Dec 17 (Reuters) - Mastercard ( MA ) said on Tuesday that its board has approved a new

share repurchase program, authorizing the company to buy back up to $12 billion of its Class A

shares.

The payments processing behemoth also raised its quarterly dividend to 76 cents per share

over previous dividend of 66 cents.

The company said its new share repurchase program will become effective at the completion of

its previously announced $11 billion program.

As of Dec. 13, the company had about $3.9 billion remaining under the current buyback

program, Mastercard ( MA ) said.

Shares of Mastercard ( MA ) inches up about 0.72% to $534.83 in after-hours trading.