Alliance Data Releases 2020 ESG Performance Report; Provides Update on Three-Year Sustainability Goals

COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 17, 2021 /3BL Media/ - Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS) a leading global provider of data-driven marketing, loyalty and payment solutions, today released its 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance Report. The report showcases progress the Company made against three-year sustainability goals set in 2017, and key findings from its second stakeholder perception survey, or materiality assessment, which will guide the next phase of Alliance Data’s evolving ESG strategy.

“Alliance Data continues to take a principled approach to operating as a responsible global organization, and delivering value to our key stakeholders, including shareholders, associates, customers and our communities,” said Ralph Andretta, president and chief executive officer, Alliance Data. “I am proud of the progress we made in 2020, and that we remain focused on the priorities that drive long-term success for our business and stakeholders alike. As we define the next generation of Alliance Data’s ESG strategy, I am confident it will further fuel our transformation momentum and progress against our business goals.”  

The 2020 ESG report details the Company’s actions and impact across areas of critical significance during the three-year period from 2017 to 2020. Key highlights include:

• Sustainability Governance: Quarterly updates to the Company’s Board of Directors, driving a high-level of engagement and oversight
• Fair & Responsible Banking: Technology upgrades to the Company’s underwriting process, which reduces bias and creates parity; top marks for excellence in customer service, earning BenchmarkPortal’s “Center of Excellence” certification 15-consecutive times (more than any other company in the financial services industry)
• Secure & Responsible Use of Data: No data breaches; ongoing investments in training, safeguarding data and technology
• Human Capital: Reduced voluntary turnover by three percent, increased investment in training dollars per associate by 35 percent, established DE&I strategic framework
• Community Investment: Contributed over $30 million, including nearly $7 million in “Data for Good” initiatives; associates volunteered over 76,000 hours
• Environment: Facility upgrades, including energy efficient lighting, LEED certifications and electric vehicle charging stations, along with investments in global conservation initiatives that contributed to a reduction in the Company’s carbon footprint

“We see our ESG strategy as an enabler of our business transformation, ensuring that we mitigate risk and remain competitive in a dynamic marketplace,” said Dana Beckman, head of sustainability, Alliance Data. “While last year brought about much change and uncertainty, we’ve seen our associates rise to the challenge, helping to drive positive impact for our business and the customers and communities we serve.”

Alliance Data’s ESG strategy will continue to center around the Company’s ongoing transformation, which prioritizes delivering stakeholder value, modernizing technology, advancing a diverse and inclusive culture and maintaining a commitment to ethical decision making. These priorities are rooted in the Company’s responsible business practices and sound corporate governance.

Alliance Data conducts an annual evaluation and assessment of evolving ESG standards, which led to the adoption of Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Standards in last year’s report. The Company first reported against Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards in 2016.

To learn more about the Company's sustainability strategy and progress, please view the full 2020 ESG Performance Report.

About Alliance Data

Alliance Data ® (NYSE: ADS) is a leading provider of data-driven marketing, loyalty and payment solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions that measurably change consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its partners create and increase customer loyalty across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Alliance Data is an S&P MidCap 400 company that consists of businesses that together employ approximately 8,000 associates at more than 45 locations worldwide.

Alliance Data's Card Services  business is a comprehensive provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, general purpose and business credit card programs, digital payments, including Bread®, and Comenity-branded financial services. LoyaltyOne® owns and operates the AIR MILES® Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. More information about Alliance Data can be found at www.AllianceData.com.

Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding, and the guidance we give with respect to, our anticipated operating or financial results, initiation or completion of strategic initiatives including the proposed spinoff of our LoyaltyOne segment, future dividend declarations, and future economic conditions, including, but not limited to, fluctuation in currency exchange rates, market conditions and COVID-19 impacts related to relief measures for impacted borrowers and depositors, labor shortages due to quarantine, reduction in demand from clients, supply chain disruption for our reward suppliers and disruptions in the airline or travel industries.

We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, 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 release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.

Contacts:

Alliance Data
Brian Vereb – Investor Relations
614-528-4516
Brian.Vereb@alliancedata.com 

Shelley Whiddon – Media
214-494-3811
shelley.whiddon@alliancedata.com

Rachel Stultz – Media
614-729-4890
rachel.stultz@alliancedata.com