First Merchants CEO Adds 30.9 Phantom Shares in Routine Transaction

First Merchants (NASDAQ: FRME) filed a Form 4 reporting that Chief Executive Officer and Director Mark K. Hardwick acquired 30.933 phantom stock units on 06/23/2025 at an implied price of $36.03 per unit.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

First Merchants (NASDAQ: FRME) filed a Form 4 reporting that Chief Executive Officer and Director Mark K. Hardwick acquired 30.933 phantom stock units on 06/23/2025 at an implied price of $36.03 per unit. After the transaction, Hardwick beneficially owns 3,231.698 phantom stock units in total. Each phantom unit is economically equivalent to one share of common stock and will be settled in cash or stock when he separates from the company.

The transaction represents a routine equity-compensation accrual; no open-market purchases, disposals, or other material changes were disclosed.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 30.933 shares

Grant/Award 1 txn

Insider HARDWICK MARK K

Role Chief Executive Officer

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Phantom Stock	30.933	$36.03	$1K

Holdings After Transaction: Phantom Stock — 3,231.698 contracts (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

1. F1. Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of FRME common stock. The shares of phantom stock will be settled in cash or shares of FRME common stock, at the reporting person's election, upon separation from First Merchants.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How many phantom stock units did FRME's CEO acquire in the latest Form 4 filing?

Mark K. Hardwick acquired 30.933 phantom stock units on 06/23/2025.

What is the CEO's total phantom stock ownership in First Merchants after the reported transaction?

Following the acquisition, Hardwick beneficially owns 3,231.698 phantom stock units.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 06/23/2025 - 04:15 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

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

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

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^*

HARDWICK MARK K

(Last) (First) (Middle)

200 E JACKSON STREET

(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)

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/23/2025

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

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
Phantom Stock	(1)	06/23/2025		A		30.933		(1)	(1)	Common Stock	30.933	$36.03	3,231.698	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of FRME common stock. The shares of phantom stock will be settled in cash or shares of FRME common stock, at the reporting person's election, upon separation from First Merchants.

Remarks:

	Jacob Burkett (Confirming Statement on File)	06/23/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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