TRAVELEX and SONY ERICSSON WTA Tour Ink Global spomsorship and player prize money payment deal

World’s leading foreign exchange provider to offer Tour and its players more flexibility in payment of prize money, in addition to other enhanced services


ST. PETERSBURG, Florida –Travelex, the world’s foreign exchange company, and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, the world’s leading global sport for women, announced today the signing of an innovative sponsorship and prize money payment program that will cement the status of Tour players as global citizens on the foreign exchange playing field.

Under the terms of the three year agreement, Travelex will become the exclusive official International Payments Provider of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and will receive advertising and promotional rights, among other benefits. Travelex will also oversee a player payment program under which the Tour and Tour tournaments will use Travelex on an exclusive basis to pay out prize money to players for all Tour events. The Travelex prize money program will enable players to receive their prize money in any currency of their choice, with players receiving favorable treatment on rates and fees by Travelex. Additionally, Tour tournaments will now have the option to pay prize money in local currency. Until today, all tournament prize money has been paid in US Dollars and players have had to handle their own foreign exchange. The Tour itself will also utilize Travelex for all corporate foreign exchange services.

“As a player I am really excited to partner with Travelex,” said Kim Clijsters, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour World No. 2 and reigning US Open champion. “Players are constantly traveling from one country to the next, so the ability to receive prize money in whatever currency we want is fantastic.”

“We are excited to offer these incredibly talented athletes a full breadth of foreign exchange services, including the payment of prize money in the currencies of their choice,” said Larry D. Taylor, CEO Travelex Americas. “As the world’s foreign exchange company, Travelex understands what it’s like to be a truly international player. By offering seamless and efficient payment solutions to the WTA, Travelex is enabling its players to focus on excelling both on and off the court.”

“With players from 75 different nations, and 63 tournaments in 35 countries, Travelex is the perfect partner for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour when it comes to facilitating efficient payment of prize money at minimal cost,” said Larry Scott, CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. “Our players are global road warriors conducting business in a multitude of international currencies week in and week out. The Travelex brand is synonymous with quality, service, security and global reach. This partnership and prize money payment program will take our players and tournaments to the next level of efficacy and professionalism when it comes to international foreign exchange.”

As part of the deal, Travelex will also create a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Preferred Traveler program for all players and tournaments that will enable participating members to buy and sell foreign currency banknotes and travelers cheques, at preferred terms, and participate in the Travelex Partner Advantage Plan for travel protection, among other benefits.

The partnership with Travelex represents the addition of another premium brand to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s growing list of market leading partners. Travelex joins Sony Ericsson, Whirlpool, Dubai Duty Free, Porsche, Wilson, Bed Bath & Beyond, Gatorade, Luxilon, Waterford and Saddlebrook Resort, among other Tour partners.