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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): March 26, 2024

 

 

DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Commission File Number: 001-33378

 

Delaware   36-2517428

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

2500 Lake Cook Road, Riverwoods, Illinois 60015

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(224) 405-0900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(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):

 

 

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 $0.01 per share   DFS   New York Stock Exchange

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 of this chapter)or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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. ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02.

Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On March 26, 2024, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Discover Financial Services (the “Company”) accepted the resignation of Michael G. Rhodes from his positions as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, a member of the Board and a director and officer of Discover Bank (the “Bank”), each effective April 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). Mr. Rhodes, who was not expected to have a long-term role at the combined company after completion of the Company’s merger with Capital One Financial Corporation, informed the Board that he has accepted a job offer at another financial institution.

In connection with his resignation, on March 27, 2024, the Company and Mr. Rhodes entered into a letter agreement (the “Rhodes Letter Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Rhodes Letter Agreement, Mr. Rhodes will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, a member of the Board and a director and officer of the Bank through April 1, 2024 and will serve as an advisor to the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company from such date through April 12, 2024. Mr. Rhodes will continue to receive his base salary through the remainder of his employment. Mr. Rhodes will not receive severance in connection with his resignation. Mr. Rhodes’s equity awards that are unvested on the Effective Date will be forfeited, in accordance with their terms, and Mr. Rhodes will pay back certain cash payments previously made by the Company, in accordance with the terms of the letter agreement, dated December 7, 2023, between the Company and Mr. Rhodes.

The foregoing description of the Rhodes Letter Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rhodes Letter Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1, and incorporated herein by reference.

On March 26, 2024, the Board appointed J. Michael Shepherd as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and as Interim President of the Bank, effective April 1, 2024. Mr. Shepherd will continue to serve as a director of the Company, but is resigning as a member of the Risk Oversight Committee of the Board during his term as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President.

Mr. Shepherd is the former Chairman and CEO of BancWest Corporation and its subsidiary, Bank of the West, the US retail arm of BNP Paribas Group. Bank of the West was acquired by BMO in February of 2023. Mr. Shepherd served as the Chairman of BNP Paribas USA, Inc. from 2016 to 2019 and as a Director from 2016 to February 2023. He joined Bank of the West in 2004 and held a succession of positions, including CEO, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and President. Before joining Bank of the West, Mr. Shepherd was General Counsel of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. and of Shawmut National Corporation. He also served in government as Senior Deputy Comptroller of the Currency, Associate Counsel to the President of the United States and Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Mr. Shepherd is also a director of Pacific Mutual Holdings Inc. and previously was a director of First Hawaiian Inc. He previously served as a Member and President of the Federal Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board, as a Member of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion, and as a Director of The Clearing House.

Mr. Shepherd has no family relationships with any director or executive officer of the Company. There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Shepherd and any other person pursuant to which Mr. Shepherd was selected as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, and there are no transactions involving Mr. Shepherd that would be required to be reported under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

In connection with his appointment, on March 27, 2024, the Company and Mr. Shepherd entered into a letter agreement (the “Shepherd Letter Agreement”), which provides the terms and conditions pursuant to which Mr. Shepherd will serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and Interim President of the Bank. Pursuant to the terms of the Shepherd Letter Agreement, Mr. Shepherd will receive a base salary of $1,250,000 and a one-time award of restricted stock units on or as soon as practicable after April 1, 2024. The restricted stock unit award will have a grant date value of $5,750,000 and will vest on the earlier of the completion of the merger with Capital One Financial Corporation pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 19, 2024 and the one year anniversary of the grant date, in each case provided that Mr. Shepherd has remained employed as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company up to the applicable date. In the event Mr. Shepherd’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause, by Mr. Shepherd with good reason, or as a result of death or disability, in each case before the restricted stock unit award vests, the award will accelerate immediately, subject to the effectiveness of a release of claims. Mr. Shepherd will not be eligible to participate in the Company’s Severance Plan or Change in Control Severance Policy.

The foregoing description of the Shepherd Letter Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Shepherd Letter agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2, and incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Rhodes Letter Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2024 between Discover Financial Services and Michael G. Rhodes.
10.2    Shepherd Letter Agreement, dated as of March 27, 2024 between Discover Financial Services and J. Michael Shepherd.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File – the cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101).


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.

 

    DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
Date: March 27, 2024     By:  

/s/ Hope D. Mehlman

    Name:   Hope D. Mehlman
    Title:   Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 10.1

March 27, 2024

Michael G. Rhodes,

at the address on file with

Discover Financial Services.

Dear Michael,

This letter agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 27, 2024 (the “Effective Date”) sets forth the terms we have agreed regarding your transition from Discover Financial Services (the “Company”), including your service through April 12, 2024 (the “Separation Date”) to support the Company’s transition to new leadership.

 

1.

Your Resignation

This letter confirms your resignation, effective as of April 1, 2024 (the “Transition Date”), as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, as well as a member of the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”). It also confirms your resignation as a director and officer of Discover Bank (the “Bank”) and any other role you have at the Company, the Bank or their affiliates (except as Advisor, as set forth below), as of the Transition Date.

For the period between the Transition Date and the Separation Date, you will continue as an employee of the Company and serve as an Advisor to the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and President. At the close of business on the Separation Date, your employment with the Company will end automatically without further action by you or the Company.

You agree to execute any further documentation the Company reasonably may request to evidence your resignation and transition of authority in this Section 1. Following your termination, you shall receive any vested accrued amounts to which you are entitled under the Company’s benefit plans and arrangements. The Company shall not terminate your service as Chief Executive Officer and President before the Transition Date without “Cause” (as defined in your Company equity awards).

The Company acknowledges that you are resigning from the Company and the Bank in order to accept an offer of employment as the chief executive officer of Ally Financial Inc.

 

2.

Your Compensation

During the remainder of your employment as Chief Executive Officer and President and during your employment as Advisor, you will continue to receive your base salary in effect prior to the Effective Date. For the avoidance of doubt, you will not be eligible to participate in the Company’s Short-Term Incentive Program with respect to the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, eligible for additional equity grants from the Company or eligible for severance under the Company Severance Plan or the Company Change in Control Severance Policy in connection with your separation from the Company.


Mr. Michael G. Rhodes    Page 2

 

3.

Your Long-Term Equity Awards

Your Company equity awards that are outstanding on the Effective Date shall be forfeited on the Separation Date, in accordance with their terms.

 

4.

Your Repayment Obligations

You will repay the pre-tax amounts of your make-whole cash award actually paid to you and transition award, in the aggregate amount of $843,500.00, on or within 30 days following the Separation Date, in accordance with Section 4.D. of the letter agreement, dated as of December 7, 2023, between you and the Company (the “Offer Letter”). The Company acknowledges and agrees that there is no “Applicable Amount” paid under the Offer Letter on the Separation Date that is repayable in accordance with Section 4.E. of the Offer Letter.

 

5.

Indemnification and Cooperation

During and after your employment, the Company will indemnify you in your capacity as an officer and a member of the Board (and advance expenses in connection therewith) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and by-laws and shall cover you under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies applicable to senior management and/or Board members. You agree (whether during or after your employment) to reasonably cooperate with the Company in connection with any litigation or regulatory matter or with any government authority on any matter, in each case, pertaining to the Company and with respect to which you may have relevant knowledge. After your employment terminates, the Company shall pay or reimburse you for all reasonable expenses incurred in such cooperation, including travel reimbursement at the same levels as when you were chief executive officer and reasonable legal fees incurred if you in good faith believe independent legal counsel to be reasonably appropriate. You shall not be required to cooperate against your legal interests or the legal interests of any subsequent employer. The term “cooperation” does not mean that you must provide information that is favorable to the Company; it means only that you will provide information within your knowledge and possession upon the Company’s request.

 

6.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be interpreted for all purposes in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, and any disputes shall be adjudicated in the State or Federal courts located in Chicago, Illinois.

 

7.

Non-Solicitation

For 180 days following the Separation Date, you may not, directly or indirectly in any capacity (including through any person, corporation, partnership or other business entity of any kind), solicit, recruit, induce, entice or encourage any Company employee to leave the Company; provided, however, that this clause shall apply only to employees with whom you worked or had professional or business contact during your employment with the Company. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 7, you agree that the Company will be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent you from general marketing or advertising or for placing general advertisements online or in the print media for the purpose of employee recruitment that are not directed at employees of the Company or from providing a reference to a third-party employer, upon request.


Mr. Michael G. Rhodes    Page 3

 

8.

Non-Disparagement

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree not to make any defamatory or derogatory statements concerning the Company or any of its affiliates or predecessors and their respective directors and senior executives. The Company shall not in any official statement, press release or public announcement disparage you, and shall instruct its directors and senior executives to not make any defamatory or derogatory statements about you. Nothing in this section is intended to, and shall not, restrict or limit you from exercising your protected rights under Section 10 or applicable law. Nothing in this section shall prohibit either party from (a) making truthful statements to rebut false or misleading statements made about by one party (or the above-referenced entities or persons) about the other, (b) making truthful statements in connection with any legal process between you and any of the above-referenced entities or persons, or pursuant to court order, subpoena or government investigation or (c) making normal competitive statements.

 

9.

Confidentiality; Return of Property

In connection with your employment with the Company, you have had access to non-public information and materials concerning the business affairs of the Company, and/or its present or former partners, managing directors, shareholders, employees, agents, directors, officers, clients, or other third parties or the personal affairs of such individuals (“Confidential Information and Materials”), as well as other information and materials relating to the Company or its people that you are expected to handle discreetly. You agree to hold all Confidential Information and Materials in strict confidence and to not give, disclose, copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market or transfer Confidential Information and Materials to any person, firm or corporation, nor allow anyone to do so on Employee’s behalf. For avoidance of doubt, Confidential Information and Materials shall not include general know-how, professional knowledge, methods of operation, or other intangible information of a general nature with respect to the Company’s industry that you have developed over the course of your career. Nothing in this section is intended to, and shall not, restrict or limit you from exercising your protected rights under Section 10 or applicable law.

You agree that, promptly following the Separation Date, you will return to the Company all originals and copies of documents and other materials (in hard or electronic form) relating to the Company or containing or derived from Confidential Information and Materials which are in your possession or control. In addition, you agree to immediately return to the Company any property belonging to it (or any affiliate) that subsequently comes into your possession, custody or control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may retain your address book and your personal laptop, iPad and mobile phone (subject to the Company having a reasonable opportunity to “scrub” the foregoing for Confidential Information and Materials), and you shall be permitted to retain your calendars, personal correspondence and any information or documents reasonably necessary for the preparation of your personal tax returns.


Mr. Michael G. Rhodes    Page 4

 

10.

Protected Disclosures

You understand that nothing contained in this Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, the Bank or its affiliates shall (a) prohibit you from making reports of possible violations of law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or of any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation; or (b) require notification or prior approval by the Company of any reporting described in clause (a). In addition, you are hereby notified that the immunity provisions in Section 1833 of title 18 of the United States Code provide that an individual cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for any disclosure of a trade secret that is made (1) in confidence to federal, state or local government officials, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and is solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of the law, (2) under seal in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, or (3) to your attorney in connection with a lawsuit for retaliation for reporting a suspected violation of law (and the trade secret may be used in the court proceedings for such lawsuit) as long as any document containing the trade secret is filed under seal and the trade secret is not disclosed except pursuant to court order.

*    *    *


Mr. Michael G. Rhodes    Page 5

 

We look forward to your contributions to the Company’s continued success.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Thomas G. Maheras

Name:  

Thomas G. Maheras

Title:  

Independent Chairman

I accept the terms and conditions of this letter.

 

Date:  

March 27, 2024

 

/s/ Michael G. Rhodes

Michael G. Rhodes

Exhibit 10.2

[Discover Letterhead]

March 27, 2024

J. Michael Shepherd,

 Address on file with Discover

 

  Re:

Terms of Employment –

Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim President

Dear Michael:

On behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Discover Financial Services (“Discover”), we are pleased to confirm the terms of your service as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President.

 

1.

Effective Date. Your employment will commence on April 1, 2024 (the “Effective Date”).

 

2.

Position. On the Effective Date, you will begin to serve as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of Discover. In that capacity, you will report directly (and only) to the Board and have all of the customary authorities, duties and responsibilities that accompany these positions. All senior management of Discover shall report to or through you, other than certain limited positions that will report directly to the Board (or a committee) and that will report administratively to or through you. You also will serve as Interim President of Discover Bank and continue to serve as a member of the Board.

 

3.

Direct Compensation. Your direct compensation will be $7,000,000, as follows:

 

  A.

Base Salary. Your base salary will be at a rate of $1,250,000 per year.

 

  B.

Long-term Incentive. On or as soon as practicable after the Effective Date, you will receive a one-time award of Restricted Stock Units with a grant date value of $5,750,000 (the “RSU Award”). The RSU Award will be granted under the Discover 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “LTI Plan”), and will vest and be settled on the first to occur of (1) the completion of the merger with Capital One Financial Corporation pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 19, 2024 (the “Closing”), and (2) the one year anniversary of the Effective Date. The RSU Award will be subject to the terms and conditions of the LTI Plan and the award agreement governing the RSU Award, which will be consistent with this letter agreement and which will not contain post-employment non-competition or non-solicitation covenants. Any additional long-term incentive awards will be granted at the sole discretion of the Compensation and Leadership Development Committee of the Board.


Page 2

 

4.

Existing Equity Awards. For the avoidance of doubt, your existing Discover equity awards which are outstanding as of the Effective Date shall continue to vest in accordance with their terms.

 

5.

Benefits. You will be entitled to benefits consistent with senior management of Discover, including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and participation in Discover’s 401(k) plan (including any matching amounts) and paid time off policy, in each case in accordance with applicable Discover policies as in effect from time to time. You will also be eligible for reimbursement of reasonable business expenses in accordance with Discover’s Corporate Expense Policy. In addition, you will be entitled to use Discover’s aircraft for business and commuting travel, will be provided with an apartment in the Riverwoods area and will have access to a car and driver for business and personal use while in Riverwoods. Discover will reimburse you to make you whole for any taxes incurred in connection with your commuting travel. Discover will pay your expenses of advisors in connection with negotiating and documenting this letter agreement and the arrangements it contemplates, up to a maximum of $25,000.

 

6.

Termination Protection. In the event Discover terminates your employment without Cause or your employment terminates as a result of death or Disability (as such terms are defined in the Discover Change in Control Severance Policy (the “CiC Policy”)) or you terminate employment with Good Reason (as defined below) prior to the date the RSU Award vests, the RSU Award will accelerate immediately, subject to your (or your estate or beneficiaries) timely signing and delivery of an agreement and release with respect to any and all claims in a form substantially similar to that attached as Exhibit A hereto. However, you will not be eligible to participate in the Discover Change in Control Severance Policy or the Discover Severance Plan. After your service as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President ends, you will be compensated as a non-employee director in accordance with Discover’s Directors’ Compensation Plan for as long as you continue to serve in such role. “Good Reason” means the occurrence (without your prior written consent) of any of the following: (1) a material reduction in your annual base salary; (2) a relocation of your Riverwoods office by more than 35 miles; (3) a material adverse change in your authorities, duties or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities); (4) a material breach by Discover of this letter agreement or any other material written agreement with you; or (5) failure of any successor to Discover to agree in writing to assume the terms of this letter agreement; provided, that a termination for Good Reason shall not have occurred unless (a) you give written notice to Discover of your termination of employment within ninety days after you first become aware of the occurrence of the circumstances constituting Good Reason, specifying in detail the circumstances constituting Good Reason, and Discover has failed within thirty days after receipt of such notice to cure the circumstances constituting Good Reason, and (b) your “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A) occurs no later than two years following the initial existence of the circumstances giving rise to Good Reason. Your right to terminate your employment for Good Reason shall not be affected by your incapacity due to physical or mental illness, unless you are terminated for Disability. Your continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of rights with respect to, any circumstance constituting Good Reason.

For purposes of this letter agreement (including any equity award), (1) poor performance, by itself, shall not form the basis for a termination of your employment for Cause, and (2) any dispute as to the determination of Cause will be adjudicated by de novo (or similar) review.


Page 3

 

In no event shall you be obligated to seek or obtain other employment after the date of termination, or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to you under any of the provisions of this letter agreement, and such amounts shall not be reduced, whether or not you obtain other employment.

 

7.

Indemnification and Cooperation. During and after your employment, Discover will indemnify you in your capacity as an officer and a member of the Board (and advance expenses in connection therewith) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and Discover’s charter and by-laws and shall cover you under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies applicable to senior management and/or Board members. You agree (whether during or after your employment) to reasonably cooperate with Discover in connection with any litigation or regulatory matter or with any government authority on any matter, in each case, pertaining to Discover and with respect to which you may have relevant knowledge. After your employment terminates, Discover shall pay or reimburse you for all reasonable expenses incurred in such cooperation, including travel reimbursement at the same levels as when you were Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim President and reasonable legal fees incurred if you in good faith believe independent legal counsel to be reasonably appropriate. You shall not be required to cooperate against your legal interests or the legal interests of any subsequent employer. The term “cooperation” does not mean that you must provide information that is favorable to Discover; it means only that you will provide information within your knowledge and possession upon Discover’s request.

 

8.

Tax Matters. Tax will be withheld by Discover as required under applicable tax requirements for any payments or deliveries under this letter agreement. This letter agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall be interpreted by the parties in a manner to so comply to the extent practicable. If the parties agree in good faith that this letter agreement is not in compliance with Section 409A of the Code, the parties shall in good faith attempt to modify this letter agreement (and any related documents) to comply while endeavoring to maintain the intended economics hereunder. To the extent any taxable expense reimbursement or in-kind benefits under this letter agreement is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the amount thereof eligible in one taxable year shall not affect the amount eligible for any other taxable year, in no event shall any expenses be reimbursed after the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which you incurred such expenses and in no event shall any right to reimbursement or receipt of in-kind benefits be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Each payment under this letter agreement will be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

 

9.

Miscellaneous Representations. You confirm and represent to Discover, by signing this letter agreement, that: (1) you are under no obligation or arrangement (including any restrictive covenants with any prior employer or any other entity) that would prevent you from becoming an employee of Discover or that would adversely impact your ability to perform the expected services on behalf of Discover other than as previously disclosed in writing to Discover; (2) you have not taken (or failed to return) any confidential information belonging to your prior employer or any other entity, and, to the extent you remain in possession of any such information, you will never use or disclose such information to Discover or any of its employees, agents or affiliates; and (3) you understand and accept all of the terms and conditions of this letter agreement.

 

10.

Governing law/Dispute Resolution: This letter agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the state of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of laws rules and any disputes shall be adjudicated in the State or Federal courts located in Chicago, Illinois.


Page 4

 

11.

Counterparts. This letter agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

*               *               *


Page 5

 

We look forward to your leadership.

 

Very truly yours,
Discover Financial Services
By:   /s/ Thomas G. Maheras

I agree with and accept the foregoing terms.

 

/s/ J. Michael Shepherd


Page 6

 

Exhibit A

AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS