Company: ASB
Filing Date: 2025-03-17
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000007789-25-000025
Chunk: 35

Company: ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Filing Date: 2025-03-17
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 35
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 written consent, decrease the minimum vesting requirements (described

above in the Minimum Vesting and Termination of Employment or Service section), or violate rules under Section 409A of the

Code regarding the form and timing of payment of deferred compensation. Shareholder approval of any such amendment will

be obtained if required under applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, which would include amendments

to increase the number of shares available under the 2025 Plan or to expand the scope of who is eligible to participate under the

2025 Plan.

**Transferability**

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, awards granted under the 2025 Plan are not transferable except by will or the

laws of descent and distribution. The Committee will have sole discretion to permit the transfer of an award to certain permitted

transferees as specified in the 2025 Plan.

**Adjustments**

In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, merger, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, or other similar event that affects

shares such that the Committee determines an adjustment to be appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or

potential benefits intended to be made available under the 2025 Plan, the Committee will (among other actions and subject to

certain exceptions) adjust the number and type of shares available under the 2025 Plan, the number and type of shares subject to

outstanding awards and the grant or exercise price of outstanding stock options and other awards.

**Substitute Awards**

The 2025 Plan permits the Committee to grant substitute awards in its discretion and on such terms and conditions as the

Committee considers appropriate under the circumstances. A substitute award may be granted upon the assumption of, or in

substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company in connection with a corporate transaction, such as

a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock. A substitute award does not refer to an award made in

connection with the cancellation and re-pricing of an option.

**Federal Tax Consequences**

The following summary is based on U.S. federal income tax laws in effect as of January 1, 2025. Such laws and regulations are

subject to change. This summary assumes that all awards will be exempt from, or comply with, the rules under Section 409A of

the Code regarding non-qualified deferred compensation. If an award fails to comply with Section 409A of the Code, the award

may be subject to immediate taxation