Document:

Exhibit
10.2

    

    FIRST
FINANCIAL BANCORP.

    2009
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK
PLAN

    

    SECTION
1.  Purpose

    

    The
purpose of this 2009 Non-Employee Director
Stock Plan is to promote the interest of First Financial Bancorp., its
Subsidiaries and shareholders, by allowing the Corporation to attract and retain
highly qualified non-employee directors by permitting them to obtain or increase
their proprietary interest in the Corporation and align the directors’ interest
with that of the Corporation’s shareholders.

    

    SECTION
2.  Definitions and Construction

    

    2.1         Definitions.  As
used in the Plan, terms defined parenthetically immediately after their use
shall have the respective meanings provided by such definitions, and the terms
set forth below shall have the following meanings (in either case, such terms
shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms
defined):

    

    
      (a)         "Award" means any Option, Restricted Stock or a
combination thereof awarded under the Plan.

    

    
      

    

    (b)         "Award Agreement" means the agreement, certificate or
other instrument evidencing the grant of any Award under the
Plan.

    

    (c)         "Board"
means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

    

    (d)         "Cause"
means a felony conviction of a Non-Employee Director or the failure of a
Non-Employee Director to contest prosecution for a felony, or a Non-Employee
Director's willful misconduct or dishonesty, any of which is determined by the
Board to be directly and materially harmful to the business or reputation of the
Corporation or its subsidiaries.

    

    (e)          “Change
in Control” means a change in control of the Corporation of a nature that would
be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of
Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect at the time of
such “change in control”, provided that such a change in control shall be deemed
to have occurred at such time as (i) any “person” (as that term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), is or becomes the beneficial
owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly,
of securities representing 20% or more of the combined voting power for election
of directors of the then outstanding securities of The Corporation or any
successor of The Corporation; (ii) during any period of two consecutive
years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the
Board cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board,
unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved
by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) there is a consummation of
any reorganization, merger, consolidation or share exchange as a result of which
the common stock of The Corporation shall be changed, converted or exchanged
into or for securities of another corporation (other than a merger with a
wholly-owned subsidiary of The Corporation) or any dissolution or liquidation of
The Corporation or any sale or the disposition of 50% or more of the assets or
business of The Corporation; or (iv) there is a consummation of any
reorganization, merger, consolidation or share exchange unless (A) the
persons who were the beneficial owners of the outstanding shares of the common
stock of The Corporation immediately before the consummation of such transaction
beneficially own more than 65% of the outstanding shares of the common stock of
the successor or survivor corporation in such transaction immediately following
the consummation of such transaction and (B) the number of shares of the
common stock of such successor or survivor corporation beneficially owned by the
persons described in Section 2.1(iv)(A) immediately following the
consummation of such transaction is beneficially owned by each such person in
substantially the same proportion that each such person had beneficially owned
shares of The Corporation common stock immediately before the consummation of
such transaction, provided (C) the percentage described in
Section 2.1(iv)(A) of the beneficially owned shares of the successor or
survivor corporation and the number described in Section 2.1(iv)(B) of the
beneficially owned shares of the successor or survivor corporation shall be
determined exclusively by reference to the shares of the successor or survivor
corporation which result from the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock
of The Corporation by the persons described in Section 2.1(iv)(A)
immediately before the consummation of such transaction.

    
      
         

      

      
        1

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    (f)          "Code"
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any
successor thereto.

    

    (g)         "Common
Stock" means common shares, without par value, of the Corporation.

    

    (h)         "Committee"
means the compensation committee of the Board or another committee appointed by
the Board, provided that all members of the Committee must be Non-Employee
Directors as defined in Section 2.1(n) of this Plan, and must also be
"non-employee directors" as such term is defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) under
the Exchange Act.

    

    (i)          "Corporation"
means First Financial Bancorp., an Ohio corporation.

    

    (j)          "Disability"
means permanent and total disability as determined under procedures established
by the Board for purposes of the Plan.

    

    (k)          "Exchange
Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time,
and any successor thereto.

    

    (l)           "Fair
Market Value" means as of any given date the closing price of the Common Stock
as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market.  In the event that there are
no such Common Stock transactions on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be
determined as of the immediately preceding date on which there were stock
transactions.  If there is no regular public trading market for such
Common Stock, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock shall be determined by
the Board in good faith.

    

    (m)         "Grantee" means a Non-Employee Director who has been
granted a Restricted Stock Award, or the personal representative, heir or
legatee of the Grantee who has rights to the Restricted
Stock.

    

    (n)         "Non-Employee
Director" means a member of the Board who is not an employee of the Corporation
or any Subsidiary of the Corporation.

    

    (0)         "Option"
means an option granted to an Optionee pursuant to the Plan.

    

    (p)         "Optionee"
means a Non-Employee Director who has been granted an Option Award or the personal representative, heir or
legatee of an Optionee who has the right to exercise the Option upon the death
of the Optionee.

    

    (q)          "Person"
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange
Act and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a "Group" as
defined in Section 13(d).

    

    (r)          "Plan"
means this 2009 Non-Employee Director Stock
Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time.

    

    
      (s)          "Restriction Period" means the period during which
shares of Restricted Stock are subject to forfeiture or restrictions on transfer
(if applicable) as described in Section 7 of the Plan and any applicable Award
Agreement.

    

    
      

    

    
      (t)          "Restricted Stock" means Common Stock awarded to a
Grantee pursuant to the Plan which is subject to forfeiture and restrictions on
transferability in accordance with Section 7 of the
Plan.

    

    

    (u)         "Retirement"
means retirement from the Board on or after age 70 or with the consent of the
Board.

    

    (v)         "Subsidiary"
means, with respect to any company, any corporation or other Person of which a
majority of its voting power, equity securities or equity interest is owned
directly or indirectly by such company.

    
      
         

      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    2.2        Gender and
Number.  Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
reference to the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, the plural
shall include the singular and the singular shall include the
plural.

    

    2.3        Severability.  In
the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any
reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the
Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
provision had not been included.

    

    SECTION
3.  Shares Subject To The Plan

    

    3.1        Shares
Available.  The stock to be offered under the Plan shall be
shares of Common Stock, which may be unissued Common Stock or treasury Common
Stock.  The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards under the Plan shall not exceed
75,000 shares, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 8.

    

    3.2        Canceled, Terminated or Forfeited
Awards.  Any shares of Common Stock subject to any portion of an Award which, in any such case and for
any reason, expires, or is canceled, terminated or otherwise forfeited, without
the recipient having received any benefits of ownership (as such phrase is
construed by the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff), shall again
be available for distribution in connection with Awards under the
Plan.

    

    SECTION
4.  Administration

    

    4.1        General.  The Plan
shall be administered by the Board.  Subject to the express provisions
of the Plan, the Board shall have authority to interpret the Plan, to prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine the terms
and provisions of the Awards and Agreements
(which shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan)
and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan.  The Board's determination of the matters
referred to in this Section 4.1 shall be conclusive.

    

    4.2        Section 16
Compliance.  It is the intention of the Corporation that the
Plan and the administration of the Plan comply in all respects with Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.  If any Plan provision, or any aspect of the
administration of the Plan, is found not to be in compliance with Section 16(b)
of the Exchange Act, the provision or administration shall be deemed null and
void, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in favor of its meeting the
requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

    

    SECTION
5.  Eligibility and Grants of Stock Option and/or Restricted Stock
Awards

    

    Subject
to the terms of the Plan, the Board or the Committee shall determine the amount
of, and terms of, stock options and restricted stock awards to eligible
Non-Employee Directors.

    

    SECTION
6.  Option Terms

    

    6.1        Option Price.  The
purchase price of the Common Stock under each Option granted under the Plan
shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the
date such Option is granted.

    

    6.2        Nonqualified Stock
Options.  Only nonqualified stock
options shall be granted under the Plan.

    

    6.3         Vesting.  Unless as
otherwise provided by the Committee (subject to the terms of the Plan), all
Options shall become exercisable equally over a three-year period beginning on
the anniversary of the date of grant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6.3, upon a Change in Control, all Options shall
become fully vested and exercisable and the Optionee shall have the right to
exercise the Option in full as to all shares of Common Stock subject to the
Option.

    

    6.4        Option Term.  The
term of each Option shall be ten years from the date of grant or such shorter
period as is prescribed in Section 6.6.  Except as provided in Section
6.6 and Section 6.8, no Option may be exercised at any time unless the holder is
then a director of the Corporation.

    
      
         

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    

    6.5         Method of
Exercise.  Subject to Section 6.3 and the terms of any Option
Agreement, Options may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time during the
Option term, by giving written notice of exercise to the Corporation, specifying
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option to be
purchased.

    

    Such
notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price by
certified or bank check or such other instrument as the Corporation may
accept.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, payment, in full or
in part, also may be made in the form of shares of unrestricted Common Stock
already owned by the Optionee for at least six months of the same class as the
Common Stock subject to the Option (based on the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the date the Option is exercised).

    

    In
addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board, payment for any Common
Shares subject to an Option also may be made by instructing the Corporation to
withhold a number of such Common Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date
of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of such Option.

    

    Upon
exercise of an Option, the Corporation shall have the right to retain or sell
without notice sufficient Common Stock to cover withholding for taxes, if any,
as described in Section 10.

    

    No shares
of Common Stock shall be issued until full payment therefore has been
made.  An Optionee shall have all of the rights of a shareholder of
the Corporation holding the class or series of Common Stock that is subject to
such Option (including, if applicable, the right to vote the shares and the
right to receive dividends) only when the Optionee has given written notice of
exercise and has paid in full for such shares.

    

    6.6         Termination
of Option.

    

    (a)          If
the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Corporation for any reason other
than death, Disability, Retirement or removal for Cause, the Option shall
terminate three months after the Optionee ceases to be a director of the
Corporation (unless the Optionee dies during such period), or on the Option's
expiration date, if earlier, and shall be exercisable during such period after
the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Corporation only with respect to the
number of shares of Common Stock which the Optionee was entitled to purchase on
the day preceding the day on which the Optionee ceased to be a
director.

    

    (b)          If
the Optionee ceases to be a director of the Corporation because of removal for
Cause, the Option shall terminate on the date of the Optionee's
removal.

    

    (c)          In
the event of the Optionee's death, Disability or Retirement while a director of
the Corporation, or the Optionee's death within three months after the Optionee
ceases to be a director (other than by reason of removal for Cause), the Option
shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of: (i) 12 months after the date of
the Optionee's death, Disability or Retirement, or (ii) the Option's expiration
date.  The Option shall be exercisable during such period after the
Optionee's death, Disability or Retirement with respect to the number of shares
of Common Stock as to which the Option shall have been exercisable on the date
preceding the Optionee's death, Disability or Retirement, as the case may
be.

    

    (d)          Notwithstanding
Section 6.6(a) but subject to Section 6.6(b), if an Optionee ceases to be a
director of the Corporation at or after a Change in Control other than by reason
of Cause, death, Disability or Retirement, any Option held by such Optionee
shall be exercisable for the lesser of: (1) six months and one day after the
Optionee ceases to be a director, and (2) the balance of such Option's
term.

    

    6.7         Restriction on Disposition.  Each
Option granted under the Plan shall require the Optionee to agree not to sell,
assign or transfer any shares of Common Stock acquired as a result of exercising
an Option, or any part thereof, until after such shares have been held by the
Optionee for one year after the date of exercise of the Option which resulted in
their acquisition.  This Section 6.7 shall not apply: (i) on and after
a Change in Control, (ii) on and after an Optionee's Disability or Retirement,
(iii) to an Optionee who is the personal representative, heir or legatee of a
deceased Non-Employee Director, (iv) to the extent necessary for tax withholding
pursuant to Section 6.5, or (v) to the extent necessary in connection with the
exercise of an Option pursuant to the third paragraph of Section
6.5.  Certificates for shares subject to these restrictions on sale,
assignment or transfer shall include a legend which describes such
restrictions.  When such restrictions end, unlegended certificates for
such shares shall be delivered upon surrender of the legended
certificates.

    
      
         

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    6.8         Transferability and Shareholder
Rights of Holders of Options.  No Option granted under the Plan
shall be transferable otherwise than: (i) by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, or (ii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as
defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder).  An Option may be
exercised, during the lifetime of an Optionee, only by the
Optionee.  An Optionee shall have none of the rights of a shareholder
of the Corporation until the Option has been exercised and the Common Stock
subject to the Option has been registered in the name of the Optionee on the
transfer books of the Corporation.

    

    SECTION
7.  Restricted Stock Terms

    

    7.1         Awards and
Certificates.

    

    (a)          Restricted
Stock shall be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate,
including book-entry registration or issuance of one or more stock
certificates.  Any certificate issued in respect of Restricted Stock
shall be registered in the name of the Grantee and shall bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such
Award, substantially in the following form:

    

    "The
transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby
are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the First
Financial Bancorp. 2009 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan and an Award
Agreement.  Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the
offices of First Financial Bancorp."

    

    (b)          The
Committee may require that the certificates evidencing such shares be held in
custody by the Corporation until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and
that, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock, the Grantee shall have
delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered
by such Award.

    

    (c)          Upon
the end of the Restriction Period and provided that the Restricted Stock has not
been forfeited, the Corporation shall, upon the Grantee's request or upon its
own initiative, issue or have issued new certificates without the legend
described in Section 7.1(a), in exchange for those certificates previously
issued.

     

    7.2         Terms and
Conditions.  Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions.

    

    (a)          Except
as otherwise provided in Sections 7.2(d), 7.2(e), 7.2(f), and 7.2(g), or as
provided by the Committee (subject to the terms of the Plan), all restrictions
on Restricted Stock granted pursuant to an Award shall end (and the Restricted
Stock shall thereupon become vested) only as follows: one-third of the Award
shall vest as of the date of the Award and one-third each shall vest as of the
dates immediately prior to the Annual Meeting dates of the Corporation of each
of the years containing the first and second anniversaries of the date of the
Award, respectively, provided the grantee remains a director of the Corporation
as of the date on which vesting occurs.

    

    (b)          Subject
to the provisions of the Plan and the Restricted Stock Agreement referred to in
Section 7.2(h), and until the expiration of the Restriction Period, the Grantee
shall not be permitted to sell, assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumber
Restricted Stock.

    

    (c)          Except
as provided in Sections 7.2(b) and this 7.2(c) and the Award Agreement, the
Grantee shall have, with respect to the Restricted Stock, all of the rights of a
shareholder of the Corporation holding the class or series of Common Stock that
is the subject of the Restricted Stock, including, if applicable, the right to
vote the shares and, if granted by the Committee, the right to receive any cash
dividends.  If so determined by the Committee in the applicable Award
Agreement and provided that sufficient shares are available under Section 3 of
the Plan for such reinvestment, (1) cash dividends on the class or series of
Common Stock that is the subject of the Restricted Stock Award shall be
automatically deferred and reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, held
subject to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock and (2) dividends
payable in Common Stock shall be paid in the form of Restricted Stock of the
same class as the Common Stock with which such dividend was paid, held subject
to the vesting of the underlying Restricted Stock.

    
      
         

      

      
        5

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    (d)         Except
to the extent otherwise provided in the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement
and Sections 7.2(a), 7.2(f) and 7.2(g), if a Grantee ceases to be a director of
the Corporation for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement, or
Cause, all unvested Restricted Stock shall be forfeited as of the date the
Grantee ceases to be a director.

    

    (e)          If
a Grantee ceases to be a director of the Corporation because of removal for
Cause, all unvested Restricted Stock shall be forfeited as of the date the
Grantee ceases to be a director.

    

    (f)          In
the event of a Grantee's death, Disability or Retirement while a director of the
Corporation, all unvested Restricted Stock shall become fully vested and all
restrictions shall end as of the date of such death, Disability or
Retirement.

    

    (g)         Notwithstanding
Section 7.2(d) but subject to Section 7.2(e), if a Grantee ceases to be a
director of the Corporation at or within twelve months after a Change in Control
other than by reason of Cause, death, Disability or Retirement, any unvested
Restricted Stock held by such Grantee shall become fully vested and all
restrictions shall lapse as of the date the Grantee ceases to be a
director.

    

    (h)         Each
Award shall be confirmed by, and be subject to, the terms of an Award
Agreement.

    

    SECTION 8.  Adjustments Upon Change In
Capitalization

    

    Notwithstanding
the limitations set forth in Section 3, in the event of a merger,
reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, split-up,
spin-off, separation, liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split, property dividend, share repurchase, share combination, share exchange,
issuance of warrants, rights or debentures or other change in corporate
structure of the Corporation affecting the Common Stock, the Board shall make
such substitution or adjustments in the aggregate number and kind of shares
reserved for issuance under the Plan, in the number, kind and option price of
shares subject to outstanding Options or Restricted Stock Awards, and/or such
other equitable substitution or adjustments as it may determine to be
appropriate in its sole discretion; provided, however, that the number of shares
subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.

    

    SECTION
9.  Termination and Amendment

     

    9.1         Termination. No Option or
Restricted Stock shall be granted under this Plan on or after the earlier
of

    

    (a) the
third anniversary of the date the shareholders of the Corporation approve the
adoption of this Plan, in which event this Plan otherwise thereafter shall
continue in effect until all outstanding Options (and any related surrender
rights) have been exercised in full or no longer are exercisable and all
Restricted Stock grants under this Plan have been forfeited or the forfeiture
conditions on the related Stock or cash payments have been satisfied in full,
or

    

    (b) the
date on which all of the Stock reserved under Section 3 of this Plan has
(as a result of the exercise of all Options (and any related surrender rights)
granted under this Plan and the satisfaction of the forfeiture conditions on
Restricted Stock been issued or no longer is available for use under this Plan,
in which event this Plan also shall terminate on such date

    

    9.2         Amendment.  The
Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or
discontinuation shall be made which would: (i) impair the rights under an Award or Award Agreement theretofore granted
without the recipient's consent, except such an amendment made to cause the Plan
to qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 or to cause the Plan to
comply with Code section 409A, or (ii) disqualify the Plan from the exemption
provided by Rule 16b-3.  In addition, no such amendment shall be made
without the approval of the Corporation's shareholders to the extent such
approval is required by law or agreement.

    
      
         

      

      
        6

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    
 

    SECTION 10.  Withholding

    

    Upon
(a) the issuance of Common Stock as a
result of the exercise of an Option Award or (b)
the vesting of Restricted Stock under an Award, the Corporation shall
have the right to retain or sell without notice sufficient Common Stock to cover
the amount of any federal income tax required to be withheld with respect to
such Common Stock being issued or vested,
remitting any balance to the Optionee or
Grantee; provided, however, that the Optionee or Grantee shall have the right to provide the
Corporation with the funds to enable it to pay such tax.

    

    SECTION 11.  No Right to
Re-Election

    

    Nothing
in the Plan or in any Award granted pursuant to the Plan or any action taken
under the Plan shall confer on any individual any right to continue as a
director of the Corporation or to be renominated by the Board or re-elected by
the shareholders of the Corporation.

    

    SECTION
12.  Effective Date of the Plan

    

    This Plan
shall become effective on the date the shareholder of the Corporation (acting at
a duly called meeting of such shareholders) approve the adoption of the
Plan.

    

    SECTION
13.  Governing Law

    

    The
provisions of the Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced according
to the laws of the State of Ohio without regard to its conflict of laws
rules.

    

    SECTION
14.  Invalid Provisions

    

    In the
event any provisions of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any
reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of
this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or
invalid provision had not been included.

    

    SECTION 15.  Code Section 409A
Compliance

    

    The Corporation intends to operate the Plan in good
faith compliance with the provisions of Section 409A of the
Code.

    

    SECTION 16.  Successors

    

    All obligations of the
Corporation under the Plan
with respect to Options or Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be binding
on any successor of the Corporation, whither the existence of such successor is
the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or
otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Corporation.

     

    
      
         

      

      
        7Exhibit
10.3

      

    AGREEMENT
FOR RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

    

    This
Agreement for Restricted Stock Award (the "Agreement") is between FIRST
FINANCIAL BANCORP., an Ohio corporation (the "Corporation"),
and              who,
as of             
________ which is the date of this Agreement, is an employee of             
(the "Grantee"):

    

    WHEREAS,
the Corporation established the 2009 Employee Stock Plan (the "Plan") and a
Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation designated in the Plan
(the "Committee") approved the execution of this Agreement containing the
Restricted Stock Award to the Grantee upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth:

    

    NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual obligations contained herein, it is
hereby agreed:

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              1.

            	
              Award
      of Restricted Stock.  The Corporation
      hereby awards to Grantee as of the date of this Agreement              
      shares of restricted Common Stock of the Corporation ("Common Stock"),
      without par value, in consideration of services to be
      rendered.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              2.

            	
              Restrictions
      on Transfer.  The shares of
      restricted Common Stock so received by the Grantee and any additional
      shares attributable thereto received by the Grantee as a result of any
      stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, reorganization or similar event
      are subject to the restrictions set forth herein and may not be sold,
      assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered during the
      Restriction Period, except as permitted
hereby.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              3.

            	
              Restriction
      Period. 
      The Restriction Period as used in this Agreement shall mean the
      period that begins as of the date of this Agreement and ends with respect
      to the restricted Common Stock granted under this Agreement as of the
      applicable anniversary date(s) of the date of this Agreement (the
      "Anniversary Dates") as set forth in Schedule 3.  The ending of the
      Restriction Period also may be referred to in this Agreement as the
      vesting of the restricted Common Stock or as when the Common Stock
      vests.

            

    

    

    Notwithstanding
the foregoing or anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Committee
determines that there has been a Change in Control (as such term is defined in
the Plan), the Restriction Period ends with respect to such shares of restricted
Common Stock, effective as of the date of such Change in Control (as determined
by the Committee).

    

    The
Committee may, at the time of the granting to the Grantee of the restricted
Common Stock or at any time thereafter, reduce or terminate the Restriction
Period otherwise applicable to all or any portion of the restricted Common
Stock.

    

    
      Schedule
3

    

    

    
      
        
          
            
              	 
      	 	 
      	 	
                      Shares of Common Stock

                    	 
	 
      	 	
                      Anniversary Date

                    	 	
                      First Eligible to Vest on

                    	 
	
                      Group

                    	 	
                      of this Agreement

                    	 	
                      Indicated Anniversary Date

                    	 
	
                      A

                    	 	
                      1st
      anniversary date

                    	 	 	33.33	%
	
                      B

                    	 	
                      2nd
      anniversary date

                    	 	 	33.33	%
	
                      C

                    	 	
                      3rd
      anniversary date

                    	 	 	33.34	%

            

          

        

      

    

    
      
         

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    

    
      	
              4.

            	
              Forfeiture
      Provision.  Notwithstanding
      any other provision of this Agreement, Grantee hereby agrees that if his
      or her employment with the Corporation or a Subsidiary is terminated for
      any reason, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by retirement, death,
      disability, resignation or dismissal for cause or otherwise, and such
      termination is prior to the ending of the Restriction Period applicable to
      any shares of the restricted Common Stock, the Grantee's ownership and all
      related rights with respect to all shares of Common Stock for which the
      Restriction Period has not ended as of the date that the termination of
      employment occurs will be forfeited automatically as of the date that such
      termination of employment occurs, and the Corporation automatically will
      become the sole owner of such shares as of such
  date.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              A
      transfer of the Grantee's employment between Subsidiaries or between any
      Subsidiary and the Corporation will not be considered a termination of
      employment for purposes of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the
      foregoing, a Grantee's employment will be considered terminated for
      purposes of this Agreement as of the date that the Grantee's employing
      Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary for any reason, unless prior to or as
      of such date the Grantee's employment is transferred to the Corporation or
      to a remaining Subsidiary.

            

    

    

    
      	
              5.

            	
              Stock
      Certificates.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (a)

            	
              Upon
      award of the restricted Common Stock to the Grantee, one or more stock
      certificates which evidence such shares of restricted Common Stock will be
      issued by the Corporation for the benefit of the Grantee.  Each such
      stock certificate will be deposited with and held by the Corporation or
      its agent.  Any such certificate for restricted Common Stock of the
      Corporation resulting from any stock dividend, recapitalization, merger,
      reorganization or similar event will also be deposited with and held by
      the Corporation or its agent.  All such stock certificates and Common
      Stock evidenced thereby will be subject to the forfeiture provisions,
      limitations on transferability and all other restrictions herein
      contained.  The Grantee hereby agrees to deposit with the Corporation
      stock powers endorsed by the Grantee in blank and in such number as
      requested by the Corporation.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (b)

            	
              All
      stock certificates for shares of restricted Common Stock issued during the
      Restriction Period will bear the following
  legend:

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              "The
      transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented
      hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of
      the First Financial Bancorp. 2009 Employee Stock Plan and an Agreement for
      Restricted Stock.  Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at
      the offices of First Financial Bancorp., Cincinnati,
  Ohio."

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (c)

            	
              Subject
      to Section 5(d) below, with regard to any shares of restricted Common
      Stock which cease to be subject to restrictions pursuant to Section 3, the
      Corporation will, within sixty (60) days of the date such shares cease to
      be subject to restrictions, transfer Common Stock for such shares free of
      all restrictions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement to the Grantee
      or the Grantee's designee, or in the event of such Grantee's death
      subsequent to expiration of the Restriction Period, to the Grantee's legal
      representative, heir or
legatee.

            

    

    
      
         

      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (d)

            	
              By
      accepting shares of restricted Common Stock, the Grantee agrees not to
      sell shares at a time when applicable laws or the Corporation’s rules
      prohibit a sale.  This restriction shall apply as long as the Grantee is
      an employee, consultant or director of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.
      Upon receipt of nonforfeitable shares subject to this Agreement, the
      Grantee agrees, if requested by the Corporation, to hold such shares for
      investment and not with a view of resale or distribution to the public,
      and if requested by the Corporation, the Grantee must deliver to the
      Corporation a written statement satisfactory to the Corporation to that
      effect.  The Committee may refuse to deliver (via certificate or such
      other method as the Committee determines) any shares to Grantee for which
      Grantee refused to provide an appropriate
  statement.

            

    

    

    
      	
              6.

            	
              Shareholder's
      Rights.
      Subject to the terms of this Agreement, during the Restriction
      Period:

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (a)

            	
              The
      Grantee will have, with respect to the restricted Common Stock, the right
      to vote all shares of the restricted Common Stock received under or as a
      result of this Agreement, including shares which are subject to the
      restrictions on transfer in Section 2 and to the forfeiture provisions in
      Section 4 of this Agreement.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (b)

            	
              The Grantee shall not be paid any
      dividends with respect to the restricted Common Stock until the Restricted
      Period ends. At the time of vesting, the Grantee shall receive a cash
      payment equal to the aggregate dividends (without interest) that the
      Grantee would have received if the Grantee had owned all the shares in
      which the Grantee had vested for the period beginning on the date of grant
      of those shares, and ending on the date of vesting. By way of example,
      when the Restricted Period ends for Group B awards, Grantee will be
      entitled to two years of accumulated dividends from the date of grant to
      the 2nd anniversary date.  No dividends
      shall be paid to the Grantee with respect to any shares of restricted
      Common Stock that are forfeited by the
  Grantee.

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (c)

            	
              Dividends
      payable in Common Stock with respect to the restricted Common Stock during
      the Restriction Period will be held subject to the vesting of the
      underlying restricted Common Stock and then automatically paid in the form
      of Common Stock to the Grantee.

            

    

    

    
      	
              7.

            	
              Regulatory
      Compliance.
       The issue of shares of restricted Common Stock and Common Stock will be
      subject to full compliance with all then-applicable requirements of law
      and the requirements of the exchange upon which Common Stock may be
      traded, as set forth in the Plan.  Furthermore, First Financial shall have
      the right to refuse to issue or transfer any shares under this Agreement
      if First Financial, acting in its absolute discretion determines that the
      issuance or transfer of such Common Stock might violate any applicable law
      or regulation.

            

    

    

    
      	
              8.

            	
              Withholding
      Tax.  The
      Grantee agrees that, in the event that the award and receipt of the
      restricted Common Stock or the expiration of restrictions thereon results
      in the Grantee's realization of income which for federal, state or local
      income tax purposes is, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation,
      subject to withholding of tax at source by the Grantee's employer, the
      Grantee will pay to such Grantee's employer an amount equal to such
      withholding tax or make arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation
      regarding the payment of such tax (or such employer on behalf of the
      Corporation may withhold such amount from Grantee's salary or from
      dividends paid by the Corporation on shares of the restricted Common Stock
      or any other compensation payable to the Grantee).  Alternatively, if the
      Grantee makes a proper Code Section 83(b) election, the Grantee must
      notify First Financial in accordance with the requirements of Code Section
      83(b) and promptly pay First Financial the applicable federal, state and
      local withholding taxes due with respect to the shares of restricted
      Common Stock subject to the
election.

            

    

    
      
         

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    
      	
              9.

            	
              Investment
      Representation.  The Grantee
      represents and agrees that if he or she is awarded and receives the
      restricted Common Stock at a time when there is not in effect under the
      Securities Act of 1933 a registration statement pertaining to the shares
      and there is not available for delivery a prospectus meeting the
      requirements of Section 10(A)(3) of said Act, (i) he or she will accept
      and receive such shares for the purpose of investment and not with a view
      to their resale or distribution, (ii) that upon such award and receipt, he
      or she will furnish to the Corporation an investment letter in form and
      substance satisfactory to the Corporation, (iii) prior to selling or
      offering for sale any such shares, he or she will furnish the Corporation
      with an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Corporation to the effect
      that such sale may lawfully be made and will furnish the Corporation with
      such certificates as to factual matters as the Corporation may reasonably
      request, and (iv) that certificates representing such shares may be marked
      with an appropriate legend describing such conditions precedent to sale or
      transfer.

            

    

    

    
      	
              10.

            	
              Federal
      Income Tax Election.  The Grantee hereby
      acknowledges receipt of advice that, pursuant to current federal income
      tax laws, (i) he or she has thirty (30) days in which to elect to be taxed
      in the current taxable year on the fair market value of the restricted
      Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code
      Section 83(b), and (ii) if no such election is made, the taxable event
      will occur upon expiration of restrictions on transfer at termination of
      the Restriction Period and the tax will be measured by the fair market
      value of the restricted Common Stock on the date of the taxable
      event.

            

    

    

    
      	
              11.

            	
              Adjustments.  If, after the date of
      this Agreement, the Common Stock of the Corporation is, as a result of a
      merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification,
      split-up, spin-off, separation, liquidation, stock dividend, stock split,
      reverse stock split, property dividend, share repurchase, share
      combination, share exchange, issuance of warrants, rights or debentures or
      other change in corporate structure of the Corporation, increased or
      decreased or changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of
      shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or of another
      corporation, then:

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (a)

            	
              there
      automatically will be substituted for each share of restricted Common
      Stock for which the Restriction Period has not ended granted under the
      Agreement the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities into
      which each outstanding share is changed or for which each such share is
      exchanged; and

            

    

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (b)

            	
              the
      Corporation will make such other adjustments to the securities subject to
      provisions of the Plan and this Agreement as may be appropriate and
      equitable; provided, however, that the number of shares of restricted
      Common Stock will always be a whole
number.

            

    

    

    
      	
              12.

            	
              Notices.  Each notice relating
      to this Agreement must be in writing and delivered in person or by
      registered mail to the Corporation at its office, 201 East Fourth Street,
      Suite 1900, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202, attention of the Secretary, or at such
      other place as the Corporation has designated by notice.  All notices to
      the Grantee or other person or persons succeeding to his or her interest
      will be delivered to the Grantee or such other person or persons at the
      Grantee's address below specified or such other address as specified in a
      notice filed with the Corporation.

            

    

    

    
      	
              13.

            	
              Determinations
      of the Corporation Final.  Any dispute or
      disagreement which arises under, as a result of, or in any way relates to
      the interpretation or construction of this Agreement will be determined by
      the Board of Directors of the Corporation or by a committee appointed by
      the  Board of Directors of the Corporation (or any successor corporation).
       The Grantee hereby agrees to accept any such determination as final,
      binding and conclusive for all
purposes.

            

    

    

    
      	
              14.

            	
              Successors.  All rights under this
      Agreement are personal to the Grantee and are not transferable except that
      in the event of the Grantee's death, such rights are transferable to the
      Grantee's legal representatives, heirs or legatees.  This Agreement will
      inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Corporation and its
      successors and assigns.

            

    

    
      
         

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    
      	
              15.

            	
              Obligations
      of the Corporation.  The liability of the
      Corporation under the Plan and this Agreement is limited to the
      obligations set forth therein.  No term or provision of the Plan or this
      Agreement will be construed to impose any liability on the Corporation in
      favor of the Grantee with respect to any loss, cost or expense which the
      Grantee may incur in connection with or arising out of any transaction in
      connection therewith.

            

    

    

    
      	
              16.

            	
              No
      Employment Rights.  Nothing in the Plan
      or this Agreement or any related material shall give the Grantee the right
      to continue in the employment of First Financial or any subsidiary of
      First Financial or adversely affect the right of First Financial or any
      subsidiary of First Financial to terminate the Grantee’s employment with
      or without cause at any time.

            

    

    

    
      	
              17.

            	
              Governing
      Law.  This
      Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws
      of the State of Ohio.

            

    

    

    
      	
              18.

            	
              Plan.  The Plan
      will control if there is any conflict between the Plan and this Agreement
      and on any matters that are not contained in this Agreement.  A
      copy of the Plan has been provided to the Grantee and is incorporated by
      reference and made a part of this Agreement.  Capitalized terms
      used but not specifically defined in this Agreement will have the
      definitions given to them in the
Plan.

            

    

    

    
      	
              19.

            	
              Entire
      Agreement.  This
      Agreement and the Plan supersede any other agreement, whether written or
      oral, that may have been made or entered into by the Corporation and/or
      any of its subsidiaries and the Grantee relating to the shares of
      restricted Common Stock that are granted under this
      Agreement.  This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire
      agreement by the parties with respect to such matters, and there are no
      agreements or commitments except as set forth herein and in the
      Plan.

            

    

    

    
      	
              20.

            	
              Captions;
      Counterparts.  The
      captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and will not be
      considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any
      provision of this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in
      any number of counterparts, each of which will constitute one and the same
      instrument.

            

    

    

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement for Restricted Stock Award has been executed and
dated by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above
written.

    

    
      
        	
                FIRST
      FINANCIAL BANCORP.

              
	 
      
	
                By:

              	
                   

              
	 
      	
                Claude
      E. Davis

              
	
                Title:

              	
                President
      & CEO

              
	 
      	 
      
	 
      	
                   

              
	 
      	
                Signature
      of Grantee

              

      

    

    
      
         

      

      
        5

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    I hereby
direct that all cash dividends to which I am entitled on my shares of restricted
Common Stock under the foregoing Agreement as well as all notices and other
written communications in connection with such shares be mailed to me at the
following address:

    

    
      
        	
                   

              
	
                Name
      of Grantee

              
	 
      
	
                   

              
	
                Street
      Address

              
	 
      
	
                   

              
	
                City,
      State, and Zip Code

              
	 
      
	
                   

              
	
                Social
      Security Number

              
	 
      
	
                   

              
	
                Signature
      of Grantee

              

      

    

    
      
         

      

      
        6

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