Alliance Data Reports Second Quarter 2015 Results

DALLAS, July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced results for the quarter ended June 30, 2015.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

Revenue increased 19 percent to $1.5 billion while adjusted EBITDA, net increased 18 percent to $393 million for the second quarter of 2015. EPS decreased 4 percent to $2.11, burdened by an 80 percent increase in amortization of purchased intangibles associated with the Conversant acquisition, while core EPS increased 14 percent to $3.32 for the second quarter of 2015. Unfavorable foreign exchange rates reduced revenue and core EPS by approximately $49 million and $0.11, respectively, compared to the second quarter of 2014.

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "2015 continues to be better than anticipated despite the substantial foreign exchange headwinds we are facing. We beat our core EPS guidance for the second quarter, thus are raising our annual guidance for the second time this year by $0.10 to $15.00."

SEGMENT REVIEW

LoyaltyOne^®: Revenue decreased 15 percent to $302 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased 24 percent to $66 million for the second quarter of 2015. On a constant currency basis, revenue was flat, while adjusted EBITDA decreased 13 percent, compared to the second quarter of 2014. Revenue growth was muted by the timing of customer programs at BrandLoyalty, while adjusted EBITDA decreased due to higher marketing expenses for AIR MILES, and incremental fixed expenses for BrandLoyalty associated with its North American expansion efforts.  

AIR MILES reward miles issued increased 19 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014 primarily due to strength in the grocer vertical, while AIR MILES reward miles redeemed increased 10 percent compared to the second quarter of 2014, driven by redemptions related to the instant reward option.  

The infrastructure for BrandLoyalty's North American expansion efforts is largely in place. Canada is active and growing with programs aggregating approximately C$25 million in contract value scheduled for 2015. Importantly, a small pilot program has been confirmed for later this year in the United States, an important first step to gain access to a potentially large market for BrandLoyalty's offerings.   

Epsilon^®: Revenue increased 39 percent to $495 million, and adjusted EBITDA increased 66 percent to $113 million for the second quarter of 2015, aided by the Conversant acquisition. Excluding Conversant, revenue and adjusted EBITDA increased 4 percent and 5 percent, respectively, for the second quarter of 2015, driven by double-digit growth in database/loyalty solutions offset by slight weakness in agency offerings. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 400 basis points to 23 percent for the second quarter of 2015, primarily due to the Conversant acquisition.   

The transition of Conversant's business model from its historic site-based advertising approach to a richer, data-driven, person-based approach is ongoing. During the second quarter, certain commodity-like offerings were deemphasized as part of this transition, leading to a 9 percent decrease in revenue compared to the second quarter of last year on a pro-forma basis. Conversely, the pruning of these lower margin offerings coupled with cost synergies allowed adjusted EBITDA to remain flat compared to the second quarter of last year on a pro-forma basis. Cross-selling efforts to Epsilon and Card Services' clients are going well with over 10 contracts aggregating approximately $50 million in annual contract value.        

Card Services (previously named Private Label Services and Credit): Revenue increased 27 percent to $710 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 20 percent to $251 million for the second quarter of 2015.

Operating expenses increased 21 percent to $267 million, representing 9.8 percent of average receivables compared to 10.8 percent in the second quarter of 2014. The loan loss provision increased 61 percent to $155 million, driven by accelerating growth in average card receivables and a slight increase in principal loss rates. Portfolio funding costs were $36 million for the second quarter of 2015, or 1.3 percent of average credit card receivables, 20 basis points better than the second quarter of 2014.  

Credit sales increased 34 percent to $6 billion for the second quarter of 2015, supported by a 9 percent increase in core cardholder spending. Average credit card receivables increased 33 percent to $10.9 billion compared to the second quarter of 2014, while net principal loss rates for the second quarter of 2015 were 4.5 percent, up 10 basis points from last year. The increase is primarily due to the seasoning of the large 2013 vintage, which consisted mostly of start-up programs.   

FIRST-HALF RESULTS AND GUIDANCE

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "Our first-half performance, in total, was very good, but there are a few areas that need improvement.

"LoyaltyOne's results were strong with revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net increasing 17 percent and 7 percent, respectively, on a constant currency basis. For the AIR MILES^® Reward Miles program, revenue and adjusted EBITDA increased low-single digits on a constant currency basis. Importantly, AIR MILES issued increased a stronger than expected 13 percent compared to last year, exceeding our key goal of mid-single digit issuance growth for 2015. As expected, BrandLoyalty's results were choppy on a quarterly basis, but are tracking nicely towards double-digit growth in both revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net for the year on a constant currency basis. Its North American launch is well under way with three major programs up and running in Canada.

"Epsilon's results were mixed with organic revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth of 5 percent. Revenue growth is a couple of points softer than we expected, but the flow-through to adjusted EBITDA was solid, particularly compared to last year where adjusted EBITDA growth trailed revenue growth. Conversant's first-half results were below our expectations with negative growth rates for both revenue and adjusted EBITDA. The bulk of the revenue decline was self-inflicted, as we quickly moved to prune low-margin, non-core offerings aligning Conversant more closely to our business model. Encouragingly, adjusted EBITDA came in flat for the second quarter, thereby boosting margins 300 basis points and reversing five straight quarters of negative growth. Looking forward in 2015, we should see growth rates turn positive as the pruning process is largely behind us, coupled with a building revenue backlog as we have already signed over ten cross-sell clients, which will generate $50 million in annual run-rate revenues.

"Card Services was again the star with revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net increasing 27 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Tender share gains continue to be a key part of our story, driving double-digit receivables growth for our core clients. When combined with record new client signings over the past three-years, Card Services is posting record credit card receivables growth this year. Importantly, the pipeline for new business remains robust, and we are well on track to sign another $2 billion vintage of card receivables for 2015. Profitability wise, we achieved excellent leveraging during the first-half as our operating expenses dropped from 10.8 percent of average card receivables last year to 9.8 percent of average card receivables this year. This improvement mitigated the gross yield compression from our growing mix of co-brand programs, but adjusted EBITDA, net margins were still down slightly due to the provision build associated with such significant growth."

Heffernan concluded, "Our business model continues to behave as it has over the past many years with most of our businesses showing solid growth, while a few remain "under construction." When rolled together, we have consistently generated solid current year growth while also ensuring we are investing for the future. This year is no exception as we expect double-digit organic revenue growth, total revenue growth of 23 percent and core EPS growth of approximately 20 percent."

Guidance

The Company is raising its core EPS guidance for 2015 to $15.00 from $14.90, a 19 percent increase compared to 2014. The Company is maintaining its revenue guidance of $6.5 billion for 2015.

For the third quarter of 2015, the Company expects revenue of approximately $1.52 billion and core EPS of approximately $3.90, increases of 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively, despite expected foreign exchange headwinds of $56 million to revenue and $11 million to adjusted EBITDA.

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). 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. These metrics are an integral part of the Company's internal reporting to measure the performance of reportable segments and the overall effectiveness of senior management. Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules and on the Company's website. The financial measures presented are consistent with the Company's historical financial reporting practices. Core earnings and core earnings per diluted share 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 23, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's second quarter 2015 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 "75492204". The replay will be available at approximately 11:45 A.M. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, July 23rd.

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 15,000 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^®, the leader in personalized digital marketing. LoyaltyOne^® owns and operates the AIR MILES^® Reward Program, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program, and holds a majority interest in Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers.

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Safe Harbor Statement/Forward Looking Statements

This 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," "continue, " "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "predict," "project," "would," 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 presentation 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, except as required by law.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this presentation regarding Alliance Data Systems Corporation's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. Risk factors may be updated in Item 1A in each of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for each quarterly period subsequent to the Company's most recent Form 10-K.

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SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation

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