Aimia, AirAsia and Think Big Digital Form Partnership to Grow the AirAsia BIG Loyalty Program

Global Loyalty Leader joins with Asia's Fastest Growing Low Cost Airline and Think Big Digital Sdn Bhd to Grow World Class Loyalty Program in Asia

MONTREAL, CANADA and KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Jan. 29, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Aimia Inc. (TSX: AIM) ("Aimia"), a global leader in loyalty management headquartered in Canada, AirAsia Berhad ("AirAsia"), Asia's fastest growing and largest low-cost airline, and Think Big Digital ("Think Big") Sdn Bhd, today announced the signing of an agreement for Aimia's acquisition of a minority stake in Think Big, the owner and operator of BIG - AirAsia and Tune Group's loyalty program.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140129/MO976)

Aimia will initially invest approximately C$17 million with up to an additional C$7 million to be invested if certain milestones are achieved by December 31, 2015.

The partnership combines AirAsia's unrivaled success in the Asian market, which has seen it grow from just two aircraft to more than 160 in 12 years, Tune Group's portfolio of successful companies including hotels, pre-paid Visa cards, insurance and music companies - and Aimia's unmatched expertise in the design and management of travel-based loyalty programs, to provide BIG members and partners with a loyalty proposition that is truly rewarding.

"The partnership between AirAsia, Think Big Digital and Aimia is yet another way that AirAsia and Tune Group are innovating and driving change in the Asian airline market - all to the benefit of our members, guests and investors," said Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia and co-founder of Tune Group. "With its experience running the world's largest standalone frequent flyer programs, the Aimia team has unique and invaluable insight. We are thrilled to be working together to leverage that knowledge as we continue to grow the AirAsia BIG loyalty program."

"The AirAsia BIG loyalty program is a great opportunity to export Aimia's coalition business model and to help our partners create deep and lasting relationships with their customers," said Rupert Duchesne, Aimia's Group Chief Executive. "Through this partnership with AirAsia and Tune Group, we look forward to sharing our experience with the BIG program, while also growing our presence in the high-potential Asian loyalty market."

AirAsia BIG loyalty program spans across Southeast Asia, a growing market with a population of 634 million. The region is ranked fourth globally in airline market size.

The AirAsia BIG loyalty program continues to benefit from the growing customer base of both AirAsia and Tune Group. It has already attracted a broad coalition of partners ranging from credit card companies, retail stores, petrol stations, and insurance and telecom firms, in addition to the AirAsia and Tune Group family partners.

"With AirAsia's customer base of over 43 million guests a year, the potential of BIG to deliver deeper, more meaningful relationships to a broad membership base is significant," said Alice Goh, CEO AirAsia BIG loyalty program. "We believe that this potential extends beyond flight revenues and we look forward to working with all BIG partners to build a cutting-edge program."

"Asia represents a key region for Aimia as we expand our presence globally, and we believe the partnership between ourselves, AirAsia and Tune Group provides a fantastic platform to further demonstrate our unique capabilities in the loyalty industry," added Marc Allsop, Aimia's Senior Vice President of Global Business Development. "This partnership brings three innovative, forward-thinking brands together for the long-term benefit of our customers."

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements are included in this news release. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "predict", "project", "will", "would", and "should" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Such statements may involve but are not limited to comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions.

Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are based on assumptions and are subject to important risks and uncertainties. Any forecasts, predictions or forward-looking statements cannot be relied upon due to, among other things, changing external events and general uncertainties of the business and its corporate structure. Results indicated in forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results for a number of reasons, including without limitation, dependency on top accumulation partners and clients, changes to the Aeroplan Program, conflicts of interest, greater than expected redemptions for rewards, regulatory matters, retail market/economic conditions, industry competition, Air Canada liquidity issues, Air Canada or travel industry disruptions, airline industry changes and increased airline costs, supply and capacity costs, unfunded future redemption costs, failure to safeguard databases and consumer privacy, changes to coalition loyalty programs, seasonal nature of the business, other factors and prior performance, foreign operations, legal proceedings, reliance on key personnel, labour relations, pension liability, technological disruptions and inability to use third party software, failure to protect intellectual property rights, interest rate and currency fluctuations, leverage and restrictive covenants in current and future indebtedness, uncertainty of dividend payments, managing growth, credit ratings, as well as the other factors identified in this news release and throughout Aimia's public disclosure record on file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Aimia's expectations as of January 29, 2014, and are subject to change after such date. However, Aimia disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations.

About Aimia
Aimia Inc. ("Aimia" or the "Corporation") is a global leader in loyalty management. Employing more than 4,000 people in over 20 countries worldwide, Aimia offers clients, partners and members proven expertise in launching and managing coalition loyalty programs, delivering proprietary loyalty services, creating value through loyalty analytics and driving innovation in the emerging digital, mobile and social communications spaces.

Aimia owns and operates Aeroplan, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, Nectar, the United Kingdom's largest coalition loyalty program, Nectar Italia and Smart Button a leading provider of SaaS loyalty solutions. In addition, Aimia owns stakes in Air Miles Middle East, Mexico's leading coalition loyalty program Club Premier, Brazil's Prismah Fidelidade, China Rewards - the first coalition loyalty program in China that enables members to earn and redeem a common currency, and i2c, a joint venture with Sainsbury's offering insight and data analytics services in the UK to retailers and suppliers. Aimia also holds a minority position in Cardlytics, a US-based private company operating in card-linked marketing for electronic banking. Aimia is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: AIM). For more information, visit us at www.aimia.com.

About The AirAsia Group

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 121 destinations. Within 12 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 220 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 160. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries as well as China, India and Australia. AirAsia was named the World's Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for five consecutive years from 2009 - 2013.

About Think Big Digital
Think Big Digital Sdn. Bhd., is a joint venture between AirAsia and Tune Money and operates the Air Asia BIG Loyalty Programme. Air Asia BIG is the global points currency serving AirAsia and the Tune Group. Under the programme, members earn BIG points from AirAsia, Tune Talk, Tune Hotels, and many other partners including Budget, Avis, Starhub, DTAC, Petronas, and major banks such as DBS, Citibank, CIMB, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank Mandiri, BRI, Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank.In conjunction with Tune Money, Think Big Digital provides the loyalty program for the BIG Visa Prepaid Card, co-branded and affinity payment products, giving cardholders the opportunity to earn Points and redeem for AirAsia flights and many other specialty merchandise and hotel rewards.

SOURCE: AIMIA

Media Contacts

Krista Pawley
Vice President Global Communications, Aimia
[phone]

Jenny Wakana

Branding and Communications,
AirAsia
 

603 8660 4333

Investor Contact:
Karen Keyes
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Aimia
[phone]

Benyamin Ismail
Investor Relations, AirAsia
603 8775 4499