FIRST MERCHANTS: Insider Mark K. Hardwick Reports Ownership Change

TL;DR

**Mark K. Hardwick, an insider at First Merchants Corp., filed a Form 4 reporting a change in his beneficial ownership.**

AI Summary

This Form 4 filing indicates that Mark K. Hardwick, an insider at First Merchants Corp. (Issuer CIK: 0000712534), had a change in beneficial ownership of securities as of March 23, 2026. While the filing details the reporting of this change, it does not specify the nature of the transaction (buy or sell) or the number of shares involved. This matters to investors because insider transactions can signal management's confidence (or lack thereof) in the company's future, potentially influencing stock price movements.

Why It Matters

Insider transaction filings like this provide transparency into how company executives and directors are managing their holdings, which can be a key indicator for other investors.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — This filing is purely a notification of a change in beneficial ownership and does not inherently indicate a high-risk event without transaction details.

Analyst Insight

A smart investor would await the full Form 4 document to be processed and review the specific transaction details (type of transaction, number of shares, price) to understand the implications of Mark K. Hardwick's change in beneficial ownership before making any investment decisions.

Key Players & Entities

• HARDWICK MARK K (person) — Reporting Person, insider at First Merchants Corp.
• FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (company) — Issuer of the securities
• 0001170817 (person) — CIK for HARDWICK MARK K
• 0000712534 (company) — CIK for FIRST MERCHANTS CORP

FAQ

Filing Documents

• wk-form4_1774361964.html (4)
• wk-form4_1774361964.xml (4) — 4KB
• 0001170817-26-000002.txt ( ) — 5KB

From the Filing

SEC FORM 4 SEC Form 4 FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 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 * HARDWICK MARK K (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 E JACKSON STREET (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 X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer 2a. Foreign Trading Symbol 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/23/2026 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 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 Phantom Stock (1) 03/23/2026 A 33.434 (1) (1) Common Stock 33.434 $ 36.54 3,323.914 D Explanation of Responses: 1. Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of FRME common stock. The shares of phantom stock will be settled in cash or shares of FRME common stock, at the reporting person's election, upon separation from First Merchants. Remarks: Paul Cento (Confirming Statement on File) 03/24/2026 ** 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)

View Full Filing

View this 4 filing on SEC EDGAR