Stock-Based Compensation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

NOTE 9 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Stock-based compensation plans are used to provide directors and employees with an increased incentive to contribute to the long-term performance and growth of Mercantile, to align the interests of directors and employees with the interests of Mercantile’s shareholders through the opportunity for increased stock ownership and to attract and retain directors and employees. From 1997 through 2005, stock option grants were provided to directors and certain employees through several stock option plans, including the 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan, 2004 Employee Stock Option Plan and Independent Director Stock Option Plan. During 2006, 2007 and 2008, stock option and restricted stock grants were provided to certain employees through the Stock Incentive Plan of 2006. No stock option or restricted stock grants were made during 2009, 2010 or 2011.

Under our 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan, 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan and 2004 Employee Stock Option Plan, stock options granted to employees were granted at the market price on the date of grant, generally fully vest after one year and expire ten years from the date of grant. Stock options granted to non-executive officers during 2005 vested about three weeks after being granted. Under our Independent Director Stock Option Plan, stock options granted to non-employee directors are at 125% of the market price on the date of grant, fully vest after five years and expire ten years from the date of grant. The Stock Incentive Plan of 2006 replaced all of our outstanding stock option plans for stock options not previously granted. Under the Stock Incentive Plan of 2006, incentive awards may include, but are not limited to, stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and stock awards. Incentive awards that are stock options or stock appreciation rights are granted with an exercise price not less than the closing price of Mercantile stock on the date of grant, or for stock options granted in 2006 or 2007, the day before the date of grant, if the closing price was higher on the day before the date of grant. Price, vesting and expiration date parameters are determined by Mercantile’s Compensation Committee on a grant-by-grant basis. Generally, the stock options granted to employees during 2006, 2007 and 2008 fully vested after two years and expire after seven years. The restricted stock awards granted to certain employees during 2006, 2007 and 2008 fully vest after four years. No payments were required from employees for the restricted stock awards. At year-end 2011, there were approximately 429,000 shares authorized for future incentive awards.

There was no unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options granted under our various stock-based compensation plans, and less than $0.1 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock granted under our Stock Incentive Plan of 2006 as of December 31, 2011, the latter of which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of less than one year.

A summary of restricted stock activity is as follows:

	2011					2010					2009
	Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value		Shares			Weighted Average Fair Value
Nonvested at beginning of year		73,955		$	11.02		91,233		$	14.98		113,010		$	14.85
Granted		0			NA		0			NA		0			NA
Vested		(28,533	)		17.57		(12,941	)		37.76		(3,290	)		20.39
Forfeited		(6,772	)		10.99		(4,337	)		14.62		(18,487	)		13.20
Nonvested at end of year		38,650		$	6.20		73,955		$	11.02		91,233		$	14.98

A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

	2011					2010					2009
	Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at beginning of year		262,042		$	21.18		293,572		$	20.43		322,791		$	20.58
Granted		0			NA		0			NA		0			NA
Exercised		(8,800	)		6.21		0			NA		0			NA
Forfeited or expired		(38,339	)		17.80		(31,530	)		14.23		(29,219	)		22.05
Outstanding at end of year		214,903		$	22.40		262,042		$	21.18		293,572		$	20.43
Options exercisable at year-end		212,643		$	22.57		250,222		$	21.86		228,252		$	24.20

The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using a closed option valuation (Black-Scholes) model that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities on our common stock. Historical data is used to estimate stock option expense and post-vesting termination behavior. The expected term of stock options granted is based on historical data and represents the period of time that stock options granted are expected to be outstanding, which takes into account that the stock options are not transferable. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the stock option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the stock option grant. No stock option grants were made during 2009, 2010 or 2011.

Options outstanding at year-end 2011 were as follows:

	Outstanding						Exercisable
Range of Exercise Prices	Number		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number		Weighted Average Exercise Price
$ 6.21 - $ 8.00		47,960		3.9 Years	$	6.21		45,700	$	6.21
$16.01 - $20.00		64,122		2.1 Years		17.16		64,122		17.16
$20.01 - $24.00		5,088		0.8 Years		20.18		5,088		20.18
$24.01 - $28.00		19,916		1.8 Years		26.61		19,916		26.61
$32.01 - $36.00		56,931		3.3 Years		34.74		56,931		34.74
$36.01 - $40.00		15,684		1.9 Years		37.94		15,684		37.94
$40.01 - $44.00		5,202		2.8 Years		40.28		5,202		40.28
Outstanding at year end		214,903		2.8 Years	$	22.40		212,643	$	22.57

The weighted-average remaining contractual life of the 212,643 stock options exercisable as of December 31, 2011 was 2.8 years.

Information related to options outstanding at year-end 2011, 2010 and 2009 were as follows:

	2011		2010		2009
Minimum exercise price	$	6.21	$	6.21	$	6.21
Maximum exercise price		40.28		40.28		40.28
Average remaining option term		2.8 Years		3.5 Years		4.2 Years

Information related to stock option grants and exercises during 2011, 2010 and 2009 follows:

	2011		2010		2009
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$	26,000	$	NA	$	NA
Cash received from stock option exercises		55,000		NA		NA
Tax benefit realized from stock option exercises		0		NA		NA
Weighted average per share fair value of stock options granted		NA		NA		NA

The aggregate intrinsic value of all stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2011 was $0.2 million.

Shares issued as a result of the exercise of stock option grants have been authorized and previously unissued shares.