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): May 9, 2012
 
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Freddie Mac
 
         
Federally chartered
corporation
  001-34139   52-0904874
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
     
8200 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, Virginia
  22102
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (703) 903-2000
 
Not applicable
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
On May 10, 2012, Freddie Mac (formally known as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation) issued a press release announcing that its board of directors has appointed Donald H. Layton as the company’s chief executive officer, effective May 21, 2012.
 
Layton, age 62, was also elected as a member of the board, effective the date his employment commences. Layton will succeed Charles E. Haldeman, Jr., who has served as chief executive officer since August 2009. On May 9, 2012, Haldeman notified the company of his resignation as chief executive officer and as a member of Freddie Mac’s board of directors effective May 21, 2012. Haldeman is expected to remain employed by the company and serve in an advisory capacity until June 30, 2012.
 
A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
 
Layton worked for nearly thirty years at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMorgan Chase) and its predecessors, starting as a trainee and rising to vice chairman and a member of the company’s three-person Office of the Chairman, retiring in 2004. In his career at JPMorgan Chase, Layton’s responsibilities spanned capital markets and investment banking, consumer banking and operating services. From 2002 to 2004, he was responsible for the company’s Chase Financial Services unit, which included the fourth largest mortgage firm in the U.S. He was co-chief executive officer of J.P. Morgan, the investment bank of JPMorgan Chase, overseeing the entire range of the investment bank’s global activities, from 2000 to 2002. Prior to the merger of Chase Manhattan and J.P. Morgan in 2000, Layton was responsible for Chase’s worldwide capital markets and trading activities, including foreign exchange, risk management products, emerging markets, and fixed income, as well as its operating services businesses. He additionally supervised the bank’s investment portfolio for many years.
 
More recently, Layton served as chairman and chief executive officer of online brokerage E*TRADE Financial Corporation. He joined E*TRADE Financial Corporation as chairman in November 2007 and became chief executive officer in March 2008, retiring in December 2009.
 
Layton also served as a senior advisor to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association from 2006 to 2008 and is chairman of the board of the Partnership for the Homeless, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing homelessness in New York City. He received simultaneous Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
 
Layton had been a member of the board of directors of Assured Guaranty Ltd. since May 2006 and a member of the board of directors of the American International Group since April 2010, but has resigned from both positions in connection with his appointment as Freddie Mac’s chief executive officer.


 

Freddie Mac has entered into a Memorandum Agreement with Layton, which provides for his employment as chief executive officer of Freddie Mac. A copy of the Memorandum Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), the company’s conservator, has approved this Memorandum Agreement and consulted with the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”).
 
The terms of his Memorandum Agreement provide Layton with the following during his employment with Freddie Mac:
 
•  An annual base salary of $600,000; and
 
•  The opportunity to participate in all employee benefit plans offered to Freddie Mac’s senior executive officers, including the company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”), pursuant to the terms of these plans. For a description of these plans see Freddie Mac’s Form 10-K filed March 9, 2012.
 
Freddie Mac also has entered into a Restrictive Covenant and Confidentiality Agreement with Layton. A copy of the Restrictive Covenant and Confidentiality Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. Layton is subject to non-competition and non-solicitation of employees restrictions for a period of two years and one year, respectively, following any termination of his employment, and he is also subject to certain restrictions with respect to confidential information obtained during the course of his employment.
 
Freddie Mac will enter into an indemnification agreement with Layton, effective as of the date of his appointment as the company’s chief executive officer. A copy of the form of indemnification agreement is attached as Exhibit 10.54 to Freddie Mac’s Form 10-K filed March 9, 2012 and is incorporated herein by reference. For a description of this indemnification agreement see Freddie Mac’s Form 10-K filed March 9, 2012.
 
Layton has vested but unexercised stock options of JPMorgan Chase, which represent less than one percent of his net worth. Layton also receives a pension from JPMorgan Chase in connection with his retirement in 2004. The amount of Layton’s pension is fixed and does not depend in any way on JPMorgan Chase’s revenues or profits. Layton also has a deferred compensation balance under JPMorgan Chase’s Deferred Compensation Plan, of which approximately 80% is payable in fifteen annual installments beginning in January 2016 and earns a return based upon a defined list of mutual funds that Layton designates; and the remaining 20% is in a “private equity balance” that is payable as proceeds are realized from the underlying private equity transactions into which the funds were invested. Layton’s deferred compensation balance is less than ten percent of his total net worth on an after-tax basis.
 
Freddie Mac has an extensive business relationship with JPMorgan Chase (through its subsidiaries). Specifically, as of December 31, 2011, JPMorgan Chase was Freddie Mac’s second largest servicer, and serviced approximately 1.32 million loans for Freddie Mac that had an aggregate unpaid principal balance of more than $211 billion. As of March 31, 2012, JPMorgan Chase remains Freddie Mac’s second largest servicer, and services approximately 1.28 million loans for Freddie Mac that have an aggregate unpaid principal balance of more than $203 billion. JPMorgan Chase sold approximately $40.2 billion in single-family loans to Freddie Mac in 2011 and approximately $7.92 billion in single-family loans to Freddie Mac in the three months ended March 31, 2012.


 

JPMorgan Chase also is a significant capital markets, derivatives and multifamily counterparty and is an underwriter of our debt and mortgage securities. As of April 30, 2012, JPMorgan Chase had an aggregate notional balance of $1.5 billion of interest rate swaps with Freddie Mac and was the company’s counterparty in securities repurchase and dollar roll transactions with a total unpaid principal balance of $250 million. From January 2011 through April 30, 2012, JPMorgan Chase served as underwriter for $11.6 billion of Freddie Mac’s debt securities and $35.3 billion of Freddie Mac’s mortgage-related securities.
 
In order to avoid potential conflicts of interest that might arise as a result of Layton’s deferred compensation balance, vested but unexercised stock options and pension from JPMorgan Chase, Layton has agreed to recuse himself in specified circumstances from acting upon matters directly relating to JPMorgan Chase that may be considered by Freddie Mac’s board of directors or presented to him in his capacity as Freddie Mac’s chief executive officer, including with respect to certain matters as determined by the Non-Executive Chairman and Audit Committee Chair.
 
Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
  (d)  Exhibits.
 
The following exhibits are being filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K:
 
     
     
Exhibit Number
  Description of Exhibit
     
10.1
  Memorandum Agreement, dated May 7, 2012, between Freddie Mac and Donald H. Layton*
     
10.2
  Restrictive Covenant and Confidentiality Agreement, dated May 7, 2012, between Freddie Mac and Donald H. Layton*
     
99.1
  Press Release, dated May 10, 2012, issued by Freddie Mac
     
 
This exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.


 

SIGNATURE
 
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.
 
         
         
    FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION
         
    By:  
/s/  Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.
       
        Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.
        Chief Executive Officer
 
Date: May 10, 2012


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
     
     
Exhibit Number
  Description of Exhibit
     
10.1
  Memorandum Agreement, dated May 7, 2012, between Freddie Mac and Donald H. Layton*
     
10.2
  Restrictive Covenant and Confidentiality Agreement, dated May 7, 2012, between Freddie Mac and Donald H. Layton*
     
99.1
  Press Release, dated May 10, 2012, issued by Freddie Mac
     
 
This exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 
Exhibit 10.1
 
         
(FREDDIE MAC LOGO)   Corporate Headquarters
8250 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
  Memorandum
 
     
Date
  To
May 7, 2012
  Donald H. Layton
     
From    
Anthony A. Williams
   
     
Subject
   
Your Compensation as Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”)
 
On behalf of the Compensation Committee (“Committee”) of Freddie Mac’s Board of Directors (“Board”), this memorandum sets forth the terms of Freddie Mac’s agreement (the “Agreement”) to employ you as its Chief Executive Officer, effective May 21, 2012, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein. The terms and conditions set forth herein have been developed in conjunction with and are subject to approval by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”), the United States Department of Treasury (“Treasury”), the Board, and the Committee. To the extent that any required approval is not obtained, this Agreement shall be null and void in all respects and you shall have no further obligations under this Agreement, the Restrictive Covenant and Confidentiality Agreement (the “Restrictive Covenant Agreement”) or any other plan, policy or program of Freddie Mac.
 
Please review and confirm that such terms and conditions conform to your understanding by returning to Keith Green, Freddie Mac’s Senior Vice-President of Human Resources, a signed copy of this Agreement.
 
As Freddie Mac’s Chief Executive Officer, you shall be the highest-ranking officer of Freddie Mac and shall have the same status, privileges, and responsibilities normally inherent in such capacity in corporations of similar size and character. You shall also perform such additional duties consistent with your position as the Board may from time to time reasonably assign to you. In addition, for so long as you remain Chief Executive Officer, the Board shall nominate you to serve on the Board as a director of Freddie Mac.
 
During your employment as Chief Executive Officer, you agree to devote substantially all your full time, attention, and energies to Freddie Mac’s business, and to not be engaged in any other business activity, whether or not such business activity is pursued for gain, profit, or other pecuniary advantage, other than service on outside private or not-for-profit boards that: (i) have been previously disclosed to Freddie Mac prior to the date of this Agreement and approved by the Committee, and (ii) are approved by the Committee after the date of this Agreement from time to time. This restriction shall not prevent you from making investments of your assets in such form or manner as you desire, consistent with Freddie Mac’s Personal Securities


 

Compensation Terms – Donald H. Layton – May 7, 2012
Page 2 of 4
 
 
Investments Policy and the Restrictive Covenant Agreement you are required to sign pursuant to Section IV below. You agree to resign as a member of the boards of directors of American International Group, Assured Guaranty, Ltd., KLS Diversified Asset Management LP, and Open Models Valuation Company, effective prior to beginning employment with Freddie Mac, but conditioned on the effectiveness of this Agreement.
 
I.  Compensation
 
Your annualized base salary shall be $600,000. You will not participate in the Company’s executive management compensation programs.
 
Base salary will be paid on a semi-monthly basis.
 
If you terminate your employment with Freddie Mac at any time for any reason, your base salary will terminate effective as of the date your employment terminates.
 
II.  Benefits
 
You will be eligible to participate in all employee benefit plans offered to Freddie Mac’s senior executive officers (as may be modified or terminated from time to time by Freddie Mac in its sole discretion) pursuant to the terms set forth in the applicable plan. In summary, our benefit plans currently include the following:
 
  •  Healthcare Coverage — We offer a competitive healthcare program that provides medical, dental and vision coverage for you and your eligible dependents with several options to choose from.
 
  •  Income Protection — We provide short- and long-term disability income protection, life insurance, accidental death and personal loss insurance, and business travel accident coverage.
 
  •  Thrift/401(k) Savings Plan — You will be able to contribute on a pre-tax and after-tax basis and Freddie Mac will begin matching a portion of your contributions, up to 6 percent of pay, after one year of service. This plan also includes a Company annual discretionary contribution, which is based on Company performance and a defined formula with a three-year vesting schedule and is in addition to the matching contribution.
 
  •  Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) — The SERP is an unfunded nonqualified plan for officers intended to make up for employer-provided contributions under the Thrift/401(k) Savings Plan that are capped due to Internal Revenue Code limitations.
 
Under a separate cover, we are sending details of our employee benefit plans. As a new employee, when you first become eligible for benefits, you may select the plans that best meet your needs by logging on to http://netbenefits.fidelity.com. Shortly after your start date, you will


 

Compensation Terms – Donald H. Layton – May 7, 2012
Page 3 of 4
 
receive an email from the “Freddie Mac Benefits Center” instructing you to log on to the Fidelity NetBenefits website to make your benefits elections.
 
Note that you will not receive any information at your home address. Your enrollment window is 30 days following your hire date. During orientation, our benefit plans and information about enrollment will be explained in greater detail. Please visit our new employee website, http://www.freddiemac.com/careers/newemployee/ , for information about working at Freddie Mac.
 
III.  Termination of Board Membership
 
Your termination of employment for any reason (including resignation) shall be deemed to be the termination of your membership on the Board as of the same effective date.
 
IV.  Restrictive Covenant Agreement
 
The terms of compensation provided in this Agreement are contingent on your agreement to be bound by the terms of the enclosed Restrictive Covenant Agreement, which you must sign and return together with a signed copy of this Agreement. The Restrictive Covenant Agreement will become effective upon the effectiveness of this Agreement.
 
V.  FHFA’s Review and Approval Authority
 
The terms and conditions of your compensation have been approved by the Committee but require final approval by FHFA in consultation with Treasury as required under the terms of the Company’s Preferred Stock Agreement. Notwithstanding such approval and any provision of this Agreement, you acknowledge and understand that any compensation paid or to be paid during or after your employment remains subject to any withholding, escrow or prohibition consistent with FHFA’s authority pursuant to the Federal Home Loan Corporation Act, as amended, or the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, as amended.
 
VI.  Reservation of Rights
 
This Agreement is not intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to constitute a contract of employment for a specified duration. Your employment is “at-will” and each of you and Freddie Mac retain the discretion to terminate the employment relationship at any time for any lawful reason with or without notice.
 
This offer of employment is contingent upon Freddie Mac’s satisfaction in its sole discretion with your references and the results of your background checks and drug test.
 
During the course of your review of this Agreement, Freddie Mac expects that you have had the opportunity to consult and receive assistance from appropriate advisors, including legal, tax, and financial advisors.


 

Compensation Terms – Donald H. Layton – May 7, 2012
Page 4 of 4
 
This Agreement shall be construed, and the rights and obligations herein determined, exclusively in accordance with the substantive law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, excluding provisions of Virginia law concerning choice-of-law that would result in the law of any state other than Virginia being applied.
 
         
/s/ Anthony A. Williams
      May 7, 2012
         
Anthony A. Williams
      Date
Chairman, Compensation Committee
       
         
I agree to the terms of this Agreement.
 
 
 
       
/s/ Donald H. Layton
      May 7, 2012
         
Donald H. Layton
      Date
 
Exhibit 10.2
 
         
(FREDDIE MAC LOGO)   Corporate Headquarters
8250 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
  Tel: (703) 918-5000
www.FreddieMac.com
 
 
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
 
In exchange for the mutual promises and consideration set forth below, this Restrictive Covenant and Confidentiality Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac” or “Company”) and Donald H. Layton (“Executive” or “you”), effective as of May 21, 2012. To the extent that any required approval of this Agreement or the employment agreement of which this Agreement forms a part is not obtained, this Agreement shall be null and void in all respects and you shall have no further obligations under this Agreement, the employment agreement or any other plan, policy or program of Freddie Mac.
 
     
I.
  Definitions
 
The following terms shall have the meanings indicated when used in this Agreement.
 
A.             Prohibited Competition:  Considering offers of employment from, seeking or accepting employment with, directly or indirectly providing professional services to, becoming a director of, or being an investor (representing more than a five (5) percent equity interest) in, (i) Fannie Mae (ii) all Federal Home Loan Banks (including the Office of Finance); and (iii) such other entities to which the Executive and the Company may agree in writing from time-to-time.
 
B.             Confidential Information:  Information or materials in written, oral, magnetic, digital, computer, photographic, optical, electronic, or other form, whether now existing or developed or created during the period of Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac, that constitutes trade secrets and/or proprietary or confidential information. This information includes, but is not limited to: (i) all information marked Proprietary or Confidential; (ii) information concerning the components, capabilities, and attributes of Freddie Mac’s business plans, methods, and strategies; (iii) information relating to tactics, plans, or strategies concerning shareholders, investors, pricing, investment, marketing, sales, trading, funding, hedging, modeling, sales and risk management; (iv) financial or tax information and analyses, including but not limited to, information concerning Freddie Mac’s capital structure and tax or financial planning; (v) confidential information about Freddie Mac’s customers, borrowers, employees, or others; (vi) pricing and quoting information, policies, procedures, and practices; (vii) confidential customer lists; (viii) proprietary algorithms; (ix) confidential contract terms; (x) confidential information concerning Freddie Mac’s policies, procedures, and practices or the way in which Freddie Mac does business; (xi) proprietary or confidential data bases, including their structure and content; (xii) proprietary Freddie Mac business software, including its design, specifications and documentation; (xiii) information about Freddie Mac products, programs, and services which has not yet been made public; (xiv) confidential information about Freddie Mac’s dealings with third parties, including dealers, customers, vendors, and regulators; and/or (xv) confidential information belonging to third parties to which Executive received access in connection with Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac. Confidential Information does not include general skills, experience, or knowledge acquired in connection with Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac that otherwise are generally known to the public or within the industry or trade in which Freddie Mac operates.
 
     
II.
  Non-Competition
 
Executive recognizes that as a result of Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac, Executive has access to and knowledge of critically sensitive Confidential Information, the improper disclosure or use of which would result in grave competitive harm to Freddie Mac. Therefore, Executive agrees that during


 

2
 
 
Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac and for twenty-four (24) months immediately following termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not engage in Prohibited Competition. Executive acknowledges and agrees that this covenant has unique, substantial and immeasurable value to Freddie Mac, that Executive has sufficient skills to provide a livelihood for Executive while this covenant remains in force, and that this covenant will not interfere with Executive’s ability to work consistent with Executive’s experience, training and education. This non-competition covenant applies regardless of whether Executive’s employment is terminated by Executive, by Freddie Mac, or by a joint decision.
 
     
III.
  Non-Solicitation and Non-Recruitment
 
During Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac and for a period of twelve (12) months after Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, on his own behalf of or on behalf of any other person, corporation, partnership, firm, financial institution or other business entity, recruit or solicit or attempt to recruit or solicit or assist another to recruit or solicit any person (who at such time is employed as a Freddie Mac officer (or equivalent)) to cease their employment relationship with Freddie Mac for the purpose of their being employed by or providing professional services to any other entity or person; provided that this section shall not be construed as a prohibition on the ability of Executive to provide a reference to any person or entity with which Executive has no affiliation provided the Freddie Mac employee has notified Freddie Mac of his or her intent to terminate their employment with Freddie Mac.
 
     
IV.
  Treatment of Confidential Information
 
A.             Non-Disclosure.  Executive recognizes that Freddie Mac is engaged in an extremely competitive business and that, in the course of performing Executive’s job duties, Executive will have access to and gain knowledge about Confidential Information. Executive further recognizes the importance of carefully protecting this Confidential Information in order for Freddie Mac to compete successfully. Therefore, Executive agrees that Executive will neither divulge Confidential Information to any persons, including to other Freddie Mac employees who do not have a Freddie Mac business-related need to know, nor make use of the Confidential Information for the Executive’s own benefit or for the benefit of anyone else other than Freddie Mac. Executive further agrees to take all reasonable precautions to prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information to unauthorized persons or entities, and to comply with all Company policies, procedures, and instructions regarding the treatment of such information.
 
B.             Return of Materials.  Executive agrees that upon termination of Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac for any reason whatsoever, Executive will deliver to Freddie Mac’s General Counsel all tangible materials embodying Confidential Information, including, but not limited to, any documentation, records, listings, notes, files, data, sketches, memoranda, models, accounts, reference materials, samples, machine-readable media, computer disks, tapes, and equipment which in any way relate to Confidential Information, whether developed by Executive or not. Executive further agrees not to retain any copies of any materials embodying Confidential Information.
 
C.             Post-Termination Obligations . Executive agrees that after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive will not use in any way whatsoever, nor disclose any Confidential Information learned or obtained in connection with Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac without first obtaining the written permission of the Senior Vice President of Human Resources of Freddie Mac. Executive further agrees that, in order to assure the continued confidentiality of the Confidential Information, Freddie Mac may correspond with Executive’s future employers to advise them generally of Executive’s exposure to and knowledge of Confidential Information, and Executive’s obligations and responsibilities regarding the Confidential Information. Executive understands and agrees that any such contact may include a request for assurance and confirmation from such employer(s) that Executive will not disclose Confidential Information to such employer(s), nor will such employer(s) permit any use


 

3
 
whatsoever of the Confidential Information. To enable Freddie Mac to monitor compliance with the obligations imposed by this Agreement, Executive further agrees to inform in writing Freddie Mac’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources of the identity of Executive’s subsequent employer(s) and Executive’s prospective job title and responsibilities prior to beginning employment. Executive agrees that this notice requirement shall remain in effect for twelve (12) months following the termination of Executive’s Freddie Mac employment.
 
D.             Ability to Enforce Agreement and Assist Government Investigations .  Nothing in this Agreement prohibits or otherwise restricts you from: (1) making any disclosure of information required by law; (2) assisting any regulatory or law enforcement agency or legislative body to the extent you maintain a legal right to do so notwithstanding this Agreement; (3) filing, testifying, participating in or otherwise assisting in a proceeding relating to the alleged violation of any federal, state, or local law, regulation, or rule, to the extent you maintain a legal right to do so notwithstanding this Agreement; (4) filing, testifying, participating in or otherwise assisting the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other proper authority in a proceeding relating to allegations of fraud, (5) enforcing any rights or defending any claims hereunder or under the employment agreement or any plan or program of Freddie Mac, or (6) making any disclosure with the prior written consent of the Board.
 
     
V.
  Consideration Given to Executive
 
In exchange for agreeing to be bound by the terms, conditions, and restrictions stated in this Agreement, Freddie Mac will provide the Executive with the following consideration, which itself is adequate consideration for Executive’s agreement to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement:
 
  •     Compensation.  Freddie Mac has agreed to hire and to compensate Executive as its Chief Executive Officer pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the May 7, 2012 memorandum between Executive and Freddie Mac.
 
     
VI.
  Compliance with the Code of Conduct and Corporate Policies, Including Personal Securities Investments Policy
 
As a Freddie Mac employee, Executive will be subject to Freddie Mac’s Code of Conduct (“Code”) and to Corporate Policy 3-206, Personal Securities Investments Policy (“Policy”) that, among other things, limit the investment activities of Freddie Mac employees. Executive agrees to fully comply with the Code and the Policy.
 
     
VII.
  Absence of Any Conflict of Interest
 
Other than as disclosed in the Executive’s D&O Questionnaire that was previously provided to you, (i) Executive represents that Executive does not have any confidential information, trade secrets or other proprietary information that Executive obtained as the result of Executive’s employment with another employer that Executive will be using in Executive’s position at Freddie Mac; and (ii) Executive also represents that Executive is not subject to any employment, confidentiality or stock grant agreements, or any other restrictions or limitations imposed by a prior employer, which would affect Executive’s ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer of Freddie Mac and that Executive has provided Freddie Mac with copies of any such agreements or limitations so that Freddie Mac can make an independent judgment that Executive’s employment with Freddie Mac is not inconsistent with any of its terms.
 
     
VIII.
  Effect of Termination of Employment
 
In the event that your employment terminates for any reason, you agree that you shall be deemed to have resigned, effective as of the date of such termination of employment with Freddie Mac, as a member of


 

4
 
Freddie Mac’s Board of Directors and from all positions, titles, duties, authorities and responsibilities arising out of or relating to your employment or such Board membership, including any directorships or fiduciary positions to which you were serving at the request of, or appointment by, Freddie Mac. You also agree that you will execute any such documents and take any such further steps as Freddie Mac’s Board of Directors reasonably may ask of you to effectuate such resignations.
 
     
IX.
  Reservation of Rights
 
This Agreement in not intended, nor shall it be interpreted, to constitute a contract of employment for a specified duration. Your employment is “at-will” and each of you and Freddie Mac retain the discretion to terminate the employment relationship at any time for any lawful reason with or without notice.
 
     
X.
  Enforcement
 
A.            Executive acknowledges that Executive may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment, for Executive’s breach or threat of breach of any provision of this Agreement.
 
B.            Executive agrees that irreparable injury will result to Freddie Mac’s business interests in the event of breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, the full extent of Freddie Mac’s damages will be impossible to ascertain, and monetary damages will not be an adequate remedy for Freddie Mac. Therefore, Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or threat of breach of any provision(s) of this Agreement, Freddie Mac, in addition to any other relief available, shall be entitled to temporary, preliminary, and permanent equitable relief to restrain any such breach or threat of breach by Executive and all persons acting for and/or in concert with Executive, without the necessity of posting bond or security, which Executive expressly waives.
 
C.            Executive agrees that each of Executive’s obligations specified in this Agreement is a separate and independent covenant, and that all of Executive’s obligations set forth herein shall survive any termination, for any reason, of Executive’s Freddie Mac employment. To the extent that any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it is overbroad, that provision shall be limited and enforced to the extent permitted by applicable law. Should any provision of this Agreement be declared or determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, the validity of the remaining obligations will not be affected thereby and only the unenforceable or invalid obligation will be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement.
 
D.            This Agreement is governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its or any other jurisdiction’s conflict-of-law provisions. Executive agrees that any action related to or arising out of this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Executive hereby irrevocably consents to personal jurisdiction and venue in such court and to service of process by United States Mail or express courier service in any such action.
 
E.            If any dispute(s) arise(s) between Freddie Mac and Executive with respect to any matter which is the subject of this Agreement, the prevailing party in such dispute(s) shall be entitled to recover from the other party all of its costs and expenses, including its reasonable attorneys’ fees.
 
Executive has been advised to discuss all aspects of this Agreement with Executive’s private attorney. Executive acknowledges that Executive has carefully read and understands the terms and provisions of this Agreement and that they are reasonable. Executive signs this Agreement voluntarily and accepts all obligations contained in this Agreement in exchange for the consideration to be given to Executive as outlined above, which Executive acknowledges is adequate


 

5
 
and satisfactory, and which Executive further acknowledges Freddie Mac is not otherwise obligated to provide to Executive. Neither Freddie Mac nor its agents, representatives, directors, officers or employees have made any representations to Executive concerning the terms or effects of this Agreement, other than those contained in this Agreement.
 
                         
By:
      /s/ Donald H. Layton       Date:       May 7, 2012
                         
            Donald H. Layton                
 
Exhibit 99.1
 
         
(FREDDIE MAC LOGO)   News Release    
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT: Doug Duvall
703-903-2476
INVESTOR CONTACT: Linda Eddy
703-903-3883
 
DONALD H. LAYTON NAMED CEO OF FREDDIE MAC
 
McLEAN, Va. — Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Donald H. Layton as chief executive officer and has elected him as a member of the Board of Directors. Layton will join the company on May 21, 2012.
 
Layton will assume leadership of Freddie Mac after a long career in banking and financial services. He worked for nearly 30 years at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors, starting as a trainee and rising to vice chairman and a member of the three-person Office of the Chairman, retiring in 2004. More recently, he served as chairman & CEO of E*TRADE Financial, which he shepherded through the recent financial crisis. Additionally, he has been a member of the boards of several financial services firms and was a senior adviser to an industry association.
 
“Don brings strong executive leadership and a deep understanding of financial markets at a pivotal time for Freddie Mac,” said Christopher S. Lynch, Freddie Mac’s non-executive chairman. “His operating experience, analytical rigor and boundless energy make Don the right leader to continue our important work of supporting the nation’s housing market and helping America’s families, and to guide Freddie Mac in helping build a stronger framework for the future of housing finance.”
 
Layton, 62, will succeed Charles E. “Ed” Haldeman, Jr. Haldeman has served as CEO since August 2009, and announced in October 2011 that he would be stepping down this year.


 

“I’m pleased that the Board was able to attract a private sector leader of Don’s caliber,” said Haldeman. “His capital markets and banking background coupled with his ability to manage large, complex organizations will serve him well as he leads Freddie Mac’s 5,000 dedicated employees going forward.”
 
In his career at JPMorgan Chase, Mr. Layton’s responsibilities spanned capital markets and investment banking, consumer banking and operating services. From 2002 to 2004, he was responsible for the company’s Chase Financial Services unit, which included the fourth largest mortgage firm in the U.S. He was Co-Chief Executive Officer of J.P. Morgan, the investment bank of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., overseeing the entire range of the investment bank’s global activities, from 2000 to 2002. Prior to the merger of Chase Manhattan and J.P. Morgan in 2000, Mr. Layton was responsible for Chase’s worldwide capital markets and trading activities, including foreign exchange, risk management products, emerging markets, and fixed income, as well as its operating services businesses. He additionally supervised the bank’s investment portfolio for many years.
 
Layton has also served as a senior advisor to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association from 2006 to 2008 and is chairman of the board of the Partnership for the Homeless, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing homelessness in New York City. He received simultaneous Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
 
Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation’s residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Today, Freddie Mac makes home possible for one in four homebuyers and is one of the largest sources of financing for multifamily housing.
 
www.FreddieMac.com
 
Twitter: @FreddieMac
 
# # #