First Merchants (FRME) CCO logs 1,789-share transaction at $42.34

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

First Merchants Corp’s Chief Commercial Officer, Joseph C. Peterson, reported a transaction in the company’s common stock. On 02/08/2026, 1,789 shares were disposed of in a transaction coded “F” at a price of $42.34 per share.

After this transaction, Peterson beneficially owned 38,025.267 shares of First Merchants common stock, held directly. This total includes 19,889.125 shares of restricted stock awards, as noted in the footnote to the filing.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Peterson Joseph C

(Last) (First) (Middle)

200 E JACKSON ST

(Street)

MUNCIE IN 47305

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Commercial Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/08/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/08/2026		F		1,789	D	$42.34	38,025.267(1)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 19,889.125 shares

Remarks:

	Jacob Burkett (Confirming Statement on File)	02/10/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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FAQ

What insider transaction did FRME’s Chief Commercial Officer report?

First Merchants Corp’s Chief Commercial Officer, Joseph C. Peterson, reported disposing of 1,789 shares of common stock. The transaction occurred on 02/08/2026 and was reported as code “F” in the Form 4 insider trading report.

At what price were the 1,789 First Merchants (FRME) shares transacted?

The 1,789 First Merchants common shares were reported at a price of $42.34 per share. This price appears in the Form 4 as the transaction price for the shares involved in the code “F” disposition on 02/08/2026.

How many FRME shares does Joseph C. Peterson own after the transaction?

Following the reported transaction, Joseph C. Peterson beneficially owned 38,025.267 shares of First Merchants common stock. These holdings are reported as directly owned and reflect his position after the 1,789-share disposition on 02/08/2026.

What portion of Joseph C. Peterson’s FRME holdings are restricted stock awards?

The filing notes that Peterson’s holdings include restricted stock awards totaling 19,889.125 shares. These restricted shares form part of his overall 38,025.267 beneficially owned First Merchants common shares reported after the 02/08/2026 transaction.

What does transaction code “F” indicate in the FRME Form 4 filing?

The Form 4 lists the transaction with code “F” for the 1,789 shares disposed on 02/08/2026. Code “F” is the transaction code reported in the filing, identifying the nature of the disposition as categorized under SEC reporting rules.

Is Joseph C. Peterson’s FRME ownership direct or indirect?

The Form 4 shows Joseph C. Peterson’s 38,025.267 First Merchants shares as held with ownership form “D,” meaning direct ownership. No separate indirect ownership entity or disclaimer of beneficial ownership is mentioned in the provided footnote.