Filing Details

============================================================================= UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 8) Alliance Data Systems Corporation ------------------------------------------------ (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ------------------------------------------------ (Title of Class of Securities) 018581108 ------------------------------------------------ (CUSIP Number) Allison Bennington, Esq. Jason B. Breeding, Esq. ValueAct Capital One Letterman Drive, Building D, Fourth Floor San Francisco, CA 94129 (415) 362-3700 ------------------------------------------------ (Name, address and telephone number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) October 28, 2019 ------------------------------------------------ (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). =============================================================================

SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 2 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions)* WC* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION British Virgin Islands ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 3 of 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) VA Partners I, LLC ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS* 00* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON 00 (LLC) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 4 of 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) ValueAct Capital Management, L.P. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS* 00* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 5 of 11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) ValueAct Capital Management, LLC ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS* 00* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON 00 (LLC) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 6 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) ValueAct Holdings, L.P. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS* 00* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 7 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) ValueAct Holdings II, L.P. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS* 00* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 8 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON/S.S. OR I.R.S. INDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only) ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [X] (b) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS* 00* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 NUMBER OF ---------------------------------------------------------- SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY 1,377,646** OWNED BY EACH ---------------------------------------------------------- PERSON WITH 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 ---------------------------------------------------------- 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,377,646** ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.7% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON 00 (LLC) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *See Item 3 **See Item 2 and 5 SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 9 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This Amendment No. 8 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 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 majority owner of the membership interests of VA Partners I, (iv) ValueAct Holdings II, as the sole owner of the limited partnership interests of ValueAct Management L.P. and the membership interests of ValueAct Management LLC, and (v) ValueAct Holdings GP, as General Partner of ValueAct Holdings and ValueAct Holdings II. 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, ValueAct Holdings II, 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, ValueAct Holdings II, and ValueAct Holdings GP. As of the date hereof, the Reporting Persons may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 1,377,646 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 2.7% of the Issuer's outstanding Common Stock. All percentages set forth in this Schedule 13D are based upon the Issuer's reported 51,097,609 outstanding shares of Common Stock as of July 24, 2019 as reported in the Issuer's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019. (c) The following table sets forth all transactions with respect to shares of Common Stock effected since the date of the previous filing by the Reporting Persons or on behalf of the Reporting Persons, inclusive of any transaction effected through 4:00pm, New York City time, on October 30, 2019. Except as otherwise noted below, all such transactions were purchases or sales of shares of Common Stock effected in the open market. SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 10 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Reporting Person Trade Date Buy/Sell Bought/Sold Price/Share ---------------- ---------- -------- --------- ----------- ValueAct Master Fund 10/28/2019 Sell 2,000,000 $101.50 10/29/2019 Sell 1,830,000 $102.00 Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer On April 29, 2019 the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the parties agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached as an exhibit to the Schedule 13D and is incorporated herein by reference. On October 29, 2019 ValueAct Holdings converted the previously disclosed 150,000 shares of Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock to 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock. 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. 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 Jason B. Breeding, 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. SCHEDULE 13D -------------------------- ------------------------- CUSIP NO. 018581108 Page 11 of 11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ValueAct Capital Master Fund, L.P., by VA Partners I, LLC, its General Partner By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer VA Partners I, LLC By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer ValueAct Capital Management, L.P., by ValueAct Capital Management, LLC its General Partner By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer ValueAct Capital Management, LLC By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer ValueAct Holdings, L.P., by ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC, its General Partner By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer ValueAct Holdings II, L.P., by ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC, its General Partner By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer ValueAct Holdings GP, LLC By: /s/ Bradley E. Singer -------------------------------------- Dated: October 30, 2019 Bradley E. Singer, Chief Operating Officer