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Visa Joins IMAX Theatre Debut in China, Adopts Panda At the Shanghai Zoo SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2001-- Shanghai Event Screening of new IMAX(R) film "China: The Panda Adventure" Includes Special Visa Offers As part of an ongoing two-year global partnership designed to implement worldwide marketing opportunities for Visa and IMAX Corporation, Visa is hosting a special Shanghai screening of China: The Panda Adventure, presented by Trane Air Conditioning an American Standard Company, at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, China. This event leads off Visa's special "Panda Week" in Shanghai amid other special offers and benefits. The film will open at China's famed Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM) a comprehensive science museum and the largest social and cultural landmark in Shanghai, China. The IMAX theatre will have an informal opening on December 18. "This premier event underscores the power of two global brands, Visa and IMAX(R), to create benefits for all our constituencies," said Tom Shepard, Visa International's executive vice president for International Marketing Partnerships and Sponsorships. "The offers and programs available to our member financial institutions and our cardholders as this film opens around the world, are evidence of the power of strategic marketing on a global basis. Locally, this partnership will generate even more brand awareness in China for Visa, the Bank of China, SSTM and IMAX." "We are very excited to be working with Visa on this new initiative," said Mary Pat Ryan, Executive Vice President Worldwide Marketing IMAX Corporation. "Visa and IMAX are both trusted brands that command immediate international recognition and Visa's special Panda week program is an innovative way to tie the two brands together in a win-win situation." Visa to Adopt a Panda Visa also announced today that it would adopt one of the two Great Pandas at the Shanghai Zoo. Visa will provide all operating expenses for the 11-year old panda, "Chuan Chuan," from November 2001 to October 2002. A plaque that says, "Adopted by Visa International" will be set up at the Panda Gallery of the zoo. In addition, the Shanghai Zoo now will accept Visa cards and offer Visa cardholders a 10% discount. Chuan Chuan, who weighs 90kg and has a very gentle temperament, is one of the most popular stars of the Shanghai Zoo and has fathered five pandas, so far. A number of special offers will be available in Shanghai during the special Panda week event including a merchant usage program being conducted by Visa member, Bank of China, and special offers from Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM). Visa cardholders purchasing the IMAX movie ticket will receive a special opportunity to view the SSTM behind the scenes. At least fifteen merchants will feature special offers and discounts. These include major hotels such as The St. Regis Shanghai, Shanghai International Airport Hotel, and the Equatarial Shanghai. Key Shanghai restaurants will also feature special promotions and include No. 1 Yaohan Co., Shanghai Nine Sea Restaurant, and Shanghai Zeshi Restaurant. Special offers and discounts will also be available at the Den Qi Er Spa, SUNRISE Duty Free, and the Hang Qiao Airport Duty Free shop. A special "Panda Button" has been created for all Visa cardholders who use their Visa cards at these merchants. The IMAX Theatre at SSTM can seat up to 441 people. SSTM which will officially open to the public early in the New Year, focuses on the themes of nature, man and technology. The museum aims to improve the public understanding of science and technology and covers an area of more than 68,000 square meters. There are five major halls including Heaven and Earth, Life, Wisdom, Creativity and the Hall of the Future. The facility also includes a 700 square meter indoor man-made rainforest, which visitors may walk through. About Visa Visa is the world's leading payments brand and the largest payments system worldwide. Visa-branded cards generate almost US$2 trillion in annual volume and are accepted at over 22 million locations around the world. The Visa organization plays a pivotal role in advancing new payment products and technologies to benefit its 21,000 member financial institutions and their cardholders. Visa is a leader in Internet based payments and is pioneering the creation of u-commerce, or universal commerce - the ability to conduct commerce anytime, anywhere, over any type of device. Visa can be found at www.visa.com. About IMAX IMAX Corporation and its subsidiaries comprise one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies, with particular emphasis on film and digital imaging technologies, including giant-screen images, 3D presentations, digital post-production and digital projection. There were more than 225 IMAX(R) theatres operating in 30 countries around the world as of June 30, 2001. IMAX Corporation is a publicly-traded company listed on both the Toronto and Nasdaq stock exchanges. More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com. IMAX(R) is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation. About the Movie Set in the breathtaking splendor of 1936 China, the IMAX(R) feature highlights the world of the magnificent and rare Giant Panda. It was inspired by the autobiography of widowed New York socialite Ruth Harkness, "The Lady and the Panda." Harkness was a fiercely independent woman who took over her late husband's expedition to study the Giant Panda in the mysterious forests of China. It was directed by award-winning documentary and feature filmmaker, Robert M. Young (Dominick and Eugene). Chinese film star, Xia Yu (Shadow Magic and In the Heat of the Sun) and Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly, Duets, and Payback) star in the film. Xia Yu is gaining a worldwide standing as a major movie star following his award winning performance in Yangguang Canlan de Rizi (In the Heat of the Sun) in 1994 at the Venice Film Festival. Maria Bello is a star of both screen and television and is best known to television audiences from her role as the passionate and headstrong pediatrician Dr. Anna Del Amico on the hit series, E.R. The film also features Xander Berkeley, well-known TV and motion picture "bad-guy" who has appeared in more than 30 films in the past decade (A Few Good Men, Air Force One and Terminator 2). The film is presented by Trane Air Conditioning an American Standard Company. CONTACT: Visa International Michael Sherman, 650/432-3923 [email protected] or IMAX Corporation Victoria Dinnick, 905/403-6366 [email protected] KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA BW2532 OCT 29,2001 12:10 PACIFIC 15:10 EASTERN
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