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<div><a name="s921f25f99051434f8a122d54f8b18445"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2017 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Registration Statement No. 333-              </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:4px;text-align:center;font-size:4pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:4pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;font-size:4pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:4pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;padding-left:302px;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:6pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM S-8 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">UNDER </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;padding-left:302px;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:6pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;font-size:18pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;padding-left:302px;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:6pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:2pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:2pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:34%;"></td><td style="width:33%;"></td><td style="width:33%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">INDIANA</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">6712</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">35-1544218</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">(State or other jurisdiction of</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">(Primary Standard Industrial</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">Classification Code Number)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">(I.R.S. Employer</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:2px;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">200 East Jackson Street </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Muncie, Indiana 47305 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">(765) 747-1500 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">(Address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code,&#160;of registrant&#8217;s principal executive offices) </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION 2009 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Full title of the plan)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:6pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Mark K. Hardwick </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Executive Vice President, </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">First Merchants Corporation </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">200 East Jackson Street </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Muncie, Indiana 47305 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">(765) 747-1500 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-weight:bold;">(Name, address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:1px;text-align:center;padding-left:302px;font-size:6pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:6pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:2px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">With</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:6pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">&#32;copies to: </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:2pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:2pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:50%;"></td><td style="width:50%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Jeremy E. Hill, Esq.</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">2700 Market Tower</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">10 W. Market Street</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Indianapolis, Indiana 46204</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">(317) 635-8900</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Brian T. Hunt, Esq.</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">First Vice President and General Counsel</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">First Merchants Corporation</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">200 East Jackson Street </font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Muncie, Indiana 47305 </font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">(765) 747-1500 </font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definition of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company,&#8221; and &#8220;emerging growth company&#8221; in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:95.703125%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="4"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:19%;"></td><td style="width:53%;"></td><td style="width:25%;"></td><td style="width:3%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">Large&#160;accelerated&#160;filer</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#9746;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">Accelerated&#160;filer</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">Non-accelerated filer</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#9744;&#160;&#160;(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">Smaller&#160;reporting&#160;company</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">Emerging growth company</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#9744;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#9744;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="9"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:31%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:16%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:16%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:17%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:16%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Title of Securities</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">To Be Registered</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount&#160;To&#160;Be</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Registered (1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed&#160;Maximum</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Offering Price</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Per Share</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Aggregate&#160;Offering&#160;Price</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount of</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">Registration Fee</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Common Stock, no par value</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">-2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">600,000(2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">$39.73(3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">$23,862,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">$2,765.61</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">TOTAL</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">600,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">$23,862,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">$2,765.61</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div><br></div><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:4%;"></td><td style="width:96%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Act&#8221;), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant&#8217;s common stock that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant&#8217;s receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant&#8217;s common stock.  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) of the Act, this Registration Statement covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;(2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Represents additional shares of common stock that are issuable under the Registrant&#8217;s 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to an &#8220;evergreen&#8221; provision that, for each fiscal year of the Plan, authorizes for issuance the greater of (a) one percent (1%) of the common shares outstanding as of the prior December 31</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:7pt">st</sup></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;or (b) 250,000, that have not been previously registered under the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.&#160;333-159643) filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July&#160;01, 2009 (the &#8220;Initial Registration Statement&#8221;).  </font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;(3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h)&#160;solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant&#8217;s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on August&#160;9, 2017.</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:13pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:13pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:left;text-indent:32px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, First Merchants Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the &#8220;Registrant&#8221;), is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this &#8220;Registration Statement&#8221;) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) to register 600,000 additional shares of its common stock that were previously reserved for issuance under the Registrant&#8217;s 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the &#8220;2009 LTEIP Plan&#8221;) (the &#8220;Additional Shares&#8221;).  The Additional Shares are in addition to the common stock previously registered for issuance for the LTEIP Plan on the Registrant&#8217;s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No.&#160;333-159643) filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July&#160;01, 2009 (the &#8220;Initial Registration Statement&#8221;).  This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the Initial Registration Statement. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement only contains the facing page, a statement incorporating the Initial Registration Statement by reference and the required opinions and consents listed in the Exhibit Index and the signature page.  This Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462(a) of the Act.  </font></div><div><br></div><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:24px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:24px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Item&#160;21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:8px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(a) The following Exhibits are being filed as part of this Registration Statement except those which are incorporated by reference: </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Exhibit </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">No.</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Description of Exhibit</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">4.1&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;First Merchants Corporation 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 2009, as amended </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Incorporated by reference to registrant's Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015)  (SEC No. 000-17071)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">5.1*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Opinion of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">23.1*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Consent of BKD, LLP</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">23.2*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Consent of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality) (included in Exhibit 5.1)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">24.1*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Power of Attorney included on &#8220;Signature&#8221; page of this Registration Statement</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">* Filed herewith</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Muncie, State of Indiana, on August&#160;11, 2017.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-indent:432px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;text-indent:432px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">By:  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Michael C. Rechin</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;text-indent:432px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;Michael C. Rechin, Chief Executive</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;text-indent:432px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;Officer and President</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael C. Rechin and Mark K. Hardwick and each of them his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any subsequent registration statement filed by First Merchants Corporation pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed as of the 11th day of August, 2017 by the following persons in the capacities indicated. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Michael C. Rechin                                 &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Chief Executive Officer, President and</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Michael C. Rechin&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;   Director (Principal Executive Officer)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Mark K. Hardwick                                  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer an Chief Operating</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Mark K. Hardwick&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;    Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Charles E. Schalliol                                  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Chairman of the Board and Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Charles E. Schalliol  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Michael R. Becher                               &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Michael R. Becher &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Michael J. Fisher                               &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Michael J. Fisher &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ F. Howard Halderman                              &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">F. Howard Halderman&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ William L. Hoy                              &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">William L. Hoy&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Gary J. Lehman                              &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Gary J. Lehman&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Patrick A. Sherman                              &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Patrick A. Sherman&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Terry L. Walker                           &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Terry L. Walker</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Jean L. Wojtowicz                              &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Director</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Jean L. Wojtowicz&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-indent:96px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div><br></div><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, being all of the members of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation (the committee responsible for administering the First Merchants Corporation 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan) have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Muncie, State of Indiana, on August 11, 2017.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">2009 LONG-TERM EQUITY</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">INCENTIVE PLAN</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Charles E. Schalliol                                  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Compensation and Human Resources Committee Member</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Charles E. Schalliol  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Gary J. Lehman                                  &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Compensation and Human Resources Committee Member</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Gary J. Lehman</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ William L. Hoy                                 &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;Compensation and Human Resources Committee Member</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">William L. Hoy&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div><br></div><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">INDEX TO EXHIBITS</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Exhibit </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">No.</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Description of Exhibit</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">4.1&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;First Merchants Corporation 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 2009, as amended </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Incorporated by reference to registrant's Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015)  (SEC No. 000-17071)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">5.1*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Opinion of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">23.1*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Consent of BKD, LLP</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">23.2*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Consent of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality) (included in Exhibit 5.1)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">24.1*&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Power of Attorney included on &#8220;Signature&#8221; page of this Registration Statement</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">* Filed herewith</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div></div>	</body>
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Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2017
Registration Statement No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
INDIANA
6712
35-1544218
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
200 East Jackson Street
Muncie, Indiana 47305
(765) 747-1500
(Address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION 2009 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
Mark K. Hardwick
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
First Merchants Corporation
200 East Jackson Street
Muncie, Indiana 47305
(765) 747-1500
(Name, address, including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With
copies to:
Jeremy E. Hill, Esq.
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
2700 Market Tower
10 W. Market Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(317) 635-8900
Brian T. Hunt, Esq.
First Vice President and General Counsel
First Merchants Corporation
200 East Jackson Street
Muncie, Indiana 47305
(765) 747-1500
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☒
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
☐
Emerging growth company
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
To Be Registered
Amount To Be
Registered (1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, no par value
-2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan
600,000(2)
$39.73(3)
$23,862,000
$2,765.61
TOTAL
600,000
$23,862,000
$2,765.61
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant's common stock that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Registrant's common stock.  In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) of the Act, this Registration Statement covers an indeterminate amount of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plans described herein.
(2)
Represents additional shares of common stock that are issuable under the Registrant's 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan pursuant to an "evergreen" provision that, for each fiscal year of the Plan, authorizes for issuance the greater of (a) one percent (1%) of the common shares outstanding as of the prior December 31
st
or (b) 250,000, that have not been previously registered under the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-159643) filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 01, 2009 (the "Initial Registration Statement").
(3)
Estimated in accordance with Rules 457(c) and (h) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee based on the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant's common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on August 9, 2017.
REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL SHARES
PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION E
Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, First Merchants Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the "Registrant"), is filing this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") to register 600,000 additional shares of its common stock that were previously reserved for issuance under the Registrant's 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the "2009 LTEIP Plan") (the "Additional Shares").  The Additional Shares are in addition to the common stock previously registered for issuance for the LTEIP Plan on the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-159643) filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 01, 2009 (the "Initial Registration Statement").  This Registration Statement hereby incorporates by reference the contents of the Initial Registration Statement. Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement only contains the facing page, a statement incorporating the Initial Registration Statement by reference and the required opinions and consents listed in the Exhibit Index and the signature page.  This Registration Statement shall become effective upon filing in accordance with Rule 462(a) of the Act.
Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following Exhibits are being filed as part of this Registration Statement except those which are incorporated by reference:
Exhibit
No.
Description of Exhibit
4.1    First Merchants Corporation 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 2009, as amended
(Incorporated by reference to registrant's Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015)  (SEC No. 000-17071)
5.1*    Opinion of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality)
23.1*    Consent of BKD, LLP
23.2*    Consent of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality) (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Power of Attorney included on "Signature" page of this Registration Statement
* Filed herewith
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Muncie, State of Indiana, on August 11, 2017.
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Michael C. Rechin
Michael C. Rechin, Chief Executive
Officer and President
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael C. Rechin and Mark K. Hardwick and each of them his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any subsequent registration statement filed by First Merchants Corporation pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agents full power and authority to perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed as of the 11th day of August, 2017 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
/s/ Michael C. Rechin
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Michael C. Rechin                      Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Mark K. Hardwick
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer an Chief Operating
Mark K. Hardwick                    Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Charles E. Schalliol
Chairman of the Board and Director
Charles E. Schalliol
/s/ Michael R. Becher
Director
Michael R. Becher
/s/ Michael J. Fisher
Director
Michael J. Fisher
/s/ F. Howard Halderman
Director
F. Howard Halderman
/s/ William L. Hoy
Director
William L. Hoy
/s/ Gary J. Lehman
Director
Gary J. Lehman
/s/ Patrick A. Sherman
Director
Patrick A. Sherman
/s/ Terry L. Walker
Director
Terry L. Walker
/s/ Jean L. Wojtowicz
Director
Jean L. Wojtowicz
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, being all of the members of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation (the committee responsible for administering the First Merchants Corporation 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan) have duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Muncie, State of Indiana, on August 11, 2017.
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
2009 LONG-TERM EQUITY
INCENTIVE PLAN
/s/ Charles E. Schalliol
Compensation and Human Resources Committee Member
Charles E. Schalliol
/s/ Gary J. Lehman
Compensation and Human Resources Committee Member
Gary J. Lehman
/s/ William L. Hoy
Compensation and Human Resources Committee Member
William L. Hoy
FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
Description of Exhibit
4.1    First Merchants Corporation 2009 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, effective January 1, 2009, as amended
(Incorporated by reference to registrant's Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2015)  (SEC No. 000-17071)
5.1*    Opinion of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality)
23.1*    Consent of BKD, LLP
23.2*    Consent of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP (legality) (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Power of Attorney included on "Signature" page of this Registration Statement
* Filed herewith