Edgar Filing: ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP


CUSIP No. 018581108	13G	Page 2 of 8

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

(Rule 13d-102)

Information to be Included in Statements Filed Pursuant to §240.13d-1(b), (c) and (d)

and Amendments Thereto Filed Pursuant to §240.13d-2

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.1)*

Alliance Data Systems Corporation

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

018581108

(CUSIP Number)

December 31, 2011

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

(x) Rule 13d-1(b)

( ) Rule 13d-1(c)

( ) Rule 13d-1(d)

*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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in 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).

(Continued on following page(s))


CUSIP No. 018581108	13G	Page 3 of 8


1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

	TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC

2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP				(a) ( )
					(b) ( )


3.	SEC USE ONLY


4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

	Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER		1,103,672

	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER		0

	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER		1,103,672

	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER		0

9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
			1,103,672

10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ( )

11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

			2.21%

12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

			IA


CUSIP No. 018581108	13G	Page 4 of 8


1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

	Teachers Advisors, Inc.

2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP				(a) ( )
					(b) ( )


3.	SEC USE ONLY


4.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

	Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER		237,047

	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER		0

	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER		237,047

	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER		0

9.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
			237,047

10.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ( )

11.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

			0.47%

12.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

			IA


CUSIP No. 018581108	13G	Page 5 of 8


Item 1(a).	NAME OF ISSUER:

		Alliance Data Systems Corporation

Item 1(b).	ADDRESS OF ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

		7500 Dallas Parkway
		Suite 700
		Plano, TX 75024

Items 2(a)-2(c).		NAME, ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE, AND CITIZENSHIP OF PERSONS FILING:

		TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (“Investment Management”)
		730 Third Avenue
		New York, NY 10017-3206
		Citizenship: Delaware

		Teachers Advisors, Inc. (“Advisors”)
		730 Third Avenue
		New York, NY 10017-3206
		Citizenship: Delaware

Item 2(d).	TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

		Common Stock

Item 2(e).	CUSIP NUMBER:

		018581108

Item 3.	IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO §240.13d-1(b), OR §240.13d-2(b) or (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:


Investment Management

(a)	( )	Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

(b)	( )	Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

(c)	( )	Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act.

(d)	( )	Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(e)	(x)	An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)	( )	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)	( )	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)	( )	A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

(i)	( )	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.


CUSIP No. 018581108	13G	Page 6 of 8



(j)	( )	Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Advisors

(a)	( )	Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

(b)	( )	Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

(c)	( )	Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act.

(d)	( )	Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(e)	(x)	An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)	( )	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)	( )	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)	( )	A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

(i)	( )	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(j)	( )	Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. ( )


Item 4.	OWNERSHIP

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1:

(a) Aggregate amount beneficially owned:		1,340,719 (See Exhibit A attached)

(b) Percent of class:		2.68%

(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:


	Investment Management		Advisors


Sole Voting Power:		1,103,672		237,047

Shared Voting Power:		0		0

Sole Dispositive Power:		1,103,672		237,047

Shared Dispositive Power:		0		0


Item 5.	OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.

	If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following (X).


CUSIP No. 018581108	13G	Page 7 of 8


Item 6.	OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.

	See Exhibit A attached

Item 7.	IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY.

	Not Applicable

Item 8.	IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

	Not Applicable

Item 9.	NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.

	Not Applicable

Item 10.	CERTIFICATIONS.

	By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with nomination under §240.14a-11

	SIGNATURE.

	After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

	Date: February 14, 2012


	TIAA-CREF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC

	By:	/s/ Richard S. Biegen

	Richard Biegen, Chief Compliance Officer

	TEACHERS ADVISORS, INC.

	By:	/s/ Richard S. Biegen

	Richard Biegen, Managing Director,
	Senior Compliance Officer

EXHIBIT A

ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP.

TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC (“Investment Management”) is the investment adviser to the College Retirement Equities Fund (“CREF”), a registered investment company, and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of 1,103,672 shares of Issuer’s common stock owned by CREF. Teachers Advisors, Inc. (“Advisors”) is the investment adviser to three registered investment companies, TIAA-CREF Funds (“Funds”), TIAA-CREF Life Funds (“Life Funds”), and TIAA Separate Account VA-1 (“VA-1”), as well as the TIAA-CREF Asset Management Commingled Funds Trust I (“TCAM Funds”), and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of 237,047 shares of Issuer’s common stock owned by the Funds, Life Funds and VA-1 and TCAM Funds. Investment Management and Advisors are reporting their combined holdings for the purpose of administrative convenience. These shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business, and not with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Issuer. Each of Investment Management and Advisors expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the other’s securities holdings and each disclaims that it is a member of a “group” with the other.