11-K 1 c27725e11vk.htm 11-K e11vk
 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
     
 
þ   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED)
For the transition period from                      to
Commission file number 0-5519 (Associated Banc-Corp)
A.   Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP 401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
B.   Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive officer:
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
1200 Hansen Road
Green Bay, Wisconsin 54304
 
 

 


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Financial Statements and Schedule
December 31, 2007 and 2006
(With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Thereon)

 


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
    Page(s)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    1  
 
       
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits, December 31, 2007 and 2006
    2  
 
       
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits, Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
    3  
 
       
Notes to Financial Statements
    4-11  
 
       
Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year), December 31, 2007
    12-14  

 


 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Plan Administrator
Associated Banc-Corp 401(k) & Employee Stock Ownership Plan:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for plan benefits of the Associated Banc-Corp 401(k) & Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Associated Banc-Corp 401(k) & Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Chicago, Illinois
June 26, 2008

 


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
December 31, 2007 and 2006
                 
    2007     2006  
 
Assets:
               
Investments, at fair value:
               
Common/collective trust funds
  $ 197,283,658     $ 187,718,394  
Associated Banc-Corp common stock fund
    109,067,677       162,608,111  
Mutual funds
    110,826,411       103,650,195  
Money Market Fund
    420,008       67,289  
Fixed Income Securities
    123,787       172,971  
Cash surrender value of life insurance
    165,410       168,050  
Loans to participants
    1,075,200       1,260,599  
 
Total Investments
    418,962,151       455,645,609  
Receivables:
               
Accrued interest, dividends and capital gains distributions receivable
    3,434,588       2,039,909  
Due from broker for securities sold
    1,650,912       54,783  
Participant contribution receivable
    560       467  
Employer contribution receivable
    5,426,344       4,430,191  
 
Total assets
    429,474,555       462,170,959  
 
Liabilities:
               
Administrative expenses payable
    226,191       234,898  
Due to broker for securities purchased
    112,600       335,049  
 
Total liabilities
    338,791       569,947  
 
Net assets available for plan benefits
  $ 429,135,764     $ 461,601,012  
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

2


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
                 
    2007     2006  
 
Additions:
               
Investment income/(loss):
               
Net appreciation/(depreciation) in fair value of investments
  $ (12,614,503 )   $ 40,605,894  
Interest and dividends
    7,414,994       6,967,635  
 
Total investment income/(loss)
    (5,199,509 )     47,573,529  
 
               
Participant contributions
    14,427,808       13,695,301  
Employer contributions
    5,434,200       4,430,191  
Rollover contributions
    3,056,051       2,310,744  
Transfer of net assets from merged plans
    0       12,448,495  
 
Total additions
    17,718,550       80,458,260  
Deductions:
               
Distributions to participants
    49,122,962       47,787,965  
Corrective participant distributions
    60,198       31,908  
Insurance premiums
    19,198       19,078  
Administrative expenses
    981,490       1,175,446  
 
Total deductions
    50,183,848       49,014,397  
 
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets available for plan benefits
    (32,465,248 )     31,443,863  
Net assets available for plan benefits:
               
Beginning of year
    461,601,012       430,157,149  
 
End of year
  $ 429,135,764     $ 461,601,012  
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

3


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
(1)   Description of the Plan
 
    The following brief description of the Associated Banc-Corp 401(k) & Employee Stock Ownership Plan, formerly known as the Associated Banc-Corp 401(k) Profit Sharing & Employee Stock Ownership Plan, (the Plan) is provided for general information. The Plan contains 401(k) provisions. Participants should refer to the summary plan description for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
 
    Background
 
    Associated Banc-Corp (the Company) has established the Associated Banc-Corp 401(k) & Employee Stock Ownership Plan, a defined contribution plan. The 401(k) provisions of the Plan provide for employee contributions complying with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code (Code) Section 401(k) as well as employer matching contributions. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
 
    Participants
 
    Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries that have adopted the Plan are eligible to participate in the employer 401(k) contribution provisions of the Plan on January 1 of the year in which 1,000 hours of service are completed. Employees are eligible to participate in the employee 401(k) contribution portion of the Plan if they are reasonably expected to complete 1,000 hours of service annually. Otherwise, employees are eligible to participate in the Plan immediately after completing 1,000 hours of service in a Plan year.
 
    Contributions
 
    In conjunction with the 401(k) provisions of the Plan, participants can elect to contribute an amount between 1% and the limitations ($15,500 for 2007 and $15,000 for 2006) of Section 402(g) of the Code of their compensation in multiples of 1% to the Plan by means of regular payroll deductions. Participants who have attained age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions in accordance with, and subject to the limitations ($5,000 for 2007 and $5,000 for 2006) of, Code section 414(v). Participants are also allowed to contribute amounts qualifying as rollover contributions under Section 402(c)(4) of the Code.
 
    The Plan provides for a Company matching contribution equal to 100% of the first three percent deferred plus 50% of the next three percent deferred for 2007 and equal to 50% of the first six percent deferred during 2006 for plan participants who have met the service requirements.
 
    Vesting
 
    Participants are 100% vested at all times in both employee and matching contributions under the 401(k) portion of the Plan. During 2006, the Plan provided for discretionary Company contributions under the profit sharing provisions of the Plan. The following is a schedule of vesting in the Company’s discretionary profit sharing contribution. The Plan was amended to discontinue the discretionary profit sharing contribution in 2007; however, participants in the plan with profit sharing

4


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    balances will continue to vest according to this schedule.
         
Years of Service   Vested Percentage
 
Less than three
    0 %
Three but less than four
    50 %
Four but less than five
    75 %
Five or more
    100 %
 
    Forfeitures
 
    Upon termination, the non-vested portion of Company discretionary profit sharing contributions and the earnings thereon become subject to forfeiture. Forfeitures were $690,682 and $1,691,249 in 2007 and 2006 respectively. All forfeitures are used to reduce employer contributions in the next calendar year.
 
    Investment of Plan Assets
 
    Participants have the right to direct that investments be made in the Associated Trust Company, N.A. Emerging Growth Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Common Stock Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Equity Income Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Foreign Equity Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Balanced Lifestage Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Growth Balanced Lifestage Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Growth Lifestage Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Intermediate Term Bond Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Conservative Balanced Lifestage Fund, Associated Trust Company, N.A. Money Market Account, Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund, Dodge & Cox Stock Fund, EuroPacific Growth Fund, Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Institutional Fund, Growth Fund of America, Janus Small Cap Value Fund, Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, Weitz Value Fund or a combination of funds. Plan assets are held in trust with a subsidiary of the Company, Associated Trust Company, N.A. (the trustee). The following is a brief description of each fund:
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Emerging Growth Fund – The fund is designed to maximize long-term stock returns by diversifying stock ownership into numerous industries. The fund invests in equities issued by small capitalization, fast growing, companies.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Common Stock Fund – The fund is designed to achieve long-term growth through investment in large cap companies with good growth prospects. The majority of the assets in this portfolio are included in the S&P 500 Index.

5


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Equity Income Fund – The fund is designed to pursue growth of capital while providing above average dividend yield. The fund invests in common stocks believed to be undervalued.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Foreign Equity Fund – The fund is designed to provide exposure to investment opportunities outside the United States. The fund invests primarily in attractively valued foreign common stocks.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Balanced Lifestage Fund – The fund is designed to put equal emphasis on the pursuit of capital growth through investments in stocks, along with the stability and income generation provided by fixed income securities. Approximately one-half of the portfolio will consist of investment grade bonds with the remaining one-half consisting of a diversified mix of stocks, with an emphasis on large capitalization stocks, but will also include mid-cap, small-cap, and foreign stocks.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Growth Balanced Lifestage Fund – The fund is designed to seek both long term growth of capital and a modest amount of income and stability through a mix of stocks and bonds. The portfolio will largely emphasize the pursuit of capital growth through investments in large capitalization stocks, but will also include mid-cap, small-cap, and foreign stocks with the remainder primarily consisting of investment grade bonds.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Growth Lifestage Fund – The fund is designed to achieve growth of capital through investment in a broadly diversified portfolio of common stocks. The portfolio will emphasize large capitalization stocks, but will also include mid-cap, small-cap, and foreign stocks.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Intermediate Term Bond Fund – The fund is designed to earn a competitive total return through diversified investment in high-quality fixed income securities issued by the United States Government, federal agencies, and public corporations, as well as mortgage-backed and asset-backed issues and certificates of deposit.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Conservative Balanced Lifestage Fund – The fund is designed to emphasize stability of principal and income through investments in fixed income securities with a smaller emphasis on capital growth through investment stocks. The portfolio will primarily consist of investment grade bonds with the equity portion consisting primarily of large capitalization stocks, but will also include mid-cap, small-cap, and foreign stocks.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. Money Market Account – The investment alternative is designed to provide safety of principal through use of a money market account.
 
    Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund – The fund is designed to share in the performance of Associated Banc-Corp. The fund invests in Associated Banc-Corp common stock and cash equivalents.

6


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    Dodge & Cox Stock Fund – The fund is designed to pursue long-term growth of principal and income. The Fund intends to remain fully invested in equities with at least 65% of assets in common stocks.
 
    EuroPacific Growth Fund – The fund is designed to pursue long-term growth of capital. The fund invests in at least 80% of assets in equity securities of issuers from Europe and the pacific Basin.
 
    Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Institutional Fund – The fund is designed to achieve long-term growth of capital. The fund invests in at least 90% of assets in equity securities with a primary focus on mid-cap companies.
 
    Growth Fund of America – The fund is designed to achieve long-term capital growth. The fund invests primarily in common stocks.
 
    Janus Small Cap Value Fund – The fund is designed to achieve capital appreciation. The fund invests in at least 80% of assets in equity securities of undervalued small companies with market capitalization within the 12-month average of the capitalization range of the Russell 2000 index.
 
    Vanguard Institutional Index Fund – The fund is designed to replicate the aggregate price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index. The fund invests in all 500 stocks listed in the S&P 500 in approximately the same proportion as they are represented in the Index.
 
    Weitz Value Fund – The fund is designed to achieve capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities. The advisor seeks securities trading at prices lower than their intrinsic values.
 
    Participants can elect to invest in one of the aforementioned funds or in 1% increments in two or more funds. Participants can change the allocation of the Plan accounts on a daily basis.
 
    Participant Loans
 
    A participant may request a loan for one or a combination of the following reasons: (a) purchase or preservation of a participant-owned principal residence, (b) education expenses for the participant or their dependent, (c) extensive medical expenses in the participant’s immediate family, or (d) severe financial hardship. Loans are limited to the lesser of (1) $50,000, reduced by the excess of the highest outstanding balance of loans from the Plan during the one-year period ending on the day before the date on which such loan was made over the outstanding balance of loans from the Plan on the date on which such loan was made or (2) 50% of the vested benefit of the participant’s account balance. A participant may not request a loan for less than $1,000.
 
    A commercially reasonable fixed rate of interest will be assessed on the loan with the current rate set at the prime rate offered by Associated Bank, N.A. The loan will provide bi-weekly payments under a level amortization schedule of not greater than 5 years or 15 years if a loan is used to acquire a principal residence. The plan may also hold grandfathered or inherited loans from merged plans with maturity dates extended beyond the 15 years allowed by the plan document.

7


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    Participant Accounts
 
    The Plan is a defined contribution plan under which a separate individual account is established for each participant. Plan investments are valued daily. Due to daily valuation, contributions are allocated to participant accounts upon receipt, and income and changes in asset values are immediately allocated to the participants’ accounts. Under a daily valued plan, participants can verify account balances daily utilizing the VRU (Voice Response Unit) or Internet access.
 
    Distributions
 
    Distributions are made in the form of lump-sum payments or payments over a period in monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual installments. Distributions must begin no later than 60 days after the close of the plan year in which the later of the participant’s attainment of age 65 or the termination date occurs, unless the participant elects to delay commencement of the distribution until the April 1 following the attainment of age 70 1/2. Participants may withdraw amounts for any reason upon reaching age 59 1/2. Earnings are credited to a participant’s account through the date of distribution.
 
    Distributions are made in cash or, if a participant elects, in the form of Company common shares plus cash for any fractional share.
 
    Termination of Plan
 
    While the Company has not expressed any intent to terminate the Plan, it is free to do so at any time subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of termination, participants become fully vested to the extent of the balance in their account, including investment income through the termination date.
 
(2)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
    Basis of Presentation
 
    The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and present the net assets available for plan benefits and changes in those net assets in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
    New Accounting Pronouncements
 
    In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Interpretation requires the impact of a tax position to be recognized in the financial statements if that position is more-likely-than-not of being sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. A tax position

8


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold is then to be measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon settlement. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Plan adopted the provisions of FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007, resulting in no cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption and determined that the adoption did not have any impact on the Plan’s net assets available for plan benefits or changes in net assets available for plan benefits.
 
    In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (SFAS 157), “Fair Value Measurements.” The Plan adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 on January 1, 2008. SFAS 157 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurement. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the Plan’s net assets available for plan benefits or changes in net assets available for plan benefits.
 
    The significant accounting policies of the Plan are as follows:
 
    Investments and Income Recognition
 
    Investment securities are valued at quoted market prices. However, securities for which no quoted market prices are available are valued at estimated fair value. The investments in units of the common/collective trust funds are valued at the amount at which units in the funds can be withdrawn, which approximates fair value. The money market account is stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value. Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value. Cash surrender values are provided by the underlying insurance providers at year end and also upon individual policy surrender. As such, these holdings are valued at the year end cash surrender values, which approximates fair value.
 
    Plan assets are held by the trustee. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are determined through the use of specific identification. The Plan records interest income on the accrual basis and dividends on the ex-dividend date.
 
    The Plan’s investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the values of investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term could materially affect participant account balances and the amounts reported in the financial statements of the Plan.
 
    Payment of Benefits
 
    Benefits are recorded when paid.

9


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    Use of Estimates
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the plan administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets available for benefits and plan benefit obligations and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
 
(3)   Investments
 
    The fair value of investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31 are presented in the following table:
                 
    2007     2006  
 
Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund
  $ 109,067,677     $ 162,608,111  
Associated Trust Company, N.A. Growth Lifestage Fund
    50,879,120       52,958,561  
Associated Trust Company, N.A. Balanced Lifestage Fund
    48,058,842       46,975,097  
Associated Trust Company, N.A. Money Market Account
    35,578,080       32,925,878  
Dodge & Cox Stock Fund
    31,036,398       33,700,343  
 
    During 2007 and 2006, the Plan’s investments, including gains and losses on investments purchased and sold, as well as held during the year, (depreciated) appreciated in value by $(12,614,503) and $40,605,894 respectively, as follows:
                 
    2007     2006  
Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund
  $ (32,692,776 )   $ 11,090,993  
Common/Collective Trust Funds
    15,971,586       16,805,364  
Mutual Funds
    4,105,920       12,709,508  
Fixed Income Securities
    817       29  
 
 
Total
  $ (12,614,503 )   $ 40,605,894  
     
(4)   Transactions with Related Parties
 
    The Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund at December 31, 2007 and 2006 included 3,983,674 shares and 4,611,798 shares, respectively, of common stock of the Company with fair values of $107,917,729 and $160,859,514, respectively. Dividend income from Company stock

10


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    totaled $5,238,415 and $5,590,080 in 2007 and 2006, respectively. Also included in the Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund at December 31, 2007 and 2006 were units of Goldman Sachs Financial Square Prime Obligations Fund with fair values of $1,149,948 and $1,748,597, respectively. The Goldman Sachs Financial Square Prime Obligations Fund is an unrelated party.
 
    Associated Trust Company, N.A. performs asset management and participant recordkeeping for the Plan. Asset management and recordkeeping fees paid to Associated Trust Company, N.A. totaled $961,485 and $1,118,941 in 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
    The Plan invests in various Associated Trust Company, N.A. common/collective trust funds and a money market account. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, $197,283,658 and $187,718,394, respectively, were invested in Associated Trust Company, N.A. common/collective trust funds. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, $420,008 and $67,289, respectively, were invested in an Associated Trust Company, N.A. Money Market Account.
 
(5)   Benefits Payable
 
    The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for plan benefits per the financial statements at December 31, 2007 and 2006 to Form 5500:
                 
    2007     2006  
Net assets available for plan benefits per the financial statements
  $ 429,135,764     $ 461,601,012  
Amounts allocated to benefit claims payable
    (3,753,222 )     (1,475,857 )
     
Net Assets available for plan benefits per the Form 5500
  $ 425,382,542     $ 460,125,155  
     
    The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 to Form 5500:
                 
    2007     2006  
Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements
  $ 49,122,962     $ 47,787,965  
Add: Amounts allocated to benefit claims payable at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively
    3,753,222       1,475,857  
Less: Amounts allocated to benefit claims payable at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively
    (1,475,857 )     (2,366,284 )
     
Benefits paid to participants per Form 5500
  $ 51,400,327     $ 46,897,538  
     
(6)   Income Taxes
 
    The Plan administrator has received a favorable tax determination letter, dated July 18, 2002, from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that the Plan qualifies under the provisions of Section

11


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
    401(a) of the Code, and the related trust is, therefore, exempt from tax under Section 501(a). Therefore, a provision for income taxes has not been included in the Plan’s financial statements. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, in the opinion of the Plan Administrator, the Plan and its underlying trust have operated within the terms of the Plan and remain qualified under the applicable provisions of the Code.
 
    Participants in the Plan are not subject to federal income taxes until they receive a distribution from the Plan.
 
(7)   Subsequent Event
 
    On January 2, 2008, the net assets of the First National Bank of Hudson 401(k) Savings Plan totaling $5,411,545 and the net assets of the Jabas Group 401(k) Savings Plan totaling $8,407,670 were transferred into the Plan and the participants in the merged plans became active participants in the Plan as of January 1, 2008.

12


 

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Schedule H, line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2007
                 
    Description of investment,        
    including maturity date,        
Identity of issue, borrower,   rate of interest, collateral     Current  
Lessor, or similar party   par, or maturity value     Value  
 
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Emerging Growth Fund
  344,049 units   $ 9,864,564  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Common Stock Fund
     48,612 units     9,780,372  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Equity Income Fund
     46,087 units     4,211,566  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Foreign Equity Fund
   131,432 units     11,978,712  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Balanced Lifestage Fund
  2,997,866 units     48,058,842  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Growth Balanced Lifestage Fund
    450,685 units     7,653,665  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Growth Lifestage Fund
  2,654,130 units     50,879,120  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Intermediate Term Bond Fund
    592,098 units     17,348,033  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Conservative Balanced Lifestage Fund
    136,917 units     1,930,704  
 
               
* Associated Trust Company, N.A.
Money Market Account
    30,662,907 units          35,578,080  
 
Total Common/Collective Trust Funds
          $ 197,283,658  
 
 
               
* Associated Banc-Corp Common Stock Fund
   2,287,783 units     $ 109,067,677  
 

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ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Schedule H, line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2007
                   
      Description of investment,      
      including maturity date,      
Identity of issue, borrower,     rate of interest, collateral   Current  
Lessor, or similar party     par, or maturity value   Value  
 
Dodge & Cox Stock Fund
    224,479 units     $ 31,036,398  
 
               
EuroPacific Growth Fund
    384,512 units       19,287,143  
 
               
Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Institutional Fund
    533,221 units       12,568,011  
 
               
Growth Fund of America
    346,288 units       11,690,696  
 
               
Janus Small Cap Value Fund
    583,503 units       13,143,822  
 
               
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
    118,777 units       15,932,808  
 
               
Weitz Value Fund
    226,176 units       7,167,533  
 
               
 
Total Mutual Funds
          $ 110,826,411  
 
 
               
Goldman Sachs Financial Square Prime
Obligations Fund (Used in directed
segregated accounts)
          $ 420,008  
 
 
               
Federal Home Loan Banks
    10/05/2011     $ 50,000  
(Used only in one directed segregated account)
    5.00 %        
 
    $50,000 par          
 
               
Federal National Mtg Assn
    11/17/2016       25,063  
(Used only in one directed segregated account)
    6.00 %        
 
    25,000 par          
 
               
Merrill Lynch & Co Medium Term Note
    07/15/2008       24,640  
(Used only in one directed segregated account)
    3.125 %        
 
    25,000 par          

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ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Schedule H, line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2007
                 
    Description of investment,        
    including maturity date,        
Identity of issue, borrower,   rate of interest, collateral     Current  
Lessor, or similar party   par, or maturity value     Value  
 
SLM Corp Medium Term Note
    1/15/2009       24,084  
(Used only in one directed segregated account)
    4.00 %        
 
    25,000 par          
 
               
 
Total Fixed Income
          $ 123,787  
 
Loans to Participants (162 participant
loans with interest rates ranging from
4.00% to 10.25% and maturity dates
ranging from January 1, 2008 to
October 15, 2025)
          $ 1,075,200  
 
 
               
Cash Surrender Value:
               
Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co.
          $ 58,302  
The Guardian Insurance and Annuity Co.
            29,211  
General American Life Ins. Co.
            77,897  
 
Total Cash Surrender Value of life insurance
          $ 165,410  
 
 
               
Total Investments
          $ 418,962,151  
 
 
*   Denotes a party-in-interest
See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Associated Banc-Corp Retirement Program Committee has duly caused this Annual Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
401(k) & EMPLOYEE STOCK
OWNERSHIP PLAN

 
 
  /s/ Karen L. Garvey    
  Karen L. Garvey, Chairperson   
  Retirement Program Committee   
 
Dated: June 26, 2008

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Exhibit Index
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
No 23  
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

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