EX-10.3






Exhibit 10.3




FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE

FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 STOCK PLAN




     This First Amendment (this “Amendment”) to the FirstMerit Corporation Amended and Restated
1997 Stock Plan (the “Plan”) is effective as of November 20, 2008.



     WHEREAS, FirstMerit Corporation (the “Company”) previously adopted the Plan; and



     WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend the Plan for compliance with Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.



     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:


1. Section I.B. of the Plan is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “Fair Market Value” in
its entirety and substituting the following therefor:





“Fair Market Value” shall mean with respect to a given day, the reported “closing price” of
a share of Common Stock, or if there were no transactions in the Common Stock on such day,
then the last preceding day on which transactions took place. The foregoing
notwithstanding, the Committee may determine the Fair Market Value in such other manner as
is required by applicable laws or regulations.


2. Section II.D. of the Plan is hereby amended by adding the following to the end thereof:





Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be made only
to the extent such adjustment complies, to the extent applicable, with Section 409A of the
Code.


3. The first sentence of Section II.G.1. of the Plan is hereby deleted in its entirety and the
following is substituted therefor:





The option price per share of Non-Qualified Stock Options (“NQSOs”) shall be set by the
Committee at the time of grant; provided, however, that the option price shall not be less
than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant.



 









 




4. Section II.H. of the Plan is hereby amended by adding the following Section II.H.6. to the end
thereof:





6. SECTION 409A OF THE CODE




All Dividend Units granted under the Plan were earned and vested within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Code on or prior to December 31, 2004 and were distributed in
accordance with the terms of the Plan. No Dividend Units were granted under the Plan after
December 31, 2004.


5. Section III.E. of the Plan is hereby amended by adding the following to the end thereof:





Notwithstanding the foregoing, any adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be made only
to the extent such adjustment complies, to the extent applicable, with Section 409A of the
Code.


6. Section V. of the Plan is hereby amended by adding the following Section V.E. to the end
thereof:





E. Section 409A of the Code




It is intended that the Awards granted under the Plan be exempt from the application of
Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and the Plan
shall be interpreted, administered and operated accordingly. Nothing herein shall be
construed as an entitlement to or guarantee of any particular tax treatment to any
Participant. None of the Company, any Subsidiary, the Board or the Committee shall have
any liability with respect to any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 409A
of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be executed by its duly
authorized officer effective as of the date set forth above.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	FIRSTMERIT CORPORATION	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Christopher J. Maurer	 	 
	 

	 	 

Printed Name: Christopher J. Maurer
	 	 
	 

	 	Its: Executive Vice President – H.R.