Company: ASB
Filing Date: 2025-02-12
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0000007789-25-000013
Chunk: 191

Company: ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Filing Date: 2025-02-12
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1A
Chunk 191
---
 business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.

We may be adversely affected by risks associated with potential and completed acquisitions.

As part of our growth strategy, we regularly evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities and conduct due diligence activities related to possible transactions with other financial institutions and financial services companies. As a result, negotiations may take place and future mergers or acquisitions involving cash, debt, or equity securities may occur at any time. We seek merger or acquisition partners that are culturally similar, have experienced management, and possess either significant market presence or have potential for improved profitability through financial management, economies of scale, or expanded services.

Acquiring other banks, businesses, or branches involves potential adverse impact to our financial results and various other risks commonly associated with acquisitions, including, among other things:

•incurring time and expense associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisitions and negotiating potential transactions, and with integrating acquired businesses, resulting in the diversion of resources from the operation of our existing businesses;

•difficulty in estimating the value of target companies or assets and in evaluating credit, operations, management, and market risks associated with those companies or assets;

•payment of a premium over book and market values that may dilute our tangible book value and earnings per share in the short and long term;

•potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of the target company, including, without limitation, liabilities for litigation, regulatory and compliance issues;

•exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company;

•there may be volatility in reported income as goodwill impairment losses could occur irregularly and in varying amounts;

•difficulties, inefficiencies or cost overruns associated with the integration of the operations, personnel, technologies, services, and products of acquired companies with ours;

33

•inability to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in geographic or product presence, and/or other projected benefits;

•potential disruption to our business;

•the possible loss of key employees and customers of the target company; and

•potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company.

Acquisitions also involve operational risks and uncertainties, and acquired companies may have unknown or contingent liabilities, exposure to unexpected asset quality problems that require write-downs or write-offs (as well as restructuring and impairment or other charges), difficulty retaining key employees and customers and other issues that could negatively affect our business. We may not be able to realize any projected cost savings, synergies or other benefits associated with any such acquisition we complete. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium