MUNICH and SINGAPORE, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- to Process UnionPay Payments

- Wirecard Bank and SISTIC the First Financial Institution and First Merchant to Offer the UnionPay Online Payment Solution

SISTIC, Singapore's leading ticketing services provider, is now making it easier for residents of China to buy tickets to shows, events and concerts in Singapore from the comfort of their home by introducing UnionPay Online Payment (UPOP), in collaboration with China-based UnionPay and Wirecard Bank AG.

Wirecard Bank and SISTIC are the first financial institution and the first merchant to offer this secure online payment option outside of China.

SISTIC will now accept the UnionPay Online Payment solution for all events and shows sold through http://www.sistic.com.sg. This includes the 2011 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX (from June, 20) performances at Singapore's two world-class integrated resorts, as well as all other SISTIC shows and concerts in Singapore.

Mr Kenneth Tan, SISTIC CEO, commented "This is an important and exciting development. Providing the UnionPay Online Payment system for Chinese nationals enables them to buy tickets to Singapore's many shows, events and attractions while still in China. This payment option makes it easier and more attractive for more than one million Chinese tourists yearly to plan their stay and choose from a wide range of events, from Lion King to the Singapore Grand Prix and many others."

According to the Singapore Tourism Board's Fact Sheet: Tourism Performance for Jan-Dec 2010, Singapore's Shopping, Sightseeing & Entertainment and Accommodation tourism sector generated $12.5 billion dollars in tourism receipts in 2010, with Chinese visitors being the second largest group, at just over one million visitors.

Mr. Cai Jianbo, First executive president of China UnionPay says: "Wirecard Bank AG is the first bank to provide UnionPay Online Payments outside of China. We are looking forward to enhancing our co-operation to serve our valued customers."

Dr. Markus Braun, CEO of Wirecard AG emphasizes: "We are excited about UnionPay's new online payment solution and about Wirecard Bank being the first financial institution outside of China to offer this service to its customers. Furthermore we are happy to work with SISTIC as our initial launch partner for this new service."

"I extend my congratulations to SISTIC on its partnership with China UnionPay. The Chinese are avid travellers and increasingly, we are seeing more Free Independent Travellers (FIT) plan their trips with online purchases of airline tickets, hotel accommodation and general sightseeing activities. With this new partnership, thousands of shows, performances and events are now available to them and visitors can essentially now plan and customise their travel itinerary to Singapore without leaving the comfort of their homes." Said Mr Edward Koh, Regional Director of Greater China, Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

SISTIC sells tickets to events, including pop concerts, musicals theatre and family entertainment, and sports through its authorized agents in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

About Wirecard AG:

Wirecard AG is one of the leading international providers of electronic payment and risk management solutions. Worldwide, the Wirecard Group supports over 12,000 companies from various industry segments in their efforts to automate their payment processes and minimize cases of default. Wirecard Bank AG is a Principal Member of Visa, MasterCard and JCB and operates as a credit card acquirer in 69 countries around the world, involving over 100 transaction currencies and 15 payout currencies. Part of the Wirecard Group, Wirecard Bank provides innovative solutions in the fields of corporate banking, prepaid and co-branded cards, along with account products for both business and private customers. Wirecard AG is listed on the Frankfurt Securities Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE0007472060, WDI).

http://www.wirecard.com | http://www.wirecardbank.com | http://www.mywirecard.com

    
    Wirecard Media Contact:

    Wirecard AG
    Iris Stöckl
    Einsteinring 35
    D-85609 Aschheim / Munich
    Germany
    Ph.: +49(0)89-4424-1424
    Fax: +49(0)89-4424-2424
    e-mail: iris.stoeckl@wirecard.com

SOURCE Wirecard AG