Global Payment Technologies, Inc. (GPT) designs and manufactures currency validation systems, including paper currency validators and related paper currency stackers. GPT sells its products in the United States and numerous international markets. 

http://www.gptworld.com/

Global Payments Reports Third Quarter Earnings 
ATLANTA, March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN) today announced results for its third quarter ended February 29, 2008. For the third quarter, revenue grew 19 percent to $310.6 million compared to $260.4 million in the prior year. Excluding the favorable impact of a non-recurring, non-cash operating tax item (included in sales, general and administrative expenses), diluted earnings per share grew 5 percent to $0.44 compared to $0.42 in the prior year quarter.

For the nine months ended February 29, 2008, revenue grew 19 percent to $930.4 million compared to $781.4 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of current period restructuring charges and the operating tax item described above, diluted earnings per share grew 9 percent to $1.46 from $1.34 in the prior year period.

In accordance with GAAP, the current quarter and year-to-date periods include restructuring charges and the operating tax item described above (see attached reconciliation schedule). These items are reflected in our GAAP diluted earnings per share amounts. For the three and nine months ended February 29, 2008, GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.50 and $1.51, respectively, compared to $0.42 and $1.34, respectively, in the prior year comparable periods
 Comments and Outlook

Chairman, President and CEO, Paul R. Garcia, stated, "We delivered solid financial results for our fiscal third quarter, largely driven by our merchant services segment. Our domestic ISO channel continues to favorably impact our financial results through organic expansion. Our growth also continues to benefit from favorable currency exchange rates in both Canada and the Czech Republic. I am also very pleased with the strong revenue growth from our Asia-Pacific joint venture with HSBC."

"Based on these results and trends, we are providing annual fiscal 2008 revenue guidance of $1,250 million to $1,260 million. This revenue guidance reflects an expected 18 percent to 19 percent growth versus $1,061.5 million in fiscal 2007. In addition, we are providing annual fiscal 2008 diluted earnings per share guidance of $1.95 to $1.97, or 10 percent to 11 percent growth versus $1.77 in fiscal 2007.(1) This includes the impact of stock option expenses as a result of our June 1, 2006 adoption of FAS 123R. Our guidance excludes the impact of future significant acquisitions, and these earnings per share ranges exclude the impact of the operating tax item described above, in addition to restructuring and other charges," said Garcia.

Conference Call

Global Payments will hold a conference call today, March 27, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss financial results and business highlights. The conference call may be accessed by calling 1-888-599-4884 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-913-312-0961 (outside U.S. and Canada) and using a pass code of "GPN" for both numbers, or via Web cast at www.globalpaymentsinc.com. A replay of the call will be available on the Global Payments Web site through April 10, 2008.

(1) Fiscal 2007 diluted earnings per share was $1.75 on a GAAP basis, which includes restructuring and other charges equivalent to $0.02 in diluted earnings per share.