UNITED STATES
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
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): | September 21, 2006 |
Alliance Data Systems Corporation
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-15749 | 31-1429215 |
_____________________ (State or other jurisdiction |
_____________ (Commission |
______________ (I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
17655 Waterview Parkway, Dallas, Texas | 75252 | |
_________________________________ (Address of principal executive offices) |
___________ (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: | (972) 348-5100 |
Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 21, 2006, Alliance Data Systems Corporation issued a press release announcing that it has reached an agreement to acquire CPC Associates, Inc. A copy of this press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
99.1 Press release dated September 21, 2006 announcing an agreement to acquire CPC Associates, Inc.
The information contained in this report (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Alliance Data Systems Corporation | ||||
September 21, 2006 | By: |
Edward J. Heffernan
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Name: Edward J. Heffernan | ||||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. | Description | |
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99.1
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Press release dated September 21, 2006 announcing an agreement to acquire CPC Associates, Inc. |
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Alliance Data
Ed Heffernan
Analysts/Investors
972.348.5191
Ed.Heffernan@alliancedata.com
Shelley Whiddon Media
972.348.4310
Shelley.Whiddon@alliancedata.com
ALLIANCE DATAS EPSILON TO ACQUIRE CPC ASSOCIATES, INC., A LEADING PROVIDER OF DATA PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES
Acquisition Will Further Expand Epsilons Marketing Services Offering and Client Base by Adding New
Data Capabilities and Services.
DALLAS, Texas, Sept. 21, 2006 Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of transaction services, credit services and marketing services, today announced that its Epsilon unit has agreed to acquire CPC Associates, Inc. (CPC), a premier provider of data products used to increase effectiveness of direct-response marketing programs for a variety of business sectors. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006. Alliance Data expects the acquisition will be slightly accretive to cash EPS and neutral to GAAP EPS in 2007, with accretion accelerating thereafter. Total consideration is expected to be approximately $70 million in cash, representing a multiple roughly equal to Alliance Datas current multiple of EBITDA. CPC has annual double-digit organic growth with expected margins well exceeding Alliance Datas current levels. Employees of CPC will be integrated into Epsilon.
John Scullion, president of Alliance Datas Loyalty and Marketing Services, said the CPC acquisition is further evidence of Alliance Datas continued commitment toward becoming the premier provider of integrated loyalty and marketing solutions across multiple business sectors.
Todays announcement is reflective of our ongoing strategic focus to grow and expand our U.S. Loyalty and Marketing Services business. Alliance Data will continue to seek opportunities to further enhance its offering in this area so that we can provide our current and future clients with solutions that maximize marketing and loyalty efforts across all customer touch points.
Founded in 1972 and based in Horsham, Penn., CPC is a leading provider of highly deliverable and data-rich consumer and business data. CPCs data products and marketing solutions are used by leading direct-response marketers (such as AARP and Lord & Taylor), marketing services/data providers (ParadyszMatera and ALC), and franchises/small businesses (CarQuest, Lawn Doctor, Jiffy Lube, Molly Maid). Epsilon itself is also a client. Clients utilize the data to create direct customer acquisition/retention programs or to work in conjunction with marketing and database providers such as Epsilon to develop fully integrated acquisition, retention and loyalty programs.
One of CPCs most successful products and key market differentiators is its new mover data offering. CPC collects new mover data from more than 400 direct data sources such as publishers, utility companies, and deed registries, and maintains more than 11 years of historical data to produce one of the most accurate and current new mover files today to power lifestage marketing and database hygiene efforts. According to a U.S. Postal Service article of Dec.1, 2005, the average consumer spends $7,100 in relocation-related goods in the weeks following a move, representing significant marketing opportunities for clients that utilize CPCs new mover data.
Epsilons Evolution
Epsilons offering is one of the most complete marketing, database and loyalty solutions available
in the industry. Its fully comprehensive solution encompasses (1) strategic consulting and
creative expertise to design programs, (2) external data products to supplement client data, (3)
technical expertise to build the necessary infrastructure and databases, (4) sophisticated
analytics to sort the data and provide insights into the highest yielding types of programs, and
(5) delivery mechanisms that can target down to the individual consumer level.
Previously, Epsilon had the creative expertise, technical expertise and sophisticated analytics. With the recent additions of permission-based email providers Bigfoot Interactive (now Epsilon Interactive) and DoubleClick Email Solutions (now integrated into Epsilon Interactive), Epsilon gained the key delivery mechanisms for its clients multi-channel programs. Today, with CPC bringing key data products to the mix, Epsilon has effectively brought the above five core services under one banner.
CPC has built a strong industry reputation and client base for its data, data management, analytics and exceptional client services, said Michael Iaccarino, president of Epsilon. The addition of CPC significantly enhances our ability to help leading brands optimize their customer relationships and grow the success of their multi-channel marketing efforts by leveraging keener customer insight. We also expand our impressive client roster in the financial services, retail and insurance industries, and we are excited to add CPCs team of data experts to our growing Epsilon business.
CPC was represented by Petsky Prunier LLC, a leading investment bank providing merger and acquisition advisory services to companies of the marketing sector, including direct marketing, marketing technology and marketing data.
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 Americas
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 8,000 associates
at more than 40 locations worldwide. For more information about the company, visit its web site,
www.AllianceData.com.
About Epsilon
Epsilon is a leading provider of multi-channel marketing services, technologies and database
solutions. Through its combination of client-centric marketing solutions, Epsilon helps leading
companies understand, measure, manage and optimize their customer relationships. The organizations
end-to-end suite of integrated services includes marketing strategy, creative, data, technology,
analytics and distribution services to produce multi-channel marketing programs that generate
measurable results throughout the customer lifecycle.
In September 2005 Epsilon acquired Bigfoot Interactive (now Epsilon Interactive), the leading provider of strategic, ROI-focused email communications solutions and marketing automation technologies. Epsilon Interactive now serves as Epsilons key offering in the interactive marketing and communications space. Founded in 1969, Epsilon is an Alliance Data company.
For more information see www.epsilon.com.
Alliance Data Systems 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 managements 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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