AeroplanPlus Alliance Is Concluded

American Express Co., Air Canada and Aeroplan LP concluded, on January 5, 2004, their co-branded card product alliance under which the American Express AeroplanPlus Cards were introduced to the Canadian market. This long-term co-branded card product alliance between American Express (through Amex Bank of Canada), Air Canada and Aeroplan LP arose from the auction process conducted by Ernst & Young, in its capacity as monitor for Air Canada and certain of its affiliates in proceedings under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. Under this co-branded card product partnership, holders of the AeroplanPlus cards are able to earn and collect Aeroplan Miles under the Aeroplan loyalty program. In addition to creating the AeroplanPlus cards, this alliance also involves the participation of Aeroplan and Air Canada in American Express’ proprietary loyalty Membership Rewards Program and a term credit facility made available by Amex Bank of Canada to Air Canada and Aeroplan LP.

Air Canada and Aeroplan LP were represented by in-house counsel David Shapiro, Shaul Ezer, Sylvie Roussel and Melissa Ross; and by Stikeman Elliot LLP, with a team that included Marvin Yontef and Brian Pukier (corporate/M&A), Craig Mitchell (corporate/commercial) and Sean Dunphy (litigation/insolvency).

Amex Bank of Canada was represented by in-house counsel Doug Daniels, Kevin Copper, Anne Segal and Jeff Martel, American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., in New York; Karen Rubin, Amex Bank of Canada, in Toronto; and by Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, with a team that included Jim Janetos (corporate/M&A/banking), Joe Marin (litigation/insolvency), David McCutcheon and Kate Broer (litigation), Susan Paul (competition), Charles Rich (banking/corporate) and Rachael Mendicino (corporate/commercial).