Director at First Merchants (NASDAQ: FRME) awarded 584 common shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Brooks Susan W reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

FIRST MERCHANTS CORP director Susan W. Brooks received a stock award of 584 shares of common stock at $38.73 per share. This compensation-related grant increased her direct holdings to 12,014.88 shares.

The total includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 7,671 shares, which typically vest over time and are subject to continued service or other conditions.

Insider Trade Summary

1 transaction reported

Mixed 1 txn

Insider Brooks Susan W

Role Director

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Common	584	$38.73	$23K

Holdings After Transaction: Common — 12,014.88 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

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Key Figures

Shares granted: 584 shares Grant price: $38.73 per share Total holdings after grant: 12,014.88 shares +1 more

4 metrics

Shares granted 584 shares Stock award to director on March 31, 2026

Grant price $38.73 per share Price used for the 584-share award

Total holdings after grant 12,014.88 shares Director’s direct common stock holdings after the transaction

Restricted Stock Awards included 7,671 shares Portion of total holdings that are Restricted Stock Awards

Key Terms

Restricted Stock Awards, grant/award acquisition, Form 4

3 terms

Restricted Stock Awards financial

"Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 7,671 shares"

Restricted stock awards are company shares given to employees or executives that cannot be sold or transferred until certain conditions — like staying with the company for a set time or meeting performance targets — are met, like a gift that is locked in a safe until rules are satisfied. Investors care because these awards tie management’s pay to company performance, can increase the number of shares outstanding when they become tradable (dilution), and may signal expected future selling pressure or commitment to long-term growth.

grant/award acquisition financial

"transaction_action is described as grant/award acquisition"

Form 4 regulatory

"INSIDER FILING DATA (Form 4) for FIRST MERCHANTS CORP"

Form 4 is a official document that company insiders, such as executives or major shareholders, file with regulators whenever they buy or sell company shares. It provides transparency about how those with inside knowledge are trading, helping investors see if insiders are confident in the company's prospects or may be selling for personal reasons. This information can influence investor decisions by revealing insiders' perspectives on the company's value.

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

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^*

Brooks Susan W

(Last) (First) (Middle)

200 EAST JACKSON ST

(Street)

MUNCIE INDIANA 47305

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

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
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/31/2026

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

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

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

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	03/31/2026		A		584	A	$38.73	12,014.88(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 7,671 shares

Remarks:

	Paul Cento (Confirming Statement on File)	04/02/2026
	** 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.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider transaction did FRME director Susan W. Brooks report?

Director Susan W. Brooks reported receiving a grant of 584 First Merchants common shares at $38.73 per share. The transaction is coded as an acquisition award, indicating compensation rather than an open-market purchase, and it increases her direct equity stake in the company.

Was the FRME insider transaction a market buy or a stock award?

The FRME insider transaction was a stock award, not a market purchase. It is coded as a grant or award acquisition, meaning the 584 shares were received as compensation rather than bought on the open market at the prevailing share price.

How many FRME shares does Susan W. Brooks hold after the award?

After receiving the 584-share award, Susan W. Brooks directly holds 12,014.88 First Merchants common shares. This total includes both regular common stock and Restricted Stock Awards, reflecting her ongoing equity-based alignment with shareholder interests as a company director.

What role do Restricted Stock Awards play in FRME director compensation?

Restricted Stock Awards are a key part of FRME director compensation, aligning directors with long-term shareholder value. Brooks’s holdings include 7,671 restricted shares, which typically vest over time, encouraging continued service and focus on the company’s performance and stock price.

Does the FRME Form 4 show any insider selling activity?

The FRME Form 4 shows only an acquisition via stock award and no selling activity. Brooks received 584 shares as compensation, and her total direct holdings rose to 12,014.88 shares with no reported dispositions or open-market sales in this particular filing.