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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 1, 2008
 
Commerce Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Missouri   0-2989   43-0889454
         
(State of Incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
         
1000 Walnut,
Kansas City, MO
      64106
         
(Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)
(816) 234-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the
     registrant under any of the following provisions:
     o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
     o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
     On February 1, 2008 the Company’s Board of Directors approved the recommendations of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee with respect to the base salary for 2008 (effective April 1, 2008) and the payment of cash bonuses to the Company’s CEO and its other named executive officers in accordance with the Company’s Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. The Board also approved the Committee’s recommendations for the grant to those individuals of stock appreciation rights and restricted stock awards under the Company’s 2005 Equity Incentive Plan.
                                     
                        Stock   Restricted
        2008   2007 Cash   Appreciation   Stock
        Salary   Bonus   Rights   Award
Executive Officer   Title   $   $   #   #
David W. Kemper  
Chairman, President & CEO
    848,500       516,500       97,750       4,104  
Jonathan M. Kemper  
Vice Chairman
    437,500       192,500       41,400       1,486  
Seth M. Leadbeater  
Vice Chairman
    345,000       140,000       20,700       1,070  
Charles G. Kim  
Executive Vice President
    345,000       142,000       19,550       994  
Kevin G. Barth  
Executive Vice President
    345,000       142,000       19,550       994  
A. Bayard Clark  
Executive Vice President & CFO
    265,500       90,000       16,100       720  
Item 8.01 Other Events
     On February 1, 2008 Commerce Bancshares, Inc. issued a Press Release announcing actions taken by its Board of Directors in addition to the declaration of a regular quarterly dividend. The Board of Directors approved the additional purchase of up to 1,579,156 shares of company stock. This, coupled with the shares left to be purchased under the prior authorization, will provide the company with authority to repurchase up to 3,000,000 shares.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Jeffery D. Aberdeen    
    Jeffery D. Aberdeen   
    Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer) 
 
 
Date: February 5, 2008