Company: FRME
Filing Date: 2025-09-25
Form Type: 425
Source: 0001193125-25-216443
Chunk: 6

Company: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-09-25
Form: 425
Chunk 6
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 of their respective directors and executive
officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the common shareholders of First Savings in connection with the proposed Merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Merchants is set forth in
the proxy statement for First Merchants’ 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 1, 2025. Information about the directors and executive officers of First Savings is set forth in the proxy
statement for the First Savings 2025 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on January 8, 2025. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants
in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement-Prospectus regarding the proposed Merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

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| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |

| (d) | Exhibits. |

| Exhibit 
 No.     
 2.1*    
 10.1    |     | Description of Exhibit                                                                                                                                                                        
 Agreement and Plan of Merger between First Merchants Corporation and First Savings Financial Group, Inc. dated September 24, 2025                                                             
 Voting Agreement, dated September 24, 2025, among First Merchants Corporation and each member of the Board of Directors and certain executive officers of First Savings Financial Group, Inc. |
|:--------|:----|:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 99.1    |     | Press Release, dated September 25, 2025                                                                                                                                                       |
| 99.2    |     | Presentation, dated September 25, 2025                                                                                                                                                        |
| 104     |     | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document).                                                                                                                  |

| * | Schedules to the subject agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. |

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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. Date: September 25, 2025

| First Merchants Corporation |     |                                                      |
| By:                         |