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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): October 29, 1997
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Wisconsin 0-5519 39-1098068
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Number) Identification Number)
112 North Adams Street, Green Bay, Wisconsin
(Address of principal executive offices including zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (920) 433-3166
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Item 5. Other Events
On October 29, 1997, Associated Banc-Corp ("Associated") and First Financial
Corporation ("First Financial") announced that the merger announced in May of
this year was consummated effective the close of business on October 29, 1997.
Announcements of new officers and directors were also made. A press release
announcing the consummation of the merger and the elections of new officers and
directors is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 7(c). Exhibits
99.1 Press release, dated October 29, 1997, announcing the consummation of the
merger of Associated and First Financial and election of new officers and
directors for Associated.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
Registrant
By /s/ Brian R. Bodager
Name: Brian R. Bodager
Title: Secretary and General
Counsel
Date: October 30, 1997
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Index to Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press release, dated October 29, 1997, announcing the consummation of the
merger of Associated and First Financial and election of new officers and
directors of Associated.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP AND FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
TRANSACTION CLOSED, DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE EXECUTIVES NAMED
GREEN BAY, WISC. October 29, 1997 - H.B. Conlon, chairman and chief executive
officer of Associated Banc-Corp (NASDAQ/NMS:ASBC), announced that effective
today, they have formally completed the merger of First Financial Corporation
(NASDAQ/NMS:FFHC) with Associated Banc-Corp. The combined company retains the
name of Associated Banc-Corp and will be the third largest Wisconsin-based bank
holding company with $10.7 billion in assets. Associated will continue to be
headquartered in Green Bay, WI.
At the company's quarterly meeting held today, the Associated board of directors
announced the retirement of two of its current directors and the appointment of
seven (7) former First Financial directors to the Associated board. They will
serve until the next annual meeting of Associated's shareholders. The board also
made three executive officer appointments.
Former First Financial Corporation directors appointed to serve on the
Associated Banc-Corp board are as follows: Robert S. Gaiswinkler, Chairman of
First Financial Bank, Brookfield, WI; Robert P. Konopacky, Plover, WI; George R.
Leach, Stevens Point, WI; John C. Seramur, President and Chief Executive Officer
of First Financial Bank, Stevens Point, WI; John H. Sproule, Oconomowoc, WI;
Ralph R. Staven, Hartland, WI; and Norman L. Wanta, Stevens Point, WI.
The board also made appointments to three executive positions with Associated.
Brian R. Bodager was appointed Chief Administrative Officer, Joseph B. Selner
was appointed Chief Financial Officer, and Donald E. Peters was appointed
Director of Systems and Operations of the combined company.
Brian R. Bodager has been with Associated since July 1992. He has served for
those five years as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. He will also
continue to hold these positions with Associated going forward. Bodager also
serves as a director of Associated Trust Company, Associated Investment
Services, Associated Financial Center and Great Northern Mortgage Company. He is
also president and director of Banc Life Insurance Corporation. All the
companies are affiliates of Associated Banc-Corp.
Joseph B. Selner has been with Associated since April 1978. He has served for
the past 20 years as Chief Financial Officer of Associated. Selner is also a
director of Associated Banc-Corp Services, Inc. and ASBC Investment Corp. He is
vice president, treasurer and a director of Banc Life Insurance Corporation. All
the companies area affiliates of Associated Banc-Corp.
Donald E. Peters has been with First Financial Bank for 15 years, most recently
serving as executive vice president responsible for the retail banking division
at the bank. Peters is director and treasurer of the TYME Corporation of
Wisconsin. He is also a member of the Retail Banking Operations and Technology
Committee of the Savings & Community Bankers of America. Peters is a director of
Wisconsin Insurance Management, Inc., and First Financial Card Services Bank,
N.A., both subsidiaries of First Financial. He was also recently elected to the
board of directors of Associated Banc-Corp Services, Inc., an affiliate of
Associated Banc-Corp.
Associated Banc-Corp, headquartered in Green Bay, WI, is a diversified multibank
holding company with 98 Associated banking locations, 128 First Financial
banking offices, and over 180 ATMs in Wisconsin and Illinois. The $10.7 billion
company offers a full-range of traditional banking services and a variety of
financially related products and services through Associated affiliates.
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