Alliance Data Reports Record Full-Year 2014 Results

DALLAS, Feb. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced results for the year ended December 31, 2014.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

FOURTH QUARTER: Revenue increased 30 percent to $1.5 billion while adjusted EBITDA, net increased 32 percent to $383 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. EPS decreased 52 percent to $0.86 for the fourth quarter of 2014, due to $2.05 in acquisition related charges. Core EPS, which excludes these charges, increased 44 percent to $3.45 for the fourth quarter of 2014. The acquisition related charges are comprised of $7 million in direct transaction costs associated with the Conversant acquisition and a $106 million one-time earn-out charge associated with the BrandLoyalty acquisition.

Diluted shares outstanding were 61.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, down approximately 7 percent compared to the same period in 2013. The issuance of 4.6 million shares on December 10, 2014 in connection with the Conversant acquisition added 1.1 million shares to the diluted share count for the fourth quarter of 2014.

FULL YEAR: Revenue increased 23 percent to $5.3 billion while adjusted EBITDA, net increased 14 percent to $1.4 billion for 2014. EPS increased 6 percent to $7.87, reduced for the acquisition related charges discussed above, while core EPS increased 26 percent to $12.56 for 2014, exceeding guidance of $12.40.

Diluted shares outstanding were 62.4 million for 2014, down approximately 7 percent compared to 2013. The issuance of 4.6 million shares on December 10, 2014 in connection with the Conversant acquisition added a nominal 0.2 million to the diluted share count for 2014.

The Company's effective tax rate was 36.2 percent in 2014, excluding the impact of the costs/charges discussed above, compared to 37.5 percent in 2013. The improvement from 2013 is due to international expansion. The Company expects a similar rate for 2015.

Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer, commented, "2014 was, first and foremost, a year about growth. Our Company added $1 billion to its top-line, representing a 23 percent increase compared to last year. Most notably, our organic growth rate was about 11 percent, or 4 times GDP growth, above our long-term target. In addition, we augmented our growth rate by expanding our international footprint with the addition of BrandLoyalty, and our digital product offering with the addition of Conversant during the year. This balanced growth was not at the expense of profitability, however, as we increased core EPS by 26 percent."

Heffernan continued, "LoyaltyOne had a solid year with revenue and adjusted EBITDA up 53 percent and 36 percent, respectively. On a constant currency basis, the Canadian business produced flat top- and bottom-line results in a somewhat challenging environment. AIR MILES® reward miles issued increased a disappointing 1 percent for 2014. Conversely, our European loyalty business grew its revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net at the fastest clip of any of Alliance Data's businesses. Overall, LoyaltyOne delivered solid organic top-line growth of 9 percent including the pro-forma 2013 results for BrandLoyalty (i.e., prior to our ownership).

"Epsilon had a mixed year with revenue up 10 percent, driven by solid organic revenue growth of 7 percent, while adjusted EBITDA, net increased 7 percent compared to 2013. We incurred significant costs with both the ramp-up of a large client as well as greater than expected human capital costs, which prevented us from achieving the margin expansion we had expected for 2014. Epsilon has shifted to a more labor-intensive business over the last several years and, as such, we are looking to expand our off-shoring initiatives in 2015 in order to moderate the growth rate in our human capital costs.

"Private Label had another banner year with revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net up 18 percent and 16 percent, respectively, compared to 2013. We successfully leveraged a market receptive to our distinct offering by signing a record number of new clients in 2014. On top of that, we were able to increase our tender share - percentage of client sales on our card to total client sales - at existing clients by about 150 basis points. This recent holiday season is a great example of this tender share pickup. While our clients enjoyed total sales gains in the 3 to 4 percent range, sales on our card products at those clients grew approximately 12 percent."  

SEGMENT REVIEW

LoyaltyOne: Revenue increased 62 percent to $398 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 41 percent to $96 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. Unfavorable Canadian translation rates negatively impacted revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net by $16 million and $5 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

AIR MILES reward miles issued increased 11 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013 due to increased promotional activity by several sponsors, while AIR MILES reward miles redeemed decreased 7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013, primarily due to fewer redemptions for air travel. 

Epsilon: Revenue increased 18 percent to $440 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 9 percent to $102 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, aided by the acquisition of Conversant. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 23 percent for the fourth quarter of 2014, down 180 basis points from the prior year primarily due to integration costs associated with the Conversant acquisition.   

Agility Harmony®, the Company's digital messaging platform, continues to ramp-up with email volumes up over 39 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2013. Importantly, Epsilon added to Agility Harmony's and its mobile, social, video and targeted display capabilities with the acquisition of Conversant, Inc. on December 10, 2014.

Private Label Services and Credit: Revenue increased 24 percent to $654 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 43 percent to $212 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.

Operating expenses increased 21 percent to $263 million, while the loan loss provision increased 10 percent to $143 million, benefitting from a decline in principal loss rates. Portfolio funding costs were $35 million for the fourth quarter of 2014, or 1.4 percent of average credit card receivables, 20 basis points better than the fourth quarter of 2013.  

Credit sales increased 31 percent for the fourth quarter of 2014, supported by a 12 percent increase in core cardholder spending. Average credit card receivables increased 30 percent to $10.1 billion compared to the fourth quarter of 2013, while principal loss rates decreased 140 basis points to 3.8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2014.

2015 Guidance: 

• Revenue of $6.5 billion, a 23 percent increase. This is a decrease from $6.625 billion, a 25 percent increase, in the original guidance due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar since the date of that guidance;
• Core EPS of $14.80, an 18 percent increase; and
• Diluted share count between 64 million to 64.7 million.

Despite unfavorable foreign exchange headwinds, the Company expects revenue of approximately $1.54 billion and core EPS of approximately $3.40, increases of 25 percent and 22 percent, respectively, for the first quarter of 2015.

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, February 5, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2014 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 "65772680". The replay will be available at approximately 11:30 A.M. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 5, 2015.

About Alliance Data

Alliance Data^® (NYSE: ADS) and its combined businesses 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 company headquartered in Dallas, Alliance Data and its three businesses employ more than 15,000 associates at more than 100 locations worldwide. Alliance Data was named to Fortune magazine's 2014 list of World's Most Admired Companies.

Alliance Data consists of three businesses: Alliance Data Retail Services, a leading provider of marketing-driven credit solutions; Epsilon^®, a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services; and LoyaltyOne^®, which owns and operates the AIR MILES^® Reward Program, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program. For more information about the company, visit our website, www.alliancedata.com, or follow us on Twitter via @AllianceData.

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