Dépêches

Ipiranga and Walmart Sign Partnership Agreements with TAM for Multiplus Fidelidade

Dépèche transmise le 9 septembre 2009 par PRNewswire

SAO PAULO, September 9 /PRNewswire/ -- TAM , Ipiranga and Walmart, through their customer loyalty and affiliation programs -- Km de Vantagens and Bomclube, respectively -- are the first partners of Multiplus Fidelidade, our loyalty program network initiative.

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Through these partnerships, Multiplus Fidelidade members will have more options for accumulating and redeeming points for products and services that they use every day. Now, in addition to our flights and tour packages with TAM Viagens, customers can accumulate points by purchasing products and services at Ipiranga gas stations and by shopping at stores in the Walmart group, as well as being able to redeem prizes at these partners' sales outlets.

"Km de Vantagens and Bomclube enrich the customer base of Multiplus Fidelidade, which already had more than 6 million participants from TAM Fidelidade," said TAM's president Commander David Barioni Neto. The customer bases will altogether increase the total number of members to nearly 12 million.

Multiplus Fidelidade represents the expansion of the concept of customer loyalty programs in which, through a network of programs, it is possible to accumulate and exchange points for products and services of different companies, from airline tickets to everyday purchases. "Multiplus will be an efficient tool for establishing customer loyalty and retaining customers at favorable costs for the companies that are part of the partnership," said Libano Barroso, TAM's Vice President of Finance, Management and IT.

Ipiranga's Km de Vantagens, a pioneer customer loyalty program in the distribution sector that in five months of operation already has more than 1.5 million members, operates throughout the entire national territory of Brazil through accumulation of "kilometers" on purchases of fuel, lubricants and other products and services sold at gas stations under the brands Ipiranga (in the South and Southeast regions), and Texaco (in the North, Northeast and Central-West regions), at am/pm network and Jetoil stores, and also at the websites Ipirangashop.com and KmdeVantagens.com. Ipiranga is a member of Grupo Ultra, founded more than 70 years ago, has more than 5 thousand gas stations and is the largest privately held Brazilian company in the fuel-distribution business.

"Filling up the gas tank is a recurring purchase for consumers. The Ipiranga network sees some 30 million visits to the pump per month. The customer loyalty program Km de Vantagens allows for an individualized, direct relationship with every customer and strengthens the company's strategy of differentiation, based on a diversified mix of products and services available at our filling stations. Joining the Multiplus Fidelidade program will help us substantially expand benefits for program participants, increasing the likelihood of more expansion and customer retention," said Leocadio Antunes Filho, superintendent of Ipiranga/Grupo Ultra.

Bomclube is the Advantage Club of Walmart Brazil that awards prizes to members through points accumulated on purchases at their stores. Present in all Northeastern states (the Bompreco and HiperBompreco networks) and southern Brazil (BIG, Nacional and Mercadorama), the program, which already has 4.3 million members, is free, with registration available at any one of the network's stores.

"Walmart has plans to expand its Advantage Club to every region of the country. I have no doubt that the partnership with TAM will strengthen the process," says Marcelo Vienna, Commercial Vice President of Walmart Brazil.

In signing the partnership, the three companies -- TAM, Ipiranga and Walmart -- will see a strengthening of their brands, which will be part of the largest partnership coalition network in the market.

Purchases at Ipiranga and Walmart sales outlets are already accumulating points for their programs, which can be exchanged for Multiplus Fidelidade points starting in November. TAM, Ipiranga and Walmart will soon notify their customers about the rules and the exact date for the start of benefits.

CONTACT: Libano Miranda Barroso, TAM Investor Relations, +55-11-5582-9715,fax, +55-11-5582-8149, / Photo: NewsCom:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080221/SPTH002LOGO