-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, VIqjuyrm+NRxDafizluCFue3b5drLjAh7G3ZCbfbID2ZO8tiuVOaJk60b8EwxuEh YkujcPNfKUKUaqEDQ4jK4A== 0001193125-10-222896.txt : 20101004 0001193125-10-222896.hdr.sgml : 20101004 20101004151800 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-10-222896 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20101004 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20101004 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20101004 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VISA INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001403161 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389] IRS NUMBER: 260267673 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-33977 FILM NUMBER: 101105442 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 8999 CITY: SAN FRANCISCO STATE: CA ZIP: 94128-8999 BUSINESS PHONE: (415) 932-2100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: P.O. BOX 8999 CITY: SAN FRANCISCO STATE: CA ZIP: 94128-8999 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Visa Inc. DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20070614 8-K 1 d8k.htm FORM 8-K Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 4, 2010

 

 

VISA INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33977   26-0267673

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 8999

San Francisco, California

  94128-8999
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (415) 932-2100

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 4, 2010, Visa Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the attorneys general of seven states to resolve antitrust investigations into the Company’s merchant acceptance rules. As part of the settlement, Visa will allow merchants to offer discounts or other incentives to steer customers to a particular form of payment including to a specific network brand or to any card product, such as a “non-reward” Visa credit card.

A copy of the press release issued on October 4, 2010, is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. All information in the press release is furnished but not filed.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

99.1

   Press Release of Visa Inc., dated October 4, 2010


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    VISA INC.
Date: October 4, 2010    
    By:  

/s/ Joseph W. Saunders

     

Joseph W. Saunders

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
Directors


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

99.1

   Press Release of Visa Inc., dated October 4, 2010
EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

Visa Settles with U.S. Department of Justice and Seven State Attorneys General

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 4, 2010 – Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) announced today a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the attorneys general of seven states to resolve antitrust investigations into the company’s merchant acceptance rules in the U.S. As part of the settlement, Visa will allow U.S. merchants to offer discounts or other incentives to steer customers to a particular form of payment including to a specific network brand or to any card product, such as a “non-reward” Visa credit card.

Visa’s rules always have allowed U.S. merchants to steer customers to other forms of payment and offer discounts to customers who choose to pay with cash, check or PIN debit. The new rules will expand U.S. merchants’ ability to discount for their preferred form of payment, though they will not be able to pick and choose amongst issuing banks. The settlement agreement does not address Visa’s rule prohibiting U.S. merchants from surcharging consumers.

“As we referenced in our previous public filings, our constructive conversations with the Department of Justice have resulted in an amicable resolution of the Department’s broad-based investigation that will lead to Visa making a reasonable modification to our discounting rule,” said Josh Floum, General Counsel, Visa Inc. “Visa always has allowed merchants to discount for cash and PIN-debit, and extending the ability to discount by network brand is a reasonable accommodation. The settlement will not impact our ability to continue growing our business by offering innovative payments products that consumers and merchants value above any others. The settlement also gives U.S. merchants new tools to manage their acceptance costs while benefitting from the tremendous value electronic payments deliver. ”

There is no monetary obligation associated with the DOJ settlement. The investigation brought by the state attorneys general is resolved on the same terms, plus reimbursement of the attorneys’ fees and expenses. MasterCard has agreed to enter into the same settlement and will change its relevant rules as well.

The DOJ issued a civil investigative demand to Visa in 2008, seeking information about certain Visa acceptance rules, including those related to surcharging and discounting. A working group of state attorneys general issued a similar civil investigative demand in 2009. Both investigations end today with a consent decree that sets forth the terms of the settlement, subject to court approval.

Visa will make formal rule changes after the court enters a final judgment following a public comment period, but will refrain from enforcing its current discounting rules in the interim. U.S. merchants will receive additional information about the settlement from their acquiring financial institution after the final judgment.

# # #

About Visa Inc.: Visa Inc. is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital currency. Underpinning digital currency is one of the world’s most advanced processing networks—VisaNet—that is capable of handling more than 10,000 transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank, and does not issue cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa’s innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers to offer consumers more choices: Pay now with debit, ahead of time with prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.


Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. These statements can be identified by the terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any underlying assumptions are forward-looking statements.

By their nature, forward-looking statements: (i) speak only as of the date they are made, (ii) are not guarantees of future performance or results and (iii) are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict or quantify. Therefore, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including all the risks discussed in Part 1, Item 1A – “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year and any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the date of presentation. Unless required to do so under U.S. federal securities laws or other applicable laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Contacts:

Steve Burke

for Visa Inc.

Tel: +1 703 683 5004, ext. 108

E-mail: sburke@crcpublicrelations.com

Jack Carsky, Investor Relations

Visa Inc.

Tel: +1 415 932 2213

E-mail: ir@visa.com

-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----