8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): May 10, 2023

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indiana
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
001-41342	35-1544218
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

200 East Jackson Street

P.O. Box 792

Muncie, IN 47305-2814

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(765) 747-1500

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.125 stated value per share	FRME	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A	FRMEP	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

ITEM 5.07 DEPARTURE SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

On May 10, 2023 the Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Susan W. Brooks, Dr. Mung Chiang, Michael J. Fisher, Gary J. Lehman and Jean L. Wojtowicz were elected to the Board of Directors for three-year terms expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Kevin D. Johnson was elected to the Board of Directors for a two-year term expiring at the 2025 Annual Meeting and Patrick J. Fehring and Jason R. Sondhi were elected to serve a one-year term expiring at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

The shareholders adopted a non-binding resolution approving the compensation of the Corporation’s executive officers and ratified the Board of Directors’ appointment of Forvis, LLP as the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2023.

The votes on these matters were as follows:

1. Election of Directors:

	FOR	WITHHELD	BROKER NON-VOTES
Susan W. Brooks	23,762,926	20,969,509	6,305,583
Dr. Mung Chiang	43,906,420	826,015	6,305,583
Patrick J. Fehring	28,593,425	16,139,010	6,305,583
Michael J. Fisher	28,596,248	16,136,187	6,305,583
Kevin D. Johnson	43,216,910	1,515,525	6,305,583
Gary J. Lehman	27,774,685	16,957,750	6,305,583
Jason R. Sondhi	43,992,175	740,260	6,305,583
Jean L. Wojtowicz	26,847,054	17,885,381	6,305,583

2. Approval, on an advisory basis, of executive compensation:

FOR	AGAINST	ABSTAIN	BROKER NON-VOTES
42,392,845	2,165,571	174,019	6,305,583

3. Proposal to ratify Forvis, LLP as independent auditor for 2023:

FOR	AGAINST	ABSTAIN	BROKER NON-VOTES
49,343,387	1,650,788	43,843	—

SIGNATURES

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.

	First Merchants Corporation
	(Registrant)
	By: /s/ Michele M. Kawiecki Michele M. Kawiecki Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Dated: May 16, 2023

XML

Document and Entity Information Document	May 10, 2023
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	May 10, 2023
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	IN
Entity File Number	001-41342
Entity Tax Identification Number	35-1544218
Entity Address, Address Line One	200 East Jackson Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	P.O. Box 792
Entity Address, City or Town	Muncie
Entity Address, State or Province	IN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	47305-2814
City Area Code	765
Local Phone Number	747-1500
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000712534
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock, $0.125 stated value per share
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.125 stated value per share
Trading Symbol	FRME
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A
Entity Listings [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A
Trading Symbol	FRMEP
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ