UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 13, 2004
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
INDIANA
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-17071 35-1544218
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
200 East Jackson Street
P.O. Box 792
Muncie, Indiana 47305-2814
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (765) 747-1500
Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.
On February 10, 2004 the Board of Directors of First Merchants
Corporation declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.23 per share to be paid
to shareholders on March 19, 2004. Record date for the dividend will be March 5,
2004. The press release issued by First Merchants Corporation announcing the
cash dividend is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Not Applicable.
(b) Not Applicable.
(c) (99.1) Press Release dated February 13, 2004.
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.
By: /s/ Larry R. Helms
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Larry R. Helms, Senior Vice President
Dated: February 13, 2004
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No.
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99.1 Description
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Press Release, dated February 13, 2004, issued by
First Merchants Corporation.
First Merchants Corporation
Exhibit No. 99.1
Press Release, dated February 13, 2004
N / E / W / S R / E / L / E / A / S / E
February 13, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Mark K. Hardwick, Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, 765-751-1857
http://firstmerchants.com
SOURCE: First Merchants Corporation, Muncie, Indiana
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES CASH DIVIDEND
First Merchants Corporation announced the following action taken by its Board of
Directors on February 10, 2004. The Board declared a first quarter cash dividend
of $0.23 per share to be paid to shareholders on March 19, 2004. Record date for
the dividend will be March 5, 2004.
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in
Muncie, Indiana. Subsidiaries of the Corporation include First Merchants Bank,
NA, Madison Community Bank, First United Bank, Union County National Bank, The
Randolph County Bank, First National Bank, Decatur Bank & Trust Company, Frances
Slocum Bank, Lafayette Bank & Trust Company, Commerce National Bank and
Merchants Trust Company. The Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance
Services, a full-service property casualty, personal lines, and healthcare
insurance agency, headquartered in Muncie, Indiana, and is a majority member of
Indiana Title Insurance Company, LLC, a title insurance agency.
First Merchants Corporation's common stock is traded over-the-counter on the
NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol FRME and is rated A+ by Standard
& Poor's Corporation. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be
found on the company's Internet web page (http:/www.firstmerchants.com).
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