Rechin Michael C Form 4 FIRST MERCHANTS / MICHAEL C RECHIN ownership change

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

RECHIN MICHAEL C

(Last) (First) (Middle)

200 E JACKSON STREET

(Street)

MUNCIE IN 47305

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	X	Other (specify below)
Chief Executive Officer / President

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/01/2017

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

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
Common Stock	03/01/2017		M		15,000	A	$28.25	114,628.121	D
Common Stock	03/01/2017		M		5,000	A	$15.32	119,628.121	D
Common Stock	03/01/2017		F		1,346	D	$40.67	118,282.121	D
Common Stock	03/01/2017		S		11,461	D	$40.67	106,821.121	D
Common Stock	03/01/2017		S		5,000	D	$40.67	101,821.121(1)	D
Common Stock								4,673.227	I	by 401k

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
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	$28.25	03/01/2017		M			15,000	02/27/2010	02/27/2018	Common Stock	15,000	$0	0	D
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	$15.32	03/01/2017		M			5,000	02/19/2015	02/19/2023	Common Stock	5,000	$0	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes Restricted Stock Awards totaling 29,117.617 shares

Remarks:

Exhibit 24; Confirming Statement

	Addison Nicoll (Confirming Statement on File)	03/03/2017
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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