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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):  August 31, 2021

AX-20210831_G1.JPG

Axos Financial, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 001-37709 33-0867444
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification
Number)
 9205 West Russell Road, Ste 400, Las Vegas, NV             89148
(Address of principal executive offices)                        (zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (858) 649-2218          
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, $.01 par value AX New York Stock Exchange

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):
 
                                    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))

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 August 31, 2021, on the recommendation of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of Axos Financial, Inc. ("the Company"), the Board of Directors of each of the Company and Axos Bank ("the Bank") appointed Ms. Stefani Carter as a new director, effective as of August 31, 2021, of each of the Company and the Bank. Ms. Carter will serve as a Class III Director of the Company with an initial term expiring at the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Although Ms. Carter has not yet been appointed to serve on any Board committees, the Board of Directors expects to do so as part of their regular committee assessment and appointment process. The Board of Directors determined that Ms. Carter is an independent director under applicable standards of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.

In connection with her election to the Board of Directors of the Company, Ms. Carter will participate in the Company’s standard outside director compensation program, including an award to her of 6,000 restricted stock units, to vest over three years under the Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, and an annual cash payment of $40,000. Ms. Carter is expected to enter into the Company’s standard indemnification agreement, which has been previously entered into with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers, the form of which has been previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

On September 1, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the election of Ms. Carter to the Board of Directors. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.




Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)    Exhibits.
Exhibit Description
99.1




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.
  Axos Financial, Inc.
   
Date: September 1, 2021 By: /s/ Andrew J. Micheletti  
    Andrew J. Micheletti
    EVP and Chief Financial Officer



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Axos Announces the Election of Stefani Carter as an Independent Member of the Board of Directors
SAN DIEGO, CA – (BUSINESSWIRE) – September 1, 2021 – Axos Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AX) (“Axos” or the “Company”), parent of Axos Bank (the “Bank”), announced the election of Stefani Carter as an independent director of the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank, effective August 31, 2021. Ms. Carter has extensive legal, corporate governance, commercial real estate, and public board experience.

“Stefani is a welcomed addition to our Board,” said Paul Grinberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “As the Company continues to grow and expand into new businesses, we will benefit from Stefani’s insights and experience serving on other public company boards.”

“I am delighted to join the Axos Board,” stated Stefani Carter. “The Company has evolved from a consumer online bank to a diversified financial services company. I look forward to sharing my expertise to help shepherd Axos in its next growth evolution.”

Ms. Carter has been a practicing attorney since 2005, specializing in civil litigation and legal compliance, including as a commercial litigation and regulatory shareholder at Ferguson Braswell Fraser Kubasta PC (“FBFK”) since 2020. Prior to FBFK, she held a diverse range of legal and professional positions, including working for a large firm, Vinson & Elkins, litigation boutiques, and her own firm, Stefani Carter & Associates, LLC. She also served as an assistant district attorney and as a two-term member of the Texas House of Representatives. Ms. Carter is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ms. Carter currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, as a Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance (“NCG”) Committee, and as a Member of the Executive Committee of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc. (NASDAQ: WHLR), a retail real estate investment trust (“REIT”). She also serves as the Lead Director of the Board of Directors, as Chairperson of the NCG Committee, and as a Member of the Related Party Transactions Committee of Braemar Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BHR), a luxury lodging REIT.

About Axos Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Axos Financial, Inc. is the holding company for Axos Bank, Axos Clearing LLC and Axos Invest, Inc. Axos Bank is a nationwide bank, with approximately $14.3 billion in assets, that provides consumer and business banking products through its low-cost distribution channels and affinity partners. Axos Clearing LLC, with approximately $41 billion of assets under custody and/or administration, and Axos Invest, Inc., provide comprehensive securities clearing services to introducing broker-dealers and registered investment advisor correspondents and digital investment advisory services to retail investors, respectively. Axos Financial, Inc.’s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AX” and is a component of the Russell 2000® Index, the KBW Nasdaq Financial Technology Index, and the S&P SmallCap 600® Index. For more information on Axos Financial, Inc., please visit axosfinancial.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation statements relating to Axos’ financial prospects and other projections of its performance. These and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Axos’ periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their



entirety by this cautionary statement, and Axos undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.


Contact:

Greg Frost,
SVP, Corporate Communications
Axos Bank
Phone: 1-858-649-2218
Email: gfrost@axosbank.com
Johnny Lai, CFA
VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
Axos Financial, Inc.
Phone: 1-858-649-2218
Email: jlai@axosfinancial.com