1123360--7/30/2008--GLOBAL_PAYMENTS

related topics

{regulation, government, change}

{product, market, service}

{operation, international, foreign}

{system, service, information}

{tax, income, asset}

{personnel, key, retain}

{customer, product, revenue}

{cost, operation, labor}

{competitive, industry, competition}

{control, financial, internal}

{provision, law, control}

{stock, price, share}

{regulation, change, law}

{condition, economic, financial}

Our revenues from the sale of services to merchants that accept Visa cards and MasterCard cards are dependent upon our continued Visa and MasterCard certification and financial institution sponsorship. Loss of key Independent Sales Organizations could reduce our revenue growth. Risks associated with operations outside the United States could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations. Some of our competitors are larger and have greater financial and operational resources than we do, which may give them an advantage in our market with respect to the pricing of our products and services offered to our customers, our ability to develop new technologies, and our ability to complete acquisitions. Our money transfer service offerings are dependent on financial institutions to provide such offerings. We are subject to the business cycles and credit risk of our merchant customers and, to a lesser extent, consumer checkwriters. In order to remain competitive and to continue to increase our revenues and earnings, we must continually update our products and services, a process which could result in increased research and development costs in excess of historical levels and the loss of revenues, earnings and customers if the new products and services do not perform as intended or are not accepted in the marketplace. Security breaches or system failures could harm our reputation and adversely affect future earnings. Reduced levels of consumer spending can adversely affect our revenues and earnings. Changes in state, federal and foreign laws and regulations affecting the electronic money transfer industry might make it more difficult for our customers to initiate money transfers, which would adversely affect our revenues and earnings. Changes in immigration patterns can adversely affect our revenues and earnings from electronic money transfers. In order for us to continue to grow and increase our profitability, we must continue to expand our share of the existing electronic payments and money transfer markets and also expand into new markets. Any changes made to laws, regulations, card association rules or other industry standards affecting our business in any of the geographic regions in which we operate may require significant development efforts or have an unfavorable impact to our financial results. Increases in credit card association fees may result in the loss of customers or a reduction in our earnings. Utility and system interruptions or processing errors could adversely affect our operations. The integration of our acquired operations, or other future acquisitions, if any, could result in increased operating costs if the anticipated synergies of operating both businesses as one are not achieved, a loss of strategic opportunities if management is distracted by the integration process, and a loss of customers if our service levels drop during or following the integration process. Continued consolidation in the banking and retail industries could adversely affect our growth. Loss of strategic industries could reduce revenues and earnings. If we lose key personnel or are unable to attract additional qualified personnel as we grow, our business could be adversely affected. Our financial results may be adversely affected if we have to impair our intangible assets or goodwill. We may become subject to additional United States, state or foreign taxes that cannot be passed through to our merchant services or money transfer customers, in which case our earnings could be adversely affected. Failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price. Anti-takeover provisions of our articles of incorporation and by-laws, our rights agreement and provisions of Georgia law could delay or prevent a change of control that individual shareholders favor. We may not be able to or we may decide not to pay dividends or repurchase shares at a level anticipated by shareholders on our common stock, which could reduce shareholder returns. Unfavorable resolution of tax contingencies could adversely affect our tax expense. We conduct a portion of our business in various Latin American, Eastern European and Asia-Pacific countries, where the risk of continued political, economic and regulatory change that could impact our operating results is greater than in the United States.

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1123360--7/30/2008--GLOBAL_PAYMENTS_INC