Vertex, a global outsourcing and IT services firm, today announced the completion of the transaction with Alliance Data Systems Corporation to acquire its Utility Services business. Alliance Data’s Utility Services provides billing systems, professional services and process outsourcing to utilities in the U.S. and Canada. The agreement was originally announced on July 14th, 2008.

Alliance Data’s Utility Services will become a core part of Vertex’s utilities business and brings with it industry-leading capabilities in application maintenance, hosting, systems integration, and customer information systems. The new combined organization will serve more than 70 electric, gas, water, and retail energy providers in the U.S. and Canada.

Richard Charles, Alliance Data Utility Services SVP of Client Development, said, “We are very excited to be a part of Vertex,  an organization that views the utility sector and customer management services as its core business. Vertex is a fantastic home for the more than one thousand Utility Services associates, and we look forward to working together to serve our clients even more effectively in these rapidly changing times.”

John Hall, Vertex’s Managing Director of Utilities, commented, “We are energized and excited to have the Alliance Data’s Utility Services team onboard and welcome them to the Vertex family.  This transaction creates an opportunity for us to not only expand the client base we serve, but to leverage the best practices of both organizations to build an innovative and differentiated value proposition for our clients”