{"filing":{"accession_number":"0000712534-26-000039","cik":"0000712534","ticker":null,"company_name":"FIRST MERCHANTS CORP","form":"8-K","filing_date":"2026-05-19","report_date":null,"primary_document":"frme-20260519.htm","primary_document_url":"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712534/000071253426000039/frme-20260519.htm"},"classifications":[{"id":25,"accession_number":"0000712534-26-000039","item_number":"5.02","item_title":"DEPARTURE OR APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS","event_type":"exec_appointment","event_domain":"governance","is_material":true,"confidence":0.85,"reasoning":"The filing discloses both a director retirement (Gary Lehman) and a director appointment (Paul Fultz). While both events are mentioned, the appointment is the principal forward-looking action: Fultz was appointed to fill the vacancy and will serve on the Audit Committee. The explicit statement that Lehman's retirement \"is not the result of any disagreement\" suggests a routine transition, making the appointment the more salient event. Director changes are material to investors assessing board composition and governance.","classifier_version":"claude-haiku-4-5-20251001+prompt-9e0ffca5","taxonomy_version":"v1","classified_at":"2026-05-20T02:12:41.665491+00:00","company_name":"FIRST MERCHANTS CORP","ticker":null,"filing_date":"2026-05-19"}]}