Release Details

- Revenue Increases 4 Percent to $1.82 Billion

- EPS Increases 99 Percent to $2.47

- Core EPS Increases 4 Percent to $3.84

- Full-Year 2017 Guidance Updated; Initial 2018 Guidance Provided

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "It was a solid second quarter as revenue increased 4 percent to $1.8 billion, consistent with guidance, while core EPS also increased 4 percent to $3.84, ahead of guidance of flat growth.

"For the first time since 2015, Epsilon^® delivered a second-consecutive quarter of solid revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth, while Card Services continued to deliver double-digit revenue growth. Perhaps more noteworthy was Card Services' ability to drive double-digit adjusted EBITDA, net growth, despite having to absorb the costs of higher principal loss rates. Within LoyaltyOne^®, our retooling efforts of the Canadian business model are working as adjusted EBITDA margins returned to our mid-20 percent objective. However, our BrandLoyalty business produced soft results.

"Current trends suggest that both Epsilon and Card Services will produce stronger revenue growth than originally expected, but incremental costs associated with the on-boarding of two new significant clients at Epsilon and moving all collection activities back in-house at Card Services will reduce the flow-through of this incremental revenue to core EPS. As a result, we are only raising top-line guidance for these two segments.

"On the other hand, BrandLoyalty's third quarter is not developing as we originally expected due to timing issues. This leaves us with about a $0.40 hole to 2017 core earnings. Notably, the fourth quarter of 2017 is developing as expected and the first quarter of 2018 is shaping up nicely, so it is essentially a shift of profitability into 2018."

Heffernan continued, "Based on these developments, we are increasing 2017 revenue guidance from $7.7 billion to $7.8 billion, but lowering 2017 core EPS guidance from $18.50 to $18.10, about a 2 percent decrease to reflect the timing issue at BrandLoyalty.  Based upon expectations of flat to lower principal loss rates in 2018 and accelerating trends across the majority of the Company, we are comfortable providing initial 2018 guidance of $8.7 billion in revenue, up 12 percent, and $21.50 in core EPS, up 19 percent, consistent with the 'slingshot' we have discussed all year."

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Revenue increased 4 percent to $1.82 billion and EPS increased 99 percent to $2.47 for the second quarter of 2017. Excluding $1.14 in accretion charges related to the purchase of the remaining 20 percent interest in BrandLoyalty from the second quarter of 2016, EPS increased 4 percent. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased 3 percent to $433 million, while core EPS increased 4 percent to $3.84 for the second quarter of 2017.

SEGMENT REVIEW

LoyaltyOne: Revenue decreased 21 percent to $280 million while adjusted EBITDA decreased 28 percent to $57 million for the second quarter of 2017, largely due to both the breakage estimate reset in the fourth quarter of 2016 for AIR MILES^® and timing of client programs at BrandLoyalty. Further, unfavorable foreign exchange rates reduced revenue and adjusted EBITDA by approximately $11 million and $2 million, respectively.

AIR MILES revenue decreased 12 percent to $179 million for the second quarter of 2017 primarily due to a 13 percent decrease in AIR MILES reward miles redeemed. AIR MILES reward miles issued also decreased 1 percent, primarily due to the timing of promotional activity by certain sponsors. Sponsor and collector engagement has been steadily improving since the negative media attention surrounding the then-planned expiration of AIR MILES reward miles at the end of 2016, and the outlook is for issuance growth in the back-half of 2017.    

BrandLoyalty revenue decreased 32 percent to $101 million for the second quarter of 2017. Quarterly results for BrandLoyalty can be uneven due to the nature of its offering - short-term loyalty solutions generally 12 to 20 weeks in duration - and clients may shift the timing of programs between quarters. This occurred during the quarter as several programs executed in the second quarter of 2016 are scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2017.

Epsilon: Revenue increased 5 percent to $544 million, and adjusted EBITDA increased 4 percent to $107 million for the second quarter of 2017. Cost controls implemented last year held the increase in payroll and benefits expense during the quarter to approximately 1 percent.  

The Automotive, Agency and digital CRM offerings contributed double-digit revenue growth in the second quarter of 2017, a result of both new wins and strength in existing client relationships. Importantly, the Technology Platform offering, which is approximately 25 percent of Epsilon's revenue, stabilized appreciably with revenue down 3 percent for the second quarter of 2017 compared to down 13 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016. The building backlog in this product category through new client wins is expected to support growth in coming quarters.

Card Services: Revenue increased 13 percent to $1.0 billion and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 11 percent to $306 million for the second quarter of 2017.

Gross yields were 25.0 percent for the second quarter of 2017, down approximately 40 basis points from the prior comparable period, due to an increase in the reserve for uncollectible, unpaid finance charges billed. Operating expenses increased 4 percent to $346 million, or 8.6 percent of average receivables, an improvement of 90 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2016. The loan loss provision increased 26 percent to $288 million for the second quarter of 2017, driven by strong growth in average card receivables and higher principal loss rates. Portfolio funding costs were $65 million for the second quarter of 2017, or 1.6 percent of average credit card receivables, up 18 basis points from the second quarter of 2016. 

Credit sales increased 6 percent to $7.5 billion for the second quarter of 2017, bolstered by a modest increase in tender share. Average credit card receivables, excluding amounts reclassified as assets held for sale, increased 17 percent to $15.7 billion compared to the second quarter of 2016, while net principal loss rates for the second quarter of 2017 were 6.2 percent, up 110 basis points from last year, primarily due to lower recovery rates. The delinquency rate was 5.05 percent at June 30, 2017, up 46 basis points from the same time last year, and on track with the forecast provided in 2016.  

2017 Guidance

Annual guidance for revenue is increasing from $7.7 billion to $7.8 billion, a 9 percent increase over 2016. Core EPS is being reduced from $18.50 to $18.10, a 7 percent increase over 2016. 

2018 Initial Guidance

The initial guidance for 2018 is revenue of $8.7 billion, representing a 12 percent growth rate and core EPS of $21.50, representing 19 percent growth over 2017.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our expected operating results, future economic conditions including currency exchange rates, future dividend declarations and the guidance we give with respect to our anticipated financial performance. 

We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K.

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.

Financial Measures

In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company may present financial measures that are non-GAAP measures, such as constant currency financial measures, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, net of funding costs and non-controlling interest, core earnings and core earnings per diluted share (core EPS). Constant currency excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The Company calculates constant currency by converting our current period local currency financial results using the prior period exchange rates. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net as an integral part of internal reporting to measure the performance and operational strength of reportable segments and to evaluate the performance of senior management. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect across all reportable segments of non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of intangible assets, including certain intangible assets that were recognized in business combinations, and the non-cash effect of stock compensation expense. Similarly, core earnings and core EPS eliminate non-cash or non-operating items, including, but not limited to, stock compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, amortization of debt issuance and hedging costs, mark-to-market gains or losses on interest rate derivatives, changes to the expiry policy and regulatory settlements. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of the Company's reported GAAP results, provide useful information to investors regarding the Company's performance and overall results of operations.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules, which are posted as part of this earnings release in both the News and Investors sections on the Company's website (www.alliancedata.com). No reconciliation is provided with respect to forward-looking annual guidance for 2017 or 2018 core EPS as the Company cannot reliably predict all necessary components or their impact to reconcile core EPS to GAAP EPS without unreasonable effort. The events necessitating a non-GAAP adjustment are inherently unpredictable and may have a material impact on the Company's future results.

The financial measures presented are consistent with the Company's historical financial reporting practices. Core earnings and core EPS represent performance measures and are not intended to represent liquidity measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and are not identical to corresponding measures used in other various agreements or public filings.

Conference Call       

Alliance Data will host a conference call on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's second-quarter 2017 results. The conference call will be available via the Internet at www.alliancedata.com. There will be several slides accompanying the webcast. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary software. The recorded webcast will also be available on the Company's website.

If you are unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and enter "77386550". The replay will be available at approximately 11:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, July 20, 2017.

About Alliance Data

Alliance Data^® (NYSE: ADS) is a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. An S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company headquartered in Plano, Texas, Alliance Data consists of three businesses that together employ more than 17,000 associates at approximately 100 locations worldwide.

Alliance Data's card services business is a leading provider of marketing-driven branded credit card programs. Epsilon^® is a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services, and also includes Conversant^®, a leader in personalized digital marketing. LoyaltyOne^® owns and operates the AIR MILES^® Reward Program, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers.

Investor information about Alliance Data's businesses may be found here.

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