# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000712534
**File Stem:** 0000712534-26-000041
**Filing Date:** 2026-5
**Character Count:** 5850
**Document Hash:** 12d2940dcffefb525662063cfe0a0e4a
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000712534-26-000041.hdr.sgml**: 20260520

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000712534-26-000041

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 12

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260519

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260520

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260520

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000712534
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 351544218
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** IN
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-41342
- **FILM NUMBER:** 261004678

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 200 E JACKSON ST
- **STREET 2:** PO BOX 792
- **CITY:** MUNCIE
- **STATE:** IN
- **ZIP:** 47308-0792
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 7657471500

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 200 EAST JACKSON STREET
- **CITY:** MUNCIE
- **STATE:** IN
- **ZIP:** 47305

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? frme-20260519

**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 19, 2026** 

**FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION**

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Indiana | Indiana |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (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. ☐

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

On May 19, 2026 the Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Susan W. Brooks, Mung Chiang, Michael J. Fisher, F. Howard Halderman, Kevin D. Johnson, Clark C. Kellogg, Larry W. Myers, Michael C. Rechin and Jean L. Wojtowicz were elected to the Board of Directors for one-year terms expiring at the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.

The shareholders adopted a non-binding resolution approving the compensation of the Corporation's executive officers, as well as the appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as the Corporation's independent registered public accounting firm for 2026.

The votes on these matters were as follows:

1. Election of Directors:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | FOR | WITHHELD | BROKER NON-VOTES |
| Susan W. Brooks | 36808839 | 8871514 | 7385262 |
| Mung Chiang | 45319704 | 360649 | 7385262 |
| Michael J. Fisher | 41782037 | 3898316 | 7385262 |
| F. Howard Halderman | 37409002 | 8271351 | 7385262 |
| Kevin D. Johnson | 44733846 | 946507 | 7385262 |
| Clark C. Kellogg | 41703479 | 3976874 | 7385262 |
| Larry W. Myers | 44620975 | 1059378 | 7385262 |
| Michael C. Rechin | 40942318 | 4738035 | 7385262 |
| Jean L. Wojtowicz | 40482972 | 5197381 | 7385262 |

---

2. Approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of Corporation's named executive officers:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | BROKER NON-VOTES |
| 43,084,564 | 2,221,954 | 373,835 | 7,385,262 |

---

3. Approval of Forvis Mazars, LLP as independent auditor for 2026:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | BROKER NON-VOTES |
| 51,146,053 | 1,842,114 | 77,448 |  |

---

------

**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.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| | First Merchants Corporation |
| | (Registrant) |
| | By: <u>/s/ Michele M. Kawiecki</u><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>Michele M. Kawiecki<br>Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer<br>(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| Dated: May 20, 2026 |  |

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