UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
R
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016
     
OR
   
£TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     
 For the transition period from          to          
 
Commission File Number: 001-15749
________________
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware31-1429215
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

7500 Dallas Parkway, Suite 700
Plano, Texas 75024
(Address of principal executive office, including zip code)

(214) 494-3000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
________________


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes R     No  £  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulations S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes R     No  £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.   See definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 
Large accelerated filer R     
Accelerated filer  £     
 
Non-accelerated filer £ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes £     No R

As of October 31, 2015, 61,138,307April 29, 2016, 58,939,771 shares of common stock were outstanding.
 



ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
INDEX
  
Page
Number
Part I:   FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
Item 1.Financial Statements (unaudited) 
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
Item 2.3430
Item 3.4839
Item 4.4839
Part II:   OTHER INFORMATION 
Item 1.4940
Item 1A.4940
Item 2.5242
Item 3.5242
Item 4.5242
Item 5.5242
Item 6.5343
5545

PART I
Item 1.Financial Statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
   
  
September 30,
2015
  
December 31,
2014
 
  (In thousands, except per share amounts) 
ASSETS    
Cash and cash equivalents  
 $977,341  $1,077,152 
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($3,643 and $3,811 at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)  642,681   743,294 
Credit card and loan receivables:        
Credit card receivables – restricted for securitization investors  
  8,589,282   8,312,291 
Other credit card and loan receivables  
  3,210,737   2,931,589 
Total credit card and loan receivables  
  11,800,019   11,243,880 
Allowance for loan loss  
  (671,246)  (570,171)
Credit card and loan receivables, net  
  11,128,773   10,673,709 
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale  
  98,709   125,060 
Deferred tax asset, net  
  237,723   218,872 
Other current assets  
  544,069   456,349 
Redemption settlement assets, restricted  
  468,417   520,340 
Total current assets  
  14,097,713   13,814,776 
Property and equipment, net  
  561,300   559,628 
Deferred tax asset, net  
  841   164 
Cash collateral, restricted  
  4,888   22,511 
Intangible assets, net  
  1,268,627   1,515,994 
Goodwill  
  3,835,419   3,865,484 
Other non-current assets  
  531,886   485,420 
Total assets  
 $20,300,674  $20,263,977 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY        
Accounts payable  
 $382,220  $455,656 
Accrued expenses  
  395,467   457,472 
Contingent consideration  
     326,023 
Deposits  
  2,589,313   2,645,995 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities  
  1,230,000   1,058,750 
Current debt  
  389,146   208,164 
Other current liabilities  
  280,720   306,123 
Deferred revenue  
  703,774   846,370 
Deferred tax liability, net  
  1,719   930 
Total current liabilities  
  5,972,359   6,305,483 
Deferred revenue  
  148,443   166,807 
Deferred tax liability, net  
  642,069   690,175 
Deposits  
  2,633,109   2,127,546 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities  
  3,743,166   4,133,166 
Long-term and other debt  
  4,710,032   4,001,082 
Other liabilities  
  266,764   207,772 
Total liabilities  
  18,115,942   17,632,031 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)        
Redeemable non-controlling interest  
  236,847   235,566 
Stockholders' equity:        
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized, 200,000 shares; issued, 112,072 shares and 111,686 shares at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively  1,121   1,117 
Additional paid-in capital  
  2,956,814   2,905,563 
Treasury stock, at cost, 50,949 shares and 47,874 shares at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively  (3,840,253)  (2,975,795)
Retained earnings  
  2,948,081   2,540,948 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss  
  (117,878)  (75,453)
Total stockholders' equity  
  1,947,885   2,396,380 
Total liabilities and equity  
 $20,300,674  $20,263,977 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
    
  
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
  (In millions, except per share amounts) 
ASSETS      
Cash and cash equivalents 
 $970.0  $1,168.0 
Trade receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts ($7.5 and $4.0 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)  595.8   706.5 
Credit card and loan receivables:        
Credit card receivables – restricted for securitization investors 
  9,509.3   10,592.4 
Other credit card and loan receivables 
  3,980.8   3,207.1 
Total credit card and loan receivables 
  13,490.1   13,799.5 
Allowance for loan loss 
  (727.2)  (741.6)
Credit card and loan receivables, net 
  12,762.9   13,057.9 
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale 
  507.4   95.5 
Deferred tax asset, net 
     288.1 
Inventories, net 
  240.1   228.0 
Other current assets 
  658.8   249.8 
Redemption settlement assets, restricted 
  495.2   456.6 
Total current assets 
  16,230.2   16,250.4 
Property and equipment, net 
  574.8   576.7 
Deferred tax asset, net 
  2.0   0.6 
Intangible assets, net 
  1,187.4   1,203.7 
Goodwill 
  3,847.6   3,814.1 
Other non-current assets 
  557.1   504.4 
Total assets 
 $22,399.1  $22,349.9 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY        
Accounts payable 
 $404.0  $442.4 
Accrued expenses 
  323.3   566.5 
Current portion of deposits 
  3,149.0   2,980.3 
Current portion of non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities  1,389.8   1,049.3 
Current portion of long-term and other debt 
  373.2   369.4 
Other current liabilities 
  290.4   294.5 
Deferred revenue 
  713.4   699.0 
Deferred tax liability, net 
     1.7 
Total current liabilities 
  6,643.1   6,403.1 
Deferred revenue 
  151.5   145.9 
Deferred tax liability, net 
  347.0   631.5 
Deposits 
  2,933.6   2,625.6 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities 
  4,934.3   5,433.4 
Long-term and other debt 
  5,151.0   4,648.0 
Other liabilities 
  305.0   285.0 
Total liabilities 
  20,465.5   20,172.5 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)        
Redeemable non-controlling interest  192.4   167.4 
Stockholders' equity:        
Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized, 200.0 shares; issued, 112.3 shares and 112.1 shares at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively  1.1   1.1 
Additional paid-in capital 
  2,975.7   2,981.0 
Treasury stock, at cost, 53.3 shares and 51.3 shares at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively  (4,341.1)  (3,927.3)
Retained earnings 
  3,233.7   3,092.5 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss 
  (128.2)  (137.3)
Total stockholders' equity 
  1,741.2   2,010.0 
Total liabilities and equity 
 $22,399.1  $22,349.9 
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 2015  2014 2015 2014 
 (In thousands, except per share amounts) 
Revenues       
Transaction  
 $83,126  $87,162 $263,195  $251,390 
Redemption  
  220,922   232,464  747,192   744,658 
Finance charges, net  
  737,918   597,892  2,101,360   1,672,339 
Marketing services  
  498,955   353,525  1,435,520   1,021,813 
Other revenue  
  48,196   48,090  143,625   126,991 
Total revenue  
  1,589,117   1,319,133  4,690,892   3,817,191 
Operating expenses              
Cost of operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)  901,095   767,415  2,787,501   2,323,210 
Provision for loan loss  
  171,678   114,577   461,944   281,811 
General and administrative  
  40,890   39,169  111,992   101,498 
Regulatory settlement  
  64,563     64,563    
Depreciation and other amortization  
  36,450   28,070   104,983   79,555 
Amortization of purchased intangibles  
  86,930   48,261   262,131   145,144 
Total operating expenses  
  1,301,606   997,492  3,793,114   2,931,218 
Operating income  
  287,511   321,641   897,778   885,973 
Interest expense        
Securitization funding costs  
  23,143   22,763   71,509   67,974 
Interest expense on deposits  
  13,719   9,064   37,099   25,526 
Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net  
  45,236   29,637   132,212   98,643 
Total interest expense, net  
  82,098   61,464   240,820   192,143 
Income before income tax  
 $205,413  $260,177 $656,958  $693,830 
Provision for income taxes  
  75,031   95,229  231,705   253,946 
Net income  
 $130,382  $164,948 $425,253  $439,884 
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest  
  1,952   706   2,927   803 
Net income attributable to common stockholders  
 $128,430  $164,242 $422,326  $439,081 
                 
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:                
Basic  
 $2.09  $2.84 $6.55  $7.98 
Diluted  
 $2.08  $2.74 $6.51  $6.98 
                
Weighted average shares:        
Basic  
  61,430   57,742  62,149   54,998 
Diluted  
  61,796   59,908  62,567   62,887 
               
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2016  2015 
  (In millions, except per share amounts) 
Revenues 
Transaction 
 $82.5  $93.3 
Redemption 
  278.2   308.1 
Finance charges, net 
  808.0   679.5 
Marketing services 
  452.0   471.2 
Other revenue 
  55.4   49.1 
Total revenue 
  
1,676.1
   1,601.2 
Operating expenses 
Cost of operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)  1,003.9   990.0 
Provision for loan loss 
  171.9   134.9 
General and administrative 
  27.6   30.2 
Depreciation and other amortization 
  39.8   33.6 
Amortization of purchased intangibles 
  88.6   88.0 
Total operating expenses 
  
1,331.8
   1,276.7 
Operating income 
  344.3   324.5 
Interest expense 
Securitization funding costs 
  30.4   23.8 
Interest expense on deposits 
  17.2   11.7 
Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net 
  51.2   42.5 
Total interest expense, net 
  98.8   78.0 
Income before income tax 
 $245.5  $246.5 
Provision for income taxes 
  86.6   81.7 
Net income 
 $158.9  $164.8 
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest 
  1.8   2.2 
Net income attributable to common stockholders 
 $157.1  $162.6 
  
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share: 
Basic 
 $2.36  $2.34 
Diluted 
 $2.35  $2.32 
  
Weighted average shares: 
Basic 
  59.8   63.1 
Diluted 
  60.2   63.6 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2015  2014  2015  2014 
  (In thousands) 
         
Net income  
 $130,382  $164,948  $425,253  $439,884 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:                
Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale, net of tax expense (benefit) of $700, $(228), $572 and $688 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively  420   (1,991)  (1,034)  (1,435)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax expense (benefit) of $406, $(34), $(510) and $(34) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively  1,415   (104)  (1,466)  (104)
Foreign currency translation adjustments  
  4,633   (37,956)  (39,925)  (34,480)
Other comprehensive income (loss)  
  6,468   (40,051)  (42,425)  (36,019)
Total comprehensive income, net of tax  
 $136,850  $124,897  $382,828  $403,865 
Less: comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest  
  2,363   1,251   3,360   1,514 
Comprehensive income attributable to common
stockholders  
 $134,487  $123,646  $379,468  $402,351 
                 
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2016  2015 
  (In millions) 
  
Net income 
 $158.9  $164.8 
  
Other comprehensive income (loss): 
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale 
  3.0   1.4 
Tax expense 
  (1.1)  (0.5)
Unrealized gain on securities available-for-sale, net of tax 
  1.9   0.9 
  
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges 
  (3.3)  (3.2)
Tax benefit 
  0.9   0.8 
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges, net of tax 
  (2.4)  (2.4)
  
Unrealized loss on net investment hedge 
  (15.6)   
         
Foreign currency translation adjustments 
  25.2   (62.6)
         
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 
  9.1   (64.1)
  
Total comprehensive income, net of tax 
 $168.0  $100.7 
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest 
  1.2   2.7 
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders 
 $166.8  $98.0 
         
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 2015  2014  2016  2015 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: 
Net income
 $425,253  $439,884  $158.9  $164.8 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 
Depreciation and amortization
  367,114   224,699   128.4   121.6 
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
  (62,807)  5,320 
Deferred income taxes
  (2.7)  (1.6)
Provision for loan loss
  461,944   281,811   171.9   134.9 
Non-cash stock compensation ��
  73,343   49,754 
Amortization of discount on debt
  646   12,499 
Non-cash stock compensation
  19.9   27.5 
Amortization of deferred financing costs
  23,489   17,092   8.4   7.8 
Change in deferred revenue
  (34,168)  (41,537)  (32.4)  (28.0)
Change in contingent consideration
  (99,601)   
Change in contingent liability
     (99.6)
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions
  (82,996)  21,786   (236.1)  (98.6)
Originations of credit card and loan receivables held for sale
  (4,569,806)  (3,645,315)  (1,623.0)  (1,373.2)
Sales of credit card and loan receivables held for sale
  4,556,339   3,636,809   1,621.4   1,343.8 
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
  (22,952)  (31,888)
Other
  (4,566)  (2,935)  42.7   (24.7)
Net cash provided by operating activities
  1,031,232   967,979   257.4   174.7 
   
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: 
Change in redemption settlement assets
  (16,374)  (48,906)  (8.0)  (12.6)
Change in cash collateral, restricted
  18,000   (1,582)
Change in restricted cash
  (369)  (316,071)  (312.2)  (0.7)
Change in credit card and loan receivables
  (913,803)  (633,336)  383.9   401.8 
Purchase of credit card portfolios
     (379,616)  (755.3)   
Proceeds from the sale of a credit card portfolio
  26,900    
Payment for acquired businesses, net of cash
  (45,430)  (259,514)
Capital expenditures
  (140,091)  (114,595)  (54.9)  (42.4)
Purchases of other investments
  (38,772)  (109,780)  (3.8)  (7.8)
Maturities/sales of other investments
  7,981   4,565   3.7   2.2 
Other
  (1,011)  (4,000)  (1.1)  (3.2)
Net cash used in investing activities
  (1,102,969)  (1,862,835)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
  (747.7)  337.3 
   
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: 
Borrowings under debt agreements
  2,426,443   1,920,190   1,712.9   1,001.7 
Repayments of borrowings
  (1,528,890)  (1,580,796)  (1,227.2)  (334.4)
Proceeds from convertible note hedge counterparties
     1,519,833 
Settlement of convertible note borrowings
     (1,864,803)
Payment of acquisition-related contingent consideration
  (205,928)        (205.9)
Acquisition of non-controlling interest
  (87,376)     (102.0)  (87.4)
Issuances of deposits
  2,191,885   2,342,836   1,136.9   406.7 
Repayments of deposits
  (1,743,004)  (1,431,392)  (659.5)  (669.8)
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities
  2,570,000   1,495,000   880.0   305.0 
Repayments/maturities of non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities  (2,788,750)  (1,635,000)  (1,040.0)  (700.0)
Payment of deferred financing costs
  (16,396)  (24,470)  (4.3)  (1.4)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation
  22,952   31,888 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
  8,775   10,439 
Purchase of treasury shares
  (856,855)  (217,486)  (408.8)  (542.6)
Other
     (1,476)  (1.6)  16.4 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
  (7,144)  564,763 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  286.4   (811.7)
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
  (20,930)  (4,905)  5.9   (17.1)
Change in cash and cash equivalents
  (99,811)  (334,998)  (198.0)  (316.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
  1,077,152   969,822   1,168.0   1,077.2 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 $977,341  $634,824  $970.0  $760.4 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION: 
Interest paid
 $223,681  $153,839  $84.6  $70.4 
Income taxes paid, net
 $225,913  $147,927  $112.7  $21.7 
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Alliance Data Systems Corporation ("ADSC" or, including its consolidated subsidiaries and variable interest entities ("VIEs"), the "Company"), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014,2015, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2015.25, 2016.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to state fairly the results for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the fiscal year.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (1) the reported amounts of assets; (2) liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements; and (3) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
For purposes of comparability, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation in accordance with GAAP.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. Companies may adopt ASU 2014-09 using a full retrospective approach or report the cumulative effect as of the date of adoption. On July 9, 2015, the FASB voted to defer the effective date by one year to December 15, 2017 for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after that date and permitted early adoption of the standard, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016. The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," which amends the consolidation requirements in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation." ASU 2015-02 makes targeted amendments to the current consolidation guidance for VIEs, which could change consolidation conclusions. ASU 2015-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early application permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to materially impact its consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early application permitted. Under ASU 2015-03, unamortized debt issuance costs of $84.9 million would be reclassified from other non-current assets to a reduction of debt as of September 30, 2015.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, "Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement." ASU 2015-05 provides guidance about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license and is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to materially impact its consolidated financial statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory." ASU 2015-11 changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. ASU 2015-11 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to materially impact its consolidated financial statements.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities." ASU 2016-01 requires that equity investments be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values, entities have the option to either measure these investments at fair value or at cost adjusted for changes in observable prices minus impairment. Additionally, ASU 2016-01 requires entities that elect the fair value option for financial liabilities to recognize changes in fair value related to instrument-specific credit risk in other comprehensive income. Finally, entities must assess valuation allowances for deferred tax assets related to available-for-sale debt securities in combination with their other deferred tax assets. ASU 2016-01 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of ASU 2016-01 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," that replaces existing lease guidance. The new standard is intended to provide enhanced transparency and comparability by requiring lessees to record right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet. The new guidance will continue to classify leases as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of income. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The new standard is required to be applied with a modified retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented with various optional practical expedients. The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting." ASU 2016-09 simplifies certain aspects of share-based transactions, including income taxes consequences, forfeitures, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact that adoption of ASU 2016-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis," which amended the consolidation requirements in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, "Consolidation." ASU 2015-02 makes targeted amendments to the current consolidation guidance for VIEs. ASU 2015-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with retrospective or modified retrospective application allowed. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2016 with modified retrospective application. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Subsequently, in August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, "Imputation of Interest," which adds SEC staff guidance on the presentation of debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, allowing for the deferral and presentation of debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequent amortization of the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company maintained the deferral and presentation of these line-of-credit debt issuance costs as an asset. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with retrospective application required. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2016 with retrospective application. Under ASU 2015-03 and ASU 2015-15, unamortized debt issuance costs of $72.0 million were reclassified from other non-current assets to a reduction of debt as of December 31, 2015 in the consolidated balance sheets.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, "Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement." ASU 2015-05 provides guidance about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license and is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with retrospective or prospective application allowed. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2016 with prospective application. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, "Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." ASU 2015-17 requires that all deferred tax assets and liabilities, along with any related valuation allowance, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with retrospective or prospective application allowed and early adoption permitted. The Company's prospective adoption of this standard resulted in a reduction in current deferred tax assets of $288.1 million, a reduction in current deferred tax liabilities of $1.7 million, an increase in non-current deferred tax assets of $0.2 million and a reduction in non-current deferred tax liabilities of $286.2 million as of January 1, 2016. Prior period amounts were not restated.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
2. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share for the periods indicated:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2015 2014 2015 2014 
    (In thousands, except per share amounts)   
Numerator:
      
Net income attributable to common stockholders  
  $128,430 $164,242 $422,326 $439,081 
Less: accretion of redeemable non-controlling interest  
         15,194    
Net income attributable to common stockholders after accretion of redeemable non-controlling interest  $128,430 $164,242 $407,132 $439,081 
Denominator:
             
Weighted average shares, basic  
   61,430   57,742   62,149   54,998 
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:       
Shares from assumed conversion of convertible senior notes  
            2,816 
Shares from assumed exercise of convertible note warrants  
      1,664      4,561 
Net effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted stock  
   366   502   418   512 
Denominator for diluted calculations  
   61,796   59,908   62,567   62,887 
                 
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:                  
Basic  
  $2.09 $2.84 $6.55 $7.98 
Diluted  
  $2.08 $2.74 $6.51 $6.98 
3. ACQUISITIONS
      Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2016  2015 
 
(In millions, except
per share amounts)
 
Numerator:
     
Net income attributable to common stockholders 
 $157.1  $162.6 
Less: Accretion of redeemable non-controlling interest 
  15.9   15.2 
Net income attributable to common stockholders after accretion of redeemable non-controlling interest 
 $141.2  $147.4 
         
Denominator:        
Weighted average shares, basic 
  59.8   63.1 
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:  
Net effect of dilutive stock options and unvested restricted stock 
  0.4   0.5 
Denominator for diluted calculations 
  60.2   63.6 
         
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:        
Basic 
 $2.36  $2.34 
Diluted 
 $2.35  $2.32 
2014 Acquisitions:
Brand Loyalty Group B.V.
On January 2, 2014, the Company acquired a 60% ownership interest in BrandLoyalty Group B.V. ("BrandLoyalty"), a Netherlands-based, data-driven loyalty marketer. BrandLoyalty designs, organizes, implements and evaluates innovative and tailor-made loyalty programs for food retailers worldwide. The acquisition expands the Company's presence across Europe, Asia and Latin America. The results of BrandLoyalty have been included since the date of acquisition and are reflected in the Company's LoyaltyOne® segment. The initial cash consideration was approximately $259.5 million in addition to the assumption of debt. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
The following table summarizes the final allocation of consideration and the respective fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the BrandLoyalty acquisition as of the date of purchase:
  
As of January 2, 2014
 
   (In thousands) 
Current assets, net of cash acquired                                                                                                                                          
  $246,769 
Deferred tax asset                                                                                                                                          
   3,509 
Property and equipment                                                                                                                                          
   19,719 
Other non-current assets                                                                                                                                          
   3,994 
Intangible assets                                                                                                                                          
   423,832 
Goodwill                                                                                                                                          
   565,015 
Total assets acquired                                                                                                                                      
   1,262,838 
     
Current liabilities                                                                                                                                          
   146,559 
Current portion of long-term debt                                                                                                                                          
   34,180 
Deferred tax liability                                                                                                                                          
   105,512 
Long-term debt (net of current portion)                                                                                                                                          
   126,323 
Other liabilities                                                                                                                                          
   142 
Total liabilities assumed                                                                                                                                      
   412,716 
     
Redeemable non-controlling interest                                                                                                                                      
   341,907 
     
Net assets acquired                                                                                                                                      
  $508,215 
As part of the initial purchase price allocation, the Company recorded a liability for the earn-out provision included in the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement of €181.9 million ($248.7 million as of January 2, 2014). The liability was measured at fair value on the date of purchase and subsequent changes in the fair value of the liability were included in operating expenses in the Company's consolidated statements of income. On February 10, 2015, the Company paid €269.9 million ($305.5 million) to settle the contingent liability.
Conversant, Inc.
On December 10, 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the common stock of Conversant, Inc. ("Conversant"), a digital marketing services company offering unique end-to-end digital marketing solutions that empower clients to more effectively market to their customers across all channels. The results of Conversant® have been included since the date of the acquisition and are reflected in the Company's Epsilon® segment.
The Company paid total consideration of approximately $2.3 billion, with cash consideration of approximately $936.3 million, net of cash acquired and equity consideration of approximately $1.3 billion through the issuance of approximately 4.6 million shares and the exchange of certain restricted stock awards and stock options. The cash and equity consideration paid and issued were determined in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, with the value based on the volume weighted average price per share of the Company's common stock for the consecutive period of 15 trading days ending on the close of trading on the second trading day immediately preceding the closing of the merger. The goodwill recognized is attributable to expected synergies and an assembled workforce. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes.
9

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
In the first quarter of 2015, the Company finalized the purchase price allocation, with no changes from the preliminary purchase price allocation disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The following table summarizes the allocation of the consideration and the respective fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Conversant acquisition as of the date of purchase:
  
As of December 10, 2014
 
  (In thousands) 
Current assets, net of cash acquired                                                                                                                                          
  $180,030 
Deferred tax asset                                                                                                                                          
   11,905 
Property and equipment                                                                                                                                          
   25,555 
Developed technology                                                                                                                                          
   182,500 
Other non-current assets                                                                                                                                          
   1,744 
Intangible assets                                                                                                                                          
   755,600 
Goodwill                                                                                                                                          
   1,650,299 
Total assets acquired                                                                                                                                      
   2,807,633 
     
Current liabilities                                                                                                                                          
   177,585 
Deferred tax liability                                                                                                                                          
   344,081 
Other liabilities                                                                                                                                          
   26,933 
Total liabilities assumed                                                                                                                                      
   548,599 
     
Net assets acquired                                                                                                                                      
  $2,259,034 
The following table presents the Company's unaudited pro forma consolidated revenue and net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014. The unaudited pro forma results include the historical consolidated statements of income of the Company and Conversant, giving effect to the Conversant acquisition and related financing transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2013.
  
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 
  (In thousands, except per share amounts) 
Total revenue  
 $1,457,446  $4,238,797 
Net income  
 $151,921  $411,476 
Net income attributable to common stockholders  
 $151,215  $410,673 
         
Net income attributable to common stockholders per share:        
Basic  
 $2.43  $6.89 
Diluted  
 $2.34  $6.08 
The unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Conversant acquisition had been completed as of the date for which the unaudited pro forma financial information is presented. The unaudited pro forma financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 includes adjustments that are directly related to the acquisition, factually supportable and expected to have a continuing impact. These adjustments include, but are not limited to, amortization related to fair value adjustments to intangible assets and interest expense on acquisition-related debt. The unaudited pro forma financial information forFor the three months ended March 31, 2016 and nine months ended September 30, 2014 exclude $6.6 million2015, a de minimis amount of acquisition costs consisting primarilyrestricted stock units was excluded from each calculation of advisory, legal and other professional fees.
10

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
2015 Acquisition:
Edison International Concept & Agencies B.V. and Max Holding B.V.
On August 31, 2015, BrandLoyalty acquired all ofweighted average dilutive common shares as the stock of Edison International Concept & Agencies B.V. ("Edison") and Max Holding B.V. ("Merison"), two Netherlands-based loyalty marketers, for consideration of approximately $45.4 million, net of $2.2 million of cash and cash equivalents acquired. The acquisition expands BrandLoyalty's short-term loyalty programs into new markets with new brands. Total net assets acquired were $61.4 million, including $6.7 million of intangible assets and $34.7 million of goodwill, with total liabilities assumed of $16.0 million. The goodwill resulting from the acquisition is not deductible for tax purposes. The results of Edison and Merisoneffect would have been included since the date of acquisition and are reflected in the Company's LoyaltyOne segment.anti-dilutive.
4.3. CREDIT CARD AND LOAN RECEIVABLES
The Company's credit card and loan receivables are the only portfolio segment or class of financing receivables. Quantitative information about the components of credit card and loan receivables is presented in the table below:
 
September 30,
2015
  
December 31,
2014
  
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Principal receivables
 $11,297,882  $10,762,498  $12,881.4  $13,196.4 
Billed and accrued finance charges
  480,315   422,838   527.4   537.8 
Other credit card and loan receivables
  21,822   58,544 
Other credit card receivables
  81.3   65.3 
Total credit card and loan receivables
  11,800,019   11,243,880   13,490.1   13,799.5 
Less credit card receivables – restricted for securitization investors  8,589,282   8,312,291   9,509.3   10,592.4 
Other credit card and loan receivables
 $3,210,737  $2,931,589  $3,980.8  $3,207.1 

9

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Allowance for Loan Loss
The Company maintains an allowance for loan loss at a level that is appropriate to absorb probable losses inherent in credit card and loan receivables. The allowance for loan loss covers forecasted uncollectible principal as well as unpaid interest and fees. The allowance for loan loss is evaluated monthly for appropriateness.
In estimating the allowance for principal loan losses, management utilizes a migration analysis of delinquent and current credit card and loan receivables. Migration analysis is a technique used to estimate the likelihood that a credit card or loan receivable will progress through the various stages of delinquency and to charge-off. The allowance is maintained through an adjustment to the provision for loan loss. Charge-offs of principal amounts, net of recoveries are deducted from the allowance. In estimating the allowance for uncollectible unpaid interest and fees, the Company utilizes historical charge-off trends, analyzing actual charge-offs for the prior three months. The allowance is maintained through an adjustment to finance charges, net. In evaluating the allowance for loan loss for both principal and unpaid interest and fees, management also considers factors that may impact loan loss experience, including seasoning loan volume and amounts, seasonality,growth, account collection strategies, economic conditions, bankruptcy filings, policy changes, payment rates and forecasting uncertainties.
The following table presents the Company's allowance for loan loss for the periods indicated:
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
  2016  2015 
  (In millions) 
Balance at beginning of period 
 $741.6  $570.2 
Provision for loan loss 
  171.9   134.9 
Allowance associated with credit card and loan receivables transferred to held for sale  (15.0)   
Change in estimate for uncollectible unpaid interest and fees 
  5.0   1.5 
Recoveries 
  56.9   39.5 
Principal charge-offs 
  (233.2)  (159.4)
Balance at end of period 
 $727.2  $586.7 
Net charge-offs include the principal amount of losses from credit cardholders unwilling or unable to pay their account balances, as well as bankrupt and deceased credit cardholders, less recoveries and exclude charged-off interest, fees and fraud losses. Charged‑off interest and fees reduce finance charges, net while fraud losses are recorded as an expense. Credit card and loan receivables, including unpaid interest and fees, are charged-off at the end of the month during which an account becomes 180 days contractually past due, except in the case of customer bankruptcies or death. Credit card and loan receivables, including unpaid interest and fees, associated with customer bankruptcies or death are charged-off at the end of each month subsequent to 60 days after the receipt of notification of the bankruptcy or death, but in any case, not later than the 180-day contractual time frame.
The Company records the actual charge-offs for unpaid interest and fees as a reduction to finance charges, net. ActualFor the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, actual charge-offs for unpaid interest and fees were $88.9$118.2 million and $70.9$85.4 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $258.2 million and $212.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
11

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
The following table presents the Company's allowance for loan loss for the periods indicated:
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2015  2014  2015  2014 
  (In thousands) 
Balance at beginning of period  
 $623,316  $483,580  $570,171  $503,169 
Provision for loan loss  
  171,678   114,577   461,944   281,811 
Change in estimate for uncollectible unpaid interest and fees  
     1,000   4,500   1,500 
Recoveries  
  48,767   39,074   129,623   115,548 
Principal charge-offs  
  (172,515)  (126,877)  (494,992)  (390,674)
Balance at end of period  
 $671,246  $511,354  $671,246  $511,354 
Delinquencies
A credit card account is contractually delinquent if the Company does not receive the minimum payment by the specified due date on the cardholder's statement. It is the Company's policy to continue to accrue interest and fee income on all credit card accounts beyond 90 days, except in limited circumstances, until the credit card account balance and all related interest and other fees are paid or charged-off, typically at 180 days delinquent. When an account becomes delinquent, a message is printed on the credit cardholder's billing statement requesting payment. After an account becomes 30 days past due, a proprietary collection scoring algorithm automatically scores the risk of the account becoming further delinquent. The collection system then recommends a collection strategy for the past due account based on the collection score and account balance and dictates the contact schedule and collections priority for the account. If the Company is unable to make a collection after exhausting all in-house collection efforts, the Company may engage collection agencies and outside attorneys to continue those efforts.
The following table presents the delinquency trends of the Company's credit card and loan receivables portfolio:
 
September 30,
2015
  
% of
Total
  
December 31,
2014
  
% of
Total
  
March 31,
2016
  
% of
Total
  
December 31,
2015
  
% of
Total
 
   (In thousands, except percentages)       (In millions, except percentages)    
Receivables outstanding – principal
 $11,297,882   100.0% $10,762,498   100.0% $12,881.4   100.0% $13,196.4   100.0%
Principal receivables balances contractually delinquent:                                
31 to 60 days
  175,018   1.5%  157,760   1.4%  174.5   1.4%  178.5   1.4%
61 to 90 days
  113,360   1.0   93,175   0.9   125.5   1.0   124.1   0.9 
91 or more days
  225,553   2.0   182,945   1.7   247.9   1.9   257.0   1.9 
Total
 $513,931   4.5% $433,880   4.0% $547.9   4.3% $559.6   4.2%

10

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Modified Credit Card Receivables
The Company holds certain credit card receivables for which the terms have been modified. The Company's modified credit card receivables include credit card receivables for which temporary hardship concessions have been granted and credit card receivables in permanent workout programs. These modified credit card receivables include concessions consisting primarily of a reduced minimum payment and an interest rate reduction. The temporary programs' concessions remain in place for a period no longer than twelve months, while the permanent programs remain in place through the payoff of the credit card receivables if the credit cardholder complies with the terms of the program. These concessions do not include the forgiveness of unpaid principal, but may involve the reversal of certain unpaid interest or fee assessments. In the case of the temporary programs, at the end of the concession period, credit card receivable terms revert to standard rates. These arrangements are automatically terminated if the customer fails to make payments in accordance with the terms of the program, at which time their account reverts back to its original terms.
12

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
Credit card receivables for which temporary hardship orand permanent concessions have beenwere granted are botheach considered troubled debt restructurings and are collectively evaluated for impairment. Modified credit card receivables are evaluated at their present value with impairment measured as the difference between the credit card receivablesreceivable balance and the discounted present value of cash flows expected to be collected. Consistent with the Company's measurement of impairment of modified credit card receivables on a pooled basis, the discount rate used for credit card receivables is the average current annual percentage rate the Company applies to non-impaired credit card receivables, which approximates what would have been applied to the pool of modified credit card receivables prior to impairment. In assessing the appropriate allowance for loan loss, these modified credit card receivables are included in the general pool of credit card receivables with the allowance determined under the contingent loss model of ASC 450-20, "Loss Contingencies." If the Company applied accounting under ASC 310-40, "Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors," to the modified credit card receivables in these programs, there would not be a material difference in the allowance for loan loss.
The Company had $155.5$181.7 million and $134.9$169.2 million, respectively, as a recorded investment in impaired credit card receivables with an associated allowance for loan loss of $39.1$39.3 million and $35.2$36.7 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014.2015. These modified credit card receivables represented less than 2% of the Company's total credit card receivables as of both September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014.2015.
The average recorded investment in impaired credit card receivables was $149.2$174.8 million and $114.0$134.5 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively, and $141.5 million and $114.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Interest income on these modified credit card receivables is accounted for in the same manner as other accruing credit card receivables. Cash collections on these modified credit card receivables are allocated according to the same payment hierarchy methodology applied to credit card receivables that are not in such programs. The Company recognized $3.8$4.4 million and $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively, and $10.7 million and $9.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in interest income associated with modified credit card receivables during the period that such credit card receivables were impaired.
The following tables provide information on credit card receivables that are considered troubled debt restructurings as described above, which entered into a modification program during the specified periods:
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Pre-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Post-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Pre-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Post-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
  (Dollars in thousands) 
Troubled debt restructurings – credit card receivables 44,955 $48,088 $48,048  120,074 $129,775 $129,661 
                  
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Pre-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Post-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Pre-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Post-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
 (Dollars in thousands) 
Troubled debt restructurings – credit card receivables 36,846 $37,130 $37,100  102,000 $101,837 $101,750 
                   
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Pre-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Post-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Pre-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
Post-modification
Outstanding Balance
 
 (Dollars in millions) 
Troubled debt restructurings – credit card receivables 50,761 $60.6 $60.5  39,014 $42.5 $42.4 
The tables below summarize troubled debt restructurings that have defaulted in the specified periods where the default occurred within 12 months of their modification date:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2015
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2015
 
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Outstanding
Balance
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Outstanding
Balance
 
 (Dollars in thousands) 
Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted – credit card receivables 20,212 $21,436  55,940 $57,995 
             
 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 
 Number of Restructurings Outstanding Balance Number of Restructurings Outstanding Balance 
 (Dollars in millions) 
Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted – credit card receivables 23,693 $25.4  18,393 $18.3 
             

1311

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)

 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2014
 
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Outstanding
Balance
 
Number of
Restructurings
 
Outstanding
Balance
 
 (Dollars in thousands) 
Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted – credit card receivables 14,047 $14,037  44,545 $44,009 
             
Age of Credit Card and Loan ReceivablesReceivable Accounts
The following tables set forth, as of September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, the number of active credit card and loan receivablesreceivable accounts with balances and the related principal balances outstanding, based upon the age of the active credit card and loan receivablesreceivable accounts from origination:
 September 30, 2015  March 31, 2016 
Age of Accounts Since Origination 
Number of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Percentage of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Number of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Percentage of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
 
 (In thousands, except percentages)  (In millions, except percentages) 
0-12 Months
  5,881   29.8% $2,994,083   26.5%  5.9   27.2% $3,354.8   26.0%
13-24 Months
  3,014   15.3   1,783,846   15.8   3.5   16.1   2,219.2   17.2 
25-36 Months
  2,085   10.6   1,266,628   11.2   2.3   10.7   1,521.4   11.8 
37-48 Months
  1,509   7.6   917,319   8.1   1.7   7.9   1,037.8   8.1 
49-60 Months
  1,107   5.6   676,015   6.0   1.3   6.2   742.9   5.8 
Over 60 Months
  6,148   31.1   3,659,991   32.4   6.9   31.9   4,005.3   31.1 
Total
  19,744   100.0% $11,297,882   100.0%  21.6   100.0% $12,881.4   100.0%

 September 30, 2014  March 31, 2015 
Age of Accounts Since Origination 
Number of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Percentage of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Number of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Percentage of Active
Accounts with Balances
  
Principal
Receivables Outstanding
    
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
 
 (In thousands, except percentages)  (In millions, except percentages) 
0-12 Months
  4,869   28.2% $2,220,148   25.1%  5.6   29.7% $2,635.4       25.7%
13-24 Months
  2,554   14.8   1,282,695   14.5   2.8   14.8   1,542.4       15.0 
25-36 Months
  1,781   10.3   937,043   10.6   1.9   10.3   1,089.6       10.6 
37-48 Months
  1,283   7.4   701,808   7.9   1.4   7.4   815.9       8.0 
49-60 Months
  969   5.6   557,911   6.3   1.0   5.5   611.0       6.0 
Over 60 Months
  5,828   33.7   3,149,984   35.6   6.0   32.3   3,552.1       34.7 
Total
  17,284   100.0% $8,849,589   100.0%  18.7   100.0% $10,246.4       100.0%

14

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
Credit Quality
The Company uses proprietary scoring models developed specifically for the purpose of monitoring the Company's obligor credit quality. The proprietary scoring models are used as a tool in the underwriting process and for making credit decisions. The proprietary scoring models are based on historical data and require various assumptions about future performance. Information regarding customer performance is factored into these proprietary scoring models to determine the probability of an account becoming 90 or more days past due at any time within the next 12 months. Obligor credit quality is monitored at least monthly during the life of an account. The following table reflects composition of the Company's credit card and loan receivables by obligor credit quality as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and 2014:2015:
  September 30, 2015  September 30, 2014   March 31, 2016  March 31, 2015 
Probability of an Account
Becoming 90 or More Days Past Due or
Becoming Charged-off (within the next 12 months)
  
Total Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Total Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
   
Total Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Total Principal
Receivables Outstanding
  
Percentage of Principal
Receivables Outstanding
 
    (In thousands, except percentages)        (In millions, except percentages)    
No Score
  $176,379   1.6% $180,003   2.0%  $324.6   2.5% $195.4   1.9%
27.1% and higher
   607,856   5.4   430,333   4.9    1,310.0   10.2   564.8   5.5 
17.1% - 27.0%  944,270   8.3   829,208   9.4    793.6   6.2   1,017.8   9.9 
12.6% - 17.0%   1,140,013   10.1   955,459   10.8    1,035.3   8.0   1,178.4   11.5 
3.7% - 12.5%   4,413,422   39.1   3,613,024   40.8    5,709.8   44.3   4,262.6   41.6 
1.9% - 3.6%   2,405,329   21.3   1,837,713   20.8    1,640.2   12.7   1,939.9   19.0 
Lower than 1.9%
   1,610,613   14.2   1,003,849   11.3    2,067.9   16.1   1,087.5   10.6 
Total
  $11,297,882   100.0% $8,849,589   100.0%  $12,881.4   100.0% $10,246.4   100.0%
12

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Transfer of Financial Assets
The Company originates loans under an agreement with one of its clients, and after origination, these loan receivables are sold to the client at par value plus accrued interest. These transfers qualify for sale treatment as they meet the conditions established in ASC 860-10, "Transfers and Servicing." Following the sale, the client owns the loan receivables, bears the risk of loss in the event of loan defaults and is responsible for all servicing functions related to the loan receivables. The loan receivables originated by the Company that have not yet been sold to the client were $62.2$64.1 million and $48.9$61.5 million at September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively, and are included in credit card and loan receivables held for sale in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and carried at the lower of cost or fair value. The carrying value of these loan receivables approximates fair value due to the short duration between the date of origination and sale. Originations and sales of these loan receivables held for sale are reflected as operating activities in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
Upon the client's purchase of the originated loan receivables, the Company is obligated to purchase a participating interest in a pool of loan receivables that includes the loan receivables originated by the Company. Such interest participates on a pro rata basis in the cash flows of the underlying pool of loan receivables, including principal repayments, finance charges, losses and recoveries. The Company bears the risk of loss related to its participation interest in this pool.
During the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, the Company purchased $227.7$81.0 million and $181.8$67.2 million, respectively, of loan receivables under these agreements.
The total outstanding balance of these loan receivables was $193.6$222.7 million and $160.6$222.6 million as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively, and was included in other credit card and loan receivables in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Portfolios Held for Sale
The Company has certain credit card portfolios held for sale, which are carried at the lower of cost or fair value, and were $36.5of $443.3 million and $76.2$34.0 million as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively. In June 2015,the first quarter of 2016, the Company sold onetransferred two credit card portfolio previously classified asportfolios totaling approximately $415.3 million into credit card and loan receivables held for sale. The portfolios were transferred at the net carrying amount, inclusive of the related reserves for losses of $15.0 million, which approximates the lower of cost or fair value and which will be the measurement basis until the sale of the portfolios.
Portfolio Acquisitions
In the first quarter of 2016, the Company purchased three existing private label credit card portfolios for cash proceedsconsideration of $26.9approximately $755.3 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The preliminary purchase price allocation consists of approximately $704.5 million of credit card receivables and recognized a de minimis gain.$50.8 million of intangible assets.
15

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
Securitized Credit Card Receivables
The Company regularly securitizes its credit card receivables through its credit card securitization trusts, consisting of the World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust, World Financial Network Credit Card Master Note Trust ("Master Trust I") and World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust III ("Master Trust III") (collectively, the "WFN Trusts"), and World Financial Capital Credit Card Master Note Trust (the "WFC Trust"). The Company continues to own and service the accounts that generate credit card receivables held by the WFN Trusts and the WFC Trust. In its capacity as a servicer, each of the respective banks earns a fee from the WFN Trusts and the WFC Trust to service and administer the credit card receivables, collect payments and charge-off uncollectible receivables. These fees are eliminated and therefore are not reflected in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and 2014.2015.
The WFN Trusts and the WFC Trust are VIEs and the assets of these consolidated VIEs include certain credit card receivables that are restricted to settle the obligations of those entities and are not expected to be available to the Company or its creditors. The liabilities of the consolidated VIEs include non-recourse secured borrowings and other liabilities for which creditors or beneficial interest holders do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company.
13

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
The tables below present quantitative information about the components of total securitized credit card receivables, delinquencies and net charge-offs:
September 30,
2015
  
December 31,
2014
 
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Total credit card receivables – restricted for securitization investors
$8,589,282  $8,312,291 $9,509.3  $10,592.4 
Principal amount of credit card receivables – restricted for securitization investors, 90 days or more past due$172,524  $145,768 $173.9  $198.8 

 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
 2015 2014 2015 2014 
 (In thousands) 
Net charge-offs of securitized principal  
$94,130 $75,092 $290,585 $240,754 
             
 Three Months Ended March 31, 
 2016 2015 
 (In millions) 
Net charge-offs of securitized principal 
$144.4 $98.8 
5.4. INVENTORIES, NET
Inventories, net of $230.4$240.1 million and $220.5$228.0 million at September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014,2015, respectively, primarily consist of finished goods primarily to be utilized as rewards in the Company's loyalty programs and are included in other current assets in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
programs. Inventories, net are stated at the lower of cost or market and valued primarily on a first-in-first-out basis. The Company records valuation adjustments to its inventories if the cost of inventory exceeds the amount it expects to realize from the ultimate sale or disposal of the inventory. These estimates are based on management's judgment regarding future market conditions and an analysis of historical experience.
16

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
6.5. OTHER INVESTMENTS
Other investments consist of restricted cash, marketable securities and U.S. Treasury bonds and are included in other current assets and other assets in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The principal components of other investments, which are carried at fair value, are as follows:
September 30, 2015  December 31, 2014 March 31, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Amortized
Cost
  
Unrealized
Gains
  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
Amortized
Cost
  
Unrealized
Gains
  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value 
Amortized
Cost
  
Unrealized
Gains
  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value  
Amortized
Cost
  
Unrealized
Gains
  
Unrealized
Losses
  Fair Value 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Restricted cash
$23,414  $  $  $23,414  $22,611  $  $  $22,611 
Marketable securities
 125,672   851   (1,007)  125,516   95,669   520   (1,322)  94,867 $121.5  $1.3  $(0.6) $122.2  $121.5  $0.4  $(1.7) $120.2 
U.S. Treasury bonds
 100,051   893      100,944   100,072   66   (33)  100,105  100.0   1.0      101.0   100.1   0.2   (0.1)  100.2 
Total
$249,137  $1,744  $(1,007) $249,874  $218,352  $586  $(1,355) $217,583 $221.5  $2.3  $(0.6) $223.2  $221.6  $0.6  $(1.8) $220.4 

14

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
The following tables show the unrealized losses and fair value for those investments that were in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014,2015, aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position:
September 30, 2015 March 31, 2016 
Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total 
Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Marketable securities
$18,913 $(153)$35,783 $(854)$54,696 $(1,007)$10.3 $(0.2)$39.0 $(0.4)$49.3 $(0.6)
Total
$18,913 $(153)$35,783 $(854)$54,696 $(1,007)$10.3 $(0.2)$39.0 $(0.4)$49.3 $(0.6)

December 31, 2014 December 31, 2015 
Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total 
Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Marketable securities
$8,757 $(27)$48,961 $(1,295)$57,718 $(1,322)$40.8 $(0.7)$34.6 $(1.0)$75.4 $(1.7)
U.S. Treasury bonds
 75,043  (33)     75,043  (33) 50.0  (0.1)     50.0  (0.1)
Total
$83,800 $(60)$48,961 $(1,295)$132,761 $(1,355)$90.8 $(0.8)$34.6 $(1.0)$125.4 $(1.8)
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the marketable securities and U.S. Treasury bonds at September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 by contractual maturity are as follows:
 Amortized Cost  Fair Value  Amortized Cost  Fair Value 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Due in one year or less
 $31,638  $31,672  $31.8  $31.8 
Due after one year through five years
  75,042   75,901   75.0   76.0 
Due after five years through ten years
  15,331   15,606   3.7   3.8 
Due after ten years
  103,712   103,281   111.0   111.6 
Total
 $225,723  $226,460  $221.5  $223.2 
Market values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. When evaluating the investments for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the security's issuer, and the Company's intent to sell the security and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities with low probabilities of default and has the intent and ability to hold the investments until maturity. As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company does not consider the investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
There were no realized gains or losses from the sale of investment securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and 2014.2015.
1715

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
7.6. REDEMPTION SETTLEMENT ASSETS
Redemption settlement assets consist of restricted cash and cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale and are designated for settling redemptions by collectors of the AIR MILES® Reward Program in Canada under certain contractual relationships with sponsors of the AIR MILES Reward Program. The principal components of redemption settlement assets, which are carried at fair value, are as follows:
September 30, 2015  December 31, 2014 March 31, 2016  December 31, 2015 
Cost  Unrealized Gains  Unrealized Losses  Fair Value  Cost  Unrealized Gains  Unrealized Losses  Fair Value Cost  Unrealized Gains  Unrealized Losses  Fair Value  Cost  Unrealized Gains  Unrealized Losses  Fair Value 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Cash and cash equivalents$272,649  $  $  $272,649  $237,127  $  $  $237,127 
Restricted cash
$224.9  $  $  $224.9  $270.3  $  $  $270.3 
Mutual funds
 26,291      (246)  26,045              26.8      (0.1)  26.7   25.2      (0.3)  24.9 
Corporate bonds
 168,285   1,439   (1)  169,723   280,053   3,160      283,213  242.7   1.1   (0.2)  243.6   160.4   1.1   (0.1)  161.4 
Total
$467,225  $1,439  $(247) $468,417  $517,180  $3,160  $  $520,340 $494.4  $1.1  $(0.3) $495.2  $455.9  $1.1  $(0.4) $456.6 
The following table shows the unrealized losses and fair value for those investments that were in an unrealized loss position as of September 30,March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, aggregated by investment category and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous loss position:
 September 30, 2015 
 Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total 
 Fair Value 
Unrealized
Losses
 Fair Value 
Unrealized
Losses
 Fair Value 
Unrealized
Losses
 
 (In thousands) 
Mutual funds  
$26,045 $(246)$ $ $26,045 $(246)
Corporate bonds  
 7,675  (1)     7,675  (1)
Total  
$33,720 $(247)$ $ $33,720 $(247)
There were no investments that were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2014.
 March 31, 2016 
 Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total 
 Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses 
 (In millions) 
Mutual funds 
$26.7 $(0.1)$ $ $26.7 $(0.1)
Corporate bonds 
 70.1  (0.2)     70.1  (0.2)
Total 
$96.8 $(0.3)$ $ $96.8 $(0.3)
   
 December 31, 2015 
 Less than 12 months 12 Months or Greater Total 
 Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses Fair Value Unrealized Losses 
 (In millions) 
Mutual funds$24.9 $(0.3)$ $ $24.9 $(0.3)
Corporate bonds 
 27.8  (0.1)     27.8  (0.1)
Total 
$52.7 $(0.4)$ $ $52.7 $(0.4)
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of the securities at September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 by contractual maturity are as follows:
Amortized Cost  Fair Value Amortized Cost  Fair Value 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Due in one year or less
$128,927  $129,252 $94.6  $94.9 
Due after one year through five years
 65,649   66,516  174.9   175.4 
Total
$194,576  $195,768 $269.5  $270.3 
Market values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. When evaluating the investments for other-than-temporary impairment, the Company reviews factors such as the length of time and extent to which fair value has been below cost basis, the financial condition of the security's issuer, and the Company's intent to sell the security and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. The Company typically invests in highly-rated securities with low probabilities of default and has the intent and ability to hold the investments until maturity. As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company does not consider the investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
There were no realized gains or losses from the sale of investment securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and 2014.2015.
1816

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
8.7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of the following:
 September 30, 2015   March 31, 2016  
 
Gross
Assets
  
Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Amortization Life and Method 
Gross
Assets
  
Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Amortization Life and Method
 (In thousands)   (In millions)  
Finite Lived Assets                             
Customer contracts and lists
 $1,204,572  $(319,976) $884,596 3-12 years—straight line $1,210.6  $(410.4) $800.2 3-12 years—straight line
Premium on purchased credit card portfolios  249,743   (110,995)  138,748 3-10 years—straight line, accelerated  310.3   (127.7)  182.6 3-10 years—straight line
Customer database
  210,300   (153,887)  56,413 3-10 years—straight line  210.3   (172.4)  37.9 3-10 years—straight line
Collector database
  52,572   (49,507)  3,065 30 years—15% declining balance  53.8   (50.9)  2.9 30 years—15% declining balance
Publisher networks
  140,200   (22,344)  117,856 5-7 years—straight line  140.2   (36.1)  104.1 5-7 years—straight line
Tradenames
  85,077   (40,586)  44,491 2-15 years—straight line  85.9   (48.8)  37.1 2-15 years—straight line
Purchased data lists
  11,944   (6,238)  5,706 1-5 years—straight line, accelerated  11.8   (6.3)  5.5 1-5 years—straight line, accelerated
Favorable lease
  6,891   (1,597)  5,294 3-10 years—straight line  6.9   (2.2)  4.7 3-10 years—straight line
Noncompete agreements
  1,300   (1,192)  108 3 years—straight line
 $1,962,599  $(706,322) $1,256,277   $2,029.8  $(854.8) $1,175.0  
Indefinite Lived Assets                                      
Tradenames
  12,350      12,350 Indefinite life  12.4      12.4 Indefinite life
Total intangible assets
 $1,974,949  $(706,322) $1,268,627   $2,042.2  $(854.8) $1,187.4  

 December 31, 2014   December 31, 2015  
 
Gross
Assets
  
Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Amortization Life and Method 
Gross
Assets
  
Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Amortization Life and Method
 (In thousands)   (In millions)  
Finite Lived Assets                             
Customer contracts and lists
 $1,328,056  $(295,263) $1,032,793 4-12 years—straight line $1,195.2  $(361.6) $833.6 3-12 years—straight line
Premium on purchased credit card portfolios  289,173   (114,923)  174,250 3-10 years—straight line, accelerated  259.5   (114.0)  145.5 3-10 years—straight line, accelerated
Customer database
  210,300   (126,157)  84,143 3-10 years—straight line  210.3   (163.1)  47.2 3-10 years—straight line
Collector database
  60,238   (56,239)  3,999 30 years—15% declining balance  50.5   (47.7)  2.8 30 years—15% declining balance
Publisher networks
  140,200   (1,662)  138,538 5-7 years—straight line  140.2   (29.2)  111.0 5-7 years—straight line
Tradenames
  86,934   (29,408)  57,526 2-15 years—straight line  84.8   (44.1)  40.7 2-15 years—straight line
Purchased data lists
  12,335   (6,497)  5,838 1-5 years—straight line, accelerated  11.9   (6.4)  5.5 1-5 years—straight line, accelerated
Favorable lease
  6,891   (767)  6,124 3-10 years—straight line  6.9   (1.9)  5.0 3-10 years—straight line
Noncompete agreements
  1,300   (867)  433 3 years—straight line  1.3   (1.3)   3 years—straight line
 $2,135,427  $(631,783) $1,503,644   $1,960.6  $(769.3) $1,191.3  
Indefinite Lived Assets                                      
Tradenames
  12,350      12,350 Indefinite life  12.4      12.4 Indefinite life
Total intangible assets
 $2,147,777  $(631,783) $1,515,994   $1,973.0  $(769.3) $1,203.7  
With the credit card portfolio acquisitions made during the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company acquired $50.8 million of intangible assets, consisting of $9.9 million of customer relationships being amortized over a weighted average life of 4.6 years and $40.9 million of marketing relationships being amortized over a weighted average life of 9.0 years. For more information on these portfolio acquisitions, see Note 3, "Credit Card and Loan Receivables."
The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for the next five years and thereafter is as follows:
 
For the Years Ending
December 31,
  
For the Years Ending
December 31,
 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
2015 (excluding the nine months ended September 30, 2015)
 $81,064 
2016
  306,826 
2016 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2016)
 $235.9 
2017
  267,469   279.7 
2018
  208,967   226.7 
2019
  171,248   180.3 
2020 & thereafter
  220,703 
2020
  126.6 
2021 & thereafter  125.8 
1917

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Goodwill
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 are as follows:
 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/Other  Total  
LoyaltyOne®
  
Epsilon®
  Card Services  Corporate/Other  Total 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
December 31, 2014
 $713,457  $2,890,295  $261,732  $  $3,865,484 
January 1, 2015
 $713.5  $2,890.3  $261.7  $  $3,865.5 
Goodwill acquired during the year  34,712            34,712   34.7            34.7 
Effects of foreign currency translation  (63,923)  (854)        (64,777)  (84.7)  (1.4)        (86.1)
September 30, 2015
 $684,246  $2,889,441  $261,732  $  $3,835,419 
December 31, 2015
  663.5   2,888.9   261.7      3,814.1 
Effects of foreign currency translation  34.0   (0.5)        33.5 
March 31, 2016
 $697.5  $2,888.4  $261.7  $  $3,847.6 
9.8. DEBT
In connection with the Company's adoption of ASU 2015-03, the December 31, 2015 debt balances have been retrospectively adjusted for unamortized discount and debt issuance costs. Debt consists of the following:
Description 
September 30,
2015
 
December 31,
2014
 Maturity Interest Rate
March 31,
2016
 
December 31,
2015
 Maturity Interest Rate
 (Dollars in thousands)    (Dollars in millions)    
Long-term and other debt:             
2013 revolving line of credit
 $749,000 $ July 2018 and December 2019  
(1) 
  $982.0 $465.0 July 2018 or December 2019  
(1) 
2013 term loans
   2,736,875   2,603,125 
Various (2)
  
(1) 
   2,670.6  2,703.8 
Various (2)
  
(1) 
BrandLoyalty revolving line of credit
   115,325   108,789 August 2018  
(3) 
   75.0  69.7 August 2018  
(3) 
Senior notes due 2017
   397,978   397,332 December 2017  5.250%   400.0  400.0 December 2017  5.250%
Senior notes due 2020
   500,000   500,000 April 2020  6.375%   500.0  500.0 April 2020  6.375%
Senior notes due 2022
  600,000   600,000 August 2022  5.375%   600.0  600.0 August 2022  5.375%
Senior notes due 2023 (€300.0 million)
   341.4  325.8 November 2023  5.250%
Capital lease obligations and other debt
   0.1   January 2019  3.06%
Total long-term and other debt
   5,099,178   4,209,246        5,569.1  5,064.3     
Less: unamortized discount and debt issuance costs   44.9  46.9     
Less: current portion
   389,146   208,164        373.2  369.4     
Long-term portion
 $4,710,032 $4,001,082       $5,151.0 $4,648.0      
                       
Deposits:                       
Certificates of deposit
 $4,017,140 $3,934,906 
Various – October 2015 – November 2021
 
0.25% to 2.80%
  $4,527.4 $4,252.0 Various – April 2016 – November 2021 0.43% to 2.80%
Money market deposits
   1,205,282   838,635 On demand  
(4) 
   1,572.4  1,370.3 On demand  
(4) 
Total deposits
   5,222,422   4,773,541        6,099.8   5,622.3     
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs
   17.2  16.4      
Less: current portion
   
2,589,313
   2,645,995        3,149.0  2,980.3      
Long-term portion
 $
2,633,109
 $2,127,546       $2,933.6 $2,625.6     
                         
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities:                          
Fixed rate asset-backed term note securities $3,158,166 $3,376,916 Various – May 2016 – August 2020 
0.91% to 4.55%
  $3,458.2 $3,458.2 Various - May 2016 – August 2020 0.91% to 4.55%
Floating rate asset-backed term note securities   810,000   450,000 February 2016 and April 2018  
(5) 
   360.0  810.0 April 2018  
(5) 
Conduit asset-backed securities
   1,005,000   1,365,000 Various – May 2016 – May 2017  
(6) 
   2,515.0  2,225.0 Various - March 2017 – December 2017  
(6) 
Total non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities   4,973,166   5,191,916         6,333.2   6,493.2     
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs
   9.1  10.5     
Less: current portion
  1,230,000   1,058,750         1,389.8  1,049.3      
Long-term portion
 $3,743,166 $4,133,166       $4,934.3 $5,433.4      
                          
(1)The interest rate is based upon the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus an applicable margin. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 2.20%2.44% and 2.22%2.45% for the 2013 revolving line of credit and 2013 term loans, respectively.
(2)The maturity dates for the 2013 term loans are September 2016, July 2018 and December 2019.
(3)The interest rate is based upon the Euro Interbank Offered Rate plus an applicable margin. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the weighted average interest rate was 1.20%0.85%.
(4)The interest rates are based on the Federal Funds rate.rate plus an applicable margin. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the interest rates ranged from 0.01%0.48% to 0.44%0.67%.
(5)The interest rates arerate is based upon LIBOR plus an applicable margin. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the interest rates ranged from 0.57% to 0.67%rate was 0.92%.
(6)The interest rate is based upon LIBOR or the asset-backed commercial paper costs of each individual conduit provider plus an applicable margin. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the interest rates ranged from 1.12%1.40% to 1.75%1.64%.
At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company was in compliance with its debtfinancial covenants.
2018

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Long-term and other debtOther Debt
ADSC, as borrower, and ADS Alliance Data Systems, Inc., ADS Foreign Holdings, Inc., Alliance Data Foreign Holdings, Inc., Epsilon Data Management, LLC, Comenity LLC, Comenity Servicing LLC, and Aspen Marketing Services, LLC, Conversant LLC and Commission Junction, LLC as guarantors, are party to a credit agreement that provides for $2.65a $2.85 billion in term loansloan (the "2013 term loans") with certain principal repayments and a $1.3 billion revolving line of credit (the "2013 revolving line of credit" and together with the 2013 term loans, the "2013 Credit Facility"Agreement"). Total availability under the 2013 revolving line of credit at September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 was $551.0$318.0 million.
On March 3, 2015, Conversant LLC and Commission Junction, Inc. were added as guarantors for the 2013 Credit Facility as well as the Senior Notes due 2017, Senior Notes due 2020 and Senior Notes due 2022.
On September 25, 2015,In April 2016, the Company amendedextended the 2013 Credit Facilitymaturity of certain term loans with principal amount of $200.0 million from September 2016 to September 2017 and borrowedexercised in part the accordion feature to borrow incremental term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $200.0$250.0 million that mature on September 23, 2016. These term loans bear interest at the same rates as, and are generally subject to the same terms as, the existing2013 term loans under the 2013 Credit Facility.
BrandLoyalty Credit Agreement
BrandLoyalty, in which the Company holds a 70% interest, and certain subsidiaries of BrandLoyalty, as borrower and guarantors, amended its credit agreement in August 2015. The BrandLoyalty credit agreement, as amended, provides for a committed revolving line of credit of €62.5 million and an uncommitted revolving line of credit of €62.5 million, both of which are scheduled to mature on August 25, 2018. As of September 30, 2015, the amount outstanding under the BrandLoyalty credit agreement was €103.2 million ($115.3 million). The BrandLoyalty credit agreement is secured by the accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets, bank accounts and shares of BrandLoyalty and certain of its subsidiaries.
All advances under the BrandLoyalty credit agreement are denominated in Euros. The interest rate fluctuates and is equal to EURIBOR, as defined in the BrandLoyalty credit agreement, plus an applicable margin based on BrandLoyalty's senior net leverage ratio. The BrandLoyalty credit agreement contains financial covenants, including a senior net leverage ratio, as well as usual and customary negative covenants and customary events of default.loans.
Non-Recourse Borrowings of Consolidated Securitization Entities
Asset-Backed Term Notes
In April 2015, Master Trust I issued $500.0February 2016, $450.0 million of Series 2014-A asset-backed term notes, $140.0$175.0 million of which were retained by the Company and eliminated from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. These securities mature in April 2018 and have a variable interest rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin of 0.48%.
In June 2015, $450.0 million of Series 2010-A asset-backed term notes, $56.2 million of which were retained by the Company and eliminated from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements,balance sheets, matured and were repaid.
In August 2015, Master Trust I issued $625.0As of March 31, 2016, the Company collected $311.7 million of principal payments made by its credit cardholders during the accumulation period for the repayment of $500.0 million of Series 2013-B asset-backed term notes $150.0 million of which were retained by the Company and eliminated from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. These securities mature in August 2020 and have a fixed interest rate of 2.55%.
In September 2015, $394.7 million of Series 2014-B asset-backed term notes, $94.7 million of which were retained by the Company and eliminated from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, matured and were repaid.
In October 2015, Master Trust I issued $389.6 million of asset-backed term notes, $89.6 million of which were retained by the Company and eliminated from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. These securities maturematuring in May 20172016. The cash is restricted to the securitization investors and have a fixed interest rate of 1.26%.
21

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
Conduit Facilities
The Company has access to committed undrawn capacity through three conduit facilities to support the funding of its credit card receivables through Master Trust I, Master Trust III and the WFC Trust.
In April 2015, Master Trust I amended its 2009-VFN conduit facility, extending the maturity to March 31, 2017.
In May 2015, Master Trust III renewed its 2009-VFC1 conduit facility, increasing the capacity from $440.0 million to $900.0 million and extending the maturity to May 1, 2017.
As of September 30, 2015, total capacity under the conduit facilities was $2.1 billion, of which $1.0 billion had been drawn and was includedis reflected in non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entitiesother current assets in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.sheet as of March 31, 2016.
10.9. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company uses derivatives to manage risks associated with certain assets and liabilities arising from the potential adverse impact of fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.
The Company iswas not a party to certainany interest rate derivative instruments that involve the receipt of variable rate amounts from counterparties in exchange for the Company making fixed rate payments over the life of the agreement without the exchange of the underlying notional amount. These interest rate derivative instruments are not designated as hedges. Such instruments are not speculative and are used to manage interest rate risk, but do not meet the specific hedge accounting requirements of ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging."at March 31, 2016 or December 31, 2015.
The Company enters into certain foreign currency derivatives to reduce the volatility of the Company's cash flows resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates associated with certain inventory transactions, certain of which are designated as cash flow hedges.
Additionally, in November 2015, the Company designated its Euro-denominated Senior Notes due 2023 as a net investment hedge of its investment in BrandLoyalty Group B.V. ("BrandLoyalty"), which has a functional currency of the Euro, in order to reduce the volatility in stockholders' equity caused by the changes in foreign currency exchange rates of the Euro with respect to the U.S. dollar. The change in fair value of the Senior Notes due 2023 due to remeasurement of the effective portion is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). The ineffective portion of this hedging instrument impacts net income when the ineffectiveness occurs. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, losses of $15.6 million, net of tax, were recognized in other comprehensive income and no ineffectiveness was recorded on the net investment hedge.
The following tables present the fair values of the derivative instruments included within the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014:2015:
 September 30, 2015March 31, 2016
 Notional Amount  Fair Value Balance Sheet Location MaturityNotional Amount  Fair Value Balance Sheet Location Maturity
 (In thousands)(In millions)
Designated as hedging instruments:                   
Foreign currency exchange hedges
 $25,208  $1,454 Other current assets October 2015 to September 2016$3.8  $0.2 Other current assetsApril 2016
Foreign currency exchange hedges
 $34,675  $352 Other current liabilities October 2015 to May 2016$77.5  $1.9 Other current liabilitiesApril 2016 to March 2017
Net investment hedge
$341.4  $19.4 Long-term and other debtNovember 2023
                          
Not designated as hedging instruments:
                
Foreign currency exchange hedges
 $4,610  $29 Other current liabilities October 2015
Interest rate derivatives
 $43,590  $62 Other current liabilities December 2015
19

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)


  December 31, 2015
  Notional Amount  Fair Value Balance Sheet LocationMaturity
  (In millions)
Designated as hedging instruments:             
Foreign currency exchange hedges 
 $56.7  $2.7 Other current assetsJanuary 2016 to October 2016
Foreign currency exchange hedges 
 $23.7  $0.4 Other current liabilitiesJanuary 2016 to September 2016
Net investment hedge 
 $325.8  $3.8 Long-term and other debtNovember 2023
 
Not designated as hedging instruments:
          
Foreign currency exchange forward contract 
 $103.7  $1.3 Other current liabilitiesFebruary 2016
Foreign currency exchange hedges 
 $0.5  $ Other current liabilitiesJanuary 2016
                 
  December 31, 2014
  Notional Amount  Fair Value Balance Sheet Location Maturity
  (In thousands)
Designated as hedging instruments:            
Foreign currency exchange hedges  
 $50,908  $3,528 Other current assets January 2015 to September 2015
            
Not designated as hedging instruments:
                
Foreign currency exchange hedges  
 $3,125  $343 Other current assets January 2015 to March 2015
Foreign currency exchange forward contract  
 $236,578  $16,990 Other current liabilities January 2015
Interest rate derivatives  
 $79,429  $330 Other current liabilities December 2015 to August 2016
                 
A gainLosses of $1.4 million and a loss of $1.5$2.4 million, net of tax, were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine monthsquarter ended September 30, 2015, respectively.March 31, 2016 related to foreign currency exchange hedges designated as effective. Changes in the fair value of these hedges, excluding any ineffective portion are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged transactions affect net income. The ineffective portion of these cash flow hedges impacts net income when the ineffectiveness occurs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, a gainMarch 31, 2016, gains of $0.7$0.5 million and a loss of $0.3 million, respectively, net of tax, were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income (cost of operations) and no ineffectiveness was recorded. At September 30, 2015, a de minimis amount of lossesineffectiveness was recorded. At March 31, 2016, $1.1 million is expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income in the coming 12 months.
22

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
Losses of $2.4 million, net of tax, were recognized in other comprehensive income for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 related to foreign currency exchange hedges designated as effective. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, gains of $0.8 million were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into net income (cost of operations) and a de minimis amount of ineffectiveness was recorded.
The following tables summarizetable summarizes activity related to and identifyidentifies the location of the Company's outstanding derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015 and 2014 recognized in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income:
2015 2014 Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 
For the three months ended September 30,
 Income Statement Location 
Gain (Loss)
on Derivative
Instruments
 Income Statement Location 
Gain (Loss)
on Derivative
Instruments
 
 (In thousands) Income Statement Location 
Loss on
Derivative Instruments
 Income Statement Location 
Gain (Loss) on
Derivative Instruments
 
Interest rate derivatives
 
Interest expense on long-term
and other debt, net
 $121 
Interest expense on long-term
and other debt, net
 $131 
(In millions) 
Foreign currency exchange forward contract General and administrative $ General and administrative $(7,310)General and administrative $(0.1)General and administrative $(13.7)
Foreign currency exchange hedges
 Cost of operations $(46)Cost of operations $  Cost of operations $ Cost of operations $0.3 
          

 2015 2014 
For the nine months ended September 30,
 Income Statement Location 
Gain (Loss)
on Derivative
Instruments
 Income Statement Location
Gain (Loss)
on Derivative
Instruments
 
  (In thousands) 
Interest rate derivatives  
 
Interest expense on long-term
and other debt, net
 $213 
Interest expense on long-term
and other debt, net
 $244 
Foreign currency exchange forward contract General and administrative $(13,724)General and administrative $(7,310)
Foreign currency exchange hedges  
 Cost of operations $376 Cost of operations $ 
           
For the three months ended March 31, 2015, a de minimis gain related to interest rate derivatives not designated as hedging instruments was recognized in interest expense on long-term and other debt, net in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.
Gains and losses on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are included in other operating activities in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented.
The Company limits its exposure on derivatives by entering into contracts with institutions that are established dealers who maintain certain minimum credit criteria established by the Company. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company does not maintain any derivative instruments subject to master agreements that would require the Company to post collateral or that contain any credit-risk related contingent features.
11.
20

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
10. DEFERRED REVENUE
The AIR MILES Reward Program collects fees from its sponsors based on the number of AIR MILES reward miles issued and, in limited circumstances, the number of AIR MILES reward miles redeemed. Because management has determined that the earnings process is not complete at the time an AIR MILES reward mile is issued, the recognition of redemption and service revenue is deferred.
A reconciliation of deferred revenue for the AIR MILES Reward Program is as follows:
 Deferred Revenue  Deferred Revenue 
 Service  Redemption   Total  Service  Redemption  Total 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
December 31, 2014
 $332,368  $680,809  
$
1,013,177 
December 31, 2015
 $292.3  $552.6  $844.9 
Cash proceeds
  146,928   278,466     425,394   41.4   78.5   119.9 
Revenue recognized
  (140,018)  (319,382)    (459,400)  (44.0)  (108.2)  (152.2)
Other
     15     15      (0.1)  (0.1)
Effects of foreign currency translation
  (42,680)  (84,289)     (126,969)  18.6   33.8   52.4 
September 30, 2015
 $296,598  $555,619  $852,217 
March 31, 2016
 $308.3  $556.6  $864.9 
Amounts recognized in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets:                           
Current liabilities
 $148,155  $555,619  $703,774  $156.8  $556.6  $713.4 
Non-current liabilities
 $148,443  $  $148,443  $151.5  $  $151.5 
23

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
12.11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Litigation and Regulatory Matters
On September 8, 2015, Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank (collectively, the "Banks") each entered into a consent order with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") in settlement of the FDIC's review of the Banks' practices regarding the marketing, promotion and sale of certain add-on products. The Banks entered into the consent orders for the purpose of resolving these matters without admitting or denying any violations of law or regulation set forth in the orders.
Under the consent orders, the Banks willwere required to collectively provide restitution of approximately $61.5 million to eligible customers for actions occurring between January 2008 and September 2014. In addition, the Banks collectively agreed to pay2014 and $2.5 million in civil money penalties to the FDIC. Adequate provisions have been made for these costsAs of March 31, 2016, the Company has a remaining liability of $11.9 million, which was included in accrued expenses in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2015. Before the FDIC's review began, the Banks made changes to these add-on products, and they believe their current business practices substantially address the FDIC's concerns; however, the Banks also agreed to make further enhancements to their compliance and other processes related to the marketing, promotion and sale of these add-on products.balance sheets.
13.12. REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
On January 2, 2014, the Company acquired a 60% ownership interest in BrandLoyalty. Pursuant to the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement, the Company may acquire the remaining 40% ownership interest in BrandLoyalty over a four-year period from the acquisition date at 10% per year at predetermined valuation multiples. If specified annual earnings targets are met by BrandLoyalty, the Company must acquire the additional 10% ownership interest for the year achieved; otherwise, the sellers have a put option to sell the Company their 10% ownership interest for the respective year.
The specified annual earnings target wastargets were met for the yearyears ended December 31, 2014 and 2015. Accordingly, the Company acquired an additional 10% ownership interest each year, effective January 1, 2015 and 2016, increasing its ownership percentage to 70%. and 80%, respectively. The Company paid €77.2 million ($87.4 million) and €91.1 million ($102.0 million) on February 10, 2015 ($87.4 million)and February 8, 2016, respectively, to acquire thisthe additional 10% ownership interest.interests. The remaining 30%20% interests held by minority interest shareholders are considered redeemable non-controlling interests, as the acquisition of these interests is outside of the Company's control.
As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the remaining interests are not redeemable, but are probable to be redeemed. As such,In the first quarter of 2016, the Company adjusted the carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest by $15.9 million to the estimated redemption value assuming the interests were redeemable as of September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016. The estimated redemption values are based on a formula as prescribed in the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement.
A reconciliation of the changes in the redeemable non-controlling interest is as follows:
  
Redeemable Non-
Controlling Interest
 
  (In thousands) 
Balance at January 2, 2014  
 $341,907 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest  
  9,847 
Other comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest  1,988 
Adjustment to redemption value  
  14,775 
Foreign currency translation adjustments  
  (39,654)
Reclassification to accrued expenses  
  (93,297)
Balance at December 31, 2014  
  235,566 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest  
  2,927 
Other comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest  433 
Adjustment to redemption value  
  15,194 
Foreign currency translation adjustments  
  (17,273)
Balance at September 30, 2015  
 $236,847 

2421

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
A reconciliation of the changes in the redeemable non-controlling interest is as follows:
14.
  Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest 
  (In millions) 
Balance at January 1, 2015 
 $235.6 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest 
  8.9 
Other comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest  0.9 
Adjustment to redemption value 
  45.0 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 
  (24.1)
Reclassification to accrued expenses 
  (98.9)
Balance at December 31, 2015 
 $167.4 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest 
  1.8 
Other comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest  (0.7)
Adjustment to redemption value 
  15.9 
Foreign currency translation adjustments 
  8.0 
Balance at March 31, 2016 
 $192.4 
13. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Stock Repurchase ProgramPrograms
On January 1, 2015,2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $600.0$500.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock from January 1, 20152016 through December 31, 2015.2016. On AprilFebruary 15, 2015,2016, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an increase to the stock repurchase program originally approved on January 1, 20152016 to acquire an additional $400.0$500.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock through December 31, 2015,2016, for a total authorization of $1.0 billion. The stock repurchase program is subject to any restrictions pursuant to the terms of the Company's credit agreements, indentures, and applicable securities laws or otherwise.
For the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company acquired a total of 3.12.0 million shares of its common stock for $864.5$413.8 million, of which $7.6$5.0 million had not settled as of September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016. As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company had $135.5$586.2 million available under the stock repurchase program.
Stock Compensation Expense
Total stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015 and 2014 is as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 Three Months Ended March 31, 
2015  2014  2015  2014 2016  2015 
(In thousands) (In millions) 
Cost of operations
$16,801  $11,589  $56,639  $33,801 $14.8  $22.1 
General and administrative
 5,012   6,668   16,704   15,953  5.1   5.4 
Total
$21,813  $18,257  $73,343  $49,754 $19.9  $27.5 
During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company awarded 222,605277,036 performance-based restricted stock units with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $284.23$187.49 as determined on the date of grant. The performance restriction on the awards will lapse upon determination by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors that the Company's earnings before taxes for the period from January 1, 20152016 to December 31, 20152016 met certain pre-defined vesting criteria that permit a range from 50% to 150% of such performance-based restricted stock units to vest. Upon such determination, the restrictions will lapse with respect to 33% of the award on February 17, 2016,16, 2017, an additional 33% of the award on February 17, 201716, 2018 and the final 34% of the award on February 17, 2018,16, 2019, provided that the participant is employed by the Company on each such vesting date.
During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the Company awarded 77,79871,736 service-based restricted stock units with a weighted average grant date fair value per share of $284.77$189.01 as determined on the date of grant. Service-based restricted stock units typically vest ratably over three years provided that the participant is employed by the Company on each such vesting date.

2522

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
15.14. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax effects, are as follows:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 
Net
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) on Securities
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses) on
Cash Flow Hedges
  
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments (1)
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 
Net Unrealized
Gains on Securities
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash
Flow Hedges
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Net
Investment Hedge
  
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments(1)
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Balance at June 30, 2015
 $1,200  $(531) $(125,015) $(124,346)
Balance at December 31, 2015
 $(0.1) $1.3  $(3.8) $(134.7) $(137.3)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications
  420   2,073   4,633   7,126   1.9   (2.9)  (15.6)  
25.2
   
8.6
 
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss)
     (658)     (658)     
0.5
      
   
0.5
 
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)
  420   1,415   4,633   6,468   1.9   (2.4)  (15.6)  25.2   9.1 
Balance as of September 30, 2015
 $1,620  $884  $(120,382) $(117,878)
                
Balance at March 31, 2016
 $1.8  $(1.1) $(19.4) $(109.5) $(128.2)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 
Net
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) on Securities
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses) on
Cash Flow Hedges
  
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments (1)
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
  (In thousands) 
Balance as of June 30, 2014  
 $4,745  $  $(18,940) $(14,195)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)  
  (1,991)  (104)  (37,956)  (40,051)
Balance as of September 30, 2014  
 $2,754  $(104) $(56,896) $(54,246)
                 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 
Net
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) on Securities
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash Flow Hedges
  
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments (1)
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
  (In thousands) 
Balance at December 31, 2014  
 $2,654  $2,350  $(80,457) $(75,453)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications  
  (1,034)  (1,813)  (39,925)  
(42,772
)
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss)  
     347      347 
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)  
  (1,034)  (1,466)  (39,925)  (42,425)
Balance as of September 30, 2015  
 $1,620  $884  $(120,382) $(117,878)
                 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 
Net
Unrealized Gains
(Losses) on Securities
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash Flow Hedges
  
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments (1)
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
  (In thousands) 
Balance as of December 31, 2013  
 $4,189  $  $(22,416) $(18,227)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss)  
  (1,435)  (104)  (34,480)  (36,019)
Balance as of September 30, 2014  
 $2,754  $(104) $(56,896) $(54,246)
                 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 
Net Unrealized
Gains on Securities
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash
Flow Hedges
  
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Net
Investment Hedge
  
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments(1)
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
  (In millions) 
Balance at December 31, 2014 
 $2.7  $2.3  $  $(80.5) $(75.5)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 
  0.9   (3.2)     (62.6)  (64.9)
Amounts reclassified from other comprehensive income (loss) 
     
0.8
      
   
0.8
 
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss) 
  0.9   (2.4)     (62.6)  (64.1)
Balance at March 31, 2015 
 $3.6  $(0.1) $  $(143.1) $(139.6)
                     
(1)
Primarily related to the impact of changes in the Canadian dollar and Euro foreign currency exchange rates.
There were no reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.
26

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
16.15. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
In accordance with ASC 825, "Financial Instruments," the Company is required to disclose the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practical to estimate fair value. To obtain fair values, observable market prices are used if available. In some instances, observable market prices are not readily available and fair value is determined using present value or other techniques appropriate for a particular financial instrument. These techniques involve judgment and as a result are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company would realize in a current market exchange. The use of different assumptions or estimation techniques may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
23

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments as of the specified date are as follows:
  September 30, 2015  December 31, 2014 
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Fair
Value
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Fair
Value
 
  (In thousands) 
Financial assets        
Cash and cash equivalents  
 $977,341  $977,341  $1,077,152  $1,077,152 
Trade receivables, net  
  642,681   642,681   743,294   743,294 
Credit card and loan receivables, net  
  11,128,773   11,128,773   10,673,709   10,673,709 
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale  
  98,709   98,709   125,060   125,060 
Redemption settlement assets, restricted  
  468,417   468,417   520,340   520,340 
Cash collateral, restricted  
  4,888   4,888   22,511   22,511 
Derivative instruments  
  1,454   1,454   3,871   3,871 
Other investments  
  249,874   249,874   217,583   217,583 
Financial liabilities                
Accounts payable  
  382,220   382,220   455,656   455,656 
Derivative instruments  
  443   443   17,290   17,290 
Deposits  
  5,222,422   5,269,310   4,773,541   4,801,464 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities  4,973,166   5,018,393   5,191,916   5,225,359 
Long-term and other debt  
  5,099,178   5,110,950   4,209,246   4,227,414 
Contingent consideration  
        326,023   326,023 
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Held at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014
  March 31, 2016  December 31, 2015 
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Fair
Value
  
Carrying
Amount
  
Fair
Value
 
  (In millions) 
Financial assets            
Cash and cash equivalents 
 $970.0  $970.0  $1,168.0  $1,168.0 
Trade receivables, net 
  595.8   595.8   706.5   706.5 
Credit card and loan receivables, net 
  12,762.9   13,570.9   13,057.9   13,057.9 
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale 
  507.4   553.3   95.5   95.5 
Redemption settlement assets, restricted 
  495.2   495.2   456.6   456.6 
Other investments 
  223.2   223.2   220.4   220.4 
Cash collateral, restricted 
  8.3   8.3   7.2   7.2 
Derivative instruments 
  0.2   0.2   2.7   2.7 
Financial liabilities                
Accounts payable 
  404.0   404.0   442.4   442.4 
Derivative instruments 
  1.9   1.9   1.7   1.7 
Deposits 
  6,082.6   6,159.3   5,605.9   5,654.6 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities  6,324.1   6,372.7   6,482.7   6,502.7 
Long-term and other debt 
  5,524.2   5,528.5   5,017.4   5,040.0 
The following techniques and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating fair values of financial instruments as disclosed herein:
Cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, net and accounts payable — The carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short maturity and the relatively liquid nature of these assets and liabilities.
Credit card and loan receivables, net — The carrying amountCompany utilizes a discounted cash flow model using unobservable inputs, including estimated yields (interest and fee income), loss rates, payment rates and discount rates to estimate the fair value measurement of the credit card and loan receivables, net approximates fair value due to the short maturity and average interest rates that approximate current market origination rates.receivables.
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale Credit card and loanLoan receivables held for sale are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, and their carrying amount approximates fair value due to the short duration of the holding period of the receivables prior to sale. The fair value of credit card portfolios held for sale is based on significant unobservable inputs, including forecasted yields and net loss estimates.
Redemption settlement assets, restricted — Redemption settlement assets, restricted are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities.
Cash collateral, restricted Cash collateral, restricted consists of spread deposits and excess funding deposits and is included in other non-current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Spread deposits are held by a trustee or agent and are used to absorb shortfalls in the available net cash flows related to securitized credit card receivables if those available net cash flows are insufficient to satisfy certain obligations of the WFN Trusts and WFC Trust. Spread deposits are recorded at their fair value based on discounted cash flow models. The Company uses a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated cash flows for each asset. The fair value is based on the term of the underlying securities and a discount rate. Excess funding deposits represent cash amounts deposited with the trustee of the securitizations and are used to supplement seller's interest. The carrying amount of excess funding deposits approximates its fair value due to the relatively short maturity period and average interest rates, which approximate current market rates.
27

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)
Other investments Other investments consist of marketable securities and U.S. Treasury bonds and are included in other current assets and other non-current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Other investments are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices for the same or similar securities.
Deposits — The fair value is estimated based on the current observable market rates available to the Company for similar deposits with similar remaining maturities.
24

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities — The fair value is estimated based on the current observable market rates available to the Company for similar debt instruments with similar remaining maturities or quoted market prices for the same transaction.
Long-term and other debt  — The fair value is estimated based on the current observable market rates available to the Company for similar debt instruments with similar remaining maturities or quoted market prices for the same transaction.
Derivative instruments Derivative instrumentsThe Company's foreign currency cash flow hedges are included in other current assets and other current liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets and are recorded at fair value based on a discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative. This analysis reflected the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period to maturity, and used observable market-based inputs, including interest rate curves and option volatility. The fair value of the foreign currency derivative instruments is estimated based on published quotations of spot foreign currency rates and forward points which are converted into implied foreign currency rates.
Contingent consideration — The contingent consideration was recorded at fair value. The fair value at inception was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation valuation technique, which is based on certain key assumptions, including the estimated 2014 earnings and net debt of BrandLoyalty, each as defined in the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement, earnings volatility, and discount rate. As of December 31, 2014, the fair value was determined based on the provisions in the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement, which included a defined multiple, 2014 BrandLoyalty EBITDA and net debt. This liability was settled in the first quarter of 2015.
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Fair Value Hierarchy
ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include:
·Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;
·Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and
·Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs where little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.
Financial instruments are considered Level 3 when their values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable. Level 3 financial instruments also include those for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. The use of different techniques to determine fair value of these financial instruments could result in different estimates of fair value at the reporting date.
2825

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
The following tables provide information for the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014:2015:
   
Fair Value Measurements at
September 30, 2015 Using
     
Fair Value Measurements at
March 31, 2016 Using
 
 
Balance at
September 30, 2015
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  
Balance at
March 31, 2016
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Mutual funds (1)
 $26.7  $26.7  $  $ 
Corporate bonds (1)
 $169,723  $  $169,723  $   243.6      243.6    
Mutual funds (1)
  26,045   26,045       
Cash collateral, restricted
  4,888         4,888 
Other investments (2)
  249,874   129,443   120,431    
Derivative instruments (3)
  1,454      1,454    
Marketable securities (2)
  122.2   5.0   117.2    
U.S. Treasury bonds (2)
  101.0   101.0       
Cash collateral, restricted (3)
  8.3   3.3      5.0 
Derivative instruments (4)
  0.2      0.2    
Total assets measured at fair value
 $451,984  $155,488  $291,608  $4,888  $502.0  $136.0  $361.0  $5.0 
                                
Derivative instruments (3)
 $443  $  $443  $ 
Derivative instruments (4)
 $1.9  $  $1.9  $ 
Total liabilities measured at fair value
 $443  $  $443  $  $1.9  $  $1.9  $ 
                

    
Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2014 Using
 
  
Balance at
December 31, 2014
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
  (In thousands) 
Corporate bonds (1)  
 $283,213  $  $283,213  $ 
Cash collateral, restricted  
  22,511         22,511 
Other investments (2)  
  217,583   127,764   89,819    
Derivative instruments (3)  
  3,871      3,871    
Total assets measured at fair value  
 $527,178  $127,764  $376,903  $22,511 
                 
Derivative instruments (3)  
 $17,290  $  $17,290  $ 
Contingent consideration  
  326,023         326,023 
Total liabilities measured at fair value  
 $343,313  $  $17,290  $326,023 
                  
     
Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2015 Using
 
  
Balance at
December 31, 2015
  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
  (In millions) 
Mutual funds (1) 
 $24.9  $24.9  $  $ 
Corporate bonds (1) 
  161.4      161.4    
Marketable securities (2) 
  120.2   4.8   115.4    
U.S. Treasury bonds (2) 
  100.2   100.2       
Cash collateral, restricted (3) 
  7.2   2.3      4.9 
Derivative instruments (4) 
  2.7      2.7    
Total assets measured at fair value 
 $416.6  $132.2  $279.5  $4.9 
                 
Derivative instruments (4) 
 $1.7  $  $1.7  $ 
Total liabilities measured at fair value 
 $1.7  $  $1.7  $ 
                  
(1)Amounts are included in redemption settlement assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(2)Amounts are included in other current assets and other non-current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(3)Derivative instrumentsAmounts are included in other non-current assets in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
(4)Amounts are included in other current assets and other current liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.

There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 within the fair value hierarchy for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and March 31, 2015.
2926

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
The following tables summarizetable summarizes the changes in fair valuesvalue of the Company's asset and liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as defined in ASC 825:
  Cash Collateral, Restricted  Contingent Consideration 
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2016  2015  2016  2015 
  (In millions) 
Balance at beginning of period 
 $4.9  $22.5  $  $326.0 
Total gains (realized or unrealized):                
Included in earnings 
  0.1   0.2      0.5 
Purchases 
            
Sales 
            
Issuances 
            
Settlements 
           (305.5)
Foreign currency transaction adjustments 
           (21.0)
Transfers in or out of Level 3 
            
Balance at end of period 
 $5.0  $22.7  $  $ 
                 
Gains for the period included in earnings related to assets still held at end of period $0.1  $0.2  $  $ 
Spread deposits included in cash collateral, restricted are recorded at their fair value based on discounted cash flow models, utilizing the term of 137 months. The unobservable input used to calculate the fair value was the discount rate of 3.3%3.5%, which was based on an interest rate curve that is observable in the market as adjusted for a credit spread. Significant increases in the term or the discount rate would result in a lower fair value. Conversely, significant decreases in the term or the discount rate would result in a higher fair value.
  Cash Collateral, Restricted 
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2015  2014  2015  2014 
  (In thousands) 
Balance at beginning of period  
 $4,841  $34,710  $22,511  $34,124 
Total gains (realized or unrealized):                
Included in earnings  
  47   284   377   870 
Purchases  
            
Sales  
            
Issuances  
            
Settlements  
        (18,000)   
Transfers in or out of Level 3  
            
Balance at end of period  
 $4,888  $34,994  $4,888  $34,994 
                 
Gains for the period included in earnings related to assets still held at end of period  
 $47  $284  $102  $870 
For the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, gains included in earnings attributable to cash collateral, restricted arewere included in securitization funding costs in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.
The contingent consideration represents the additional consideration that the Company was required to pay as part of the earn-out provisions included in the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement. The fair value was determined based on BrandLoyalty's earnings for the year ended December 31, 2014 using the methodology defined in the BrandLoyalty share purchase agreement. The obligation was settled in the first quarter of 2015.
  Contingent Consideration 
  
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
  2015  2014  2015  2014 
  (In thousands) 
Balance at beginning of period  
 $  $249,067  $326,023  $ 
Total gains or losses (realized or unrealized):                
Included in earnings  
            
Purchases  
        547   248,702 
Sales  
            
Issuances  
            
Settlements  
        (305,528)   
Foreign currency transaction adjustments  
     (19,286)  (21,042)  (18,921)
Transfers in or out of Level 3  
            
Balance at end of period  
 $  $229,781  $  $229,781 
                 
Gains (losses) for the period included in earnings related to liability still held at end of period $  $19,286  $  $18,921 
                 
There were no transfers between Level 1 and 2 within the fair value hierarchy for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.
3027

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
Financial Instruments Disclosed but Not Carried at Fair Value
The following tables provide assets and liabilities disclosed but not carried at fair value as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014:2015:
 
Fair Value Measurements at
September 30, 2015
  
Fair Value Measurements at
March 31, 2016
 
 Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Financial assets  
Financial assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents
 $977,341  $977,341  $  $  $970.0  $970.0  $  $ 
Credit card and loan receivables, net
  11,128,773         11,128,773   13,570.9         13,570.9 
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale
  98,709         98,709   553.3         553.3 
Total
 $12,204,823  $977,341  $  $11,227,482  $15,094.2  $970.0  $  $14,124.2 
                                
Financial liabilities                
Financial liabilities:                
Deposits
 $5,269,310  $  $5,269,310  $  $6,159.3  $  $6,159.3  $ 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities
  5,018,393      5,018,393      6,372.7      6,372.7    
Long-term and other debt
  5,110,950      5,110,950      5,528.5      5,528.5    
Total
 $15,398,653  $  $15,398,653  $  $18,060.5  $  $18,060.5  $ 

 
Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2014
  
Fair Value Measurements at
December 31, 2015
 
 Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Financial assets  
Financial assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents
 $1,077,152  $1,077,152  $  $  $1,168.0  $1,168.0  $  $ 
Credit card and loan receivables, net
  10,673,709         10,673,709   13,057.9         13,057.9 
Credit card and loan receivables held for sale
  125,060         125,060   95.5         95.5 
Total
 $11,875,921  $1,077,152  $  $10,798,769  $14,321.4  $1,168.0  $  $13,153.4 
                                
Financial liabilities                
Financial liabilities:                
Deposits
 $4,801,464  $  $4,801,464  $  $5,654.6  $  $5,654.6  $ 
Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities
  5,225,359      5,225,359      6,502.7      6,502.7    
Long-term and other debt
  4,227,414      4,227,414      5,040.0      5,040.0    
Total
 $14,254,237  $  $14,254,237  $  $17,197.3  $  $17,197.3  $ 
17.16. INCOME TAXES
For the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company utilized an effective tax rate of 36.5%35.3% and 35.3%33.1%, respectively, to calculate its provision for income taxes. For each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company utilized an effective tax rate of 36.6%. The effective tax rate for ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2015 reflectsincludes both a favorable state ruling and a lapse in an applicable statute of limitations. In accordance with ASC 740‑270, "Income Taxes — Interim Reporting," the Company's expected annual effective tax rate for calendar year 2015 based on all known variables is approximately 35.7%.
18.17. SEGMENT INFORMATION
Operating segments are defined by ASC 280, "Segment Reporting," as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company's chief operating decision maker is the President and Chief Executive Officer. The operating segments are reviewed separately because each operating segment represents a strategic business unit that generally offers different products.
3128

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (CONTINUED)
The Company operates in the following reportable segments: LoyaltyOne, Epsilon, and Card Services. In the first quarter of 2015, the Company renamed the Private Label Services and Credit segment to "Card Services," which had no impact to the reported results of the segment in the current or prior periods. Segment operations consist of the following:
LoyaltyOne includesprovides coalition and short-term loyalty programs through the Company's Canadian AIR MILES Reward Program and BrandLoyalty;
Epsilon provides end-to-end, integrated direct marketing solutions that leverage transactionalrich data, analytics, creativity and technology to help clients more effectively acquire, retain and build strongergrow relationships with their customers; and
Card Services provides risk management solutions, account origination, funding, transaction processing, customer care, collections and marketing services for the Company's private label and co-brand retail credit card programs.
Corporate and other immaterial businesses are reported collectively as an "all other" category labeled "Corporate/Other." Income taxes are not allocated to the segments in the computation of segment operating profit for internal evaluation purposes and have also been included in "Corporate/Other."
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/ Other  Eliminations  Total 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/ Other  Eliminations  Total 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Revenues
 $299,143  $532,448  $763,997  $138  $(6,609) $1,589,117  $354.6  $493.3  $835.5  $0.1  $(7.4) $1,676.1 
                                                
Income (loss) before income taxes  47,786   42,678   202,717   
(87,768
)     
205,413
  $55.8  $(12.5) $283.7  $(81.5) $  $245.5 
Interest expense, net
  
709
   1   
36,862
   
44,526
      
82,098
   (0.1)     47.6   51.3      98.8 
Operating income (loss)
  
48,495
   
42,679
   
239,579
   
(43,242
)     
287,511
   55.7   (12.5)  331.3   (30.2)     344.3 
Depreciation and amortization  
21,115
   
81,686
   
18,087
   
2,492
      
123,380
   20.9   84.7   20.1   2.7      128.4 
Stock compensation expense  
2,336
   
10,670
   
3,796
   
5,011
      
21,813
   2.6   8.5   3.7   5.1      19.9 
Regulatory settlement
        
64,563
         64,563 
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
  
71,946
   
135,035
   
326,025
   
(35,739
)     
497,267
   79.2   80.7   355.1   (22.4)     492.6 
Less: securitization funding costs        
23,143
         23,143 
Less: interest expense on deposits        
13,719
         
13,719
 
Less: adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest  
7,455
               
7,455
 
Less: Securitization funding costs        30.4         30.4 
Less: Interest expense on deposits        17.2         17.2 
Less: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest  5.5               5.5 
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1)
 $
64,491
  $
135,035
  $
289,163
  $
(35,739
) $  $
452,950
  $73.7  $80.7  $307.5  $(22.4) $  $439.5 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/ Other  Eliminations  Total 
  (In thousands) 
Revenues                                                        
 $324,484  $377,554  $622,330  $144  $(5,379) $1,319,133 
                         
Income (loss) before income taxes  51,078   42,597   237,053   (70,551)     260,177 
Interest expense, net  
  1,303   (3)  30,675   29,489      61,464 
Operating income (loss)  
  52,381   42,594   267,728   (41,062)     321,641 
Depreciation and amortization  22,529   36,564   15,202   2,036      76,331 
Stock compensation expense  2,954   5,137   3,498   6,668      18,257 
Adjusted EBITDA (1)  
  77,864   84,295   286,428   (32,358)     416,229 
Less: securitization funding costs        22,763         22,763 
Less: interest expense on deposits        9,064         9,064 
Less: adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest  8,378               8,378 
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1)  
 $69,486  $84,295  $254,601  $(32,358) $  $376,024 

32

Index
ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (CONTINUED)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/ Other  Eliminations  Total 
  (In thousands) 
Revenues                                                        
 $988,755  $1,532,521  $2,189,113  $280  $(19,777) $4,690,892 
                         
Income (loss) before income taxes  143,919   69,496   692,423   (248,880)     656,958 
Interest expense, net  
  1,994   (15)  108,608   130,233      240,820 
Operating income (loss)  
  145,913   69,481   801,031   (118,647)     897,778 
Depreciation and amortization  61,586   244,535   54,057   6,936      367,114 
Stock compensation expense  8,122   37,209   11,308   16,704      73,343 
Regulatory settlement  
        64,563         64,563 
Adjusted EBITDA (1)  
  215,621   351,225   930,959   (95,007)     1,402,798 
Less: securitization funding costs        71,509         71,509 
Less: interest expense on deposits        37,099         37,099 
Less: adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest  18,400               18,400 
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1)  
 $197,221  $351,225  $822,351  $(95,007) $  $1,275,790 


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/ Other  Eliminations  Total 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 LoyaltyOne  Epsilon  Card Services  Corporate/ Other  Eliminations  Total 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Revenues
 $1,009,037  $1,082,111  $1,741,384  $372  $(15,713) $3,817,191  $388.0  $504.9  $714.7  $0.1  $(6.5) $1,601.2 
                                                
Income (loss) before income taxes  155,510   81,342   660,299   (203,321)     693,830  $53.8  $7.0  $259.7  $(74.0) $  $246.5 
Interest expense, net
  4,947   (22)  90,866   96,352      192,143   0.7      35.6   41.7      78.0 
Operating income (loss)
  160,457   81,320   751,165   (106,969)     885,973   54.5   7.0   295.3   (32.3)     324.5 
Depreciation and amortization  67,501   110,479   40,876   5,843      224,699   19.9   81.2   18.3   2.2      121.6 
Stock compensation expense  8,443   15,390   9,968   15,953      49,754   3.0   15.4   3.7   5.4      27.5 
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
  236,401   207,189   802,009   (85,173)     1,160,426   77.4   103.6   317.3   (24.7)     473.6 
Less: securitization funding costs        67,974         67,974 
Less: interest expense on deposits        25,526         25,526 
Less: adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest  24,381               24,381 
Less: Securitization funding costs        23.8         23.8 
Less: Interest expense on deposits        11.7         11.7 
Less: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest  7.8               7.8 
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1)
 $212,020  $207,189  $708,509  $(85,173) $  $1,042,545  $69.6  $103.6  $281.8  $(24.7) $  $430.3 
                                                
(1)
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure based on GAAP plus stock compensation expense, provision for income taxes, interest expense, net, depreciation and other amortization, and the amortization of purchased intangibles and regulatory settlement.intangibles. Adjusted EBITDA, net is also a non-GAAP financial measure equal to adjusted EBITDA less securitization funding costs, interest expense on deposits and adjusted EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net are presented in accordance with ASC 280 as they are the primary performance metrics utilized to assess performance of the segments.
19.18. NON-CASH FINANCING AND INVESTING ACTIVITIES
In September 2015,March 2016, the Company purchased 30,00023,144 treasury shares under the Company's stock repurchase program for an aggregate amount of $7.6$5.0 million that had not settled as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and was included in accounts payable in the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
3329

Index
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto presented in this quarterly report and the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014,2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, on February 27, 2015.25, 2016.
2015First Quarter 2016 Highlights and Recent Developments
For the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015, revenueMarch 31, 2016, as compared to three months ended March 31, 2015:
Revenue increased 23%5% to $4.7 billion and adjusted$1.7 billion.
Net income decreased 4% to $158.9 million.
Adjusted EBITDA, net increased 22%2% to $1.3 billion as compared$439.5 million.
Earnings per share increased 1% to $2.35.
We repurchased approximately 2.0 million shares for $413.8 million for the prior year period.three months ended March 31, 2016.
Effective January 1, 2016, we acquired an additional 10% ownership interest in BrandLoyalty Group B.V., or BrandLoyalty, for approximately $102.0 million, bringing our total ownership interest to 80%.
For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we purchased three existing private label credit card portfolios for total consideration paid of $755.3 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments.
LoyaltyOne®
LoyaltyOne generates revenue primarily from our coalition and short-term loyalty program in Canada, theprograms through our AIR MILES® Reward Program and our ownership interest in BrandLoyalty Group B.V., or BrandLoyalty. Effective January 1, 2015, our ownership interest in BrandLoyalty increased from 60% to 70%.
Revenue for the LoyaltyOne segment decreased 2%9% to $988.8$354.6 million and adjusted EBITDA, net decreased 7%increased 6% to $197.2$73.7 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, in each case as compared to the prior year period. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar against both the Euro and Canadian dollar negatively impacted revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net by approximately $174.2$23.9 million and $32.0$5.9 million, respectively.
Excluding foreign currency impacts, revenue decreased approximately 2% and adjusted EBITDA, net increased approximately 14%. Revenue was negatively impacted by approximately 15%different timing of short-term loyalty programs of our clients between years. These short-term loyalty programs are typically 12-20 weeks in duration and 8%, respectively,the number in market can move between quarters on an annual basis. Adjusted EBITDA increased due to growth from both our short-termmargin expansion as a result of strong cost controls and coalition loyalty programs. lower product procurement costs.
Our short-term loyalty programs have expandedcontinued their expansion into North America, currently operatingAmerica. After entering Canada in Canada,2015, we launched one pilot program in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2016 and with the potentialexpect to launch a second U.S. pilot in 2016.program later this year.
For the AIR MILES Reward Program, AIR MILES reward miles issued and AIR MILES reward miles redeemed are the two primary drivers of revenue and indicators of success of the program. The number of AIR MILES reward miles issued impacts the number of future AIR MILES reward miles available to be redeemed. This can also impact future revenue recognized with respect to the number of AIR MILES reward miles redeemed and the amount of breakage for those AIR MILES reward miles expected to remain unredeemed.
Within our coalition loyalty program, AIR MILES reward miles issued during the three months ended March 31, 2016 increased 11%5% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015 due to the grocer vertical, driven byincreased promotional activity by our sponsors and bygrowth in our instant reward program option, AIR MILES Cash. For the expansionthree months ended March 31, 2016, the AIR MILES Cash program option represented approximately 21% of our relationship with Sobeys.the AIR MILES reward miles issued and 20% of the AIR MILES reward miles redeemed. AIR MILES reward miles redeemed increased 11%6% due to higher redemptions under ourwithin the AIR MILES Cash program option. We have experienced strong promotional activity in particular from our grocer sponsors, but expect this to lessen in the fourth quarter and expect mid-single-digit issuance growth for the year.
During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, LoyaltyOne announced a multi-year contract renewal with Metro Ontario Inc., a national grocery retailer in Canada, which extends our partnership in the Ontario market. In addition, we announced an expansion of our relationship with Sobeys another Canadian grocery retailer, to begin to issue AIR MILES reward miles at Needs Convenience and Sobeys Sobeys Urban Fresh and Foodland stores across Ontarioexpress convenience store locations in 2015. We also announced a multi-year renewal of our agreement with Shell Canada Products as a sponsor in the AIR MILES Reward Program and signed a new multi-year agreement with Shell Canada Products, as the licensor and franchisor of the JiffyLube® brand in Canada, to allow AIR MILES reward miles to be issued at the more than 150 participating JiffyLube service centers throughout Canada. We also signed a new multi-year agreement with Lowe's Canada, a Canadian home improvement company, to become a sponsor in the AIR MILES Reward Program.
Additionally, on August 31, 2015, BrandLoyalty acquired all of the stock of Edison International Concept & Agencies B.V., or Edison, and Max Holding B.V., or Merison, two Netherlands-based loyalty marketers, for consideration of approximately $45.4 million. The acquisition expands BrandLoyalty's short-term loyalty programs into new markets with new brands and is expected to have an immaterial impact to our results of operations for 2015.Atlantic-Canadian provinces.
3430

Index
Epsilon®
Epsilon is a leading marketing services firm providing end-to-end, integrated marketing solutions that leverage rich data, analytics, creativity and technology to help clients more effectively acquire, retain and grow relationships with their customers. Services include strategic consulting, customer database technologies, omnichannel marketing, loyalty management, proprietary data, predictive modeling, permission-based email marketing, personalized digital marketing and a full range of direct and digital agency services.
Revenue increased 42%decreased 2% to $1.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 70% to $351.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, in each case as compared to the same period in 2014. These increases were primarily due to the acquisition of Conversant, Inc., or Conversant®, in December 2014, which added $398.6 million and $133.5 million of revenue and adjusted EBITDA, net, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Excluding Conversant, Epsilon's revenues increased $51.8$493.3 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased $10.5decreased 22% to $80.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year. We observed weakness in our agency offerings, specifically in the telecommunications, consumer packaged goods and retail verticals, and adjusted EBITDA was negatively impacted by the decline in revenue and an increase in payroll costs in the current quarter. These declines were offset in part by an 8% increase in digital and technology platforms revenue, driven by database builds completed and placed in production for new clients and strength in customer relationship marketing services as well as the automotive vertical, bothonboarding of which have offset some weakness within our agency offerings.new clients.
During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, Epsilon announced new multi-year agreements with Nature's Way,Lamps Plus, a dietary supplement brand, to serve as the digital agency of record across a number of brands andnational lighting retailer, to provide CRMtargeted email marketing services, and with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.,Shire plc, a Time Warnerglobal biotechnology company, to build and host a database platform and provide analytics and data services to support the Turner Data Cloud infrastructure.database marketing services.
Card Services
In the first quarter of 2015, we renamedCard Services provides risk management solutions, account origination, funding services, transaction processing, marketing, customer care and collection services for our Private Label Servicesmore than 160 private label retail and Credit segment to "Card Services," which had no impact to the reported results of the segment in the current or prior periods.co-branded credit card programs.
Revenue, generated primarily from finance charges and late fees as well as other servicing fees, increased 26%17% to $2.2 billion$835.5 million and adjusted EBITDA, net increased 16%9% to $822.4$307.5 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015, in each caseMarch 31, 2016 as compared to the same period in 2014.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2015,prior year period. These increases were driven by higher average credit card and loan receivables, which increased 32%27% as compared to the same period in the prior year period as a result of increased credit sales, recent client signings and recent credit card portfolio acquisitions. Credit sales increased 35%25% for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 due to cardholder growth, strong credit cardholder spending and cardholder growth due to recent client signings and recent credit card portfolio acquisitions.
Delinquency rates were 4.3% of principal credit card and loan receivables at March 31, 2016 as compared to 3.9% at March 31, 2015. The principal net charge-off rate was 5.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to 4.5% for the prior year period. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we expect our charge-off rate to approximate 5.0%.
During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, Card Services announced the signing of new multi-year agreements to provide co-brand credit card services to Red Roof Inn, a hotel chain; Cornerstone, a business unit of HSN, Inc.; Farmers Insurance, one of the largest multiline insurers in the U.S; and Univision Communications Inc., a media company. We also announced the renewal of multi-year agreements to continue providing private label credit card services to Talbots, Inc., a women's apparel retailer, and FULLBEAUTY Brands, a fashion and lifestyle resource for plus-size women. We also signed a new multi-yearlong-term agreement to provide private label credit card services and assume management of an existing co-brand card program in the United States for Toyota,to Boscov's Department Store, LLC, a leading automaker, and to acquire the existing co-brand credit card portfolio at a future date.national department store chain.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," included in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014.2015.
Recently Issued Pronouncements
See "Recently Issued Accounting Standards" under Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of certain accounting standards that have been issued during 2014 and 2015.recently issued.
31

Index

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income, the most directly comparable financial measure based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, plus stock compensation expense, provision for income taxes, interest expense, net, depreciation and other amortization, and the amortization of purchased intangibles and regulatory settlement.intangibles. Adjusted EBITDA, net is also a non-GAAP financial measure equal to adjusted EBITDA less securitization funding costs, interest expense on deposits and adjusted EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest.
35

Index
We use adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net as an integral part of our internal reporting to measure the performance of our reportable segments and to evaluate the performance of our senior management. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net are each considered an important indicator of the operational strength of our businesses. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect across all business segments of considerable amounts of non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of intangible assets, including certain intangible assets that were recognized in business combinations. A limitation of this measure, however, is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our businesses. Management evaluates the costs of such tangible and intangible assets, such as capital expenditures, investment spending and return on capital and therefore the effects are excluded from adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA also eliminates the non-cash effect of stock compensation expense.
Stock compensation expense and regulatory settlement are not included in the measurement of segment adjusted EBITDA provided to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of assessing segment performance and decision making with respect to resource allocations. In addition to the above, adjusted EBITDA, net also excludes the interest associated with financing our credit card and loan receivables, which represents securitization funding costs and interest on deposits, and the percentage of the adjusted EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest. We believe that adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net provide useful information to our investors regarding our performance and overall results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net are not intended to be performance measures that should be regarded as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, either operating income or net income as indicators of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. In addition, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net are not intended to represent funds available for dividends, reinvestment or other discretionary uses, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net measures presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and may not be identical to corresponding measures used in our various agreements.
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  Three Months Ended March 31, 
 2015  2014  2015  2014  2016  2015 
 (In thousands)  (In millions) 
Net income
 $130,382  $164,948  $425,253  $439,884  $158.9  $164.8 
Stock compensation expense
  21,813   18,257   73,343   49,754   19.9   27.5 
Provision for income taxes
  75,031   95,229   231,705   253,946   86.6   81.7 
Interest expense, net
  82,098   61,464   240,820   192,143   98.8   78.0 
Depreciation and other amortization
  36,450   28,070   104,983   79,555   39.8   33.6 
Amortization of purchased intangibles
  86,930   48,261   262,131   145,144   88.6   88.0 
Regulatory settlement
  64,563      64,563    
Adjusted EBITDA
  497,267   416,229   1,402,798   1,160,426   492.6   473.6 
Less: Securitization funding costs
  23,143   22,763   71,509   67,974   30.4   23.8 
Less: Interest expense on deposits
  13,719   9,064   37,099   25,526   17.2   11.7 
Less: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to non-controlling interest
  7,455   8,378   18,400   24,381   5.5   7.8 
Adjusted EBITDA, net
 $452,950  $376,024  $1,275,790  $1,042,545  $439.5  $430.3 
3632

Index
Consolidated Results of Operations
Three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015
 Three Months Ended September 30,  % Change  Three Months Ended March 31,  % Change 
 2015  2014  2015 to 2014  2016  2015  2016 to 2015 
Revenues (In thousands, except percentages)  (In millions, except percentages) 
Transaction
 $83,126  $87,162   (5)% $82.5  $93.3   (12)%
Redemption
  220,922   232,464   
(5
)  278.2   308.1   (10)
Finance charges, net
  737,918   597,892   23   808.0   679.5   19 
Marketing services
  498,955   353,525   41   452.0   471.2   (4)
Other revenue
  48,196   48,090      55.4   49.1   13 
Total revenue
  1,589,117   1,319,133   20%  1,676.1   1,601.2   5%
Operating expenses                        
Cost of operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)  901,095   767,415   17   1,003.9   990.0   1 
Provision for loan loss
  171,678   114,577   50   171.9   134.9   27 
General and administrative
  40,890   39,169   4   27.6   30.2   (9)
Regulatory settlement
  64,563      100 
Depreciation and other amortization
  36,450   28,070   30   39.8   33.6   18 
Amortization of purchased intangibles
  86,930   48,261   80   88.6   88.0   1 
Total operating expenses
  1,301,606   997,492   30%  1,331.8   1,276.7   4%
Operating income
  287,511   321,641   (11)%  344.3   324.5   6%
Interest expense                        
Securitization funding costs
  23,143   22,763   2   30.4   23.8   28 
Interest expense on deposits
  13,719   9,064   51   17.2   11.7   46 
Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net
  45,236   29,637   53   51.2   42.5   21 
Total interest expense, net
  82,098   61,464   34   98.8   78.0   27 
Income before income tax
 $205,413  $260,177   (21)% $245.5  $246.5   %
Provision for income taxes
  75,031   95,229   (21)  86.6   81.7   6 
Net income
 $130,382  $164,948   (21)% $158.9  $164.8   (4)%
                        
Key Operating Metrics:                        
Credit card statements generated
  60,025   52,319   15%  65.5   58.7   12%
Credit sales
 $6,000,355  $4,479,375   34% $6,178.2  $4,959.8   25%
Average credit card and loan receivables
 $11,369,434  $8,736,664   30% $13,536.7  $10,677.3   27%
AIR MILES reward miles issued
  1,355,744   1,286,668   5%  1,286.3   1,228.9   5%
AIR MILES reward miles redeemed
  1,061,336   992,761   7%  1,283.9   1,212.6   6%
Revenue. Total revenue increased $270.0$74.9 million, or 20%5%, to $1.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $1.6 billion for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2015from $1.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2014. The net increase was due to the following:
Transaction. Revenue decreased $4.0$10.8 million, or 5%12%, to $83.1$82.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016 as a result of a $7.5 million decrease in servicing fees charged to our credit cardholders due to changes in program fee structures as well as a $2.8 million decrease in AIR MILES reward miles issuance fees, for which we provide marketing and administrative services, decreased $5.1 million as a result ofdue to the decline in the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. In Canadian dollars, issuance fees increased due to the growth in issuance over the last several quarters. This decrease was offset in part by an increase in servicing fees charged to our credit cardholders.
Redemption. Revenue decreased $11.5$29.9 million, or 5%10%, to $220.9$278.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. RevenueMarch 31, 2016. Redemption revenue was negatively impacted by the decline in both the Euro and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $43.2$15.8 million decrease in revenue. ThisExcluding the impact of foreign exchange, redemption revenue decreased $14.1 million due to an $18.2 million decrease was offset in part by resulting from the increase intiming of short-term loyalty programs in the market duringfor the three months ended September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year period, offset by an increase in revenue from our coalition loyalty program due to a 6% increase in the number of AIR MILES reward miles redeemed.
3733

Index

Finance charges, net. Revenue increased $140.0$128.5 million, or 23%19%, to $737.9$808.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016. This increase was driven by a 30%27% increase in average credit card and loan receivables, which increased revenue $180.2$182.0 million through a combination of recent credit card portfolio acquisitions and strong cardholder spending. This increase was offset in part by a 140an approximate 160 basis point decline in finance charge yield due to improvement in early stage delinquencies and the onboarding of new programs, which decreased revenue by $40.1$53.5 million. Our finance charge yield has been negatively impacted by the growth of our co-brand credit card programs.
Marketing Services. Revenue increased $145.4decreased $19.2 million, or 41%4%, to $499.0$452.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016. The increasedecrease in revenue was driven by weakness in our agency offerings, specifically in the Conversant acquisition, which added $129.3 million. Additionally,telecommunications, consumer packaged goods and retail verticals.
Other revenue. Revenue increased $17.5$6.3 million, within our Epsilon segmentor 13%, to $55.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 due to database builds completed and placed into production for new clients as well as continued growth inadditional consulting services to existing clients and strength in the automotive vertical, all of which have offset some weakness within our agency offerings.provided by Epsilon.
Cost of operations. Cost of operations increased $133.7$13.9 million, or 17%1%, to $901.1$1,003.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 as compared to $767.4$990.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015. The slight net increase resulted fromwas due to the following:
Within the LoyaltyOne segment, cost of operations decreased $20.0$35.5 million impacted bydue to the decline in both the Euro and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $45.1an $18.1 million decrease in cost of operations. In local currency, costAdditionally, excluding the impact of operations increased during this period as a result of the increase in theforeign exchange, cost of redemptions duedeclined $20.6 million related to the number ofour short-term loyalty programs with fewer programs in market for the marketthree months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year period.
Within the Epsilon segment, cost of operations increased $109.7$4.4 million due to the Conversant acquisition, which added $96.9 million. Excluding Conversant, cost of operations increased $12.8a $6.9 million due to an increase of $7.7 million in direct expenses associated with the increase in revenue and an increase of $5.1 million in payroll and benefits expense associated with the addition of associates to support growth.benefit expenses.
Within the Card Services segment, cost of operations increased by $45.3$46.0 million, as operating costs increased $30.3with a $33.6 million due to increasedincrease in credit card processing expenses resulting from higher volumes, and increased marketing expensesdue to support the growth in credit sales.growth. Additionally, payroll and benefit expenses increased $15.0$12.4 million due to an increase in the number of associates.associates to support growth.
Provision for loan loss. Provision for loan loss increased $57.1$37.0 million, or 50%27%, to $171.7$171.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 as compared to $114.6$134.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.March 31, 2015. The increase in the provision was driven by growth in ourhigher ending credit card and loan receivables which increased by 27%, andas well as an increase in the net principal loss rate.losses.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased $1.7decreased $2.6 million, or 4%9%, to $40.9$27.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 as compared to $39.2$30.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Lower discretionaryMarch 31, 2015, as lower payroll and benefit costs and professional feesexpenses were offset in part by highernet foreign currency exchange gains inrelated to the prior year period related toFebruary 2015 settlement of the contingent liability associated with the BrandLoyalty acquisition and the related foreign currency exchange forward contract.acquisition.
Regulatory settlement. For the three months ended September 30, 2015, we incurred approximately $64.6 million in expenses primarily associated with consent orders with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, to provide restitution of approximately $61.5 million to eligible customers and $2.5 million in civil money penalties to the FDIC.
Depreciation and other amortization. Depreciation and other amortization increased $8.4$6.2 million, or 30%18%, to $36.5$39.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, as compared to $28.1$33.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014,March 31, 2015, due to additional assets placed into service resulting from both the Conversant acquisition and recent capital expenditures.
Amortization of purchased intangibles. Amortization of purchased intangibles increased $38.7 million, or 80%,slightly to $86.9$88.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 as compared to $48.3$88.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.March 31, 2015. The increase relates to $41.9 million ofis driven by additional amortization associated with the intangible assets from the Conversant acquisition.recent portfolio acquisitions.
Interest expense, net. Total interest expense, net increased $20.6$20.8 million, or 34%27%, to $82.1$98.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 as compared to $61.5$78.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.March 31, 2015. The increase was due to the following:
Securitization funding costs. Securitization funding costs increased $0.4$6.6 million asdue to higher average borrowings were offset in part by lowerwith comparable average interest rates.
Interest expense on deposits. Interest expense on deposits increased $4.6$5.5 million due to an increase inhigher average borrowings with comparableand higher average interest rates.
Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net. Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net increased $15.6$8.7 million primarily due to an $11.1 million increase associated with both the $1.4 billion incremental term loan borrowed in December 2014 and the $600.0 million Senior Notes due 2022 issued in July 2014 as well as a $3.1$4.3 million increase related to additionalthe €300.0 million senior notes due 2023 issued in November 2015 and a $5.0 million increase related to the credit facility due to higher average balances resulting from the $200.0 million incremental term loans borrowed in September 2015 and borrowings on our revolving line of credit.credit, as well as slightly higher average interest rates.
Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $20.2increased $4.9 million to $75.0$86.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 from $95.2$81.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 due to a decrease in taxable income.
38

Index
Nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  % Change 
  2015  2014  2015 to 2014 
Revenues (In thousands, except percentages) 
Transaction  
 $263,195  $251,390   5%
Redemption  
  747,192   744,658    
Finance charges, net  
  2,101,360   1,672,339   26 
Marketing services  
  1,435,520   1,021,813   40 
Other revenue  
  143,625   126,991   13 
Total revenue  
  4,690,892   3,817,191   23%
Operating expenses            
Cost of operations (exclusive of depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)  2,787,501   2,323,210   20 
Provision for loan loss  
  461,944   281,811   64 
General and administrative  
  111,992   101,498   10 
Regulatory settlement  
  64,563      100 
Depreciation and other amortization  
  104,983   79,555   32 
Amortization of purchased intangibles  
  262,131   145,144   81 
Total operating expenses  
  3,793,114   2,931,218   29%
Operating income  
  897,778   885,973   1%
Interest expense            
Securitization funding costs  
  71,509   67,974   5 
Interest expense on deposits  
  37,099   25,526   45 
Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net  
  132,212   98,643   34 
Total interest expense, net  
  240,820   192,143   25 
Income before income tax  
  656,958   693,830   (5)%
Provision for income taxes  
  231,705   253,946   (9)
Net income  
 $425,253  $439,884   (3
)%
             
Key Operating Metrics:            
Credit card statements generated  
  177,920   154,448   15%
Credit sales  
 $16,968,812  $12,591,188   35%
Average credit card and loan receivables  
 $10,970,979  $8,309,963   32%
AIR MILES reward miles issued  
  4,066,816   3,680,226   11%
AIR MILES reward miles redeemed  
  3,416,116   3,087,839   11%
Revenue. Total revenue increased $873.7 million, or 23%, to $4.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $3.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase was due to the following:
Transaction. Revenue increased $11.8 million, or 5%, to $263.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to an increase in servicing fees charged to our credit cardholders. This increase was partially offset as AIR MILES reward miles issuance fees, for which we provide marketing and administrative services, decreased $7.1 million due to the decline in the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar. In Canadian dollars, issuance fees increased due to the growth in issuance over the last several quarters.
Redemption. Revenue increased $2.5 million to $747.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Despite the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, which negatively impacted revenue by $138.2 million, revenue increased due to a higher number of short-term loyalty programs in the market for the nine months ended September 30,effective tax rate. In 2015 as compared to the prior year period.
39

Index
Finance charges, net. Revenue increased $429.0 million, or 26%, to $2.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to a 32% increase in average credit card and loan receivables, which increased revenue $535.5 million. This increase was offset in part by a 130 basis point decline in finance charge yield, which decreased revenue by $106.5 million. Our finance charge yield has been negatively impacted by the growth in our co-brand credit card programs.
Marketing services. Revenue increased $413.7 million, or 40%, to $1.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Conversant acquisition added $373.7 million in revenue. Additionally, revenue increased $46.1 million within our Epsilon segment due to database builds completed and placed into production for new clients and strength in the automotive vertical, both of which have offset some weakness within our agency offerings.
Other revenue. Revenue increased $16.6 million, or 13%, to $143.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to the Conversant acquisition.
Cost of operations. Cost of operations increased $464.3 million, or 20%, to $2.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $2.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase resulted from the following:
Within the LoyaltyOne segment, cost of operations increased $0.2 million due to an increase in the cost of redemptions associated with the increase in redemption revenue as discussed above, offset in part by the decline in both the Euro and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $139.5 million decrease in cost of operations.
Within the Epsilon segment, cost of operations increased $328.2 million due primarily to the Conversant acquisition, which added $285.8 million. The remaining increase is due to an increase in payroll and benefits expense of $15.9 million associated with the addition of associates to support growth, including the onboarding of new clients, and an increase of $26.3 million in direct processing expenses associated with the increase in revenue.
Within the Card Services segment, cost of operations increased by $140.0 million. Payroll and benefits expense increased $37.3 million due to the addition of associates to support growth, and marketing expenses increased $14.5 million to support the growth in credit sales. Other operating expenses increased $88.2 million due to higher credit card processing costs associated with the increase in the number of statements generated and higher data processing expenses.
Provision for loan loss. Provision for loan loss increased $180.1 million, or 64%, to $461.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $281.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase in the provision was driven by growth in our credit card and loan receivables and the turnover of credit card receivables acquired in 2014.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased $10.5 million, or 10%, to $112.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $101.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, due to an increase in payroll expense and higher discretionary benefits.
Regulatory settlement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we incurred approximately $64.6 million in expenses primarily associated with consent orders with the FDIC to provide restitution of approximately $61.5 million to eligible customers and $2.5 million in civil money penalties to the FDIC.
Depreciation and other amortization. Depreciation and other amortization increased $25.4 million, or 32%, to $105.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $79.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, due to additional assets placed in service resulting from both the Conversant acquisition and recent capital expenditures.
Amortization of purchased intangibles. Amortization of purchased intangibles increased $117.0 million, or 81%, to $262.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $145.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase relates to $125.7 million of additional amortization associated with the intangible assets from the Conversant acquisition.
40

Index
Interest expense, net. Total interest expense, net increased $48.7 million, or 25%, to $240.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to $192.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase was due to the following:
Securitization funding costs. Securitization funding costs increased $3.5 million, as higher average borrowings were offset in part by lower average interest rates.
Interest expense on deposits. Interest expense on deposits increased $11.6 million due to an increase in average borrowings, offset in part by lower average interest rates.
Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net. Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net increased $33.6 million as a result of a $43.8 million increase in interest expense associated with both the $1.4 billion incremental term loan borrowed in December 2014 and the $600.0 million Senior Notes due 2022 issued in July 2014 as well as a $4.0 million increase related to additional borrowings on our revolving line of credit. These increases were offset by a decrease in interest expense of $17.5 million associated with the convertible senior notes that were repaid at maturity in May 2014.
Taxes. Income tax expense decreased $22.2 million to $231.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $253.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 due to a decline in the effective tax rate as well as a decrease in taxable income. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 improved to 35.3% as compared to 36.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, primarily due towas positively impacted by both a favorable state tax ruling and a lapse in an applicable statute of limitations.
34

Index
Segment Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA, net
Three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014
 Three Months Ended September 30,  % Change   Three Months Ended March 31,  % Change 
 2015  2014  2015 to 2014   2016  2015  2016 to 2015 
Revenue:Revenue: (In thousands, except percentages) Revenue: (In millions, except percentages) 
LoyaltyOne
LoyaltyOne
 $299,143  $324,484   
(8
)%
LoyaltyOne
 $354.6  $388.0   (9)%
Epsilon
Epsilon
  532,448   377,554   41 
Epsilon
  493.3   504.9   (2)
Card Services
Card Services
  763,997   622,330   23 
Card Services
  835.5   714.7   17 
Corporate/Other
Corporate/Other
  138   144  nm 
Corporate/Other
  0.1   0.1  nm 
Eliminations
Eliminations
  (6,609)  (5,379) nm 
Eliminations
  (7.4)  (6.5) nm 
Total
Total
 $1,589,117  $1,319,133   20%
Total
 $1,676.1  $1,601.2   5%
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1):
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1):
            
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1):
            
LoyaltyOne
LoyaltyOne
 $64,491  $69,486   (7)%
LoyaltyOne
 $73.7  $69.6   6%
Epsilon
Epsilon
  135,035   84,295   60 
Epsilon
  80.7   103.6   (22)
Card Services
Card Services
  289,163   254,601   14 
Card Services
  307.5   281.8   9 
Corporate/Other
Corporate/Other
  (35,739)  (32,358)  10 
Corporate/Other
  (22.4)  (24.7)  (9)
Eliminations
Eliminations
       nm 
Total
Total
 $452,950  $376,024   20%
Total
 $439.5  $430.3   2%
                          
(1)Adjusted EBITDA, net is equal to net income, plus stock compensation expense, provision for income taxes, interest expense, net, depreciation and amortization and amortization of purchased intangibles, and regulatory settlement, less securitization funding costs, interest expense on deposits and adjusted EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest. For a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA, net to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in this report.
nm – not meaningful.
41

Index
Three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015
Revenue. Total revenue increased $270.0$74.9 million, or 20%5%, to $1.7 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2016 from $1.6 billion for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2015from $1.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2014. The net increase was due to the following:
LoyaltyOne. Revenue decreased $25.3$33.4 million, or 8%9%, to $299.1$354.6 million for the three months ended September 30March 31, 2015.2016. Revenue was negatively impacted by the decline in both the Euro and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $58.9$23.9 million decrease in revenue. This decreaseAdditionally, revenue was offset in partnegatively impacted by the increase intiming of short-term loyalty programs in the market during the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year period.
Epsilon. Revenue increased $154.9decreased $11.6 million, or 41%2%, to $532.4$493.3 million for the three months ended September 30March 31, 20152016 due primarily to a $39.4 million decrease in our agency offerings, specifically in the Conversant acquisition, which added $137.6 million. Revenue also increased due to the completion of database builds for new clients placedtelecommunications, consumer packaged goods and retail verticals. This weakness was offset in production,part by a $27.8 million increase in digital and technology platforms revenue, driven by strength in customer relationship marketing services as well as continued growth in services to existing clients and strength in the automotive vertical, allonboarding of which have offset some weakness within our agency offerings.new clients.
Card Services. Revenue increased $141.7$120.8 million, or 23%17%, to $764.0$835.5 million for the three months ended September 30March 31, 2015. Finance charges, net increased by $140.0 million,2016, driven by a 30%$128.5 million increase in finance charges, net as a result of a 27% increase in average credit card and loan receivables which was a result ofdue to recent portfolio acquisitions and strong cardholder spending. Other servicing fees charged to our credit cardholders increased $1.9 million due to higher volumes.
Adjusted EBITDA, net. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased $76.9$9.2 million, or 20%2%, to $453.0$439.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 from $376.0$430.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015. The net increase was due to the following:
LoyaltyOne. Adjusted EBITDA, net decreased $5.0increased $4.1 million, or 7%6%, to $64.5$73.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016. Adjusted EBITDA net margins expanded in the current year period as a result of strong cost controls and lower product procurement costs, but this expansion was negatively impactedoffset in part by the decline in both the Euro anda weaker Canadian dollar relative toand Euro against the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $12.8 million decrease innegatively impacted adjusted EBITDA, net offset in part by the increase in short-term loyalty programs in the market during the three months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the prior year period.$5.9 million.
Epsilon. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased $50.7decreased $22.9 million, or 60%22%, to $135.0$80.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA, net was positively impacted byMarch 31, 2016, primarily due to the acquisition of Conversant, which contributed $45.8 million, and new database builds placed into production.decline in revenue coupled with an increase in payroll costs in the current year period.
Card Services. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased $34.6$25.7 million, or 14%9%, to $289.2$307.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016. Adjusted EBITDA, net was positively impacted by thean increase in finance charges, net, but offset in part by both an increase in operating expenses due to increased volumes and an increase in the provision for loan loss resulting from both an increase in credit card and loan receivables and an increase in the net loss rate.
Corporate/Other. Adjusted EBITDA, net decreased $3.4 million to a loss of $35.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 as lower discretionary benefit costs and professional fees were offset by higher foreign currency exchange gains in the prior year period related to the contingent liability associated with the BrandLoyalty acquisition and the related foreign currency exchange forward contract.
42

Index
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014
  Nine Months Ended September 30,  % Change 
  2015  2014  2015 to 2014 
Revenue: (In thousands, except percentages) 
LoyaltyOne  
 $988,755  $1,009,037   (2)%
Epsilon  
  1,532,521   1,082,111   42 
Card Services  
  2,189,113   1,741,384   26 
Corporate/Other  
  280   372  nm 
Eliminations  
  (19,777)  (15,713) nm 
Total  
 $4,690,892  $3,817,191   23%
Adjusted EBITDA, net (1):
            
LoyaltyOne  
 $197,221  $212,020   (7)%
Epsilon  
  351,225   207,189   70 
Card Services  
  822,351   708,509   16 
Corporate/Other  
  (95,007)  (85,173)  12 
Total  
 $1,275,790  $1,042,545   22%
              
(1)Adjusted EBITDA, net is equal to net income, plus stock compensation expense, provision for income taxes, interest expense, net, depreciation and amortization, amortization of purchased intangibles and regulatory settlement, less securitization funding costs, interest expense on deposits and adjusted EBITDA attributable to the non-controlling interest. For a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA, net to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in this report.
nm – not meaningful.
Revenue. Total revenue increased $873.7 million, or 23%, to $4.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $3.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The net increase was due to the following:
LoyaltyOne. Revenue decreased $20.3 million, or 2%, to $988.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Revenue was negatively impacted by the decline in both the Euro and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $174.2 million decrease in revenue. This decrease was offset in part by a greater number of short-term loyalty programs in the market during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the prior year period.
Epsilon. Revenue increased $450.4 million, or 42%, to $1.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Conversant acquisition added $398.6 million. Excluding the Conversant acquisition, Epsilon's revenue increased $51.8 million as a result of the completion of database builds placed in production for new clients and strength in the automotive vertical, both of which have offset some weakness within our agency offerings.
Card Services. Revenue increased $447.7 million, or 26%, to $2.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Finance charges, net increased by $429.0 million, driven by a 32% increase in average credit card and loan receivables due to strong cardholder spending and new client signings. Other servicing fees charged to our credit cardholders increased $19.5 million due to higher volumes.
Adjusted EBITDA, net. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased $233.2 million, or 22%, to $1.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 from $1.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The net increase was due to the following:
LoyaltyOne. Adjusted EBITDA, net decreased $14.8 million, or 7%, to $197.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA, net was negatively impacted by the decline in both the Euro and Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar, which resulted in a $32.0 million decrease in adjusted EBITDA, net, offset in part by the number of short-term loyalty programs in the market as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014.
43

Index
Epsilon. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased $144.0 million, or 70%, to $351.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Conversant acquisition added $133.5 million. Excluding the Conversant acquisition, adjusted EBITDA, net increased by $10.5 million driven by database builds completed and placed in production for new clients.
Card Services. Adjusted EBITDA, net increased $113.8 million, or 16%, to $822.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Adjusted EBITDA, net was positively impacted by the increase in finance charges, net, but offset in part by both an increase in operating expenses due to increased volumes and an increase in the provision for loan loss due to the increase in credit card and loan receivables.
Corporate/Other. Adjusted EBITDA, net decreased $9.8increased $2.3 million to a loss of $95.0$22.4 million for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 as lower payroll and benefit expenses were offset in part by net foreign currency exchange gains related to the February 2015 due primarily to an increase in payroll expense and higher discretionary benefits.settlement of the contingent liability associated with the BrandLoyalty acquisition.
35

Index
Asset Quality
Our delinquency and net charge-off rates reflect, among other factors, the credit risk of our credit card and loan receivables, the success of our collection and recovery efforts, and general economic conditions.
Delinquencies. A credit card account is contractually delinquent when we do not receive the minimum payment by the specified due date on the cardholder's statement. Our policy is to continue to accrue interest and fee income on all credit card accounts beyond 90 days, except in limited circumstances, until the credit card account balance and all related interest and other fees are paid or charged-off, typically at 180 days delinquent. When an account becomes delinquent, a message is printed on the credit cardholder's billing statement requesting payment. After an account becomes 30 days past due, a proprietary collection scoring algorithm automatically scores the risk of the account becoming further delinquent. The collection system then recommends a collection strategy for the past due account based on the collection score and account balance and dictates the contact schedule and collections priority for the account. If we are unable to make a collection after exhausting all in-house collection efforts, we may engage collection agencies and outside attorneys to continue those efforts.
The following table presents the delinquency trends of our credit card and loan receivables portfolio:
 
September 30,
2015
  
% of
Total
  
December 31,
2014
  
% of
Total
  
March 31,
2016
  
% of
Total
  
December 31,
2015
  
% of
Total
 
 (In thousands, except percentages)  (In millions, except percentages) 
Receivables outstanding – principal
 $11,297,882   100.0% $10,762,498   100.0% $12,881.4   100.0% $13,196.4   100.0%
Principal receivables balances contractually delinquent:                                
31 to 60 days
  175,018   1.5%  157,760   1.4%  174.5   1.4%  178.5   1.4%
61 to 90 days
  113,360   1.0   93,175   0.9   125.5   1.0   124.1   0.9 
91 or more days
  225,553   2.0   182,945   1.7   247.9   1.9   257.0   1.9 
Total
 $513,931   4.5% $433,880   4.0% $547.9   4.3% $559.6   4.2%
Net Charge-Offs. Our net charge-offs include the principal amount of losses from cardholders unwilling or unable to pay their account balances, as well as bankrupt and deceased credit cardholders, less recoveries and exclude charged-off interest, fees and fraud losses. Charged-off interest and fees reduce finance charges, net while fraud losses are recorded as an expense. Credit card and loan receivables, including unpaid interest and fees, are charged-off at the end of the month during which an account becomes 180 days contractually past due, except in the case of customer bankruptcies or death. Credit card and loan receivables, including unpaid interest and fees, associated with customer bankruptcies or death are charged-off at the end of each month subsequent to 60 days after the receipt of notification of the bankruptcy or death, but in any case, not later than the 180-day contractual time frame.
44

Index
The net charge-off rate is calculated by dividing net charge-offs of principal receivables for the period by the average credit card and loan receivables for the period. Average credit card and loan receivables represent the average balance of the cardholder receivables at the beginning of each month in the periods indicated. The following table presents our net charge-offs for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
  
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 Three Months Ended March 31, 
2015  2014  2015  2014 2016  2015 
(In thousands, except percentages) (In millions, except percentages) 
Average credit card receivables
$11,369,434  $8,736,664  $10,970,979  $8,309,963 $13,536.7  $10,677.3 
Net charge-offs of principal receivables
 123,748   87,803   365,369   275,126  176.4   119.9 
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average credit card receivables
 4.4%  4.0%  4.4%  4.4% 5.2%  4.5%
See Note 4,3, "Credit Card and Loan Receivables," of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the securitization of our credit card receivables.
36

Index
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating Activities.We generated cash flow from operating activitiesOur primary sources of $1,031.2 million and $968.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in cash flow from operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to the prior year period is a result of non-cash charges to income, such as the increase in the provision for loan loss due to the increase in credit card receivables. Changes in the fair value of the contingent liability for the BrandLoyalty acquisition from the initial valuation are classified as an adjustment to cash flow from operating activities and, as such, the adjustment of $99.6 million during the first quarter of 2015 negatively impacted our cash flow from operating activities. Increases in working capital, due primarily to the reduction of accounts payable and accrued expenses, also negatively impacted our cash flow from operating activities.
We utilize our cash flow from operating activities for ongoing business operations, repayments of our revolving line of credit or other debt, acquisitions and capital expenditures.
Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities was $1,103.0 million and $1,862.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Significant components of investing activities are as follows:
Redemption settlement assets. Cash decreased $16.4 million and $48.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The use of cash in the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was related to an increase in funding related to the change in breakage rate at December 31, 2013.
Restricted cash. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we collected principal accumulation of $316.5 million for the repayment of non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitized debt that was repaid in October 2014.
Credit card and loan receivables, net. Cash decreased $913.8 million and $633.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, due to growth in credit card receivables associated with recent portfolio acquisitions and strong core cardholder spending.
Purchase of credit card portfolios. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we paid $379.6 million to acquire two co-brand credit card portfolios.
Proceeds from the sale of credit card portfolio. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we sold a credit card portfolio, resulting in proceeds of approximately $26.9 million.
Payments for acquired business, net of cash acquired. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we acquired two Netherlands-based loyalty marketing businesses for approximately $45.4 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we utilized cash of $259.5 million for the acquisition of our 60% ownership interest in BrandLoyalty on January 2, 2014.
Capital expenditures. Cash paid for capital expenditures was $140.1 million and $114.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. We anticipate capital expenditures to continue to be approximately 3% of annual revenue.
Purchases of other investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, we purchased $100.1 million of U.S. Treasury bonds.
45

Index
Financing Activities. Cash used in financing activities was $7.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to cash provided by financing activities of $564.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the primary uses of cash were to acquire treasury shares of $856.9 million, settle the BrandLoyalty contingent liability of $205.9 million and acquire the additional 10% ownership in BrandLoyalty for $87.4 million. These uses were partially offset by the issuance of the new term loan of $200.0 million in September 2015 and borrowings under our debt agreements. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, cash provided by financing activities was primarily from new borrowings, including the $600.0 million issuance of senior notes due 2022 in July 2014.
Liquidity Sources. In addition toliquidity include cash generated from operating activities, our primary sources of liquidity include our credit card securitization program, deposits issued by Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank, our credit agreementsagreement and issuances of debt and equity securities. In addition to our efforts to renew and expand our current liquidity sources, we continue to seek new funding sources. We continue to expand our certificates of deposit and our money market deposits to supplement liquidity for our credit card and loan receivables.
Quantitative measures established by regulations to ensure capital adequacy require Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1 and total capital to risk weighted assets and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. TheAs of March 31, 2016, Comenity Bank's Common Equity Tier 1 risk-basedcapital ratio was 14.6%, Tier 1 risk-based ratio, total risk-based capital ratio was 14.6%, total capital ratio was 15.9% and Tier 1 leverage ratio forwas 13.7%. As of March 31, 2016, Comenity Bank were 16.5%, 16.5%, 17.8% and 15.6%, respectively, at September 30, 2015. TheCapital Bank's Common Equity Tier 1 risk-basedcapital ratio was 12.9%, Tier 1 risk-based ratio, total risk-based capital ratio was 12.9%, total capital ratio was 14.2% and Tier 1 leverage ratio for Comenity Capital Bank were 13.7%, 13.7%, 15.0% and 13.8%, respectively, at September 30, 2015.was 13.3%. Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank are considered well capitalized.
Our primary uses of cash are for ongoing business operations, repayments of our debt, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, and stock repurchases.
We may from time to time seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt through cash purchases or exchanges for other securities, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such repurchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
We believe that internally generated funds and other sources of liquidity discussed abovebelow will be sufficient to meet working capital needs, capital expenditures, and other business requirements for at least the next 12 months.
Cash Flow Activity
Operating Activities.We generated cash flow from operating activities of $257.4 million and $174.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in operating cash flows during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year period is driven by the settlement of the contingent liability associated with the BrandLoyalty acquisition during the quarter ended March 31, 2015. Changes in the fair value of the contingent liability from the initial valuation are classified as an adjustment to operating cash flows and as such, the adjustment of $99.6 million during the first quarter of 2015 negatively impacted our operating cash flow. This increase in cash flow from operating activities was offset in part by an increase in cash used in working capital during the current year period, due primarily to the reduction of accounts payable and accrued expenses.
Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities was $747.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to cash provided by investing activities of $337.3 million for the prior year period. Significant components of investing activities are as follows:
Restricted cash. The use of cash increased $312.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 due to the principal accumulation for the repayment of non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitized debt that matures in May 2016.
Credit card and loan receivables, net. Cash increased $383.9 million and $401.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, due to the seasonal paydown of credit card and loan receivables.
Purchase of credit card portfolios. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, we paid $755.3 million to acquire three private label credit card portfolios.
Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities was $286.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to cash used in financing activities of $811.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the primary sources of cash were net borrowings under our debt agreements, including the asset-backed conduit facilities. These sources were partially offset by uses of $408.8 million to acquire treasury shares and $102.0 million to acquire an additional 10% ownership in BrandLoyalty. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the primary uses of cash were $542.6 million to acquire treasury shares, $205.9 million to settle the BrandLoyalty contingent liability and $87.4 million to acquire an additional 10% ownership in BrandLoyalty.
37

Debt
Long-term and Other Debt
As of September 30, 2015, we were in compliance with our debt covenants.
2013 Credit Facility. In September 2015, we amended our credit agreement, or the 2013 Credit Facility, and borrowed incremental term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $200.0 million that mature on September 23, 2016. These term loans bear interest at the same rates and are generally subject to the same terms as the existing term loans under the 2013 Credit Facility. Subsequent to the amendment, our 2013 Credit Facility provides for $2.85 billion in term loans, subject to certain principal repayments, and a $1.3 billion revolving line of credit.
As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, we had $749.0$982.0 million outstanding under the 2013 Credit Facilityour credit facility and total availability of $551.0$318.0 million. Our total leverage ratio, as defined in our credit agreement, was 2.72.9 to 1 at September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, as compared to the maximum covenant ratio of 3.5 to 1.
BrandLoyalty Credit Agreement.In August 2015, BrandLoyalty amended its credit agreement. The BrandLoyalty credit agreement,April 2016, we extended the maturity of certain term loans with principal amount of $200.0 million from September 2016 to September 2017 and exercised in part the accordion feature to borrow incremental term loans in the aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million that bear interest at the same rates as, amended, provides for a committed revolving line of credit of €62.5 million and an uncommitted revolving line of credit of €62.5 million, both of which are scheduledgenerally subject to mature on August 25, 2018. the same terms as, the 2013 term loans.
As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, we were in compliance with our debt covenants.
Deposits
We utilize money market deposits and certificates of deposit to finance the amountoperating activities and fund securitization enhancement requirements of our bank subsidiaries, Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank.
As of March 31, 2016, we had $1.6 billion in money market deposits outstanding underwith interest rates ranging from 0.48% to 0.67%. Money market deposits are redeemable on demand by the BrandLoyalty credit agreement was €103.2 million ($115.3 million).customer and, as such, have no scheduled maturity date.
Additionally, as of March 31, 2016, we had $4.5 billion in certificates of deposit outstanding with interest rates ranging from 0.43% to 2.80% and maturities ranging from April 2016 to November 2021. Certificate of deposit borrowings are subject to regulatory capital requirements.
Securitization Program.Program
We sell a majority of the credit card receivables originated by Comenity Bank to WFN Credit Company, LLC, which in turn sells them to World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust, or Master Trust I, World Financial Network Credit Card Master Note Trust and World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust III, or collectively, the WFN Trusts, as part of our credit card securitization program, which has been in existence since January 1996. We also sell our credit card receivables originated by Comenity Capital Bank to World Financial Capital Credit Company, LLC, which in turn sells them to World Financial Capital Master Note Trust, or the WFC Trust. These securitization programs are the primary vehicle through which we finance Comenity Bank's and Comenity Capital Bank's credit card receivables.
As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, the WFN Trusts and the WFC Trust had approximately $8.6$9.5 billion of securitized credit card receivables. Securitizations require credit enhancements in the form of cash, spread deposits, additional receivables and subordinated classes. The credit enhancement is principally based on the outstanding balances of the series issued by the WFN Trusts and the WFC Trust and by the performance of the credit card receivables in these credit card securitization trusts.
46

At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, we had $5.0$6.3 billion of non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities, of which $1.2$1.4 billion is due within the next 12 months. As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, total capacity under the conduit facilities was $2.1$3.0 billion, of which $1.0$2.5 billion had been drawn and was included in non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Historically, we have used both public and private term asset-backed securitization transactions as well as private conduit facilities as sources of funding for our credit card receivables. Private conduit facilities have been used to accommodate seasonality needs and to bridge to completion of asset-backed securitization transactions.
We have secured and continue to secure the necessary commitments to fund our portfolio of securitized credit card receivables originated by Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank. However, certain of these commitments are short-term in nature and subject to renewal. There is not a guarantee that these funding sources, when they mature, will be renewed on similar terms or at all as they are dependent on the asset-backed securitization markets at the time.
In April 2015, Master Trust I issued $500.0 million of asset-backed term notes, $140.0 million of which were retained and eliminated from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. These securities mature in April 2018 and have a variable interest rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate plus a margin of 0.48%.
In April 2015, we amended our 2009-VFN conduit facility, extending the maturity to March 31, 2017. In May 2015, we renewed our 2009-VFC1 conduit facility, increasing its capacity from $440.0 million to $900.0 million and extending the maturity to May 1, 2017.
In June 2015, $450.0 million of Series 2010-A asset-backed term notes, $56.2 million of which were retained by us and eliminated from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, matured and were repaid.
In August 2015, Master Trust I issued $625.0 million of asset-backed term notes, $150.0 million of which were retained and eliminated from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. These securities mature in August 2020 and have a fixed interest rate of 2.55%.
In September 2015, $394.7 million of Series 2014-B asset-backed term notes, $94.7 million of which were retained by us and eliminated from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, matured and were repaid.
In October 2015, Master Trust I issued $389.6 million of asset-backed term notes, $89.6 million of which were retained by us and eliminated from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. These securities mature in May 2017 and have a fixed interest rate of 1.26%.
The following table shows the maturities of borrowing commitments as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 for the WFN Trusts and the WFC Trust by year:
  2015  2016  2017  2018  2019 and Thereafter  Total 
  (In thousands) 
Term notes                                     ��                  
 $  $1,050,000  $650,000  $991,000  $1,277,166  $3,968,166 
Conduit facilities (1)                                                        
     450,000   1,600,000         2,050,000 
Total (2)                                                    
 $  $1,500,000  $2,250,000  $991,000  $
1,277,166
  $6,018,166 
                         
  2016  2017  2018  2019  2020 and Thereafter  Total 
  (In millions) 
Term notes 
 $600.0  $950.0  $991.0  $802.2  $475.0  $3,818.2 
Conduit facilities(1) 
     2,950.0            2,950.0 
Total(2) 
 $600.0  $3,900.0  $991.0  $802.2  $475.0  $6,768.2 
                         
(1)Amount represents borrowing capacity, not outstanding borrowings.
(2)Total amounts do not include $1.6$2.1 billion of debt issued by the credit card securitization trusts, which was retained by us and has been eliminated in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Early amortization events as defined within each asset-backed securitization transaction are generally driven by asset performance. We do not believe it is reasonably likely for an early amortization event to occur due to asset performance. However, if an early amortization event were declared, the trustee of the particular credit card securitization trust would retain the interest in the receivables along with the excess interest income that would otherwise be paid to our bank subsidiary until the credit card securitization investors were fully repaid. The occurrence of an early amortization event would significantly limit or negate our ability to securitize additional credit card receivables.
See Note 9,8, "Debt," of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our debt.
38

Stock Repurchase Programs
On January 1, 2016, our Board of Equity Securities. Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $500.0 million of our outstanding common stock from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. On February 15, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized an increase to the stock repurchase program originally approved on January 1, 2016 to acquire an additional $500.0 million of our outstanding common stock through December 31, 2016, for a total authorization of $1.0 billion.
During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, we repurchased approximately 3.12.0 million shares of our common stock for an aggregate amount of $864.5$413.8 million.
47

See Note 13, "Stockholders' Equity," of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our stock repurchases.
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market Risk
Market risk is the risk of loss from adverse changes in market prices and rates. Our primary market risks include interest rate risk, credit risk, and foreign currency exchange rate risk and redemption reward risk.
There has been no material change from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20142015 related to our exposure to market risk from interest rate risk, credit risk, and foreign currency exchange rate risk and redemption reward risk.
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures.
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 (the end of our thirdfirst fiscal quarter), our disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information we are required to disclose in such reports is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSCaution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference herein 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. SuchForward-looking statements maygive our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue,"expect," "could,"anticipate," "estimate," "expect,"intend," "intend,"project," "plan," "likely," "may," "predict," "project," "would" and"should" or other words or phrases of similar expressions as they relate to usimport. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or our management. When we makegoals also are forward-looking statements, we are basing them on our management's beliefs and assumptions, using information currently available to us. Although westatements. We believe that theour expectations reflected in the forward-lookingare based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, are reasonable, these forward-looking statementshowever, 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 report, and assumptions, including those discussed inno assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the "Risk Factors" section in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, Item 1A of Part II of this Quarterly Report and any subsequent filings we make with the SEC.following:

·loss of, or reduction in demand for services from, significant clients;
·
increased redemptions by AIR MILES® Reward Program collectors;
·increases in the cost of doing business, including market interest rates;
·loss of active AIR MILES Reward Program collectors;
·disruptions in the airline or travel industries;
·failure to identify or successfully integrate business acquisitions;
·increases in net charge-offs in credit card and loan receivables;
·inability to access the asset-backed securitization funding market;
·unfavorable fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
·limitations on consumer credit, loyalty or marketing services from new legislative or regulatory actions related to consumer protection and consumer privacy;
·increases in FDIC, Delaware or Utah regulatory capital requirements for banks;
·failure to maintain exemption from regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act;
·loss or disruption, due to cyber attack or other service failures, of data center operations or capacity;
·loss of consumer information due to compromised physical or cyber security; and
·those factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year as well as those factors discussed in Item 1A of this Form 10-Q, elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and in the documents incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q.

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 quarterly report reflect our current views with respect to future eventsForm 10-Q speak only as of the date made, and are subject to these andwe undertake no obligation, other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation,than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future resultssubsequent events, anticipated or otherwise, except as required by law.unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.
4839

PART II
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings.
From time to time we are involved in various claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business that we believe will not have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition, including claims and lawsuits alleging breaches of our contractual obligations. See Note 12,11, "Commitments and Contingencies," of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Item 1A.
Risk Factors.
Other than as set forth below, there have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 or our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015 or June 30, 2015.
Current and proposed regulation and legislation relating to our card services could limit our business activities, product offerings and fees charged and may have a significant impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") was enacted into law. The Dodd-Frank Act, among other things, includes a sweeping reform of the regulation and supervision of financial institutions, as well as of the regulation of derivatives and capital market activities.
The full impact of the Dodd-Frank Act is difficult to assess because many provisions require federal agencies to adopt implementing regulations, and some of the final implementing regulations have not yet been issued. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act mandates multiple studies, which could result in future legislative or regulatory action. In particular, the Government Accountability Office issued its study on whether it is necessary, in order to strengthen the safety and soundness of institutions or the stability of the financial system of the United States, to eliminate the exemptions to the definition of "bank" under the Bank Holding Company Act for certain institutions including limited purpose credit card banks and industrial loan companies. The study did not recommend the elimination of these exemptions. However, if legislation were enacted to eliminate these exemptions without any grandfathering of or accommodations for existing institutions, we could be required to become a bank holding company and cease certain of our activities that are not permissible for bank holding companies or divest our credit card bank subsidiary, Comenity Bank, or our industrial bank subsidiary, Comenity Capital Bank.
The Dodd-Frank Act created a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), a new federal consumer protection regulator with authority to make further changes to the federal consumer protection laws and regulations. It is unclear what changes will be promulgated by the CFPB and what effect, if any, such changes would have on our business and operations. The CFPB assumed rulemaking authority under the existing federal consumer financial protection laws, and will enforce those laws against and examine certain non-depository institutions and insured depository institutions with total assets greater than $10 billion and their affiliates.
While the CFPB does not examine Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank, it will receive information from their primary federal regulator. In addition, the CFPB's broad rulemaking authority is expected to impact their operations. For example, the CFPB's rulemaking authority may allow it to change regulations adopted in the past by other regulators including regulations issued under the Truth in Lending Act or the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the "CARD Act") by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The CFPB's ability to rescind, modify or interpret past regulatory guidance could increase our compliance costs and litigation exposure. Furthermore, the CFPB has broad authority to prevent "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts or practices and has taken enforcement action against other credit card issuers and financial services companies. Evolution of these standards could result in changes to pricing, practices, procedures and other activities relating to our credit card accounts in ways that could reduce the associated return. It is unclear what changes would be promulgated by the CFPB and what effect, if any, such changes would have on our credit accounts.
The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes certain state officials to enforce regulations issued by the CFPB and to enforce the Dodd-Frank Act's general prohibition against unfair, deceptive or abusive practices. To the extent that states enact requirements that differ from federal standards or courts adopt interpretations of federal consumer laws that differ from those adopted by the federal banking agencies, we may be required to alter products or services offered in some jurisdictions or cease offering products, which will increase compliance costs and reduce our ability to offer the same products and services to consumers nationwide.
49

Various federal and state laws and regulations significantly limit the retail credit card services activities in which we are permitted to engage. Such laws and regulations, among other things, limit the fees and other charges that we can impose on consumers, limit or proscribe certain other terms of our products and services, require specified disclosures to consumers, or require that we maintain certain licenses, qualifications and minimum capital levels. In some cases, the precise application of these statutes and regulations is not clear. In addition, numerous legislative and regulatory proposals are advanced each year which, if adopted, could have a material adverse effect on our profitability or further restrict the manner in which we conduct our activities. The CARD Act, which was enacted in May 2009 and together with its implementing rules, became effective in 2010, acts to limit or modify certain credit card practices and require increased disclosures to consumers. The credit card practices addressed by the rules include, but are not limited to, restrictions on the application of rate increases to existing and new balances, payment allocation, default pricing, imposition of late fees and two-cycle billing. The failure to comply with, or adverse changes in, the laws or regulations to which our business is subject, or adverse changes in their interpretation, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to collect our receivables and generate fees on the receivables, thereby adversely affecting our profitability.
In the normal course of business, from time to time, Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank have been named as defendants in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation arising in connection with their business activities. While historically the arbitration provision in each bank's customer agreement has generally limited such bank's exposure to consumer class action litigation, there can be no assurance that the banks will be successful in enforcing the arbitration clause in the future. There may also be legislative, administrative or regulatory efforts to directly or indirectly prohibit the use of pre-dispute arbitration clauses. Recently, the CFPB publicly announced that it is considering proposing rules that would ban consumer financial companies from using arbitration clauses that limit a consumer's right to participate in class action litigation.
Comenity Bank and Comenity Capital Bank are also involved, from time to time, in reviews, investigations, and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental agencies regarding the bank's business, which could subject the bank to significant fines, penalties, obligations to change its business practices or other requirements. For example, in September 2015, each bank entered into a consent order with the FDIC agreeing to collectively provide restitution of approximately $61.5 million to eligible customers, to pay $2.5 million in civil money penalties to the FDIC and to make further enhancements to their compliance and other processes related to the marketing, promotion and sale of add-on products.
The effect of the Dodd-Frank Act on our business and operations could be significant, depending upon final implementing regulations, the actions of our competitors and the behavior of other marketplace participants. In addition, we may be required to invest significant management time and resources to address the various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act and the numerous regulations that are required to be issued under it. The Dodd-Frank Act and any related legislation or regulations may have a material impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Legislation relating to consumer privacy may affect our ability to collect data that we use in providing our loyalty and marketing services, which, among other things, could negatively affect our ability to satisfy our clients' needs.
The enactment of new or amended legislation or industry regulations pertaining to consumer or private sector privacy issues could have a material adverse impact on our marketing services. Legislation or industry regulations regarding consumer or private sector privacy issues could place restrictions upon the collection, sharing and use of information that is currently legally available, which could materially increase our cost of collecting some data. These types of legislation or industry regulations could also prohibit us from collecting or disseminating certain types of data, which could adversely affect our ability to meet our clients' requirements and our profitability and cash flow targets. While 48 states and the District of Columbia have enacted data breach notification laws, there is no such federal law generally applicable to our businesses. Data breach notification legislation has been proposed widely and exists in specific countries and jurisdictions in which we conduct business. If enacted, these legislative measures could impose strict requirements on reporting time frames for providing notice, as well as the contents of such notices. In addition to the United States, Canadian and European Union regulations discussed below, we have expanded our marketing services through the acquisition of companies formed and operating in foreign jurisdictions that may be subject to additional or more stringent legislation and regulations regarding consumer or private sector privacy.
50

In the United States, federal and state laws such as the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended by the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, make it more difficult to collect, share and use information that has previously been legally available and may increase our costs of collecting some data. Regulations under these acts give cardholders the ability to "opt out" of having information generated by their credit card purchases shared with other affiliated and unaffiliated parties or the public. Our ability to gather, share and utilize this data will be adversely affected if a significant percentage of the consumers whose purchasing behavior we track elect to "opt out," thereby precluding us and our affiliates from using their data.
In the United States, the federal Do-Not-Call Implementation Act makes it more difficult to telephonically communicate with prospective and existing customers. Similar measures were implemented in Canada beginning September 1, 2008. Regulations in both the United States and Canada give consumers the ability to "opt out," through a national do-not-call registry and state do-not-call registries of having telephone solicitations placed to them by companies that do not have an existing business relationship with the consumer. In addition, regulations require companies to maintain an internal do-not-call list for those who do not want the companies to solicit them through telemarketing. These regulations could limit our ability to provide services and information to our clients. Failure to comply with these regulations could have a negative impact on our reputation and subject us to significant penalties. Further, the Federal Communications Commission has approved interpretations of rules related to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act defining robo-calls, which may affect our ability to contact customers and may increase our litigation exposure.
In the United States, the federal Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 restricts our ability to send commercial electronic mail messages, the primary purpose of which is advertising or promoting a commercial product or service, to our customers and prospective customers. The act requires that a commercial electronic mail message provide the customers with an opportunity to opt-out from receiving future commercial electronic mail messages from the sender. Failure to comply with the terms of this act could have a negative impact on our reputation and subject us to significant penalties.
40

In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act requires an organization to obtain a consumer's consent to collect, use or disclose personal information. Under this act, consumer personal information may be used only for the purposes for which it was collected. We allow our customers to voluntarily "opt out" from receiving either one or both promotional and marketing mail or promotional and marketing electronic mail. Heightened consumer awareness of, and concern about, privacy may result in customers "opting out" at higher rates than they have historically. This would mean that a reduced number of customers would receive bonus and promotional offers and therefore those customers may collect fewer AIR MILES reward miles.
Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation may restrict our ability to send commercial "electronic messages," defined to include text, sound, voice and image messages to email, or similar accounts, where the primary purpose is advertising or promoting a commercial product or service to our customers and prospective customers. The Act requires, in part, that a sender have consent to send a commercial electronic message, and provide the customers with an opportunity to opt out from receiving future commercial electronic email messages from the sender. Failure to comply with the terms of this Act or any proposed regulations that may be adopted in the future could have a negative impact on our reputation and subject us to significant monetary penalties.
In the European Union, the Directive 95/46/EC of the EuropeanEU Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 requires member states to implement and enforce a comprehensive data protection law that is based on principles designed to safeguard personal data, defined as any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. The Directive frames certain requirements for transfer outside of the European Economic Area and individual rights such as consent requirements. The Directive may be superseded byIn January 2012, the European Commission proposed the General Data Protection Regulation, proposedor GDPR, a new European Union-wide legal framework to govern data sharing and collection and related consumer privacy rights. In December 2015, the EU Parliament and the EU Council reached informal agreement on the text of the GDPR, and in January 2012 which would create one standard forApril 2016 both the EU Council and the EU Parliament adopted the GDPR. The new rules will take effect two years following the publication of the official texts in the Official Journal of the European Union member states butin all official languages. The GDPR will replace the Directive and, because it is a regulation rather than a directive, will directly apply to and bind the 28 EU Member States. Compared to the Directive, the GDPR includes a strengthened notion of consent, the development of a 'one stop shop' mechanism for the jurisdiction of EU regulators and increased compliance and accountability requirements on data controllers and data processors. These and other terms of the GDPR could limit our ability to provide services and information to our customers. In addition, the GDPR includes significant new penalties for non-compliance, with fines up to the higher of €20 million ($23 million as of March 31, 2016) or 4% of total annual worldwide revenue.
In October 2015, the European Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the EU-U.S. Safe Harbor Framework, enablingan agreement setting forth standards by which U.S. companies could legally transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S., was invalid. Although reliance on the Safe Harbor was not the exclusive method by which such transfers of personal data betweencould be legally made, the EU andloss of the U.S. is invalid, which maySafe Harbor could adversely affect our ability to transfer such data out of the EU and into the U.S. in providing service for our customers. The Privacy Shield, a proposed replacement for the invalidated Safe Harbor, has been announced by the European Commission but has not yet been finalized. Any failure to comply with our ongoing obligations with respect to data transfers previously made under the Safe Harbor, or, when and if effective, the Privacy Shield, could expose us to enforcement actions by the FTC or other regulatory authorities.
There is also rapid development of new privacy laws and regulations in the Asia Pacific region and elsewhere around the globe, including amendments of existing data protection laws to the scope of such laws and penalties for noncompliance. Failure to comply with these international data protection laws and regulations could have a negative impact on our reputation and subject us to significant penalties.
5141

Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
The following table presents information with respect to purchases of our common stock made during the three months ended September 30, 2015:March 31, 2016:
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
 Average Price Paid per Share 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs (2)
 
    (Dollars in millions) 
During 2015:    
July 1-31                                                        
  306,940 $278.39  300,907 $217.6 
August 1-31                                                        
  120,205  261.60  115,000  187.5 
September 1-30                                                        
  207,852  253.49  205,000  135.5 
Total                                                        
  634,997 $267.06  620,907 $135.5 
              
Period 
Total Number of Shares Purchased(1)
 Average Price Paid per Share 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs(2)
 
       (Dollars in millions) 
During 2016:        
January 1-31 
  465,757 $231.44  458,606 $893.9 
February 1-29 
  1,282,381  197.06  1,268,250  644.0 
March 1-31 
  279,468  211.74  273,144  586.2 
Total 
  2,027,606 $206.98  2,000,000 $586.2 
              
(1)During the period represented by the table, 14,09027,606 shares of our common stock were purchased by the administrator of our 401(k) and Retirement Savings Plan for the benefit of the employees who participated in that portion of the plan.
(2)On January 1, 2015,2016, our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $600.0$500.0 million of our outstanding common stock from January 1, 20152016 through December 31, 2015.2016. On AprilFebruary 15, 2015,2016, our Board of Directors authorized an increase to the stock repurchase program originally approved on January 1, 20152016 to acquire up to $1.0 billionan additional $500.0 million of our outstanding common stock through December 31, 2015. The stock repurchase plan is2016, for a total authorization of $1.0 billion. Both authorizations are subject to any restrictions pursuant to the terms of our credit agreements, indentures, applicable securities laws or otherwise.
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Item 5.
Other Information.
(a) Dismissal of Delaware Litigation; Fee and Expense Application Hearing
The Company, as well as Conversant and the former directors of Conversant, was named as a defendant in In Re Conversant, Inc. Stockholder Litigation, C.A. No. 10174-VCL, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. In November of 2014, the parties entered into a memorandum of understanding to preliminarily resolve the Delaware litigation. The plaintiffs in this consolidated action, who had sued on behalf of a putative class of Conversant shareholders (the "Class"), have elected not to seek final approval of that settlement, dismissed their claims against all defendants (which the Court granted with prejudice as to the Delaware plaintiffs on October 22, 2015), and have indicated that they intend to submit an application for an award of attorney's fees and reimbursement of expenses (the "Fee and Expense Application") in connection with certain disclosure claims that they believe plaintiffs caused to be mooted through certain disclosures made by the Company and Conversant in connection with the preliminary settlement. The Court has scheduled a hearing (the "Fee and Expense Application Hearing") to be held on February 10, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the New Castle County Courthouse, located at 500 North King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 to: (a) consider the application by the plaintiffs' counsel for attorneys' fees and expenses; (b) hear and determine any objections to the Fee and Expense Application; and (c) rule on such other matters as the Court may deem appropriate. The defendants have reserved all rights to oppose any such Fee and Expense Application.
Any member of the Class who objects to the Fee and Expense Application, or who otherwise, wishes to be heard may appear in person or by such member's attorney at the Fee and Expense Application Hearing and present evidence or argument that may be proper and relevant; provided, however, that except for good cause shown, no person shall be heard and no papers, briefs, pleadings or other documents submitted by any person shall be considered by the Court unless not later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the Fee and Expense Application Hearing such person files with the Court and serves upon counsel listed below: (a) a written notice of intention to appear; (b) a statement of such person's objections to any matters before the Court; and (c) the grounds for such objections and the reasons that such person desires to appear and be heard, documentation evidencing membership in the Class as well as documents or writings such person desires the Court to consider.  Such filings shall be filed with the Court and served upon the following counsel:

Raymond J. DiCamillo, Esq.
RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A.
920 North King Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801

-
and to-

Frank A. Bottini, Esq.
BOTTINI & BOTTINI, INC.
7817 Ivanhoe Ave., Suite 102
La Jolla, CA 92037
Unless the Court otherwise directs, no person shall be entitled to object to the approval of the Fee and Expense Application, any judgment entered thereon, or otherwise be heard, except by serving and filing a written objection and supporting papers and documents as described in the preceding paragraph. Any person who fails to object in the manner described above shall be deemed to have waived the right to object (including any right of appeal) and shall be forever barred from raising such objection in this or any other action or proceeding.None
(b) None
5242

Item 6.
Exhibits.
(a) Exhibits:
(a)Exhibits:

EXHIBIT INDEX
      Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No. Filer Description Form Exhibit Filing Date
           
3.1 (a) Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant. S-1 3.1 3/3/00
           
3.2 (a) Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant. 8-K 3.1 6/7/13
           
3.3 (a) Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant. 8-K 3.2 6/7/13
           
4 (a) Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Registrant. 10-Q 4 8/8/03
           
10.1 
(b)
(c)
(d)
 Series 2015-B Indenture Supplement, dated as of August 21, 2015, between World Financial Network Credit Card Master Note Trust and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. 8-K 4.1 8/25/15
           
10.2 
(a)
 
 Amendment and Restatement Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2015, including Amended and Restated Facilities Agreement, as amended, by and among Brand Loyalty Group B.V. and certain subsidiaries parties thereto, as borrowers and guarantors, Deutsche Bank Nederland N.V. (as Arranger) and ING Bank N.V. (as Arranger, Agent and Security Agent). 8-K 10.1 8/28/15
           
10.3 
(a)
 
 
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2015, by and among Alliance Data Systems Corporation, as borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Letter of Credit Issuer, and various other lenders.
 
 8-K 10.1 9/29/15
           
10.4 
(b)
(c)
(d)
 Series 2015-C Indenture Supplement, dated as of October 27, 2015, between World Financial Network Credit Card Master Note Trust and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. 8-K 4.1 10/29/15
           
*31.1 (a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.      
           
*31.2 (a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.      
           
*32.1 (a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.      
           
53

      Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit No. Filer Description Form Exhibit Filing Date
            
3.1 (a) Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant. S-1 3.1 3/3/00 
            
3.2 (a) Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant. 8-K 3.1 6/7/13 
            
3.3 (a) Certificate of Retirement of Series A Preferred Stock of the Registrant dated March 23, 2016. 8-K 3.1 3/25/16 
            
3.4 (a) Fifth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant. 8-K 3.1 2/1/16 
            
4 (a) Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Registrant. 10-Q 4 8/8/03 
            
10.1 (a) Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Alliance Data Systems Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan. 8-K 10.1 2/17/16 
            
10.2 (a) Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Alliance Data Systems Corporation 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan (2016 grant). 8-K 10.2 2/17/16 
            
10.3 (a) Incremental Term Loan Extension Request, dated as of April 15, 2016, by and among Alliance Data Systems Corporation, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Bank of America, N.A. 8-K 10.1 4/21/16 
            
*31.1 (a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.       
            
*31.2 (a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.       
            
*32.1 (a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.       
            
*32.2 (a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.       
43

      Incorporated by Reference 
*32.2Exhibit No. (a)Filer Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Data Systems Corporation pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.Description Form Exhibit Filing Date 
           
*101.INS (a) XBRL Instance Document      
           
*101.SCH (a) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document      
           
*101.CAL (a) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document      
           
*101.DEF (a) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document      
           
*101.LAB (a) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document      
           
*101.PRE (a) XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document      
         

* Filed herewith
   
+ Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement

(a) Alliance Data Systems Corporation
(b)WFN Credit Company
(c)World Financial Network Credit Card Master Trust
(d)World Financial Network Credit Card Master Note Trust



5444


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 thereunto duly authorized.
 ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION 

 By: 
/s/  Edward J. Heffernan
 
  Edward J. Heffernan 
  President and Chief Executive Officer 
Date: NovemberMay 5, 20152016
 By: 
/s/  Charles L. Horn
 
  Charles L. Horn 
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 
Date: NovemberMay 5, 20152016
 
5545