LoyaltyOne Releases Inaugural Accountability Report

TORONTO, June 1 /CNW/ - Today, LoyaltyOne, Inc. released its inaugural Accountability Report: The Legacy of One. Outlining LoyaltyOne's approach to accountability and social responsibility, the report also highlights the Company's 2008 and 2009 environment, associate engagement and community support performance.

The report was prepared from data gathered from all of LoyaltyOne's office locations and five business lines utilizing the Global Reporting Initiative's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. As part of the reporting process, LoyaltyOne also gathered feedback from its partners in environmental and community programming.

"At LoyaltyOne, we recognize that every business has a critical role, and a responsibility, in creating a more sustainable planet," said Bryan Pearson, President and CEO, LoyaltyOne. "We hope that by reporting on our efforts we can also do our part to inspire our associates, AIR MILES Collectors, partners and the wider business community to become more engaged in the environmental and social challenges facing society."

Key 2008-2009 Highlights:

Formalizing commitments: LoyaltyOne formalized its efforts with the creation of a sustainability commitment and environmental policy, plus the development of a three-year environmental plan to guide activities.

Environmental leadership: LoyaltyOne opened its new AIR MILES Customer Care Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, a LEED standard facility featuring the largest rooftop solar panel installation in Canada. The Company also launched the AIR MILES My Planet program - offering more than 100 green product redemptions and bonus AIR MILES reward miles for green product purchases to Canada's 10 million AIR MILES Collectors.

Employee engagement: In 2009, the Company achieved a high level of associate satisfaction, with 85 per cent of our associates saying they would recommend LoyaltyOne as one of the best places to work. LoyaltyOne was also recognized as one of Canada's 50 Best Employers by Hewitt Associates.

Contribution to community: LoyaltyOne contributed $851,649 in 2008 and $926,486 in 2009 to non-profit organizations. In addition, the Company's associates contributed 5,500 volunteer hours to the community on its annual CommunityOne day.

Partnerships and collaborations: LoyaltyOne partnered with World Wildlife Fund on the 2010 Living Planet @ Work Program, and collaborated with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to develop a sustainable paper policy.

"Our first Accountability Report marks our entry into a new phase of engagement with our stakeholders on the sustainability issues that are most relevant to our company," says Debbie Baxter, Chief Sustainability Officer, LoyaltyOne. "We believe that proactive management and transparent reporting of our performance will help us meet our goals of being a leading organization, and of setting the pace and agenda for the global loyalty industry."

Additional 2008-2009 highlights:

Sustainability Activities

    
    -   Hired a Chief Sustainability Officer, Debbie Baxter, to oversee the
        integration of environmental considerations into core business
        functions.
    -   Opened two facilities designed to achieve LEED certification and
        moved 40 per cent of associates into LEED buildings.
    -   Sold an average of 500 subsidized public transit passes to associates
        each month.
    -   Launched the Sustainability Matters newsletter to help increase
        associate awareness and engagement in LoyaltyOne's sustainability
        activities.

    Business Activities

    -   Launched two new business lines: Direct Antidote and Precima.
    -   Became a stakeholder in the Brazilian Dotz program.
    -   Received Contact Centre Employer of Choice Awards - Silver in 2008
        and Gold Certification in 2009.
    -   Introduced a Work-at-Home program for Customer Care Centre associates
        - in 2009 nine per cent of total associates participated.
    -   Launched the Developing Talent @ LoyaltyOne program to give
        associates tools and resources needed to shape more effective
        personal development plans.
    

LoyaltyOne's next Accountability Report will be issued in 2011 and will address a broader scope of performance data.

In an effort to reduce the amount of paper distributed, the Legacy of One report can be found online at www.LoyaltyOne.com.

About LoyaltyOne:

LoyaltyOne is a global provider of loyalty strategy and programs, customer analytics and relationship marketing services. Its roster of clients includes leading businesses and brands in multiple sectors such as retail, banking, manufacturing, government, natural resources and utilities. LoyaltyOne businesses include Canada's AIR MILES Reward Program - North America's premiere coalition loyalty program, COLLOQUY, Precima, LoyaltyOne Consulting and Direct Antidote. LoyaltyOne's industry-leading associates, practical experience and proven capabilities set the benchmark of thought leadership in the loyalty marketplace. Toronto-based LoyaltyOne is an Alliance Data company. For more than 30 years, Alliance Data has helped its clients build more profitable, more loyal relationships with their customers. For more information, visit www.loyalty.com.

For further information: Jennifer Hills or Josh Cobden, Environics Communications, [phone]