SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 7) FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION Common Stock, No Par Value CUSIP Number: 320817109 *The remainder of this cover page shall be filed out for a reporting person's initial filling on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). (CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE[S]) Page 1 of 4 Pages
CUSIP No. 320817109 Page 2 of 4 Pages 1. Names of Reporting Persons; S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons: GEORGE AND FRANCES BALL FOUNDATION 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group. (a) / / (b) / / 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: INDIANA Number of 5. Sole Voting Power: 293,720 Shares Beneficially 6. Shared Voting Power: -0- Owned by Each 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 293,720 Reporting Person With 8. Shared Dispositive Power: -0- 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person. 293,720 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row 9 Excludes Certain Shares. 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 4.4% 12. Type of Reporting Person EP
Page 3 of 4 Pages ITEM 1(a) NAME OF ISSUER. First Merchants Corporation ITEM 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES. 200 East Jackson Street Muncie, IN 47305 ITEM 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING. George and Frances Ball Foundation ITEM 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE. P. O. Box 1408 Muncie, IN 47308 ITEM 2(c). CITIZENSHIP. Indiana ITEM 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES. Common Stock, No Par Value ITEM 2(e). CUSIP NO. 320817109 ITEM 3. Not Applicable ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP. As of December 31, 1996, the reporting person beneficially owned 293,720 shares, or 4.4%, of the Issuer's 6,603,319 outstanding shares of common stock, all of which the reporting person has the sole power to vote and dispose.
Page 4 of 4 Pages ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT (5%) OR LESS OF A CLASS. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [X]. ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT (5%) ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. Not Applicable. ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ASSIGNED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. Not Applicable. ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. Not Applicable. ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. Not Applicable. ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION. Not Applicable SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete, and correct. Date: February 1 , 1997 ----- GEORGE AND FRANCES BALL FOUNDATION By: /s/ Douglas J. Foy ------------------------------ Printed Name: Douglas J. Foy -------------------- Title: Treas. ---------------------------