UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 20, 2021
The Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number: 000-51018
Delaware | 23-3016517 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (IRS Employer | |
incorporation) | Identification No.) |
409 Silverside Road
Wilmington, DE 19809
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
302-385-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[_] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share | TBBK | Nasdaq Global Select |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2).
[_] Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [_]
Explanatory Note
On October 20, 2021, the Boards of Directors (collectively, the “Board”) of each of The Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Bancorp Bank (collectively, the “Company”), met and discussed several changes to the Board, including accepting the resignation of Daniel G. Cohen from the Board and as an employee of the Company effective October 31, 2021, appointing James J. McEntee III to serve as Chairman of the Board effective following Mr. Cohen’s resignation, appointing Cheryl Creuzot as a member of the Board, and accepting John C. Chrystal’s resignation from the Board effective in February 2022. The Board also authorized a common stock repurchase program for fiscal 2022. These items are discussed in more detail below.
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On October 20, 2021, the Board received notification from director Daniel G. Cohen of his plan to simultaneously retire from the Board and the Company effective October 31, 2021, thereby terminating his employment, his directorship and his role as Chairman of the Board. After serving in these positions for over 22 years, Mr. Cohen has indicated his desires to pursue other entrepreneurial interests and business leadership opportunities. Mr. Cohen’s resignation is not the result of any disagreement with the Company or management. In accordance with the letter agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, Mr. Cohen will receive a retirement bonus of $600,000 and acceleration of all unvested shares of restricted stock, which will vest on October 31, 2022, unless already scheduled to vest earlier. The Company thanks Mr. Cohen for his decades of service and leadership.
The Company’s Board of Directors has appointed director James J. McEntee III to succeed Mr. Cohen as its new Chairman, effective November 1, 2021.
On October 20, 2021 the Board named Cheryl Creuzot as a director of the Company, to be effective on November 1, 2021. Mrs. Creuzot is currently President Emerita of Wealth Development Strategies, LLC and Wealth Development Strategies Investment Advisory, Inc., where she served as Principal and Managing Partner of these SEC and FINRA regulated firms from 2000 until 2018 when she stepped down from management. After thirty-six years of practice, she serves as a consultant to her former firm and is in the process of a successful succession. Mrs. Creuzot has served since 2020 as a Commissioner of The Port of Houston, a position into which she was nominated by Mayor Sylvester Turner and approved by the Houston City Council. Since 2013 she has served on the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors where she is Vice Chair of the Finance and Capital Planning Committee. Mrs. Creuzot also serves on the board of The Frenchy’s Companies, a family-owned food manufacturing and restaurant organization. She served on the board of Amegy Bank from January 2021 to October 2021, and served on the board of Unity National Bank from 2008 to 2015, where she chaired the Compliance, Audit and Investment Committees. Mrs. Creuzot is also a former board member and Vice Chair of the Texas Public Finance Authority, where she was appointed by the Governor and conferred by the Texas State Senate. She is the former Chair of the University of Houston Board of Visitors and a former board member of the Greater Houston Partnership. In 2018, Mrs. Creuzot authored and published the book Real Lives. Real Money. Mrs. Creuzot has published many articles including Money magazine, Mutual Funds Magazine, Black Enterprise, Ebony and Essence Magazines, Houston Chronicle. She is a prolific public speaker and has also been recognized and honored by numerous organizations, including the Urban League, The University of Houston and The Houston Chronicle, among a dozen others. Over the past twenty years, Mrs. Creuzot has served on more than 15 private, non-profit and academic boards. Mrs. Creuzot holds a Bachelor of Science, a Doctorate in Jurisprudence, a Master Laws Degree in Taxation, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Creuzot and any other person pursuant to which they were elected, and there are no relationships between Ms. Creuzot and the Company that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Mrs. Creuzot will be compensated in accordance with the Company’s compensation practices for its non-employee directors.
Also on October 20, 2021, the Board received notification from director John C. Chrystal of his plan to resign from his role as a director of the Company, effective February 28, 2022. After serving in this position for over 8 years, Mr. Chrystal has indicated his intent to pursue other entrepreneurial interests and business leadership opportunities. Mr. Chrystal’s resignation is not the result of any disagreement with the Board, the Company or management. The Company thanks Mr. Chrystal for his years of service and leadership.
Item 8.01. Other Events
On October 20, 2021, the Board approved a revised stock repurchase program for the upcoming 2022 fiscal year. The amount that the Company intends to repurchase has been increased to $15.0 million in value of the Company’s common stock per fiscal quarter in 2022, for a maximum amount of $60.0 million. Under the stock repurchase program, the Company intends to repurchase shares through open market purchases, privately-negotiated transactions, block purchases or otherwise in accordance with applicable federal securities laws, including Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The board of directors also authorized the Company to enter into written trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. The Company cannot predict when or if it will repurchase any shares of common stock and the timing and amount of any shares repurchased will be determined by management based on its evaluation of market conditions and other factors. Information regarding stock repurchases will be available in The Bancorp’s periodic reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by the applicable rules of the Exchange Act.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This current report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including but not limited to the words “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “look,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar words, and are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. The Company’s business is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, events or achievements to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions. For further discussion of the risks and uncertainties to which these forward-looking statements may be subject, see The Bancorp, Inc.’s filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this current report. The Company does not undertake to publicly revise or update forward-looking statements in this report to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this report, except as may be required under applicable law.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: October 20, 2021 | The Bancorp, Inc. | |
By: | /s/ Paul Frenkiel | |
Name: | Paul Frenkiel | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
Exhibit 10.1
October 20, 2021
Daniel G. Cohen
1240 North Casey Key Road
Osprey, FL 34229
RE: | Congratulations on Your Planned Retirement from The Bancorp |
Dear Daniel:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Bancorp, Inc. and The Bancorp Bank (together, the “Company”) we wish to express our gratitude to you for your many years of leadership and service to the Company as an employee, an officer, a director and most notably as Chairman of the Company’s Board. You have graciously served in many different roles during your 22-year tenure with the Company. We are truly grateful for each and every way that you contributed to the success of the Company over the years.
We acknowledge receipt of your notice of your plan to retire from your current roles as Chairman of the Board and employee of the Company, effective October 31, 2021 (the “Retirement Date”), to pursue other business interests. As we prepare for this transition in leadership within the Board, we are mindful of the legacy of innovation in financial services that has been the hallmark of your role within the organization.
Recognition of Service and Commitment
As the Board reflects on your role as co-founder of the Company, we recognize that your forward-looking and novel contributions have served to elevate the Company to new heights in an ever-changing financial services industry. In light of your 22 years of service, and your commitment to the future success of the Company, the Board is pleased to offer you a retirement bonus in the amount of $600,000, less required withholdings, payable to you within ten (10) days after your Retirement Date. In addition, all unvested RSUs previously granted to you will have an accelerated vesting schedule such that they will vest at the one (1) year anniversary of your Retirement Date, if not already scheduled to vest sooner.
Commitments to the Future of The Bancorp, Inc.
As we look to the future of the Company and the opportunities that lie ahead, we are grateful for our shared commitment to the future success of the organization. The Board greatly appreciates that even with this leadership transition, your legacy will continue through a spirit of goodwill and mutual respect and collaboration in the years ahead.
To that end, we acknowledge your commitment to serve as a goodwill ambassador of the Company going forward and to work with the Board to effectuate a smooth and harmonious transition of your role as Chairman of the Board to the named successor. We look forward to your cooperation with the Company’s reasonable requests of you in connection with this leadership transition, including the transfer of any relevant knowledge and information to the successor Chair.
Daniel G. Cohen
October 20, 2021
Page 2
We also appreciate and confirm your willingness to cooperate with the Company regarding any issues or legal proceedings that may arise in the future for which your assistance is needed. In the event the Company makes such a request, we will reimburse you for reasonable expenses that you incur in connection with any such matters in accordance with the Company’s policies and procedures.
Finally, consistent with the standards of privacy and data security which govern our Company and the financial services industry, you have also affirmed that you will continue to maintain the confidentiality of the Company’s non-public business dealings and information following your Retirement Date. If you believe you are legally required to disclose any such information, you will contact the Company as soon as practicable to inform us of the circumstances requiring disclosure so the Company will have an opportunity to intervene and object if it so wishes.
Again, thank you for your leadership and service to the Company. You have been a visionary leader who has instilled innovation at the Company, driving the Company with a true entrepreneurial spirit. We sincerely appreciate your countless contributions over the last 22 years. You have been an incredible contributor to the Company’s successes.
We wish you all the best as you focus on your other business and leadership endeavors and continue to pursue new opportunities and interests in the years ahead.
Sincerely,
/s/ Walter T. Beach
Walter T. Beach
Chair, Compensation Committee
/s/ Mei-Mei Tuan
Mei-Mei Tuan
Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee
/s/ Michael J. Bradley
Michael J. Bradley
Lead Independent Director
Chair, Audit Committee
Acknowledged and Agreed: | ||
By: | /s/ Daniel G. Cohen | |
Daniel G. Cohen | ||
Date: | October 20, 2021 | |