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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)
Alliance Data Systems Corporation
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
018581108
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(CUSIP Number)
Allison Bennington, Esq.
ValueAct Capital
One Letterman Drive, Building D, Fourth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 362-3700
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(Name, address and telephone number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
Allison Bennington, Esq.
ValueAct Capital
One Letterman Drive, Building D, Fourth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94129
(415) 362-3700
March 16, 2017
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(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the
following box [ ].
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 240.13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
This information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).
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SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 2 of 12
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON (entities only)
ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P.
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)*
WC*
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5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
British Virgin Islands
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ----------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 5,877,400**
OWNED BY EACH ----------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,877,400**
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,877,400**
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12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.5%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
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*See Item 3
**See Item 2 and 5
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 3 of 12
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON (entities only)
VA Partners I, LLC
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
00*
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5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ----------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 5,877,400**
OWNED BY EACH ----------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,877,400**
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,877,400**
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12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.5%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
00 (LLC)
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*See Item 3
**See Item 2 and 5
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 4 of 12
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON (entities only)
ValueAct Capital Management, L.P.
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
00*
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5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ----------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 5,877,400**
OWNED BY EACH ----------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,877,400**
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,877,400**
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12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.5%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
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*See Item 3
**See Item 2 and 5
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 5 of 12
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON (entities only)
ValueAct Capital Management, LLC
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
00*
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5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ----------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 5,877,400**
OWNED BY EACH ----------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,877,400**
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,877,400**
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12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.5%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
00 (LLC)
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*See Item 3
**See Item 2 and 5
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 6 of 12
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON (entities only)
ValueAct Holdings, L.P.
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
00*
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5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ----------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 5,877,400**
OWNED BY EACH ----------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,877,400**
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,877,400**
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12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.5%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
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*See Item 3
**See Items 2 and 5
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 7 of 12
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSON (entities only)
ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS*
00*
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5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ----------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 5,877,400**
OWNED BY EACH ----------------------------------------------------------
PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
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10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,877,400**
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,877,400**
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12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
10.5%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
00 (LLC)
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*See Item 3
**See Items 2 and 5
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 8 of 12
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This Amendment No. 4 to the Schedule 13D supplements the information set
forth in the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), as amended from time
to time (the "Schedule 13D"), relating to the Common Stock (the "Common
Stock") of Alliance Data Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Issuer"). Capitalized terms contained herein but not otherwise defined shall
have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Schedule 13D.
The information set forth in response to each separate Item below shall be
deemed to be a response to all Items where such information is relevant. The
Schedule 13D is hereby supplementally amended as follows:
Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
The source of funds used for the purchase of the Issuer's securities
reflected in this amendment was the working capital of ValueAct Master Fund.
The aggregate funds used by these Reporting Persons to make such purchases
were $12,547,013.88.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
The following paragraph supplements the information set forth in the
Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons.
On March 16, 2017 the Reporting Persons were informed that the board of
directors of the Issuer unanimously recommended the nomination of Kelly
Barlow for election as a director at the Issuer's 2017 annual meeting. Mr.
Barlow is a Partner of ValueAct Holdings and ValueAct Holdings GP.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer
(a) and (b). Set forth below is the beneficial ownership of shares of
Common Stock of the Issuer for each person named in Item 2. Shares reported
as beneficially owned by ValueAct Master Fund are also reported as
beneficially owned by (i) ValueAct Management L.P. as the manager of each
such investment partnership, (ii) ValueAct Management LLC, as General Partner
of ValueAct Management L.P., (iii) ValueAct Holdings, as the sole owner of
the limited partnership interests of ValueAct Management L.P. and the
membership interests of ValueAct Management LLC and as the majority owner of
the membership interests of VA Partners I and (iv) ValueAct Holdings GP, as
General Partner of ValueAct Holdings. Shares reported as beneficially owned
by ValueAct Master Fund are also reported as beneficially owned by VA
Partners I, as General Partner of ValueAct Master Fund. VA Partners I,
ValueAct Management L.P., ValueAct Management LLC, ValueAct Holdings and
ValueAct Holdings GP also, directly or indirectly, may own interests in one
or more than one of the partnerships from time to time. Unless otherwise
indicated below, by reason of such relationship ValueAct Master Fund is
reported as having shared power to vote or to direct the vote, and shared
power to dispose or direct the disposition of, such shares of Common Stock,
with VA Partners I (only with respect to ValueAct Master Fund), ValueAct
Management L.P., ValueAct Management LLC, ValueAct Holdings and ValueAct
Holdings GP.
As of the date hereof, the Reporting Persons beneficially own 5,877,400
shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 10.5% of the Issuer's
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 9 of 12
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outstanding Common Stock (which shares may also be deemed to be beneficially
owned by VA Partners I). All percentages set forth in this Schedule 13D are
based upon the Issuer's reported 55,925,301 outstanding shares of Common
Stock as of February 22, 2017 as reported on the Issuer's Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed February 27, 2017 for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2016.
ValueAct Management L.P., ValueAct Management LLC, ValueAct Holdings
and ValueAct Holdings GP may each be deemed the beneficial owner of an
aggregate of 5,877,400 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately
10.5% of the Issuer's outstanding Common Stock.
(c) The following table sets forth all transactions with respect to
shares of Common Stock effected since the last amendment to this Schedule 13D
by the Reporting Persons, inclusive of any transactions effected through 4:00
p.m., New York City time, on March 17, 2017. Except as otherwise noted below,
all such transactions were purchases (or sales) of shares of Common Stock
effected in the open market.
Reporting Person Trade Date Buy/Sell Shares Price/Share
---------------- ---------- -------- -------- -----------
ValueAct Master Fund 01/26/2017 Buy 25,000 $217.57
01/26/2017 Buy 25,000 $219.18
01/26/2017 Buy 7,400 $219.80
(d) and (e) Not applicable.
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with
Respect to Securities of the Issuer
The responses to Items 3, 4 and 5 of this Schedule 13D are incorporated
herein by reference.
Other than as described in this Report, the Reporting Persons have no
understandings, arrangements, relationships or contracts relating to the
Issuer's Common Stock which are required to be described hereunder.
Item 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits
(1) Joint Filing Agreement.
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 10 of 12
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief,
the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below on this Schedule 13D hereby constitutes and appoints Jeffrey W. Ubben,
Bradley E. Singer, G. Mason Morfit and Allison Bennington, and each of
them, with full power to act without the other, his or its true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or it and in his or its name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities (until revoked in writing) to sign any and all amendments
to this Schedule 13D, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of
them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary fully to all intents and purposes as he or it might
or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., by
VA Partners I, LLC, its General Partner
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
VA Partners I, LLC
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Capital Management, L.P., by
ValueAct Capital Management, LLC its
General Partner
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Capital Management, LLC
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 11 of 12
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ValueAct Holdings, L.P., by
ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC, its
General Partner
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
SCHEDULE 13D
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CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 12 of 12
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Exhibit 1
JOINT FILING UNDERTAKING
The undersigned parties hereby agree that the Schedule 13D filed herewith
(and any amendments thereto) relating to the Common Stock of Alliance Data
Systems Corporation, is being filed jointly on behalf of each of them with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., by
VA Partners I, LLC, its General Partner
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
VA Partners I, LLC
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Capital Management, L.P., by
ValueAct Capital Management, LLC its
General Partner
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Capital Management, LLC
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Holdings, L.P., by
ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC, its
General Partner
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer
ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC
By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer
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Dated: March 17, 2017 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer