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

DATE OF REPORT (Date of earliest event reported): December 7, 2015

Commission File Number 0-17071

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

INDIANA	35-1544218
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(IRS Employer 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:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01.    Other Events.

At a special meeting on December 7, 2015, the shareholders of Ameriana Bancorp, an Indiana corporation (“Ameriana”), approved the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger between Ameriana and First Merchants Corporation (“First Merchants”), dated June 26, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Ameriana will merge with and into First Merchants (the “Merger”). Immediately following the Merger, Ameriana Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameriana, will merge with and into First Merchants Bank, National Association, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Merchants, with First Merchants Bank surviving the merger and continuing its corporate existence.

In addition, the class action complaint captioned Shiva Stein v. Ameriana Bancorp, et al., filed under Case No. 49D01-1507-PL-022566 in the Marion Circuit Court, Indiana and the complaint captioned Darrell F. Ewing v. Ameriana Bancorp, et al., filed under Civil Action No. 1:15-cv-01491 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana against Ameriana, its board of directors and First Merchants, related to the merger of Ameriana and First Merchants, have been dismissed with prejudice.

While all necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals have now been obtained, consummation of the Merger remains subject to the satisfaction of the customary closing conditions contained in the Merger Agreement. The Merger is expected to be consummated in December 2015.

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: December 7, 2015.

FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION

By: /s/Mark K. Hardwick

Mark K. Hardwick,

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer