Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Epsilon business to Publicis Groupe [Euronext Paris : FR0000130577, CAC 40], one of the world's largest leading global marketing, creative and business transformation companies, for US$4.4 billion in cash, representing an approximate 10X trailing 12-month EBITDA (adjusted) multiple. 

Latham & Watkins LLP represents Alliance Data in the transaction with a corporate deal team led by San Francisco partner Luke Bergstrom, Silicon Valley partner Chad Rolston, and Houston partner Michael Dillard, with associates Andrew Basham, Adam Whitaker, Bradley Alvarez, and Raul Gonzalez. Advice was also provided on tax matters by San Francisco partner Kirt Switzer, with associates Una Au and Mi Zhou; on intellectual property matters by San Francisco partner JD Marple, with associates Cassandra Wang, Adam Kaldor, and Heather Lui; on benefits and compensation matters by San Francisco partner Julie Crisp, with associates Sara Schlau and Nicole Jazayeri; on antitrust matters by San Francisco partner Karen Silverman, with associates Kelly Fayne and Evan Omi; on data privacy matters by San Francisco partner Michael Rubin and counsel Robert Blamires, with associates Daniel Fishman and Sophie Cooper; on export controls matters by Washington, D.C. counsel Annie Froehlich, with associate Bridget Reineking; on compliance matters by Washington, D.C. partner Erin Brown Jones; and on finance matters by Chicago counsel Shahid Jamil.