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 23, 2015 (October 20, 2015)
CIT
GROUP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
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Delaware |
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001-31369 |
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65-1051192 |
(State or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(IRS Employer |
of incorporation) |
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Identification No.) |
11 W. 42nd Street
New York, New York 10036
(Address of registrant’s
principal executive office)
Registrant's telephone number, including
area code: (212) 461-5200
Not Applicable
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed
Since Last Report)
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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:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4I under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4I) |
Section
5 – Corporate Governance and Management
Item 5.02. |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
Chief Executive Officer
On October 21, 2015, CIT Group Inc.
(“CIT” or the “Company”) announced that John A. Thain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, advised the Company that he will be retiring as Chief Executive Officer of the Company on March 31, 2016. Mr. Thain continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Due to his prior service as an executive officer,
Mr. Thain will not be considered an independent director.
On October 21, 2015, CIT announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”)
appointed Ellen R. Alemany as Vice Chairman of the Company, effective November 1, 2015. The Board has designated Ms. Alemany
to succeed John A. Thain as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of the Board of Directors of CIT Bank, N.A.,
effective April 1, 2015. Ms. Alemany will continue to serve as a
Director of the Company, but she will no longer be an independent
director and, as a result, she has resigned from the Audit Committee.
Ms. Alemany has served as a
director of CIT since January 2014 and has been a member of the Audit and Regulatory Compliance Committees. She is also a
member of the CIT Bank, N.A. Board of Directors. Ms. Alemany is the former Head of The Royal Bank of Scotland
(“RBS”) Americas, the management structure that oversees The Royal Bank of Scotland’s businesses in the
Americas, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., an RBS subsidiary. Ms. Alemany
retired from RBS in September 2013. She joined RBS as the Head of RBS Americas in June 2007, and was named to the additional
role of Chief Executive Officer of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a bank holding company, in March 2008. She was also
appointed the Chairman of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in March 2009. Prior to RBS Americas, Ms. Alemany was a senior
officer with Citigroup, where she served as the Chief Executive Officer for Global Transaction Services from February 2006
until April 2007, Executive Vice President for the Commercial Business Group from March 2003 until January 2006, President
and Chief Executive Officer of CitiCapital from September 2001 until January 2006, and she held a number of executive
positions in Citigroup’s Global Corporate Bank, including Customer Group Executive of North American markets, Global
Industry Head of Media and Communications, U.S. industry Head of Consumer Products, and Executive Vice President of Citibank
and Customer Group Executive for the Global Relationship Bank in Europe, based in London. Ms. Alemany has served on the Board
of Directors of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. since 2011 and the Board of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc.
since July 2014. She received her MBA in finance from Fordham University.
Ms. Alemany will receive an
initial cash salary at an annual rate of $800,000 and will have a target short-term incentive opportunity of $200,000 for the
final two months of 2015. For performance year 2016, she will have a total target compensation opportunity, consisting of
annualized base salary, a target short-term incentive opportunity, and a target long-term incentive opportunity, equal to
$6,500,000. The total target compensation opportunity will be allocated among cash and equity awards in the manner determined
by the Board, provided that her annualized base salary will not be less than $800,000. Ms. Alemany will also receive a
one-time equity award of $2,700,000 in the form of Restricted Stock Units, which will vest pro rata on each of March 8, 2016,
March 8, 2017, and March 8, 2018, to compensate her for equity awards from a prior employer that she will forfeit. Ms.
Alemany is also entitled to benefits consistent with senior executives of CIT and reimbursement of reasonable business
expenses, except that for purposes of the CIT severance plan, her severance bonus will be calculated as a pro rata portion of
her short-term and long-term incentive targets, rather than only her short-term incentive targets.
Vice Chairman
On October 21, 2015, CIT
announced that Steven Mnuchin, Vice Chairman of the Company and Chairman of CIT Bank, N.A. (the “Bank”), will
cease to be an officer of the Company and the Bank, effective March 31, 2016. Subject to compliance with the terms of
his Retention Letter Agreement with the Company, dated July 21, 2014, which was filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed July
25, 2014, Mr. Mnuchin will be entitled to certain compensation in connection with the termination of his services.
Chief Financial Officer
On October 21, 2015, CIT also announced
that the Board appointed CIT Corporate Controller Carol Hayles as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective
November 1, 2015, to replace Scott T. Parker, who the Company previously announced is resigning.
Ms. Hayles has served as CIT’s
Executive Vice President and Corporate Controller since July 2010, with responsibility for the Company’s accounting functions,
SEC and regulatory reporting, and the associated controls activities. Prior to CIT, she spent 24 years at Citigroup Inc., where
she served most recently as Deputy Controller, leading the SEC and regulatory reporting functions. Before this, she held various
leadership positions in Finance, including Senior Analyst in Investor Relations, Chief Financial Officer of Citibank’s e-Business,
CFO of Citigroup’s Global Relationship Bank, and CFO of Citibank Canada. Ms. Hayles started her career with Price Waterhouse
in Toronto, Canada. She received her BBA from York University.
Ms. Hayles’ annual cash salary
will be increased to an annual rate of $600,000. Ms. Hayles
is also entitled to benefits consistent with senior executives of CIT and reimbursement of reasonable business expenses.
Section 7 – Regulation FD
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
Strategic Initiatives
On October 21, 2015, CIT issued
a press release announcing that it is exploring strategic alternatives for CIT’s Commercial Air business and the sale
of its Equipment Finance businesses in Canada and China. The press
release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The information included in Exhibit 99.1 shall be
considered furnished, not filed, for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 8 – Other Events
Item 8.01. Other Events.
Dividend
On October 21, 2015,
CIT issued a press release announcing that the Board declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.15 per common share,
payable on November 30, 2015 to shareholders of record on November 13, 2015. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this
Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits. The following
exhibits are being filed herewith:
99.1 |
Press Release of CIT Group Inc., dated October 21, 2015, announcing that it is exploring certain strategic initiatives. |
99.2 |
Press Release of CIT Group Inc., dated October 21, 2015, announcing its quarterly dividend. |
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This Form 8-K contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws that are based upon our current expectations and assumptions
concerning future events, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those anticipated. The words “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,”
“initiative,” “objective,” “plan,” “goal,” “project,” “outlook,”
“priorities,” “target,” “intend,” “evaluate,” “pursue,” “commence,”
“seek,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “potential,”
“continue,” or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements.
All statements contained in this Form 8-K, other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements about
our plans, strategies, prospects and expectations regarding future events and our financial performance, are forward-looking statements
that involve certain risks and uncertainties. While these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold,
and we believe these judgments are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our
actual results may differ materially. Important factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from our
expectations include, among others, the risk that CIT is unsuccessful in implementing its strategy and business plan, the risk
that CIT is unable to react to and address key business and regulatory issues, the risk that CIT is unable to achieve the projected
revenue growth from its new business initiatives or the projected expense reductions from efficiency improvements, and the risk
that CIT becomes subject to liquidity constraints and higher funding costs. We describe these and other risks that could affect
our results in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014,
which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking
statements contained in this Form 8-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which the statements were
made. CIT undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except where expressly
required by 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.
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CIT GROUP INC. |
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(Registrant) |
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By: |
/s/
Robert J. Ingato |
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Robert J. Ingato |
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Executive Vice President, |
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General Counsel & Secretary |
Dated: October 23, 2015
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CIT ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC INITIATIVES DESIGNED
TO
FURTHER ITS TRANSITION TO A U.S. COMMERCIAL
BANK
- Exploring Strategic Alternatives for $10 Billion Commercial
Air Business
- Exploring Sale of CIT Canada and CIT China Businesses
NEW YORK —
October 21, 2015 — CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a leading provider of commercial lending and leasing services, today announced
a series of strategic initiatives that are designed to advance the Company’s transition to a U.S. Commercial Bank. The Company
announced that it would explore strategic alternatives for its $10 billion Commercial Air business, and sell its CIT Canada and
CIT China businesses.
“Over the past five
years we have made significant progress in transforming CIT,” said John A. Thain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Following
the completion of our OneWest Bank acquisition, we have decided to explore the strategic alternatives for our Commercial Air business
and to sell our non-transportation-related businesses in Canada and China. These strategic initiatives will position CIT for long-term
success by further simplifying our bank-centric business model as we focus on meeting the financing needs of our U.S. small business
and middle market customers. We believe these decisions will increase shareholder value.”
CIT maintains one of
the leading commercial air franchises in the world with one of the youngest and most technologically advanced fleets. It
owns, finances and manages a fleet of more than 350 commercial aircraft serving approximately 100 customers in 50 countries.
It provides leasing and financing packages, including operating leases and structuring and advisory services, for commercial
airlines worldwide.
These announcements will
further advance CIT’s efforts to simplify and realign its business model and will complete its exit from its international
businesses.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
CIT thought leadership content can be found
at View from the Middle™ (cit.com/viewfromthemiddle) and our CIT Point of View blog (cit.com/pov). View our corporate
video (cit.com/corporatevideo) and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook. Register to receive press releases at
cit.com/newsalerts.
About CIT
Founded in 1908,
CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with more than $65 billion in assets. Its
principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A., (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender) has
more than $30 billion of deposits and more than $40 billion of assets. It provides financing,
leasing and advisory services principally to middle market companies across more than 30
industries primarily in North America, and equipment financing
and leasing solutions to the transportation sector. It also offers products and services to consumers through its Internet
bank franchise and a network of retail branches in Southern California, operating as OneWest Bank, a division of CIT Bank, N.A.
cit.com
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CIT MEDIA RELATIONS:
C. Curtis Ritter
Senior Vice President
of Corporate Communications
(973) 740-5390
Curt.Ritter@cit.com
Matt Klein
Vice President, Media
Relations
(973) 597-2020
Matt.Klein@cit.com
CIT INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Barbara Callahan
Senior Vice President
(973) 740-5058
Barbara.Callahan@cit.com
Exhibit 99.2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CIT DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
NEW YORK –
October 21, 2015 – CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a leading provider of commercial lending and leasing services, today announced
that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share on its outstanding common stock. The
common stock dividend is payable on November 30, 2015 to common shareholders of record as of November 13, 2015.
About CIT
Founded in 1908,
CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a financial holding company with more than $65 billion in assets. Its
principal bank subsidiary, CIT Bank, N.A., (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender) has
more than $30 billion of deposits and more than $40 billion of assets. It provides financing,
leasing and advisory services principally to middle market companies across more than 30 industries primarily in North
America, and equipment financing and leasing solutions to the transportation sector. It also offers products and services
to consumers through its Internet bank franchise and a network of retail branches in Southern California, operating as OneWest
Bank, a division of CIT Bank, N.A. cit.com
###
CIT MEDIA RELATIONS:
C. Curtis Ritter
Senior Vice President
of Corporate Communications
(973) 740-5390
Curt.Ritter@cit.com
Matt Klein
Vice President, Media
Relations
(973) 597-2020
Matt.Klein@cit.com
CIT INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Barbara Callahan
Senior Vice President
(973) 740 -5058
Barbara.Callahan@cit.com
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