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Sydney, 24 August 2007 - MasterCard Worldwide has further strengthened its fashion and luxury platform across Australia and Asia/Pacific with the announcement that it is to hold a major conference for the region in Hong Kong early next month, focusing on the industry.

The conference will be part of the MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong event held from 31 August to 9 September that will see top international fashion designers bring their latest collections to the well-heeled and fashion forward from Hong Kong and the region over the 10 days of runway shows.

The highlight for the high-end fashion and retail industry audience, which will include representatives from Australia, will be the MasterCard Worldwide Asia/Pacific Luxury Conference 2007 on September 4, which will offer perspectives and insights into the rapidly growing luxury market across Asia.

The conference will bring together key luxury industry players, including high-end fashion retailers and distributors, automobile distributors, hoteliers, airline executives and restaurateurs.

MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong, underscores the commitment of MasterCard to the fashion and retail industry, and brings additional value to consumers, customer financial institutions and merchants alike. It provides a strong platform for MasterCard to offer its premium cardholders fashionable lifestyle experiences and a range of other exclusive benefits. From 31 August to 8 October 2007 at the ifc mall, one of Hong Kong's premier shopping destinations located above the Airport Express Hong Kong Station in Central, Australian cardholders can enjoy a series of fashion exhibitions, events and exclusive offers that MasterCard has lined up in conjunction with luxury brands – Ermenegildo Zegna, LOEWE, Salvatore Ferragamo, Anya Hindmarch and Chopard.

"The affluent consumers of Asia and Australia are reshaping markets with their enormous purchasing power and trendsetting lifestyles. This key group of consumers is set to present an enormous business opportunity of more than US$600 billion in discretionary spending," said Natalie Lockwood, group head, Global Marketing, Asia/Pacific, Middle East & Africa, MasterCard Worldwide.

"MasterCard has long recognised the importance of this segment and has been engaging in an ongoing dialogue with premium consumers through our dedicated retail and fashion sponsorships, forums, and card programs. MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong is a powerful event for us to strengthen our outreach to these consumers, as well as share research and insights with our customer financial institutions, merchants and the luxury industry," added Natalie Lockwood.

The Hong Kong runway shows will be the third in a series of shows that MasterCard has supported this year, following the Singapore Fashion Festival in March and the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in May. MasterCard will again sponsor the year's second Rosemount Australian Fashion Week in October.

MasterCard has worked with Westfield Shopping Centres to create the 'what's what' fashion hubs in selected Westfield Centres across Australia. Filled with the latest style tips and hottest season trends, the hubs allow Australian consumers to access fashion stylists and VIP styling events.

A special fashion promotion is also on offer in Australia for a MasterCard cardholder to win a styling session by Westfield's What's What celebrity stylist and $5,000 to spend on the new look. MasterCard cardholders gain an entry every time they use their MasterCard between 1 August and 18 November 2007 after they have registered for entry. Details at www.mastercard.com/au/

Further details of MasterCard Luxury Fashion Week and the designers on show can be found at www.mastercardluxuryweek.com.hk/

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MasterCard has built a strong fashion platform across Australia and the Asia/Pacific, providing a relevant means to enhance its customers' premium portfolios and strategy through an entire spectrum of privileges that help cardholders celebrate and enjoy fashion. This is an extension to its retail leadership in the region and is supported by its vast knowledge and rich insights into Asian consumers. MasterCard is presenter and sponsor of some of the foremost premium fashion events in Asia/Pacific, including the Singapore Fashion Festival, Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, and MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong. To support its regional affiliation with fashion, Denise Keller, the accomplished pan-Asian celebrity model, is the MasterCard fashion ambassador in Asia/Pacific and stars in the current Priceless advertising campaign that is rolling out in the region.

Across Asia/Pacific, MasterCard has a strong and recognized affiliation with retail, being the official card of the Great Singapore Sale, Malaysian Mega Sale and Taipei Great Sale.

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes over 16 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial institution customers and merchants. Through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard Worldwide serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com.

Myriam Thibault, 02 9818 0942, mthibault@ppr.com.au