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
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DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): June 19, 2006
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FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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INDIANA 0-17071 35-1544218
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission file number) (IRS Employer
of incorporation) 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:
[ ] 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))
Page 1 of 5
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On April 13, 2006, the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation
declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share on its outstanding common
stock. The cash dividend was payable to stockholders of record on June 5, 2006.
The cash dividend was distributed along with a letter to the stockholders on
June 19, 2006. A copy of the stockholder letter is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to
this report and is furnished pursuant to Regulation FD.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Not Applicable.
(b) Not Applicable.
(c) (99.1) Stockholder Letter dated June 19, 2006.
Page 2 of 5
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: June 19, 2006
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Mark K. Hardwick
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Mark K. Hardwick,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Principal Accounting Officer)
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Stockholder Letter dated June 19, 2006.
Page 4 of 5
First Merchants Corporation
Exhibit 99.1
Stockholder Letter, dated June 19, 2006
June 19, 2006
Dear Shareholder:
The First Merchants Corporation Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash
dividend of $0.23 per share to holders of record on June 5, 2006, payable June
19, 2006.
Our results for the first quarter evidence continued growth in loans and
deposits offset to some degree by the margin compression provided by an inverted
yield curve. Our focus is on a higher rate of customer acquisition coupled with
superior service to our existing clients and active management of our credit
costs. During the first quarter, we completed the combining of First Merchants
Bank and First United Bank. Our employees in Middletown deserve positive
recognition by their diligent efforts around meeting our customers' needs.
Your Board of Directors is pleased to provide this dividend to you, and we are
appreciative of your continued support of our Corporation. Should you have any
questions regarding our company, we welcome them through our internal
shareholder relations department (800-262-4261 ext. 7278) or through direct
e-mail link on our website, www.firstmerchants.com, and invite you to avail
yourselves of this service.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Cox
President and Chief Executive Officer
MLC/ch
Enclosure