<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000708955-17-000129.txt : 20171221
<SEC-HEADER>0000708955-17-000129.hdr.sgml : 20171221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171221161324
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000708955-17-000129
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171219
ITEM INFORMATION:		Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171221

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP /OH/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000708955
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				311042001
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34762
		FILM NUMBER:		171269597

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8773229530

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		255 EAST FIFTH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a8-kboardchange121917.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="s2033443ECC8AD1EB38B076EB6EA64AA4"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:13pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:13pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:18pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:18pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section&#160;13 or 15(d) of the </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:24pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:24pt;font-weight:bold;">FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:99.36305732484077%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:50%;"></td><td style="width:2%;"></td><td style="width:48%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Ohio</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">31-1042001</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">(State or other jurisdiction of</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">(I.R.S. employer</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:1px;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">identification number)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Commission file number: 001-34762 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">255 East Fifth Street, Suite 700, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;font-weight:bold;">&#32;(Address of principal executive offices and zip code) </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:7pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:7pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (877)&#160;322-9530 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:29px;text-indent:-28px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:29px;text-indent:-28px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:24px;text-indent:-24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:24px;text-indent:-24px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">[  ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:9pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">Emerging growth company</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;color:#231f20;">&#32;&#32;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:12pt;color:#231f20;">&#168;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:#231f20;">standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;color:#231f20;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:12pt;color:#231f20;">&#168;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div style="text-align:center;"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="s626C83AACFA192EE7AC176EB6EC88841"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Form 8-K</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">First Financial Bancorp.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.02</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160; </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">b)</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">As contemplated in Section 6.11(a) of the Agreement and Plan of Merger between First Financial Bancorp. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) and MainSource Financial Group, Inc. (&#8220;MainSource&#8221;) dated as of July 25, 2017 (the &#8220;Merger Agreement&#8221;), on December 19, 2017, the Company determined the nine &#8220;First Financial Continuing Directors&#8221; as described below in Item 8.01.&#160; Accordingly, three current Directors of the Company will retire as members of the Board of Directors of the Company, and as members of the Board of Directors of First Financial Bank, the Company&#8217;s wholly-owned banking subsidiary, effective upon the date of consummation of the Company&#8217;s merger with MainSource (the &#8220;Merger&#8221;) as described in the Merger Agreement.&#160; The three retiring Directors are:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Murphe Knapke, presently the Chair of the Company&#8217;s Board of Directors, who has served on the Board of Directors of the Company or of a former bank affiliate since 1983;</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">David S. Barker who has served on the Board of Directors of the Company since 2010; and</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">3)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Richard E. Olszewski who has served on the Board of Directors of the Company or of a former bank affiliate since 1995.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">In the event the merger is not consummated, all of the Company&#8217;s existing directors will continue to serve their existing terms until the Company&#8217;s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.01</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Other Events.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">As contemplated in Section 6.11(a) of the Merger Agreement, on December 19, 2017, the Board of Directors voted to approve the following nine current Directors of the Company to continue to serve on the Board of the Company following the Merger:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">1.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Claude Davis </font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">2.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">J. Wickliffe Ach</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">3.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Cynthia Booth</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Corinne Finnerty</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">5.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Susan Knust</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">6.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Bill Kramer</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:72px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">7.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Jeff Meyer</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; 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