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): February 9, 2016
Commission File Number 0-17071
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
INDIANA | 35-1544218 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (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)
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:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On February 9, 2016, the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation (the “Company”) approved a stock repurchase program of up to $15 million of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. At the current trading price of the shares, this amount would represent approximately 1.7% of the number of shares outstanding. The shares may be purchased from time to time in open market transactions at prevailing market prices in accordance with federal securities laws. The Company is not obligated to purchase any shares under the program, and the program may be discontinued at any time. The actual timing, number and share price of shares purchased under the repurchase program will be determined by the Company at its discretion and will depend upon such factors as the market price of the stock, general market and economic conditions and applicable legal requirements.
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: February 11, 2016
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
By: /s/Mark K. Hardwick
Mark K. Hardwick,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer