Form 8-K

8-K — FIRST MERCHANTS CORP

Accession: 0000712534-26-000041

Filed: 2026-05-20

Period: 2026-05-19

CIK: 0000712534

SIC: 6021 (NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS)

Item: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Documents

8-K — frme-20260519.htm (Primary)

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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

(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. ☐

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:

FOR WITHHELD BROKER NON-VOTES

Susan W. Brooks 36,808,839 8,871,514 7,385,262

Mung Chiang 45,319,704 360,649 7,385,262

Michael J. Fisher 41,782,037 3,898,316 7,385,262

F. Howard Halderman 37,409,002 8,271,351 7,385,262

Kevin D. Johnson 44,733,846 946,507 7,385,262

Clark C. Kellogg 41,703,479 3,976,874 7,385,262

Larry W. Myers 44,620,975 1,059,378 7,385,262

Michael C. Rechin 40,942,318 4,738,035 7,385,262

Jean L. Wojtowicz 40,482,972 5,197,381 7,385,262

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.

First Merchants Corporation

(Registrant)

By: /s/ Michele M. Kawiecki

Michele M. Kawiecki

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Dated: May 20, 2026

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