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 11, 2007 ------------------------------ FIRST MERCHANTS CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ------------------------------- INDIANA 0-17071 35-1544218 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission file number) (IRS Employer of incorporation) 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: [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS First Merchants Corporation Announces Stock Repurchase At its regularly scheduled meeting held on December 4, 2007, the Board of Directors of First Merchants Corporation authorized management to repurchase up to 500,000 of the Corporation's Common Stock through the open market. This authorization expires on December 31, 2008.