Document:

exv10w7

Exhibit 10.7

SECOND AMENDMENT

TO THE

MERCANTILE TRUST & SAVINGS BANK

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEE SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT

DATED DECEMBER 8, 1994

AND AMENDED APRIL 26, 2004

FOR

TED T. AWERKAMP

     THIS SECOND AMENDMENT is adopted this 18th day of December 2007, effective as of January 1,
2005, by and between Mercantile Trust & Savings Bank, an Illinois corporation (the “Company”), and
Ted T. Awerkamp (the “Participant”).

     The Company and Participant executed the Executive Employee Salary Continuation Agreement
effective as of December 8, 1994, and executed a First Amendment on April 26, 2004 (the
“Agreement”).

     The undersigned hereby amend the Agreement for the purpose of bringing the Agreement into
compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, the following changes shall
be made:

     The following Section G.1 shall be added to the Agreement immediately following Section G of
Article 1:

	G.1	 	Specified Employee – “Specified Employee” means an employee who at the time of
Termination of Employment is a key employee of the Company, if any stock of the Company is
publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise. For purposes of this
Agreement, an employee is a key employee if the employee meets the requirements of Code
Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii), or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder
and disregarding section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on December
31 (the “identification period”). If the employee is a key employee during an identification
period, the employee is treated as a key employee for purposes of this Agreement during the
twelve (12) month period that begins on the first day of April following the close of the
identification period.

     Section H of Article 1 of the Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced by the
following:

	H.	 	Termination of Employment – “Termination of Employment” means termination of the
Participant’s employment with the Company for reasons other than death. Whether a termination
of employment has occurred is determined based on whether the facts and circumstances indicate
that the Company and the Participant reasonably anticipated that no further services would be
performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Participant would
perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) would
permanently decrease to no more than twenty percent

 

 

	 	 	(20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an
independent contractor) over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the
full period of services to the Company if the Participant has been providing services to the
Company less than thirty-six (36) months).

     Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the Agreement shall be deleted in their entirety and replaced by the
following:

	3.1	 	Normal Retirement Benefit. Upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment on or
after the Normal Retirement Date, the Company shall pay to the Participant, as compensation
for services rendered prior to such date, the sum of Sixty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars
($68,900) per year, payable in monthly installments of Five Thousand Seven Hundred Forty-One
Dollars and Sixty-Six Cents ($5,741.66) each, commencing on the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the date of Termination of Employment and continuing on the
first day of each month thereafter for the life of the Participant or the Participant’s
beneficiary per Section 3.5(b).
	 
	3.2	 	Early Retirement Benefit. Upon the Participant’s Termination of Employment on or
after the Early Retirement Date but prior to the Normal Retirement Date, the Company shall pay
to the Participant, as compensation for services rendered prior to such date, monthly payments
equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) the “Immediate Annual Benefit” for the Participant’s
Age at the time of Termination of Employment as described in the attached Schedule A. Such
payments shall commence on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the
date of Termination of Employment, and shall continue on the first day of each month
thereafter for a period of fifteen (15) years, but in any event until a minimum of one hundred
eighty (180) payments have been made to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary per
Section 3.5(b).

     Sections 3.4, 3.4(a), 3.4(b) and 3.4(c) of the Agreement shall be deleted in their entirety
and replaced by the following:

3.4 Other Terminations of Employment.

	 	(a)	 	Voluntary Termination of Employment Prior to the Early Retirement Date.
Upon the Participant’s voluntary Termination of Employment prior to reaching the Early
Retirement Date, for reasons other than death, the Company shall pay the vested
“Year-End Accrual Balance,” if any, for the Participant’s Age at the time of voluntary
Termination of Employment as described in the attached Schedule A, and the Participant
shall have no further right to receive any additional benefit hereunder. The Company
shall pay the benefit to the Participant in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly
installments commencing on the first day of the month coincident with or next following
the date of Termination of Employment.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Involuntary Termination of Employment Prior to the Early Retirement Date
Other Than Because of Death or Discharge for Cause. Upon the Participant’s
involuntary Termination of Employment prior to reaching the Early Retirement Date, for
reasons other than death or Discharge for Cause, the Company shall pay

 

 

	 	 	 	the vested “Immediate Annual Benefit,” if any, for the Participant’s Age at the time
of involuntary Termination of Employment as described in the attached Schedule A.
The Company shall pay the annual benefit to the Participant in twelve (12) equal
monthly installments commencing on the first day of the month coincident with or
next following the date of Termination of Employment. The annual benefit shall be
paid to the Participant for fifteen (15) years, but in any event until a minimum of
one hundred eighty (180) payments have been made to the Participant or the
Participant’s beneficiary per Section 3.5(b). For purposes of this Section 3.4(b)
only, the Participant shall be deemed to have incurred an Involuntary Termination of
Employment if the Participant quits employment as a result of the Company
significantly lessening either the Participant’s title, duties, responsibilities,
base salary or altering situs of employment without the Participant’s consent. The
Participant’s base salary shall be deemed to be significantly lessened if any
cutback is imposed except as part of an overall cutback applied proportionately to
all of the Company’s management employees or if the Participant fails to receive
periodic increases substantially proportionate to and coincident with the increases
granted to management employees.

	 	(c)	 	Termination of Employment At or After A Change in Control. If the
Participant incurs a Termination of Employment prior to reaching the Early Retirement
Date, for reasons other than death, Disability, or Discharge for Cause, but on or after
the occurrence of a Change in Control, and in connection with such change, the
Participant’s title, duties, responsibilities, or base salary is significantly lessened
or the Participant’s situs of employment is changed without the Participant’s consent,
the Company shall pay to the Participant, whether or not fully vested, an amount equal
to the “Year-end Accrual Balance” for the Age of the Participant at such Termination
of Employment as described in the attached Schedule A. For purposes hereof, the
standards set forth in Section 3.4(b) above with respect to what constitutes a
significant lessening of base salary shall apply. The Company shall pay the annual
benefit to the Participant in twelve (12) equal monthly installments commencing on the
first day of the month coincident with or next following the date of Termination of
Employment. The annual benefit shall be paid to the Participant for fifteen (15)
years, but in any event until a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) payments have been
made to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary per Section 3.5(b).

     The following Sections 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9 shall be added to the Agreement immediately following
Section 3.6:

	3.7	 	Restriction on Timing of Distributions.  Notwithstanding any provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, if the Participant is considered a Specified Employee, the
provisions of this Section 3.7 shall govern all distributions hereunder. If benefit
distributions which would otherwise be made to the Participant due to a Termination of
Employment are limited because the Participant is a Specified Employee, then such
distributions shall not be made during the first six (6) months following Termination of
Employment. Rather, any distribution which would otherwise be paid to the Participant during
such period

 

 

	 	 	shall be accumulated and paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the first day of the
seventh month following the Termination of Employment. All subsequent distributions shall
be paid in the manner specified.
	 
	3.8	 	Distributions Upon Income Inclusion Under Section 409A of the Code. If, pursuant to
Code Section 409A, the Federal Insurance Contributions Act or other state, local or foreign
tax, the Participant becomes subject to tax on the amounts deferred hereunder, then the
Company may make a limited distribution to the Participant in accordance with the provisions
of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(j)(vi), (vii) and (xi). Any such distribution will
decrease the Participant’s benefit hereunder.
	 
	3.9	 	Change in Form or Timing of Distributions. All changes in the form or timing of
distributions hereunder must comply with the following requirements. The changes:

	 	(a)	 	may not accelerate the time or schedule of any distribution,
except as provided in Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder;
	 
	 	(b)	 	must, for benefits distributable under Sections 3.1, 3.2,
3.4(a), 3.4(b) and 3.4(c), delay the commencement of distributions for a
minimum of five (5) years from the date the first distribution was originally
scheduled to be made; and
	 
	 	(c)	 	must take effect not less than twelve (12) months after the
election is made.

     Article 11 of the Agreement shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:

	11.	 	Amendments and Termination.
	 
	11.1	 	Amendments. The Company may amend this Agreement unilaterally by written action.
	 
	11.2	 	Plan Termination Generally. The Company may terminate this Agreement unilaterally by
written action. The benefit hereunder shall be the amount the Company has accrued with
respect to the Company’s obligations hereunder as of the date the Agreement is terminated.
Except as provided in Section 11.3, the termination of this Agreement shall not cause a
distribution of benefits under this Agreement. Rather, after such termination benefit
distributions will be made at the earliest distribution event permitted under Article 3.
	 
	11.3	 	Plan Terminations Under Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
Section 11.2, if this Agreement terminates in the following circumstances:

	 	(a)	 	Within thirty (30) days before or twelve (12) months after a
change in the ownership or effective control of the Company, or in the
ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company as described in
Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v)) of the Code, provided that all distributions are made
no later than twelve (12) months following such termination of the Agreement
and further provided that all the Company’s arrangements

 

 

	 	 	 	which are substantially similar to the Agreement are terminated so the
Participant and all participants in the similar arrangements are required to
receive all amounts of compensation deferred under the terminated
arrangements within twelve (12) months of the such terminations;

	 	(b)	 	Upon the Company’s dissolution or with the approval of a
bankruptcy court provided that the amounts deferred under the Agreement are
included in the Participant’s gross income in the latest of (i) the calendar
year in which the Agreement terminates; (ii) the calendar year in which the
amount is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the
first calendar year in which the distribution is administratively practical; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	Upon the Company’s termination of this and all other
arrangements that would be aggregated with this Agreement pursuant to Treasury
Regulations Section 1.409A-1(c) if the Participant participated in such
arrangements (“Similar Arrangements”), provided that (i) the termination and
liquidation does not occur proximate to a downturn in the financial health of
the Company, (ii) all termination distributions are made no earlier than twelve
(12) months and no later than twenty-four (24) months following such
termination, and (iii) the Company does not adopt any new arrangement that
would be a Similar Arrangement for a minimum of three (3) years following the
date the Company takes all necessary action to irrevocably terminate and
liquidate the Agreement;

The Company may distribute the amount the Company has accrued with respect to the Company’s
obligations hereunder, determined as of the date of the termination of the Agreement, to the
Participant in a lump sum subject to the above terms.

     The following Article 17 shall be added to the Agreement immediately following Article 16:

	17.	 	Compliance with Code Section 409A. This Agreement shall be interpreted and
administered consistent with Code Section 409A.

 

 

     IN WITNESS OF THE ABOVE, the Company and the Participant hereby consent to this Second
Amendment.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Participant:	 	Mercantile Trust & Savings Bank	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	/s/ Ted T. Awerkamp

	 	By
	 	/s/ H. Blaine Strock	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Ted T. Awerkamp	 	Title: President/CEOexv10w8

Exhibit 10.8

Mercantile Bancorp, Inc.

Employment Agreement

     This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective as of January
1, 2008 (“Effective Date”), by and between Mercantile Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Company”), with its principal office located at Quincy, Illinois, and Ted T. Awerkamp, of Quincy,
Illinois (“Employee”).

RECITALS

     A. Company is a bank holding company.

     B. Employee is currently employed by Company, pursuant to the terms of an employment agreement
dated March 1, 2007 (the “Prior Employment Agreement”), in the position of President and Chief
Executive Officer of Company.

     C. Company desires to continue the employment of Employee in the position of President and
Chief Executive Officer of Company on the terms, covenants and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

     D. Employee desires to continue in the employ of Company in the position of President and
Chief Executive Officer of Company on the terms, covenants and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

     E. Company and Employee desire to enter into this Agreement as of the Effective Date and this
Agreement shall supersede all of the terms and conditions of all prior employment terms and
conditions, whether or not in writing, including the Prior Employment Agreement and any such prior
employment agreement shall become null and void as of the Effective Date, and the parties
thereunder shall have no rights or interests therein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreement
hereinafter contained, it is covenanted and agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

EMPLOYMENT

     1.1 Company Employs Employee. Company hereby employs Employee as President and Chief
Executive Officer of Company. All duties or responsibilities hereunder taken or performed by
Employee pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the direction, supervision and control of
the Board of Directors of Company. Employee shall be obligated as part of his duties to be a
director of the Company (if elected by the Company’s stockholders) and a director of such
Subsidiaries as the Company’s Board of Directors shall determine from time to time. For the
purposes of this Agreement, “Subsidiary” is defined as any entity in which the Company has voting
control of at least fifty percent (50%) of such entity’s voting stock.

 

 

     1.2 Employee Accepts Employment. Employee hereby accepts employment with Company as
President and Chief Executive Officer and agrees that he will at all times faithfully,
industriously, and to the best of his ability, experience and talents, perform all of the duties
that may be required of and from him pursuant to the express and implicit terms of this Agreement,
to the reasonable satisfaction of Company.

ARTICLE II

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

     2.1 Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall be for the period beginning on
January 1, 2008 and ending on February 28, 2010 (the “Term”). This Agreement shall be reviewed
annually by the Company and Employee no later than February of each year and a determination will
be made at such time whether to extend the Term of the Agreement for an additional one (1) year
(with any such extension(s) of the Term also referred to as the “Term”). For example, when the
Agreement is reviewed in February 2008, if the decision is to extend the Term for an additional one
(1) year, the Term will then be three (3) years commencing March 1, 2008. If, in the annual review
process by the Company and Employee, there is no offer by the Company to extend the Term of the
Agreement for an additional year, the Employee may terminate the Agreement under Section 5.4 with a
sixty (60) day prior written notice.

ARTICLE III

COMPENSATION

     3.1 Salary. Company shall pay Employee a base salary of Three Hundred Twenty-five
Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($325,000.00) annually, payable in accordance with Company’s normal
payroll practices, to be prorated in any partial year of employment with Company. Company shall
withhold from all compensation any applicable withholding and payroll taxes and such other amounts
as required by law. No additional compensation shall be paid to Employee for his service as a
director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     3.2 Incentive Bonus. In addition to the base salary as provided in Section 3.1 above,
Company shall pay Employee an annual incentive bonus in an amount up to forty percent (40%) of base
salary in accordance with the incentive compensation plan established by the Compensation Committee
and Board of Directors of Company during 2007. The bonus shall be prorated for any partial year.
Further, Employee must be employed on December 31 of each year to be entitled to a bonus for such
year.

     3.3 Automobile. Company shall provide Employee with a leased automobile from a
customer of Mercantile Trust & Savings Bank, to be used by Employee in his capacity as President
and Chief Executive Officer of Company.

     3.4 Country Club Membership and Dues. Company shall provide to Employee a membership
in a country club located in the Quincy, Illinois area and shall pay annually the dues and any
assessment for such membership.

     3.5 Business Expenses. During the Term, Company shall reimburse Employee for
reasonable business expenses incurred by Employee in the performance of his duties under this
Agreement.

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     3.6 Benefits. As an employee of Company, Employee shall, upon meeting any applicable
eligibility and enrollment requirements, be entitled to participate in and receive such benefits,
including but not limited to, health and retirement plans, which shall be no less beneficial to
Employee than those offered to other employees of Company from time to time.

ARTICLE IV

DISABILITY

     4.1 Suspension of Agreement. If, during the period of this Agreement, Employee
becomes disabled in accordance with the definition of being disabled as set forth in Section
409A(a)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Company may suspend
this Agreement during the period of such disability by giving notice to Employee of its intention
to suspend due to disability, subject to the following:

          (a) This Agreement shall thereupon be suspended as of the end of the month in which such
notice was given and shall continue to be suspended until Employee is no longer suffering such
disability. The determination of Employee’s disability, and recovery therefrom, will be made by a
physician mutually acceptable to Company and Employee. The opinion of such physician shall be in
writing and shall be given to Company and Employee.

          (b) If during any time of Employee’s disability that he is eligible for and is receiving
disability income payments from Company’s disability income insurance carrier, such payments are
less than sixty percent (60%) of the sum of the annual base salary he was receiving from Company
immediately prior to his disability and the amount of any incentive bonus pursuant to Section 3.2
Employee received within the last twelve (12) months prior to his disability, Company shall pay
Employee an amount which, when added to the gross payments (before any deductions) received by
Employee from Company’s disability insurance carrier, will result in the Employee receiving from
Company and Company’s disability insurance carrier an annual sum equal to sixty percent (60%) of
the sum of his annual base salary immediately prior to his disability and the amount of any
incentive bonus pursuant to Section 3.2 Employee received within the last twelve (12) months prior
to his disability. Such payment from Company shall be due Employee for as long as Employee is
eligible to receive disability income payments from Company’s disability insurance carrier. When
Employee is no longer eligible to receive such disability income payments from the insurance
carrier, any obligation for an additional payment from Company shall terminate.

ARTICLE V

TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

     5.1 Death. In the event of the death of Employee during the Term hereof, this
Agreement shall terminate at the end of the month during which Employee dies and Company shall have
no further obligation hereunder.

     5.2 Termination for Cause. Company may terminate Employee’s employment under the
terms of this Agreement upon the occurrence of any one of the following events (each such event
being hereinafter referred to as “Cause”):

3

 

          (a) The conviction of Employee of any crime punishable as a felony or a crime involving moral
turpitude or immoral conduct;

          (b) An embezzlement or misappropriation by Employee of funds of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries;

          (c) Employee committing an unauthorized act to aid or abet a competitor of Company or any of
its Subsidiaries;

          (d) Employee being removed by order of a regulatory agency having jurisdiction over Company or
any of its Subsidiaries; and

          (e) For Cause thirty (30) days after written notice by Company to Employee and failure to cure
by Employee within such thirty (30) day period, or if not capable of cure within such time period,
failure by Employee to promptly commence cure and proceed with continuity and diligence to cure,
due to: (i) material breach of any provision of this Agreement; (ii) failure or neglect to perform
the duties of his position as President and Chief Executive Officer; (iii) failure to comply with
Company’s rules and policies or the code of conduct of Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv)
misconduct in connection with performance of any of Employee’s duties; or (v) commission of an act
involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, theft or unethical business conduct, or other misconduct
that impairs or injures the reputation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     5.3 Effect of Termination Under Section 5.1 or 5.2. In the event of Employee’s death
or that Company terminates this Agreement for Cause, Company shall be obligated to pay Employee his
compensation only until the end of the month during which Employee dies or his employment is
terminated for Cause.

     5.4 Termination Without Cause. Except as provided in Section 2.1, either Company or
Employee may terminate this Agreement without Cause by providing to the other party six (6) months
prior written notice.

          (a) Termination by Employee. If Employee terminates this Agreement for any reason,
Employee shall be obligated to continue to perform his duties under this Agreement during the six
(6) months (except, only sixty (60) days if Section 2.1 applies) following delivery of his
termination notice. If Employee so terminates this Agreement, Employee shall not be entitled to
compensation hereunder after the date Employee ceases the performance of his duties under this
Agreement.

          (b) Termination by Company.

               (i) If Company terminates this Agreement for any reason other than Cause, Employee shall not
be obligated thereafter to perform his duties hereunder, but Company shall be obligated to pay an
amount equal to the amount of Employee’s base salary and benefits (except automobile and country
club), including, without limitation, the amount paid to Employee for the incentive bonus provided
in Section 3.2 for the last calendar year preceding termination of employment, that would have been
due to Employee had he remained employed by the Company for the remainder of the Term (the
“Severance Amount”); provided, however,

4

 

that such Severance Amount shall in no event be calculated based on a period of less than
twenty-four (24) months. The minimum period of twenty-four (24) months shall be inclusive of the
six (6) month notice period.

               (ii) The Severance Amount shall be paid to Employee as follows:

                    (A) Commencing on the termination date, Employee shall receive the applicable Severance Amount
(less any amount described in subparagraph (B) below) paid in substantially equal installments
during the twenty-four (24) month period following termination, based upon Company’s then current
payroll practice.

                    (B) To the extent any portion of the applicable Severance Amount exceeds the “safe harbor”
amount described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A), Employee shall receive such
portion of the applicable Severance Amount that exceeds the “safe harbor” amount in a single lump
sum payment payable within fifteen (15) business days after Employee’s termination date.

     5.5 Termination On Account of Change in Control.

          (a) A Change in Control shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events:

               (i) Any person, group of investors or entity becomes subsequent to the date of this Agreement,
the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of one share more than fifty percent (50%) of the
then issued and outstanding shares of voting stock of Mercantile Bancorp, Inc. (and, for purposes
hereof, a person will be considered to be a beneficial owner of such stock if such person, directly
or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or
shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such stock, or
investment power, which includes the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of such stock);

               (ii) Change in the majority of the incumbent board unless new directors were nominated by a
majority of the incumbent board.

               (iii) Company merges or consolidates with or reorganizes with or into any other corporation
other than its Subsidiaries or engages in any other similar business combination or reorganization;
or

               (iv) Company sells, assigns or transfers all or substantially all of its business and assets,
in one or a series of related transactions, except any such sales to Subsidiaries.

          (b) If during the Term and after the date of a Change in Control, Employee is discharged by
Company without Cause or Employee resigns for Good Reason, then Company shall make the payments to
Employee set forth in subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.5. For purposes of this Section 5.5,
“Good Reason” shall mean (i) a material diminution in Employee’s authority, duties or
responsibilities; (ii) a material diminution in Employee’s base compensation; or (iii) a change in
geographic location of Employee’s principal place of employment to a

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location outside of the City of Quincy, Illinois, provided that such change in location is be
deemed to be a material change in geographic location. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to
Employee’s termination for Good Reason, Employee must give Company written notice of the existence
of any condition set forth in clause (i) – (iii) above within ninety (90) days of such initial
existence and Company shall have thirty (30) days from the date of such notice in which to cure the
condition giving rise to Good Reason, if curable. If, during such thirty (30)-day period, Company
cures the condition giving rise to Good Reason, no benefits shall be due under this Section 5.5
with respect to such occurrence. If, during such thirty (30)-day period, Company fails or refuses
to cure the condition giving rise to Good Reason, Employee shall be entitled to benefits under this
Section 5.5 upon such termination; provided such termination occurs within twenty-four (24) months
of such initial existence of the applicable condition.

          (c) In the event of the termination of Employee’s employment as described in subparagraph (b)
above, Employee shall be entitled to receive:

               (i) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.5(c)(iii), a lump sum cash payment equal to two
and one-half (2.5) times his Compensation; provided, however, that the multiplier of two and
one-half (2.5) shall be increased to a number between two and one-half (2.5) and three (3) in the
case that there is more than thirty (30) months remaining on the Term at the time of such
termination. Such increased multiplier shall be equal to the number of whole months remaining on
the Term divided by twelve (12). “Compensation” as used in this Section 5.5, shall mean the last
base salary in effect for Employee (before any reduction after a Change in Control) plus any
incentive bonus as provided in Section 3.2 paid to Employee for the last calendar year preceding
Employee’s termination of employment on account of a Change in Control. Employee shall also be
entitled to continue receiving his other benefits due pursuant to Section 3.6, including without
limitation, the health plan, for a period of time following his date of termination equal to the
shorter of (A) twenty-four (24) months or (B) the maximum period allowed pursuant to any one or
more of the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) which would be exempt from
the definition of “deferred compensation” thereunder. Employee shall not receive after a Change in
Control the automobile and country club membership provided in Sections 3.3 and 3.4.

               (ii) The payment and benefits provided for in Section 5.5(c)(i) are in lieu of compensation,
benefits and other amounts Employee might otherwise be entitled to under the Company’s severance
policy, if any, or otherwise payable by Company by reason of this Agreement and termination of
employment.

               (iii) If the present value of the payment due Employee on account of a Change in Control
pursuant to Section 5.5(c)(i) hereof plus the present value of any other payments Employee is
entitled to under the Salary Continuation Agreement dated December 8, 1994, as amended, by and
between Mercantile Trust & Savings Bank and Employee on account of a Change in Control and the
present value of any other payments Employee is entitled to on account of a Change in Control in
any other agreements (collectively, the “Total Change in Control Payments”) exceed three times his
Base Amount, as such term is defined in Code Section 280G, then the payment due Employee pursuant
to Section 5.5(c)(i) hereof shall be reduced to an amount which will result in the Total Change in
Control Payments due Employee

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being equal to an amount which is no more than three times the Base Amount less One Dollar
($1).

ARTICLE VI

NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION

     6.1 Company and Employee have jointly reviewed the operations of Company and its Subsidiaries
and have agreed that the primary service area of Company’s lending and deposit taking functions in
which Employee will actively participate extends separately to an area that encompasses a five (5)
mile radius from each banking or other office location, including branches, of Company and its
Subsidiaries and a fifty (50) mile radius from the Company’s headquarters (collectively, the
“Restrictive Area”). Therefore, as an essential ingredient of and in consideration of this
Agreement and his employment by Company, Employee agrees that, during his employment with Company
and for a period of twenty-four (24) months immediately following the termination of his employment
(the “Restrictive Period”), for whatever reason, where such termination occurs during the term of
this Agreement or thereafter, he will not, except with the express prior written consent of
Company, directly or indirectly, do any of the following:

          (a) Within the Restrictive Area (determined at the time of termination), engage or invest in,
own, manage, operate, finance, control, or participate in the ownership, management, operation or
control of, be employed by, associated with, or in any manner connected with, serve as a director,
officer or consultant to, lend his name or any similar name to, lend his credit to, or render
services or advice to, any person, firm, partnership, corporation or trust which owns, operates or
is in the process of forming, a bank, savings and loan association, credit union or similar
financial institution (a “Financial Institution”) with an office located, or to be located at an
address identified in a filing with any regulatory authority, within the Restrictive Area; provided
however, that the ownership by Employee of shares of the capital stock of any Financial Institution
which shares are listed on a securities exchange or quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System and which do not represent more than five percent
(5%) of the institution’s outstanding capital stock, shall not violate any terms of this Agreement;

          (b) Employee will not, directly or indirectly, either for himself, or any Financial
Institution: (1) induce or attempt to induce any employee of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
leave the employ of Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (2) in any way interfere with the
relationship between Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any employee of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries; or (3) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee, or business
relation of Company or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or in any way interfere with the relationship between Company or any of its
Subsidiaries and their respective customers, suppliers, licensees or business relations.

          (c) Employee will not, directly or indirectly, either for himself, or any Financial
Institution, solicit the business of any person or entity known to Employee to be a customer of
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, where Employee, or any person reporting to Employee, had
personal contact with such person or entity, with respect to products, activities or

7

 

services which compete in whole or in part with the products, activities or services of
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     6.2 Employee has reviewed the provisions of this Agreement with legal counsel, or has been
given adequate opportunity to seek such counsel, and Employee acknowledges and expressly agrees
that the covenants contained in this Article VI and Article VII below are reasonable with respect
to their duration, geographical area and scope. Employee further acknowledges that the
restrictions contained in this Article VI and Article VII below are reasonable and necessary for
the protection of the legitimate business interests of Company, that they create no undue
hardships, that any violation of these restrictions would cause substantial injury to Company and
such interests, and that such restrictions were a material inducement to Company to enter into this
Agreement. In the event of any violation or threatened violation of these restrictions, Company,
in addition to and not in limitation of, any other rights, remedies or damages available to Company
under this Agreement or otherwise at law or in equity, shall be entitled to preliminary and
permanent injunctive relief to prevent or restrain any such violation by Employee and any and all
persons directly or indirectly acting for or with him, as the case may be.

ARTICLE VII

CONFIDENTIALITY AND NON-DISCLOSURE

     7.1 Confidential Information. Employee agrees at all times during his employment and
following his termination of employment for any reason, Employee will not disclose to any
non-employee of Company any Confidential Information without written consent of Company. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means any written information or documents
of Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any information in whatever form regarding strategic
plans of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, data and compilations of information regarding
customers of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any financial information of Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any other information in whatever form or medium designated as confidential by
Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     Upon termination of employment and thereafter, Employee shall not remove, retain, disclose or
use any Confidential Information without Company’s prior written consent. Employee’s obligations
of confidentiality shall not apply as to a particular portion of Confidential Information if such
portion (a) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by
Employee or any of his agents, advisors, employees or representatives; (b) was rightfully in the
possession of Employee on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Company or its agents,
advisors, employees or representatives, but only if such source has obtained the information
legally and is bound by a confidentiality agreement with Company or its agents, advisors, employees
or representatives; or (c) is required to be disclosed by law.

     7.2 Dispute Resolution. In the event of a violation of this Article VII, Company
shall have the right to obtain injunctive or other equitable or legal relief. This Article VII
shall not be subject to arbitration under Section 8.10.

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ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     8.1 Modifications. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties, including, without limitation, any prior written or verbal communications or
agreements. This Agreement may not be changed or terminated orally. No modification, termination
or attempted waiver of any of its provisions shall be valid unless in writing signed by the party
against whom the same is sought to be enforced.

     8.2 Notices. Whenever any notice is required by this Agreement, it shall be given in
writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	To Company:
	 	Mercantile Bancorp, Inc.
	 

	 	 	 	440 Maine Street
	 

	 	 	 	Quincy, Illinois 62301
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	To Employee:
	 	Ted T. Awerkamp
	 

	 	 	 	816 Birdie Lane
	 

	 	 	 	Quincy, Illinois 62301

     Notices shall be deemed given and effective three (3) business days after deposit in the U.S.
mail. Either party may change the address for notice by notifying the other party of such change
in accordance with this Section.

     8.3 Entire Agreement; Survival. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
between Employee and Company concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior
negotiations, undertakings, agreements and arrangements with respect thereto, whether written or
oral, specifically including the Prior Employment Agreement. If a court of competent jurisdiction
determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, then the invalidity or
unenforceability of that provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The
various covenants and provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable and to constitute
independent and distinct binding obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if
the scope of any covenant contained in this Agreement is too broad to permit enforcement to its
full extent, such covenant shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law, and Employee
hereby agrees that such scope may be judicially modified accordingly.

     8.4 Waivers. No waiver by Company of any breach of this Agreement shall be construed
as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

     8.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
Company, its successors and assigns, and Employee, his heirs and legal representatives.

     8.6 Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
Company, it successors, and assigns. The rights of Employee hereunder are personal and may not be
assigned or transferred.

9

 

     8.7 Construction. Titles and headings to various subdivisions of this Agreement are
for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     8.8 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or
unenforceable under any court or governmental agency of competent jurisdiction, or under any
statute, the remaining provisions shall not thereby be invalidated but shall remain in full force
and effect, unless to do so would clearly violate the present legal and valid intention of the
parties hereto.

     8.9 Governing Law. This Agreement and all questions arising in connection with it
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.

     8.10 Arbitration. All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement
and/or with Employee’s employment or termination of employment, other than disputes arising under
Articles VI and VII, shall be determined by arbitration in accordance with the commercial
arbitration rules then in effect of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the matter. The arbitration proceedings shall
be held in Quincy, Illinois, or at such other place as may be mutually agreeable to the parties and
the arbitrator.

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

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Mercantile Bancorp, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Dan S. Dugan	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Its: Chairman	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/ Ted T. Awerkamp	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Ted T. Awerkamp 	 	 

10

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