2001 Jun 07
AEON Stores (Hong Kong)

AEON CREDIT SERVICE AND JUSCO LAUNCH THE NEW AEON JUSCO AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD

Co-branded Credit Card Offers Distinctive Shopping and Travel Benefits

(Hong Kong, May 28, 2001) AEON Credit Service (Asia) Company Limited. ("AEON") (Stock code: 0900) and JUSCO Stores (Hong Kong) Co., Limited. ("JUSCO") (Stock code:0984) today announced that they will be launching a new co-branded card, the AEON JUSCO American Express Card ("the Card"). The co-branded credit card will be accepted on the American Express global merchant network.

The new AEON JUSCO American Express Card, which will be issued and serviced by AEON, targets young and aspiring consumers, providing them with a broad spectrum of value added shopping and travel privileges to meet their unique lifestyle needs. The co-branded card offers unique reward features that bring substantial cash savings to Cardmembers whenever they spend with the Card. In addition, Cardmembers enjoy a host of hassle-free travel benefits, including, among others, access to travel assistance at over 1,700 American Express Travel Service Offices in over 130 countries, special leisure travel offers and access to AEON and American Express ATM networks worldwide.

Mr. Kazuhide Kamitani, Managing Director, AEON Credit Service (Asia) Company Limited. said, "AEON is well-known in the market for its ongoing product and service innovation. The AEON JUSCO American Express Card can best meet the needs of JUSCO customers, who pursue unique and quality goods & services, by providing them maximum financial, shopping and travel privileges. It is expected that 100,000 Cardmembers will be recruited in the first year following the launch. The new Card also marks an expansion of the existing partnership relationship between AEON and American Express, formed in late 2000 when we launched the AEON American Express Card."

Mr. Barry Rodrigues, Vice President & Head of American Express Global Network Services, Asia-Pacific/Australia said, "Through the alliance between AEON, JUSCO and American Express, Hong Kong consumers can benefit from the unique strengths of the companies - the innovative card services of AEON, high quality shopping services from JUSCO and the global strength of American Express. With American Express' worldwide travel and ATM network, Cardmembers of the new co-branded card can be assured of the best protection and support when they are abroad."

Mr. Sozaburo Yamazaki, Managing Director of JUSCO Stores (Hong Kong) Co., Limited said, "JUSCO is committed to providing customers with greater shopping convenience and flexibility. The AEON JUSCO American Express Card is a new benefit for customers which is specially designed to combine shopping, travel and reward features. We hope to create a solid and loyal customer base by providing ultra shopping convenience and a rewarding shopping experience to our valued customers."

The AEON JUSCO American Express Card

Cardmembers of the new AEON JUSCO American Express Card can enjoy a wide range of benefits and services specifically designed to meet their everyday spending and travel needs.

Shopping Privileges
The Card offers year round shopping benefits, especially in JUSCO stores in Hong Kong. Cardmembers enjoy special discounts of 5% on most merchandise items on every 2nd and 20th of each month (JUSCO Thanksgiving Days) and privilege discounts on the Private Sale exclusive for JUSCO cardholders. An interest-free installment plan is also available with participating merchants in JUSCO Stores in Hong Kong. The AEON JUSCO American Express Card offers a tiered cash rebate of up to 2% of Cardmembers' monthly spending with the Card in JUSCO stores. In addition, users can maximize savings by enrolling for an optional J CARD from JUSCO to enjoy double shopping benefits with total rebate up to 4% of their monthly spending with the Card in JUSCO stores.

Travel Benefits
The AEON JUSCO American Express Card offers a host of travel benefits to provide Cardmembers with the greatest peace of mind and security, such as:

　･travel services at over 1,700 American Express travel service locations around the world;
　･free global Emergency Assistance Services;
　･free travel accident insurance of up to US$100,000, emergency card replacement and emergency cash access at any of the more than 500,000 American Express ATMs worldwide; and
　･competitive leisure travel packages from Farrington American Express Travel.

Financial Services
The Card offers great flexibility for Cardmembers to better manage their finances. There is no handling fee for all cash advances at AEON's branches and ATM network. Cardmembers also enjoy:

　･an interest-free installment plan available with participating merchants in JUSCO stores in Hong Kong;
　･an annual fee of HK$20 only; and
　･easy access to cash at all AEON branches and the AEON ATM network in Hong Kong and American Express' worldwide ATM network.

Card applications will commence in mid June. It will be supported by a large-scale in-store marketing campaign covering all JUSCO stores in Hong Kong. Successful applicants of the AEON JUSCO American Express Card will receive a unique welcome gift while stocks last.

<About AEON>
AEON is a member of the AEON Group and a subsidiary of AEON Credit Service Co., Ltd., a company listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Company's history in Hong Kong began in November 1987, when AEON Group set up its branch office in the territory. AEON is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Its core business is credit card operations, which accounted for 88% of its total turnover for the year ended February 20th, 2001. Apart from the issuance of credit cards, AEON also provides a range of other consumer credit finance services, including the provision of vehicle financing, hire purchase financing for household merchandise and other consumer products, and personal loan financing.

<About JUSCO>
JUSCO established its first flagship store in Hong Kong in 1987 and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 1994. JUSCO introduced the latest General Merchandising Stores (GMSs) from Japan to Hong Kong and currently operates eight GMSs in densely populated residential districts in Hong Kong and two GMSs in Guangzhou, the PRC. Being one of the largest GMSs in Hong Kong, JUSCO provides value-for-money merchandise to customers, ranging from fashion, food, catering and household to electrical appliance items.

<About American Express>
Founded in 1850, the American Express Company is a global travel, financial and network services provider. The company established Global Network Services ("GNS") in 1997 to form strategic alliances with banks and financial services institutions around the world to issue cards on American Express' global merchant network. To date, GNS has built over 70 partnership arrangements in more than 70 countries. At the same time, American Express continues to issue and grow its proprietary American Express Cards in local markets. In Hong Kong, American Express announced its first partnership arrangement with AEON Credit Service (Asia) Company Limited in November 2000 when it launched the AEON American Express Card.

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About AEON Stores
AEON Stores was established in Hong Kong in 1985 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1994. The Group is mainly engaged in the operation of general retail businesses (General Merchandise Stores and Independent Supermarkets). Currently, it operates 10 GMS, 2 independent supermarkets, 31 independent Living PLAZA by AEON, 31 independent Daiso Japan, 4 Mono Mono, 4 KOMEDA'S Coffee and 1 JELYCO DO By KOMEDA'S Coffee in densely populated districts in Hong Kong. It also operates 21 GMS and 17 independent supermarkets in Guangdong Province, the PRC.

For more information：
AEON Stores (Hong Kong) Co., Limited
Corporate Communication Department
Tel.：（852）2165 0777
Email：aeonpr@aeonstores.com.hk