Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.4
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and among FIRST MICHIGAN BANCORP, INC., a Michigan corporation (the “Corporation”), FIRST MICHIGAN BANK, a state chartered banking institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (the “Bank”) and Thomas C. Shafer (“Executive”) is made and entered into as of May 17, 2010 (the “Effective Date”).  The Corporation and the Bank shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Company.”

1.    Employment.

(a)    The Company agrees to employ Executive and Executive accepts the employment, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below.  During the term of employment hereunder, Executive shall serve as the Executive Managing Director of each of the Corporation and the Bank, and shall do and perform diligently all such services, acts and things as are customarily done and performed by those holding similar senior executive positions with companies similar in business and size to the Corporation and the Bank, as applicable, together with such other duties as may reasonably be requested from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which duties shall be consistent with Executive’s positions as set forth above.  

(b)    For service as an officer, employee and director of the Corporation, Executive shall be entitled to the full protection of the applicable indemnification provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as they may be amended from time to time.  For service as an officer, employee and director of the Bank, Executive shall be entitled to the full protection of the applicable indemnification provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Bank, as they may be amended from time to time.  The Company agrees that Executive will be named as an additional insured under the Company’s Directors’ and Officers’ Errors and Omissions Insurance during his employment hereunder.

2.    Term of Employment.

(a)    Subject to the provisions for termination provided below, the term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue thereafter until the first year anniversary of the Effective Date; provided however, that the term of this Agreement shall be automatically extended for successive terms of one (1) year each, unless either party notifies the other party in writing of its desire to terminate this Agreement at least sixty (60) days before the end of the term then in effect. 

(b)    Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive is an “at-will” employee and that Executive’s employment may be terminated, with or without Cause (as defined in Section 7(b) below), at the option of Executive or the Company.

3.    Devotion to the Company’s Business.

Executive shall devote his best efforts, knowledge, skill, and his entire productive time, ability and attention to the business of the Company during the term of this Agreement; provided, however, Executive’s expenditure of reasonable amounts of time to various charitable and other community activities, or to the Executive’s own personal investments and projects, shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement so long as the amount of time so devoted does not materially impair, detract or adversely affect the performance 

of Executive’s duties under this Agreement, and so long as such activities are disclosed to the Boards and do not violate Section 9 of this Agreement.

4.    Compensation.

(a)    General Statement.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall pay or provide, as the case may be, to Executive the compensation and other benefits and rights set forth in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of this Agreement.

(b)    Base Compensation.  As compensation for the services to be performed after the Effective Date, the Company shall pay to Executive, during his employment hereunder, an annual base salary (the “Base Salary”) payable in accordance with Company’s usual pay practices (and in any event no less frequently than monthly) at the rate of Three Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand Dollars per annum ($325,000).  The Corporation and the Bank shall each pay a portion of the Base Salary, with each such portion being determined based on the allocation of Executive’s time to the Corporation and the Bank.  Executive’s Base Salary may be increased at the sole discretion of the Corporation Board upon a recommendation by the Compensation Committee of the Corporation Board (the “Compensation Committee”) that Executive’s performance merits such an increase.  The Company intends to, but shall not be obligated to, increase the Executive’s Base Salary or other compensation, to the extent warranted based upon the Executive’s and the Company’s performance, so that the Executive’s total compensation is in the top 25% of compensation paid to executives holding substantially similar positions with companies in the Company’s peer group as the Executive’s positions with the Company. 

(c)    Annual Bonus.  Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual incentive (the “Bonus”) paid by the Corporation, with his target bonus opportunity being equal to 50% of his Base Salary.  Executive’s Bonus shall be determined by the Corporation Board based on (i) the Company achieving certain performance criteria, (ii) the Executive’s performance, and (iii) such other criteria as the Corporation Board and its Compensation Committee shall determine. Executive also shall be eligible to receive such other bonus compensation as may be determined by the Corporation Board and its Compensation Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall have no obligation to pay any Bonus under this Section 4(c). Any Bonus to which Executive shall be entitled will be paid to Executive not later than 30 days after it is determined. 

(d)    Equity Compensation.  The Corporation has established the First Michigan Bancorp, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (as it may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Equity Incentive Plan”).  Upon execution of this Agreement, the Corporation will grant Executive stock options to purchase 300,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock pursuant to a stock option agreement (the “Option Award”).  Shares granted to Executive under the Option Award shall have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Corporation’s common stock on the date of grant (the “Grant Date”), with one-third of the shares subject to the Option Award vesting on the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date.  The Executive shall be eligible to receive future option grants and/or restricted share grants as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Corporation Board.

(e)    Disability.  During any period that Executive is Disabled (as defined below) (the “Disability Period”), Executive shall continue to receive his full Base Salary, Bonus and other benefits at the rate in effect for such period until his employment is terminated by Company pursuant to Section 7(a)(iii) hereof; provided, however, that payments so made to Executive during the Disability Period shall be reduced by the sum of the amounts, if any, which are paid to Executive under disability insurance or disability benefit plans of the Company.  For purposes of this Section 4(e) only, Executive shall be deemed to be “Disabled,” and on a bona fide leave of absence, if he is eligible to receive disability benefits under any disability benefit 

plan or insurance policy provided by the Company to its employees generally or to Executive specifically (a “Company Sponsored Plan”). If Company does not provide coverage to Executive under a Company Sponsored Plan, Executive shall be deemed to be “Disabled” if he is unable to perform the essential functions of his duties hereunder (with or without reasonable accommodation by the Company) as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness or injury. 

5.    Benefits.

(a)    Insurance. The Company shall provide to Executive life, disability, medical, hospitalization and dental insurance for himself, his spouse and eligible dependents as is provided to other executive employees of the Company for which the Executive qualifies under the terms of such insurance plans. The Executive’s participation in and benefits under any such plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the governing document of the particular plan.

(b)    Benefit Plans.  Executive, at his election, may participate, during his employment hereunder, in all retirement plans, 401(k) plans and other benefit plans of the Company generally available from time to time to other executive employees of the Company, and for which Executive qualifies under the terms of the plans (and nothing in this Agreement shall or shall be deemed to in any way affect Executive’s right and benefits under any such plan except as expressly provided herein).  Executive shall also be entitled to participate in any equity incentive plan, option plan or other employee benefit plan that is generally available to senior executives, as distinguished from general management, of the Company.  Executive’s participation in and benefits under any such plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the governing document of the particular plan.

(c)    Annual Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to such number of days of vacation time each year without loss of compensation as is customary for executives similar to the Executive and as are approved by the Board.

6.    Reimbursement of Business Expenses.

The Company shall reimburse Executive or provide him with an expense allowance during the term of this Agreement for travel, entertainment, business development and other expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by Executive in connection with the Company’s business.  Executive shall furnish such documentation with respect to reimbursement to be paid hereunder as the Company shall reasonably request.

7.    Termination of Employment.

(a)    This Agreement and Executive’s employment hereunder may be terminated:

(i)    by either Executive or the Company at any time for any reason whatsoever or for no reason upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice;

(ii)    by the Company at any time for Cause (as defined in Section 7(b) below ) without prior notice; and 

(iii)    upon Executive’s death or if Executive is Totally Disabled (as defined in Section 7(c) below).

(b)    For purposes of this Agreement, for “Cause” means (i) a material breach of any provision of this Agreement by Executive (if the breach is curable, it will constitute Cause only if it continues 

uncured for a period of twenty (20) days after Executive’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Company), (ii) Executive’s failure or refusal, in any material manner, to perform all lawful services required of him pursuant to this Agreement, which failure or refusal continues for more than twenty (20) days after Executive’s receipt of written notice of such deficiency, (iii) Executive’s commission of fraud, embezzlement or theft, or a crime constituting moral turpitude, in any case whether or not involving the Company, that in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Corporation Board or Bank Board, renders Executive’s continued employment harmful to the Company, (iv) Executive’s misappropriation of Company assets or property, including, without limitation, obtaining material reimbursement through fraudulent vouchers or expense reports, or (v) Executive’s conviction or the entry of a plea of guilty or no contest by Executive with respect to any felony or other crime that, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Corporation Board or Bank Board, adversely affects the Company, its reputation or business.

(c)    For purposes of this Section 7 and payment of compensation and benefits pursuant to Section 8(d), Executive shall be considered “Totally Disabled” if, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, (i) he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity, or (ii) he is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

8.    Compensation Upon Termination.

(a)    If Company terminates this Agreement without Cause pursuant to Section 7(a)(i) hereof or if Executive voluntarily terminates this Agreement for Good Reason (as defined below) then (i) the Company shall pay to Executive within thirty (30) days after the effective date of such termination any unpaid Base Salary accrued and earned by him hereunder up to and including the termination date, (ii) the Company shall pay to Executive the sum of one times the Executive’s annual Base Salary in effect as of the termination date plus an amount equal to the average of the Executive’s Bonus paid in respect of the prior two calendar years, if any (which amount, with respect to a termination date during the first two years following the Effective Date only, shall be not less than 37.5% of Executive’s Base Salary) (the “Severance Payment”), with such payment being made in equal installments over a one (1) year period in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices, except as otherwise provided below and (iii) Executive’s outstanding stock options shall accelerate and become fully vested and exercisable for a period of 90 days following the termination date. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, (A) Company’s obligations under this Section 8(a) shall be contingent on Executive executing and delivering to Company a general release of claims, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Executive has been designated as a “Specified Employee” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), 50% of the Severance Payment shall be paid to Executive on the six month anniversary of the effective date of the termination of employment and the remainder of the Severance Payment shall be paid in equal installments over the six-month period immediately following such six month anniversary, in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practices. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (a) a substantial adverse change, not consented to by Executive, in the nature or scope of Executive’s responsibilities, authorities or duties hereunder, (b) a substantial involuntary reduction in Executive’s Base Salary except for an across-the-board salary reduction similarly affecting all or substantially all employees, or (c) the relocation, without the Executive’s consent, of Executive's principal place of employment to another location of Company outside a 60-mile radius from the location of Executive’s principal place of employment as of the date hereof. Executive must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of a condition, or conditions, that the Executive believes constitutes Good Reason within ninety (90) days of Executive’s knowledge, or constructive knowledge, of 

such condition(s). Upon receipt by the Company of such notice, the Company will have thirty (30) days to remedy the condition(s). If the Company remedies the condition(s) of which it received notice from Executive within thirty (30) days, then such condition(s) shall not constitute Good Reason.

(b)    If Executive voluntarily terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7(a)(i) for any reason other than Good Reason (i) Executive shall be entitled to no further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement, other than any unpaid Base Salary accrued and earned by Executive hereunder for the period up to and including the effective date of such termination, and (ii) Executive’s vested stock options shall continue to be exercisable for a period of one year following the date the Executive’s employment is terminated. 

(c)    If Company terminates this Agreement for Cause pursuant to Section 7(a)(ii), (i) Executive shall be entitled to no further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement, other than any unpaid Base Salary accrued and earned by Executive hereunder for the period up to and including the effective date of such termination, and (ii) Executive shall forfeit all stock options granted to him by the Company.

(d)    If the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7(a)(iii) hereof upon the Executive’s death or Total Disability, (i) the Company shall pay Executive or his designated beneficiary, as applicable, within thirty (30) days after the effective date of such termination any unpaid Base Salary accrued and earned by him hereunder up to and including the effective date of such termination, and (ii) Executive’s vested stock options shall continue to be exercisable for a period of ninety (90) days following the date the Executive’s employment is terminated.

(e)    Except as otherwise specified in this Section 8 and, if applicable, Sections 9 and 10 below, Executive shall not be entitled to any other compensation or benefits upon the termination of his employment with Company for any reason whatsoever.

(f)     Immediately upon the cessation of Executive’s employment with the Company for any reason whatsoever, notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained in this Agreement or otherwise, Executive will stop serving the functions of his terminated or expired position(s) and shall be without any of the authority or responsibility for such position(s).  Upon the Company’s request, at any time following the cessation of his employment for any reason, Executive shall resign from the Boards if then a member.

(g)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8, the Company’s obligation to pay, and Executive’s right to receive, any compensation under this Section 8, shall terminate upon Executive’s breach of any provision of Section 10 hereof.  In addition, Executive shall automatically forfeit and promptly remit to the Company any compensation received from the Company under this Section 8 upon Executive’s breach of any provision of Section 10 hereof.

		
	9.
	Change in Control. 

(a)If there is a Change in Control Event during the term of this Agreement, (i) the Company will pay the Executive the Change in Control Payment in cash at the closing of the Change of Control Event, and (ii) Executive’s outstanding stock options shall accelerate and become fully vested and continue to be exercisable as provided in the agreement or plan under which they were granted. 

(b)For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control Payment” means a lump sum payment equal to one times the Severance Payment.

(c)For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control Event” means: (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), or (ii) any other transaction in which all of the stockholders of the Company sell or dispose of their Common Stock in the Company, other than any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction possess, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of the Company or other surviving, acquiring or controlling entity immediately following such transaction.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Corporation’s current private placement nor any follow-on private placement relating thereto shall be deemed to be a Change in Control Event. 

(d)Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, in no event shall more than one Change in Control Payment be made to Executive under this Agreement, regardless of whether more than one Change in Control Event occurs during the term of this Agreement.

(e)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, in connection with a Change of Control Event, the Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause by the Company or the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to receive either the Severance Payment under Section 8 or the Change of Control Payment under this Section 9, but shall not be entitled to receive both the Severance Payment and the Change of Control Payment. Without limiting the foregoing, a termination of the Executive’s employment shall be deemed conclusively to be “in connection with” a Change of Control Event if it occurs within six months before or after the closing date of the Change of Control Event.

(f)    Prior to and as a condition of any payment under this Section 9, Executive shall execute and deliver to Company a general release of claims to other change in control payments in a form acceptable to the Company and, if Executive’s employment has been terminated, a general release of claims, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

(g)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9, the Company’s obligation to pay, and Executive’s right to receive, any Change in Control Payment under this Section 9, shall terminate upon Executive’s breach of any provision of Section 10 hereof.  In addition, Executive shall automatically forfeit and promptly remit to the Company any Change in Control Payment received from the Company under this Section 9 upon Executive’s breach of any provision of Section 10 hereof.

10.    Covenant Not To Compete and Confidentiality.

(a)    Executive acknowledges the Company’s reliance and expectation of Executive’s continued commitment to performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.  In light of such reliance and expectation on the part of the Company, Executive agrees to the provisions set forth below.

(i)    During the Covenant Period (as defined below), Executive shall not compete with the Company, as such phrase is defined below. The “Covenant Period” shall begin on the Effective Date and end: (A) if the Company terminates this Agreement without Cause or the Executive terminates this Agreement for Good Reason and the Company pays the Severance Payment to the Executive as provided in Section 8(a), the 12-month anniversary of the effective date of the termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company; (B) if the employment of the Executive is terminated by any party for any other reason and the Company elects to extend the Covenant Period by making the Non-Compete Payments, the date through which the Company continues to pay the Executive his Base Salary at the rate in effect as of the termination date in accordance with the regular payroll 

practices of the Company (such payments, the “Non-Compete Payments”); provided that the Company may not extend the Covenant Period pursuant to this clause (B) beyond the 12-month anniversary of the effective date of the termination of the Executive’s employment.

(ii)    The phrase “shall not compete with the Company” means that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in, or have an interest in or be associated with (whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, associate, employee, consultant, owner or otherwise) any corporation, firm or enterprise which is engaged in operating a bank in the State of Michigan or any other state in which the Bank or any other subsidiary of the Corporation operates as a bank during the term of this Agreement (the “Business”); provided, however, that Executive shall be permitted to make passive investments in the stock of any publicly traded business (including a competitive business), so long as the stock investment in any competitive business does not rise above one percent (1%) of the outstanding shares of such business.

(iii)    Executive shall not at any time, for so long as any Confidential Information (as defined below) shall remain confidential or otherwise remain wholly or partially protectable, either during the term of this Agreement or thereafter, use or disclose any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly, to any person outside of the Company or any company owned or controlled by the Corporation or the Bank or under common control with the Corporation or the Bank (an “Affiliate”). “Confidential Information” means all business information of any nature and in any form which at the time or times concerned is not generally known to those persons engaged in business similar to that conducted or contemplated by the Company or any Affiliate (other than by the act or acts of an employee not authorized by Company to disclose such information) and which relates to any one or more of the aspects of the business of the Company, or any of the Affiliates or any of their respective predecessors, including, without limitation, patents and patent applications, inventions and improvements (whether or not patentable), development projects, policies, processes, formulas, techniques, know‐how, and other facts relating to sales, advertising, promotions, financial matters, customers, customer lists, customer purchases or requirements, and other trade secrets.

(iv)    Promptly upon the termination of this Agreement for any reason, Executive (or in the event of Executive’s death, his personal representative) shall return to Company any and all copies (whether prepared by or at the direction of the Company or Executive) of all records, drawings, materials, memoranda and other data constituting or pertaining to Confidential Information.

(v)    During the Covenant Period, the Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, divert, or by aid to others, do anything which would tend to divert, from the Company or any Affiliate any trade or business with any customer or supplier with whom Executive had any contact or association during the term of Executive’s employment with the Company or with any party whose identity or potential as a customer or supplier was confidential or learned by Executive during his employment by the Company.

(vi)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10, the Executive shall automatically forfeit and promptly remit to the Company any Non-Compete Payments previously received from the Company under this Section 10 upon Executive’s breach of any provision of this Section 10.
    
(b)    Executive agrees and understands that the remedy at law for any breach by him of this Section 10 will be inadequate and that the damages flowing from such breach are not readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms.  Accordingly, Executive acknowledges that Company shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach.  

Nothing in this Section 10 shall be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 10 which may be pursued or availed of by the Company.

(c)    Executive acknowledges and agrees that the covenants set forth above are reasonable and valid in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects.  If any court determines that any of the covenants, or any part of any covenant, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of the covenants shall not be affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion.  If any court determines that any of the covenants, or any part of any covenant, is unenforceable because of its duration or geographic scope, such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or scope, as the case may be, and, enforce such provision in such reduced form.  Executive and the Company intend to and hereby confer jurisdiction to enforce the covenants upon the courts of any jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants.  If the courts of any one or more of such jurisdictions hold the covenants, or any part of any covenant, unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such scope or otherwise, it is the intention of Executive and the Company that such determination not bar or in any way affect the right of the Company to the relief provided above in the courts of any other jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants as to breaches of such covenants in such other respective jurisdictions.  For this purpose, such covenants as they relate to each jurisdiction shall be severable into diverse and independent covenants.    

(d)    In consideration of Executive’s performance of his obligations under this Section 10, if the Company terminates this Agreement with Cause pursuant to Section 7(a)(i) above or if Executive voluntarily terminates this Agreement without Good Reason, then the Company at its option shall pay the Executive an amount equal to his Base Salary at the usual payroll intervals for a period of up to twelve (12) months following the termination date (the “Non-Compete Amount”); provided that the Company shall not be obligated to pay Executive any portion of the Non-Compete Amount after any breach by Executive of his obligations under Section 10.

(e)    The Company, at its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so, may waive any provision of this Section 10.  Such waiver must be in writing and executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  

11.    Intellectual Property Rights.  Executive hereby agrees that any procedures, methodologies, systems, formulas, processes, discoveries, improvements, product enhancements, copyrights, trademarks and inventions relating to the business of the Corporation, the Bank and their respective affiliates (the “Intangibles Rights”), whether or not patentable or copyrightable, that are conceived, developed, made, invented, or suggested either by Executive alone or in collaboration with others during the term of his employment by the Company, or arising in connection with or related to Executive’s employment hereunder or through activity utilizing any machinery, equipment or other property of the Corporation, the Bank and their respective affiliates, whether or not during working hours, shall be promptly disclosed to, without further compensation, and shall be the sole and exclusive property of, the Company, as works made for hire or otherwise.  To the extent that any Intangibles Rights are not or are deemed not to be works made for hire, Executive shall execute and deliver, without further compensation, any further documentation deemed by the Company to be necessary to vest ownership of all such Intangibles Rights in the Company. Executive agrees and understands that the remedy at law for any breach by him of this Section 11 will be inadequate and that the damages flowing from such breach are not readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms.  Accordingly, Executive acknowledges that Company shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach.  Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 11 which may be pursued or availed of by the Company.

12.    Excise Tax Payment. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any of the payments or benefits received or to be received by Executive following a Change in Control Event and/or Executive’s termination or resignation of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company) (the “Aggregate Payment”) is determined to constitute a “parachute payment” as such term is deemed in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, the Company shall pay to Executive an additional amount which, after the imposition of all income and excise taxes thereon, is equal to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code with respect to the Aggregate Payment. The determination of whether the Aggregate Payment constitutes a parachute payment and, if so, the amount to be paid to Executive shall be made by a nationally recognized United States public accounting firm selected by the Company which has not, during the two years preceding the date of its selection, acted in any way on the Company. The Company shall pay Executive the amount payable to him under this Section 11 by the end of the taxable year in which Executive remits these amounts to the taxing authority(s).

13.    No Conflicting Agreements.   Executive represents and warrants that he is not a party to any agreements, contracts, understandings or arrangements, whether written or oral, in effect which would prevent him from rendering exclusive services to the Company during the term hereof, and that he has not made and will not make any commitment to do any act in conflict with this Agreement.

14.    Arbitration.  The parties agree that any and all disputes, controversies or claims of any nature whatsoever relating to, or arising out of, this Agreement or Executive’s employment, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise (including, without limitation, claims of wrongful termination of employment, claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or comparable state or federal laws, and any other laws dealing with employees’ rights and remedies), shall be settled by mandatory arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes (the “Rules”) and the following provisions: (A) a single arbitrator (the “Arbitrator”), mutually agreeable to Company and Executive, shall preside over the arbitration and shall make all decisions with respect to the resolution of the dispute, controversy or claim between the parties; (B) in the event that the Company and Executive are unable to agree on an Arbitrator within fifteen (15) days after either party has filed for arbitration in accordance with the Rules, they shall select a truly neutral arbitrator in accordance with the rules for the selection of neutral arbitrators, who shall be the “Arbitrator” for the purposes of this Section 14; (C) the place of arbitration shall be Troy, Michigan unless mutually agreed otherwise; (D) judgment may be entered on any award rendered by the Arbitrator in any federal or state court having jurisdiction over the parties; (E) all fees and expenses of the Arbitrator shall be shared equally between the Company and Executive; (F) the decision of the Arbitrator shall govern and shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties; (G) the parties shall be entitled to reasonable levels of discovery in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or as permitted by the Arbitrator, provided, however, that the time permitted for discovery shall not exceed eight (8) weeks and each party shall be limited to two (2) depositions; and (H) this provision shall be enforceable by specific performance and/or injunctive relief, and shall constitute a basis for dismissal of any legal action brought in violation of the duty to arbitrate.  The parties hereby acknowledge that it is their intent to expedite the resolution of any dispute, controversy or claim hereunder and that the Arbitrator shall schedule the timing of discovery and of the hearing consistent with that intent.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to preclude the Company from obtaining injunctive or other equitable relief to secure specific performance or to otherwise prevent Executive’s breach of Section 10 of this Agreement.  

15.    Notice.  All notices, requests, consents and other communications, required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be personally delivered in writing or shall have been deemed duly given when received after it is posted in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, return receipt requested addressed as set forth below. In addition, a party may deliver a notice via another reasonable 

means that results in the recipient party receiving actual notice, as conclusively demonstrated by the party giving such notice.

If to Corporation:

First Michigan Bancorp, Inc.
2301 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 525
Troy, Michigan 48084
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
            
If to Bank:

First Michigan Bank
2301 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 525
Troy, Michigan 48084
Attn: Board of Directors

If to Executive:

Thomas C. Shafer
_______________________
_______________________        
                    

In all events, with a copy to:

_______________________
_______________________
_______________________        
Attn:  __________________

and to:

Jaffe, Raitt, Heuer & Weiss,
  Professional Corporation
27777 Franklin Road, Suite 2500
Southfield, Michigan 48034
Attn:  Peter Sugar

16.    Cooperation in Future Matters.  Executive hereby agrees that for a period of eighteen (18) months following his termination of employment he shall cooperate with the Company’s reasonable requests relating to matters that pertain to Executive’s employment by the Company, including, without limitation, providing information or limited consultation as to such matters, participating in legal proceedings, investigations or audits on behalf of the Company, or otherwise making himself reasonably available to the Company for other related purposes. Any such cooperation shall be performed at scheduled times taking into consideration Executive’s other commitments, and Executive shall be compensated at a reasonable hourly or per diem rate to be agreed upon by the parties to the extent such cooperation is required on more than an occasional and limited basis. Executive shall not be required to perform such cooperation to the extent it conflicts with any requirements of exclusivity of services for another employer or otherwise, nor in any manner that in the good faith belief of Executive would conflict with his rights under or ability to enforce this Agreement.

17.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction nevertheless shall be binding and enforceable.

(b)    The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding on, the Company and its successors and assigns. This Agreement is personal to Executive and he may not assign his obligations under this Agreement in any manner whatsoever and any purported assignment shall be void.  For all purposes under this Agreement, the term “Company” shall include any successor to the Company’s business and/or assets that assumes the Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

(c)    The failure of any party to enforce any provision or protections of this Agreement shall not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof, nor prevent that party thereafter from enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement.  The rights granted the parties herein are cumulative and the waiver of any single remedy shall not constitute a waiver of such party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

(d)    This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding and agreement of Executive and the Company with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral. If the terms of this Agreement shall conflict with the terms of any other agreement between the Executive and the Company or any compensation plan, arrangement or policy of the Company applicable to the Executive, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.   

(e)    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflicts of law principles.

(f)    Captions and section headings used herein are for convenience and are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in construing it.

(g)    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.  Copies (whether photostatic, facsimile or otherwise) of this Agreement may be made and relied upon to the same extent as an original.

(h)    The Company may withhold such amounts as may be required under federal, state and local law to be withheld from the payments made under this Agreement.

(i)    No modification, termination or attempted waiver of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the party against whom the same is sought to be enforced. 

(j)    The provisions of Sections 10, 11, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein.

(k)    Executive may, on a form prescribed by the Company, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the benefits under this Agreement in the event of his death. If Executive does not designate a beneficiary, his benefits will be paid first to his spouse, if surviving him, and if unmarried or if 

his spouse does not survive him, in equal shares to his children surviving him, and if neither his spouse nor children survive him, to his estate.

(l)    The Executive acknowledges that the Company has advised the Executive to consult with an attorney of his choosing prior to signing this Agreement and the Executive hereby represents to the Company that he has been offered an opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Agreement.

[Signatures on Following Page]

    

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

CORPORATION:

FIRST MICHIGAN BANCORP, INC., a Michigan limited liability company

By: /s/ DAVID PROVOST                

Its: President and Chief Executive Officer        

    
BANK:

FIRST MICHIGAN BANK, a Michigan state chartered banking institution    

By:  /s/ DAVID PROVOST                

Its: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer    

EXECUTIVE:

 /s/ THOMAS C. SHAFER                
THOMAS C. SHAFER

[Signature Page to Shafer Employment Agreement]

EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AND WAIVER

This release and waiver (the “Termination Release”) is made as of the ____ day of __________, 20__by ______________________ (the “Executive”). 

WHEREAS, the Executive, First Michigan Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the “Corporation”) and First Michigan Bank, a state chartered banking institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (the “Bank,” and together with the Corporation, the “Company”) have entered into an Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of __________________, 2010 that provides for certain compensation and severance amounts upon his termination of employment; and

WHEREAS, the Executive has agreed, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, to execute a release and waiver in the form set forth in this Release and Waiver (“Termination Release”) in consideration of the Company’s agreement to provide the compensation and severance amounts upon the termination of his employment as set forth in the Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Executive has incurred a termination of employment effective as of _________, 20__; and

          NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the Executive agrees as follows:

1.     RELEASE. In consideration for the payments to be made pursuant to the Agreement:

(a)     Except as set forth in Section 1(b) below, Executive knowingly and voluntarily releases, acquits and forever discharges the Corporation and the Bank and their current and former respective owners, parents, stockholders, predecessors, successors, assigns, agents, directors, officers, employees, representatives, divisions and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and all charges, complaints, claims, liabilities, obligations, promises, agreements, damages, causes of action, suits, rights, costs, losses, debts and expenses of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or unmatured, against them which the Executive or any of his heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns (“Executive Persons”) ever had, now has or at any time hereafter may have, own or hold by reason of any matter, fact, or cause whatsoever from the beginning of time up to and including the date of this Termination Release, including, without limitation, all claims for salary, bonuses, severance pay, vacation pay or any benefits arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; any claims of sexual harassment, or discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, medical condition or disability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the American with Disabilities Act, The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, as amended, The Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and any other federal, state or local law relating to employment or termination of employment; any claims of age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, or under any other federal, state or local law prohibiting age discrimination; claims of breach of implied or express contract, breach of promise, misrepresentation, negligence, fraud, estoppel, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, violation of public policy, wrongful or constructive discharge, or any other employment-related tort; any claim for wages, bonus, compensation, stock options, stock appreciation rights, other equity awards, costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys fees; and all claims under any other federal, state or local laws relating to employment, except in any case to the extent 

such release is prohibited by applicable federal, state and/or local law.

(b)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release shall not be construed so as to release or discharge the Company from its obligations under Sections 8 or 9 of the Agreement. In addition, notwithstanding this Release, Executive shall continue to be covered by the Company’s  directors and officers liability insurance and the indemnification provisions of the Company’s governing documents to the extent such insurance and such indemnification provisions are applicable to Executive.  

(c)    Executive represents that he has not filed against the Releasees, any complaints, charges or lawsuits and covenants and agrees that he will not seek or be entitled to any personal recovery in any court or before any governmental agency, arbitrator or self-regulatory body against any of the Releasees arising out of any matters set forth in Section 1(a) hereof. If Executive has filed a complaint, charge, grievance, lawsuit or similar action, he agrees to remove, dismiss with prejudice or take similar action to eliminate such complaint, charge, grievance, lawsuit or similar action within five (5) days of signing this Termination Release.

(c)     Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Termination Release is not intended to interfere with Executive’s right to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “EEOC”) in connection with any claim he believes he may have against the Company.  Executive hereby agrees to waive the right to recover money damages in any proceeding he may bring before the EEOC or any other similar body or in any proceeding brought by the EEOC or any other similar body on his behalf. This Termination Release does not release, waive or give up any claim for workers’ compensation benefits, vested retirement or welfare benefits he is entitled to under the terms of the Company’s retirement and welfare benefit plans, as in effect from time to time, any right to unemployment compensation that Executive may have, or his right to enforce his rights under the Agreement. 

2.     CONFIRMATION OF OBLIGATIONS.  Executive hereby confirms and agrees to his continuing obligations under Sections 10 and 16 of the Agreement. 

3.     NO DISPARAGEMENT.  The Executive agrees not to disparage the Company, including making any statement or comments or engaging in any conduct that is disparaging or derogatory toward the Company or, whether directly or indirectly, by name or innuendo; provided, however, that nothing in this Termination Release shall restrict testimony or communications ordered and required by a court or an administrative agency of competent jurisdiction.

4.     CONFIDENTIALITY.  The Executive agrees to keep the terms of this Agreement and of this Termination Release confidential and shall not disclose the fact or terms to third parties, except as required by applicable law or regulation or by court order; provided, however, that Executive may disclose the terms of this Termination Release to members of his immediate family, his attorney or counselor, and persons assisting him in financial planning or tax preparation, provided these people agree to keep such information confidential; provided, further, however, that the Company may disclose the terms of this Termination Release to its certified public accounts, outside counsel or others on a need to know basis, provided these people agree to keep such information confidential.

5.     ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Company has advised the Executive to consult with an attorney of his choosing prior to signing this Termination Release and the Executive hereby represents to the Company that he has been offered an opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Termination Release. The Executive shall have twenty-one (21) days to consider the waiver of his rights in this Termination Release, although he may sign this Termination Release sooner if he chooses. Once he has signed this Termination Release, the Executive shall have seven (7) additional days from the date of execution to revoke his consent to the waiver of his rights. If no such revocation occurs, the Executive’s waiver of rights in this Termination 

Release shall become effective seven (7) days from the date of execution by the Executive. In the event that the Executive revokes his waiver of rights in this Termination Release, this Termination Release will have no force and effect and no Severance Payments (as defined in the Agreement) shall be due or payable. 

6.     GOVERNING LAW. This Termination Release shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of State of Michigan, without giving regard to its conflict of laws principles.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has executed this Termination Release as of __________________ 20__.Exhibit

Exhibit 10.5
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) by and among TALMER BANCORP, INC., a Michigan corporation (the “Corporation”), TALMER BANK AND TRUST, a state chartered banking institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (the “Bank”) and Greg Bixby (“Officer”) is made and entered into on September  20, 2014 (the “Effective Date”).  The Corporation and the Bank shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Company.”

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the boards of directors of the Corporation and the Bank have determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to enter into this Agreement in order to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Officer after the Effective Date, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control Event (as defined herein) of the Company; 

WHEREAS, in accordance with the foregoing, the Company will make a severance payment to the Officer if the Officer’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Officer for Good Reason (as such terms are defined herein) following a Change in Control Event, all as specifically set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Officer has determined that it is in the best interests of the Officer to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the promises hereinafter set forth and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by both parties, it is hereby agreed as follows:

		
	1.
	CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.

(a)“Affiliated Company” means any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Bank or the Corporation.
(b)“Change in Control Event” means (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), or (ii) any other transaction in which all of the shareholders of the Corporation sell or dispose of their Common Stock in the Corporation, other than any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) in which the shareholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction possess, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of the Corporation or other surviving, acquiring or controlling entity immediately following such transaction.  
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no such event shall constitute a Change in Control Event unless such applicable event also qualifies as a change in the ownership or effective control of the Corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Corporation, in each case, within the meaning of Code (as defined below in Section 6 of this Agreement) Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c)“Change of Control Period” means the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending one (1) year following the Effective Date; provided, however, that, commencing one (1) year following the Effective Date, and each one-year anniversary of such date (such date and each such one-year anniversary 

thereof, the “Renewal Date”) unless previously terminated, the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate one (1) year from such Renewal Date, unless, at least sixty (60) days prior to the next Renewal Date, the Bank or the Corporation shall give notice to the Officer that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended (the “Non-Renewal Notice”).
(d)“Company Information” means Confidential Information and Trade Secrets.
(e)“Confidential Information” means data and information relating to the Business of the Company (which does not rise to the status of a Trade Secret) which is or has been disclosed to the Officer or of which the Officer became aware as a consequence of or through the Officer’s relationship to the Company and which has value to the Company and is not generally known to its competitors.  Without limiting the foregoing, Confidential Information shall include:
(i)the names, addresses and banking requirements of the customers of the Company and the nature and amount of business done with such customers;
(ii)the names and addresses of employees and other business contacts of the Company;
(iii)the particular names, methods and procedures utilized by the Company in the conduct and advertising of its business;
(iv)application, operating system, communication and other computer software and derivatives thereof, including, without limitation, sources and object codes, flow charts, coding sheets, routines, subrouting and related documentation and manuals of the Company; and
(v)marketing techniques, purchasing information, pricing policies, loan policies, quoting procedures, financial information, customer data and other materials or information relating to the Company’s manner of doing business.
Confidential Information shall not include any data or information that has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by the Company (except where such public disclosure has been made by the Officer without authorization) or that has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or that otherwise enters the public domain through lawful means.
(f)“Covenant Period” shall begin on the Trigger Date and end, (i) if the Company terminates the Officer’s employment without Cause, or (ii) the Officer terminates his or her employment for Good Reason, and the Company is required to pay the Officer the Severance Payment as provided in Section 6 as a result of such termination, on the one (1) year anniversary of the Date of Termination (as defined below). 
(g)“Trigger Date” means the first and only the first date during the Change of Control Period (as defined herein) on which the first and only the first Change in Control Event occurs.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Officer’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Officer for Good Reason (as such terms are defined herein) within the six (6) month period prior to the date on which the Change of Control Event occurs during the Change of Control Period (such a termination of employment, an “Anticipatory Termination”), then for all purposes of this Agreement the “Trigger Date” means the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.
(h)“Trade Secrets” means any information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique, or process, that is both of the following (i) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy, or otherwise meets the definition of Trade 

Secret under the Michigan Uniform Trade Secrets Act, as it may be amended from time to time, or any similar statute which replaces such Act.  Information which does not meet the definition of Trade Secret shall nevertheless be considered Confidential Information to the extent it is within the definition of Confidential Information.
2.EMPLOYMENT.
The Officer and the Company acknowledge that the employment of the Officer by the Company is “at will” and the Officer shall have no rights under this Agreement unless the Officer is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Officer with Good Reason during the period commencing on the Trigger Date and ending eighteen (18) months following such date.
3.TERMS OF AT WILL EMPLOYMENT.
(a)During the term of his or her employment by the Company, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Officer is entitled, the Officer agrees to devote reasonable attention and time to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to the Officer by the Boards of Directors of the Corporation or the Bank or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Bank, to use the Officer’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities.
(b)During the term of this Agreement, the Officer shall devote his or her best efforts, knowledge, skill, and his or her entire productive time, ability and attention to the business of the Company during the term of this Agreement; provided, however, the Officer’s expenditure of reasonable amounts of time to various charitable and other community activities, or to the Officer’s own personal investments and projects, shall not be deemed a breach of this Agreement so long as the amount of time so devoted does not materially impair, detract or adversely affect the performance of Officer’s duties for the Company, and so long as such activities are disclosed to the Boards of Directors of the Bank and the Corporation.
4.TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
		
	(a)
	    Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean:

(i)a material breach of any provision of this Agreement by the Officer (if the breach is curable, it will constitute Cause only if it continues uncured for a period of twenty (20) days after Officer’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the Company), 
(ii)Officer’s failure or refusal, in any material manner, to perform all lawful services required of him as an employee of the Company, which failure or refusal continues for more than twenty (20) days after the Officer’s receipt of written notice of such deficiency, 
(iii)Officer’s commission of fraud, embezzlement or theft, or a crime constituting moral turpitude, in any case whether or not involving the Company, that in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or the Board of Directors of the Bank, renders Officer’s continued employment harmful to the Company, 
(iv)Officer’s misappropriation of Company assets or property, including, without limitation, obtaining material reimbursement through fraudulent vouchers or expense reports, or 
(v)Officer’s conviction or the entry of a plea of guilty or no contest by Officer with respect to any felony or other crime that, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Corporation Board or Bank Board, adversely affects the Company, its reputation or business.

(b)Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events (i) a substantial adverse change, not consented to by Officer, in the nature or scope of Officer’s responsibilities, authorities or duties, (ii) a material involuntary reduction in Officer’s compensation except for an across-the-board and proportional salary reduction similarly affecting all or substantially all employees (provided that the compensation of the Officer shall be increased proportionately at any later time as any other senior executive base salary is thereafter increased), or (iii) the relocation, without the Officer’s consent, of Officer’s principal place of employment to another location of Company outside a 60-mile radius from the location of Officer’s principal place of employment at the time of the Change in Control Event. Officer must provide written notice to the Company of the existence of a condition, or conditions, that the Officer believes constitutes Good Reason within thirty (30) days of the initial existence of such condition(s). Upon receipt by the Company of such notice, the Company will have fifteen (15) days to remedy the condition(s). If the Company remedies the condition(s) of which it received notice from Officer within fifteen (15) days, then such condition(s) shall not constitute Good Reason.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Good Reason” shall not include (x) a change in the Officer’s reporting requirements following a Change in Control Event or (y) a change in the Officer’s title following a Change in Control Event.
(c)Notice of Termination.  Any termination following the Trigger Date (i) by the Company for Cause or (ii) by the Officer for Good Reason, provided, that, the Officer has complied with the notice requirements described in Section 4(b) and the Company failed to remedy the condition(s) described in such notice within the time period prescribed in Section 4(b), shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 9(b) of this Agreement.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Officer’s employment under the provision so indicated and (iii) specifies the date of termination (which date shall not be more than thirty (30) days after the giving of such notice).  The failure by the Officer or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Officer or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude the Officer or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Officer’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.
(d)Date of Termination.  “Date of Termination” means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination, or any later date specified therein, as the case may be.  The Company and the Officer shall take all steps necessary (including with regard to any post-termination services by the Officer) to ensure that any termination described in this Section 4 constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the date on which the separation from service takes place shall be the “Date of Termination.”

5.COVENANTS NECESSARY TO THE BANK'S BUSINESS
(a)Non-Solicitation of Customers.  The Officer covenants and agrees that, during the Covenant Period, the Officer will not, either directly or indirectly, on the Officer’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, in competition with the Business of the Company (as defined below), solicit, entice or recruit for a Competing Business (as defined below), attempt to solicit, entice or recruit for a Competing Business, or attempt to divert or appropriate to a Competing Business, any actual or prospective customer of the Company with whom the Officer had contact on behalf of the Company during the twelve (12) months prior to the Date of the Termination.  For the purposes of this Agreement, “Business of the Company” means the business conducted by the Company, which is the business of banking, including the solicitation of time and demand deposits and the making of residential, consumer, commercial and corporate loans.  “Competing Business” shall mean any business that, in whole or in part, is the same as or substantially similar to the Business of the Company.  Nothing in this Section 5(a) is intended to prohibit general advertising or general solicitation not specifically directed at customers of the Company or an Affiliated Company.
(b)Non-Solicitation of Employees.  The Officer covenants and agrees that, during the Covenant Period, the Officer will not, either directly or indirectly, on the Officer’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, hire, entice, encourage, cause, or recruit any person employed by the Company or an Affiliated Company at the Date of Termination and whether or not such employment is pursuant to written agreement and whether or not such employment is for a determined period or is at will, to leave such person’s employment with the Company or an Affiliated Company to join a Competing Business.  Nothing in this Section 5(b) is intended to prohibit general advertising or general solicitation not specifically directed at employees of the Company or an Affiliated Company.
(c)Non-Competition.  The Officer covenants and agrees that, during the Covenant Period, the Officer will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent may be withheld in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion), within the Area, as defined herein, either directly or indirectly, on his or her own behalf, or in the service of or on behalf of others, as an employee (or in any other capacity) where his or her duties and responsibilities are similar to those undertaken for the Company, engage in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the Business of the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company agrees that the Officer may own up to 5% of the voting shares of any financial institution engaged in the Business of the Company in the Area.  For purposes of this Section 5(c), the term Area shall be defined as the State of Michigan or within twenty-five (25) miles of a Company or subsidiary location, if located outside of the State of Michigan where the Company operates as a bank during the term of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing covenant in this Section 5(c), the Officer may engage in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the Business of the Company in the Area during the Covenant Period, provided that, Officer provides the Company with prior written notice of Officer's intent to compete and Officer pays the Company an amount equal to the pro rata portion of any Severance Payment previously paid by the Company to the Officer with respect to the terminated Covenant Period.  By way of example, if Officer is paid a Severance Payment of $120,000, and Officer delivers notice that he intends to commence services in contravention of the covenant in Section 5(c) upon the last day of the seventh month of a twelve month Covenant Period, then Officer shall pay the Company 5/12ths of the Severance payment, or $50,000, and Officer shall then be released from the limitations in this Section 5(c).   This release shall not have any effect on any other provisions of this Agreement, including Sections 5(a) and 5(b).  
(d)Consideration for Covenants.  The Officer covenants and agrees that the payment of any Severance Payment (as defined in Section 6(b)) shall be subject to and expressly conditioned upon the Officer’s compliance with the covenants set forth in subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) above.  Should the Officer fail to comply with these covenants, the Company shall not be required to make the Severance Payment (or 

any portion of the Severance Payment that remains unpaid), and the Officer shall be required to repay any portion of the Severance Payment that the Officer has already received from the Company.
(e)Company Information.  
(i)Ownership of Information.  All Company Information received or developed by the Officer while employed by the Company will remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.  
(ii)Duty with Respect to Company Information.  The Officer agrees (x) to hold Company Information in strictest confidence, and (y) not to use, duplicate, reproduce, distribute, disclose or otherwise disseminate Company Information or any physical embodiments thereof and may in no event take any action causing or fail to take any action necessary in order to prevent any Company Information from losing its character or ceasing to qualify as Confidential Information or a Trade Secret.  In the event that the Officer is required by law to disclose any Company Information, the Officer will not make such disclosure unless (and then only to the extent that) the Officer has been advised by independent legal counsel that such disclosure is required by law and then only after prior written notice is given to the Company when the Officer becomes aware that such disclosure has been requested and is required by law.  The obligations under this Section 5(e) shall remain in effect for so long as such information constitutes Confidential Information, or three years, whichever is shorter and shall survive termination of this Agreement for so long as is permitted by the then-current Michigan Uniform Trade Secrets Act, with respect to Trade Secrets.
(iii)Delivery upon Request or Termination.  Upon request by the Company, and in any event upon termination of the Officer’s employment with the Company, the Officer will promptly deliver to the Company all property belonging to the Company, including without limitation all Company Information then in the Officer’s possession or control.
(f)Understanding of Covenants.  Each covenant of this Agreement shall be deemed and shall be construed as a separate and independent covenant and, should any part or provision of any such covenants be declared unlawful, void or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such illegality, voidness or unenforceability shall in no way render unlawful, void or unenforceable any other part or provision of this Agreement or any other separate covenant not declared unlawful, void or unenforceable.  If any court of competent jurisdiction determines that all or any portion of any such covenant is against the policy of the laws of the State of Michigan, the Officer hereby requests that any reviewing court modify any such covenant to comport with the reasonable intent and expectations of the parties and in favor of providing reasonable protection to the Company’s legitimate business interests, and grant only the relief reasonably necessary to protect such interests and to achieve the original intent of the parties to the extent possible, as long as the modification does not render the covenant more restrictive with regard to the Officer than as originally drafted by the parties.  The Officer acknowledges that such modification may include, but is not limited to, severing or removing that part of a covenant that would otherwise make the entire covenant unenforceable, or enforcing the provisions of a covenant to the extent that the provisions are reasonable.  Any covenants so modified, any partially enforceable provisions, and all remaining provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
(g)Remedies.  The Officer agrees that a breach of any of the covenants of this Section 5 would cause material and irreparable harm to the Company that would be difficult or impossible to measure, and that damages or other legal remedies available to the Company for any such injury would, therefore, be an inadequate remedy for any such breach.  Accordingly, the Officer agrees that if he or she breaches any term of this Section 5, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to and without limitation upon all other remedies the Company may have under this Agreement, at law or otherwise, to obtain injunctive or other appropriate equitable relief, without bond or other security, to restrain any such breach.  Such equitable relief in any court shall be available to the Company in lieu of, or prior to or pending determination in any arbitration proceeding.  

In the event the enforceability of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be challenged in court and the Officer is not enjoined from breaching any of the protective covenants, then if a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the challenged protective covenant is enforceable, the time periods shall be deemed tolled upon the filing of the lawsuit challenging the enforceability of this Agreement until the dispute is finally resolved and all periods of appeal have expired.
6.OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION.
(a)Payment Trigger.  If, during the period commencing on the Trigger Date and ending eighteen (18) months following the Trigger Date, (i) the Company shall terminate the Officer’s employment without Cause, or (ii) the Officer shall terminate employment for Good Reason, then the Company shall pay to Officer the Severance Payment (defined below).
(b)Severance Payment.  The “Severance Payment” shall be an amount equal to one (1) times the Officer’s annual base salary in effect immediately prior to the date on which a Change in Control Event occurs plus an amount equal to the average of the Officer’s annual performance bonuses as identified by the Company during the two calendar years prior to the Change in Control Event.  For the avoidance of doubt, potential bonus awards such as transaction or special bonuses will not be included in this calculation.  The Severance Payment shall be payable to the Officer as follows:
(i)The Severance Payment, if any is due hereunder, shall be paid to the Officer in a lump sum not later than thirty (30) days following the Officer’s Date of Termination.
(ii)In the event of an Anticipatory Termination, the Severance Payment shall be paid to the Officer in a lump sum not later than thirty (30) days following the date of the Change in Control Event.
In the event that the aggregate of all payments or benefits made or provided to the Officer under this Agreement and under all other plans, programs or arrangements of the Company or any Affiliated Company (the “Aggregate Payment”) constitutes a parachute payment, as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (a “Parachute Payment”), such payments and benefits shall be reduced or eliminated, as determined by the Corporation, in the following order: (i) any cash payments, (ii) any taxable benefits, (iii) any nontaxable benefits, and (iv) any vesting or accelerated delivery of equity awards, in each case in reverse order beginning with the payments or benefits that are to be paid the farthest in time from the date that triggers the applicable excise tax, until the amount of the remaining Aggregate Payment is one dollar less than the amount that would constitute as a Parachute Payment.  The determination of whether the Aggregate Payment constitutes a Parachute Payment and, if so, the amount to be paid to the Officer and the time of payment pursuant to this Section 6 shall be made by an independent accounting firm (the “Accounting Firm”) selected by the Corporation.  The Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized United States public accounting firm which has not, during the two years preceding the date of its selection, acted in any way on behalf of (x) the Corporation or any affiliate thereof or (v) the Officer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any amount paid pursuant to this Section 6(b) is deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and as of the Date of Termination the Officer is a Specified Employee, amounts that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following the Date of Termination shall instead be paid, with interest on any delayed payment at the applicable federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Code, on the first business day after the date that is six months following the Officer’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (the “Delayed Payment Date”).  As used in this Agreement, the term “Specified Employee” means a “specified employee” as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).  By way of clarification, “specified employee” means a “key employee” (as defined in Section 416(i) of the Code, disregarding Section 416(i)(5) of the Code) of the Bank.  The Officer shall be treated as a 

key employee if the Officer meets the requirement of Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii), or (iii) at any time during the twelve (12) month period ending on an “identification date”.  For purposes of any “Specified Employee” determination hereunder, the “identification date” shall mean the last day of each calendar year.
		
	7.
	SUCCESSORS.

(a)This Agreement is personal to the Officer and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Officer otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Officer’s legal representatives.
(b)This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.
(c)The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Bank or the Corporation to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  As used in this Agreement, “the Company” shall mean the Corporation and the Bank as hereinbefore defined and any successor to their respective business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise, including specifically any acquirer of the Corporation, its business and/or assets.
8.COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A.
(a)This Agreement is intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code and any regulations and Treasury guidance promulgated thereunder.
(b)The Company and the Officer agree that they will execute any and all amendments to this Agreement as they mutually agree in good faith may be necessary to ensure compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
(c)The Company makes no representation or warranty as to the tax effect of any of the provisions of this Agreement, and the provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a guarantee by the Company of any particular tax effect to the Officer under this Agreement.  The Company shall not be liable to the Officer or any other person for any payment made under this Agreement which is determined to result in the imposition of an excise or other tax, penalty or interest under Section 409A of the Code, nor for reporting in good faith any payment made under this Agreement as an amount includible in gross income under Section 409A of the Code.
(d)For purposes of this Agreement, the phrases “employment by the Company is terminated,” “termination,” “terminate employment,” “employment termination” and words of similar import shall mean and refer only to a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A) and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(e)Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither the Bank, nor the Corporation, you or any other person or entity, acting alone or jointly, may exercise any discretion through an amendment of this Agreement or otherwise, with respect to any payment under this Agreement which is not exempt from the requirements of Code Section 409A, regarding acceleration or other action or omission in respect of any such non-exempt payment, in a manner which would give rise to taxation under Code Section 409A.

9.SURVIVAL.
The covenants and obligations set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement shall survive for a period of eighteen (18) months following the Trigger Date, irrespective of the delivery of a Non-Renewal Notice following the Trigger Date.
		
	10.
	MISCELLANEOUS.

(a)This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.  The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.
(b)All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery (which shall include delivery via Federal Express or UPS) to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
If to the Officer:
        
Greg Bixby
_______________
_______________

If to the Corporation:

Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
2301 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 525
Troy, Michigan 48084
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
            
If to the Bank:

Talmer Bank and Trust
2301 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 525
Troy, Michigan 48084
Attn: Chief Executive Officer

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(c)If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal shall be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it valid, enforceable and legal; provided, however, if the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal cannot be reformed so as to be valid and enforceable, then it shall be severed from, and shall not affect the enforceability of, the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

(d)The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.
(e)This Agreement embodies the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter addressed herein. 

THE PARTIES' SIGNATURES ARE CONTAINED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

TALMER BANCORP, INC.

By: /s/ DAVID PROVOST        
Name:  David Provost
Title: Chief Executive Officer

TALMER BANK AND TRUST

By: /s/ SANDRA D. KUOHN        
Name: Sandra D. Kuohn
Title:  Chief Human Resources Officer

OFFICER

   /s/ GREG BIXBY                
Greg Bixby, Chief Information Officer

SIGNATURE PAGE TO CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

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