<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-20-006231.txt : 20200218
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-20-006231.hdr.sgml : 20200218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200218201725
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-20-006231
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODS M TROY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181991

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16111
		FILM NUMBER:		20627204

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE TSYS WAY
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001123360
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				582567903
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3550 LENOX ROAD
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30326
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7708298030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3550 LENOX ROAD
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30326
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-02-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123360</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181991</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOODS M TROY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3550 LENOX ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30326</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1751</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>202.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </transactionDate>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>113.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>582182</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>175852</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>205.29</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>406330</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32098</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>81010</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Grant retained annuity trust 12 2018</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Grant retained annuity trust 4 2018</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1766</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
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        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2019-09-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-02-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2028-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>36149</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73396</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>113.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22916</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2029-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22916</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46528</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the disposition of shares to the company to cover taxes on the vesting of awards.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the weighted average sale price. The range of prices for such transaction is $205.20 to $205.31. Open market sale transactions were made on the same day at different prices through a trade order executed by a broker-dealer. The reporting person has reported on a single line all such transactions that occurred within a one dollar price range. The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the issuer or a shareholder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">79,239 of these options were fully vested and exercisable upon completion of the merger with TSYS. The remaining options are exercisable on February 17, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">36,149 of these options were fully vested and exercisable upon completion of the merger with TSYS. The remaining options are exercisable in equal annual installments on February 16, 2020 and February 16, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">23,148 of these options were fully vested and exercisable at 2/13/2020. The remaining options will become exercisable in equal annual installments on February 13, 2021 and February 13, 2022.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Green, attorney-in-fact for Troy M. Woods</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
