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 20, 2005
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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 14, 2005, 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 6, 2005.
The cash dividend was distributed along with a letter to the stockholders on
June 20, 2005. 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 20, 2005.
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 20, 2005
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Larry R. Helms
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Larry R. Helms,
Senior Vice President
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Stockholder Letter dated June 20, 2005.
Page 4 of 5
First Merchants Corporation
Exhibit 99.1
Stockholder Letter, dated June 20, 2005
June 20, 2005
Dear Shareholder:
The First Merchants Corporation Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash
dividend of $.23 per share to holders of record June 6, 2005, payable June 20,
2005.
Our banking activities continue to expand, and we have recently announced
relocation to a new office in the greater Indianapolis metropolitan market. The
Indianapolis banking center, encompassing both commercial lending and trust and
investment activities, will relocate to a new office complex on I-465 on the
north edge of the city. New business development in this market continues to
encourage us toward further development, and we look forward to the opening of
this new office.
We have also begun a corporate branding advertising campaign in and around our
service area. Our strategy is to further communicate that our Corporation covers
a large footprint through the central part of the state and that First Merchants
Corporation includes nine community banks serving their customers in a manner
consistent with community banking practices. This branding campaign is designed
to convey the message that "We Are Your Partners in Success" in the delivery of
high-quality and customer-friendly services.
Your continued support of our Corporation is appreciated and the Board of
Directors is pleased to provide this dividend to you. 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 Web site, www.firstmerchants.com, and invite you to avail
yourselves of this service.
Sincerely,
Michael L. Cox
President and Chief Executive Officer
MLC/ch
Enclosure