Document:

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of this 10th day of March, 2005 by and among Endocare, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the "Investors" named in that certain Purchase
Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (the "Purchase Agreement").

      The parties hereby agree as follows:

      1. Certain Definitions.

      As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:

      "Affiliate" means, with respect to any person, any other person which
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, such person.

      "Business Day" means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which
banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.

      "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, and any securities into which such shares may hereinafter be
reclassified.

      "Investors" shall mean the Investors identified in the Purchase Agreement
and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any Investor who is a subsequent
holder of any Warrants or Registrable Securities.

      "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect
to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and
supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all
material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

      "Register," "registered" and "registration" refer to a registration made
by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in
compliance with the 1933 Act (as defined below), and the declaration or ordering
of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.

      "Registrable Securities" shall mean (i) the Shares, (ii) the Warrant
Shares and (iii) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to or in
exchange for Registrable Securities; provided, that, a security shall cease to
be a Registrable Security upon (A) sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or
Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or (B) such security becoming eligible for sale by
the Investors pursuant to Rule 144(k).

      "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company filed under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments
and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective
amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such
Registration Statement.

<PAGE>

      "Required Investors" means the Investors holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities.

      "SEC" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

      "Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.

      "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

      "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      "Warrants" means, collectively, the Series A warrants to purchase shares
of Common Stock issued to the Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the
form of which is attached to the Purchase Agreement as Exhibit A and the Series
B warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued to the Investors pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement, the form of which is attached to the Purchase
Agreement as Exhibit B.

      "Warrant Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Warrants.

      2. Registration.

                  (a) Registration Statements.

                  (i) Promptly following the closing of the purchase and sale of
the securities contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the "Closing Date") but
no later than thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (the "Filing Deadline"),
the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC one Registration Statement on
Form S-2 (or, if Form S-2 is not then available to the Company, on such form of
registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale
of the Registrable Securities), covering the resale of the Registrable
Securities in an amount at least equal to the Shares and the Warrant Shares.
Such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution attached
hereto as Exhibit A. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent
allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including
Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with
respect to the Registrable Securities. The Company shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain from each person who now has piggyback registration rights a
waiver of those rights with respect to the Registration Statement. The
Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each
request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in
accordance with Section 3(c) to the Investors and their counsel prior to its
filing or other submission. If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the
Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and
not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1.0% of the aggregate amount invested by
such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof
following the Filing Deadline for which no Registration Statement is filed with
respect to the Registrable Securities. Such payments shall constitute the
Investors' sole monetary remedy for such events but shall not limit the
Investors' right to seek specific performance of the provisions hereof. Such
payments shall be made to each Investor in cash.

                                       -2-
<PAGE>

                  (ii) Upon the written demand of any Investor and upon any
change in the Warrant Price (as defined in the Warrant) such that additional
shares of Common Stock become issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants, the
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC one or more Registration Statements
on Form S-2 or amend the Registration Statement filed pursuant to clause (i)
above, if such Registration Statement has not previously been declared effective
(or, if Form S-2 is not then available to the Company, on such form of
registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale
of such additional shares of Common Stock (the "Additional Shares")) covering
the resale of the Additional Shares, but only to the extent the Additional
Shares are not at the time covered by an effective Registration Statement. Such
Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933
Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Additional
Shares. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain from each
person who now has piggyback registration rights a waiver of those rights with
respect to such Registration Statement. The Registration Statement (and each
amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of
effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(c) to the
Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or other submission. If a
Registration Statement covering the Additional Shares is required to be filed
under this Section 2(a)(ii) and is not filed with the SEC within 30 days of the
request of any Investor or within 30 days of the occurrence of any of the events
specified in this Section 2(a)(ii), the Company will make pro rata payments to
each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to
1.0% of the aggregate amount invested by such Investor for each 30-day period or
pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which such Registration
Statement should have been filed for which no Registration Statement is filed
with respect to the Additional Shares. Such payments shall constitute the
Investors' sole monetary remedy for such events but shall not limit the
Investors' right to seek specific performance of the provisions hereof. Such
payments shall be made to each Investor in cash.

                  (iii) Promptly following the date (the "Qualification Date")
upon which the Company becomes eligible to use a registration statement on Form
S-3 to register the Registrable Securities or Additional Shares, as applicable,
for resale, but in no event more than ten (10) days after the Qualification Date
(the "Qualification Deadline"), the Company shall file a registration statement
on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities or Additional Shares, as
applicable (or a post-effective amendment on Form S-3 to the registration
statement on Form S-2) (a "Shelf Registration Statement") and shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared effective as promptly as practicable thereafter. If a Shelf
Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the
SEC on or prior to the Qualification Deadline, the Company will make pro rata
payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an
amount equal to 1.0% of the aggregate amount invested by such Investor for each
30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which
such Shelf Registration Statement should have been filed for which no such Shelf
Registration Statement is filed with respect to the Registrable Securities or
Additional Shares, as applicable. Such payments shall constitute the Investors'
sole monetary remedy for such events but shall not limit the Investors' right to
seek specific performance of the provisions hereof. Such payments shall be made
to each Investor in cash.

                                       -3-
<PAGE>

                  (b) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses associated
with each registration, including filing and printing fees, the Company's
counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the
Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws, listing
fees, reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel to the Investors not to exceed
$10,000 and the Investors' reasonable expenses in connection with the
registration, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters,
selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals
with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.

                  (c) Effectiveness.

                  (i) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable. The
Company shall notify the Investors by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as
practicable, and in any event, within twenty-four (24) hours, after any
Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide
the Investors with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection
with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. If (A)(x)
a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared
effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) if the SEC informs the Company
that no review of the Registration Statement will be made, then five (5)
Business Days after the later of (I) the date on which the SEC shall have
informed the Company that no review of the Registration Statement will be made
or (II) the date on which the Company shall have filed its internal control
report pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or (ii) the
90th day after the Closing Date; (y) a Registration Statement covering
Additional Shares is not declared effective by the SEC within ninety (90) days
following the time such Registration Statement was required to be filed pursuant
to Section 2(a)(ii); or (z) a Shelf Registration Statement is not declared
effective by the SEC within ninety (90) days after the Qualification Deadline,
or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC,
sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason
(including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company's
failure to update the Registration Statement), but excluding the inability of
any Investor to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby due to market
conditions and except as excused pursuant to subparagraph (ii) below, then the
Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and
not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1.0% of the aggregate amount invested by
such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof
following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been
effective (the "Blackout Period"). Such payments shall constitute the Investors'
sole monetary remedy for such events but shall not limit the Investors' right to
seek specific performance of the provisions hereof. The amounts payable as
liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid monthly within three
(3) Business Days of the last day of each month following the commencement of
the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period. Such payments
shall be made to each Investor in cash.

                  (ii) For not more than twenty (20) consecutive days or for a
total of not more than forty-five (45) days in any twelve (12) month period, the
Company may delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning
the Company, by suspending the use of any Prospectus included in any
registration contemplated by this Section containing such information, the
disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the
Company, in the best interests of the Company (an "Allowed Delay"); provided,
that the Company shall

                                       -4-
<PAGE>

promptly (a) notify the Investors in writing of the existence of (but in no
event, without the prior written consent of an Investor, shall the Company
disclose to such Investor any of the facts or circumstances regarding) material
non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Investors
in writing to cease all sales under the Registration Statement until the end of
the Allowed Delay and (c) use commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an
Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable.

      3. Company Obligations. The Company will use commercially reasonable
efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously
as possible:

                  (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective
for a period that will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the date on which all
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as amended from
time to time, have been sold, and (ii) the date on which all Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold pursuant to Rule
144(k) (the "Effectiveness Period") and advise the Investors in writing when the
Effectiveness Period has expired;

                  (b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the period
specified in Section 3(a) and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and
the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable
Securities covered thereby;

                  (c) provide copies to and permit counsel designated by the
Investors to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto no fewer than three (3) Business Days prior to their filing
with the SEC and not file any document to which such counsel reasonably objects;

                  (d) furnish to the Investors and their legal counsel (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company (but not later than two (2) Business Days after
the filing date, receipt date or sending date, as the case may be) one (1) copy
of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary
prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each
letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the
SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in
each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any
thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential
treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a
preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such
other documents as each Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor that are
covered by the related Registration Statement;

                  (e) use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if
such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest
possible moment;

                                       -5-
<PAGE>

                  (f) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
Investors and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification
of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States asset forth on Exhibit B
attached hereto (the "Approved Jurisdictions") and do any and all other
commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section
3(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction;

                  (g) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each
securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

                  (h) immediately notify the Investors, at any time when a
Prospectus relating to Registrable Securities is required to be delivered under
the 1933 Act, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a
result of which, the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in
effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and at the
request of any such holder, promptly prepare and furnish to such holder a
reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such
Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus shall not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing; and

                  (i) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the
1934 Act, take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate
the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to
its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the
Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of
at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each
Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for
the purpose of this subsection 3(i), "Availability Date" means the 45th day
following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date
of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is
the last quarter of the Company's fiscal year, "Availability Date" means the
90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter).

                  (j) With a view to making available to the Investors the
benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell shares of Common Stock
to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i)
make and keep public information available, as those

                                       -6-
<PAGE>

terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six
months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be resold
pursuant to Rule 144(k) or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as
all of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold; (ii) file with the SEC
in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under
the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish to each Investor upon request, as long as such
Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company
that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy
of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in
order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits
the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration.

            4. Due Diligence Review; Information. The Company shall make
available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the
Investors, advisors to and representatives of the Investors (who may or may not
be affiliated with the Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the
Company), all financial and other records, all SEC Filings (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement) and other filings with the SEC, and all other corporate
documents and properties of the Company as may be reasonably necessary for the
purpose of such review, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information
reasonably requested by the Investors or any such representative, advisor or
underwriter in connection with such Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or
submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and
effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the
Investors and such representatives, advisors and underwriters and their
respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due
diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of such Registration
Statement.

               After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not disclose
material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or
representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of such information
the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information
and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the
opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information
for review and any Investor wishing to obtain such information enters into an
appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.

      5. Obligations of the Investors.

                  (a) Each Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company such
information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the
intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as
shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable
Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration
as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5) Business Days prior to
the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company
shall notify each Investor of the information the Company requires from such
Investor if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities
included in the Registration Statement. An Investor shall provide such
information to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement if such Investor elects
to have any of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement.

                  (b) Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable
Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of
its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration
Statement.

                  (c) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to
Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(h)
hereof, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities, until the Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus filed with the SEC and until any related post-effective
amendment is declared effective and, if so directed by the Company, the Investor
shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and
deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction) all copies in the
Investor's possession of the Prospectus covering the Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice.

      6. Indemnification.

                  (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, members, employees
and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls
such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under
the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof; (ii) any blue sky
application or other document executed by the Company specifically for that
purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in any
Approved Jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the Registrable
Securities under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or
information herein called a "Blue Sky Application"); (iii) the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iv) any violation
by the Company or its agents of any rule or regulation promulgated under the
1933 Act applicable to the Company or its agents and relating to action or
inaction required of the Company in connection with such registration; or (v)
any failure to register or qualify the Registrable Securities included in any
such Registration in any Approved Jurisdiction and will reimburse such Investor,
and each such officer, director or member and each such controlling person for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action;
provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and
to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by

                                       -8-
<PAGE>

such Investor or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in
such Registration Statement or Prospectus.

                  (b) Indemnification by the Investors. Each Investor agrees,
severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders
and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act)
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including
reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any untrue statement of a material fact
or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or preliminary prospectus or amendment or supplement
thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the
extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in any information furnished in writing by such Investor to the
Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus
or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of a selling
Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all
expense paid by such Investor in connection with any claim relating to this
Section 6 and the amount of any damages such Investor has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission) received by such
Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

                  (c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person
entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the
indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification
and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any
person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a)
the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, or (b) the
indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (c) in the reasonable
judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a
conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with
respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying
party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and
provided, further, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as
provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations
hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall
materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such
claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such
indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement
that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the
claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability
in respect of such claim or litigation.

                  (d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification
provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an
indemnified party or insufficient to hold

                                       -9-
<PAGE>

it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as
a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution
obligation of a selling holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount
than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder
in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any
damages such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon
the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution
obligation.

      7. Miscellaneous.

                  (a) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended only
by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors. The Company may
take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to
be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent
to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Investors.

                  (b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 9.4 of the Purchase
Agreement.

                  (c) Assignments and Transfers by Investors. The provisions of
this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors
and their respective successors and assigns. An Investor may transfer or assign,
in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights
hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such
Investor to such person, provided that such Investor complies with all laws
applicable thereto and provides written notice of assignment to the Company
promptly after such assignment is effected.

                  (d) Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement
may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise)
without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, provided, however,
that the Company may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder to any
surviving or successor corporation in connection with a merger or consolidation
of the Company with another corporation, or a sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to another
corporation, without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, after
notice duly given by the Company to each Investor.

                  (e) Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective
permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement,
express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as
expressly provided in this Agreement.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                  (f) Counterparts; Faxes. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may
also be executed via facsimile, which shall be deemed an original.

                  (g) Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in
this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

                  (h) Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it
were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by
applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction
shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other
jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby
waive any provision of law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or
unenforceable in any respect.

                  (i) Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver
all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as
may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and
to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.

                  (j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete
and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto
in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such
subject matter.

                  (k) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the choice of law
principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New
York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of
New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to
or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be
served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are
specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties
hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such
suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party
hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit,
action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim
that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO
REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND
REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or
caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date
first above written.

The Company:                    ENDOCARE, INC.

                                By: /s/ Michael R. Rodriguez
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                      Michael R. Rodriguez
                                      Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief
                                      Financial Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                         SRB Greenway Capital, L.P.

                                       By: SRB Management, L.P., General Partner

                                       By: BC Advisors, L.L.C., General Partner

                                       By /s/ Steven R. Becker
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Steven R. Becker, Member

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                         SRB Greenway Capital (QP), L.P.

                                       By: SRB Management, L.P., General Partner

                                       By: BC Advisors, L.L.C., General Partner

                                       By /s/ Steven R. Becker
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Steven R. Becker, Member

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                       SRB Greenway Offshore Operating Fund, L.P.

                                     By: SRB Management, L.P., General Partner

                                     By: BC Advisors, L.L.C., General Partner

                                     By /s/ Steven R. Becker
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Steven R. Becker, Member

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                       WS Opportunity Fund (QP), L.P.

                                     By: WS Ventures Management, L.P.,
                                         General Partner

                                     By: WSV Management, L.L.C., General Partner

                                     By: /s/ Reid S. Walker
                                            ------------------------------------
                                             Reid S. Walker, Member

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                       WS Opportunity Fund International, Ltd.

                                     By: WS Ventures Management, L.P.,
                                         As agent and attorney-in-fact

                                     By: WSV Management, L.L.C., General Partner

                                     By: /s/ Reid Walker
                                         --------------------------------------
                                         Reid Walker, Member

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                           Walker Smith Capital (QP), L.P.

                                         By: WS Capital Management, L.P.,
                                             General Partner

                                         By: WS Capital, L.L.C., General Partner

                                         By: /s/ Reid S. Walker
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Reid S. Walker, Member

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                       WS Opportunity Fund, L.P.

                                     By: WS Ventures Management, L.P.,
                                         General Partner

                                     By: WSV Management, L.L.C., General Partner

                                     By: /s/ Reid S. Walker
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Reid S. Walker, Member

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                           Walker Smith International Fund, Ltd.

                                         By: WS Capital Management, L.P.,
                                             As agent and attorney-in-fact

                                         By: WS Capital, L.L.C., General Partner

                                         By: /s/ Reid S. Walker
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Reid S. Walker, Member

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

The Investors:                           Walker Smith Capital, L.P.

                                         By: WS Capital Management, L.P.,
                                             General Partner

                                         By: WS Capital, L.L.C., General Partner

                                         By: /s/ Reid S. Walker
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Reid S. Walker, Member

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               PARAGON ASSOCIATES J.V.

                                         By /s/ Bradbury Dyer, III
                                           --------------------------------
                                         Name: Bradbury Dyer, III
                                         Title: Managing Agent

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                      STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               WEBER CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
                                         By: WEBER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC,
                                              Its General Partner

                                         By: /s/ Eugene M. Weber
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Name: Eugene M. Weber
                                         Title: Managing Member

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               GW 2001 FUND, L.P.
                                         By: WEBER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC,
                                              Its General Partner

                                         By: /s/ Eugene M. Weber
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Name: Eugene M. Weber
                                         Title: Managing Member

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):              ARBOR PARTNERS, L.P.
                                        By: APM Partners, L.P., General Partner

                                        By: /s/ Richard Shuster
                                            ------------------------------------
                                        Name: Richard Shuster
                                        Title: President of Shuco, Inc., General
                                        Partner of APM Partners, L.P.

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                      STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               WPG OPPORTUNISTIC VALUE FUND,
                                         L.P.
                                         By: WPG Opportunistic Value Fund
                                         Manager, L.L.C., General Partner
                                         By: Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments, a
                                         Division of Robeco USA, L.L.C., Sole
                                         Managing Member

                                         By: /s/ Richard Shuster
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         Name: Richard Shuster
                                         Title: Managing Director

                                         By: /s/ Daniel Vandivort
                                             ----------------------------------
                                         Name: Daniel Vandivort
                                         Title: Chief Investment Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):          WPG OPPORTUNISTIC VALUE FUND,
                                    OVERSEAS L.P.
                                    By: WPG Opportunistic Value Fund
                                    Manager, L.L.C., Supervisory General Partner
                                    By: Weiss, Peck & Greer Investments, a
                                    Division of Robeco USA, L.L.C., Sole
                                    Managing Member

                                    By: /s/ Richard Shuster
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Name: Richard Shuster
                                    Title: Managing Director

                                    By: /s/ Daniel Vandivort
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                    Name: Daniel Vandivort
                                    Title: Chief Investment Officer

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):        PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM  OF IDAHO
                                  CITY OF MILFORD PENSION & RETIREMENT FUND
                                  CITY OF STAMFORD FIREMEN'S PENSION FUND
                                  NORWALK EMPLOYEES' PENSION PLAN
                                  J.P. MORGAN TRUST CO (BAHAMAS) LTD. AS TRUSTEE
                                  U/A/D 11/30/93
                                  ROBERT K. WINTERS

                                  By: ZESIGER CAPITAL GROUP, LLC,
                                         As Attorney-in-fact

                                  By: /s/ Robert K. Winters
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                  Name: Robert K. Winters
                                  Title: Managing Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               CIMARRON OVERSEAS EQUITY MASTER
                                         FUND LP

                                         By: /s/ J.M. Cullum Clark
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         Name: J.M. Cullum Clark
                                         Title: President of the General Partner

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               PROTHRO FAMILY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
                                         LP

                                         By: /s/ J.H. Cullum Clark
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Name: J.H. Cullum Clark
                                         Title: Managing General Partner

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               HAYDEN R. FLEMING AND LADONNA M.
                                         FLEMING REVOCABLE TRUST

                                         By: /s/ Hayden R. Fleming
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Name: Hayden R. Fleming
                                         Title: Trustee

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -31-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               HAIMOVITCH MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
                                         CONSULTANTS

                                         By: /s/ Larry Haimovitch
                                             ------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -32-
<PAGE>

The Investors:

                                         /s/ Kevin Kotler
                                         ----------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -33-
<PAGE>

The Investors:

                                         /s/ Lior Bregman
                                         ----------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -34-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               MIDWOOD CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.

                                         By: /s/ Ross DeMont
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Name: Ross DeMont
                                         Title: Principal

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -35-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):               MIDWOOD CAPITAL PARTNERS QP, L.P.

                                         By: /s/ Ross DeMont
                                             ------------------------------
                                         Name: Ross DeMont
                                         Title: Principal

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -36-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):

                                         /s/ Craig T. Davenport
                                         ----------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -37-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):

                                         /s/ William J. Nydam
                                         ----------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -38-
<PAGE>

The Investors (continued):

Daniels Family Trust

Trustee                                  /s/ John R. Daniels, M.D.
                                         ----------------------------------

Trustee                                  /s/ AnnaMarie Daniels
                                         ----------------------------------

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT RELATING TO SALE OF COMMON
                     STOCK AND WARRANTS OF ENDOCARE, INC.]

                                      -39-
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees,
transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or
interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus
from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other
transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or
all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock on
any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or
in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the
prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices.

      The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods
when disposing of shares or interests therein:

      - ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

      - block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares
as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;

      - purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;

      - an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;

      - privately negotiated transactions;

      - short sales effected after the date the registration statement of which
this Prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;

      - through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

      - broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

      - a combination of any such methods of sale; and

      - any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

      The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a
security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them
and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the
pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from
time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this

<PAGE>

prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities
Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee
or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other
circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in
interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

      In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the
selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or
other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling
stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling
stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

      The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the
common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less
discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling stockholders reserves the
right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in
whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or
through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. Upon
any exercise of the warrants by payment of cash, however, we will receive the
exercise price of the warrants.

      The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in
open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of
that rule.

      The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents
that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be
"underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any
discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the
shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Selling stockholders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11)
of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of
the Securities Act.

      To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the
names of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public
offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable
commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in
an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

      In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable,
the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or
licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may
not be sold unless it has been registered or

                                      -41-
<PAGE>

qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification
requirements is available and is complied with.

      We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules
of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the
market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates.
In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented
or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the
purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates
in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

      We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws,
relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.

      We have agreed with the selling stockholders to keep the registration
statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until the
earlier of (1) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have
been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with the registration statement
or (2) the date on which the shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act.

                                      -42-
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B

                             Approved Jurisdictions

Arizona
California
Florida
Illinois
Massachusetts
New Jersey
New York
Texas

                                      -43-exv10wf

 

Exhibit (10)(f)

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Restated Effective January 1, 2001

 

 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	

	 	ARTICLE 1	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN AND PURPOSE	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	1.01

	 	Establishment of Plan
	 	1-1
	1.02

	 	Purpose of Plan
	 	1-1
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	ARTICLE 2	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	2.01

	 	Definitions
	 	2-1
	2.02

	 	Construction
	 	2-2
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	ARTICLE 3	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	ELIGIBILITY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	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	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4.01

	 	Amount and Manner of Deferral
	 	4-1
	4.02

	 	Cessation of Deferral
	 	4-1

i

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	

	 	ARTICLE 5	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	MEMORANDUM ACCOUNT	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	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	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6.01

	 	For Reasons Other Than Death
	 	6-1
	6.02

	 	Upon Death
	 	6-1
	6.03

	 	Emergencies
	 	6-3
	6.04

	 	Form of Payment
	 	6-3
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	ARTICLE 7	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN	 	 
	 
	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	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	8.01

	 	Assignment
	 	8-1
	8.02

	 	Employment Not Guaranteed by Plan
	 	8-1
	8.03

	 	Termination and Amendment
	 	8-1
	8.04

	 	Contingency
	 	8-1
	8.05

	 	Notice
	 	8-1
	8.06

	 	Limitation on Liability
	 	8-2
	8.07

	 	Indemnification
	 	8-2
	8.08

	 	Headings
	 	8-2
	8.09

	 	Severability
	 	8-2

ii

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Page
	

	 	ARTICLE 9	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	MERGER OF FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	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

iii

 

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 - into the Plan.

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

iv

 

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”). The Plan
was restated in its entirety effective as of 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 - into 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, as amended from time to time.

 1 - 1

 

ARTICLE 2

Definitions and Construction

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

     2.01 Definitions.

          (a) Administrator. The person or persons selected 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 Administrative 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. Such amounts shall be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, as soon as
possible but not later than ninety (90) days following the close of a calendar year.

          (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

 2 - 1

 

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 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 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 laws of the State of Wisconsin, as amended from time to time,
shall govern the construction and application of this Agreement. 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 Internal Revenue Code, Employee
Retirement Income Security Act 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. By electing a deferral of compensation on the
form approved by the Administrator:

          (a) an individual employed by the Company prior to January 1, 1999 and identified as eligible
to participate may commence participation as of the first day of any Plan Year beginning on or
after his identification as eligible for participation; or

          (b) an individual employed by the Company on or after January 1, 1999 and identified as
eligible to participate may commence participation as of the latest of the following: (i) the
first day of the month following 60 days of employment; or (ii) the first day of the month
following his identification as eligible for participation; or (iii) August 1, 1999.

          A Participant may change a deferral election by submitting a new election form before the
beginning of a new Plan Year. Once a Participant makes an identical deferral election for two
consecutive Plan Years, that election will automatically renew each Plan Year until the Participant
changes the election by submitting a new election form.

     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
beginning on or after the Effective Date, 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.

     4.02 Cessation of Deferral. In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency, a Participant
may request in writing that deferrals elected by him hereunder cease for the then current Plan
Year. Such Unforeseeable Emergency must inflict hardship upon the Participant and must arise from
causes beyond the Participant’s control. The Administrator shall, in its reasonable judgment,
determine whether such an Unforeseeable Emergency exists. Circumstances that will constitute an
Unforeseeable Emergency will depend upon the facts of each case, consistent with the provisions of
Treasury Regulation section 1.457-2(h)(4) and (5). If the Administrator determines that such an
Unforeseeable Emergency exists, the deferrals for such Plan Year shall cease as to the Participant.
If the Administrator determines that no such emergency exists, the deferrals shall continue as
originally elected.

          If a Participant, consistent with the immediately preceding paragraph, ceases deferral in a
Plan Year, he may not resume deferrals hereunder (if otherwise eligible therefor) until the second
Plan Year following the Plan Year in which such cessation occurred.

 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. Effective on and after January 1, 2001, 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

 5 - 1

 

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

          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.

     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.

          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 emergencies, and:

                    (i) payments are to be made to his estate, such payments shall occur in six annual
installments beginning with a payment on the first day of the sixth month immediately following the
Participant’s death of an amount equal to the estate and inheritance taxes attributed to the value
of the entire balance of the Memorandum Account with the remainder thereof paid within the first
120 days in each of the five consecutive Plan Years beginning immediately thereafter. The amount
of each such subsequent payment shall equal the quotient obtained upon dividing the balance in the
Memorandum Account as of the first day of the Plan Year of payment by the number of installments
then remaining to be paid (including the installment then being paid) in equal monthly
installments, or

                    (ii) if payments are to be made to a beneficiary other than his estate, such payments shall
occur in five annual installments occurring within the first 120 days of the Plan Year immediately
following the Participant’s death and within the first 120 days of each of the four Plan Years
immediately thereafter. The amount of each such payment shall equal the quotient obtained upon
dividing the balance in the Memorandum Account as of the first day

 6 - 1

 

of the Plan Year of payment by the number of installments then remaining to be paid (including the
installment then being paid).

               (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, upon a Participant’s or Beneficiary’s death, the Plan or Trust receives the proceeds
of a policy insuring the life of the deceased, the Company shall, as soon as practicable, pay over
such proceeds to the appropriate Beneficiary or Beneficiary’s estate.

               (e) 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.

               (f) 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 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 Administrative 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.

 7 - 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 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 Contingency. The Company may apply for private rulings from the United States
Department of Labor as to the exemption of the arrangement described herein from the reporting and
disclosure requirements of ERISA and from the Internal Revenue Service as to the deductibility from
taxable income of 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 Department of Labor or Internal Revenue Service 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.

     8.05 Notice. Any and all notices, designations or reports provided for herein shall
be in writing and delivered personally or by registered or certified

 8 - 1

 

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.

     8.06 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.

     8.07 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the 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, 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.

     8.08 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.

     8.09 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 an appendix.

     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
Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust will be transferred to the Associated Banc-Corp
Deferred Compensation Trust.

     9.03 Investment. Effective January 1, 2001, 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

 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, by its duly appointed officer, has caused this restatement of
the Plan to be executed on this                      day of                                         , 2001.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	By:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	

	 	Title:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 

 9 - 2

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00080-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00080-of-00352.parquet"}]]