MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC
S-3, 1997-10-09
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE> 1
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 9, 1997
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333------
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                         MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

          MISSOURI                         6712                   43-0951744
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION         (PRIMARY STANDARD         (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
      OF INCORPORATION           INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION      IDENTIFICATION
      OR ORGANIZATION)                 CODE NUMBER)                NUMBER)

                             One Mercantile Center
                                  P.O. Box 524
                         St. Louis, Missouri 63166-0524
                                 (314) 425-2525
       (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA
               CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                             JON W. BILSTROM, ESQ.
                         General Counsel and Secretary
                         Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.
                                  P.O. Box 524
                        St. Louis, Missouri  63166-0524
                                 (314) 425-2525
      (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
                        AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                                           COPY TO:
              JOHN Q. ARNOLD                        ROBERT M. LaROSE, ESQ.
    Senior Executive Vice President and                Thompson Coburn
          Chief Financial Officer                         Suite 3400
      Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.                 One Mercantile Center
               P.O. Box 524                       St. Louis, Missouri 63101
      St. Louis, Missouri  63166-0524                   (314) 552-6000
              (314) 425-2525

      APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE OF THE SECURITIES TO
THE PUBLIC:  As soon as possible after the effective date of this
Registration Statement.
      If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box: / /
      If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: /x/
      If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
      If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. / /
      If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. / /

<TABLE>
                                                  CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
<CAPTION>
                                                                   PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED MAXIMUM      AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                           AMOUNT TO BE      OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE             REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                      REGISTERED        PER UNIT<F2>          OFFERING PRICE        FEE<F3>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>               <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share<F1>      2,000,000         $52.06                $104,120,000          $31,551.51
====================================================================================================================================
<FN>
- -------------------------
<F1>  Includes one attached Preferred Share Purchase Right per share. In
      addition, this Registration Statement includes such indeterminate
      number of shares of Common Stock as may be issuable as a result of
      stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
<F2>  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee
      pursuant to the provisions of Rule 457(c).
<F3>  Based upon the average of the high and low price for Mercantile
      Bancorporation Inc. Common Stock reported on the New York Stock
      Exchange on October 2, 1997.
</TABLE>

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH
DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE
UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH
SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL
THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL
BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT
TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.


<PAGE> 2

PROSPECTUS
- ----------

                         MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK

                          SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENT PLAN
                           --------------------------

      Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. ("Mercantile") hereby offers shares of
its Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Mercantile Stock"), and attached
preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights" and, together with the
Mercantile Stock, the "Common Stock") through participation in its
Shareholder Investment Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan is designed to provide
investors with the opportunity to make purchases of Common Stock directly
from Mercantile and avoid brokerage fees and commissions. Under the Plan,
participants may (a) make initial investments in Common Stock, (b) make
additional cash purchases of Common Stock, including monthly purchases by
automatic deduction from a designated bank account, and (c) reinvest dividends
from Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock. The Plan is also
designed to provide participants with a variety of services related to their
investment in Common Stock.

      The Plan supersedes the Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. Dividend
Reinvestment Plan (the "Reinvestment Plan") in its entirety. Shareholders
who are currently participating in the Reinvestment Plan will be
automatically enrolled in the Plan.

      Shares may be purchased pursuant to the Plan at prevailing market prices
from Mercantile's authorized but unissued or treasury shares or in the open
market.

      This Prospectus relates to 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be
offered for purchase under the Plan. The shares offered hereby are listed on
the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and are traded under the ticker
symbol "MTL."  On -------- ---, 1997, the closing price of Common Stock on
the NYSE Composite Tape was ---------.

      This Prospectus should be retained for future reference.

                           --------------------------

      THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

      THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY IS NOT THE OBLIGATION OF OR GUARANTEED
OR ENDORSED BY ANY BANK. THE COMMON STOCK OF MERCANTILE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
A BANK DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. INVESTMENT IN COMMON STOCK OF
MERCANTILE, AS WITH ANY INVESTMENT IN COMMON STOCK, MAY INVOLVE SOME
INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF ALL OR A PORTION OF THE
INITIAL INVESTMENT.

      The date of this Prospectus is ------------------   -----, 1997.



<PAGE> 3
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

      Mercantile is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in
accordance therewith, files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") reports, proxy statements and other information. Such reports,
proxy statements and other information filed with the Commission by
Mercantile can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549 and at the Commission's regional offices located at Suite 1300, Seven
World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and Suite 1400, Citicorp Center,
500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. The Commission maintains an
Internet site on the World Wide Web containing reports, proxy and information
statements and other information filed electronically by Mercantile with the
Commission. The address of the World Wide Web site maintained by the
Commission is http://www.sec.gov. The Common Stock is listed on the NYSE,
and such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning
Mercantile also are available for inspection and copying at the offices of
the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

      This Prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form
S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") filed by Mercantile with the Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the Common Stock
offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all the information set
forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission, and reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits relating
thereto for further information with respect to Mercantile and the Common
Stock. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any
document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is
made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission, which may be inspected
without charge at the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C 20549. Each such statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement may be
obtained from the Commission at the same address upon payment of the
prescribed fees.

               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

      THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
MERCANTILE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. SUCH
DOCUMENTS, EXCLUDING EXHIBITS UNLESS SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED THEREIN, ARE
AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED,
UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST TO JON W. BILSTROM, GENERAL COUNSEL AND
SECRETARY, MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC., P.O. BOX 524, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
63166-0524, TELEPHONE (314) 425-2525.

      The following documents filed with the Commission by Mercantile under
the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:

      (a)   Mercantile's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
            December 31, 1996, as amended by Form 10-K/A.

      (b)   Mercantile's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
            March 31, 1997 and June 30, 1997.

      (c)   Mercantile's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated April 25, 1997 (as
            amended by Form 8-K/A dated May 22, 1997), May 13, 1997, July
            1, 1997 and September 25, 1997.

      (d)   The description of the Common Stock set forth in Item 1 of
            Mercantile's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated March 5,
            1993, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
            updating such description.

                                    - 2 -
<PAGE> 4

      (e)   The description of the Rights set forth in Item 1 of Mercantile's
            Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated March 5, 1993, and
            any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such
            description.

      All documents filed by Mercantile pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and made a part hereof from the date any such document is
filed. The information relating to Mercantile contained in this Prospectus
does not purport to be complete and should be read together with the
information in the documents incorporated by reference herein. Any statement
contained herein or in a document incorporated herein by reference shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a
subsequent statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part hereof. Any
statements contained in this Prospectus involving matters of opinion, whether
or not expressly so stated, are intended as such and not as representations
of fact.

      As used herein, the terms "Prospectus" and "herein" mean this
Prospectus, including such documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference, as the same may be amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time. Statements contained in this
Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to
herein do not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to the
particular provisions of such contract or other document, such provisions are
qualified in all respect by reference to all of the provisions of such
contract or other document.

           CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

      Certain statements contained in the sections entitled "Mercantile
Bancorporation Inc." and certain statements incorporated by reference from
documents filed with the Commission by Mercantile are or may constitute
forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed
or implied by such forward-looking statements.

                                    - 3 -
<PAGE> 5

                         MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC.

      Mercantile is a registered bank holding company headquartered in St.
Louis, Missouri and incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri in
1970. At June 30, 1997, Mercantile, directly or through its subsidiaries,
owned all of the capital stock of Mercantile Bank National Association, based
in St. Louis, Missouri ("Mercantile Bank"), and 28 other commercial banks and
one federally chartered thrift, all of which operate from 513 banking offices
and 473 Fingertip Banking automated teller machines located throughout
Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Arkansas and eastern Kansas (collectively, the
"Banking Subsidiaries"). As of June 30, 1997, Mercantile had total assets of
$22.6 billion, total deposits of $17.0 billion, total loans of $15.4 billion
and shareholders' equity of $1.8 billion. On July 1, 1997, Mercantile
consummated the acquisition of Roosevelt Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Roosevelt"). Giving effect to the acquisition of Roosevelt as
if such acquisition were consummated on June 30, 1997, Mercantile had total
assets of $29.9 billion, total deposits of $22.3 billion, total loans of
$19.7 billion and shareholders' equity of $2.3  billion.

      Mercantile's services concentrate in three major lines of business --
consumer, corporate, and trust and investment advisory services. Mercantile
also operates non-banking subsidiaries that provide related financial
services, including investment management, brokerage services and asset-based
lending. As a bank holding company, Mercantile is subject to regulation
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and its examination
and reporting requirements.

      Mercantile and its subsidiaries are subject to supervision and
examination by applicable federal and state banking agencies. The earnings
of Mercantile's subsidiaries, and therefore the earnings of Mercantile, are
affected by general economic conditions, management policies and the
legislative and governmental actions of various regulatory authorities,
including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of
Thrift Supervision, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of
the Comptroller of the Currency and various state financial institution
regulatory agencies. In addition, there are numerous governmental
requirements and regulations that affect the activities of Mercantile and its
subsidiaries.

      The principal executive offices of Mercantile are located at One
Mercantile Center, P.O. Box 524, St. Louis, Missouri 63166-0524  (telephone
number (314) 425-2525).

                            DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

      The Plan permits participants to invest funds to purchase shares of
Common Stock at prevailing market prices, less a $3.00 fee per transaction and
a processing charge of $.05 per share for each share of Common Stock purchased
in the open market. These fees may be subject to annual adjustment. Shares
of Common Stock may be purchased on the open market or may be purchased
directly from Mercantile from authorized but unissued or treasury shares.

                                    PURPOSE

      The purpose of the Plan is to provide new investors with a convenient
means to make an initial investment in Common Stock and to allow holders of
Common Stock an economical way to purchase additional shares of Common Stock.
The dividends on shares of Common Stock registered in the name of the
participant can be received by check or reinvested in additional shares of
Common Stock.

                                    TERMS OF THE PLAN

*     Persons not presently owning shares of Common Stock may become
      participants by making an initial cash investment of at least $500
      but not more than $10,000 to purchase shares under the Plan. If a
      participant elects

                                    - 4 -
<PAGE> 6
      to make additional optional cash investments of at least $100 per
      investment through automatic monthly deduction from a designated bank
      account, the initial cash investment of $500 will be waived.

*     All participants may invest additional funds in Common Stock through
      optional cash payments of at least $100 per investment but not more
      than $10,000 per month. Optional investments may be made by check,
      money order or automatic deduction from a designated bank account.
      Optional investments may be made occasionally or at regular
      intervals, as the participant desires. If a participant elects to
      make optional cash investments through automatic monthly deduction
      from a designated bank account, the minimum optional investment is
      reduced from $100 to $50 per investment.

*     Participants pay a $3.00 fee per transaction, plus a processing charge
      of $.05 for each share of Common Stock purchased on the open market,
      for each purchase of Common Stock under the Plan. These fees may be
      subject to annual adjustment. If a participant elects to make
      optional cash investments through automatic monthly deduction from a
      designated bank account, the transaction fee is reduced from $3.00 to
      $1.50 (plus the processing charge of $.05 for each share of Common
      Stock purchased on the open market).

*     Existing holders of Common Stock may automatically reinvest all or a
      portion of their dividends paid on shares registered in their name in
      Common Stock. No transaction fees or processing charges apply to these
      purchases of Common Stock.

*     Funds invested in the Plan are fully invested through the purchase of
      whole and fractional shares, and proportionate dividends on fractions of
      shares are used to purchase additional shares.

*     The Plan offers a share safekeeping service whereby participants may
      deposit their Common Stock certificates with the Administrator (as
      hereinafter defined) and have their ownership of such Common Stock
      maintained on the Administrator's records as part of their Plan
      account.

*     Participants may make transfers or gifts of Common Stock for a set-up fee
      of $5.00. When a participant transfers or gives shares to another person,
      an account will be opened for the recipient and he or she will enjoy full
      Plan benefits. The participant can also request a special gift
      certificate be mailed to the recipient.

*     Quarterly statements are mailed to each participant who reinvests
      dividends listing all transactions in the participant's account.
      Purchases with automatic deductions and optional cash payments will
      be acknowledged.

*     Participants may sell all or a portion of their shares of Common Stock
      held in a Plan account for a $10.00 fee per transaction, plus a processing
      charge of $.05 for each share of Common Stock sold on the open market.
      These fees may be subject to annual adjustment.

                      CONSIDERATIONS PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION

            Prior to participating in the Plan, new investors should consider
      the following:

*     Participants making an initial investment or optional investment pay a
      $3.00 fee per transaction (or $1.50 in the case of an automatic
      monthly deduction), plus a processing charge of $.05 for each share
      of Common Stock purchased on the open market, for purchases of Common
      Stock under the Plan. Participants selling shares of their Common
      Stock pay a $10.00 fee per transaction, plus a processing charge of
      $.05 for each share of Common Stock sold on the open market. These
      fees may be subject to annual adjustment and, in certain instances,
      may be higher than fees or commissions charged if the same
      transaction were effected outside of the Plan through a full service
      or discount securities broker. Mercantile expects that generally all
      Plan purchases and sales will be effected in open market
      transactions.

                                    - 5 -
<PAGE> 7

*     Because the prices at which Plan shares are purchased in the open market
      are averaged, participants may lose certain advantages otherwise
      available from being able to select the timing of their investment.
      For example, because the price charged to participants for shares
      purchased in the open market or in negotiated transactions is the
      average price paid by the Administrator for all shares purchased in
      the open market and in negotiated transactions for a particular
      Investment Date, participants may pay a higher price for shares
      purchased under the Plan than for shares that could be purchased
      outside of the Plan on the same date. No interest is paid on initial
      or optional cash investments pending their investment in Common
      Stock.

                                 ADMINISTRATION

      Harris Trust and Savings Bank (the "Administrator") will administer the
Plan, purchase and hold shares of Common Stock acquired under the Plan, keep
records, send statements of account activity to participants and perform
other duties related to the Plan. Participants may contact the Administrator
by writing to:

                         MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC.
                          SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENT PLAN
                c/o Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Second Floor
                              311 W. Monroe Street
                                P.O. Box A-3504
                            Chicago, IL  60690-3504

or by telephoning the Shareholder Customer Service Helpline as follows:

            Automated Shareholder Customer Service:  (800) 720-0417
                  Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

               Customer Service Representatives:  (800) 720-0417
       Available 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Central time, each business day.

           Non-Shareholders requesting Plan material:  (800) 286-9178
                  Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

      The Administrator may also be contacted at the Internet address
"www.harrisbank.com" or the E-Mail address "[email protected]."

                                  ELIGIBILITY

      Any person or entity, whether or not a holder of record of shares of
Common Stock, is eligible to participate in the Plan, provided that (i) such
person or entity fulfills the prerequisites for participation described below
under the "Enrollment Procedures," and (ii) in the case of citizens or
residents of a country other than the United States, its territories and
possessions, participation would not violate local laws applicable to
Mercantile or the participant.

                                    - 6 -
<PAGE> 8

                             ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES

      After being furnished with a copy of this Prospectus, eligible
applicants may join the Plan by completing and signing an Investment Form and
returning it to the Administrator. Current registered shareholders must sign
their names on the Investment Form exactly as they appear on the certificates
representing their shares of Common Stock. In order to enroll in the Plan,
non-shareholders must include a minimum initial investment of at least $500
with their completed Investment Form. The initial cash investment is waived for
non-shareholders who elect to make additional optional investments of at least
$100 per investment by means of automatic monthly deduction from a designated
bank account (See "Initial Investments and Optional Cash Investments" below).

      Beneficial owners of Common Stock registered in the "street" name (for
example, in the name of a bank, broker or trustee) may participate in the
Plan by transferring some or all of their shares of Common Stock to the
Administrator for their accounts (See "Transfer of Shares From a Broker"
below).

      Investment Forms will be processed as promptly as practicable.
Participation in the Plan will begin after the properly completed Investment
Form has been reviewed and accepted by the Administrator.

      Shareholders who are currently participating in the Reinvestment Plan will
automatically be enrolled in the Plan, but may terminate their participation
in the Plan at any time by sending written instructions to the Administrator
(See "Closing a Plan Account" below).

                INITIAL INVESTMENT AND OPTIONAL CASH INVESTMENTS

      For those who do not already own Common Stock, an initial investment of
at least $500, but not more than $10,000, in the form of a personal check or
money order must be included with the completed Investment Form and returned
to the Administrator. If optional cash investments of at least $100 per
investment through automatic monthly deduction from a designated bank account
are elected, the initial $500 investment is waived. For those who already
own Common Stock but are not currently participating in the Reinvestment
Plan, a completed Investment Form must be returned to the Administrator. If
the Common Stock is held in "street name" through a broker or other agent, a
properly completed Broker Transfer Form must be returned to the Administrator
along with the Investment Form. Those who participate in the Reinvestment Plan
will be automatically enrolled in the Plan.

      Following an initial investment of at least $500 (or the waiver thereof),
participants may make optional cash investments by personal check, money order
or automatic monthly deduction from a designated bank account. Optional cash
investments must be at least $100 per investment if made by personal check or
money order and at least $50 per investment if made by automatic monthly
deduction and may not exceed $10,000 per month. There is no obligation to make
an optional cash investment at any time, and the amount of such investments may
vary.

      Optional cash investments and initial cash investments payable by check
or money order must be received by the Administrator at least five business
days prior to an Investment Date (as hereinafter defined) to be invested on
that Investment Date. Otherwise, the optional cash investment or initial
investment will be held by the Administrator and invested on the next
Investment Date. An optional cash investment or initial investment payable
by check or money order not already invested under the Plan will be canceled
and returned to the participant upon a participant's telephone or written
request received by the Administrator no later than two business days prior
to the applicable Investment Date. However, no refund of a check or money
order will be made until the funds have been actually received by the
Administrator. Accordingly, such refunds may be delayed several weeks from
the original date of the request.

      Optional cash investments payable by automatic monthly deduction from a
designated bank account will be drawn on the 20th of each month, or the next
business day if the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, and will be

                                    - 7 -
<PAGE> 9
invested in Common Stock on the next Investment Date (See "Methods of
Investment - Automatic Investment From a Bank Account," below).

      NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON AMOUNTS HELD BY THE ADMINISTRATOR PENDING
INVESTMENT. All optional cash investments and initial investments are subject
to collection by the Administrator of full face value in U.S. funds.

                                INVESTMENT DATES

      Purchases under the Plan are made commencing Thursday of each week or,
if Thursday is not a day on which the NYSE is open for business, the next day
on which it is so open (each, an "Investment Date").

                             METHODS OF INVESTMENT

INVESTMENT BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER

      Optional cash investments of a specified amount (not less than $100 per
investment nor more than $10,000 per month) and initial investments of a
specified amount (not less than $500) may be made by check or money order
payable in U.S. dollars to "Mercantile Bancorporation Inc." Participants pay
a $3.00 fee per transaction, plus a processing charge of $.05 per share for
each share of Common Stock purchased on the open market, for shares of Common
Stock purchased through optional cash investments. Optional cash
investments should be sent to the Administrator together with the Investment
Form attached to each quarterly account statement sent to participants.
Additional Investment Forms are available upon request from the
Administrator. The optional cash investment must be received at least five
business days prior to an Investment Date to be invested on that Investment
Date.

AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT FROM A BANK ACCOUNT

      Participants may make automatic monthly investments of a specified
amount (not less than $50 per investment nor more than $10,000 per month)
through an Automated Clearing House ("ACH") deduction from a designated U.S.
bank account. Participants pay a $1.50 fee per transaction, plus a
processing charge of $.05 for each share of Common Stock purchased on the
open market, for shares of Common Stock purchased via automatic monthly
investments. These fees may be subject to annual adjustment. The initial
cash investment of $500 is waived for all participants electing automatic
monthly investments of at least $100 per investment.

      To initiate automatic monthly deductions, the participant must complete
and sign an Investment Form for Automatic Monthly Deductions (an "Automatic
Monthly Deduction Form") on the reverse side of the Investment Form and
return it to the Administrator together with a voided blank check or savings
account deposit slip for the account from which funds are to be drawn. Forms
will be processed and will become effective as promptly as practicable;
however, the participant should allow four to six weeks for his or her first
investment by automatic deduction to be initiated.

      Once automatic monthly deductions are initiated, funds will be drawn
from the participant's designated bank account on the 20th of each month
(whichever the participant has designated), or the next business day if the
20th falls on a weekend or holiday, and will be invested in Common Stock on
the next Investment Date.

      Participants may change or terminate automatic monthly deductions by
completing and submitting to the Administrator a new Automatic Monthly
Deduction Form. To be effective with respect to a particular Investment
Date, however, the new Automatic Monthly Deduction Form must be received by
the Administrator at least four business days preceding the ACH deduction
date for such Investment Date.

                                    - 8 -
<PAGE> 10

DIVIDENDS

      Participants may elect full reinvestment of dividends, partial cash
payment and partial reinvestment of dividends or full payment of dividends on
shares registered in their name and shares held in the Plan. No transaction
fees or processing charges will apply to purchases of Common Stock made in
connection with the reinvestment of dividends.

      Participants may elect to reinvest in shares of Common Stock dividends
on Common Stock registered in their names and the Common Stock held in their
Plan accounts by designating their election on the Investment Form.

      Participants may elect partial reinvestment of dividends on shares held
in their name and shares held in the Plan. If the participant chooses
partial reinvestment, the participant needs to designate on the Investment
Form the number of whole shares on which dividends will be reinvested.
Dividends will be paid on all other shares registered in the participant's
name.

      Once a participant elects reinvestment, dividends paid on Common Stock
registered in the participant's name and/or held in the participant's Plan
account will be reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock. If the
participant has specified partial reinvestment, that portion of such dividend
payment not being reinvested will be sent to the participant by check in the
usual manner or by direct deposit, if the participant has elected the direct
deposit option (See "Direct Deposit of Dividends" below).

      Reinvestment levels may be changed from time to time as a participant
desires by submitting a new election to the Administrator. To be effective
with respect to a particular Common Stock dividend, any such change must be
received by the Administrator on or before the record date for such dividend.
The record date is usually about 20 days prior to the payment date of the
dividend. The Company has historically paid dividends on Common Stock on the
first business day of January, April, July and October.

                          DIRECT DEPOSIT OF DIVIDENDS

      Through the Plan's direct deposit feature, participants may elect to
have any dividends not being reinvested under the Plan paid by electronic funds
transfer to the participant's designated bank account. To receive such
dividends by direct deposit, participants must first complete and sign the
Direct Deposit Investment Form and return the form to the Administrator. Direct
Deposit Investment Forms are available upon request from the Administrator.

      Forms will be processed and will become effective as promptly as
practicable. Participants may change the designated account for direct
deposit or discontinue this feature by written instruction to the
Administrator.

                           SOURCE AND PRICE OF SHARES

      Mercantile reserves the right to purchase shares for the Plan on the
open market or from Mercantile's  authorized but unissued or treasury shares
of Common Stock. In the event of an open market purchase, the purchase price
for the Common Stock will be the average price paid by the Administrator for
all such shares purchased on the open market for a particular Investment
Date.  The purchase price for shares purchased from Mercantile's authorized
but unissued or treasury shares of Common Stock will be the closing price of
the Common Stock on the Investment Date, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal the following business day. All fractional shares are rounded to at
least three decimal places and are credited to the participant's account in
the same manner as whole shares.

                                    - 9 -
<PAGE> 11

                    GIFT/TRANSFER OF SHARES WITHIN THE PLAN

      If a participant wishes to transfer the ownership of all or part of the
participant's shares held under the Plan to a Plan account for another
person, whether by gift, private sale or otherwise, the participant may
effect such transfer by mailing a properly completed Transfer Form, along
with an executed stock power, to the Administrator. Participants making
transfers or gifts of Common Stock will be assessed a set-up fee of $5.00,
which fee may be subject to annual adjustment. Transfers of less than all of
the participant's shares must be made in whole share amounts. No fraction of a
share may be transferred unless the participant's entire account is
transferred. Requests for transfer are subject to the same requirements as for
the transfer of Common Stock certificates, including the requirement of a
medallion stamp guarantee on the stock power. Transfer Forms and Stock Power
Forms are available upon request from the Administrator.

      Shares so transferred will continue to be held by the Administrator
under the Plan. An account will be opened in the name of the transferee, if
he or she is not already a participant, and such transferee will
automatically be enrolled in the Plan. If the transferee is not already a
Plan participant, the donor may make a dividend reinvestment election for the
transferee at the time of the gift. The transferee may change the
reinvestment level after the gift has been made as described under "Methods
Of Investment - Dividends" above.

      The transferee will receive a statement showing the number of shares
transferred to and held in the transferee's Plan account. Also, if requested
by the participant, a gift certificate acknowledging the transfer of shares
will be made available free of charge.

                        TRANSFER OF SHARES FROM A BROKER

      Owners of Common Stock may wish to transfer to their Plan accounts
shares owned by them but held in "street name" through a broker or other
agent. To do so, participants must complete a Broker Transfer Form and
return it to the Administrator. The Administrator, upon receipt of a
properly completed Broker Transfer Form, will contact the broker holding the
shares of Common Stock and will arrange to transfer those shares specified by
the participant into the name of the Administrator or its nominee for credit
to the participant's account under the Plan. Broker Transfer Forms are
available upon request from the Administrator.

      Shareholders wishing to enroll in the Plan using shares transferred from
a broker must include a properly completed Broker Transfer Form with the
Investment Form and return both to the Administrator. Participation in the
Plan will commence when shares of Common Stock are received by the
Administrator from the transferring broker.

                            CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES

      Shares purchased and held under the Plan will be held in safekeeping by
the Administrator in its name or the name of its nominee. The number of
shares (including fractional interests) held for each participant will be
shown on each account statement. Participants may obtain a certificate for
all or some of the whole shares of Common Stock held in their Plan accounts
by completing the information on the top portion of the reverse side of their
account statement or upon telephone or written request to the Administrator.
Any remaining whole or fractional shares will continue to be held by the
Administrator. Withdrawal of shares in the form of a certificate in no way
affects dividend reinvestment (See "Methods Of Investment - Dividends"
above).

      Except as described in "Gift/Transfer Of Shares Within The Plan," shares
of stock held by the Administrator for a participant's Plan account may not
be pledged or assigned. A participant who wishes to pledge or assign any
such shares must request that a certificate for such shares be issued in the
participant's name.

                                    - 10 -
<PAGE> 12

                            REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS

      Each participant who reinvests dividends will receive a quarterly
statement showing the amount of the latest dividend reinvested, the purchase
price per share, the number of shares purchased and the total shares
accumulated under the Plan. The quarterly statement also will show all
year-to-date activity, including purchases, sales, and certificate deposits,
withdrawals and transfers, and will consolidate all shares held by the
Administrator for the participant and other shares registered in the
participant's name on which dividends are reinvested. EACH PARTICIPANT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR RETAINING THESE STATEMENTS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE COST
BASIS OF SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THE PLAN FOR TAX PURPOSES. Current duplicate
statements will be available from the Administrator. A fee may be charged by
the Administrator for duplicate statements, if available.

      The Administrator will also send each participant a transaction advice
after each cash investment, certificate deposit, withdrawal or transfer and
sale of shares.

      Each participant will receive the same communications sent to all other
holders of shares of Common Stock, including Mercantile's annual report to
shareholders, a notice of the annual meeting and the accompanying proxy
statement. In addition, each participant will receive an Internal Revenue
Service information return for reporting dividend income received if so
required.

      All notices, statements and reports from the Administrator to a
participant will be addressed to the participant at his or her latest address
of record with the Administrator. It is a participant's responsibility to
notify the Administrator of any change of address; therefore, participants
should promptly notify the Administrator of any change of address.

                               SHARE SAFEKEEPING

      At the time of enrollment in the Plan, or at any later time,
participants may use the Plan's share safekeeping service to deposit any
Common Stock certificates in their possession with the Administrator. Shares
deposited will be transferred into the name of the Administrator or its
nominee and credited to the participant's account under the Plan.
Thereafter, such shares will be treated in the same manner as shares
purchased through the Plan.

      By using the Plan's share safekeeping service, participants no longer
bear the risk associated with loss, theft or destruction of stock
certificates. Also, because shares deposited with the Administrator are
treated in the same manner as shares purchased through the Plan, they may be
transferred or sold through the Plan in a convenient and efficient manner
(See "Closing a Plan Account" and "Sale of Shares" below and "Gift/Transfer
of Shares Within the Plan" above).

      Participants who wish to deposit their Common Stock certificates with
the Administrator must mail their request and their certificates to the
Administrator. The certificates should not be endorsed. It is recommended
that when mailing certificates to the Administrator, the participant should
use registered, insured mail.

                                 SALE OF SHARES

      Participants may request the Administrator to sell any number of whole
shares of Common Stock held in their Plan accounts by completing the
information on the transaction form at the bottom of their statement or
transaction advice or by giving written instructions to the Administrator.
Sales are made within five business days after receipt of sales instructions.
The participant will receive the proceeds, less a transaction fee and
applicable processing charges, if any. Proceeds of shares sold through the Plan
will be paid to the participant by check. A request to sell ALL shares held in
a participant's account will be treated as a withdrawal from the Plan.

                                    - 11 -
<PAGE> 13

      Sales will be made for the participant's account on the open market
through a securities broker designated by the Administrator. The
Administrator may commingle each participant's shares with those of other
participants for the purpose of executing sales resulting in a net sale of
shares. The sale price for shares sold for a participant will be credited at
the average price per share of all shares sold, with respect to that sale
date. There is a $10.00 fee per transaction, plus a processing charge of
$.05 for each share of Common Stock sold on the open market, for shares of
Common Stock sold under the Plan. Such fees may be subject to annual
adjustment.

                             CLOSING A PLAN ACCOUNT

      A participant may close an account in the Plan at any time by completing
the information on the transaction form on the top of their statement or by
sending written instructions to the Administrator. Upon withdrawal from the
Plan, a certificate for the whole shares held in the Plan for the participant
will be issued. Alternatively, a participant may specify in the withdrawal
notice that all or a portion of whole shares be sold. The Administrator will
make the sale as soon as practicable after receipt of the withdrawal notice,
and the participant will receive a check for the proceeds, less any
applicable cost.

      Participants closing a Plan account will receive a check for the cash
value of any fractional shares, less any applicable processing and
transaction fees. Fractions of shares will be valued at the pro rata price
as whole shares sold for a participant pursuant to the withdrawal notice or,
if no shares were sold, at the pro rata price that would have been received
if shares had been sold pursuant to the withdrawal notice.

      No optional cash investments may be made after participation in the Plan
has been terminated. In order to initiate participation, the former
participant must re-enroll (See "Initial Investments and Optional Cash
Investments").

                                TAX CONSEQUENCES

      Mercantile believes the following is an accurate summary of the tax
consequences of participation in the Plan as of the date of this Prospectus.
This summary may not reflect every possible situation that could result from
participation in the Plan, and, therefore, participants in the Plan are
advised to consult their own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences
(including federal, state, local and other tax laws and U.S. tax withholding
laws) applicable to their particular situations.

      In general, the amount of dividends paid by Mercantile is considered
taxable income even though reinvested under the Plan. The cost basis for
federal income tax purposes of any shares acquired through the Plan generally
will be the purchase price applicable to such shares as described in the
section entitled "Source and Price of Shares."  In connection with market
purchases, brokerage commissions paid by Mercantile on a participant's behalf
are to be treated as distributions subject to income tax in the same manner as
dividends. The amounts paid for brokerage commissions are, however, included in
the cost basis of shares purchased. The information return sent to participants
and the IRS at year-end, if so required, will show such amounts paid on behalf
of the participant.

      The above rules may not be applicable to certain participants in the
Plan, such as tax-exempt entities and foreign shareholders. These particular
participants should consult their own tax advisors concerning the tax
consequences applicable to their situations.

      In the case of participants in the Plan whose dividends are subject to
U.S. backup withholding, the Administrator will reinvest dividends less the
amount of tax required to be withheld.

      In the case of foreign shareholders whose dividends are subject to U.S.
federal tax withholding, the Administrator will reinvest dividends less the
amount of tax required to be withheld. The filing of any documentation
required to obtain a reduction in U.S. withholding tax will be the
responsibility of the participant.

                                    - 12 -
<PAGE> 14

                               OTHER INFORMATION

STOCK SPLIT, STOCK DIVIDEND OR RIGHTS OFFERING

      Any dividends in Common Stock or split shares distributed by Mercantile
on shares held by the Administrator for a participant's Plan account will be
added to the participant's account. Stock dividends or split shares issued
in certificated form and distributed on shares registered in a participant's
name will be mailed directly to the participant in the same manner as to
shareholders who are not participating in the Plan.

      In the event of a rights offering, the participant will receive rights
based upon the total number of whole shares owned, that is, the total number
of shares registered in the participant's name and the total number of whole
shares held in the participant's Plan account.

VOTING OF PLAN SHARES

      Shares held in a Plan account may be voted in person or by the proxy
sent to the participant.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

      Neither Mercantile nor the Administrator (nor any of their respective
agents, representatives, employees, officers, directors or subcontractors)
will be liable in administering the Plan for any act done in good faith or
for any good faith omission to act, including, without limitation, any claim
of liability arising from failure to terminate a participant's account upon
such a participant's death or with respect to the prices or times at which
shares are purchased or sold for participants.

CHANGE OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

      Mercantile may suspend, modify or terminate the Plan at any time in
whole, in part or with respect to participants in one or more jurisdictions.
Notice of such suspension, modification or termination will be sent to all
affected participants. No such event will affect any shares then credited to
a participant's account. Upon any whole or partial termination of the Plan
by Mercantile, certificates for whole shares credited to an affected
participant's account under the Plan will be issued to the participant and a
cash payment will be made for any fraction of a share. Fractions of shares
will be valued pro rata at the then current market price, less transaction
fees and processing charges.

TERMINATION OF A PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT

      If a participant does not own at least one whole share, registered in
the participant's name or held through the Plan, the participant's account in
the Plan may be closed. Mercantile may also terminate participation in the
Plan upon prior written notice to the participant at the address appearing on
the Administrator's records. A participant whose account in the Plan has
been closed by Mercantile will receive a certificate for the whole shares
held in the participant's account and a check for the cash value of any
fractional share held in the Plan accounts. Fractions of shares will be
valued pro rata at the then current market price, less transaction fees and
processing charges.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

      With respect to purchases of Common Stock from Mercantile's authorized
but unissued or treasury shares, Mercantile intends to use the net proceeds
from the sale of Common Stock for general corporate purposes, including,
without limitation, the reduction of indebtedness, investments in and
advances to subsidiaries and possible future

                                    - 13 -
<PAGE> 15
acquisitions of bank and non-bank subsidiaries. Pending such application, the
net proceeds will be invested in short-term investment grade obligations.
Mercantile will receive no proceeds from purchases of Common  Stock made in the
open market.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

      Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the Common Stock
offered hereby will be passed upon for Mercantile by Thompson Coburn, St.
Louis, Missouri.

                                    EXPERTS

      The consolidated financial statements of Mercantile as of December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1996, incorporated by reference in Mercantile's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, the supplemental consolidated
financial statements of Mercantile as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994,
and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996,
contained in Mercantile's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 1997, and
the consolidated financial statements of Roosevelt as of December 31, 1996
and 1995, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December
31, 1996, incorporated by reference in Mercantile's Current Report on Form
8-K, dated July 1, 1997, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance
upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                    - 14 -
<PAGE> 16


================================================================================

NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION
THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT
TO THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE FINANCIAL
CONDITION OR AFFAIRS OF MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC. SINCE THE DATE OF THIS
PROSPECTUS.

<TABLE>
                  TABLE OF CONTENTS
<CAPTION>
                                                              Page
                                                              ----
<S>                                                           <C>
Available Information                                            2
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference                2
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements        3
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.                                   4
Description of The Plan                                          4
Purpose                                                          4
Terms of The Plan                                                4
Administration                                                   6
Eligibility                                                      6
Enrollment Procedures                                            7
Initial Investment and Optional Cash Investments                 7
Investment Dates                                                 8
Methods of Investment                                            8
Direct Deposit of Dividends                                      9
Source and Price of Shares                                       9
Gift/Transfer of Shares Within The Plan                         10
Transfer of Shares from a Broker                                10
Certificates For Shares                                         10
Reports to Participants                                         11
Share Safekeeping                                               11
Sale of Shares                                                  11
Closing a Plan Account                                          12
Tax Consequences                                                12
Other Information                                               13
Use of Proceeds                                                 13
Legal Matters                                                   14
Experts                                                         14
</TABLE>

================================================================================



================================================================================

                        [MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC.
                                     LOGO]





                         MERCANTILE BANCORPORATION INC.




                                  COMMON STOCK





                          SHAREHOLDER INVESTMENT PLAN














- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------







                             ----------------, 1997





================================================================================


<PAGE> 17
                                 PART II

               INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS


Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
- ------------------------------------------------------

      The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection
with the offering described in this Registration Statement:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
      SEC Registration Fee                                   $ 32,000.00
      Legal Fees and Expenses                                  20,000.00
      Accountants' Services                                    25,000.00
      Administrator's Fees and Expenses                        50,000.00
      Printing Expenses                                        40,000.00
                                                             -----------
          Total                                              $167,000.00
                                                             ===========
</TABLE>

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers
- ---------------------------------------------------

      Sections 351.355(1) and (2) of The General and Business Corporation Law
of the State of Missouri provide that a corporation may indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the
case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, the
corporation may not indemnify such persons against judgments and fines and no
person shall be indemnified as to any claim, issue or matter as to which such
person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in
the performance of his duty to the corporation, unless and only to the extent
that the court in which the action or suit was brought determines upon
application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity
for proper expenses. Section 351.355(3) provides that, to the extent that a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful
in the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding or any claim, issue or
matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding. Section 351.355(7) provides that a corporation
may provide additional indemnification to any person indemnifiable under
subsection (1) or (2), provided such additional indemnification is authorized
by the corporation's articles of incorporation or an amendment thereto or by
a shareholder-approved bylaw or agreement, and provided further that no
person shall thereby be indemnified against conduct which was finally
adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful
misconduct or which involved an accounting for profits pursuant to Section
16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

      Article 12 of the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant
provides that the Registrant shall extend to its directors and executive
officers the indemnification specified in subsections


                                    II-1
<PAGE> 18

(1) and (2) and the additional indemnification authorized in subsection (7) and
that it may extend to other officers, employees and agents such indemnification
and additional indemnification.

      Pursuant to directors' and officers' liability insurance policies, with
total annual limits of $45,000,000, the Registrant's directors and officers
are insured, subject to the limits, retention, exceptions and other terms and
conditions of such policy, against liability for any actual or alleged error,
misstatement, misleading statement, act or omission, or neglect or breach of
duty by the directors or officers of the Registrant, individually or
collectively, or any matter claimed against them solely by reason of their
being directors or officers of the Registrant.

Item 16. Exhibits
- -----------------

      See Exhibit Index.

Item 17.  Undertakings
- ----------------------

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

            (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
      the Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
      after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
      post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
      represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
      Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
      decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
      securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
      deviation from the low or high and of the estimated maximum offering range
      may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
      price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
      offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
      the effective Registration Statement; and

            (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
      plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
      Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration
      Statement.

Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to
the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement.

      (2)   That for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new Registration Statement relating to the


                                    II-2
<PAGE> 19

securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.

      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other
than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                    II-3
<PAGE> 20


                               SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing a Registration Statement on Form S-3 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis, State of
Missouri, on October 9, 1997.

                           MERCANTILE  BANCORPORATION  INC.


                           By  /s/ John Q. Arnold
                              -----------------------------------------------
                              John Q. Arnold, Senior Executive Vice President
                              and Chief Financial Officer


                              POWER OF ATTORNEY
                              -----------------

      We, the undersigned officers and directors of Mercantile Bancorporation
Inc., hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint Thomas H.
Jacobsen and John Q. Arnold, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys
and agents of each of us to execute in the name, place and stead of each of
us (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all amendments to
this Registration Statement on Form S-3, registering the offering by
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. of shares of its common stock, and the
preferred share purchase rights which trade therewith, with respect to the
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. Shareholder Investment Plan, and all
instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith and to file the
same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of said attorneys and
agents to have the power to act with or without the others and to have full
power and authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of
the undersigned every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the
premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as any of the undersigned
might or could do in person, and we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures
as they may be signed by our said attorneys and agents or each of them to any
and all such amendments and instruments.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Signature                                Title                             Date
        ---------                                -----                             ----
<S>                                 <C>                                       <C>
/s/ Thomas H. Jacobsen              Chairman of the Board                     October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------   President, Chief Executive
Thomas H. Jacobsen                  Officer and Director
Principal Executive Officer


/s/ John Q. Arnold                  Senior Executive Vice President and       October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------   Chief Financial Officer
John Q. Arnold
Principal Financial Officer


                                    II-4
<PAGE> 21

/s/ Michael T. Normile              Senior Vice President - Finance           October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------   and Control
Michael T. Normile
Principal Accounting Officer


/s/ Richard E. Beumer               Director                                  September 15, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Richard E. Beumer


/s/ Harry M. Cornell, Jr.           Director                                  September 11, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Harry M. Cornell, Jr.


/s/ William A. Hall                 Director                                  September 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------
William A. Hall


/s/ Thomas A. Hays                  Director                                  October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Thomas A. Hays


/s/ Frank Lyon, Jr.                 Director                                  October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Frank Lyon, Jr.


/s/ Robert W. Murray                Director                                  October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Robert W. Murray


/s/ Harvey Saligman                 Director                                  October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Harvey Saligman


/s/ Craig D. Schnuck                Director                                  September 11, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Craig D. Schnuck


/s/ Alvin J. Siteman                Director                                  October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Alvin J. Siteman


/s/ Robert L. Stark                 Director                                  September 11, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Robert L. Stark


/s/ Patrick T. Stokes               Director                                  October 9, 1997
- ---------------------------------
Patrick T. Stokes


                                    II-5
<PAGE> 22

/s/ John A. Wright                  Director                                  September 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
John A. Wright
</TABLE>

                                    II-6
<PAGE> 23

<TABLE>
                                     EXHIBIT INDEX
<CAPTION>

Exhibit
Number                                 Description                                                    Page
- -------                                -----------                                                    ----
<C>       <S>                                                                                          <C>
 4.1      Form of Indenture Regarding Subordinated Securities between Mercantile and The
          First National Bank of Chicago, Trustee, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Mercantile's
          Report on Form 8-K dated September 24, 1992, is incorporated herein by
          reference.

 4.2      Rights Agreement dated as of May 23, 1988 between Mercantile and Mercantile
          Bank, as Rights Agent (including as exhibits thereto the form of Certificate of
          Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
          Stock and the form of Right Certificate), filed as Exhibits 1 and 2 to
          Mercantile's Registration Statement No. 0-6045 on Form 8-A, dated May 24, 1988,
          is incorporated herein by reference.

 4.3      Form of Indenture Regarding Senior Debt Securities, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
          Mercantile's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-25775), is incorporated
          herein by reference.

 4.4      Form of Indenture Regarding Subordinated Debt Securities, filed as Exhibit 4.2
          to Mercantile's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-25775), is
          incorporated herein by reference.

 4.5      Indenture dated February 4, 1997, First Supplemental Indenture dated February 4,
          1997 and Supplemental Indenture of First Supplemental Indenture dated May
          22, 1997, between Mercantile, as Issuer, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
          Indenture Trustee, filed as Exhibits 4.5, 4.6 and 4.12, respectively, to
          Mercantile's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-25131), are
          incorporated herein by reference.

 5.1      Opinion of Thompson Coburn regarding the legality of the securities being
          registered.

23.1      Consent of Thompson Coburn (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP with regard to the use of its reports on
          Mercantile's financial statements.

23.3      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP with regard to the use of its report on
          Roosevelt's financial statements.

24.1      Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
</TABLE>


                                    II-7

<PAGE> 1

                              Exhibit 5.1
                              -----------

                    [Letterhead of Thompson Coburn]






Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.
P.O. Box 524
St. Louis, Missouri  63166-0524

      Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3
           ----------------------------------

Gentlemen:

      We refer you to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. (the "Company") on October 9, 1997 (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pertaining to the
proposed issuance by the Company of up to 2,000,000 shares of the Company's
common stock, $.01 par value (the "Shares"), in connection with the
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc. Shareholder Investment Plan (the "Plan"), all
as provided in the Registration Statement. In rendering the opinions set
forth herein, we have examined such corporate records of the Company, such
laws and such other information as we have deemed relevant, including the
Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended and
currently in effect, the resolutions adopted by the Company's Board of
Directors relating to the Plan, certificates received from state officials and
statements we have received from officers and representatives of the Company.
In delivering this opinion, the undersigned assumed the genuineness of all
signatures; the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; the
conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified,
photostatic or conformed copies; the authenticity of the originals of all such
latter documents; and the correctness of statements submitted to us by officers
and representatives of the Company.

      Based only on the foregoing, the undersigned is of the opinion that:

      1.    The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
under the laws of the State of Missouri; and

      2.    The Shares to be sold by the Company, when issued as provided in
the Plan, will be duly authorized, duly and validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.

      We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm in the section of
the Prospectus entitled "Legal Matters."

                              Very truly yours,

                              /s/ Thompson Coburn



<PAGE> 1
                           [EXHIBIT 23.2]




                     INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.



                                       /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
October 9, 1997




<PAGE> 1

                              [EXHIBIT 23.3]




                INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Mercantile Bancorporation Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report related to the consolidated financial
statements of Roosevelt Financial Group, Inc. incorporated herein by
reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the
prospectus.



                                       /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
October 9, 1997


                                    - 2 -


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