PURCHASE, N.Y. -- MasterCard Inc. has announced plans for a new corporate governance and open ownership structure that will include the appointment of a new board of directors comprised of a majority of independent directors, the establishment of a charitable foundation and a transition to being a publicly traded company.
Under the new corporate governance and ownership structure, MasterCard's current shareholders, approximately 1,400 financial institutions worldwide, are expected to retain a 41% equity interest in MasterCard Inc. through their ownership [image-nocss] of nonvoting Class B common stock. In addition, existing shareholders will receive Class M common stock that will have no economic rights but will provide them with certain rights, including the right to elect several directors from financial institutions around the world.
MasterCard also intends to issue shares of voting Class A common stock to public investors through an initial public offering (IPO). Upon successful completion of the offering, these public investors will hold shares representing an expected 49% of the company's equity and 83% of its voting rights. Additional shares of Class A common stock, representing an expected 10% of the company's equity and the remainder of its voting rights, will be issued to a new MasterCard charitable foundation.
MasterCard said it intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the proposed IPO to redeem shares of Class B common stock from its existing financial institution shareholders. Implementation of the new corporate governance and ownership structure is subject to various contingencies, including shareholder approval and the requisite regulatory filings.Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.