Alliance Data, PDS sign multi-year agreement for patient financing and marketing services

Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, today announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with business support services provider, Pacific Dental Services (PDS) to provide patient financing and marketing services via a private label credit card program for dental and orthodontic procedures, performed in affiliated dental practices. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., PDS provides its comprehensive business support services to a growing network of dental and orthodontic practices throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. In 2008, PDS recorded revenues in excess of $270 million, with nearly 2,500 employees and 170 affiliated dental practices. The company is on track to surpass $300 million in revenue in 2009 across nearly 200 affiliated dental practices.

Under the terms of the agreement, Alliance Data will provide integrated private label credit card services, including receivables funding; credit authorization; statement generation; remittance processing; customer service functions; and marketing services in support of the private label credit card program. Additionally, Alliance Data will integrate account acquisition, authorization and settlement services into Pacific Dental's practice management system to allow for seamless account acquisition and patient financing.

"Since 1994, Pacific Dental Services has helped launch nearly 200 dental practices. This new private label credit card program drives brand value, while the integrated process is convenient for the patients at our affiliated dental practices. Providing patients with a quick and easy process to finance dental treatment as part of the sales cycle is critical in driving growth," said Stephen Thorne, president and founder, Pacific Dental Services. "Giving our network of 500 talented dentists the tools, technology and marketing support they need to grow their practices is the essence of our business, and we're excited about working with Alliance Data to expand those offerings to our affiliated dental practices."

"Pacific Dental Services is truly a progressive company -- a thought-leader in the dental industry that is experiencing a growing demand for its services," said Ivan Szeftel, president of Retail Services for Alliance Data. "We're pleased to develop this partnership with Pacific Dental Services, which will greatly enhance the service offering for its affiliated dental practices, which already include technologically advanced operations, such as electronic dental records, digital x-rays, and "same day crown" CEREC(TM) technology. Our credit and marketing solutions will allow Pacific Dental Services to connect with their affiliated dental practices' patients in a new and meaningful way, increasing customer convenience and loyalty, while also driving growth."