V » Topics » Operating Revenues and Expenses

This excerpt taken from the V 10-Q filed Aug 13, 2008.

Operating Revenues and Expenses

Operating Revenues

Our operating revenues consist of gross operating revenues reduced by payments made to customers and merchants under volume and support incentive arrangements. Gross operating revenues consist of service fees, data processing fees, international transaction fees and other revenues. Our operating revenues are primarily generated from fees calculated on the payments volume of activity on Visa-branded cards, which we refer to as service fees, and from the fees charged for providing transaction processing, which we refer to as data processing fees. Payments volume is reported by our customers and transactional information is accumulated by our transaction processing systems. Historically, pricing has varied among our different geographies because geographies outside the United States had operated under an association business model with distinct, autonomous strategies, boards of directors and management teams. In 2007, geographies outside the United States began the transition to a business model seeking to increase profitability and made competitive increases in their pricing structure. Competitive pricing changes were made in this regard during fiscal 2007 and we will continue to assess opportunities for competitive adjustments that align with the value and growth opportunities provided to our customers.

We do not earn revenues from, or bear credit risk with respect to, interest and fees paid by cardholders on Visa-branded cards. Our issuing customers have the responsibility for issuing cards and determining interest rates and fees paid by cardholders, and most other competitive card features. Nor do we earn revenues from the fees that merchants are charged for card acceptance, including the merchant discount rate. Our acquiring customers, which are generally responsible for soliciting merchants, establish and earn these fees.

The following sets forth the components of our operating revenues:

Service fees

Service fees reflect payments by customers for their participation in card programs carrying our brands. Service fees are primarily calculated on the payments volume of products carrying the Visa brand. We rely on our customers to report payments volume to us. Service fees in a given quarter are assessed based on payments volume in the prior quarter, excluding PIN-based debit volume. Therefore, service fees reported with respect to the three and nine months ended June 30, 2008, were based on payments volumes reported by our customers for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2008, respectively. Furthermore, pro forma service fees for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2007, were based on payments volumes reported by our customers for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2007, respectively. These actual and pro forma payments volumes also do not include cash disbursements obtained with Visa-branded cards, balance transfers or convenience checks, which we refer to as cash volume. New service fees were introduced in April 2007, which apply to U.S. consumer debit, consumer credit and commercial payments volume. These fees supersede previously existing issuer programs.

Data processing fees

Data processing fees consist of fees charged to customers for providing transaction processing and other payment services, including processing services provided under our bilateral services agreement with Visa Europe. Data processing fees are based on information we accumulate from VisaNet, our proprietary, secure, centralized, global processing platform, which provides transaction processing services linking issuers and acquirers. Data processing fees are recognized as revenues in the same period the related transaction occurs or services are rendered.

 

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Data processing fees are primarily driven by the number, size and type of transactions processed and represent fees for processing transactions that facilitate the following services:

 

   

Authorization. Fees to route authorization requests to the issuer when a merchant, through its acquirer, requests approval of a cardholder’s transaction.

 

   

Clearing and settlement. Fees for determining and transferring transaction amounts due between acquirers and issuers.

 

   

Single Message System, or SMS, switching. Fees for use of the SMS for determining and transferring transaction amounts due between acquirers and issuers.

 

   

Member processing. Fees for use of the debit processing service, which provides processing and support for Visa debit products and services.

 

   

Processing guarantee. Fees charged for network operations and maintenance necessary for ongoing system availability.

 

   

Other products and services. Fees for miscellaneous services that facilitate transaction and information management among Visa members.

Volume and support incentives

Volume and support incentives are contracts with financial institution customers, merchants and other business partners for various programs designed to build payments volume, increase card issuance and product acceptance and increase Visa-branded transactions. These contracts, which range in term from one to 13 years, provide incentives based on payments volume growth or card issuance, or provide marketing and program support based on specific performance requirements. We provide cash and other incentives to certain customers in exchange for their commitment to generate certain payments volume using Visa-branded products for an agreed period of time.

Pricing varies among our different geographies and may be modified on a customer-by-customer basis through volume and support incentive arrangements. In this regard, volume and support incentives represent a form of price reduction to these customers. Accordingly, we record these arrangements as a reduction to operating revenues. Certain incentives are estimated based on projected performance criteria and may change when actual performance varies from projections, resulting in adjustments to volume and support incentives. Management regularly reviews volume and support incentives and estimates of performance. Estimated costs associated with these contracts are adjusted as appropriate to reflect payments volume performance and projections that are higher or lower than management’s original expectation or to reflect contract amendments.

International transaction fees

International transaction fees are assessed to customers on transactions where an issuer is domiciled in one country and a merchant is located in another country. International transaction fees are generally driven by cross- border payments volume, which include the settlement of single currency transactions and currency exchange activities in connection with the settlement of multi-currency transactions. International transaction fees are influenced in large part by levels of travel and the extent to which Visa-branded products are utilized for travel purposes. These fees are recognized as revenues in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

Other revenues

Other revenues consist primarily of optional service or product enhancements, such as extended cardholder protection and concierge services, cardholder services and fees for licensing and certification. Other revenues also include licensing and other service related fees from Visa Europe under the framework agreement entered

 

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into as part of the reorganization. Other revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are rendered.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of: personnel; network, electronic data processing (EDP) and communications; advertising, marketing and promotion; professional and consulting fees; depreciation and amortization; administrative and other; and litigation provision.

Personnel

Personnel expense consists of salaries, stock-based compensation, incentives and various fringe benefits.

Network, EDP and communications

Network, EDP and communications represent expenses for the operation of our electronic payments network, including maintenance, equipment rental and fees for other data processing services.

Advertising, marketing and promotion

Advertising, marketing and promotion include expenses associated with advertising and marketing programs, sponsorships, promotions and other related incentives to promote the Visa brand. In connection with certain sponsorship agreements, we have an obligation to spend certain minimum amounts for advertising and marketing promotion over the terms of the agreements.

Professional and consulting fees

Professional and consulting fees consist of fees for consulting, contractors, legal and other professional services. Legal costs for third party services provided in connection with ongoing legal matters are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization include depreciation expenses of properties and equipment, as well as amortization of purchased and internally developed software. Also included in this amount are depreciation and amortization of the incremental basis in technology and other assets acquired in the reorganization.

Administrative and other

Administrative and other primarily consist of facilities costs and other corporate and overhead expenses in support of our business, such as travel expenses.

Litigation provision

Litigation provision is an estimate of litigation expense and is based on management’s understanding of our litigation profile, the specifics of the case, advice of counsel to the extent appropriate, and management’s best estimate of incurred loss at the balance sheet dates. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” (“SFAS 5”) management records a charge to income for an estimated loss if such loss is probable and estimable. We will continue to review the litigation accrual and, if necessary, future adjustments to the accrual will be made.

 

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Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) primarily consists of interest expense, investment income, net and other non-operating income.

Interest expense

Interest expense primarily includes accretion associated with litigation settlements to be paid over periods longer than one year and interest incurred on outstanding debt.

Investment income, net

Investment income, net represents returns on our fixed-income securities and other investments.

Other non-operating income

Other non-operating income relates to the change in fair value of the liability under the framework agreement with Visa Europe.

This excerpt taken from the V 10-Q filed Feb 13, 2008.

Operating Revenues and Expenses

Operating Revenues

Our operating revenues consist of gross operating revenues reduced by payments made to customers and merchants under volume and support incentive arrangements. Gross operating revenues consist of service fees, data processing fees, international transaction fees and other revenues. Our operating revenues are based upon aggregate payments volume reported by our customers or transactional information accumulated by our transaction processing systems. Our operating revenues are primarily generated from fees calculated on the payments volume of activity on Visa-branded cards, which we refer to as service fees, and from the fees charged for providing transaction processing, which we refer to as data processing fees. Historically, pricing has varied among our different geographies because geographies outside the United States had operated under an association business model and managed operations to a predetermined level of operating margin. In 2007, geographies outside the United States began the transition to a business model seeking to increase profitability and made competitive increases in their pricing structure. Competitive pricing changes were made in this regard during fiscal 2007 and we will continue to assess opportunities for competitive adjustments in pricing outside the United States as transition of the business model continues in fiscal 2008 and 2009. Pricing may be modified on a customer-by-customer basis through volume and support incentive arrangements. Service fees and data processing fees together represented 70% of our gross operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 73% of our pro forma gross operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2006.

 

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We do not earn revenues from, or bear credit risk with respect to, interest and fees paid by cardholders on Visa-branded cards. Our issuing customers have the responsibility for issuing cards and determining interest rates and fees paid by cardholders, and most other competitive card features. Nor do we earn revenues from the fees that merchants are charged for card acceptance, including the merchant discount rate. Our acquiring customers, which are generally responsible for soliciting merchants, establish and earn these fees.

A significant portion of our operating revenues is concentrated among our largest customers. Our five largest customers represented approximately $324 million, or 22%, of our operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2007. In addition, our operating revenues from our largest customer, JPMorgan Chase, accounted for $106 million, or 7% of our operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2007.

The following sets forth the components of our operating revenues:

Service fees

Service fees reflect payments by customers for their participation in card programs carrying our brands. Service fees are primarily calculated on the payments volume of products carrying the Visa brand. We rely on our customers to report payments volume to us. Service fees in a given quarter are assessed based on payments volume in the prior quarter, excluding PIN-based debit volume. Therefore, service fees reported with respect to the three months ended December 31, 2007 were based on payments volume reported by our customers for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and pro-forma service fees for the three months ended December 31, 2006 were based on payments volume reported by our customers for the three months ended September 30, 2006. These payments volumes do not include cash disbursements obtained with Visa-branded cards, balance transfers or convenience checks, which we refer to as cash volume.

Also included in service fees are acceptance fees, which are used to support merchant acceptance and ongoing volume growth initiatives. Two new acceptance fees were introduced in April 2007, which apply to U.S. consumer debit payments volume and U.S. consumer credit and commercial payments volume. These fees supersede previously existing issuer programs.

Data processing fees

Data processing fees consist of fees charged to customers for providing transaction processing and other payment services, including processing services provided under our bilateral services agreement with Visa Europe. Data processing fees are based on information we accumulate from VisaNet, our proprietary, secure, centralized, global processing platform, which provides transaction processing services linking issuers and acquirers. Data processing fees are recognized as revenues in the same period the related transaction occurs or services are rendered.

Data processing fees are primarily driven by the number, size and type of transactions processed and represent fees for processing transactions that facilitate the following services:

 

   

Authorization. Fees to route authorization requests to the issuer when a merchant, through its acquirer, requests approval of a cardholder’s transaction.

 

   

Clearing and settlement. Fees for determining and transferring transaction amounts due between acquirers and issuers.

 

   

Single Message System, or SMS, switching. Fees for use of the SMS for determining and transferring debit transaction amounts due between acquirers and issuers.

 

   

Member processing. Fees for use of the debit processing service, which provides processing and support for Visa debit products and services.

 

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Processing guarantee. Fees charged for network operations and maintenance necessary for ongoing system availability.

 

   

Other products and services. Fees for miscellaneous services that facilitate transaction and information management among Visa members.

Volume and support incentives

Volume and support incentives are contracts with financial institution customers, merchants and other business partners for various programs designed to build payments volume, increase card issuance and product acceptance and increase Visa-branded transactions. These contracts, which range in term from one to 13 years, provide incentives based on payments volume growth or card issuance, or provide marketing and program support based on specific performance requirements. We provide cash and other incentives to certain customers in exchange for their commitment to generate certain payments volume using Visa-branded products for an agreed period of time.

Pricing varies among our different geographies and may be modified on a customer-by-customer basis through volume and support incentive arrangements. In this regard, volume and support incentives represent a form of price reduction to these customers. Accordingly, we record these arrangements as a reduction to operating revenues. Certain incentives are estimated based on projected performance criteria and may change when actual performance varies from projections, resulting in adjustments to volume and support incentives. Management regularly reviews volume and support incentives and estimates of performance. Estimated costs associated with these contracts are adjusted as appropriate to reflect payments volume performance and projections that are higher or lower than management’s original expectation or to reflect contract amendments.

International transaction fees

International transaction fees are assessed to customers on transactions where an issuer is domiciled in one country and a merchant is located in another country. International transaction fees are generally driven by cross-border payments volume, which include the settlement of single currency transactions and currency exchange activities in connection with the settlement of multi-currency transactions. International transaction fees are influenced in large part by levels of travel and the extent to which Visa-branded products are utilized for travel purposes. These fees are recognized as revenues in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

Other revenues

Other revenues consist primarily of optional service or product enhancements, such as extended cardholder protection and concierge services, cardholder services and fees for licensing and certification. Other revenues also include licensing and other service related fees from Visa Europe under the framework agreement entered into as part of the reorganization. Other revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are rendered.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of: personnel; network, electronic data processing (EDP) and communications; advertising, marketing and promotion; professional and consulting fees; administrative and other; and litigation provision.

Personnel

Personnel expense consists of salaries, incentives and various fringe benefits.

 

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Network, EDP and communications

Network, EDP and communications represent expenses for the operation of our electronic payments network, including maintenance, depreciation and fees for other data processing services.

Advertising, marketing and promotion

Advertising, marketing and promotion include expenses associated with advertising and marketing programs, sponsorships, promotions and other related incentives to promote the Visa brand. In connection with certain sponsorship agreements, we have an obligation to spend certain minimum amounts for advertising and marketing promotion over the terms of the agreements.

Professional and consulting fees

Professional and consulting fees consist of fees for consulting, contractors, legal and other professional services. Legal costs for third party services provided in connection with ongoing legal matters are expensed as incurred.

Administrative and other

Administrative and other primarily consist of facilities’ costs and other corporate and overhead expenses in support of our business, such as travel expenses.

Litigation provision

Litigation provision is an estimate of litigation expense and is based on management’s understanding of our litigation profile, the specifics of the case, advice of counsel to the extent appropriate, and management’s best estimate of incurred loss at the balance sheet dates. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” management records a charge to income for an estimated loss if such loss is probable and reasonably estimable. We will continue to review the litigation accrual and, if necessary, future adjustments to the accrual will be made.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) primarily consists of interest expense, investment income, net and other non-operating income.

Interest expense

Interest expense primarily includes accretion associated with litigation settlements to be paid over periods longer than one year and interest incurred on outstanding debt.

Investment income, net

Investment income, net represents returns on our fixed-income securities and other investments.

This excerpt taken from the V 10-Q filed Feb 4, 2008.

Operating Revenues and Expenses

Operating Revenues

Our operating revenues consist of gross operating revenues reduced by payments made to customers and merchants under volume and support incentive arrangements. Gross operating revenues consist of service fees, data processing fees, international transaction fees and other revenues. Our operating revenues are based upon aggregate payments volume reported by our customers or transactional information accumulated by our transaction processing systems. Our operating revenues are primarily generated from fees calculated on the payments volume of activity on Visa-branded cards, which we refer to as service fees, and from the fees charged for providing transaction processing, which we refer to as data processing fees. Pricing varies among our different geographies and may be modified on a customer-by-customer basis through volume and support incentive arrangements. Service fees and data processing fees together represented 70% of our gross operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2007 and 73% of our pro forma gross operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2006.

We do not earn revenues from, or bear credit risk with respect to, interest and fees paid by cardholders on Visa-branded cards. Our issuing customers have the responsibility for issuing cards and determining interest rates and fees paid by cardholders, and most other competitive card features. Nor do we earn revenues from the fees that merchants are charged for card acceptance, including the merchant discount rate. Our acquiring customers, which are generally responsible for soliciting merchants, establish and earn these fees.

A significant portion of our operating revenues is concentrated among our largest customers. Our five largest customers represented approximately $324 million, or 22%, of our operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2007. In addition, our operating revenues from our largest customer, JPMorgan Chase, accounted for $106 million, or 7% of our operating revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2007.

The following sets forth the components of our operating revenues:

Service fees

Service fees reflect payments by customers for their participation in card programs carrying our brands. Service fees are primarily calculated on the payments volume of products carrying the Visa brand. We rely on our customers to report payments volume to us. Service fees in a given quarter are assessed based on payments volume in the prior quarter, excluding PIN-based debit volume. Therefore, service fees reported with respect to the three months ended December 31, 2007 were based on payments volume reported by our customers for the three months ended September 30, 2007, and pro-forma service fees for the three months ended December 31, 2006 were based on payments volume reported by our customers for the three months ended September 30, 2006. These payments volumes do not include cash disbursements obtained with Visa-branded cards, balance transfers or convenience checks, which we refer to as cash volume.

Also included in service fees are acceptance fees, which are used to support merchant acceptance and ongoing volume growth initiatives. Two new acceptance fees were introduced in April 2007, which apply to U.S. consumer debit payments volume and U.S. consumer credit and commercial payments volume. These fees supersede previously existing issuer programs.

 

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Data processing fees

Data processing fees consist of fees charged to customers for providing transaction processing and other payment services, including processing services provided under our bilateral services agreement with Visa Europe. Data processing fees are based on information we accumulate from VisaNet, our proprietary, secure, centralized, global processing platform, which provides transaction processing services linking issuers and acquirers. Data processing fees are recognized as revenues in the same period the related transaction occurs or services are rendered.

Data processing fees are primarily driven by the number, size and type of transactions processed and represent fees for processing transactions that facilitate the following services:

 

   

Authorization. Fees to route authorization requests to the issuer when a merchant, through its acquirer, requests approval of a cardholder’s transaction.

 

   

Clearing and settlement. Fees for determining and transferring transaction amounts due between acquirers and issuers.

 

   

Single Message System, or SMS, switching. Fees for use of the SMS for determining and transferring debit transaction amounts due between acquirers and issuers.

 

   

Member processing. Fees for use of the debit processing service, which provides processing and support for Visa debit products and services.

 

   

Processing guarantee. Fees charged for network operations and maintenance necessary for ongoing system availability.

 

   

Other products and services. Fees for miscellaneous services that facilitate transaction and information management among Visa members.

Volume and support incentives

Volume and support incentives are contracts with financial institution customers, merchants and other business partners for various programs designed to build payments volume, increase card issuance and product acceptance and increase Visa-branded transactions. These contracts, which range in term from one to 13 years, provide incentives based on payments volume growth or card issuance, or provide marketing and program support based on specific performance requirements. We provide cash and other incentives to certain customers in exchange for their commitment to generate certain payments volume using Visa-branded products for an agreed period of time.

Pricing varies among our different geographies and may be modified on a customer-by-customer basis through volume and support incentive arrangements. In this regard, volume and support incentives represent a form of price reduction to these customers. Accordingly, we record these arrangements as a reduction to operating revenues. Certain incentives are estimated based on projected performance criteria and may change when actual performance varies from projections, resulting in adjustments to volume and support incentives. Management regularly reviews volume and support incentives and estimates of performance. Estimated costs associated with these contracts are adjusted as appropriate to reflect payments volume performance and projections that are higher or lower than management’s original expectation or to reflect contract amendments.

International transaction fees

International transaction fees are assessed to customers on transactions where an issuer is domiciled in one country and a merchant is located in another country. International transaction fees are generally driven by cross-border payments volume, which include the settlement of single currency transactions and currency exchange activities in connection with the settlement of multi-currency transactions. International transaction fees are

 

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influenced in large part by levels of travel and the extent to which Visa-branded products are utilized for travel purposes. These fees are recognized as revenues in the same period the related transactions occur or services are performed.

Other revenues

Other revenues consist primarily of optional service or product enhancements, such as extended cardholder protection and concierge services, cardholder services and fees for licensing and certification. Other revenues also include licensing and other service related fees from Visa Europe under the framework agreement entered into as part of the reorganization. Other revenues are recognized in the same period the related transactions occur or services are rendered.

Operating Expenses

Our operating expenses consist of: personnel; network, electronic data processing (EDP) and communications; advertising, marketing and promotion; professional and consulting fees; administrative and other; and litigation provision.

Personnel

Personnel expense consists of salaries, incentives and various fringe benefits.

Network, EDP and communications

Network, EDP and communications represent expenses for the operation of our electronic payments network, including maintenance, depreciation and fees for other data processing services.

Advertising, marketing and promotion

Advertising, marketing and promotion include expenses associated with advertising and marketing programs, sponsorships, promotions and other related incentives to promote the Visa brand. In connection with certain sponsorship agreements, we have an obligation to spend certain minimum amounts for advertising and marketing promotion over the terms of the agreements.

Professional and consulting fees

Professional and consulting fees consist of fees for consulting, contractors, legal and other professional services. Legal costs for third party services provided in connection with ongoing legal matters are expensed as incurred.

Administrative and other

Administrative and other primarily consist of facilities’ costs and other corporate and overhead expenses in support of our business, such as travel expenses.

Litigation provision

Litigation provision is an estimate of litigation expense and is based on management’s understanding of our litigation profile, the specifics of the case, advice of counsel to the extent appropriate, and management’s best estimate of incurred loss at the balance sheet dates. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” management records a charge to income for an estimated loss if such loss is probable and reasonably estimable. We will continue to review the litigation accrual and, if necessary, future adjustments to the accrual will be made.

 

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Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) primarily consists of interest expense, investment income, net and other non-operating income.

Interest expense

Interest expense primarily includes accretion associated with litigation settlements to be paid over periods longer than one year and interest incurred on outstanding debt.

Investment income, net

Investment income, net represents returns on our fixed-income securities and other investments.

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