sv8
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13, 2005

Registration No. 333-                    

 
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Alliance Data Systems Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  31-1429215
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

17655 Waterview Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75252

(Address of principal executive offices)

Alliance Data Systems Corporation
2005 Long Term Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)

J. Michael Parks
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President
Alliance Data Systems Corporation
17655 Waterview Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75252
(972) 348-5100

(Name and address, including zip code, and
telephone number of agent for service)

With a copy to:
Michael E. Dillard, P.C.
Alex Frutos
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100
Dallas, Texas 75201-4675
(214) 969-2800


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

                                             
 
                  Proposed Maximum     Proposed Maximum        
  Title of Securities     Amount to be     Offering Price Per     Aggregate Offering     Amount of  
  to be Registered     Registered (1)     Share (2)     Price (2)     Registration Fee  
 
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”)
      4,750,000       $ 34.47       $ 163,732,500       $ 19,272    
 

(1)   Issuable upon the exercise of options, the vesting of restricted awards or the exercise or vesting of certain other awards pursuant to the Alliance Data Systems Corporation 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. Pursuant to Rule 416, this Registration Statement also includes an indeterminable number of additional shares that may become issuable pursuant to the antidilution adjustment provisions of the plan.
 
(2)   Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h), and solely for the purpose of calculating the applicable registration fee, the proposed maximum offering price per share for the common stock to be registered hereunder has been calculated based on the average of the high and low sales prices of Alliance Data Systems Corporation’s common stock on June 8, 2005, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
PART II
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Item 9. Undertakings.
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Opinion/Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP


Table of Contents

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

      The documents containing the information specified in Part I of this registration statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) of Alliance Data Systems Corporation will be sent or given to our officers, employees, consultants and directors, as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirement of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

      The following documents filed with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

  (1)   Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2004, filed on March 4, 2005.
 
  (2)   Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, filed on May 6, 2005.
 
  (3)   The following Current Reports on Form 8-K filed since December 31, 2004 (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Item 7.01 on Form 8-K):

  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 1, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 2, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 13, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 20, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 16, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 19, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 23, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 9, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 13, 2005.
 
  •   Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on June 13, 2005.

  (4)   The description of the common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) on March 15, 2000, as amended in our registration statement on Form 8-A12B/A filed with the SEC on June 1, 2001.

      In addition, all documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than those furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Item 7.01 on Form 8-K), prior to the filing of a post effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been

2


Table of Contents

sold or which registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

      Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

      Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

      Our certificate of incorporation provides that we shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, indemnify all persons whom we may indemnify under Delaware law.

      Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation, under specified circumstances, to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties by reason of the fact that they were or are directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation, if such directors, officers, employees or agents acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors, officers, employees or agents are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

      Our bylaws provide for indemnification of our directors, officers and certain non-officer employees under certain circumstances against expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any threatened, pending or completed legal proceeding in which any such person is involved by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or employee of our company if such person acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of our company and, with respect to criminal actions or proceedings, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, no director shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors.

      We may advance expenses for the defense of any action for which indemnification may be available under certain circumstances. The general effect of the foregoing provisions may be to reduce the circumstances under which an officer or director may be required to bear the economic burden of the foregoing liabilities and expenses. Directors and officers will be covered by liability insurance indemnifying them against damages arising out of certain kinds of claims which might be made against them based on their negligent acts or omissions while acting in their capacity as such.

      We also have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers, consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law and our bylaws. Pursuant to such indemnification agreements, we are obligated to indemnify each such director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, or any amendment thereof to the extent such amendment provides broader indemnification rights. We will indemnify each such indemnitee against expenses in the event any such indemnitee was, is or is threatened to be a party to any proceeding by reason of the fact that indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the company or

3


Table of Contents

is or was serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. We are also obligated to advance any expenses (other than judgments, penalties, fines and settlements) incurred by the indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding provided indemnitee undertakes to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that indemnitee was not entitled to indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not liable to make any payments: (1) if full payment is actually made to indemnitee under a valid insurance policy; (2) if indemnitee would be receiving personal profit or advantage to which he was not legally entitled; (3) with respect to an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by indemnitee of company securities within the meaning of Section 16(b) at the Exchange Act and amendments thereto or (4) arising out of the dishonesty of indemnitee.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

      Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

      See Index to Exhibits, attached hereto.

Item 9. Undertakings.

  (a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

  (1)   to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

  (i)   to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
 
  (ii)   to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and
 
  (iii)   to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

      provided however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(g) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement.
 
  (2)   that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and
 
  (3)   to remove from registration by means of a post effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

  (b)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report

4


Table of Contents

      pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  (c)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

5


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Dallas, State of Texas on June 13, 2005.

         
  ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
 
 
  By:   /s/ J. Michael Parks    
    J. Michael Parks   
    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer and President 
 
 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

      The undersigned directors and officers of Alliance Data Systems Corporation hereby constitute and appoint J. Michael Parks and Edward J. Heffernan, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement filed herewith and any and all amendments (including post effective amendments) to said Registration Statement, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, 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 to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done or by virtue hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the listed capacities on June 13, 2005:

     
Name   Title
 
/s/ J. Michael Parks
J. Michael Parks
  Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President (principal executive officer)
/s/ Edward J. Heffernan
Edward J. Heffernan
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)
/s/ Michael D. Kubic
Michael D. Kubic
  Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)
/s/ Bruce K. Anderson
Bruce K. Anderson
  Director
 
Roger H. Ballou
  Director

S-1


Table of Contents

     
Name   Title
/s/ Lawrence M. Benveniste
Lawrence M. Benveniste
  Director
/s/ D. Keith Cobb
D. Keith Cobb
  Director
 
E. Linn Draper, Jr.
  Director
/s/ Kenneth R. Jensen
Kenneth R. Jensen
  Director
 
Robert A. Minicucci
  Director

S-2


Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

     
Exhibit    
Number   Description of Exhibits
 
   
4.1
  Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2000, File No. 333-94623).
 
   
4.2
  Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.2 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2000, File No. 333-94623).
 
   
4.3
  First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.3 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on May 4, 2001, File No. 333-94623).
 
   
4.4
  Second Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 3.4 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on April 1, 2002, File No. 001-15749).
 
   
4.5
  Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, File No. 001-15749).
 
   
4.6
  Alliance Data Systems Corporation 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement dated April 29, 2005).
 
   
*5.1
  Opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
 
   
*23.1
  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
 
   
*23.2
  Consent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 filed herewith).
 
   
*24.1
  Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages hereto).


Filed herewith.