary Watson filed a class action lawsuit in the Supreme Court of British
Columbia, Canada, on behalf of merchants and others in Canada that accept payment by Visa and
MasterCard (Watson). The suit, filed against Visa Canada, MasterCard, and ten financial institutions,
alleges conduct contrary to section 45 of the Competition Act and also asserts claims of civil
conspiracy, interference with economic interests, and unjust enrichment, among others. Plaintiff
alleges that Visa and MasterCard each conspired with their member financial institutions to set supra-
competitive default interchange rates and merchant discount fees, and that Visa and MasterCard’s
respective “no-surcharge” and “honour all cards” rules had the anticompetitive effect of increasing
merchant discount fees. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and injunctive relief. On
January 9, 2012, plaintiff filed a notice of application for certification of a class action. Defendants’
responding certification material was delivered on October 15, 2012.
On May 16, 2011, a merchant class action which effectively mirrors the Watson case was initiated in
Ontario (Bancroft-Snell). As in Watson, the Bancroft-Snell complaint alleges conduct in contravention of
Section 45 of the Competition Act, civil conspiracy, interference with economic interests, and unjust
enrichment, among other claims, and seeks similar relief. As a result of plaintiff’s unopposed request on
January 10, 2012, the Bancroft-Snell case is being held in abeyance pending further proceedings in the
Watson case.
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VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
On April 10, 2012, the court in the 9085-4886 Quebec Inc. case permitted the plaintiff to revise its
complaint to effectively mirror the Watson case, and to add the same ten financial institutions as
co-defendants. On June 13, 2012, at plaintiff’s request and in light of the proceedings in the Watson
case, the court entered an order staying the case until June 21, 2013.
On July 12 and 13, 2012, merchant class actions which effectively mirror the Watson case were
initiated in Saskatchewan (Canada Rent A Heater (2000) Ltd.) and Alberta (1023926 Alberta Ltd.). In
light of the proceedings in the Watson case, plaintiffs’ counsel in both actions advised that no further
proceedings will be taken and no Statement of Defense will be required without prior reasonable notice
to the parties.
Dynamic Currency Conversion. On August 31, 2010, Visa received a notice from the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regarding a pending investigation into Visa’s policies
relating to the provision of Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) services. DCC refers to conversion
from one currency to another, either of the price of goods or services by the merchant, or of cash
withdrawals by an ATM. The ACCC has the authority to commence proceedings before the Federal
Court of Australia and seek an injunction or fine if it can establish a breach of competition laws. No
such proceedings have been commenced, and the potential amount of any fine cannot be estimated at
this time.
Data pass litigation. On August 27, 2010, a consumer filed a class action complaint against
Webloyalty.com, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., and Visa Inc. in federal district court in Connecticut. The
plaintiff claims, among other things, that consumers who made online purchases at Amazon.com were
deceived into also incurring charges for services from Webloyalty.com through the alleged
unauthorized passing of cardholder account information during the sales transaction (“data pass”), in
violation of federal and state consumer protection statutes and common law. Visa allegedly aided and
abetted the conduct of the other defendants. Plaintiff seeks damages, restitution, and injunctive relief.
The plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Amazon.com as a defendant without prejudice on October 29, 2010.
Webloyalty.com and Visa each filed motions to dismiss the case on November 1, 2010.
On November 19, 2010, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, adding GameStop Corporation
as a defendant, asserting additional claims against Visa under federal and state consumer protection
statutes and state common law, and seeking certification of a class of persons and entities whose
credit card or debit card data was improperly accessed by Webloyalty.com since October 1, 2008.
Webloyalty.com asked the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate with this case, for
pretrial proceedings, a case pending in federal district court in California in which Webloyalty.com and
Movietickets.com (but not Visa) are named as defendants. On February 8, 2011, the Judicial Panel on
Multidistrict Litigation denied Webloyalty.com’s application to consolidate the case.
On December 23, 2010, Webloyalty.com, GameStop, and Visa each filed motions to dismiss the
amended complaint.
Call center litigation. On April 28, 2011, Francisco Marenco filed a request in the U.S. District
Court for the Central District of California to amend his class action complaint to name Visa Inc. as the
defendant. The court granted the request and Marenco filed the amended complaint on May 6, 2011.
The lawsuit alleged that Visa recorded telephone calls to call center representatives without providing a
disclosure that the calls may be recorded, in alleged violation of state law in California and several
other states. On May 31, 2011, the parties executed a settlement agreement in an amount that is not
130
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
material to Visa’s consolidated financial statements. The court granted preliminary approval of the
settlement on July 20, 2011, and on November 30, 2011, the court entered a final order approving the
settlement and entering judgment in the case. This matter relates to and resolves the previously
reported contractual indemnity claim tendered to Visa by a processing client in October 2010.
Korean Fair Trade Commission. Following a complaint lodged by a Visa client, in July 2011 the
Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) initiated an investigation into Visa’s requirements for the
processing of international transactions over VisaNet. The KFTC has the authority to issue an
injunction or fine; the potential amount of any fine cannot be estimated at this time. Visa is cooperating
with the investigation.
U.S. ATM Access Fee Litigation.
National ATM Council class action. On October 12, 2011, the National ATM Council and thirteen
non-bank ATM operators filed a class action lawsuit against Visa (Visa Inc., Visa International Service
Association, Visa U.S.A., and Plus System, Inc.) and MasterCard in U.S. District Court for the District
of Columbia. The complaint challenges Visa’s rule (and a similar MasterCard rule) that if an ATM
operator chooses to charge consumers an access fee for a Visa or Plus transaction, that fee cannot be
greater than the access fee charged for transactions on other networks. The plaintiffs claim that the
rule prevents non-bank ATM operators from attracting customers through lower prices, allegedly in
violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The complaint requests injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, and
damages “in an amount not presently known, but which is tens of millions of dollars, prior to trebling.”
On January 10, 2012, plaintiffs filed an amended class action complaint against the same
defendants. Like the original complaint, the amended complaint alleges that the ATM access fee rule
prevents non-bank ATM operators from attracting customers to use other networks in violation of
Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The amended complaint also alleges that Visa’s rule has enabled Visa
to charge artificially high network fees for ATM transactions, to compensate ATM operators
inadequately, and to compensate member banks excessively. Plaintiffs request injunctive relief,
attorneys’ fees, and treble damages.
Consumer class actions. In October 2011, three consumer class actions were filed against Visa
and MasterCard in the same federal court challenging the same ATM access fee rules. One case,
Genese, adds three financial institutions as defendants. All three cases purport to represent classes of
consumers in claims brought under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Stoumbos adds claims under
antitrust and/or consumer protection statutes in certain states and the District of Columbia, and Bartron
adds claims on behalf of sub-classes of consumers under such state laws. The consumer suits seek
injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, and treble damages; Bartron and Stoumbos also seek restitution
where available under state law.
On December 1, 2011, the plaintiff in the Stoumbos case filed a corrected complaint asserting the
same claims as in the original complaint.
On January 10, 2012, the Bartron and Genese complaints were combined into a single amended
complaint, now captioned Mackmin. The amended complaint challenges the same ATM access fee
rules and names Visa, MasterCard, and three financial institutions as defendants, but the putative
class representatives are different from those in the original Bartron and Genese complaints. Mackmin
131
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
purports to represent classes and sub-classes of consumers in claims brought under Section 1 of the
Sherman Act and the antitrust and/or consumer protection statutes in certain states and the District of
Columbia. The amended complaint seeks injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees, treble damages, and
restitution where available under state law.
On January 30, 2012, Visa, MasterCard, and the defendant financial institutions filed motions to
dismiss the complaints in the National ATM Council class action and the consumer class actions. A
hearing on the motions to dismiss was held on September 5, 2012.
U.S. Department of Justice Civil Investigative Demand. On March 13, 2012, the Antitrust Division
of the United States Department of Justice (the “Division”) issued a Civil Investigative Demand, or
“CID,” to Visa Inc. seeking documents and information regarding a potential violation of Section 1 or 2
of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1, 2. The CID focuses on PIN-Authenticated Visa Debit and Visa’s
competitive responses to the Dodd-Frank Act, including Visa’s Fixed Acquirer Network Fee. Visa and
its representatives have communicated and continue to communicate regularly with the Division and
have provided materials in response to the CID. Visa is continuing to provide materials and cooperate
with the Division in connection with the CID.
Federal Trade Commission Voluntary Access Letter. On September 21, 2012, the Bureau of
Competition of the United States Federal Trade Commission (the “Bureau”) requested that Visa
provide on a voluntary basis documents and information regarding potential violations of certain
regulations associated with the Dodd-Frank Act, particularly Section 920(b)(1)(B) of the Electronic
Funds Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. 1693o-2, and Regulation II, 12 C.F.R. § 235.7(b) (commonly known as
the “Durbin Amendment” and regulations). The request focuses on information related to the purposes,
implementation, and impact of the optional PIN Debit Gateway Service. The revenue generated by the
PIN Debit Gateway Service is not material to the Company’s financial statements. Visa is cooperating
with the Bureau and responding to its information requests.
Note 22—Subsequent Events
On October 19, 2012, Visa, MasterCard, various U.S. financial institution defendants and the class
plaintiffs signed a settlement agreement to resolve the class plaintiffs’ claims in the interchange MDL.
Visa also signed a settlement agreement to resolve the claims brought by a group of individual
merchants which were consolidated with the MDL for coordination of pre-trial proceedings. The court
granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement with the class plaintiffs on November 9,
2012. However, the settlement with the class plaintiffs is subject to final court approval, which cannot
be assured until received, and to the adjudication of any appeals. See Note 3—Retrospective
Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements.
On October 24, 2012, the Company announced that Charles W. Scharf had been appointed to
serve as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of the Company, effective
November 1, 2012.
On October 24, 2012, the Company’s board of directors declared a dividend in the aggregate
amount of $0.33 per share of class A common stock (determined in the case of class B and class C
common stock on an as-converted basis). See Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity.
On October 24, 2012, the Company’s board of directors authorized an additional $1.5 billion share
repurchase program to be in effect through October 2013. See Note 15—Stockholders’ Equity.
132
VISA INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
September 30, 2012
On October 29, 2012, the Company made a payment of $350 million from the litigation escrow
account to the Individual Plaintiffs’ Settlement Fund. See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan
and Note 21—Legal Matters to our consolidated financial statements.
Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following tables show selected quarterly operating results for each quarter and full year of
fiscal 2012 and 2011 for the Company:
Visa Inc.
Operating revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Visa Inc. . . . . . . .
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Visa Inc.
Operating revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Net income attributable to Visa Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Basic earnings per share
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diluted earnings per share
Class A common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class B common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Class C common stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Quarter Ended (unaudited)
Fiscal Year
Sept. 30,
2012(1)
June 30,
2012(2)
Mar. 31,
2012
Dec. 31,
2011
2012 Total
$2,731
1,522
1,662
(in millions, except per share data)
$ 2,565 $2,578 $2,547
1,618
1,606
1,029
1,292
(2,607)
(1,839)
$10,421
2,139
2,144
$ 2.48
$ 1.05
$ 2.48
$ (2.74) $ 1.92 $ 1.50
$ (1.16) $ 0.82 $ 0.73
$ (2.74) $ 1.92 $ 1.50
$ 3.17
$ 1.40
$ 3.17
$ 2.47
$ 1.04
$ 2.47
$ (2.74) $ 1.91 $ 1.49
$ (1.16) $ 0.81 $ 0.73
$ (2.74) $ 1.91 $ 1.49
$ 3.16
$ 1.39
$ 3.16
Quarter Ended (unaudited)
Fiscal Year
Sept. 30,
2011
June 30,
2011
Mar. 31,
2011
Dec. 31,
2010
2011 Total
$2,383
1,362
880
(in millions, except per share data)
$2,322 $2,245 $2,238
1,366
1,383
884
881
1,345
1,005
$9,188
5,456
3,650
$ 1.28
$ 0.62
$ 1.28
$ 1.43 $ 1.24 $ 1.23
$ 0.70 $ 0.63 $ 0.63
$ 1.43 $ 1.24 $ 1.23
$ 1.27
$ 0.62
$ 1.27
$ 1.43 $ 1.23 $ 1.23
$ 0.70 $ 0.63 $ 0.63
$ 1.43 $ 1.23 $ 1.23
$ 5.18
$ 2.59
$ 5.18
$ 5.16
$ 2.58
$ 5.16
(1) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, we reversed all previously recorded tax reserves and
accrued interest associated with uncertainties related to the deductibility of covered litigation
expense recorded in fiscal 2007 through the third quarter of fiscal 2012, which increased our
quarterly net income by $627 million. See Overview in Item 7—Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of this report.
(2) During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we recorded a litigation provision of $4.1 billion and related
tax benefits associated with the interchange MDL, which is covered by the retrospective
responsibility plan. Settlements of, or judgments in, covered litigation will be paid from the litigation
133
escrow account. See Note 3—Retrospective Responsibility Plan and Note 21—Legal Matters to
our consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosures
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Rules 13a-15(e)
and 15(d)-15 (e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that is
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms,
and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosures.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and
procedures. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer
concluded that, as of September 30, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at
the reasonable assurance level.
There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and
procedures. These limitations include the possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of
the controls and procedures and reasonable resource constraints. In addition, because we have
designed our system of controls based on certain assumptions, which we believe are reasonable,
about the likelihood of future events, our system of controls may not achieve its desired purpose under
all possible future conditions. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable
assurance, but not absolute assurance, of achieving their objectives.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal
control over financial reporting for the Company. Management assessed the effectiveness of the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012. Based on
management’s assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2012 using the criteria set forth by the Committee
of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated
Framework.
Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute,
assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. There are inherent limitations to the
effectiveness of any system of internal control over financial reporting. These limitations include the
possibility of human error, the circumvention or overriding of the system and reasonable resource
constraints. Because of its inherent limitations, our internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to the risks discussed in Item 1A—Risk Factors in this report.
134
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2012, has
been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm and is included in Item 8
of this Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
In preparation for management’s report on internal control over financial reporting, we documented
and tested the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
During fiscal 2012, there were no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting
that occurred during the year ended September 30, 2012, that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. Other Information
Not applicable.
135
PART III
Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this Report and the Company will file a
definitive proxy statement pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (the “Proxy Statement”)
not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, and certain
information included therein is incorporated herein by reference. Only those sections of the Proxy
Statement that specifically address the items set forth herein are incorporated by reference. Such
incorporation does not include the report of the Audit and Risk Committee included in the Proxy
Statement.
ITEM 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this item concerning the Company’s directors, executive officers, the
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and corporate governance matters is incorporated herein by
reference to the sections entitled “Proposal 1—Election of Directors” “Executive Officers,” “Corporate
Governance—Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,” and “Board of Directors and Committees of the
Board—Audit and Risk Committee and Audit and Risk Committee Financial Expert” in our Proxy
Statement.
The information required by this item regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled
“Other Information—Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our Proxy
Statement.
Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers and our
Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on the Investor Relations page of our website at
www.investor.visa.com, under “Corporate Governance.” Printed copies of these documents are also
available to stockholders without charge upon written request directed to Corporate Secretary, P.O.
Box 8999, San Francisco, California 94128.
ITEM 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this item concerning director and executive compensation is
incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Board of Directors and Committees of the
Board—Compensation of Non-Employee Directors” and “Executive Compensation” in our Proxy
Statement.
The information required by this item pursuant to Item 407(e)(4) of Regulation S-K is incorporated
herein by reference to the section entitled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation” in our Proxy Statement.
The information required by this item pursuant to Item 407(e)(5) of Regulation S-K is incorporated
herein by reference to the section entitled “Executive Compensation—Compensation Committee
Report” in our Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
Stockholder Matters
The information required by this item pursuant to Item 403 of Regulation S-K is incorporated
herein by reference to the section entitled “Beneficial Ownership of Equity Securities” in our Proxy
Statement.
For the information required by item 201(d) of Regulation S-K, refer to Item 5 in this report.
136
ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this item concerning related party transactions pursuant to Item 404 of
Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Certain Relationships and
Related Person Transactions” in our Proxy Statement.
The information required by this item concerning director independence pursuant to Item 407(a) of
Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Corporate
Governance—Independence of Directors” in our Proxy Statement.
ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled
“Independent Auditor Services and Fees” in our Proxy Statement.
137
PART IV
ITEM 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
1. Consolidated Financial Statements
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Report.
2. Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules
None.
3. The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report or, where indicated, were previously
filed and are hereby incorporated by reference:
Refer to the Exhibit Index herein.
138
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
VISA INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
Date:
/s/ Byron H. Pollitt
Byron H. Pollitt
Chief Financial Officer
November 15, 2012
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has
been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Charles W. Scharf
Charles W. Scharf
/s/ Byron H. Pollitt
Byron H. Pollitt
/s/ Joseph W. Saunders
Joseph W. Saunders
/s/ Gary P. Coughlan
Gary P. Coughlan
/s/ Mary B. Cranston
Mary B. Cranston
/s/ Francisco Javier Fernandez-Carbajal
Francisco Javier Fernandez-Carbajal
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer)
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
Chairman of the Board
November 15, 2012
Director
Director
Director
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
/s/ Robert W. Matschullat
Director
November 15, 2012
Robert W. Matschullat
/s/ Cathy E. Minehan
Cathy E. Minehan
/s/ Suzanne Nora Johnson
Suzanne Nora Johnson
/s/ David J. Pang
David J. Pang
/s/ William S. Shanahan
William S. Shanahan
/s/ John A. Swainson
John A. Swainson
Director
Director
Director
Director
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
November 15, 2012
Lead Director
November 15, 2012
139
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Exhibit
Number
Description of Documents
EXHIBIT INDEX
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Visa Inc. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Periodic Report on Form 8-K filed by Visa Inc. on
December 17, 2008)
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Periodic
Report on Form 8-K filed by Visa Inc. on October 25, 2012 (the “October 25, 2012 8-K”))
Certificate of Correction of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
Visa Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
filed by Visa Inc. on July 30, 2009)
Certificate of Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
Visa Inc. to Declassify the Board of Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
the Periodic Report on Form 8-K filed by Visa Inc. on January 31, 2011 (“the January 31,
2011 8-K”))
Certificate of Amendment to the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of
Visa Inc. to Implement a Majority Vote Standard in Uncontested Elections of Directors
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the January 31, 2011 8-K)
Form of stock certificate of Visa Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
Amendment No. 5 to the Visa Inc. proxy statement-prospectus on Form S-4 (333-143966)
filed on September 13, 2007 (the “September 2007 S-4”))
Except as set forth in Exhibit 3.1 above, the instruments defining the rights of holders of
long-term debt securities of Visa Inc. and its subsidiaries have been omitted(1)
Form of specimen certificate for class B common stock of Visa Inc. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed January 28, 2009)
Form of specimen certificate for class C common stock of Visa Inc. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed January 28, 2009)
Settlement Agreement, dated June 4, 2003, by and among Visa U.S.A. Inc. and Wal-Mart,
Limited Brands, Sears, Safeway, Circuit City, National Retail Federation, Food Market
Institute, International Mass Retail Association and Bernie’s Army-Navy Store (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Visa Inc. proxy statement-prospectus on Form S-4
(333-143966) filed on June 22, 2007 (the “June 2007 S-4”))
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
October 25, 2012 8-K)
Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, as Amended and Restated
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Periodic Report on Form 8-K filed by Visa
Inc. on January 31, 2012)
Visa 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of January 1, 2005, as amended
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the June 2007 S-4)
Judgment Sharing Agreement among Defendants in the AMEX case by and between Visa
U.S.A. Inc. and the signatory banks thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to
Amendment No. 1 to the July 2007 S-4)†
1
Exhibit
Number
10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
10.12
10.13
10.14
10.15
10.16
10.17
10.18
10.19
10.20
Description of Documents
Form of Interchange Judgment Sharing Agreement among Visa Inc. and the other parties
thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Amendment No. 1 to the July 2007
S-4)†
Form of Loss Sharing Agreement by and among Visa U.S.A. Inc., Visa International Service
Association, Visa Inc. and each Member of Visa U.S.A. Inc. that executes and delivers a
counterpart signature page to the agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to
Amendment No. 1 to the July 2007 S-4)†
Form of Escrow Agreement among Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A. Inc. and the escrow agent
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the June 2007 S-4)
Form of Framework Agreement among Visa Inc., Visa Europe Limited, Inovant LLC, Visa
International Services Association and Visa U.S.A. Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.17 to Amendment No. 1 to the July 2007 S-4)†
Form of Litigation Management Agreement by and among Visa Inc., Visa International
Service Association, Visa U.S.A. Inc. and the other signatories thereto (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Amendment No. 3 to the Visa Inc. proxy statement-prospectus
on Form S-4 (333-143966) filed on August 22, 2007)
Form of Visa Europe Put-Call Option Agreement by and among Visa Inc. and Visa Europe
Limited (incorporated by reference to Annex B to Amendment No. 5 of the June 2007 S-4)
Amended and Restated Global Restructuring Agreement, by and among Visa Inc., Visa
International Service Association, Visa U.S.A. Inc., Visa Europe Limited, Visa Canada
Association, Visa Asia Pacific, Visa Latin America (incorporated by reference to Annex A to
Amendment No. 5 to the June 2007 S-4)
Excess Thrift Plan (Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2008 (the “September 2008 10-K”))
Excess Retirement Benefit Plan (Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the September 2008 10-K)
Form of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Post IPO Unit Agreement (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the September 2008 10-K)
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the
September 2008 10-K)
Agreement to Prepay Future Payments at a Discount, dated as of August 31, 2009, by and
between Visa U.S.A. Inc. and Co-Lead Counsel, acting collectively as binding
representative and agent of the Plaintiffs (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Form 8-K filed by Visa Inc. on August 31, 2009)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for members of the Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 2009 (the “September 2009 10-K”))
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for members of the ELT who have Employment Agreements (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the September 2009 10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for the CEO (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the September 2009
10-K)
2
Exhibit
Number
10.21
10.22
10.23
10.24
10.25
10.26
10.27
10.28
10.29
10.30
10.31
10.32
10.33
10.34
Description of Documents
Settlement Agreement, dated November 7, 2007, by and among Visa Inc., Visa U.S.A.,
Visa International and American Express (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to
Amendment No. 1 to the Visa Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 (333-147296) filed
on December 21, 2007)
Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated February 15, 2008, by and among Visa Inc.,
Visa International, Visa U.S.A. and the Lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.31 to Amendment No. 4 to the Visa Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1
(333-147296) filed on February 25, 2008)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Stock Option Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Annual Report filed on
Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010 (the “September 2010 10-K”))
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the September 2010
10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the September 2010
10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for the CEO for awards granted after November 1, 2010 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the September 2010 10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the September 2010
10-K)
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement including clawback provision, for awards granted
after November 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the September 2010
10-K)
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement including clawback provision, for awards granted
after November 1, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the September 2010
10-K)
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated December 1, 2010, by and
between Joseph W. Saunders and Visa Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Periodic Report on Form 8-K filed by Visa Inc. on December 3, 2010)
Visa Inc. Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the January 31, 2011 8-K)
Loss Sharing Agreement Schedule (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Periodic Report on Form 8-K filed by Visa Inc. on February 8, 2011 (the “February 8, 2011
8-K”))
Interchange Judgment Sharing Agreement Schedule (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the February 8, 2011 8-K)
First Amendment of the Visa Excess Retirement Benefit Plan, as amended and restated
January 1, 2008, effective January 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 (the “September
2011 10-K”))
3
Exhibit
Number
10.35
10.36
10.37
10.38
10.39
10.40
10.41
10.42
10.43
12.1
18.1
21.1*
23.1*
31.1*
31.2*
32.1*
32.2*
Description of Documents
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Stock Option Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit to 10.35 to the September 2011
10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit to 10.36 to the September 2011
10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit to 10.37 to the September 2011
10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for the CEO for awards granted after November 1, 2011 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit to 10.38 to the September 2011 10-K)
Form of Visa Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award
Agreement for executive officers, other than the CEO, for awards granted after
November 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit to 10.39 to the September 2011
10-K)
Form of Stock Option Award Agreement including clawback provision, for awards granted
after November 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit to 10.40 to the September
2011 10-K)
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement including clawback provision, for awards
granted after November 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit to 10.41 to the
September 2011 10-K)
Memorandum of Understanding (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Periodic
Report on Form 8-K, filed July 16, 2012 (the “July 16, 2012 8-K”))
Omnibus Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the July 16, 2012 8-K)
Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR
filed by Visa Inc. on July 27, 2012)
Preferability letter from KPMG LLP, our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 18.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by
Visa Inc. on May 5, 2011)
List of Subsidiaries of Visa Inc.
Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
4
Exhibit
Number
Description of Documents
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
(1) We have agreed to furnish to the SEC, upon request, a copy of each instrument with respect to
issuances of long-term debt of Visa Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Portions of this exhibit were omitted and have been filed separately with the Secretary of the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting
confidential treatment under Rule 406 of the Securities Act.
Filed or furnished herewith.
†
*
5
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VISA INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joseph W. Saunders
(Executive Chairman)
Former Chief Executive Offi cer
Visa Inc.
Charles W. Scharf
Chief Executive Offi cer
Visa Inc.
Gary P. Coughlan
Former Chief Financial Offi cer and
Senior Vice President of Finance
Abbott Laboratories
Mary B. Cranston
Retired Senior Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Francisco Javier Fernández-Carbajal
Former Chief Executive Offi cer,
Corporate Development Division
Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, S.A.
VISA INC.
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Joseph W. Saunders
Executive Chairman
Charles W. Scharf
Chief Executive Offi cer
Elizabeth Buse
Group President, Asia Pacifi c, Central
Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Jack Carsky
Investor Relations
Chris Clark
North Asia
Michael Dreyer
Technology
& Chief Information Offi cer
Eduardo Eraña
Latin America and Caribbean
Robert W. Matschullat
Former Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Offi cer
The Seagram Company Limited
Cathy E. Minehan
Dean of School of Management
Simmons College
Former President of Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Suzanne Nora Johnson
Former Vice Chairman
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
David J. Pang
Chief Executive Offi cer
Kerry Group Kuok Foundation Limited
William S. Shanahan
Former President
Colgate-Palmolive Company
John A. Swainson
(Lead Independent Director)
President, Software Group of Dell, Inc.
Former Chief Executive Offi cer of CA, Inc.
Joshua R. Floum
General Counsel
Carleigh Jaques
Corporate Strategy, Corporate
Development and M&A
Oliver Jenkyn
North America
Brian Kieley
Client Support Services
Antonio Lucio
Human Resources
& Chief Marketing Offi cer
Peter Maher
Southeast Asia and Australasia
Thomas M’Guinness
Corporate Legal
Jim McCarthy
Product
Douglas Michelman
Corporate Relations
Darren Parslow
Processing
John M. Partridge
President
Byron H. Pollitt
Chief Financial Offi cer
Ellen Richey
Chief Enterprise Risk Offi cer
William M. Sheedy
Group President, Americas
Sam Shrauger
Commercialization
Michael Walsh
CyberSource
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CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Visa Inc.
P.O. Box 8999
San Francisco, CA 94128-8999
USA
+1 650 432 3200
http://corporate.visa.com
CORPORATE SECRETARY
Visa Inc.
P.O. Box 8999
San Francisco, CA 94128-8999
USA
corporatesecretary@visa.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Visa Inc.
ir@visa.com
+1 650 432 7644
http://investor.visa.com
MEDIA RELATIONS
Visa Inc.
globalmedia@visa.com
+1 650 432 2990
http://corporate.visa.com
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTING FIRM
KPMG LLP
TRANSFER AGENT
Wells Fargo Shareowner Services
P.O. Box 64854
St. Paul, MN 55164-0854
USA
+1 651 306 4433 or +1 866 456 9417
+1 651 554 3863 Fax
http://shareowneronline.com
© 2012 Visa Inc. All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA
Please Recycle
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