Aeroplan concludes acquisition of Nectar Program Operator, LMG, to create the global leader in loyalty management
MONTREAL, Dec. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - Aeroplan Income Fund (TSX: AER.UN) today
announced the completion of the acquisition of Loyalty Management Group (LMG),
the leading loyalty marketing and customer-driven insight and analysis company
that owns and operates the Nectar loyalty program in the United Kingdom. LMG
operates in three main areas: Nectar, Insight & Communications (I&C) and
Loyalty International.
    "The combination of Aeroplan's and LMG's strengths and expertise create
the leading global player in loyalty management," said Rupert Duchesne,
President and CEO, Aeroplan. "Together, our unparalleled breadth of retail,
financial services, travel, as well as data analytics skills and experience,
means that each program continues to grow domestically, whilst we jointly
pursue successfully international expansion opportunities."
    The two loyalty programs, Nectar and Aeroplan, will continue to be
operated separately. Members' participation in their respective program is
unaffected. Rupert Duchesne will remain President and CEO of Aeroplan. Alex
Moorhead and his executive team will continue the management of LMG. Aeroplan
and LMG will move rapidly to consolidate new international expansion
activities.

    About Aeroplan Income Fund

    Aeroplan Income Fund is an unincorporated, open-ended trust established
under the laws of the Province of Ontario. Aeroplan Income Fund is the owner
of Aeroplan Limited Partnership, Canada's premier loyalty marketing company
and operator of the Aeroplan loyalty program and Loyalty Management Group,
operator of Nectar, the United Kingdom's largest customer reward program.

    About Aeroplan
    --------------

    Aeroplan is dedicated to developing and executing programs designed to
engage the loyalty of its prestigious membership.
    Aeroplan's millions of members earn Aeroplan Miles with its network of
more than 70 world-class partners, representing more than 150 brands in the
financial, retail, and travel sectors. Miles earned may be redeemed for
Aeroplan's industry-leading ClassicFlight Rewards, innovative ClassicPlus
Flight Rewards, and global Star Alliance Flight Rewards, offering travel to
more than 850 destinations worldwide. In 2006 alone, more than 1.4 million
round-trip flight rewards were issued. Aeroplan's roster of non-flight rewards
includes more than 400 exciting specialty, merchandise, and experiential
rewards, as well as hotel and car rental rewards. Members are encouraged to
stay engaged with Aeroplan and avoid mileage expiration due to inactivity by
earning or redeeming Aeroplan Miles at least once in any consecutive
twelve-month period.
    For more information about Aeroplan, please visit www.aeroplan.com.

    About Nectar
    ------------

    Nectar is the United Kingdom's largest customer reward program. Half of
the UK's households participate in the Nectar program and 19 Nectar cards are
swiped by the program's members every second of every day. With 15 partners,
Nectar covers over 40 per cent of an average UK household's expenditure.
Nectar also operates an online loyalty programme, Nectar eStores, which offers
Nectar points from 200 online retailers including Amazon.co.uk and Nectar
Business which offers small businesses additional opportunities to earn Nectar
points on business purchases.
    For more information about Nectar, please visit www.nectar.com.
    %SEDAR: 00022208EF
For further information: Media: Gillian Hewitt, Aeroplan, (416) 352-3706, gillian.hewitt@aeroplan.com; Megan Ratcliffe, LMG, +44 020 7152 4881, m.ratcliffe@loyalty.co.uk; Neil Hedges, LMG, +44 020 7544 3014, neil.hedges@fishburn-hedges.co.uk; Analysts: Trish Moran, Aeroplan/LMG, (416) 352-3728, trish.moran@aeroplan.com