Document:

EX-10(H)

Exhibit (10)(h)

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Restated Effective January 1, 2008

 

 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE 1 Establishment of Plan and Purpose
	 	 	1-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	1.01 Establishment of Plan
	 	 	1-1	 
	1.02 Purpose of Plan
	 	 	1-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2 Definitions and Construction
	 	 	2-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	2.01 Definitions
	 	 	2-1	 
	2.02 Construction
	 	 	2-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3 Eligibility
	 	 	3-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	3.01 Conditions of Eligibility
	 	 	3-1	 
	3.02 Commencement of Participation
	 	 	3-1	 
	3.03 Termination of Participation
	 	 	3-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4 Deferral of Compensation
	 	 	4-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.01 Amount and Manner of Deferral
	 	 	4-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5 Memorandum Account
	 	 	5-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5.01 Nature of Account
	 	 	5-1	 
	5.02 Credit to Memorandum Account
	 	 	5-1	 
	5.03 Changes in Memorandum Account
	 	 	5-1	 
	5.04 Valuation of Memorandum Account
	 	 	5-2	 
	5.05 Additional Credit
	 	 	5-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6 Distributions
	 	 	6-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.01 For Reasons Other Than Death
	 	 	6-1	 
	6.02 Upon Death
	 	 	6-1	 
	6.03 Emergencies
	 	 	6-2	 
	6.04 Form of Payment
	 	 	6-2	 

i

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page
	ARTICLE 7 Administration of the Plan
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.01 Appointment of Separate Administrator
	 	 	7-1	 
	7.02 Powers and Duties
	 	 	7-1	 
	7.03 Records and Notices
	 	 	7-2	 
	7.04 Compensation and Expenses
	 	 	7-2	 
	7.05 Limitation of Authority
	 	 	7-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 8 General Provisions
	 	 	8-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	8.01 Assignment
	 	 	8-1	 
	8.02 Employment Not Guaranteed by Plan
	 	 	8-1	 
	8.03 Termination and Amendment
	 	 	8-1	 
	8.04 Notice
	 	 	8-1	 
	8.05 Limitation on Liability
	 	 	8-1	 
	8.06 Indemnification
	 	 	8-1	 
	8.07 Headings
	 	 	8-2	 
	8.08 Severability
	 	 	8-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 9 Merger of First Financial Corporation
Deferred Compensation Plan
	 	 	9-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	9.01 Introduction
	 	 	9-1	 
	9.02 Merger
	 	 	9-1	 
	9.03 Investment
	 	 	9-1	 
	9.04 Beneficiary Designations
	 	 	9-1	 
	9.05 Distributions
	 	 	9-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	APPENDIX A First Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation
Plan and Trust
	 	 	 	 

ii

 

INTRODUCTION

     Effective December 16, 1993, Associated Banc-Corp (the “Company”) adopted a nonqualified
deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) to benefit certain of its employees by facilitating the
accumulation of funds for their retirement. The Company restated the Plan in its entirety
effective January 1, 1996. The Company again restated the Plan in its entirety effective
January 1, 2001 to merge another nonqualified plan — the First Financial Corporation Deferred
Compensation Plan and Trust — into the Plan. The Company again restated the Plan, effective
January 1, 2008, to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”).

     This introduction and the following Articles, as amended from time to time, comprise the Plan.

iii

 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE 1

Establishment of Plan and Purpose

     1.01 Establishment of Plan. Associated Banc-Corp has established the “Associated Banc-Corp
Deferred Compensation Plan,” effective as of December 16, 1993 (the “Plan”).

     1.02 Purpose of Plan. The Plan shall permit a select group of management and highly
compensated employees to enhance the security of themselves and their beneficiaries following the
termination of their employment with the Company (as defined herein) by deferring until that time a
portion of the compensation which may otherwise be payable to them at an earlier date. By allowing
key management employees to participate in the Plan, the Company expects the Plan to benefit it in
attracting and retaining the most capable individuals to fill its executive positions.

          The parties intend that the arrangements described herein be unfunded for tax purposes and for
purposes of Title I in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1986, as amended from time to
time (“ERISA”).

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ARTICLE 2

Definitions and Construction

     As used herein, the following words shall have the following meanings:

     2.01 Definitions.

          (a) Administrator. The Company or person or persons selected by the Company pursuant to
Article 7 below to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan.

          (b) Beneficiaries. The spouse or descendants of Participant or any other person receiving
benefits hereunder in relation to Participant.

          (c) Company. Associated Banc-Corp, a Wisconsin banking corporation and any subsidiary,
successor or affiliate which has adopted this Plan and any successor thereto. The board of
directors of Associated Banc-Corp has authorized the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the
board to act on behalf of the Company for purposes of the Plan.

          (d) Effective Date. The effective date of this Plan shall be December 16, 1993.

          (e) Employee. An employee of the Company.

          (f) Employment. Employment with the Company.

          (g) Incentive Compensation. Amounts payable to a Participant in addition to annual
compensation.

          (h) Memorandum Account. The account maintained for each Participant pursuant to Article 5
below.

          (i) Participants. Such management and highly compensated Employees whom the Company
identifies as eligible to defer compensation hereunder and who elect to participate herein. Also,
any individual who was a participant in the First Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan
and who had a frozen account balance under the First Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation
Plan (“First Financial Frozen Account”) as of December 31, 2000 shall automatically qualify as a
Participant in the Plan as of

2-1

 

January 1, 2001, for purposes of the maintenance, investment and distribution of the First
Financial Frozen Account as described in Article 9.

          (j) Plan. The Associated Banc-Corp Deferred Compensation Plan, as stated herein and as
amended from time to time.

          (k) Plan Year. The period beginning on February 1, 1994 and ending on December 31, 1994,
and thereafter each 12-month period ending on each subsequent December 31.

          (l) Retirement. As to each Participant, the earlier of:

               (i) his attaining age 70-1/2 or

               (ii) the termination of his Employment.

          (m) Trust. The Associated Banc-Corp Deferred Compensation Trust.

          (n) Trustee. The Trustee of the Associated Banc-Corp Deferred Compensation Trust.

          (o) Unforeseeable Emergency. An Unforeseeable Emergency is a severe financial hardship to
a Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of a
dependent (as defined in section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s
property due to casualty or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as
a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.

     2.02 Construction. The Plan shall be governed by applicable federal law, including the
requirements of Code Section 409A, and regulations thereunder, and the laws of the State of
Wisconsin. Words used in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and words used in the
singular shall include the plural, as appropriate. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and
other similar compounds of the word “here” shall refer to the entire Agreement, not to a particular
section. All references to statutory sections shall include the section so identified as amended
from time to time or any other statute of similar import. If any provisions of the Code, ERISA or
other statutes or regulations render any provisions of this Plan unenforceable, such provision
shall be of no force and effect only to the minimum extent required by such law.

2-2

 

ARTICLE 3

Eligibility

     3.01 Conditions of Eligibility. The Administrator shall prepare and maintain written
guidelines for eligibility and selection for participation in the Plan, and shall maintain records
of those individuals identified as eligible to participate.

     3.02 Commencement of Participation. A new Participant may commence participation in the
Plan by electing a deferral of compensation on the form approved by the Administrator within 30
days of becoming eligible. Participation shall begin as of the first day of the month following
such election. A Participant may change a deferral election for a Plan Year by submitting a new election form
before the beginning of that Plan Year.

     3.03 Termination of Participation. An individual’s right to defer compensation hereto
shall cease as of the earlier of the termination of his Employment or action by the Administrator
removing him from the Employees eligible to participate herein.

          If an individual’s right to defer compensation terminates during a Plan Year, his deferral for
such year shall, consistent with his deferral election for such year, include only salary or
Incentive Compensation otherwise earned by him before the cessation of his eligibility to defer.

3-1

 

ARTICLE 4

Deferral of Compensation

     4.01 Amount and Manner of Deferral. Prior to the commencement of any Plan Year, a
Participant may submit to the Company a written election on the form approved by the Administrator
indicating the amount of his salary or Incentive Compensation for such Plan Year which he elects
deferred hereunder, which election shall become irrevocable immediately upon commencement of such
Plan Year. The Company shall, consistent with such election, defer all or such portion of his
salary and/or Incentive Compensation earned in such Plan Year provided; however, that the Company
shall not allow a Participant to defer his salary and/or Incentive Compensation unless such
deferral is at least equal to the amount determined by the Administrator in its current guidelines
for participation in the Plan.

          If a Participant elects to defer a portion of his salary, the Company shall reduce the
Participant’s regular salary by the amount deferred on a pro rata basis during the Plan Year of
deferral. If a Participant elects to defer all or a portion of the Incentive Compensation that may
become payable to him, the Company shall reduce each Incentive Compensation payment by the
percentage elected by the Participant.

4-1

 

ARTICLE 5

Memorandum Account

     5.01 Nature of Account. Only for the purpose of measuring payments due Participants
hereunder, the Company shall maintain on behalf of each Participant a Memorandum Account to which
the Company shall credit the amounts described in this Article 5.

          The Memorandum Account hereunder and assets, if any and of any nature, acquired by the Company
to measure a Participant’s benefits hereunder shall not constitute or be treated for any reason as
a trust for, property of or a security interest for the benefit of, Participant, his Beneficiaries
or any other person. Participant and the Company acknowledge that the Plan constitutes a promise
by the Company to pay benefits to the Participants or their beneficiaries, that Participants’
rights hereunder (by electing to defer compensation hereunder) are limited to those of general
unsecured creditors of the Company and that the establishment of the Plan, acquisition of assets to
measure Participant’s benefits hereunder or deferral of all or any portion of Participant’s salary
or Incentive Compensation hereunder does not prevent any property of the Company from being subject
to the rights of all the Company’s creditors.

     5.02 Credit to Memorandum Account. As of the last day of each Plan Year, the Company shall
credit to the Memorandum Account of each Participant the amount, if any, of his salary and/or
Incentive Compensation deferred for such Plan Year (even if calculated and otherwise payable
following the close of such Plan Year). If the Company elects, it may credit to a Participant’s
Memorandum Account during a Plan Year amounts representing salary and Incentive Compensation
otherwise payable before the end of the Plan Year. In such instances, the Company shall credit
such amounts to Participants’ Memorandum Accounts as the amounts would otherwise become payable and
shall do so on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis for all Participants.

     5.03 Changes in Memorandum Account. Each Participant may specify his investment
preferences for his Memorandum Account by completing and submitting an Investment Preference Form
provided by the Administrator. Final approval of the Participant’s investment selection is within
the discretion of the Administrator, and the Trustee. The Participant’s Memorandum Account shall
be adjusted to reflect the income and losses and increase or decrease in value experienced by
assets as if the amounts were invested according to the Participant’s preferences, subject to final
approval by the Administrator and Trustee. A Participant’s Memorandum Account shall also reflect
expenses

5-1

 

generated by, and
related to, the investment choices made in accordance with the Investment Preference Form.

          A Participant may submit a new Investment Preference Form to the Administrator as frequently
as may be allowed by the Administrator or a third-party delegate, consistent with any procedures
that may be approved by the Company.

          No individual may commence participation herein as to the deferral of any amount without first
submitting an election pursuant to this subsection 5.03. A Participant or, following his death,
his Beneficiaries may continue submitting elections hereunder until the distribution of all amounts
from his Memorandum Account. All elections must be in writing and must be signed by the
Administrator.

     5.04 Valuation of Memorandum Account. Within 90 days after the last day of each Plan Year,
the Company shall provide each Participant or his Beneficiaries a statement indicating the balance
of his Memorandum Account as of the last day of such Plan Year, reflecting the amount of deferrals,
if any, occurring for such year, together with all other changes in value during the Plan Year.
Participants who disagree with the information provided in such statements must submit objections,
in writing, to the Administrator within 90 days of receipt of such statements.

     5.05 Additional Credit. The Company may, in its sole discretion, credit to a Participant’s
Memorandum Account amounts in addition to a Participant’s deferral of salary and/or Incentive
Compensation. The name of the Participant and the amount of any such additional credit shall be
recorded in the records kept by the Administrator.

5-2

 

ARTICLE 6

Distributions

     6.01 For Reasons Other Than Death.

          (a) The Company shall pay an amount equaling the entire balance of a Participant’s Memorandum
Account to him in accordance with the Participant’s written Distribution Election on forms provided
by the Administrator. Except as otherwise permitted by rules established by the Administrator and
applicable law, the Distribution Election for amounts deferred in a Plan Year must be made prior to
commencement of the Plan Year.

          (b) A Participant may subsequently elect to delay the timing or change the form(s) of
distribution elected in accordance with rules established by the Administrator, provided that any
subsequent deferral election must: (i) be made at least 12 months prior to the date such payment
otherwise would have been made, and (ii) the payment with respect to which such election is made
must be deferred for a period of not less than five years from the date such payment otherwise
would have been made.

          (c) In no event shall distributions to a Participant who receives distributions as a result of
a separation from service occur prior to six months after the Participant’s separation from
service.

     6.02 Upon Death.

          (a) Upon a Participant’s death, either before or after his Retirement, with a balance
remaining in his Memorandum Account, the Company shall pay an amount equaling the entire balance of
his Memorandum Account to the beneficiary or beneficiaries he specifies or, if none, to his
surviving spouse or, if none, to his estate. Each Participant may designate a beneficiary or
beneficiaries to receive the unpaid balance of his Memorandum Account upon his death and may revoke
or modify such designation at any time and from time to time by submitting to the Administrator a
Beneficiary Designation on forms approved by the Administrator.

          (b) If a Participant’s death occurs prior to the payment of any amounts to him hereunder,
other than payments for Unforeseeable Emergencies, payment of the Participant’s Memorandum Account
shall be made to his Beneficiary or, if none, to the Participant’s estate, in a lump sum as soon as
administratively practicable immediately following Participant’s death.

6-1

 

          (c) If a Participant’s death occurs after the payment of any amount to him hereunder, other
than payments for emergencies, payments to his Beneficiary shall occur in the same form, and be
calculated in the same manner, as paid to the Participant prior to his death by merely substituting
the new recipient for the Participant.

          (d) If a Beneficiary survives a Participant, but dies prior to receipt of the entire amount in
the Memorandum Account due him, the Company shall, as soon as practicable, pay to the estate of the
Beneficiary in a lump sum the entire remaining balance therein due the Beneficiary.

          (e) The Administrator shall reduce the balance in the deceased Participant’s Memorandum
Account by the amount of any payment pursuant to this section 6.02 immediately upon the occurrence
of such payment.

     6.03 Emergencies. In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency either before or after the
commencement of payments hereunder, a Participant or Beneficiary may request in writing that all or
any portion of the benefits due him hereunder be paid in one or more installments prior to the
normal time for payment of such amount. The Administrator shall, in its reasonable judgment,
determine whether the applicant could not address the Unforeseeable Emergency through reimbursement
or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of other assets (provided such
liquidation, in itself, would not create a financial hardship) or by ceasing deferrals hereunder.
Only if the Administrator determines that such an Unforeseeable Emergency exists, the Company shall
pay to the Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the
amount requested or (b) the amount reasonably necessary to alleviate the hardship. The
Administrator shall use its reasonable discretion to determine when the prepayments shall be made
and shall immediately reduce the balance in the recipient’s Memorandum Account by the amount of
such payment.

     6.04 Form of Payment. All payments made pursuant to this Plan shall be made in cash. The
Plan does not permit distributions in a form other than cash.

6-2

 

ARTICLE 7

Administration of the Plan

     7.01 Appointment of Separate Administrator. The board of directors of the Company has
appointed the Compensation and Benefits Committee (the “Committee”) of the board to serve as
Administrator. The Company shall accept and rely upon any document executed by the Committee until
the board revokes such appointment. No person serving on the Committee shall vote or decide upon
any matter relating solely to himself or solely to any of his rights or benefits pursuant to the
Plan.

     7.02 Powers and Duties. The Administrator shall administer the Plan in accordance with its
terms. The Administrator shall have full and complete authority and control with respect to Plan
operations and administration unless the Administrator allocates and delegates such authority or
control pursuant to the procedures stated in subsection (b) or (c) below. Any decisions of the
Administrator or its delegate shall be final and binding upon all persons dealing with the Plan or
claiming any benefit under the Plan. The Administrator shall have all powers which are necessary
to manage and control Plan operations and administration including, but not limited to, the
following:

          (a) To employ such accountants, counsel or other persons as it deems necessary or desirable in
connection with Plan administration. The Company shall bear the costs of such services and other
administrative expenses.

          (b) To designate in writing persons other than the Administrator to perform any of its powers
and duties hereunder.

          (c) To allocate in writing any of its powers and duties hereunder to those persons who have
been designated to perform Plan fiduciary responsibilities.

          (d) The discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan, including the power to
construe disputed provisions.

          (e) To resolve all questions arising in the administration, interpretation and application of
the Plan, including, but not limited to, questions as to the eligibility or the right of any person
to a benefit.

          (f) To adopt such rules, regulations, forms and procedures from time to time as it deems
advisable and appropriate in the proper administration of the Plan.

7-1

 

          (g) To prescribe procedures to be followed by any person in applying for distributions
pursuant to the Plan and to designate the forms or documents, evidence and such other information
as the Administrator may reasonably deem necessary, desirable or convenient to support an
application for such distribution.

          (h) To apply consistently and uniformly Committee rules, regulations and determinations to all
Participants and beneficiaries in similar circumstances.

     7.03 Records and Notices. The Administrator shall keep a record of all its proceedings and
acts and shall maintain all such books of accounts, records and other data as may be necessary for
proper plan administration. The Administrator shall notify the Company of any action taken by the
Administrator which affects the Trustee’s Plan obligations or rights and, when required, shall
notify any other interested parties.

     7.04 Compensation and Expenses. The expenses incurred by the Administrator in the proper
administration of the Plan shall be paid from the Company. An Administrator who is an Employee
shall not receive any additional fee or compensation for services rendered as an Administrator.

     7.05 Limitation of Authority. The Administrator shall not add to, subtract from or modify
any of the terms of the Plan, change or add to any benefits prescribed by the Plan, or waive or
fail to apply any Plan requirement for benefit eligibility.

7-2

 

ARTICLE 8

General Provisions

     8.01 Assignment. No Participant or Beneficiary may sell, assign, transfer, encumber or
otherwise dispose of the right to receive payments hereunder. A Participant’s rights to benefit
payments under the Plan are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the
Participant’s beneficiary.

     8.02 Employment Not Guaranteed by Plan. The establishment of this Plan, its amendments and
the granting of a benefit pursuant to the Plan shall not give any Participant the right to
continued Employment or limit the right of the Company to dismiss or impose penalties upon the
Participant or modify the terms of Employment of any Participant.

     8.03 Termination and Amendment. The Company may at any time and from time to time
terminate, suspend, alter or amend this Plan and no Participant or any other person shall have any
right, title, interest or claim against the Company, its directors, officers or employees for any
amounts, except that Participant shall be vested in his Memorandum Account hereunder as of the date
on which the Plan is terminated, suspended, altered or amended and (unless the Company and
Participant agree to the contrary) such amount shall (a) continue to fluctuate pursuant to the
investment election then in effect and (b) be paid to the Participant or his Beneficiaries at the
time and in the manner provided by Article 6 above.

     8.04 Notice. Any and all notices, designations or reports provided for herein shall be in
writing and delivered personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
addressed, in the case of the Company, its Board of Directors or Administrator, to the Company’s
principal business office and, in the case of a Participant or Beneficiary, to his home address as
shown on the records of the Company.

     8.05 Limitation on Liability. In no event shall the Company, Employer, Administrator or
any Employee, officer or director of the Company incur any liability for any act or failure to act
unless such act or failure to act constitutes a lack of good faith, willful misconduct or gross
negligence with respect to the Plan.

     8.06 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Administrator and any Employee,
officer or director of the Company against all

8-1

 

liabilities arising by reason of any act or failure to act unless such act or failure to act is due
to such person’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct or lack of good faith in the performance
of his duties to the Plan or trust. Such indemnification shall include, but not be limited to,
expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of any claim, including attorney and legal fees, and
amounts paid in any settlement or compromise; provided, however, that indemnification shall not
occur to the extent that it is not permitted by applicable law. Indemnification shall not be
deemed the exclusive remedy of any person entitled to indemnification pursuant to this section.
The indemnification provided hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased acting as a
director, officer, member, agent or Employee of the Administrator or as an officer, director or
Employee of the Company, and such person’s rights shall inure to the benefit of his heirs and
representatives.

     8.07 Headings. All articles and section headings in this Plan are intended merely for
convenience and shall in no way be deemed to modify or supplement the actual terms and provisions
stated thereunder.

     8.08 Severability. Any provision of this Plan prohibited by law shall be ineffective to
the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof. The
illegal or invalid provisions shall be fully severable and this Plan shall be construed and
enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had never been inserted in this Plan.

8-2

 

ARTICLE 9

Merger of First Financial Corporation

Deferred Compensation Plan

     9.01 Introduction. The Company acquired First Financial Corporation effective October 29,
1997. The Company continued to maintain the First Financial Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan
and Trust (the “First Financial Plan”) following the acquisition. Deferrals to the First Financial
Plan were discontinued after the merger, and participants’ accounts were frozen (the “First
Financial Frozen Accounts”). The former plan document for the First Financial Plan is attached to
this Plan as Appendix A.

     9.02 Merger. The First Financial Plan was merged into this Plan effective January 1, 2001,
and the First Financial Frozen Accounts were transferred to this Plan as of the effective date of
the merger. As soon as administratively practicable following the adoption of this restated Plan,
the assets subject to section VII of the document governing the First Financial Plan will be
transferred to the Associated Banc-Corp Deferred Compensation Trust.

     9.03 Investment. Participants with First Financial Frozen Accounts may direct investment
of those accounts in accordance with section 5.03 of this Plan.

     9.04 Beneficiary Designations. Participants with First Financial Frozen Accounts may file
new Beneficiary Designations for those accounts by completing and filing forms provided by the
Administrator for this purpose.

     9.05 Distributions. Distributions from the First Financial Frozen Accounts will be
governed by sections VI, IX, X and XI of the First Financial Plan document and the distribution
elections for the First Financial Frozen Accounts previously made by Participants. The functions
of the Compensation Committee with regard to distributions as described by the First Financial Plan
shall be performed by the Administrator of this Plan. The merger of the First Financial Plan into
this Plan shall not be construed to give the Participants an opportunity to change their
distribution elections for the First Financial Frozen Accounts.

9-1

 

APPENDIX A

FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST

Effective January 1, 1988

As Amended Through January 1, 1993

A-1

 

FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST

Table of Contents

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Section	 		 	Page	 
	I
	General	 	 	A-4	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	II
	Definitions	 	 	A-4	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	III
	Eligibility and Selection of Participants	 	 	A-5	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	IV
	Election to Defer	 	 	A-5	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	V
	Deferral Amount Selection	 	 	A-6	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	VI
	Timing and Manner of Distribution	 	 	A-7	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	VII
	The Trust	 	 	A-7	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	VIII
	Rights of Participants	 	 	A-12	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	IX
	Death or Disability of Participant	 	 	A-13	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	X
	Distribution in the Event of Financial Hardship	 	 	A-13	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	XI
	Distribution in the Event of Significant Change in Tax Law	 	 	A-14	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	XII
	Administration	 	 	A-14	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	XIII
	Funding	 	 	A-16	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	XIV
	Special Provisions Applicable to Insiders	 	 	A-16	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	XV
	Execution	 	 	A-18	 
	 
	 		 	 	 
	EXHIBITS
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Exhibit 7.3 Investment Vehicles
	 	 	 	 

A-2

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	Exhibit 7.4 Election of Investment Vehicle
	 	 	 	 
	 
	Exhibit 9.1 Designation of Beneficiary
	 	 	 	 
	 
	Exhibit 12.3 Election of Deferment
	 	 	 	 

A-3

 

SECTION I

General

The purpose of this Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust is to provide flexibility to eligible
employees of First Financial Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries in their receipt
of Base Salary and Annual Incentive Compensation.

SECTION II

Definitions

The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust:

	2.1	 	“Annual Incentive Compensation” shall include any amount earned by certain executives of
First Financial Corporation or its direct or indirect subsidiaries under a Company-sponsored
incentive plan or through discretionary bonuses.
	 
	2.2	 	“Beneficiary” shall mean the person or persons who upon the death, disability or incompetency
of a Participant shall have acquired, by will, by laws of decent and distribution or by other
legal proceedings, the right to the Participant’s Account.
	 
	2.3	 	“Base Salary” shall mean the monthly amount payable to the executive for performance of
services exclusive of any amounts included as Annual Incentive Compensation.
	 
	2.4	 	“Base Salary Deferral Year” shall mean the calendar year.
	 
	2.5	 	“Company” shall mean First Financial Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary of
First Financial Corporation which employs the Participant.
	 
	2.6	 	“Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of
First Financial Corporation.
	 
	2.7	 	“Disabled” shall mean that a Participant has suffered a permanent and total disability as
determined by the Compensation Committee.
	 
	2.8	 	“Effective Date” shall mean January 1, 1988 as amended through January 1, 1993.

A-4

 

	2.9	 	“Participant” shall mean an employee designated as eligible under Section 3.1 who has
elected, under the terms and conditions of the Plan, to defer payments of all or allowable
portions of Base Salary and/or Annual Incentive Compensation.
	 
	2.10	 	“Participant Account” shall mean the Participant’s account established pursuant to
Section 4.1.
	 
	2.11	 	“Plan” shall mean this Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust.
	 
	2.12	 	“Plan Year” shall mean the calendar year.
	 
	2.13	 	“Retirement” shall mean retirement from employment of a Participant in accordance with the
Company’s normal retirement policies, as amended from time to time and as determined by the
Compensation Committee.
	 
	2.14	 	“Trust” shall mean the trust created under Section VII of this Plan.
	 
	2.15	 	“Trustee” shall initially mean Marshall & Ilsley Trust Company which is hereby appointed to
administer the Trust and the Participant Accounts in accordance with this Plan and pursuant to
the requirement of Section VII hereof. “Trustee” shall also refer to any substitute or
replacement Trustee appointed under Section VII hereof.

SECTION III

Eligibility and Selection of Participants

	3.1	 	Participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Compensation Committee.

SECTION IV

Election to Defer

	4.1	 	An eligible employee may elect, under the terms and conditions of the Plan, to defer all or
an allowable portion specified under Section 5.2 of Base Salary or Annual Incentive
Compensation. Such election shall be made by written notice in the manner specified by the
Compensation Committee and shall be irrevocable when made.
	 
	4.2	 	Election to defer Annual Incentive Compensation shall be made on or before December 1 of the
Plan Year.

A-5

 

	4.3	 	Election to defer Base Salary shall be made prior to the first day of the Base Salary
Deferral Year.
	 
	4.4	 	All amounts earned by the Participant and deferred under this Section IV shall be forthwith
paid by the Company to the Trustee which shall administer the funds in accordance with its
duties under Section VII hereof and the other requirements of the Plan.
	 
	4.5	 	No distribution of funds deferred hereunder shall be made by the Trustee to a Participant or
a Participant’s Beneficiary prior to the earliest of the following dates:

	 	(a)	 	the date of payment specified by the Participant in his/her deferral
election, provided that such date shall be no less than five (5) years from the date
of the election;
	 
	 	(b)	 	the Retirement date of a Participant;
	 
	 	(c)	 	the date that a Participant becomes Disabled;
	 
	 	(d)	 	the date of death of a Participant;
	 
	 	(e)	 	the date the Compensation Committee determines a Financial Hardship or
Significant Change in Tax Law exists pursuant to Sections 10.1 or 11.1 of this Plan
and Trust; or
	 
	 	(f)	 	the date of termination of employment as provided in Section 8.3 of this Plan
and Trust.

SECTION V

Deferral Amount Selection 

	5.1	 	Participants of the Plan may select to defer a percentage of Annual Incentive Compensation
(if any) and/or a percentage of Base Salary. Alternatively, a specified dollar amount of
deferral may be selected by the Participant.
	 
	5.2	 	If percentage deferral is selected, any percentage amount up to 100% shall be permitted.
	 
	5.3	 	Plan Participants may independently select, to defer amounts from Annual Incentive
Compensation and from Base Salary.

A-6

 

SECTION VI

Timing and Manner of Distribution

	6.1	 	Plan Participants may choose to receive payment of deferred amounts by one of the alternative
methods stated hereunder:

	 	(a)	 	Lump sum payment in any year at least five years from the date of election as
specified by the Participant;
	 
	 	(b)	 	Equal annual installments, the first such installment to be paid at least
five years from the date of election as specified by the Participant; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	Upon the anticipated retirement date (or one tax year thereafter) in either:

	 	(i)	 	One lump sum payment in the year so specified by the
Participant.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Equal annual installments, the first of which shall be paid
commencing in the year so specified by the Participant.

The Compensation Committee shall provide the Trustee with a copy of the Participant’s
deferral election.

SECTION VII

The Trust

	7.1	 	The Company shall deliver to the Trustee all amounts deferred under Section IV of this Plan
as soon as practicable after such amounts have been earned by the Participant, to be
administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided herein.

	7.2	(a)	 	As used herein, the term “Trust Corpus” shall mean the amounts delivered to the Trustee
by the Company from time to time on behalf of each Participant pursuant to the terms hereof,
less amounts distributed to the Participants pursuant to the terms hereof, plus all income
earned by the Trust, in such amounts in whatever form held or invested as provided herein.
	 
	 	(b)	 	The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which the Company is the
grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part 1, subchapter J,

A-7

 

	 	 	 	chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall
be construed accordingly. The principal of the Trust and any earnings thereon
shall be held separate and apart from any other funds of the Company and shall be
used exclusively for the uses and purposes of Plan Participants and general
creditors as herein set forth.

	7.3	 	That portion of the Trust Corpus held on behalf of each Participant (the “Participant’s
Account”) shall be invested or reinvested at the option of the Participant in one of the
investments provided on Exhibit 7.3 hereto.
	 
	7.4	 	The Compensation Committee shall permit each Participant to select the investment vehicle(s),
as provided in Section 7.3, for such portion of the Trust Corpus allocated to such
Participant’s Account. The Compensation Committee or the Trustee shall provide descriptive
information regarding each investment vehicle to the Participant at least annually. The
Participant may allocate his or her Participant Account among two or more investment vehicles
on a percentage basis. Such selection shall be made on or before December 1 of each Plan Year
on a form to be provided to the Participant from the Compensation Committee or Trustee in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit 7.4. If the Trustee fails to receive notification on or
before December 1 of each Plan Year of a change in the investment vehicle selection by any
Participant, such Participant’s Account shall continue to be invested in such investment
vehicle(s) as last previously selected by the Participant
	 
	7.5	 	The Trustee shall be permitted to withhold from any payment due to a Participant hereunder
the amount required by law to be so withheld under federal, state and local wage withholding
requirements or otherwise, and shall pay over to the appropriate government authority the
amounts so withheld. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event of any final
determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction, which
determination is not appealable or with respect to which the time for appeal has expired, or
the receipt by the Trustee of a substantially unqualified opinion of tax counsel selected by
the Trustee, which determination determines or which opinion opines, that the Participant is
subject to federal income taxation on amounts held in Trust hereunder prior to the
distribution to the Participant of such amounts, the Trustee shall, on receipt by the Trustee
of such opinion or notice of such determination, pay to the Participant the portion of the
Trust Corpus includable in the Participant’s federal gross income.

A-8

 

	7.6	 	The Trust Corpus is and shall remain at all times subject to the claims of the general
creditors of the Company in the event of the Company’s insolvency as defined in Section 7.7.
Accordingly, the Company shall not create, and this Plan shall not be construed to create, a
preferred claim on or any beneficial ownership interest in the Trust Corpus in favor of any
Participant or any creditor. Any rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall
be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan Participants and their beneficiaries against the
Company. If the Trustee receives the notice provided for in Section 7.7 hereof, or otherwise
receives actual notice that the Company is insolvent as defined in Section 7.7 hereof, the
Trustee will make no further distributions of the Trust Corpus to any Participant but will
deliver the Trust Corpus only to satisfy such claims, including those of any Participant, as a
court of competent jurisdiction may direct. In such event, the Trustee is authorized to
institute or participate in appropriate legal proceedings to obtain such directions. The
Trustee shall resume distribution of Trust Corpus to the Participants under the terms hereof,
including any arrearages, after so notifying the Company, if it determines that the Company
was not, or is no longer insolvent.
	 
	7.7	 	The Company, through its Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer, shall advise the
Trustee promptly in writing of the Company’s insolvency. The Company shall be deemed
insolvent upon (a) the appointment of a conservator or receiver (a “receiver”) due to a
finding that the Company is unable to pay its debts as such debts become due and the
expiration, without revocation of the receiver’s authority, of the receiver’s notice period to
the Company’s creditors all in accordance with 12 CFR Part 549, or (b) the institution of
bankruptcy or dissolution proceedings with respect to the Company.
	 
	7.8	 	The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be limited to those expressly set forth
in this Plan, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Plan or Trust
against the Trustee. The interests of any Participant hereunder are not subject to assignment
or alienation except in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Notwithstanding any powers
granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Plan or applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any
power that could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the
gains therefrom, within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and Administrative
Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
	 
	7.9	 	The Trustee shall maintain such books, records and accounts as may be necessary for the
proper administration of the Trust Corpus and the
Participant Accounts, and shall render to the Company and to any

A-9

 

	 	 	Participant, on or prior
to each April 1 following the date of this Plan until the termination of this Plan (and on
the date of such termination), an accounting with respect to the Trust Corpus and each
Participant’s Account as of the end of the then most recent calendar year (and as of the
date of such termination), provided that no such accounting shall be required if the Trust
Corpus has a zero balance. Upon the written request of any Participant or the Company, the
Trustee shall deliver to the Participant or the Company, as the case may be, a written
report setting forth the amount held in the Participant’s Account for the Participant, the
current status of the investment vehicle including earnings on the investment, and a record
of the contributions made with respect thereto by the Company. Unless the Company or the
Participant shall have filed with the Trustee written exceptions or objections to any such
statement and account within 180 days after receipt thereof, the Company or the
Participant, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have approved such statement and
account, and in such case the Trustee shall be forever released and discharged with respect
to all matters and things reported in such statement and account as though it had been
settled by a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in an action or proceeding to
which the Company and the Participant were parties.
	 
	7.10	 	The Trustee shall not be liable for any act taken or omitted to be taken hereunder if taken
or omitted to be taken by it in good faith. The Trustee shall also be fully protected in
relying upon any notice given hereunder which it in good faith believes to be genuine and
executed and delivered in accordance with this Plan. The Trustee may consult with legal
counsel to be selected by it, and the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or
suffered by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel.
	 
	7.11	 	The Trustee shall be reimbursed by the Company for its reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of its duties hereunder and shall be paid reasonable fees for
the performance of such duties in the manner provided by Section 7.12 or 7.13.
	 
	7.12	 	The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee from and against any and all
damages, losses, claims or expenses as incurred (including expenses of investigation and fees
and disbursements of counsel to the Trustee and any taxes imposed on the Trust Corpus or
income of the Trust) arising out of or in connection with the performance by the Trustee of
its duties hereunder. Any amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.11, this
Section 7.12, or Section 7.13 and not previously paid by the Company shall be paid by the
Company promptly upon demand therefor
by the Trustee or, if the Trustee so chooses in its sole discretion, from the Trust Corpus.
In the event that payment is made hereunder to the

A-10

 

	 	 	Trustee from the Trust Corpus, the
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the amount of such payment. The
Company agrees that, upon receipt of such notice, it will deliver to the Trustee to be held
in the Trust an amount in cash equal to any payments made from the Trust Corpus to the
Trustee pursuant to Section 7.11, this Section 7.12, or Section 7.13. The failure of the
Company to transfer any such amount shall not in any way impair the Trustee’s right to
indemnification, reimbursement and payment pursuant to Section 7.11, this Section 7.12, or
Section 7.13.
	 
	7.13	 	The Trustee is specifically authorized and required to take such action as may be necessary
or appropriate, including the institution of litigation or other legal process, to enforce the
Company’s obligations hereunder on behalf of either itself or a Participant, and any expenses
thus incurred by the Trustee shall be paid or reimbursed by the Company.
	 
	7.14	 	The Trustee may resign and be discharged from its duties hereunder at any time by giving
notice in writing of such resignation to the Company and all Participants specifying a date
(not less than thirty days after the giving of such notice) when such resignation shall take
effect. Promptly after such notice, the Company shall appoint a successor trustee, such
trustee to become Trustee hereunder upon the resignation date specified in such notice. The
Company may at any time substitute a new trustee by giving 15 days’ notice thereof to the
Trustee then acting. In the event of such removal or resignation, the Trustee shall duly file
with the Company a written statement or statements of accounts and proceedings as provided in
Section 7.9 hereof for the period since the last previous annual accounting of the Trust. The
Trustee and any successor thereto appointed hereunder shall be a corporate professional
trustee which is not an affiliate of the Company.
	 
	7.15	 	Except as provided herein, this Trust shall be irrevocable. This Trust shall be terminated
upon the earliest to occur of the following events:

	 	(a)	 	the written agreement to so terminate signed by the Company and all
Participants;
	 
	 	(b)	 	the final payment from the Trust Corpus of all amounts payable hereunder to
the Participants.

	7.16	 	Subject to Sections 12.1 and 12.2 hereof, this Plan and Trust may only be amended by written
agreement signed by the Company and a majority of the
Participants provided that the Trustee must consent to any amendment which would increase
its duties hereunder and provided further that no

A-11

 

	 	 	amendment shall impair any benefit vested
to any Participant who has not agreed to such amendment and no amendment shall make this
Plan and Trust revocable.
	 
	7.17	 	The Company shall, at any time and from time to time, upon the reasonable request of the
Trustee, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be
necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this Plan.
	 
	7.18	 	This Plan sets forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings
relating thereto. This Plan shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their respective successors and legal representatives. This Plan shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin other than and without
reference to any provisions of such laws regarding choice of laws or conflict of laws. In the
event that any provision of this Plan or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances shall be determined by a court of proper jurisdiction to be invalid or
unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Plan, or the application of such provision
to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable,
shall not be affected thereby, and each provision of this Plan shall be valid and enforced to
the fullest extent permitted by law.

SECTION VIII

Rights of Participants 

	8.1	 	Nothing contained in the Plan or Trust shall:

	 	(a)	 	Confer upon any employee any right with respect to continuation of employment
with the company;
	 
	 	(b)	 	Interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate his or her
employment at any time; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	Confer upon any employee or other person any claim or right to any
distribution under the Plan or Trust except in accordance with its terms.

	8.2	 	No right or interest of any Participant in the Plan shall, prior to actual payment or
distribution to such Participant, be assignable or transferable in whole or in part, either
voluntarily or by operation of law or otherwise, or

A-12

 

	 	 	be subject to payment of debts of any
Participant by execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge, bankruptcy or in any other
manner.
	 
	8.3	 	If a Participant has elected to defer pursuant to Section 4.1 and his or her services with
the Company are terminated voluntarily or involuntarily, the Participant shall retain all
rights to the undistributed amounts credited to his or her Participant Account. Such amounts
will be distributed by the Trustee to the Participant in a lump sum as soon as practical
following the Participant’s termination.

SECTION IX

Death or Disability of Participant

	9.1	 	Should a Participant die, or become Disabled, as defined herein, the amount of such
Participant’s Account on the date of death or disability shall be distributed by the Trustee
to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary, as the case may be. Such distributions
shall be made in a lump sum. Each Participant shall designate his/her beneficiary to the
Compensation Committee and Trustee in writing as provided on Exhibit 9.1 hereto, and shall
have the right to change such designation from time to time.

SECTION X

Distribution in the Event of Financial Hardship

	10.1	 	The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, direct the Trustee to make a partial
or total distribution of amounts in a Participant’s Account upon the Participant’s request and
a demonstration by the Participant of an unforeseeable emergency. An unforeseeable emergency
is a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected
illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent of the Participant, loss of the
Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable
circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. The
circumstances that will constitute an unforeseeable emergency will depend upon the facts of
each case, but, in any case, payment may not be made to the extent that such hardship is or
may be relieved -

	 	(i)	 	through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or
otherwise,

A-13

 

	 	(ii)	 	by liquidation of the Participant’s assets, to the extent the
liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship,
or
	 
	 	(iii)	 	by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.

Examples of what are not considered to be unforeseeable emergencies include the need to
send a Participant’s child to college or the desire to purchase a home. The amount of any
such distribution shall be limited to the amount deemed necessary by the Compensation
Committee to alleviate or remedy the Participant’s unforeseeable emergency. The Trustee
shall forthwith distribute such amounts as directed by the Compensation Committee.

SECTION XI

Distribution in the Event of Significant Change in Tax Law

	11.1	 	The Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, direct the Trustee to make a partial
or total distribution of amounts in a Participant’s Account upon the Participant’s
distribution request provided that the Committee has determined that proposed changes in tax
law which are reasonably anticipated to be passed by Congress would cause a significant
financial impact to the Participant by adversely affecting the deferred treatment of amounts
invested pursuant to this Plan. Any distribution made under this paragraph shall be made at
the beginning of the calendar year following receipt of such distribution request where such
request was received at least six months in advance of such distribution, and if such
distribution request is received less than six months prior to the beginning of a calendar
year, the distribution shall be made at the beginning of the following calendar year.

SECTION XII

Administration

	12.1	 	The Compensation Committee may from time to time amend, suspend, terminate or reinstate any
or all of the provisions of the Plan as may seem necessary or advisable for the administration
of the Plan, provided that no such action shall affect, without the Participant’s written
consent, a
Participant’s right to receive on a deferred basis funds previously deferred hereunder.

A-14

 

	12.2	 	The Compensation Committee shall, subject to express provisions of the Plan, have power to
construe the Plan, to prescribe rules and regulations relating to the Plan and to make all
other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, and the
Compensation Committee may correct any defect or supply and omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry it
into effect, provided however, that no such action under this Section 12.2 shall affect,
without the Participant’s written consent, a Participant’s right to receive on a deferred
basis the funds previously deferred hereunder.
	 
	12.3	 	The Compensation Committee shall ensure that all individuals entitled to make the election to
defer are provided an election form (in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit 12.3) at least
ninety (90) days before such election must be made in accordance with Section 4.1 and all such
elections must be received in writing in order to be effective. This election form shall
include the following items, which must be completed in full in order to be effective:

	 	(a)	 	The amount to be deferred, expressed as a percentage of Annual Incentive
Compensation (if any) or Base Salary to become payable during the calendar year in
question;
	 
	 	(b)	 	The number of installments for the payment of the deferred compensation; and
	 
	 	(c)	 	The date of the first installment payment.

	12.4	 	All expenses and costs incurred in connection with the administration and operation of the
Plan shall be borne by the Company.

A-15

 

SECTION XIII

Funding

	13.1	 	Benefits under this Plan shall be paid by the Trustee from the Trust Corpus, provided
however, that the Trust Corpus shall be deemed the general assets of the Company and shall be
subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors in the event of the insolvency of the Company
as provided in Sections 7.6 and 7.7 hereof. This Plan shall be administered as an unfunded
plan which is not intended to meet the qualification requirements of Section 401 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
	 
	13.2	 	The Company shall be liable to the Participant to make all payments required under this Plan
to the extent such payments have not been made by the Trustee. Distributions made from the
Trust to or for the Participant pursuant to the Plan shall, to the extent of such
distributions, satisfy the Company’s obligation to pay benefits to such Participant under this
Plan.

SECTION XIV

Special Provisions Applicable to Insiders

Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the following provisions shall apply to any
Participant who is or becomes a “reporting person” subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (an “Insider-Participant”) and shall continue to apply for six months after he or she
ceases to be subject to Section 16.

	14.1	 	Any payment due an Insider-Participant under the Plan shall be made only in cash. No payment
may be made to an Insider-Participant in the form of equity securities of First Financial
Corporation.
	 
	14.2	 	An Insider-Participant’s election to invest, or not to invest, all or any portion of an
amount deferred under this Plan in First Financial Corporation Common Stock shall be
irrevocable when made as to such deferred amount. Such investment election shall be made at
the time of his or her deferral election, A different investment election may be made with
respect to each deferred amount.
	 
	14.3	 	In the case of a Participant who is not an Insider-Participant and who thereafter becomes an
Insider-Participant, his or her most recent election, or deemed election, to invest, or not to
invest, in First Financial Corporation Common Stock prior to becoming an Insider-Participant
shall

A-16

 

	 	 	automatically, upon his or her becoming an Insider-Participant, and without any action
on the part of the Insider- Participant, the Compensation Committee or any other party, be
deemed irrevocable.
	 
	14.4	 	Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Insider-Participant may, in accordance with Section  7.4,
change the allocation of his or her Participant Account to the extent not invested in First
Financial Corporation Common Stock among any of the other investment vehicles provided in this
Plan.
	 
	14.5	 	Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8.4, an Insider-Participant may not, as to that
portion of his or her Participant Account invested in First Financial Corporation Common
Stock, request to further defer the date of payment elected, and the Compensation Committee
shall have no authority to grant any such request if made. The foregoing shall apply without
regard to whether the Insider- Participant was an Insider-Participant at the time the date of
payment was originally elected under Section 6.1, or further deferred under Section 8.4, or at
the time any portion of his or her Participant Account was invested in First Financial
Corporation Common Stock.
	 
	 	 	No distribution may be made to an Insider-Participant under Section 10.1 or 11.1 of any
portion of his or her Participant Account invested in First Financial Corporation Common
Stock, without regard to whether the Insider-Participant was an Insider-Participant at the
time any portion of his or her Participant Account was invested in First Financial
Corporation Common Stock.
	 
	 	 	An Insider-Participant may choose to receive payment of deferred amounts invested in First
Financial Corporation Common Stock only on a fixed date or dates, or incident or death,
retirement, disability or termination of employment, within the meaning of SEC
Rule 16a-1(c)(3)(ii). Any such election by an Insider Participant shall be made at the
time of his or her deferral election and shall be irrevocable.
	 
	 	 	If in the opinion of counsel to the Compensation Committee, who may be counsel to First
Financial Corporation, the timing and manner of any distribution election made by a
Participant who thereafter becomes an Insider-Participant with respect to any portion of
his or her Participant Account invested in First Financial Corporation Common Stock would
not satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 16a-1(c)(3)(ii), then upon his or her becoming an
Insider-Participant, each such election shall automatically, and without any action on the
part of the Insider-Participant, the Compensation Committee or any other party, be deemed
irrevocably amended to provide,

A-17

 

	 	 	as to that portion of his or her Participant Account
invested in First Financial Corporation Common Stock, for payment in a lump sum six months
after such Insider-Participant’s death, retirement, disability or other termination of
employment. The foregoing shall not apply to any such distribution election that is
amended, with the consent of the Compensation Committee, prior to the time the Participant
becomes an Insider-Participant to satisfy the requirements of SEC Rule 16a-1(c)(3)(ii),
provided that the Compensation Committee has received, prior to
giving its consent to any such amendment, an opinion of counsel, who may be counsel to First Financial Corporation,
that such amended distribution election would satisfy the requirements of such SEC Rule and
would not result in the constructive receipt of income to the Participant.
	 
	14.6	 	It is intended that as to Insider-Participants, any amounts deferred pursuant to, and any
securities, rights or interests created under, this Plan be excluded from the definition of
“derivative security” pursuant to SEC Rule 16a-1(c)(3)(ii). Accordingly, no Plan or Trust
amendment and no action under the Plan or Trust shall become effective if, in the opinion of
counsel to the Compensation Committee, who may be counsel to First Financial Corporation, such
amendment or action could cause such exclusion to become unavailable, unless such counsel also
opines that Insider-Participants will, nevertheless, not be subject to avoidable liability
under Section 16.

SECTION XV

Execution

IN WITNESS HEREOF, First Financial Corporation by its proper officer duly authorized, has caused
these presents to be executed, on the date hereinafter set forth.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	DATE: January 1, 1993
	 	By:
	 	/s/
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	John C. Seramur, President	 	 

	 	 	 
	ATTEST:
	 
	 	 
	/s/

	 	  
	Robert M. Salinger, Secretary
	 	 

A-18

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	MARSHALL & ILSLEY TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	DATE: July 1, 1993

	 	By:
	 	/s/
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 
	ATTEST:
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	/s/

	 	  

A-19EX-10(I)

Exhibit (10)(i)

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Effective July 1, 1999

Restated effective as of January 1, 2008

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	ARTICLE 1 Establishment of and Purpose of Plan
	 	 	1-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2 Definitions and Construction
	 	 	2-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	2.01 Definitions.
	 	 	2-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	2.02 Construction.
	 	 	2-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3 Participation
	 	 	3-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	3.01 Commencement of Participation
	 	 	3-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	3.02 Deferral of Director’s Fees
	 	 	3-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4 Memorandum Account
	 	 	4-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.01 Nature of Account
	 	 	4-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.02 Credit of Deferrals to Memorandum Account
	 	 	4-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.03 Adjustments to Memorandum Account
	 	 	4-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.04 Valuation of Memorandum Account
	 	 	4-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5 Distributions
	 	 	5-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5.01 Distribution Election
	 	 	5-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5.02 For Reasons Other Than Death
	 	 	5-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5.03 Upon Death
	 	 	5-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5.04 Unforeseeable Emergencies
	 	 	5-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6 Administration of the Plan
	 	 	6-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.01 Appointment of Separate Administrator
	 	 	6-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.02 Powers and Duties
	 	 	6-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.03 Records and Notices
	 	 	6-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.04 Compensation and Expenses
	 	 	6-2	 

i

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Page	 
	ARTICLE 7 General Provisions
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.01 Assignment
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.02 Termination and Amendment
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.03 Contingency
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.04 Notice
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.05 Limitation on Liability
	 	 	7-1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.06 Indemnification
	 	 	7-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.07 Headings
	 	 	7-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.08 Severability
	 	 	7-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7.09 Director Position Not Guaranteed by Plan
	 	 	7-2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	APPENDIX A Investment Preference Form
	 	 	 	 
	APPENDIX B Beneficiary Designation Form
	 	 	 	 

ii 

 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

ARTICLE 1

Establishment of and Purpose of Plan

          Through its acquisition of other banks and bank holding companies, the Associated Banc-Corp
(the “Company”) became the sponsor of several plans under which the directors of the acquired
organizations had deferred their director compensation (the “Predecessor Plans”):

          The Company established the Associated Bank-Corp Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan (the
“Plan”), and merged the Predecessor Plans into the Plan, effective July 1, 1999. This document
amends and restates the Plan effective January 1, 2008 to comply with Internal Revenue Code
(“Code”) section 409A.

1-1

 

ARTICLE 2

Definitions and Construction

          As used herein, the following words shall have the following meanings:

2.01 Definitions.

	 	(a)	 	Administrator. The Company, or such other person, persons or entity
as may be appointed by the Board pursuant to Article 6, to control and manage the
operation and administration of the Plan.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Beneficiary. The beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by a
Participant pursuant to section 5.03 to receive the amount (if any) payable under the
Plan upon the death of the Participant.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Board. The Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Company. Associated Banc-Corp, a Wisconsin banking corporation. The
Board has authorized the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board to act on
behalf of the Company for purposes of the Plan.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Eligible Director. A former director of a bank or bank holding
company acquired by the Company who had a Memorandum Account in one of the Predecessor
Plans.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Effective Date. The effective date of this Plan shall be July 1,
1999.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Memorandum Account. The bookkeeping record maintained for each
Participant pursuant to Article 4 below.
	 
	 	(h)	 	Participants. Such Eligible Directors who meet the participation
requirements described in Article 3. “Active” Participants are those who are
currently eligible to make deferrals under the Plan. “Inactive” Participants are
those who have a Memorandum Account under the Plan, but are no longer eligible to make
deferrals.
	 
	 	(i)	 	Plan. The Associated Banc-Corp Directors’ Deferred Compensation
Plan, as stated herein and as amended from time to time.

2-1

 

	 	(j)	 	Plan Year. The period beginning January 1 and ending on December 31
and each 12-month period ending on each subsequent December 31.
	 
	 	(k)	 	Predecessor Plan. Any one of the following, collectively known as
the “Predecessor Plans:”

	 	•	 	the Citizens Community Bankshares, Inc. Directors’ Deferred
Compensation Plan;
	 
	 	•	 	the Citizens State Bank of Wittenberg Bank Directors’
Deferred Compensation Plan;
	 
	 	•	 	the F&M Financial Services Corporation Directors’ Deferred
Compensation Plan;
	 
	 	•	 	the Iron Exchange Bank of Hurley Bank Directors’ Deferred
Compensation Plan; and
	 
	 	•	 	the First Financial Corporation Directors Deferred
Compensation Plan.

	 	(l)	 	Semi-Annual Averaged Fed Funds Rate means the monthly average of the
Fed Funds Sold Rate as published by Bankers’ Bank of Wisconsin (or any successor
thereto).
	 
	 	(m)	 	Unforeseeable Emergency. An Unforeseeable Emergency is a severe
financial hardship to a Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or
accident of the Participant or of a dependent (as defined in section 152(a) of the
Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty or other
similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events
beyond the control of the Participant.

	2.02	 	Construction. The laws of the State of Wisconsin, as amended from time to time,
shall govern the construction and application of this Plan. Words used in the masculine
gender shall include the feminine and words used in the singular shall include the plural, as
appropriate. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the
word “here” shall refer to the entire Plan, not to a particular section. All references to
statutory sections shall include the section so identified as amended from time to time or any
other statute of similar import. If any provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or other
statutes or regulations render any provisions

2-2

 

of the Plan unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect only to the
minimum extent required by such law.

2-3

 

ARTICLE 3

Participation

	3.01	 	Commencement of Participation. An Eligible Director who had a bookkeeping account of
benefits (referred to under this Plan as a “Memorandum Account”) as of June 30, 1999 under a
Predecessor Plan shall automatically become a Participant in this Plan as of the Effective
Date. All such Participants shall be considered inactive Participants, except as described in
section 3.02.
	 
	3.02	 	Deferral of Director’s Fees. Alan Lamia is eligible to continue deferrals of his
director’s fees under this Plan in accordance with the deferral agreement he filed under the
Citizens State Bank of Wittenberg Bank Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan. His deferrals
shall continue in accordance with the agreement until the earliest of the following: (1) the
date his directorship with Associated Bank North terminates, unless he shall maintain status
as an Advisory Board member, in which case the date his membership on an Advisory Board
terminates; or (2) December 31 of the year in which he revokes his deferral agreement; or
(3) his active participation is terminated by action of the Administrator.
	 
	 	 	No other active deferrals of director’s fees shall be permitted under this Plan.

3-1

 

ARTICLE 4

Memorandum Account

	4.01	 	Nature of Account. For the sole purpose of measuring benefits due Participants
hereunder, the Company shall maintain on behalf of each Participant a bookkeeping record to
which the Company shall credit the amounts described in this Article 4. This bookkeeping
record shall be referred to as the Memorandum Account.
	 
	 	 	The Memorandum Account and assets, if any and of any nature, acquired by the Company to
measure a Participant’s benefits hereunder, shall not constitute or be treated for any
reason as a trust for, property of or a security interest for the benefit of, Participant,
his Beneficiaries or any other person. The Participant and the Company acknowledge that
the Plan constitutes a promise by the Company to pay benefits to the Participants or their
beneficiaries; that Participants’ rights hereunder are limited to those of general
unsecured creditors of the Company; and that the establishment of the Plan, acquisition of
assets to measure Participant’s benefits hereunder or deferral of all or any portion of an
active Participant’s director’s fees hereunder does not prevent any property of the Company
from being subject to the rights of all the Company’s creditors. The Company may, in its
discretion, contribute amounts to a “rabbi trust” to provide a source of funds from which
to satisfy its obligations under this Plan, but the assets of such rabbi trust shall
continue to be subject to the rights of all the Company’s creditors.
	 
	4.02	 	Credit of Deferrals to Memorandum Account. The Company shall credit to an active
Participant’s Memorandum Account during a Plan Year deferral amounts representing director’s
fees as they would otherwise become payable to the active Participant during the Plan Year.
	 
	4.03	 	Adjustments to Memorandum Account. Each Participant may specify his investment
preferences for his Memorandum Account by completing and submitting an Investment Preference
Form provided by the Administrator. Final approval of the Participant’s investment selection
is within the discretion of the Administrator, and if the Administrator establishes a trust as
described in section 4.01, the Trustee. The Participant’s Memorandum Account shall be
adjusted to reflect the income and losses and increase or decrease in value experienced by
assets as if the amounts were invested according to the Participant’s preferences, subject to
final approval by the Administrator and Trustee. A Participant’s Memorandum Account

4-1

 

	 	 	shall also reflect expenses generated by, and related to, the investment choices made in
accordance with the Investment Preference Form.
	 
	 	 	A Participant may submit a new Investment Preference Form to the Administrator as
frequently as may be allowed by the Administrator or a third-party delegate, consistent
with any procedures that may be approved by the Company.
	 
	4.04	 	Valuation of Memorandum Account. Within 90 days after the last day of each Plan
Year, the Company shall provide each Participant or his Beneficiaries a statement indicating
the balance of his Memorandum Account as of the last day of such Plan Year, reflecting the
amount of deferrals, if any, credited for such year, together with all other changes in value
during the Plan Year, and any distributions made during the Plan Year. Participants who
disagree with the information provided in such statements must submit objections, in writing,
to the Administrator within 90 days of receipt such statements.

4-2

 

ARTICLE 5

Distributions

	5.01	 	Distribution Election. The distribution election completed by each Participant under
each Predecessor Plan shall remain irrevocable and in full force and effect under this Plan.
A Participant shall make an irrevocable distribution election, prior to commencement of a Plan
Year, on forms provided by the Administrator.
	 
	5.02	 	For Reasons Other Than Death. The Company shall distribute the Participant’s
Memorandum Account in the manner elected by the Participant pursuant to section 5.01. Amounts
may be distributed in cash or Company stock in the discretion of and in accordance with
procedures established by the Administrator . The Administrator shall reduce the balance in
the Participant’s Memorandum Account by the amount of any payment pursuant to this
section 5.02 immediately upon the occurrence of such payment.
	 
	 	 	In no event shall distributions subject to Code section 409A to a Participant who receives
distributions as a result of a separation from service occur prior to six months after the
Participant’s separation from service.
	 
	5.03	 	Upon Death.

	 	(a)	 	Upon a Participant’s death with a balance remaining in his Memorandum
Account, the Company shall pay an amount equaling the entire balance of his Memorandum
Account to the beneficiary or beneficiaries he specifies, or, if none, to his estate.
Each Participant may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the unpaid
balance of his Memorandum Account upon his death and may revoke or modify such
designation at any time and from time to time by submitting to the Administrator a
Beneficiary Designation on forms approved by the Administrator.
	 
	 	(b)	 	If a Participant’s death occurs prior to the payment of any amounts to him
hereunder, other than payments for Unforeseeable Emergencies, the Company shall, as
soon as practicable, pay to the Beneficiary in a lump sum the entire balance due the
Participant.
	 
	 	(c)	 	If a Participant’s death occurs after the payment of any amount to him
hereunder, other than payments for

5-1

 

	 	 	 	Unforeseeable Emergencies, payments to his Beneficiary shall continue in the same
form, and be calculated in the same manner, as paid to the Participant prior to his
death by merely substituting the Beneficiary for the Participant.
	 
	 	(d)	 	If a Beneficiary survives a Participant but dies prior to receipt of the
entire amount in the Memorandum Account due him, the Company shall, as soon as
practicable, pay to the estate of the Beneficiary in a lump sum the entire remaining
balance therein due the Beneficiary.
	 
	 	(e)	 	The Administrator shall reduce the balance in the deceased Participant’s
Memorandum Account by the amount of any payment pursuant to this section 5.03
immediately upon the occurrence of such payment.

	5.04	 	Unforeseeable Emergencies. In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency either before
or after the commencement of payments hereunder, a Participant or Beneficiary may request in
writing that all or any portion of the benefits due him hereunder be paid in one or more
installments prior to the normal time for payment of such amount. The Administrator shall, in
its reasonable judgment, determine whether the applicant could not address the emergency
through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of assets
(provided such liquidation, in itself, would not create a financial hardship) or by ceasing
deferrals hereunder. Only if the Administrator determines that such an Unforeseeable
Emergency exists, the Company shall pay to the Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be,
an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the amount requested or (b) the amount reasonably
necessary to alleviate the hardship. The Administrator shall use its reasonable discretion to
determine when the prepayments shall be made and shall immediately reduce the balance in the
recipient’s Memorandum Account by the amount of such payment.

5-2

 

ARTICLE 6

Administration of the Plan

	6.01	 	Appointment of Separate Administrator. The Company has appointed the Compensation
and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) to serve as Administrator.
The Company shall accept and rely upon any document executed by the Committee until the Board
revokes such appointment. No person serving on the Committee shall vote or decide upon any
matter relating solely to himself or solely to any of his rights or benefits pursuant to the
Plan.

	6.02	 	Powers and Duties. The Administrator shall administer the Plan in accordance with
its terms. The Administrator shall have full and complete authority and control with respect
to Plan operations and administration unless the Administrator allocates and delegates such
authority or control pursuant to the procedures stated in subsection (b) or (c) below. Any
decisions of the Administrator or its delegate shall be final and binding upon all persons
dealing with the Plan or claiming any benefit under the Plan. The Administrator shall have
all powers which are necessary to manage and control Plan operations and administration
including, but not limited to, the following:

	 	(a)	 	To employ such accountants, counsel, or other persons as it deems necessary
or desirable in connection with Plan administration. The Company shall bear the costs
of such services and other administrative expenses.
	 
	 	(b)	 	To designate in writing persons other than the Administrator to perform any
of its powers and duties hereunder.
	 
	 	(c)	 	To allocate in writing any of its powers and duties hereunder to those
persons who have been designated to perform Plan fiduciary responsibilities.
	 
	 	(d)	 	The discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan, including the
power to construe disputed provisions.
	 
	 	(e)	 	To resolve all questions arising in the administration, interpretation, and
application of the Plan, including, but not limited to, questions as to the
eligibility or the right of any person to a benefit.

6-1

 

	 	(f)	 	To adopt such rules, regulations, forms and procedures from time to time as
it deems advisable and appropriate in the proper administration of the Plan.
	 
	 	(g)	 	To prescribe procedures to be followed by any person in applying for
distributions pursuant to the Plan and to designate the forms or documents, evidence
and other such information as the Administrator may reasonably deem necessary,
desirable or convenient to support an application for such distribution.
	 
	 	(h)	 	To apply consistently and uniformly Committee rules, regulations and
determinations to all Participants and beneficiaries in similar circumstances.

	6.03	 	Records and Notices. The Administrator shall keep a record of all its proceedings
and acts and shall maintain all such books of accounts, records and other data as may be
necessary for proper plan administration. The Administrator shall notify the Company of any
action taken by the Administrator which affects the Trustee’s Plan obligations or rights and,
when required, shall notify any other interested parties.
	 
	6.04	 	Compensation and Expenses. The expenses incurred by the Administrator in the proper
administration of the Plan shall be paid from the Company. An Administrator who is an
Employee or a Director shall not receive any additional fee or compensation for services
rendered as an Administrator.

6-2

 

ARTICLE 7

General Provisions

	7.01	 	Assignment. No Participant or Beneficiary may sell, assign, transfer, encumber or
otherwise dispose of the right to receive payments hereunder. A Participant’s right to
benefit payments under the Plan is not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation,
sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment by creditors of the
Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary.
	 
	7.02	 	Termination and Amendment. The Company may at any time and from time to time
terminate, suspend, alter or amend this Plan and no Participant or any other person shall have
any right, title, interest or claim against the Company, its directors, officers or employees
for any amount. Subject to the rights of Company creditors as described in section 4.01,
Participants shall otherwise be fully vested in their Memorandum Accounts at all times.
Following Plan termination, Memorandum Accounts shall continue to be subject to adjustment
under section 4.03 and valuation under section 4.04 until distributions are completed in
accordance with Article 5.
	 
	7.03	 	Contingency. The Company may apply for private letter rulings from the Internal
Revenue Service (“IRS”) as to the deductibility from taxable income benefits paid hereunder or
the exclusion of amounts deferred hereunder from the taxable income of Participant until paid.
If the Company applies for a private letter ruling from the IRS and does not receive a
satisfactory reply thereto, the Company may deem this Plan terminated, in which event, the
parties shall treat all amounts deferred hereunder as immediately payable to the Participants
and all parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereupon cease.
	 
	7.04	 	Notice. Any and all notices, designations or reports provided for herein shall be in
writing and delivered personally or by first class priority mail addressed, in the case of the
Company, its Board of Directors or Administrator, to the Company’s principal business office
and, in the case of a Participant or Beneficiary, to his home address as shown on the records
of the Company.
	 
	7.05	 	Limitation on Liability. In no event shall the Company, Administrator, or any
employee, officer, or director of the Company incur any liability for any act or failure to
act unless such act or failure to act constitutes a lack of good faith, willful misconduct or
gross negligence with respect to the Plan.

7-1

 

	7.06	 	Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify he Administrator and any employee,
officer or director of the Company against all liabilities arising by reason of any act or
failure to act unless such act or failure to act is due to such person’s own gross negligence
or willful misconduct or lack of good faith in the performance of his duties to the Plan.
Such indemnification shall include, but not be limited to, expenses reasonably incurred in the
defense of any claim, including attorney and legal fees, and amounts paid in any settlement or
compromise; provided, however, that indemnification shall not occur to the extent that it is
not permitted by applicable law. Indemnification shall not be deemed the exclusive remedy of
any person entitled to indemnification pursuant to this section. The indemnification provided
hereunder shall continue as to a person who has ceased acting as a director, officer, member,
agent, or employee of the administrator or as an officer, director or employee of the Company,
and such person’s rights shall inure to the benefit of his heirs and representatives.
	 
	7.07	 	Headings. All articles and section headings in this Plan are intended merely for
convenience and shall in no way be deemed to modify or supplement the actual terms and
provisions stated thereunder.
	 
	7.08	 	Severability. Any provision of this Plan prohibited by law shall be ineffective to
the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof. The
illegal or invalid provisions shall be fully severable and this Plan shall be construed and
enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had never been inserted in this Plan.
	 
	7.09	 	Director Position Not Guaranteed by Plan. The establishment of this Plan, its
amendments and the granting of a benefit pursuant to the Plan shall not give any Participant
the right to a new or continued position as director or limit the right of the Company to
dismiss or impose penalties upon the Participant or modify the terms of directorship by any
Participant.

7-2

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