ASB 10-Q Quarter ended June 30, 2014

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014

OR

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-31343

Associated Banc-Corp

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(920) 491-7500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes ¨ No x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

The number of shares outstanding of registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at July 31, 2014, was 154,864,826.

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ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

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ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ITEM 1. Financial Statements Continued:

ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

These interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and, therefore, certain information and footnote disclosures normally presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been omitted or abbreviated. The information contained in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes in Associated Banc-Corp’s 2013 annual report on Form 10-K, should be referred to in connection with the reading of these unaudited interim financial statements.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Associated Banc-Corp (individually referred to herein as the “Parent Company,” and together with all of its subsidiaries and affiliates, collectively referred to herein as the “Corporation”) for the periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements of prior periods have been reclassified to conform with the current period’s presentation. The consolidated statements of income were modified from prior periods’ presentation to conform with the current period presentation, which shows a new provision for credit losses line item comprised of the provision for loan losses and the provision for unfunded commitments. In prior periods’ presentation, the provision for unfunded commitments was reported as a component of losses other than loans in the consolidated statements of income. The presentation of the consolidated balance sheets remains unchanged with the allowance for loan losses presented as a valuation allowance with the related loan asset, while the allowance for unfunded commitments is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. Estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change include the determination of the allowance for credit losses, goodwill impairment assessment, mortgage servicing rights valuation, and income taxes. Management has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition or disclosure.

In July 2013, the FASB issued an amendment to clarify the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. This amendment is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013 and should be applied prospectively. The Corporation adopted the accounting standard during the first quarter of 2014, as required, with no material impact on its results of operations, financial position, or liquidity.

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Earnings per share are calculated utilizing the two-class method. Basic earnings per common share are calculated by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share are calculated by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock awards (outstanding stock options, unvested restricted stock, and outstanding stock warrants). Presented below are the calculations for basic and diluted earnings per common share.

Options to purchase approximately 3 million and 2 million shares were outstanding for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, but excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as the effect would have been anti-dilutive. Options to purchase approximately 3 million shares were outstanding for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, but excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share as the effect would have been anti-dilutive.

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At June 30, 2014, the Corporation had one stock-based compensation plan, the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan. All stock options granted under this plan have an exercise price that is equal to the closing price of the Corporation’s stock on the grant date.

The Corporation may issue restricted common stock and restricted common stock units to certain key employees (collectively referred to as “restricted stock awards”). The shares of restricted stock are restricted as to transfer, but are not restricted as to dividend payment or voting rights. Restricted stock units receive dividend equivalents but do not have voting rights. The transfer restrictions primarily lapse over three or four years, depending upon whether the awards are service-based or performance-based. Service-based awards are contingent upon continued employment or meeting the requirements for retirement, and performance-based awards are based on earnings per share performance goals, total shareholder return, and continued employment or meeting the requirements for retirement.

The fair value of stock options granted is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, while the fair value of restricted stock awards is their fair market value on the date of grant. The fair values of stock options and restricted stock awards are amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the grants. Compensation expense recognized is included in personnel expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Assumptions are used in estimating the fair value of stock options granted. The weighted average expected life of the stock option represents the period of time that stock options are expected to be outstanding and is estimated using historical data of stock option exercises and forfeitures. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected volatility is based on the implied volatility of the Corporation’s stock. The following assumptions were used in estimating the fair value for options granted in the first six months of 2014 and full year 2013.

The Corporation is required to estimate potential forfeitures of stock grants and adjust compensation expense recorded accordingly. The estimate of forfeitures will be adjusted over the requisite service period to the extent that actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from such estimates. Changes in estimated forfeitures will be recognized in the period of change and will also impact the amount of stock compensation expense to be recognized in future periods. The plan provides that restricted common stock and stock options will immediately become fully vested upon retirement from the Corporation of those colleagues whose retirements meet the early retirement or normal retirement definitions under the plan (“retirement eligible colleagues”).

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A summary of the Corporation’s stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2013 and for the six months ended June 30, 2014, is presented below.

The following table summarizes information about the Corporation’s nonvested stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2013, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014.

For both the six months ended June 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, the intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $2 million. The total fair value of stock options that vested was $7 million for the first six months of 2014 and $9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. For the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Corporation recognized compensation expense for the vesting of stock options of $3 million and $4 million, respectively. For the full year 2013, the Corporation recognized compensation expense of $8 million for the vesting of stock options. Included in compensation expense for 2014 was approximately $250,000 of expense for the accelerated vesting of stock options granted to retirement eligible colleagues. At June 30, 2014, the Corporation had $8 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options that is expected to be recognized over the remaining requisite service periods that extend predominantly through fourth quarter 2018.

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The following table summarizes information about the Corporation’s restricted stock awards activity for the year ended December 31, 2013, and for the six months ended June 30, 2014.