DFS Proxy Statement

Company Information Each of the other Board committees also oversee the management of Company risks that fall within the committee’s areas of responsibility. In performing this function, each committee has full access to management, as well as the ability to engage advisors, and each committee reports back to the full Board. The Audit Committee oversees risks related to the Company’s financial statements, the financial reporting process, other financial matters, certain compliance issues and accounting and legal matters. The Audit Committee, along with the Corporate Responsibility and Governance Committee, is also responsible for reviewing certain major legislative and regulatory developments that could materially impact the Company’s contingent liabilities and risks. The Corporate Responsibility and Governance Committee also oversees risks related to the Company’s governance structure and processes, related person transactions, certain compliance issues and Board and committee structure to ensure appropriate oversight of risk. The Compensation Committee considers risks related to the attraction and retention of key management and employees and risks relating to the design of compensation programs and arrangements, as well as developmental and succession planning for possible successors to the position of chief executive officer and planning for other key senior management positions. Nomination of Directors It is the policy of the Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee to consider candidates for director recommended by stockholders. In order to recommend a candidate, stockholders must submit the individual’s name and qualifications in writing to the committee (in care of the Secretary at the Company’s principal executive offices at 35 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601 and otherwise in accordance with the procedures outlined under Submitting Stockholder Proposals and Nominations for 2018 Annual Meeting section of this proxy statement. The committee evaluates candidates recommended for director by stockholders in the same way that it evaluates any other candidate. The committee also considers candidates recommended by management and members of the Board as well as nominees recommended by stockholders. In identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the committee takes into account the applicable requirements for directors under the listing rules of NYSE. In addition, the committee considers other criteria as it deems appropriate and which may vary over time depending on the Board’s needs, including certain core competencies and other criteria such as the personal and professional qualities, experience and education of the nominees, as well as the mix of skills and experience on the Board prior to and after the addition of the nominees. Although not part of any formal policy, the goal of the committee will be a balanced and diverse Board, with members whose skills, viewpoint, background and experience complement each other and, together, contribute to the Board’s effectiveness as a whole. The Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee from time to time may engage third-party search firms to identify candidates for director, and may use search firms to do preliminary interviews and background and reference reviews of prospective candidates. Communications with the Board of Directors The Board has established procedures for stockholders and other interested parties to communicate with the Board. A stockholder or other interested party may contact the Board by writing to the chairman of the Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee or the other non-management members of the Board to their attention at the Company’s principal executive offices at 35 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601. Any stockholder must include the number of shares of the Company’s common stock he or she holds and any interested party must detail his or her relationship with the Company in any communication to the Board. Communications received in writing will be distributed to the chairman of the Corporate Responsibility & Governance Committee or non-management directors of the Board as a group, as appropriate, unless such communications are considered, in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s Secretary, improper for submission to the intended recipient(s). Examples of communications that would be considered improper for submission include, without limitation, customer complaints, solicitations, communications that do not relate directly or indirectly to the Company or the Company’s business or communications that relate to improper or irrelevant topics. 2017 Proxy Statement 19