Company: MBINL
Filing Date: 2025-05-23
Form Type: S-3
Source: 0001104659-25-052423
Chunk: 31

Company: Merchants Bancorp
Filing Date: 2025-05-23
Form: S-3
Chunk 31
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-Takeover Considerations and Special Provisions of Our Articles, Bylaws and Indiana Law

Provisions of the IBCL and our articles and bylaws could have the effect of delaying or deferring the removal of incumbent directors or delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us, even if such removal or acquisition would be viewed by our shareholders to be in their best interests. These provisions, summarized below, are intended to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. These provisions also serve to discourage hostile takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. We believe that these provisions are beneficial because the negotiation they encourage could result in improved terms of any unsolicited proposal.

#### Removal of Directors.
Our articles specify that, as permitted by the provisions of the IBCL, directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the actual number of directors then in office and by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the election of directors.

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#### Noncumulative Voting for Directors.
Our directors are elected by plurality and not cumulative voting, which may make it more difficult for a non-company nominee to be elected to our board of directors.

#### Authorized But Unissued Capital Stock.
**We have authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock, and our board of directors may authorize the issuance of one or more series of preferred stock without shareholder approval. These shares could be used by our board of directors to make it more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.

Limitation on Right to Call a Special Meeting of Shareholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders may only be called by our board of directors, the Chairman, or Chief Executive Officer, or by the holders of not less than 25% of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote for the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is being called.**

#### Advance Notice Provisions.
**Our bylaws include a provision that permits shareholders of record to make nominations for the election of directors and proposals for any business or matter to be presented at any annual or special meeting of shareholders only if notice of such proposal is given to us not less than 90 days and no more than 120 days prior to the date of the meeting. The advance notice provision gives the board of directors adequate time to respond to the shareholder proposal. If the shareholder