Company: FRME
Filing Date: 2025-11-06
Form Type: 424B3
Source: 0001193125-25-268801
Chunk: 11

Company: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-11-06
Form: 424B3
Chunk 11
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 possible. We must first obtain the necessary regulatory                                                   
 approvals and the approval of First Savings shareholders at the special meeting. We currently expect to complete the Merger during the first quarter of 2026. |

3

| Q: | What are the federal income tax consequences of the Merger to holders of First Savings common stock? |

| A: | The Merger is intended to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a)                                                                                                                                                              
 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), and it is a condition to the closing of the Merger that Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP and Luse Gorman, PC deliver opinions, effective as of the date of the              
 Merger, to First Merchants and First Savings, respectively, to that effect. Such opinions will comply with the regulations and guidance of the SEC with respect to the persons entitled to rely on tax opinions contained in the Registration Statement   
 on Form S-4, of which this proxy and prospectus is a part. However, neither First Savings nor First Merchants has requested or received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that                                                       
 the Merger will qualify as a reorganization. If the Merger qualifies as a reorganization, then, in general, a U.S. Holder (as defined in the section captioned “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES” beginning on page 73)                      
 exchanging First Savings common stock will not recognize gain or loss on the exchange, except to the extent the U.S. Holder receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of First Merchants common stock. A U.S. Holder who receives cash in lieu of       
 fractional shares of First Merchants common stock will be treated as having received such fractional share of First Merchants common stock pursuant to the Merger and then as having sold that fractional share of First Merchants common stock for cash  
 in a redemption by First Merchants. As a result, assuming that the cash received is not treated as a dividend, such U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received in lieu of a fractional 
 share and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis allocated to the fractional share of First Merchants common stock. See “MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES” beginning on page 73.                                                                        |

Your individual tax consequences will depend on your personal situation. You should