SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
December 8, 2005
December 8, 2005
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| DELAWARE (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
001-15749 (Commission File Number) |
31-1429215 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
17655 WATERVIEW PARKWAY
DALLAS, TEXAS 75252
(Address and Zip Code of Principal Executive Offices)
DALLAS, TEXAS 75252
(Address and Zip Code of Principal Executive Offices)
(972) 348-5100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing
obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
| o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act | |
| o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act | |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act | |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act |
ITEM 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure
On December 8, 2005, Alliance Data Systems Corporation issued a press release announcing
long-term agreements with Spiegel Catalog and Newport News to provide co-brand credit card programs
for both Spiegel and Newport News brands. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1.
ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
| EXHIBIT | ||
| NUMBER | DESCRIPTION | |
99.1
|
Press release dated December 8, 2005 announcing long-term agreements with Spiegel Catalog and Newport News. |
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Alliance Data Systems Corporation |
||||
| Date: December 8, 2005 | By: | /s/ Edward J. Heffernan | ||
| Edward J. Heffernan | ||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||
3
EXHIBIT INDEX
| EXHIBIT | ||
| NUMBER | DESCRIPTION | |
99.1
|
Press release dated December 8, 2005 announcing long-term agreements with Spiegel Catalog and Newport News. |
4
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
|
Alliance Data | Spiegel/Newport News | ||
| Ed Heffernan | Sonya Hartland | |||
| Analysts/Investors | Public Relations | |||
| 972.348.5191 | 212.916.8331 | |||
| eheff@alldata.net | sonya_hartland@spiegel.com | |||
| Shelley Whiddon — Media | ||||
| 972.348.4310 | ||||
| swhiddon@alldata.net |
ALLIANCE DATA SIGNS LONG-TERM AGREEMENTS WITH CATALOG
RETAILERS SPIEGEL AND NEWPORT NEWS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED
CO-BRAND CREDIT CARD PROGRAMS
RETAILERS SPIEGEL AND NEWPORT NEWS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED
CO-BRAND CREDIT CARD PROGRAMS
Agreements Mark An Expansion of Existing Relationship; Programs Will Augment Spiegel and Newport
News’ Existing Private Label Credit Card Programs
News’ Existing Private Label Credit Card Programs
DALLAS, Texas, Dec. 8, 2005 — Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of
transaction services, credit services and marketing services, today announced that it has signed
long-term agreements with Spiegel Catalog and Newport News to provide co-brand credit card programs
for both Spiegel and Newport News brands through 2013. The agreements expand the relationship with
Spiegel and Newport News by adding a co-brand solution to the existing private label credit card
programs Alliance Data is providing for each brand’s catalog and online channels. Spiegel is a
leading specialty retailer of women’s fashions and home furnishings, and Newport News also markets
women’s apparel and accessories.
Under terms of the agreements, Alliance Data will provide account acquisition and activation,
receivables funding, credit authorization, card issuance, statement generation, loyalty marketing
services, remittance processing, and customer service functions. The co-brand credit card program
will complement the retailers’ existing private label credit
card programs, providing select customer segments with an alternate card choice. As is consistent
with the private label credit card program, the co-brand offering will be targeted to customers
that meet Alliance Data’s traditional credit quality standards. Additionally, the co-brand credit
card programs offer a points-based rewards program where account holders earn points for every
dollar spent when shopping through Spiegel and Newport News, as well as for purchases made outside
the brands. Those points can be redeemed for merchandise.
Geralynn Madonna, president and chief executive officer of Spiegel and Newport News, said, “Our
private label card programs, provided in partnership with Alliance Data since 2003, have been
proven to drive sales for our retail brands. The addition of co-brand cards will allow us to
further expand our existing card programs, providing select customer groups with another card and
rewards program choice that may be more appealing to them. Alliance Data’s unique customer- and
retailer-driven approach to co-brand, along with their expertise in marketing and customer care,
will help us grow our overall credit card programs — private label and co-brand combined — for
the greatest overall retail sales impact.”
“Spiegel and Newport News are both strong, well respected retail brands, and they understand
the marketing impact and resulting sales growth derived from branded customer credit card
programs,” said Ivan Szeftel, president of Retail Services for Alliance Data. “Co-brand cards are
another opportunity to reach out to a segment of the customer base, and to deepen the level of
engagement with those customers by providing relevant marketing and rewards.”
About Alliance Data
Alliance Data (NYSE:ADS) is a leading provider of transaction services, credit services and
marketing services, managing over 105 million consumer relationships for some of North America’s
most recognizable companies. Alliance Data creates and manages customized solutions that change
consumer behavior and that enable its clients to build stronger, mutually beneficial relationships
with their customers. Headquartered in Dallas, Alliance Data employs approximately 7,500
associates at 35 locations in the United States and Canada. For more information about the company,
visit its web site, www.AllianceDataSystems.com.
About Spiegel
Long before online shopping sites presented endless merchandise to consumers at the click of the
mouse, Spiegel offered consumers a world of products with just the turn of a page. Founded in 1865,
Spiegel has provided catalog concepts to its customers since 1905 and e-commerce since 1995.
Offering the benefits of shopping via a variety of channels, including its trademark “big book”
semiannual catalogs, specialty catalogs, and e-commerce site, www.spiegel.com, Spiegel is the Idea
Resource for dressing and decorating with style providing quality and convenient shopping for its
busy customers. Spiegel, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spiegel Brands, is headquartered in New York,
NY with operations in Hampton, Va.
About Newport News
Newport News combines a youthful, feminine, spirited image with versatility, comfort and
affordability that empowers every woman to express her unique style. For more than 35 years Newport
News has offered the benefits of shopping through its specialty catalogs and with the launch of
www.newport-news.com, its e-commerce site in 1999, the company continues to give women an exciting,
unique and informative shopping experience. Newport News is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spiegel
Brands, Inc.
Alliance Data’s Safe Harbor Statement/Forward Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Such statements may use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “predict,” “project” and similar expressions as they relate to us or our management. When
we make forward-looking statements, we are basing them on our management’s beliefs and assumptions,
using information currently available to us. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in
the forward-looking statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are subject to
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying
assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Any
forward-looking statements contained in this news release reflect our current views with respect to
future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to
our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We have no intention, and
disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future results or otherwise.
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