Business: First Merchants Corp. formerly Level One Bancorp, Inc. 7.50% Depositary Shares each representing a 1/100 interest in a share of the <s>7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B</s> 7.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock Series A, liquidation preference $25 per Depositary share, redeemable at the issuer's option on or after 08/15/2025 at $25 per Depositary share plus declared and unpaid dividends, and with no stated maturity. <p> Non-cumulative distributions of 7.50% per annum ($1.875 per annum or $0.46875 per quarter) will be paid quarterly on 2/15, 5/15, 8/15 & 11/15 to holders of record on the record date fixed by the board, not more than 30 days or less than 15 days prior to the payment date (NOTE: the ex-dividend date is one business day prior to the record date). The dividends are non-cumulative and if the board of directors does not declare a dividend or the company fails to pay a dividend declared by the board for any quarterly dividend period, the holder will not be entitled to receive any dividend for that quarterly period and the undeclared or unpaid dividend will not accumulate. <p> Dividends paid by this preferred security are eligible for the preferential income tax rate of 15% to a maximum of 20% depending on the holder's tax bracket (and under IRS specified holding restrictions) and are also eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate holders (see page S-33 of the prospectus for further information). </p> This security was not rated by Moody’s or S&P at the time of its IPO. This security was rated as BB+ by Kroll Bond Rating Agency, Inc. at the date of its IPO. In regard to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, the preferred shares rank junior to the company's senior debt, equally with other preferreds of the company, and senior to the common shares of the company. See the IPO prospectus for further information on the preferred stock by clicking on the ‘Link to IPO Prospectus’ provided below.