Contract

Exhibit 4.4

RISK RETENTION AGREEMENT, dated as of April 25, 2017 (this “Agreement”), by and among DISCOVER BANK, a Delaware banking corporation (“Discover Bank”), DISCOVER FUNDING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Discover Funding”), and DISCOVER CARD EXECUTION NOTE TRUST, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Discover Bank and Discover Funding have entered into a Receivables Sale and Contribution Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2015 (the “Receivables Sale and Contribution Agreement”), pursuant to which Discover Bank sells to Discover Funding Receivables arising under certain Accounts;

WHEREAS, Discover Bank, Discover Funding, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), have entered into a Third Amended and Restated Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”) and an Amended and Restated Series Supplement, dated as of December 22, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Series Supplement”), pursuant to which Discover Card Master Trust I issued a Series 2007-CC Collateral Certificate (the “Collateral Certificate”);

WHEREAS, Discover Bank and the Issuer have entered into a Collateral Certificate Transfer Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2007 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Collateral Certificate Transfer Agreement”), pursuant to which Discover Bank conveyed to the Issuer all of its right, title and interest in and to the Collateral Certificate;

WHEREAS, the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Indenture Trustee”) have entered into an Amended and Restated Indenture, dated as of December 22, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), and the Second Amended and Restated Indenture Supplement, dated as of December 22, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture Supplement”), pursuant to the Issuer has issued and may from time to time issue notes; and

WHEREAS, Discover Funding intends to cause the Issuer to issue the Class A(2017-4) Notes pursuant to the Indenture and the Terms Document, dated as of April 25, 2017, between the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed by and between Discover Bank, Discover Funding and the Issuer as follows:

1.    DEFINITIONS. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Terms Document and, if not defined therein, in the Indenture and, if not defined therein, in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement. The following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

“AIFM Regulation” means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 231/2013.

“Applicable Investor” means each holder of a beneficial interest in any Class A(2017-4) Note that is (i) an EEA credit institution or investment firm subject to the CRR, including any consolidated group affiliate thereof; (ii) an EEA insurer or reinsurer subject to the Solvency II Regulation; or (iii) an EEA alternative investment fund manager to which the AIFM Regulation applies.

“CRR” means Regulation (EU) No. 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013, as supplemented by the CRR Delegated Regulation.

“CRR Delegated Regulation” means Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 625/2014.

“EEA” means the European Economic Area.

“EU Retention Rules” means: (i) Articles 404 – 410 (inclusive) of CRR; (ii) Articles 50 – 56 (inclusive) of the AIFM Regulation; and (iii) Articles 254 – 257 (inclusive) of the Solvency II Regulation, each as in effect as of the date hereof, together with any guidance published in relation thereto including any regulatory and/or implementing technical standards in effect as of the date hereof.

“Solvency II Regulation” means Commission Delegated Regulation ((EU No. 2015/35).

2.    REPRESENTATIONS. Discover Bank represents and warrants to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee (solely for the benefit of the Applicable Investors) that as of the date hereof:

(a) Discover Bank has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and perform the terms and provisions hereof;

(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not require any approval or consent of any governmental agency or authority; and

(c) This Agreement is the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of Discover Bank, except as the same may be limited by receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws relating to the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equity principles.

3.    COVENANTS. Discover Bank hereby confirms, represents and warrants to and agrees with, and irrevocably and unconditionally undertakes to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, solely for the benefit of each Applicable Investor, in connection with the EU Retention Rules, on an ongoing basis, so long as any Class A(2017-4) Notes remain Outstanding

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and the EU Retention Rules remain in effect in the form effective on the date of issuance of the Class A(2017-4) Notes, that:

(a) Discover Bank, as “originator” for the purposes of the EU Retention Rules, currently retains, and on an ongoing basis will retain, a material net economic interest that is not less than 5% of the nominal value of the securitized exposures, in a form that is intended to qualify as an originator’s interest as provided in option (b) of each of Article 405(1) of the CRR, Article 51(1) of the AIFM Regulation and Article 254(2) of the Solvency II Regulation, by holding all the membership interest in Discover Funding, which in turn holds all or part of the Transferor Interest (the “Retained Interest”);

(b) Discover Bank will not (and will not permit Discover Funding or any of its other affiliates to) allow the retained interest to be subject to any credit risk mitigation, short position or other hedge or to be sold if, as a result, Discover Bank would not retain a material net economic interest in an amount that is not less than 5% of the nominal value of the securitized exposures, except to the extent permitted in accordance with Article 405(1) of the CRR (as supplemented by Article 12 of the CRR Delegated Regulation), Article 51(1) of the AIFM Regulation and Article 254 of the Solvency II Regulation;

(c) Discover Bank will not change the manner in which it retains its net economic interest in the securitized exposures while the Class A(2017-4) Notes are outstanding, except under exceptional circumstances in accordance with Article 405(1) of the CRR (as supplemented by Article 10 of the CRR Delegated Regulation), Article 51(1) of the AIFM Regulation and Article 254 of the Solvency II Regulation; and

(d) Discover Bank will provide ongoing confirmation of Discover Bank’s continued compliance with its obligations described in (a) and (b) above in or concurrently with the delivery of each Certificateholders’ Monthly Statement.

4.    AGREEMENTS OF DISCOVER FUNDING. Discover Funding hereby acknowledges the terms and conditions of this Agreement and, further, covenants that it will not sell, hedge or otherwise mitigate its credit risk under or associated with the Retained Interest other than as directed by Discover Bank and as permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

5.    LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

(a) It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that (i) this Agreement is executed and delivered by Wilmington Trust Company not individually or personally but solely as Owner Trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2015 (the “Trust Agreement”), between Discover Funding LLC and Wilmington Trust Company, and in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (ii) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements herein made on the part of the Issuer is made and intended not as a personal representation, undertaking or agreement by Wilmington Trust Company but is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Issuer, (iii) nothing herein contained will be construed as creating any liability on the Wilmington Trust Company individually or personally, to perform any covenant of the Issuer either expressed or implied herein, all

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such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties to this Agreement and by any person claiming by, through or under them and (iv) under no circumstances will Wilmington Trust Company be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Issuer or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Issuer under this Agreement or any related documents.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other document or agreement relating to the Class A(2017-4) Notes, in no event shall Discover Bank or Discover Funding be liable to the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer, the Owner Trustee, any Applicable Investor or any other Noteholder, or responsible for, losses in respect of the Class A(2017-4) Notes or any interest therein, including, without limitation any loss of value of any Class A(2017-4) Note or any interest therein, due to the failure of the Retained Interest and compliance by Discover Bank and Discover Funding with the terms of this Agreement to satisfy the EU Retention Rules or other similar or equivalent provisions now or hereafter in effect.

6.    MISCELLANEOUS.

(a)    THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION LAW, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER STATE.

(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (AND EACH APPLICABLE INVESTOR BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS HEREOF) HEREBY AGREES TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS, AND ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE OF ANY ACTION INSTITUTED HEREUNDER IN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS AND CONSENTS TO THE GRANTING OF SUCH LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RELIEF AS IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY SUCH COURT.

(c) All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing (including telecopies, email, telegraphic, telex or cable communication) and mailed, emailed (with “PDF” attachment in the case of any signed notice or communication), telecopied with receipt confirmed by telephone, telegraphed, telexed, cabled or delivered, as to each party hereto, at its address set forth below or at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other party hereto. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, emailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed or cabled, be effective when deposited in the mail, emailed, telecopied, delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex answer back or delivered to the cable company, respectively.

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If to Discover Bank:

12 Read’s Way

New Castle, Delaware 19720

Attention: Secretary

If to Discover Funding:

12 Read’s Way

New Castle, Delaware 19720

Attention: Secretary

If to the Issuer:

c/o Wilmington Trust Company

Xxxxxx Square North

0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx

Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

(d) Neither this Agreement nor any term or provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated except by a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the party against whom enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought to be enforced.

(e) Any part, provision, representation, warranty or covenant of this Agreement that is prohibited or is held to be void or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

Any part, provision, representation, warranty or covenant of this Agreement that is prohibited or is held to be void or unenforceable in any particular jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereto waive any provision of law which prohibits or renders void or unenforceable any provision hereof.

(f) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the matters addressed herein, and this Agreement supersedes any prior agreements and/or understandings, written or oral, with respect to such matters.

(g) The Issuer is a party to this Agreement solely for the purposes of obtaining the benefit of the representations, warranties and covenants contained therein and under no circumstances shall it be deemed to have undertaken any obligations thereunder or by virtue of its entry into this Agreement.

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(h) The Indenture Trustee is a third party beneficiary of this Agreement solely for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein and under no circumstances shall it be deemed to have undertaken any obligations hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Indenture Trustee have any responsibility to monitor compliance with or be charged with knowledge of the EU Retention Rules, nor shall it be liable to any Applicable Investor, Noteholder or any party whatsoever for any violation of such EU Retention Rules or such similar provisions now or hereafter in effect or for any breach of any term of this Agreement.

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Discover Bank, Discover Funding and the Issuer have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers as of the date first above written.

DISCOVER BANK
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:		Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Treasurer

DISCOVER FUNDING LLC
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name:		Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:		Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

DISCOVER CARD EXECUTION NOTE TRUST
By:		Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Owner Trustee
By:		/s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Name:		Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:		Vice President