ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed
with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the
Securities Act, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under
this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell in
one or more offerings any combination of our securities described
in this prospectus.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities that we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will
provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific
information about the terms of that offering, including the
specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The
prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information
contained in this prospectus.
You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement together with additional information described below
under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
References in this prospectus to the “Company,” “Mastercard,” “we,”
“us” and “our” refer to the Mastercard brand generally, and to the
business conducted by Mastercard Incorporated and its consolidated
subsidiaries, including our operating subsidiary, Mastercard
International Incorporated, unless otherwise stated or the context
otherwise requires. However, in the “Description of the Debt
Securities” section of this prospectus, references to “we,” “us”
and “our” are to Mastercard Incorporated (parent company only) and
not to any of its subsidiaries.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE
INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that
contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other
information regarding issuers, including us, that file
electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents
that we file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our
Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol “MA.” You may inspect the reports, proxy
statements and other information concerning us at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005.
We also make available, free of charge, on or through our website
(http://www.mastercard.com) our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, Current Reports on
Form 8-K, Proxy Statements
on Schedule 14A and, if applicable, amendments to those reports
filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as soon as
reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material
with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Please note, however, that we have
not incorporated any other information by reference from our
website, other than the documents listed below under the heading
“Incorporation by Reference.” In addition, you may request copies
of these filings at no cost through our Office of the Corporate
Secretary at Mastercard Incorporated, 2000 Purchase Street,
Purchase, New York 10577, Attn: Janet McGinness; telephone: (914)
249-2000; facsimile: (914)
249-4262.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form
S-3 relating to the
securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of
the registration statement and does not contain all the information
in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this
prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, the reference
is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a
part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or
other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement
and the documents incorporated by reference herein through the
SEC’s website listed above.
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