UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(mark one)

þ		Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

		for the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2010

o		Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

		for the transition period from                                         to                                          .

Commission File Number: 001-31950

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		16-1690064
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

1550 Utica Avenue South, Suite 100,
Minneapolis, Minnesota		55416
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(952) 591-3000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes o   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o		Accelerated filer þ		Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
				(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o   No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

As of May 3, 2010, 83,208,022 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, were outstanding.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements			3
Consolidated Balance Sheets			3
Consolidated Statements of Income			4
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income			5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows			6
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Deficit			7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			8
Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			19
Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			31
Item 4.Controls and Procedures			31
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.Legal Proceedings			31
Item 1A.Risk Factors			32
Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			32
Item 6.Exhibits			32
Signatures			33
Exhibit Index			34
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.		FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
UNAUDITED

		March 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except share data)		2010				2009
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents		$	—			$	—
Cash and cash equivalents (substantially restricted)			3,678,499				3,776,824
Receivables, net (substantially restricted)			960,341				1,054,381
Trading investments and related put options (substantially restricted)			—				26,951
Available-for-sale investments (substantially restricted)			258,245				298,633
Property and equipment			122,766				127,972
Intangible assets			7,936				7,680
Goodwill			428,702				425,630
Other assets			210,194				211,592
Total assets		$	5,666,683			$	5,929,663
LIABILITIES
Payment service obligations		$	4,572,846			$	4,843,454
Debt			797,531				796,791
Pension and other postretirement benefits			117,943				118,444
Accounts payable and other liabilities			176,126				189,659
Total liabilities			5,664,446				5,948,348
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 14)
MEZZANINE EQUITY
Participating Convertible Preferred Stock-Series B, $0.01 par value, 800,000 shares authorized, 495,000 shares issued and outstanding			560,337				539,084
Participating Convertible Preferred Stock-Series B-1, $0.01 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 272,500 shares issued and outstanding			336,205				325,244
Total mezzanine equity			896,542				864,328
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Preferred shares, $0.01 par value, none issued			—				—
Common shares, $0.01 par value, 1,300,000,000 shares authorized, 88,556,077 shares issued			886				886
Additional paid-in capital			—				—
Retained loss			(710,328	)			(694,914	)
Unearned employee benefits			—				(8	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(33,347	)			(35,671	)
Treasury stock: 5,466,113 and 6,040,958 shares at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively			(151,516	)			(153,306	)
Total stockholders’ deficit			(894,305	)			(883,013	)
Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and stockholders’ deficit		$	5,666,683			$	5,929,663

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
UNAUDITED

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)		2010				2009
REVENUE
Fee and other revenue		$	280,866			$	268,144
Investment revenue			5,638				11,691
Net securities gains			2,392				56
Total revenue			288,896				279,891
Fee and other commissions expense			122,410				118,544
Investment commissions expense			204				399
Total commissions expense			122,614				118,943
Net revenue			166,282				160,948
EXPENSES
Compensation and benefits			57,562				51,632
Transaction and operations support			47,586				44,484
Occupancy, equipment and supplies			11,169				11,026
Interest expense			24,407				27,040
Depreciation and amortization			12,511				14,362
Total expenses			153,235				148,544
Income before income taxes			13,047				12,404
Income tax expense			2,235				563
NET INCOME		$	10,812			$	11,841
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE		$	(0.26	)		$	(0.20	)
Net loss available to common stockholders:
Net income as reported		$	10,812			$	11,841
Accrued preferred stock dividends			(29,369	)			(25,718	)
Accretion recognized on preferred stock			(2,845	)			(2,501	)
Net loss available to common stockholders		$	(21,402	)		$	(16,378	)
Weighted-average outstanding common shares			82,632				82,483

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
UNAUDITED

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
NET INCOME		$	10,812			$	11,841
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities:
Net holding gains arising during the period			2,840				1,453
Reclassification adjustment for net realized losses included in net income			57				2,081
			2,897				3,534
Net unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments:
Net holding losses arising during the period, net of tax benefit of $174			—				(284	)
			—				(284	)
Pension and postretirement benefit plans:
Reclassification of prior service costs recorded to net income, net of tax benefit of $8 and $11, respectively			13				19
Reclassification of net actuarial loss recorded to net income, net of tax benefit of $546 and $347, respectively			892				566
Unrealized foreign currency translation losses, net of tax benefit of $906 and $985, respectively			(1,478	)			(1,607	)
Other comprehensive income			2,324				2,228
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME		$	13,136			$	14,069

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
UNAUDITED

		Three Months Ended March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	10,812			$	11,841
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			12,511				14,362
Investment impairment charges			57				2,081
Provision for deferred income taxes			—				(305	)
Net realized gain on investments			(2,449	)			—
Unrealized losses on trading investments			—				1,645
Valuation gains on put options related to trading investments			—				(3,782	)
Net amortization of investment premiums and discounts			94				212
Signing bonus amortization			7,330				8,529
Amortization of debt discount and deferred financing costs			2,442				2,450
Provision for uncollectible receivables			2,465				3,677
Non-cash compensation and pension expense			9,201				2,561
Other non-cash items, net			103				3,232
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments			(1,478	)			(1,607	)
Change in other assets			(12,904	)			(3,539	)
Change in accounts payable and other liabilities			(11,925	)			997
Total adjustments			5,447				30,513
Change in cash and cash equivalents (substantially restricted)			98,325				172,599
Change in trading investments and related put options (substantially restricted)			29,400				—
Change in receivables, net (substantially restricted)			88,954				144,025
Change in payment service obligations			(270,672	)			(370,832	)
Net cash used in operating activities			(37,734	)			(11,854	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from maturities of investments classified as available-for-sale			43,323				22,860
Purchases of property and equipment			(6,324	)			(7,171	)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(341	)			(3,210	)
Net cash provided by investing activities			36,658				12,479
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options			1,076				—
Payment on debt			—				(625	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			1,076				(625	)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			—				—
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Beginning of period			—				—
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — End of period		$	—			$	—

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
UNAUDITED

																		Accumulated
						Additional								Unearned				Other
		Common				Paid-In				Retained				Employee				Comprehensive				Treasury
(Amounts in thousands)		Stock				Capital				Loss				Benefits				Loss				Stock				Total
December 31, 2009		$	886			$	—			$	(694,914	)		$	(8	)		$	(35,671	)		$	(153,306	)		$	(883,013	)
Net income											10,812																10,812
Accrued dividends on preferred stock							(3,143	)			(26,226	)															(29,369	)
Accretion on preferred stock							(2,845	)																			(2,845	)
Employee benefit plans							5,988								8								1,790				7,786
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities																			2,897								2,897
Amortization of prior service cost for pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax																			13								13
Amortization of unrealized losses on pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax																			892								892
Valuation adjustment for pension and postretirement benefit plans, net of tax
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment																			(1,478	)							(1,478	)
March 31, 2010		$	886			$	—			$	(710,328	)		$	—			$	(33,347	)		$	(151,516	)		$	(894,305	)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of MoneyGram International, Inc. (“MoneyGram” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for future periods. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Note 2 — Assets in Excess of Payment Service Obligations

The following table shows the amount of assets in excess of payment service obligations at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

		March 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Cash and cash equivalents (substantially restricted)		$	3,678,499			$	3,776,824
Receivables, net (substantially restricted)			960,341				1,054,381
Trading investments and related put options (substantially restricted)			—				26,951
Available-for-sale investments (substantially restricted)			258,245				298,633
			4,897,085				5,156,789
Payment service obligations			(4,572,846	)			(4,843,454	)
Assets in excess of payment service obligations		$	324,239			$	313,335

The Company was in compliance with its contractual and financial regulatory requirements as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Note 3 — Acquisitions

Blue Dolphin Financial Services N.V. — On February 5, 2010, the Company acquired Blue Dolphin Financial Services N.V. (“Blue Dolphin”), a former super-agent in the Netherlands, for a purchase price of $1.4 million, including cash acquired of $1.1 million, and an earn-out potential of up to $1.4 million. The acquisition of Blue Dolphin provides the Company with the opportunity for further network expansion in the Netherlands and Belgium under the European Union Payment Services Directive, as well as additional control over sales and marketing activities.

The preliminary purchase price allocation includes $3.1 million of goodwill assigned to the Company’s Global Funds Transfer segment, and the forgiveness of $2.7 million of liabilities. The purchase price allocation is preliminary pending the completion of the valuation of deferred taxes and certain other liabilities. The Company incurred $0.1 million of transaction costs related to this acquisition in the three months ending March 31, 2010, which are included in the “Transaction and operations support” line in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The operating results of Blue Dolphin subsequent to the acquisition date are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The financial impact of the acquisition is not material to the Consolidated Balance Sheets or Consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 4 — Fair Value Measurement

Following is a description of the Company’s valuation methodologies for financial assets measured at fair value:

Investments — For United States government agencies and residential mortgage-backed securities collateralized by United States government agency securities, fair value measures are generally obtained from independent sources, including a pricing service. As market quotes are generally not readily available or accessible for these specific securities, the pricing service generally measures fair value through the use of pricing models and observable inputs for similar assets and market data. Accordingly, these securities are classified as Level 2 financial instruments. The Company periodically corroborates the valuations provided by the pricing service through internal valuations utilizing externally developed cash flow models, comparison to actual transaction prices for any sold securities and any broker quotes received on the same security.

For other asset-backed securities, investments in limited partnerships and trading investments, market quotes are generally not available. If available, the Company will utilize a fair value measurement from a pricing service. The pricing service utilizes a pricing model based on market observable data and indices, such as quotes for comparable securities, yield curves, default indices, interest rates and historical prepayment speeds. If a fair value measurement is not available from the pricing service, the Company will utilize a broker quote if available. Due to a general lack of transparency in the process that the brokers use to develop prices, most valuations that are based on brokers’ quotes are classified as Level 3. If no broker quote is available, or if such quote cannot be corroborated by market data or internal valuations, the Company will perform internal valuations utilizing externally developed cash flow models. These pricing models are based on market observable spreads and, when available, observable market indices. The pricing models also use inputs such as the rate of future prepayments and expected default rates on the principal, which are derived by the Company based on the characteristics of the underlying structure and historical prepayment speeds experienced at the interest rate levels projected for the underlying collateral. The pricing models for certain asset-backed securities also include significant non-observable inputs such as internally assessed credit ratings for non-rated securities, combined with externally provided credit spreads. Observability of market inputs to the valuation models used for pricing certain of the Company’s investments deteriorated with the disruption to the credit markets as overall liquidity and trading activity in these sectors has been substantially reduced. Accordingly, securities valued using a pricing model are classified as Level 3 financial instruments.

Derivatives — Derivatives consist of forward contracts to hedge income statement exposure to foreign currency exchange risk arising from the Company’s assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. The Company’s derivative agreements are well-established products, allowing the use of standardized models that use market based inputs. These models do not contain a high level of subjectivity and the inputs are readily observable. Accordingly, the Company has classified its forward contracts as Level 2 financial instruments.

Other Financial Instruments — Other financial instruments consist of put options related to trading investments. The fair value of the put options related to trading investments is estimated using the expected cash flows from the instruments assuming their exercise in June 2010. These cash flows are discounted at a rate corroborated by market data for a financial institution comparable to the put option counter-party, as well as the Company’s interest rate on its debt. The discounted cash flows of the put options are then reduced by the estimated fair value of the trading investments. Given the subjectivity of the discount rate and the estimated fair value of the trading investments, the Company has classified its put options related to trading investments as Level 3 financial instruments. The fair value of the put options is remeasured each period, with the change in fair value recognized in earnings.

Debt — Debt is carried at amortized cost; however, the Company estimates the fair value of debt for disclosure purposes. The fair value of debt is estimated using market quotations, where available, credit ratings, observable market indices and other market data. As of March 31, 2010, the fair value of Tranche A and Tranche B under the Company’s senior facility is estimated at $97.5 million and $202.1 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2010, the fair value of the Company’s second lien notes is estimated at $493.8 million. See Note 8 — Debt for more information on the Company’s debt.

The Company had no financial liabilities recorded at fair value as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Following are the Company’s financial assets recorded at fair value by hierarchy level as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

		March 31, 2010
(Amounts in thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Available-for-sale investments (substantially restricted):
United States government agencies		$	—			$	8,029			$	—			$	8,029
Residential mortgage-backed securities — agencies			—				226,383				—				226,383
Other asset-backed securities			—				—				23,833				23,833
Forward contracts			—				1,454				—				1,454
Total financial assets		$	—			$	235,866			$	23,833			$	259,699

		December 31, 2009
(Amounts in thousands)		Level 1				Level 2				Level 3				Total
Trading investments and related put options (substantially restricted)		$	—			$	—			$	26,951			$	26,951
Available-for-sale investments (substantially restricted):
United States government agencies			—				7,715				—				7,715
Residential mortgage-backed securities — agencies			—				268,830				—				268,830
Other asset-backed securities			—				—				22,088				22,088
Forward contracts			—				5,332				—				5,332
Total financial assets		$	—			$	281,877			$	49,039			$	330,916

The tables below provides a roll-forward for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 of the financial assets classified in Level 3 which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

		Three Months Ended												Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2010												March 31, 2009
		Trading								Total				Trading								Total
		Investments				Other				Level 3				Investments				Other				Level 3
		and Related				Asset-Backed				Financial				and Related				Asset-Backed				Financial
(Amounts in thousands)		Put Options				Securities				Assets				Put Options				Securities				Assets
Beginning balance		$	26,951			$	22,088			$	49,039			$	47,990			$	29,528			$	77,518
Realized gains			2,449				—				2,449				—				—				—
Principal paydowns			(29,400	)			(909	)			(30,309	)			—				(136	)			(136	)
Other-than-temporary impairments			—				(57	)			(57	)			—				(2,081	)			(2,081	)
Unrealized gains — instruments still held at the reporting date			—				3,051				3,051				3,782				—				3,782
Unrealized losses — instruments still held at the reporting date			—				(340	)			(340	)			(1,645	)			(2,057	)			(3,702	)
Ending balance		$	—			$	23,833			$	23,833			$	50,127			$	25,254			$	75,381

Note 5 — Investment Portfolio

Components of the Company’s investment portfolio are as follows:

		March 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Cash		$	1,153,722			$	1,243,060
Money markets			1,624,369				1,933,764
Time deposits			600,000				400,000
Certificates of deposit			300,408				200,000
Cash and cash equivalents			3,678,499				3,776,824
Trading investments and related put options			—				26,951
Available-for-sale investments			258,245				298,633
Total investment portfolio		$	3,936,744			$	4,102,408

Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash, money-market securities, time deposits and certificates of deposit. Cash primarily consists of interest-bearing deposit accounts and non-interest bearing transaction accounts. The Company’s money-market securities are invested in seven funds, all of which are AAA rated and consist of United States Treasury bills, notes or other obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government and its agencies, as well as repurchase agreements secured by such instruments. The time deposits and certificates of deposits have maturities of less than one year and are issued from financial institutions that are rated AA as of the date of this filing.

Trading Investments and Related Put Options — At December 31, 2009, the Company had one trading investment with a fair value of $11.8 million on a par value of $29.4 million, and a related put option with a fair value of $15.2 million. The trading investment was called at par in February 2010, resulting in a $2.4 million gain recorded in “Net securities gains,” net of the reversal of the related put option.

Available-for-sale Investments — Available-for-sale investments consist of mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and agency debenture securities. After other-than-temporary impairment charges, the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale investments are as follows at March 31, 2010:

						Gross				Gross								Net
		Amortized				Unrealized				Unrealized				Fair				Average
(Amounts in thousands, except net average price)		Cost				Gains				Losses				Value				Price
Residential mortgage-backed securities-agencies		$	216,953			$	9,482			$	(52	)		$	226,383			$	104.93
Other asset-backed securities			14,929				8,904				—				23,833				4.07
United States government agencies			6,956				1,073				—				8,029				89.21
Total		$	238,838			$	19,459			$	(52	)		$	258,245			$	31.90

After other-than-temporary impairment charges, the amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale investments were as follows at December 31, 2009:

						Gross				Gross								Net
		Amortized				Unrealized				Unrealized				Fair				Average
(Amounts in thousands, except net average price)		Cost				Gains				Losses				Value				Price
Residential mortgage-backed securities — agencies		$	259,563			$	9,296			$	(29	)		$	268,830			$	104.13
Other asset-backed securities			15,706				6,382				—				22,088				3.74
United States government agencies			6,854				861				—				7,715				85.72
Total		$	282,123			$	16,539			$	(29	)		$	298,633			$	34.84

Gains and Losses and Other-Than-Temporary Impairments — At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, net unrealized gains of $19.4 million and $16.5 million, respectively, are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss.” During the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, losses of less than $0.1 million and losses of $2.1 million were reclassified from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” to net income in connection with other-than-temporary impairments recognized during the period, respectively. Net securities gains were as follows:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Other-than-temporary impairments from available-for-sale investments		$	(57	)		$	(2,081	)
Net unrealized gains from trading investments and related put options			—				2,137
Realized gains from trading investments and related put options			2,449				—
Net securities gains		$	2,392			$	56

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, approximately 91 percent and 93 percent, respectively, of the available-for-sale portfolio is invested in debentures of United States government agencies or securities collateralized by United States government agency debentures. These securities have the implicit backing of the United States government, and the Company expects to receive full par value upon maturity or pay-down, as well as all interest payments. The “Other asset-backed securities” continue to have market exposure. The Company has factored this risk into its fair value estimates, with the average price of an asset-backed security at $0.04 per dollar of par at March 31, 2010.

Investment Ratings — In rating the securities in its investment portfolio, the Company uses ratings from Moody’s Investor Service (“Moody’s”), Standard & Poors (“S&P”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”). If the rating agencies have split ratings, the Company uses the highest rating from either Moody’s or S&P for disclosure purposes. Securities issued or backed by United States government agencies are included in the AAA rating category. Investment grade is defined as a security having a Moody’s equivalent rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa or an S&P or Fitch equivalent rating of AAA, AA, A or BBB. The Company’s investments at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following ratings:

		March 31, 2010												December 31, 2009
		Number of				Fair				Percent of				Number of				Fair				Percent of
(Dollars in thousands)		Securities				Value				Investments				Securities				Value				Investments
AAA, including United States agencies			34			$	234,075				90	%			34			$	276,215				92	%
A			—				—				0	%			1				415				0	%
BBB			1				1,588				1	%			1				1,842				1	%
Below investment grade			70				22,582				9	%			69				20,161				7	%
Total			105			$	258,245				100	%			105			$	298,633				100	%

Had the Company used the lowest rating from either Moody’s or S&P in the information presented above, there would be no change to investments rated A or better.

Contractual Maturities — The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities as borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations, sometimes without call or prepayment penalties. Maturities of mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities depend on the repayment characteristics and experience of the underlying obligations.

		March 31, 2010								December 31, 2009
		Amortized				Fair				Amortized				Fair
(Amounts in thousands)		Cost				Value				Cost				Value
After one year through five years		$	6,956			$	8,029			$	6,854			$	7,715
Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities			231,882				250,216				275,269				290,918
Total		$	238,838			$	258,245			$	282,123			$	298,633

Note 6 — Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company uses forward contracts to hedge income statement exposure to foreign currency exchange risk arising from its assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. While these contracts economically hedge foreign currency risk, they are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. The “Transaction and operations support” line in the Consolidated Statements of Income reflects losses of $2.3 million and $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, from the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on foreign-denominated receivables and payables, which is net of gains of $4.2 million and $5.8 million from the related forward contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had $66.8 million and $59.4 million, respectively, of outstanding notional amounts relating to its forward contracts.

At March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company reflects the following fair values of derivative forward contract instruments in its Consolidated Balance Sheets:

						Derivative Assets								Derivative Liabilities
		Balance Sheet				March 31,				December 31,				March 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		Location				2010				2009				2010				2009
Forward contracts		Other assets				$	1,463			$	5,361			$	9			$	29

Historically, the Company entered into foreign currency forward contracts with 12 month durations to hedge forecasted foreign currency money transfer transactions. The Company designated these forward contracts as cash flow hedges. All cash flow hedges matured in 2009. The Company recognized a gain of $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 in the “Fee and other revenue” line of the Consolidated Statements of Income upon the final settlement of these cash flow hedges.

The Company’s Series B Stock contains a change of control redemption option which, upon exercise, requires the Company to cash settle the par value of the Series B Stock and any accumulated unpaid dividends at a 1 percent premium. As the cash settlement is made at a premium, the change of control redemption option meets the definition of an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and liability accounting treatment. The fair value of the change of control redemption option was de minimus as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

Note 7 — Goodwill

Following is a roll forward of the Company’s goodwill, which is all related to the Global Funds Transfer segment:

		Total
(Amounts in thousands)		Goodwill
Balance as of December 31, 2009		$	425,630
Goodwill acquired			3,072
Balance as of March 31, 2010		$	428,702

The addition of goodwill relates to the acquisition of Blue Dolphin in the first quarter of 2010. See Note — 3 Acquisitions for further information on the acquisition.

Note 8 — Debt

Following is a summary of the Company’s outstanding debt as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009:

		March 31, 2010								December 31, 2009
						Weighted-								Weighted-
						Average								Average
(Amounts in thousands)		Amount				Interest Rate				Amount				Interest Rate
Senior Tranche A Loan, due 2013		$	100,000				5.75	%		$	100,000				5.75	%
Senior Tranche B Loan, net of unamortized discount, due 2013			197,531				7.25	%			196,791				7.25	%
Senior revolving credit facility, due 2013			—				—				—				—
Second lien notes, due 2018			500,000				13.25	%			500,000				13.25	%
Total debt		$	797,531							$	796,791

Senior Facility —The Company may elect an interest rate for the senior facility at each reset period based on the United States prime bank rate or the Eurodollar rate. During 2010 and 2009, the Company elected the United States prime bank rate as its interest basis. As of March 31, 2010, the Company has $235.0 million of availability under the revolving credit facility, net of $15.0 million of outstanding letters of credit. Amortization of the debt discount on Tranche B of $0.7 million during each of the three months ending March 31, 2010 and 2009 is recorded in “Interest expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In April 2010, the Company made an optional repayment of $30.0 million of its Tranche B loan. This payment will be recorded in the second quarter of 2010.

Second Lien Notes —Prior to March 25, 2011, the Company has the option to capitalize interest at a rate of 15.25 percent for the second lien notes. If interest is capitalized, 0.50 percent of the interest is payable in cash and 14.75 percent is capitalized into the outstanding principal balance. The Company paid the interest through March 31, 2010 and anticipates that it will continue to pay the interest on the Notes for the foreseeable future.

Debt Covenants — At March 31, 2010, the Company is in compliance with its financial covenants.

Deferred Financing Costs — Amortization of deferred financing costs recorded in “Interest expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, was $1.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

Interest Paid in Cash — The Company paid $21.7 million and $24.5 million of interest for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Maturities — At March 31, 2010, debt totaling $306.3 million will mature in 2013.

Note 9 — Pensions and Other Benefits

Net periodic benefit expense for the Company’s defined benefit pension plan and combined supplemental executive retirement plans (“SERPs”) and postretirement benefit plans includes the following components for the three months ended March 31:

		Pension and SERPs								Postretirement Benefits
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009				2010				2009
Service cost		$	—			$	223			$	—			$	143
Interest cost			2,969				3,165				63				209
Expected return on plan assets			(2,166	)			(2,351	)			—				—
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)			21				87				—				(88	)
Recognized net actuarial loss			1,196				944				4				—
Net periodic benefit expense		$	2,020			$	2,068			$	67			$	264

Benefits paid through the defined benefit pension plan were $3.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. No contributions were made to the defined benefit pension plan during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. Benefits paid through, and contributions made to, the combined SERPs were $1.1 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Benefits paid through, and contributions made to, the defined benefit postretirement plans were $0.4 million and less than $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

The net loss for the defined benefit pension plan and combined SERPs that the Company amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into “Net periodic benefit expense” was $1.2 million ($0.7 million, net of tax) and $0.9 million ($0.6 million, net of tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, while the amortized net loss for the postretirement benefit plans was nominal for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009. The prior service costs amortized from “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” into “Net periodic benefit expense” was nominal for all plans for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.

Contribution expense for the 401(k) defined contribution plan was $0.8 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company made a discretionary profit sharing contribution of $2.0 million to the 401(k) defined contribution plan during the three months ended March 31, 2009; no such contribution was made in 2010.

Deferred Compensation Plans — In April 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved changes to the Company’s deferred compensation plans for management and non-employee directors. Deferrals under the deferred compensation plan for management are frozen effective April 1, 2010. The deferred compensation plan for directors was terminated and all account balances will be fully distributed as soon as practicable following May 1, 2011.

Note 10 — Mezzanine Equity

Following is a summary of mezzanine equity activity related to the Company’s Participating Convertible Preferred Stock during the three months ended March 31, 2010:

										Series
(Amounts in thousands)		B Stock				B-1 Stock				B Stock
Balance at December 31, 2009		$	539,084			$	325,244			$	864,328
Dividends accrued			18,942				10,427				29,369
Accretion			2,311				534				2,845
Balance at March 31, 2010		$	560,337			$	336,205			$	896,542

Note 11 — Stockholders’ Deficit

Common Stock — Following is a summary of common stock issued and outstanding:

		March 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Common shares issued			88,556				88,556
Treasury stock			(5,466	)			(6,041	)
Common shares outstanding			83,090				82,515

Treasury Stock — Following is a summary of treasury stock share activity during the three months ended March 31, 2010:

		Treasury Stock
(Amounts in thousands)		Shares
Balance at December 31, 2009			6,041
Exercise of stock options, net of shares surrendered for withholding taxes on release of restricted stock			(575	)
Balance at March 31, 2010			5,466

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss — The components of “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” are as follows:

		March 31,				December 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Net unrealized gains on securities classified as available-for-sale		$	19,407			$	16,510
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments			3,484				4,962
Prior service cost for pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax			(210	)			(223	)
Unrealized losses on pension and postretirement benefits, net of tax			(56,028	)			(56,920	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		$	(33,347	)		$	(35,671	)

Note 12 — Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan allows for the issuance under all awards of 47,000,000 shares of common stock. As of March 31, 2010, the Company has remaining authorization to issue awards of up to 15,561,911 shares of common stock.

Pursuant to the terms of options granted in 2010, and consistent with the terms of options awarded in 2009, 50 percent of the options awarded become exercisable through the passage of time (the “Time-based Tranche”) and 50 percent of the options become exercisable upon the achievement of certain conditions (the “Performance-based Tranche”). The Time-based Tranche generally becomes exercisable over a five-year period in either (a) an equal number of shares each year or (b) a tranched vesting schedule whereby 15 percent of the Time-based Tranche vests immediately and then at rates of 10 to 20 percent each year. The Performance-based Tranche becomes exercisable upon the achievement within five years of grant of the earlier of (a) a pre-defined common stock price for any period of 20 consecutive trading days, (b) a change in control of the Company resulting in a pre-defined per share consideration or (c) in the event the Company’s common stock does not trade on a United States exchange or trading market, a public offering resulting in the Company’s common stock meeting pre-defined equity values. All options granted in 2010 have a term of 10 years.

For purposes of determining the fair value of stock option awards, the Company uses the Black-Scholes single option pricing model for the Time-based Tranches and a combination of Monte-Carlo simulation and the Black-Scholes single option pricing model for the Performance-based Tranches. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of the Company’s common stock since the spin-off on June 30, 2004. The Company used the simplified method to estimate the expected term of the award and historical information to estimate the forfeiture rate. The expected term represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding, while the forfeiture rate represents the number of options that will be forfeited by grantees due to termination of employment. In addition, the Company considers any expectations regarding future activity which could impact the expected term and forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate for the Black-Scholes model is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods within the expected term of the option, while the risk-free rate for the Monte-Carlo simulation is based on the five-year United States Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. Compensation cost, net of expected forfeitures, is recognized using a straight-line method over the vesting or service period. The following table provides weighted-average grant-date fair value and assumptions utilized to estimate the grant-date fair value of the 2010 options.

Expected dividend yield			0.0	%
Expected volatility			74.0% - 74.8	%
Risk-free interest rate			2.9% - 3.3	%
Expected life		5.3-6.5 years
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per option		$	2.18

Following is a summary of stock option activity for 2010:

										Weighted-
						Weighted-				Average				Aggregate
						Average				Remaining				Intrinsic
						Exercise				Contractual				Value
		Shares				Price				Term				($000)
Options outstanding at December 31, 2009			38,145,414			$	3.35
Granted			2,900,000				3.04
Exercised			(576,250	)			1.87
Forfeited/Expired			(6,102,491	)			2.94
Options outstanding at March 31, 2010			34,366,673			$	3.43			8.94 years				$	47,345
Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2010			33,953,119			$	3.44			8.95 years				$	46,823
Options exercisable at March 31, 2010			5,375,092			$	9.23			6.78 years				$	4,936

As of March 31, 2010, the Company’s outstanding stock options had unrecognized compensation expense of $39.0 million and a remaining weighted-average vesting period of 1.37 years. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $6.9 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March, 31 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Note 13 — Income Taxes

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company had $2.2 million of income tax expense on pre-tax income of $13.0 million, primarily reflecting the reversal of book to tax differences, including a litigation accrual. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company had $0.6 million of income tax expense on pre-tax income of $12.4 million, reflecting benefits recognized on tax positions with respect to part of the net securities losses from 2008 and 2007. The Company paid $0.3 million and less than $0.1 million of federal and state income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, in interest and penalties for unrecognized tax benefits. The Company records interest and penalties for unrecognized tax benefits in “Income tax expense” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had a liability of $1.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively, for interest and penalties within “Accounts payable and other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 14 — Commitments and Contingencies

Legal Proceedings — The Company is involved in various claims, litigations and government inquiries that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. All of these matters are subject to uncertainties and outcomes that are not predictable with certainty. The Company accrues for these matters as any resulting losses become probable and can be reasonably estimated. Further, the Company maintains insurance coverage for many claims and litigations alleged. Management does not believe that after final disposition any of these matters is likely to have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Federal Securities Class Actions — The Company and certain of its present and former officers and directors are defendants in a consolidated class action case in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota captioned In re MoneyGram International, Inc. Securities Litigation. The Consolidated Complaint was filed on October 3, 2008, and alleges against each defendant violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act and alleges against Company officers violations of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. The Consolidated Complaint alleges failure to adequately disclose, in a timely manner, the nature and risks of the Company’s investments, as well as unrealized losses and other-than-temporary impairments related to certain of the Company’s investments. The Consolidated Complaint seeks recovery of losses incurred by stockholder class members in connection with their purchases of the Company’s securities. On February 24, 2010, the parties entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding pursuant to which the parties agreed, subject to final approval of the parties and the court, to settle this action for a cash payment of $80.0 million, all but $20.0 million of which would be paid by the Company’s insurance carriers. On March 9, 2010, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement to settle the case on terms consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding. On March 10, 2010, the Court issued an Order that preliminarily approved the settlement. The parties will seek final approval of the settlement at a hearing currently set for June 18, 2010. In 2009, the Company recognized an $80.0 million liability for the settlement and a $60.0 million receivable from the insurance carriers, for a net charge of $20.0 million to the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company paid $20.0 million into an escrow account in March 2010. As the insurance carriers paid the balance of the settlement in April 2010, the Company has a $60.0 million liability recorded in the “Accounts payable and other liabilities” line of the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2010, with a corresponding $60.0 million receivable from the insurance carriers in the “Other assets” line.

Minnesota Stockholder Derivative Claims — Certain of the Company’s present and former officers and directors are defendants in a consolidated stockholder derivative action in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota captioned In re MoneyGram International, Inc. Derivative Litigation. The Consolidated Complaint in this action, which was filed on November 18, 2009 and arises out of the same matters at issue in the securities class action, alleges claims on behalf of the Company for, among other things, breach of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, and gross mismanagement. On February 24, 2010, the parties entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding pursuant to which they agreed, subject to final approval of the parties and the court, to settle this action. On March 31, 2010, the parties entered into a Stipulation of Settlement agreeing to settle the case on terms largely consistent with the Memorandum of Understanding. On April 1, 2010, the Court issued an Order that preliminarily approved the settlement, providing for notice to stockholders and scheduled a hearing on the settlement for June 18, 2010. The Stipulation of Settlement provides for changes to the Company’s business, corporate governance and internal controls, some of which have already been implemented in whole or in part. The Company also agreed to pay attorney fees and expenses to the plaintiff’s counsel in the amount of $1.3 million, with $1.0 million to be paid by the Company’s insurance carriers. The Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2010 reflect a $1.3 million liability in the “Accounts payable and other liabilities” line, with a $1.0 million corresponding receivable from the insurance carriers in the “Other assets” line.

California Action — On January 22, 2008, Russell L. Berney filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Company and its officers and directors, Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., and PropertyBridge, Inc. and two of its officers, alleging false and negligent misrepresentation, violations of California securities laws and unfair business practices with regard to disclosure of the Company’s investments. The complaint also alleges derivative claims against the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Board’s oversight of disclosure of the Company’s investments and with regard to the Company’s negotiations with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Euronet Worldwide, Inc. The complaint seeks monetary damages, disgorgement, restitution or rescission of stock purchases, rescission of agreements with third parties, constructive trust and declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. In July 2008, an amended complaint was filed asserting an additional claim for declaratory relief. In September 2009, an amended complaint was filed alleging additional facts and naming additional defendants. The settlement in the Minnesota Stockholder Derivative Litigation and the Minnesota District Court’s April 1, 2010 Order preliminarily approving the settlement in the Minnesota Stockholder Derivative Litigation contain provisions enjoining MoneyGram stockholders from commencing or continuing to prosecute any litigation involving the claims to be settled in that case. On April 5, 2010, the California court stayed proceedings in this action pending the settlement hearing in the Minnesota Stockholder Derivative Litigation.

Minimum Commission Guarantees — In limited circumstances, as an incentive to new or renewing agents, the Company may grant minimum commission guarantees for a specified period of time at a contractually specified amount. Under the guarantees, the Company will pay to the agent the difference between the contractually specified minimum commission and actual commissions earned by the agent. As of March 31, 2010, the liability for minimum commission guarantees was $2.2 million and the maximum amount that could be paid under the minimum commission guarantees was $5.0 million over a weighted-average remaining term of 1.7 years.

Note 15 — Earnings per Common Share

Following are the potential weighted-average common shares excluded from diluted earnings per common share as their effect would be anti-dilutive:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Shares related to stock options			35,154				2,964
Shares related to restricted stock			5				65
Shares related to preferred stock			393,496				347,925

Note 16 — Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance that amends previously issued derecognition guidance for financial transfers of assets, eliminates the exemption from consolidation for qualifying SPEs and amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities. This guidance will be effective for any financial transfers completed by the Company after January 1, 2010, and for consolidated financial statements prepared subsequent to December 31, 2009. The Company adopted the guidance effective January 1, 2010 with no material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Act”) was signed into law. While the Company is still evaluating the impact of the Act on its defined benefit postretirement plans that provide medical insurance to its participants, the impact is not expected to be material to its Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has a $4.2 million obligation related to its defined benefit postretirement plans recognized in the “Pension and other postretirement benefits” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2010.

Note 17 — Segment Information

The Company conducts its business through two reportable segments, Global Funds Transfer and Financial Paper Products. Businesses that are not operated within these segments are categorized as “Other,” and primarily relate to discontinued products and businesses. One of the Company’s agents of both the Global Funds Transfer segment and the Financial Paper Products segment accounted for 30.8 percent and 29.5 percent of the Company’s total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. “Other unallocated expenses” for the three months ended March 31, 2009 include $3.9 million of executive severance and related costs. The following tables set forth operating results, depreciation and amortization and capital expenditures by segment:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Revenue
Global Funds Transfer:
Money transfer		$	222,831			$	208,180
Bill payment			33,863				36,247
Total Global Funds Transfer			256,694				244,427
Financial Paper Products:
Money order			17,904				17,757
Official check			10,499				12,854
Total Financial Paper Products			28,403				30,611
Other			3,799				4,853
Total revenue		$	288,896			$	279,891
Segment operating income:
Global Funds Transfer		$	27,781			$	36,892
Financial Paper Products			8,903				7,280
Other			(518	)			(250	)
Total segment operating income			36,166				43,922
Net securities gains			2,392				56
Interest expense			(24,407	)			(27,040	)
Other unallocated expenses			(1,104	)			(4,534	)
Income before income taxes		$	13,047			$	12,404
Depreciation and amortization:
Global Funds Transfer		$	9,812			$	11,390
Financial Paper Products			2,690				2,622
Other			9				350
Total depreciation and amortization		$	12,511			$	14,362
Capital expenditures:
Global Funds Transfer		$	5,807			$	6,719
Financial Paper Products			1,110				674
Other			—				—
Total capital expenditures		$	6,917			$	7,393

The following table presents revenue by major geographic area:

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
United States		$	202,637			$	199,451
International			86,259				80,440
Total revenue		$	288,896			$	279,891

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes of MoneyGram International, Inc. (“MoneyGram,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. MoneyGram’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Table 1 — Results of Operations

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,								Change
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009				$				%
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Revenue:
Fee and other revenue		$	280,866			$	268,144			$	12,722				5	%
Investment revenue			5,638				11,691				(6,053	)			(52	)%
Net securities gains			2,392				56				2,336			NM
Total revenue			288,896				279,891				9,005				3	%
Fee and other commissions expense			122,410				118,544				3,866				3	%
Investment commissions expense			204				399				(195	)			(49	)%
Total commissions expense			122,614				118,943				3,671				3	%
Net revenue			166,282				160,948				5,334				3	%
Expenses:
Compensation and benefits			57,562				51,632				5,930				11	%
Transaction and operations support			47,586				44,484				3,102				7	%
Occupancy, equipment and supplies			11,169				11,026				143				1	%
Interest expense			24,407				27,040				(2,633	)			(10	)%
Depreciation and amortization			12,511				14,362				(1,851	)			(13	)%
Total expenses			153,235				148,544				4,691				3	%
Income before income taxes			13,047				12,404				643				5	%
Income tax expense			2,235				563				1,672				297	%
Net income		$	10,812			$	11,841			$	(1,029	)			(9	)%

Following is a summary of our operating results in the first quarter of 2010:

	•		Fee and other revenue increased $12.7 million, or 5 percent, to $280.9 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $268.1 million in 2009, driven primarily by money transfer transaction volume growth of 6 percent, partially offset by a decline in average money transfer fees from lower average principal per transaction and corridor mix. The 6 percent volume growth for the quarter continues to reflect slow economic conditions and a growing volume base, but is consistent with volume growth of 7 percent in both the first and fourth quarters of 2009.
	•		Investment revenue decreased $6.1 million, or 52 percent, in the first quarter of 2010 due to lower yields earned on our investment portfolio and a decline in average investable balances.
	•		Net securities gains in the first quarter of 2010 reflect a $2.4 million realized gain from the call of a trading investment, net of the reversal of the related put option. This is compared to a nominal gain in the first quarter of 2009 from net unrealized gains on trading investments and related put options, offset by other-than-temporary impairments.
	•		Total commissions expense increased $3.7 million, or 3 percent, in the first quarter of 2010, as compared to 2009, primarily driven by higher fee commissions from money transfer volume growth and an increase in the euro exchange rate, partially offset by lower average commission rates and lower signing bonus amortization.
	•		Interest expense decreased to $24.4 million in the first quarter of 2010 from $27.0 million in 2009 from the repayment of $186.9 million of debt in 2009.

	•		Total expenses in the first quarter of 2010 increased $4.7 million, or 3 percent, compared to 2009, driven by a $5.9 million increase in compensation and benefits, primarily from higher employee stock option expense, and a $3.1 million increase in transaction and operations support from higher professional fees and agent growth. Decreases in interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense of $2.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, partially offset these increases.
	•		In the first quarter of 2010, we had $2.2 million of income tax expense on pre-tax income of $13.0 million, primarily reflecting the reversal of book to tax differences.
	•		The increase in the euro exchange rate (net of hedging activities) increased total revenue by $2.4 million, commissions expense by $1.8 million and operating expenses by $1.5 million, for a net decrease to our income before income taxes of $0.9 million.

Table 2 —Fee and Other Revenue and Commissions Expense

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,								Change
(Dollars in thousands)		2010				2009				$				%
Fee and other revenue		$	280,866			$	268,144			$	12,722				5	%
Fee and other commissions expense			122,410				118,544				3,866				3	%
Fee and other commissions expense as a % of fee and other revenue			43.6	%			44.2	%

Fee and other revenue consists of fees on money transfer, bill payment, money order and official check transactions. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, fee and other revenue increased $12.7 million, or 5 percent, from 2009, driven by money transfer transaction volume growth and a higher euro exchange rate, partially offset by lower average money transfer fees. Money transfer transaction volume increased 6 percent, generating incremental revenue of $12.6 million. The higher euro exchange rate increased revenue $2.4 million, net of hedging activities. Average money transfer fees declined from lower average principal per transaction and corridor mix, reducing revenue by $0.7 million. Bill payment revenue decreased $2.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2010, as compared to 2009, from industry mix and lower volumes. See Table 6 — Global Funds Transfer Segment for further information regarding money transfer and bill payment revenue and transaction volume. Fee and other revenue in the Financial Paper Products segment increased by $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010, from 2009, primarily due to our repricing initiatives. See Table 7 — Financial Paper Products Segment for further information. In addition, fee and other revenue declined $2.6 million from the prior year due to discontinued businesses and products.

Fee and other commissions expense consists primarily of fees paid to our third-party agents for the money transfer and bill payment services. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, fee commissions expense increased $3.9 million, or 3 percent, compared to 2009, from money transfer transaction volume growth and the higher euro exchange rate, partially offset by lower signing bonus amortization and lower average commission rates. Incremental fee commissions of $6.3 million from money transfer transaction volume growth and $1.6 million from the higher euro exchange rate were reduced by $1.3 million from lower average money transfer commission rates. Signing bonus amortization decreased $1.2 million as certain historical signing bonuses were fully amortized or written off in the prior year. In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, bill payment fee commissions expense declined $0.7 million, while other commissions for money order products and other products declined $0.3 million each.

Table 3 — Net Investment Revenue Analysis

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,								Change
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009				$				%
Investment revenue		$	5,638			$	11,691			$	(6,053	)			(52	)%
Investment commissions expense			(204	)			(399	)			195				49	%
Net investment revenue		$	5,434			$	11,292			$	(5,858	)			(52	)%
Average balances:
Cash equivalents and investments		$	3,922,487			$	4,393,200			$	(470,713	)			(11	)%
Payment service obligations (1)		$	2,785,408			$	3,117,002			$	(331,594	)			(11	)%
Average yields earned and rates paid (2):
Investment yield			0.58	%			1.08	%
Investment commission rate			0.03	%			0.05	%
Net investment margin			0.56	%			1.04	%

Investment revenue consists of interest and dividends generated through the investment of cash balances received from the sale of official checks, money orders and other payment instruments. Investment revenue decreased $6.1 million, or 52 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to 2009 due to lower yields earned on our investment portfolio and a decline in average investable balances from the run-off of certain official check financial institution customers terminated in prior periods. Lower yields decreased revenue $4.8 million from 2009, while lower average investable balances decreased revenue $1.3 million.

Investment commissions expense includes payments made to financial institution customers based on amounts generated by the sale of official checks times short-term interest rate indices. Investment commissions expense decreased $0.2 million, or 49 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to 2009, reflecting the lower federal funds rate and lower average investable balances. Consistent with 2009, the federal funds rate was so low during the first quarter of 2010 that most of our financial institution customers continue to be in a “negative” commission position, meaning we do not owe any commissions to our customers. While the majority of our contracts require that the financial institution customers pay us for the negative commission amounts, we have opted at this time to impose certain per-item and other fees rather than require payment of the negative commission amount.

As a result of the factors discussed above, net investment revenue decreased $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to 2009 and the net investment margin decreased to 0.56 percent from 1.04 percent in 2009.

Table 4 — Net Securities Gains

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009
Other-than-temporary impairments from available-for-sale investments		$	(57	)		$	(2,081	)
Net unrealized gains from trading investments and related put options			—				2,137
Realized gains from trading investments and related put options			2,449				—
Net securities gains		$	2,392			$	56

Net securities gains of $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 reflect a $2.4 million realized gain from the call of a trading investment, net of the reversal of the related put option. This is compared to a nominal gain for the first quarter of 2009 from net unrealized gains on trading investments and related put options of $2.1 million, offset by other-than-temporary impairments of $2.1 million on our asset-backed securities.

Expenses

The following discussion relates to operating expenses, excluding commissions expense, as presented in Table 1 — Results of Operations.

Compensation and benefits — Compensation and benefits includes salaries and benefits, management incentive programs and other employee related costs. Compensation and benefits increased $5.9 million, or 11 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from higher stock option and incentive compensation expense, partially offset by lower severance costs. Stock option expense increased $6.7 million from 2009 and 2010 grants, net of forfeitures. Incentive compensation increased $2.2 million due to accruing annual performance incentives at a higher rate than the prior year, partially offset by a decrease in annual sales incentive accruals. The first quarter of 2009 included $3.5 million of severance costs related to the departure of a former executive officer. As reflected in each of the amounts discussed above, the increase in the euro exchange rate, net of hedging activities, increased compensation and benefits expense $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Transaction and operations support — Transaction and operations support includes marketing, professional fees and other outside service costs, telecommunications and agent forms related to our products. Transaction and operations support increased $3.1 million, or 7 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Professional fees increased $2.3 million from litigation fees. Marketing costs increased $1.7 million in connection with agent location growth, while licensing fees increased $1.7 million primarily due to additional licensing fees in the United Kingdom. Partially offsetting these increases was a $1.4 million benefit from the impact of foreign exchange rate movements on our foreign denominated assets and liabilities, net of hedging activities, and a $1.2 million decrease in our provision for loss. As reflected in each of the amounts discussed above, the increase in the euro exchange rate, net of hedging activities, increased transactions and operations support $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Occupancy, equipment and supplies — Occupancy, equipment and supplies includes facilities rent and maintenance costs, software and equipment maintenance costs, freight and delivery costs and supplies. Occupancy, equipment and supplies increased $0.1 million, or 1 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2010, as controlled spending and the timing of the roll-out of new agents and locations offset costs incurred to support the growth of the business. As reflected in the amount discussed above, the increase in the euro exchange rate, net of hedging activities, increased occupancy, equipment and supplies $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Interest expense — Interest expense decreased to $24.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 from $27.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 from the repayment of $186.9 million of debt in 2009.

Depreciation and amortization — Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation on point of sale equipment, agent signage, computer hardware and software, office furniture and equipment, along with amortization of leasehold improvements, capitalized software development costs and intangible assets. Depreciation and amortization decreased $1.9 million, or 13 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2010 primarily from lower depreciation expense on point of sale equipment, signs, computer hardware and other equipment as well as amortization of capitalized software, partially offset by an increase in depreciation of office furniture and equipment. As reflected in the amount discussed above, the increase in the euro exchange rate, net of hedging activities, increased depreciation and amortization $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Income taxes — For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Company had $2.2 million of income tax expense on pre-tax income of $13.0 million, primarily reflecting the reversal of book to tax differences, including a litigation accrual. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company had $0.6 million of income tax expense on pre-tax income of $12.4 million, reflecting benefits recognized on tax positions with respect to part of the net securities losses from 2008 and 2007.

Acquisitions

Acquisition activity is set forth in Note 3 — Acquisitions of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Segment Performance

We measure financial performance by our two reporting segments — Global Funds Transfer and Financial Paper Products. Our reporting segments are primarily organized based on the nature of products and services offered and the type of consumer served. The Global Funds Transfer segment provides global money transfers and bill payment services to consumers through a network of agents and, in select markets, company-operated locations. The Financial Paper Products segment provides money orders to consumers through our retail and financial institution locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, and provides official check services to financial institutions in the United States. Businesses that are not operated within these segments are categorized as “Other,” and primarily relate to discontinued products and businesses. Segment pre-tax operating income and segment operating margin are used to review operating performance and allocate resources.

We manage our investment portfolio on a consolidated level, with no specific investment security assigned to a particular segment. However, investment revenue is allocated to each segment based on the average investable balances generated by that segment’s sale of payment instruments during the period. Net securities gains are not allocated to the segments as the investment portfolio is managed at a consolidated level. Forward foreign exchange contracts are identified with the money transfer product in the Global Funds Transfer segment.

Also excluded from operating income for Global Funds Transfer and Financial Paper Products are interest and other expenses related to our credit agreements, items related to our preferred stock, operating income from businesses categorized as “Other,” certain pension and benefit obligation expenses, director deferred compensation plan expenses, executive severance and related costs, and certain legal and corporate costs not related to the performance of the segments.

Table 5 — Segment Information

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009				Change
Operating income:
Global Funds Transfer		$	27,781			$	36,892			$	(9,111	)
Financial Paper Products			8,903				7,280				1,623
Other			(518	)			(250	)			(268	)
Total segment operating income			36,166				43,922				(7,756	)
Net securities gains			2,392				56				2,336
Interest expense			(24,407	)			(27,040	)			2,633
Other unallocated expenses			(1,104	)			(4,534	)			3,430
Income before income taxes		$	13,047			$	12,404			$	643

Table 6 — Global Funds Transfer Segment

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,								Change
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009				$				%
Money transfer revenue:
Fee and other revenue		$	222,732			$	208,178			$	14,554				7	%
Investment revenue			99				2				97			NM
Total money transfer revenue			222,831				208,180				14,651				7	%
Bill payment revenue:
Fee and other revenue			33,839				36,243				(2,404	)			(7	)%
Investment revenue			24				4				20			NM
Total bill payment revenue			33,863				36,247				(2,384	)			(7	)%
Total Global Funds Transfer revenue:
Fee and other revenue			256,571				244,421				12,150				5	%
Investment revenue			123				6				117			NM
Total Global Funds Transfer revenue			256,694				244,427				12,267				5	%
Commissions expense			121,157				116,241				4,916				4	%
Net revenue		$	135,537			$	128,186			$	7,351				6	%
Operating income		$	27,781			$	36,892			$	(9,111	)			(25	)%
Operating margin			10.8	%			15.1	%

NM = Not meaningful

Total revenue for the Global Funds Transfer segment consists primarily of fees on money transfers and bill payment transactions. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, total revenue increased $12.3 million, or 5 percent, from money transfer fee revenue growth, partially offset by lower bill payment revenue.

Money transfer fee and other revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased $14.6 million, or 7 percent, driven by transaction volume growth and a higher euro exchange rate, partially offset by lower average fees per transaction. Transaction volume increased 6 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2010, generating incremental revenue of $12.6 million, while the higher euro exchange rate increased revenue by $2.4 million, net of hedging activities. Average fees per transaction declined from lower average principal per transaction and corridor mix, reducing revenue by $0.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2010.

Transactions and the related fee revenue are viewed as originating from the send side of a transaction. Accordingly, discussion of transactions by geographic location refers to the region originating a transaction. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, money transfer transactions originating outside of the United States increased 12 percent from the prior year. Excluding Spain, transactions originating outside of the United States increased 16 percent from the prior year. Transactions originating in the United States, excluding transactions sent to Mexico, increased 6 percent due primarily to intra-United States remittances. Transactions sent to Mexico declined 11 percent, reflecting the impact of the United States recession on our consumers. Mexico represented approximately 9 percent of our total transactions in the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to 11 percent in 2009.

The money transfer agent base expanded 10 percent to approximately 198,000 locations in 2010, primarily due to expansion in international markets. At March 31, 2010, the Americas (defined as United States, Canada, Mexico and Latin America (including the Caribbean)) had 68,000 locations, with 39,500 locations in North America and 28,500 locations in Latin America (including 12,900 locations in Mexico). At March 31, 2010, EMEAAP (defined as Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific region) had 130,000 locations, with 39,900 locations in Western Europe, 29,200 locations in the Indian subcontinent, 26,100 locations in Eastern Europe, 21,300 locations in Asia Pacific, 9,200 locations in Africa and 4,300 locations in the Middle East.

Bill payment revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased $2.4 million, or 7 percent, from 2009 from industry mix and a 3 percent decrease in transaction volume. Industry mix reduced revenue by $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010 as compared to 2009. Lower bill payment volumes reduced revenue by $0.2 million, reflecting the impact of economic conditions on our bill payment customers.

Commissions expense consists primarily of fees paid to our third-party agents for money transfer and bill payment services, including the amortization of capitalized agent signing bonuses. For the three months ended March 31, 2010, Global Funds Transfer commissions expense increased $4.9 million, or 4 percent, primarily from money transfer volume growth and the higher euro exchange rate, partially offset by lower signing bonus amortization and lower average commission rates. Incremental fee commissions of $6.3 million from money transfer transaction volume growth and $1.6 million from the higher euro exchange rate, net of hedging activities, was partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease from lower average money transfer commission rates. Signing bonus amortization decreased $1.2 million as certain historical signing bonuses were fully amortized or written off in 2009. Bill payment fee commissions expense decreased $1.0 million from lower transaction volumes, partially offset by a $0.3 million increase from higher average rates.

The operating margin of 10.8 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased from 15.1 percent in 2009, primarily due to higher stock option expense, litigation fees, marketing costs associated with agent location growth and increased licensing fees.

Table 7 — Financial Paper Products Segment

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,								Change
(Amounts in thousands)		2010				2009				$				%
Money order revenue:
Fee and other revenue		$	16,847			$	15,849				998				6	%
Investment revenue			1,057				1,908				(851	)			(45	)%
Total money order revenue			17,904				17,757				147				1	%
Official check revenue:
Fee and other revenue			6,491				4,299				2,192				51	%
Investment revenue			4,008				8,555				(4,547	)			(53	)%
Total official check and payment processing revenue			10,499				12,854				(2,355	)			(18	)%
Total Financial Paper Products revenue:
Fee and other revenue			23,338				20,148				3,190				16	%
Investment revenue			5,065				10,463				(5,398	)			(52	)%
Total Financial Paper Products revenue			28,403				30,611				(2,208	)			(7	)%
Commissions expense			1,106				2,090				(984	)			(47	)%
Net revenue		$	27,297			$	28,521			$	(1,224	)			(4	)%
Operating income		$	8,903			$	7,280			$	1,623				22	%
Operating margin			31.3	%			23.8	%