UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORTPURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): July 17, 2020 Commission File Number 0-17071FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)Indiana35-1544218(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)(IRS Employer Identification No.)200 East Jackson StreetP.O. Box 792Muncie, IN47305-2814(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)Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registeredCommon Stock, $0.125 stated value per shareFRMENasdaq Global Select Market 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 7.01 REGULATION FD DISCLOSUREFirst Merchants Corporation (the “Company”) has appointed Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) as its transfer agent effective July 17, 2020.  All of the Company’s directly held shares of common stock were transferred from American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC to Broadridge’s platform.  A copy of the Company’s letter to its shareholders is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.The information in this Form 8-K and the attached exhibit shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.(a)     Not applicable.(b)     Not applicable.(c)     Not applicable.(d)        Exhibits.Exhibit 99.1Shareholder Letter Regarding Transfer Agent ChangeExhibit 104Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)SIGNATURESPursuant 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: July 17, 2020FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATIONBy: /s/ Mark K. HardwickMark K. HardwickExecutive Vice President,Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)