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 business conducted by Mastercard Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including our operating subsidiary, Mastercard International Incorporated, and to the Mastercard brand, 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 an Internet web site 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.”
We also make available, free of charge, on or through our Internet web site (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 Internet web site and such information should not be considered part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, other than the documents listed below under the heading “Incorporation by Reference.”
In addition, we will provide to each person to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference in to such documents, upon written or oral request and at no cost to the requester. Requests should be made in writing or telephoning us through our Office of the Corporate Secretary at Mastercard Incorporated, 2000 Purchase Street, Purchase, New York 10577, Attn: Adam Zitter; telephone: (914) 249-2000.
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 at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
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