Document


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): June 27, 2017

 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))

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 o

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. o





Item 8.01.     Other Events.

At a special meeting held on June 27, 2017, the shareholders of Independent Alliance Bank, Inc., an Indiana corporation (“IALB”), approved the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger between IALB and First Merchants Corporation (“First Merchants”), dated February 17, 2017 (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, IALB will merge with and into First Merchants (the “Merger”). Immediately following the Merger, iAB Financial Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IALB, will merge with and into First Merchants Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Merchants, with First Merchants Bank surviving the merger and continuing its corporate existence. While all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals have now been obtained, consummation of the Merger remains subject to the satisfaction of the customary closing conditions contained in the Merger Agreement. The Merger is expected to be consummated in July 2017.





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.
 
First Merchants Corporation
(Registrant)

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




Dated: June 28, 2017