0001140361-18-045449.txt : 20190402 0001140361-18-045449.hdr.sgml : 20190402 20181220122637 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001140361-18-045449 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: CORRESP PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20181220 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000712534 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 351544218 STATE OF INCORPORATION: IN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: CORRESP BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 E JACKSON ST STREET 2: PO BOX 792 CITY: MUNCIE STATE: IN ZIP: 47308-0792 BUSINESS PHONE: 7657471500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 200 EAST JACKSON STREET CITY: MUNCIE STATE: IN ZIP: 47305 CORRESP 1 filename1.htm
[FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]

December 20, 2018

VIA EDGAR AND E-MAIL

Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: David Gessert

 
Re:
First Merchants Corporation
   
Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on
   
December 3, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 1
   
thereto filed on December 19, 2018
   
File No. 333-228658

Dear Mr. Gessert:

In accordance with Rule 461 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, First Merchants Corporation hereby respectfully requests that effectiveness of the above-referenced Registration Statement be accelerated by the Securities and Exchange Commission to 3:45 p.m. (EST) on Friday, December 21, 2018, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

Please contact Jeremy E. Hill, Esq. of Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP at (317) 968-5384 with any questions you may regarding this request. In addition, please notify Mr. Hill by telephone when this request for acceleration has been granted.

Sincerely,

/s/ Mark K. Hardwick

Mark K. Hardwick
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Operating Officer

cc:
Brian T. Hunt, Esq., First Merchants Corporation
 
Jeremy E. Hill, Esq., Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
 
Bradley C. Arnett, Esq., Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
 
Tonya Vachirasomboon, Esq., Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
 
Martin D. Werner, Esq., Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP