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8-K - FORM 8K - 2010 ANNUAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING - FIRST MERCHANTS CORPf8k05102010cover.htm
 
Item 5.07.                      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.  On May 5, 2010, First Merchants Corporation (the “Company”) held its annual meeting of the shareholders at the Horizon Convention Center, 401 South High Street, Muncie, Indiana.
 
Michael C. Rechin, Charles E. Schalliol and Terry L. Walker were elected to the Board of Directors for three-year terms expiring at the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. The shareholders also adopted a non-binding resolution approving the compensation of the Company’s executive officers and ratified the Board of Directors’s appointment of BKD, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2010. The final voting results on these matters were as follows:
 
 
1.  Election of Directors:
 
             
Name
 
Votes For
 
Votes Withheld
 
Broker Non-Votes
Michael C. Rechin
 
9,631,269
 
797,194
 
4,454,598
Charles E. Schalliol
 
4,623,801
 
5,804,662
 
4,454,598
Terry L. Walker
 
9,767,937
 
660,526
 
4,454,598
 
ISS/RiskMetrics, a proxy advisory firm, recommended withholding votes for Mr. Schalliol because, under their policies, they conclude he is an “affiliated outside director” by virtue of his being “of counsel” to the law firm of Baker & Daniels, which does legal work for the Company.  However, the Company concludes he is an “independent” director under the Rules of both NASDAQ and the SEC.
 
 
 
2.  
Approval of the Non-Binding Resolution to Approve Compensation of the Company’s Executive Officers:
 
           
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Votes Abstained
 
13,008,583
 
1,749,960
 
127,518
 
 
 
 
3.  Appointment of BKD, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2010:
 
           
Votes For
 
Votes Against
 
Votes Abstained
 
14,492,136
 
345,234
 
45,691
 
 

 


 
 

 

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: May 10, 2010.

              FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

              By: /s/ Mark K. Hardwick
                   Mark K. Hardwick,
                   Executive Vice President and
               Chief Financial Officer