Common Stock, $0.125 stated value per share
- Symbol
- FRME
- Exchange
- NASDAQ
- Classification
- COMMON
- Status
- Current
Current Report · Items 5.02, 8.01, 9.01 · 8-K
First Merchants Corporation
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements · Other Events
ITEM 5.02 DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS. (b) On October 1, 2026, First Merchants Corporation (the “Company”) announced the upcoming retirement of the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, Mark K. Hardwick, effective January 1, 2027.…
Company context
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation has one full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank. The Bank also operates as First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (as a division of First Merchants Bank). First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).
Current securities
Recent company filings
- Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement · Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet ArrangementSep 25, 2026
- 424B5 filingSep 24, 2026
- Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement · Other EventsSep 24, 2026
- FWP - filed by FIRST MERCHANTS CORP regarding FIRST MERCHANTS CORPSep 23, 2026
- 305B2 filingSep 23, 2026
Registered securities in this filing
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP · 8-K · Filed 2026-10-01
Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A
- Symbol
- FRMEP
- Exchange
- NASDAQ
- Classification
- PREFERRED
- Status
- Current
Disclosure sections
Item 5.02Item 5.02 - Departure/Election of Directors
ITEM 5.02 DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS.
(b) On October 1, 2026, First Merchants Corporation (the “Company”) announced the upcoming retirement of the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, Mark K. Hardwick, effective January 1, 2027.
(c) As part of the Company’s executive succession plan, as a result of Mr. Hardwick’s retirement, Michael J. Stewart will assume the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and will become the Company’s principal executive officer. Such appointment will be effective on January 1, 2027 and will continue until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or otherwise until his successor is duly appointed and qualified.
Additional information relating to the background and business experience of Mr. Stewart is set forth in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2026, under the heading “Information About Our Executive Officers”, which information is incorporated herein by reference.
Other than existing compensatory arrangements, with respect to Mr. Stewart’s appointment (i) there are no additional arrangements or understandings between Mr. Stewart and any other person; (ii) no additional material plan, contract or arrangement has been entered into with Mr. Stewart, and no such plan, contract or arrangement with Mr. Stewart has been materially amended; and (iii) no grant of any additional award to Mr. Stewart or modification of an existing award has been made. Moreover, Mr. Stewart does not have a family relationship with any director or other executive officer of the Company or any person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer. Also, Mr. Stewart does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction that would require reporting under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 8.01Item 8.01 - Other Events
ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.
On October 1, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing a change to its executive management group as described in Item 5.02 above. A copy of the press release has been filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference herein.