FMAO Farmers and Merchants Bancorp Inc

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 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) August 29, 2024

 

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Ohio	001-38084	34-1469491
(State or Other Jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of Incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

 

307 North Defiance Street, Archbold, Ohio	43502
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code (419) 446-2501

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of Each Exchange
Common Stock, No Par Value	FMAO	NASDAQ Capital Market

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):

☐ 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))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter)

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Item 5.02.	Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On August 29, 2024, Farmers & Merchants State Bank (the “Bank”), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”), entered into a new employment agreement (the “Employment Agreement”) with Lars B. Eller, under which Mr. Eller will continue to serve as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and F&M. F&M has guaranteed the Bank’s performance under the terms of the Employment Agreement. The Employment Agreement becomes effective as of September 1, 2024, after the expiration of Mr. Eller’s current employment agreement on August 31, 2024, which employment agreement was entered into on August 17, 2021. The new Employment Agreement is substantially similar to the prior employment agreement.

The Employment Agreement is for a three-year term ending on August 31, 2027. Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, Mr. Eller will receive a base pay of $504,686, subject to upward adjustment, and will be entitled to participate in the Bank’s employee benefit plans and programs generally available to similarly situated employees. Mr. Eller will participate in the Bank’s Annual Cash Incentive Plan, 401(k) Plan, will receive grants of restricted stock shares equal to 25% of base pay and will receive grants of stock shares equal to those provided to nonemployee directors. The Employment Agreement also provides for four weeks of vacation the first year and five weeks of vacation the remaining two years, a monthly car allowance, life insurance and reimbursement for appropriate business expenses.

The Employment Agreement provides for termination upon the expiration of the term noted above, death, by the Bank for “cause” (as defined in the Employment Agreement), disability, or in connection with a “change in control” (as defined in the Employment Agreement).

In the event of a change in control, Mr. Eller would be entitled to receive an amount equal to two times the sum of (i) his then annual base pay and (ii) the average amount paid as a cash bonus and other incentive compensation for the three-year period ending with the date of the change in control. In addition, he would be entitled to continuing coverage under the Bank’s health, disability, dental and life insurance at the same levels provided him prior to the change in control, for a period of 12 months after the change in control. The payments to be made to Mr. Eller are subject to reduction if required to avoid an excise tax under Internal Revenue Code Sections 280G or 4999 or if required by bank regulatory agencies and applicable regulations.

The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Eller is subject to covenants not to compete and not to solicit during the term of the Employment Agreement and for one year after termination of his employment with the Bank. During the term of the Employment Agreement, the restrictions apply without geographic limit. After termination of Mr. Eller’s employment with the Bank, the covenants not to compete and not to solicit would apply to counties where the Bank has its main office or a branch office or a loan production office and contiguous counties.

A copy of the Employment Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.

Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number	Exhibit
10.1	Employment Agreement between Farmers & Merchants State Bank and Lars B. Eller as of September 1, 2024.
104	The Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto authorized.

 

	FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC.
		(Registrant)
Dated: September 3, 2024		/s/ Lars B. Eller
		Lars B. Eller
		President and Chief Executive Officer
		/s/ Barbara J. Britenriker
		Barbara J. Britenriker
		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

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Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 1, 2024, by and between Farmers & Merchants State Bank, a commercial bank organized under the laws of the State of Ohio (the “Bank”), and Lars B. Eller (the “Executive”), and is joined in by Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., an Ohio corporation and parent holding company of the Bank (the “Corporation”).

WHEREAS, the Bank is engaged in the general business of banking;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Bank believes that the continued services of the Executive in the capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and the Corporation will be of great value to the Bank and the Corporation; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to provide such services and continue employment with the Bank and the Corporation as President and Chief Executive Officer on a full-time basis for the term of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein set forth, the parties hereto have agreed and do hereby mutually agree as follows:

1. Term – Agreement to Serve. The Bank hereby retains the services of the Executive commencing as of September 1, 2024, and ending August 31, 2027 (the “Employment Term”), to perform the duties of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank. Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Executive will also serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Executive hereby accepts such employment in consideration of the compensation and the other terms and conditions herein provided and agrees to serve the Bank and the Corporation well and faithfully and to devote his best efforts to such employment as long as it shall continue hereunder. During the period of such employment, the Executive will devote all necessary time and attention customary for full-time employment – reasonable vacations, periods of illness and the like excepted – to the affairs of the Bank.

(a) Participation in the Bank’s Annual Cash Incentive Plan, which Plan includes a two-tier program based upon achievement of return on assets objectives and achievement of earnings per share objectives;

(b) Equity Grants pursuant to the Corporation’s Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, on an annual basis in an amount equal to 25% of Executive’s Base Pay, as determined

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by the Corporation’s Compensation Committee, based upon Bank and Corporation performance, which shares will be restricted and subject to three-year cliff vesting;

(c) Equity Grants pursuant to the Corporation’s Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan in amounts equal to that provided to the nonemployee directors of the Corporation, currently granted in June of each year, which shares shall not be restricted; such grant equaled $15,000 in value of common shares of the Corporation in 2024;

(d) Participation in the Bank’s 401(k) Plan, in which the Bank matches 50% on the first 6% of contributions by the Executive and the Discretionary Profit Sharing Plan, in which the Bank contributes an additional discretionary percentage;

(e) Participation in other employee benefit plans or programs of the Bank or the Corporation to the extent that his position, tenure, salary and other qualifications make him eligible to participate, subject to the rules and regulations applicable thereto, including health insurance for Executive and his family and employee bonus plans, if any, as the same may be in effect from time to time;

(f) Term life insurance on the life of the Executive in the amount of $600,000 payable to his beneficiaries, which insurance shall be in addition to any other life insurance provided to Executive pursuant to other employee benefit plans of the Bank or the Corporation;

(g) A monthly car allowance of $1,000.00;

(h) Four (4) weeks paid vacation for the first year of the Agreement (September 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025) and five (5) weeks for each of the remaining two years of the Agreement;

(i) Reimbursement of fees and expenses incurred in connection with business of the Bank including without limitation, gasoline expenses related to work travel, fees for attendance at banking related conventions and similar items. The Executive agrees to comply with the Bank’s policies and procedures, including recordkeeping, regarding reimbursement of business expense as the same may be in force from time to time in connection with his rights to reimbursement for such expenses.

Except as specifically set forth herein, termination of employment of the Executive at or prior to the end of the Employment Term, shall cause the immediate termination of these additional benefits.

4. Termination of Employment. The employment of the Executive under the terms of this Agreement shall cease and terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following and the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation provided for herein.

(a) Expiration of Term. On the last day of the Employment Term. In the event of a termination pursuant to this subparagraph, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the amount of annual Base Pay provided for in paragraph 2 hereof prorated through the last day of the Employment Term and any incentive compensation earned through such date.

(b) Death. On the date of the Executive’s death. In the event of the termination of employment by reason of death, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the amount of

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annual Base Pay provided for in paragraph 2 hereof prorated through the date of death and any incentive compensation earned through such date.

(c) Termination by the Bank with Cause. For Cause at any time by the Bank. For purposes hereof, the term “Cause” shall mean: (i) removal by order of a regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Bank or the Corporation; (ii) dishonesty or material inappropriate behavior, such as illegal harassment of employees; (iii) misappropriation of Bank, or customer property; (iv) commission of a felony or crime of moral turpitude; or (v) the Executive’s willful and repeated failure to perform his duties under this Employment Agreement, which failure has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the Bank gives notice thereof to the Executive; it being expressly understood that negligence or bad judgment shall not constitute “Cause” so long as such negligent act or omission shall be without intent of personal profit and is reasonably believed by the Executive to be in or not adverse to the best interests of the Bank. In the event of a termination for Cause pursuant to this subparagraph, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the amount of annual Base Pay provided for in paragraph 2 hereof prorated through the date of termination of the Executive’s employment by the Bank.

(d) Disability. Upon receipt by the Executive of written notice from the Bank that the Executive is unable, by reason of Disability, to continue the proper performance of his duties hereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive’s Disability shall mean disability as determined under the plans, policies, or programs applicable to the Executive and if no such plan, policy, or program exists, Disability shall mean the Executive is unable to perform the material and substantial functions or duties of the Executive’s position due a medical condition (including mental conditions). In the event of a termination of employment pursuant to this subparagraph, the Executive shall be entitled to receive the amount of annual Base Pay provided for in paragraph 2 hereof prorated through the date of termination of the Executive’s employment by the Bank and any incentive compensation earned through such date of termination of the Executive’s employment as determined by the Bank, and shall also be entitled to receive any disability benefits payable to him under the terms of the Bank’s disability insurance plan.

(e) Termination following a Change in Control of the Bank. If a “Change of Control” (as defined on Exhibit Aattached hereto) occurs during the Employment Term, and the Executive’s employment with the Bank is involuntarily terminated without Cause at the time or during the period of twelve (12) months following such Change in Control, the Executive shall be entitled to receive as separation pay in a single lump sum, payable within fourteen (14) days of his termination of employment with the Bank, a cash payment equal to two (2) times the sum of (i) his then annual Base Pay (at a rate not lower than his rate of Base Pay in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control), plus (ii) the average amount, paid as a cash bonus and other incentive compensation, for the three-year period ending with the date of the Change in Control. In addition, to the payments set forth in (i) and (ii) in the immediately preceding sentence, the Bank shall continue Executive’s coverage in the Bank’s health, disability, dental, and life insurance at the same levels that had been provided immediately prior to his termination of employment in connection with a Change of Control commencing on the date of termination of the Executive’s employment (or, if later, the effective date of the Change in Control) and shall end on the last day of the 12th consecutive whole month thereafter. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if any benefit payable to the Executive under this Subsection 4(e) would otherwise be treated as an excess parachute payment subject to the disallowed deduction and an excise tax under the excess parachute rules of Internal Revenue Code sections 280G and 4999, the Bank shall reduce the separation benefit

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payable under this Subsection 4(e) to the maximum benefit that would not result in any such excise tax.

(f) Regulatory Limitations. If any amount otherwise payable to the Executive pursuant to this Section 4 of the Agreement is prohibited or limited by any statute, regulation, order, consent decree or similar limitation in effect at the time the payments would otherwise be paid, including, without limitation, the requirements of 12 U.S.C. §1828(k) and regulations promulgated thereunder (a “Limiting Rule”): (i) the Bank shall pay the maximum amount that may be paid after applying the Limiting Rule; and (ii) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of the appropriate agency or body to pay any amounts that cannot be paid due to the application of the Limiting Rule. The Executive agrees that the Bank and the Corporation shall not have breached any of their respective obligations under this Agreement if they are not able to pay all or some portion of any payment due to the Executive as a result of the application of a Limiting Rule.

5. Confidential Information. The Executive shall not at any time, in any manner, while employed by the Bank or thereafter, either directly or indirectly, except in the course of carrying out the Bank’s business or as previously authorized in writing on behalf of the Bank, disclose or communicate to any person, firm, or corporation, any information of any kind concerning any matters affecting or relating to the Bank’s business or any of its data, figures, projections, estimates, customer lists or customer information, tax records, personnel histories, and accounting procedures of the Bank or the Corporation, without regard to whether any or all of such information would otherwise be deemed confidential or material. The covenants in this Section 5 shall survive termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement regardless of the reason for the Executive’s termination.

6. Covenant Not to Compete.

(a) Throughout the term of the Agreement and during a Restricted Period of one (1) year immediately following any termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement, including any expiration of the term of this Agreement, the Executive agrees that he will not, except on behalf of the Bank or with the express written consent of the Bank:

(i) directly or indirectly engage in the business of banking or any other business in which the Bank or the Corporation directly or indirectly engages during the term of the Agreement. For purposes of this Section 6, the Executive shall be deemed to engage in a business if he directly or indirectly, engages or invests in, owns, manages, operates, controls or participates in the ownership, management, operation or control of, is employed by, associated or in any manner connected with, or renders services or advice to, any business engaged in banking, provided, however, that Executive may invest in the securities of any enterprise (but without otherwise participating in the activities of such enterprise) if two conditions are met: (A) such securities are listed on any national or regional securities exchange (or have been registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934); and (B) the Executive does not beneficially own (as defined Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) in excess of 1% of the outstanding capital stock of such enterprise. The Executive previously disclosed one investment to the Bank, which the Bank acknowledges and agrees that the Executive may retain, even though technically inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 6(a)(i).

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(ii) directly or indirectly, for the benefit of any bank or financial institution or any company or other entity affiliated, directly or indirectly, with another bank or financial institution other than the Bank, solicit the employment or services of, hire, or assist in the hiring, or request, induce or attempt to influence any employee of the Bank to terminate that employee’s employment with the Bank.

(iii) directly or indirectly request, induce or attempt to influence any existing or prospective customers, vendors or licensors of the Bank to curtail or cancel any business they may transact with the Bank. “Prospective customers” shall mean individuals or entities that the Executive shall have had substantive personal contact with on behalf of the Bank seeking to secure such prospective customer as a customer of the Bank within the one year immediately preceding the termination of the Agreement or the expiration of the Agreement.

(b) The parties acknowledge that this Section 6 is fair and reasonable under the circumstances. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Section 6 shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Accordingly, if any particular portion of this Section 6 shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, this Section 6 shall be deemed amended to:

(i) reform the particular portion to provide for such maximum restrictions as will be valid and enforceable or, if that is not possible,

(ii) delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such reformation or deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of this Section 6 in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.

(c) During the term of the Executive’s employment hereunder, the covenants contained in this Section 6 shall apply without regard to geographic location. Upon the termination of the Executive’s employment, the covenants contained in this Section 6 shall apply only to counties in which the Bank then has its main office or a branch office or loan production office and counties contiguous thereto. Currently the Bank maintains offices in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, but may expand beyond such states in the future.

(d) The covenants in this Section 6 shall survive termination of the Executive’s employment under this Agreement regardless of the reason for the Executive’s termination.

7. Non-Assignability. Neither party to this Agreement shall have the right to assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder.

8. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor of the Bank, and any such successor shall be deemed substituted for the Bank under the terms of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the term “successor” shall include any person, firm, corporation, or other business entity which, at any time, whether by merger, purchase, or otherwise, acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Bank.

9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof, and cancels any and all other oral or written agreements or understandings between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including specifically, but without limitation, the employment agreement entered into between the

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Bank and the Executive as of September 1, 2021. The Agreement may not be changed orally, but only by agreement in writing signed by both parties.

10. Authorization for Acts of Bank. Any act, request, approval, consent or opinion of the Bank hereunder shall be authorized, given or expressed by resolution of its Board of Directors.

11. Regulatory Prohibition. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment made to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

12. Governing Law. This Agreement is executed and delivered in the State of Ohio and is intended to be interpreted, construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of such State.

13. Regulatory Prohibition, Claw Back Provision and other Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment(s) made to or for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder. In addition, the Bank or any of its successors, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in its capacity as receiver of the Bank, retains the legal right to demand the return of any payments made under the terms of this Agreement should the Bank or its successors later obtain information indicating the Executive has committed, is substantially responsible for, or has violated, the respective acts or omissions, conditions, or offenses outlined under 12 C.F.R. 359.4(a)(4). By execution of this Agreement the Bank and Executive acknowledge, agree and stipulate to, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be subordinate to and become null in void in the event of any conflict with, the following: (i) the provision of 12 CFR 359, or any consent or approval granted under the provisions of this part by the FDIC (in its corporate capacity), shall not in any way bind any receiver of a failed insured depository institution; (ii) any consent or approval granted under the provisions of 12 CFR 359 by the FDIC or any other federal banking agency shall not in any way obligate such agency or receiver to pay any claim or obligation pursuant to any golden parachute, severance indemnification or other agreement; (iii) claims for employee welfare benefits or other benefits which are contingent, even if otherwise vested, when the FDIC is appointed as receiver for any depository institution, including any contingency for termination of employment, are not provable claims or actual, direct compensatory damage claims against such receiver; and (iv) nothing in 12 CFR 359 may be construed to permit the payment of salary or any liability or legal expense of any IAP (as the same is defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act) contrary to 12 U.S.C. 1828(k)(3).

14. Limitations Under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with, or be exempt from, the requirements of Section 409A and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination is also a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of the Agreement, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms shall mean separation from service. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement, including without limitation under Section 3 or 4, shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements or in-kind benefits are subject to Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirements that (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in

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any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred and (iii) the right to reimbursement is not subject to set off or liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by the Chairman of its Board of Directors, and the Executive has signed this Agreement, all as of the date and year first above written.

Executive Farmers & Merchants State Bank

/s/ Lars B. Eller /s/ Andrew J. Briggs

Lars B. Eller Andrew J. Briggs, Board Chairman

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. hereby agrees to be bound by the terms hereof, joins in this Agreement and fully guarantees the performance of the terms hereof by the Bank.

Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.

/s/ Andrew J. Briggs

Andrew J. Briggs, Board Chairman

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

Exhibit A

Change in Control Definition:

A “Change in Control” shall mean a “Change in Ownership” as defined in (a) hereof; a “Change in Effective Control” as defined in (b), hereof; or a “Change in Ownership of a Substantial Portion of Assets” as defined in (c) hereof, each of which shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the definitions of these terms in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

(i) that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as defined in subsection (d) hereof), acquires ownership of stock of the Bank or the Corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Bank or the Corporation. However, if any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Bank or the Corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons is not considered to cause a change in the ownership of the Bank or the Corporation (or to cause a change in the effective control of the Bank or the Corporation within the meaning of subsection (b) hereof). An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the Bank or the Corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this section.

(ii) of the consummation of any merger, consolidation or reorganization with any other corporation pursuant to which the shareholders of the Bank or the Corporation immediately prior to the merger, consolidation or reorganization do not immediately thereafter directly or indirectly own more than fifty percent of the combined voting power of the voting securities entitled to vote in the election of directors of the merged, consolidated or reorganized entity.

(ii) a majority of members of the Bank’s or the Corporation’s board of directors is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Bank’s or the Corporation’s board of directors prior to the date of the appointment or election.

In the absence of an event described in subsection (b)(i) or (ii) above, a change in the effective control of the Bank or the Corporation will not have occurred.

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There is no Change in Control Event under this subsection (c) when there is a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the shareholders of the Bank or the Corporation immediately after the transfer, as provided in this paragraph. A transfer of assets by the Bank or the Corporation is not treated as a change in the ownership of such assets if the assets are transferred to –

For purposes of this subsection (c) and except as otherwise provided, a person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of the assets. For example, a transfer to a corporation in which the transferor corporation has no ownership interest before the transaction, but which is a majority-owned subsidiary of the transferor corporation after the transaction is not treated as a change in the ownership of the assets of the transferor corporation.

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v3.24.2.u1

Document and Entity Information	Aug. 29, 2024
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 29, 2024
Entity Registrant Name	Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000792966
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity File Number	001-38084
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	OH
Entity Tax Identification Number	34-1469491
Entity Address, Address Line One	307 North Defiance Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Archbold
Entity Address, State or Province	OH
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	43502
City Area Code	(419)
Local Phone Number	446-2501
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, No Par Value
Trading Symbol	FMAO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

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