LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP (Form: S-8, Received: 07/09/2013 14:37:26)

AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 9, 2013
REGISTRATION NO. 333-_____
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
		WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
		FORM S-8
		REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
		LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
		(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Indiana			35-1559596
	(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)			(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
		202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387 Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387 (574) 267-6144
		(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (Full title of the plan) Michael L. Kubacki Chief Executive Officer Lakeland Financial Corporation 202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387 Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387 (574) 267-6144
		(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) With copies of all communications: Robert M. Fleetwood, Esq. Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP 200 W. Madison Street, Suite 3900 Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312) 984-3100
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of securities to be registered		Amount to be registered (1)				Proposed maximum offering price per share (2)				Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (2)				Amount of registration fee (3)
Common Stock, no par value per share			290,578	(4)		$	28.27			$	8,214,640.06			$	423.10

(1) This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) covers shares of common stock, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of Lakeland Financial Corporation (the “Registrant”) issuable pursuant to the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers any additional shares that become issuable under the Plan by reason of any future stock dividend, stock split or other similar transaction.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the price per share of the Common Stock has been calculated to be equal to the average of the high and low prices for a share of the Common Stock as reported by The NASDAQ Global Select Market on July 2, 2013, which is a specified date within five business days prior to the original date of filing of this Registration Statement.

(3) The Registrant registered 750,000 shares of Common Stock that were to be issued pursuant to the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”) in accordance with the Form S-8 filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 14, 2008 and paid a registration fee of $697.38 in connection therewith. The 2008 Plan has terminated according to its terms, and the shares of Common Stock that were to be issued thereunder will now be issued pursuant to the Plan. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 457(p) of the Securities Act, the fee for this Registration Statement is offset by $697.38.

(4) Represents shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved for future issuance under the Plan pursuant to awards that have not yet been granted.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The documents containing the information specified in Part I (“Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus”) will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the SEC, either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents incorporated by reference herein pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The Registrant will provide participants of the Plan, upon written or oral request and without charge, a copy of the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, which are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus, and all documents required to be delivered to employees pursuant to Rule 428(b) under the Securities Act. Requests for such documents should be directed to Lakeland Financial Corporation, 202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387, Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387, Attention: Kristin L. Pruitt, telephone number (574) 267-6144.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents previously filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference:

(a)	The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2013 (SEC File No. 0-11487);

(b)	The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on May 10, 2013 (SEC File No. 0-11487);

(c)

The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K (SEC File No. 0-11487) filed with the SEC on January 25, 2013 (except for the information under Item 2.02 thereof), April 9, 2013 (except for information under Item 7.01 thereof), April 10, 2013 and April 25, 2013 (except for the information under Item 2.02 thereof); and

(d)	The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-14 and all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Each document or report subsequently filed by the Registrant with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered by this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement from the date of filing of such document or report; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the SEC shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

Any statement contained in the documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement and the prospectus which is a part hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement or the prospectus which is a part hereof.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

In accordance with the Indiana Business Corporation Law (Indiana Code 23-1-37-1 et seq.), Section 9 of the Registrant’s Restated Articles of Incorporation provide as follows:

“Every person who is or was a director, officer or employee of this Corporation or of any other corporation for which he is or was serving in any capacity at the request of this Corporation shall be indemnified by this Corporation against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by him in connection with or resulting from or arising out of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person is wholly successful with respect thereto or acted in good faith in what he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of this Corporation or such other corporation, as the case may be, and, in addition, in any criminal action or proceeding in which he had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. As used herein, “claim, action, suit or proceeding” shall include any claim, action, suit or proceeding (whether brought by or in the right of this Corporation or such other corporation or otherwise), civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether actual or threatened or in connection with an appeal relating thereto, in which a director, officer or employee of this Corporation may become involved, as a party or otherwise,

(i) by reason of his being or having been a director, officer or employee of this Corporation or such other corporation or arising out of his status as such or

(ii) by reason of any past or future action taken or not taken by him in any such capacity, whether or not he continues to be such at the time such liability or expense is incurred.

The terms “liability” and “expense” shall include, but shall not be limited to, attorneys’ fees and disbursements, amounts of judgments, fines or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement by or on behalf of a director, officer or employee, but shall not in any event include any liability or expenses on account of profits realized by him in the purchase or sale of securities of the Corporation in violation of the law. The termination of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction or upon a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that a director, officer or employee did not meet the standards of conduct as forth in this paragraph.

Any such director, officer or employee who has been wholly successful with respect to any such claim, action, suit or proceeding shall be entitled to indemnification as a matter of right. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, any indemnification hereunder shall be made only if (i) the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of Directors who are not parties to or who have been wholly successful with respect to such claim, action, suit or proceeding shall find that the director, officer or employee has met the standards of conduct set forth in the preceding paragraph; or (ii) independent legal counsel shall deliver to the Corporation their written opinion that such director, officer or employee has met such standards of conduct.

If several claims, issues or matters of action are involved, any such person may be entitled to indemnification as to some matters even though he is not entitled as to other matters.

The Corporation may advance expenses to or, where appropriate, may at its expense undertake the defense of any such director, officer or employee upon receipt of an undertaking, in form and substance satisfactory to the Board of Directors, by or on behalf of such person to repay such expenses if it should ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to indemnification hereunder.

The provisions of this Section shall be applicable to claims, actions, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act during, before or after the adoption hereof.

The rights of indemnification provided hereunder shall be in addition to any rights to which any person concerned may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of any such person.

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section or otherwise.”

Further, Article VII of the Registrant’s Bylaws states the following:

(i) by reason of his being or having been a director, officer or employee of this Corporation or such other corporation or arising out of his status as such or

(ii) by reason of any past or future action taken or not taken by him in any such capacity, whether or not he continues to be such at the time such liability or expense is incurred.

If several claims, issues or matters of action are involved, any such person may be entitled to indemnification as to some matters even though he is not entitled as to other matters.

The Corporation may advance expenses to or, where appropriate, may at its expense undertake the defense of any such director, officer or employee upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such expenses if it should ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to indemnification hereunder.

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section or otherwise.”

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

See Exhibit Index.

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; provided, however, that provisions (i) and (ii) of this undertaking are inapplicable if the information to be filed thereunder is contained in period reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Warsaw, Indiana, on July 9, 2013.

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

By: /s/ Michael L. Kubacki

Michael L. Kubacki

Principal Executive Officer

By: /s/ David M. Findlay

David M. Findlay

President and Principal Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Michael L. Kubacki and David M. Findlay, or either of them, them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign on his behalf, individually and in each capacity stated below, all amendments and post-effective amendments to this registration statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and any other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as each might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming each act that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated below on July 9, 2013.

/s/ Michael L. Kubacki Michael L. Kubacki Chairman	/s/ Blake W. Augsburger Blake W. Augsburger Director
/s/ Brian J. Smith Brian J. Smith Director	/s/ Bradley J. Toothaker Bradley J. Toothaker Director
/s/ Daniel F. Evans, Jr. Daniel F. Evans, Jr. Director	/s/ David M. Findlay David M. Findlay Director
/s/ Robert E. Bartels, Jr. Robert E. Bartels, Jr. Director	/s/ Thomas Andrew Hiatt Thomas Andrew Hiatt Director
/s/ Charles E. Niemier Charles E. Niemier Director	/s/ Emily E. Pichon Emily E. Pichon Director
/s/ Steven D. Ross Steven D. Ross Director	/s/ Ronald D. Truex Ronald D. Truex Director
/s/ M. Scott Welch M. Scott Welch Lead Director

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description

4.1	Specimen common stock certificate of Lakeland Financial Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed on March 5, 2004)
4.2	Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Appendix A of the definitive proxy statement 14A filed on March 4, 2013)
4.3*	Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement
4.4*	Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement
4.5*	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
5.1*	Opinion regarding legality of shares of Lakeland Financial Corporation common stock
23.1*	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2*	Consent of General Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*	Power of Attorney (included in the signature page hereto)

*	Filed herewith

Exhibit 4.3

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

The Participant specified below is hereby granted a restricted stock award (the “ Award ”) by Lakeland Financial Corporation , an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”), under the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). The Award shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms set forth in this Restricted Stock Award Agreement (“ Award Agreement ”).

Section 1. Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant the Award of restricted stock, which represents the right of the Participant to enjoy the number of Covered Shares set forth in Section 2 below free of restrictions once the Restricted Period ends, subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan.

Section 2. Terms of Restricted Stock Award . The following words and phrases relating to the Award shall have the following meanings:

(a) The “ Participant ” is ______________________________ .

(b) The “ Grant Date ” is ______________________________ .

Except for words and phrases otherwise defined in this Award Agreement, any capitalized word or phrase in this Award Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Plan.

Section 3. Restricted Period .

(a) The “ Restricted Period ” for each installment of Covered Shares set forth in the table immediately below (each, an “ Installment ”) shall begin on the Grant Date and end as described in the schedule set forth in the table immediately below; provided that the Participant’s Termination of Service has not occurred prior thereto:

Installment	Restricted Period will end on:
___% of Covered Shares	Date/Event/Other Condition

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 , the Restricted Period for all the Covered Shares shall cease immediately and such Covered Shares shall become fully vested immediately upon the Participant’s Termination of Service due to the Participant’s Disability or the Participant’s death.

(d) Except as set forth in Section 3 (b) and Section 3 (c) above, if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs prior to the expiration of one or more Restricted Periods, the Participant shall forfeit all rights, title and interest in and to any Installment(s) still subject to a Restricted Period as of such Termination of Service.

Section 4. Delivery of Shares . Delivery of Shares or other amounts under this Award Agreement and the Plan shall be subject to the following:

(a) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Award Agreement or the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any Shares or make any other distribution of benefits under this Award Agreement or the Plan unless such delivery or distribution complies with all applicable laws and the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity.

(b) Certificates Not Required. To the extent that this Award Agreement and the Plan provide for the issuance of Shares, such issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity.

Section 5. Withholding . All deliveries of Covered Shares shall be subject to withholding of all applicable taxes. The Company shall have the right to require the Participant (or if applicable, permitted assigns, heirs and Designated Beneficiaries) to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any tax requirements prior to the delivery date of any Shares in connection with the Award. As permitted by the Committee from time to time, such withholding obligation may be satisfied at the election of the Participant (a) through cash payment by the Participant, (b) through the surrender of Shares that the Participant already owns or (c) through the surrender of Shares to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan; provided , however , that except as otherwise specifically provided by the Committee, such Shares under clause (c) may not be used to satisfy more than the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligation.

Section 6. Non-Transferability of Award . The Award, or any portion thereof, is not transferable except as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the Award shall not be assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by the Participant in any way whether by operation of law or otherwise, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Award contrary to the provisions hereof, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Award, shall be null and void and without effect.

Section 7. Dividends . The Participant shall be entitled to receive dividends and distributions paid on any Installment during the Restricted Period applicable to such Installment (other than dividends and distributions that may be issued with respect to Shares by virtue of any corporate transaction, to the extent adjustment is made pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Plan); provided, however , that no dividends or distributions shall be payable to or for the benefit of the Participant with respect to record dates for such dividends or distributions occurring before the Grant Date or on or after the date, if any, on which the Participant has forfeited the respective Covered Shares.

Section 8. Voting Rights . The Participant shall be entitled to vote the Covered Shares during the Restricted Period applicable to each Installment; provided, however , that the Participant shall not be entitled to vote Covered Shares with respect to record dates occurring before the Grant Date or on or after the date, if any, on which the Participant has forfeited those Covered Shares.

Section 9. Deposit of Restricted Stock Award . All Shares issued with respect to Covered Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall be retained by the Company, or an agent of the Company, until the end of the Restricted Period applicable to such Covered Shares.

Section 10. Heirs and Successors . This Award Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Company and its successors and assigns, and upon any person acquiring all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or business. If any rights of the Participant or benefits distributable to the Participant under this Award Agreement have not been settled or distributed at the time of the Participant’s death, such rights shall be settled for and such benefits shall be distributed to the Designated Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of this Award Agreement and the Plan. The “ Designated Beneficiary ” shall be the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Participant in a writing filed with the Committee in such form as the Committee may require. The Participant’s designation of beneficiary may be amended or revoked from time to time by the Participant in accordance with any procedures established by the Committee. If a Participant fails to designate a beneficiary, or if the Designated Beneficiary does not survive the Participant, any benefits that would have been provided to the Participant shall be provided to the legal representative of the estate of the Participant. If a Participant designates a beneficiary and the Designated Beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before the provision of the Designated Beneficiary’s benefits under this Award Agreement, then any benefits that would have been provided to the Designated Beneficiary shall be provided to the legal representative of the estate of the Designated Beneficiary.

Section 11. Administration . The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of this Award Agreement and the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, and the Committee shall have all powers with respect to this Award Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of this Award Agreement or the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by the Committee with respect to this Award Agreement or the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.

Section 12. Plan Governs . Notwithstanding any provision of this Award Agreement to the contrary, this Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, a copy of which may be obtained by the Participant from the office of the secretary of the Company. This Award Agreement shall be subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding any provision of this Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event of any discrepancy between the corporate records of the Company and this Award Agreement, the corporate records of the Company shall control.

Section 13. Not an Employment Contract . Neither the Award nor this Award Agreement shall confer on the Participant any rights with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, nor shall they interfere in any way with any right the Company or a Subsidiary may otherwise have to terminate or modify the terms of the Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

Section 14. Amendment . Without limitation of Section 17 and Section 18 below, this Award Agreement may be amended in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, and may otherwise be amended in writing by the Participant and the Company without the consent of any other person.

Section 15. Governing Law . This Award Agreement, the Plan and all actions taken in connection herewith and therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without reference to principles of conflict of laws, except as superseded by applicable federal law.

Section 16. Validity . If any provision of this Award Agreement is determined to be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but this Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

Section 17. Section 409A Amendment . The Award is intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A and this Award Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with such intent. The Committee reserves the right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend this Award Agreement without the consent of the Participant in order to maintain an exclusion from the application of, or to maintain compliance with, Code Section 409A; and the Participant hereby acknowledges and consents to such rights of the Committee.

Section 18. Clawback . The Award and any amount or benefit received under the Plan shall be subject to potential cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback or other action in accordance with the terms of any applicable Company or Subsidiary clawback policy (the “ Policy ”) or any applicable law, as may be in effect from time to time. The Participant hereby acknowledges and consents to the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s application, implementation and enforcement of (a) the Policy and any similar policy established by the Company or a Subsidiary that may apply to the Participant together with all other similarly situated participants, whether adopted prior to or following the date of this Award Agreement and (b) any provision of applicable law relating to cancellation, rescission, payback or recoupment of compensation, and agrees that the Company or a Subsidiary may take such actions as may be necessary to effectuate the Policy, any similar policy and applicable law, without further consideration or action.

* * * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Company has caused this Award Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf, and the Participant acknowledges understanding and acceptance of, and agrees to, the terms of this Award Agreement, all as of the Grant Date.

Lakeland Financial Corporation

B y:

Print Name:

Title:

Participant

Print Name:

Exhibit 4.4

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT

The Participant specified below is hereby granted a nonqualified stock option (the “ Option ”) by Lakeland Financial Corporation , an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”), under the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). The Option shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms set forth in this Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement (“ Award Agreement ”).

Section 1. Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant the Option, which represents the right of the Participant to purchase the number of Covered Shares at the Exercise Price set forth in Section 2 below, subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan.

Section 2. Terms of Option Award . The following words and phrases relating to the Option shall have the following meanings:

(a) The “ Participant ” is ______________________________ .

(b) The “ Grant Date ” is ______________________________ .

(d) The “ Exercise Price ” is $ ____________________ per Covered Share.

Except for words and phrases otherwise defined in this Award Agreement, any capitalized word or phrase in this Award Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Plan.

Section 3. Nonqualified Stock Option . The Option is not intended to satisfy the requirements applicable to an “incentive stock option” described in Code Section 422(b).

Section 4. Vesting .

(a) Each installment of Covered Shares set forth in the table immediately below (each, an “ Installment ”) shall become vested and exercisable on the “ Vesting Date ” for such Installment set forth in the table immediately below; provided that the Participant’s Termination of Service has not occurred prior thereto:

Installment	Vesting Date applicable to Installment
___% of Covered Shares

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4 , all the Covered Shares shall become fully vested and immediately exercisable upon the Participant’s Termination of Service due to the Participant’s Disability or the Participant’s death.

(d) The Option shall not be exercisable on or after the Participant’s Termination of Service, except as to that portion of Covered Shares for which it was exercisable immediately prior to such Termination of Service or became exercisable on the date of such Termination of Service.

Section 5. Expiration . Notwithstanding any term of this Award Agreement to the contrary, the Participant shall forfeit the Option in its entirety as of the Company’s close of business on the last business day that occurs prior to the Expiration Date. The “ Expiration Date ” shall be the earliest to occur of the following:

(a) the three-month anniversary of the Participant’s Termination of Service other than due to the Participant’s Disability or death; provided , however , that if the Participant shall die after the date of Termination of Service but before the three-month anniversary of the Participant’s Termination of Service, the Expiration Date shall automatically be extended to the one-year anniversary of Participant’s Termination of Service;

(b) the one-year anniversary of the Participant’s Termination of Service due to the Participant’s Disability or death; or

Section 6. Exercise .

(a) Method of Exercise . The vested portion of the Option may be exercised by the Participant in whole or in part by providing notice of option exercise to the Corporate Secretary of the Company at its corporate headquarters, in a form prescribed by the Committee or satisfying such other procedures as shall be set forth by the Committee from time to time. Such notice shall specify the number of Covered Shares that the Participant elects to purchase, and shall be accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price for such Covered Shares as further set forth in Section 6(b) below.

(b) Payment of Exercise Price . Without limitation of Section 8 below, the payment of the Exercise Price shall be by cash or, subject to limitations imposed by applicable law, by any of the following means as determined by the Committee from time to time: (i) by tendering, either actually or by attestation, Shares acceptable to the Committee and valued at Fair Market Value as of the time of exercise; (ii) by irrevocably authorizing a third party, acceptable to the Committee, to sell Shares acquired upon exercise of the Option and to remit to the Company no later than the third business day following exercise a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise; (iii) payment through a net exercise such that, without the payment of any funds, the Participant may exercise the Option and receive the net number of Shares equal in value to (A) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, multiplied by (B) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value (on such date as is determined by the Committee) less the Exercise Price, and the denominator of which is such Fair Market Value (the number of net Shares to be received shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares); (iv) by personal, certified or cashiers’ check; (v) by other property deemed acceptable by the Committee or (vi) by any combination thereof.

(c) Restrictions . The Option shall not be exercisable if and to the extent the Company determines that such exercise would violate any applicable laws or the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity, and shall not be exercisable during any blackout period established by the Company from time to time.

Section 7. Delivery of Shares . Delivery of Shares or other amounts under this Award Agreement and the Plan shall be subject to the following:

(a) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any other term of this Award Agreement or the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any Shares or make any other distribution of benefits under this Award Agreement or the Plan unless such delivery or distribution complies with all applicable laws and the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity.

Section 8. Withholding . The exercise of the Option, and the Company’s obligation to issue Shares upon exercise, is subject to withholding of all applicable taxes. As permitted by the Committee from time to time, such withholding obligations may be satisfied at the election of the Participant (a) through cash payment by the Participant, (b) through the surrender of Shares that the Participant already owns or (c) through the surrender of Shares to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan; provided , however , that except as otherwise specifically provided by the Committee, such Shares under clause (c) may not be used to satisfy more than the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligation.

Section 9. Non-Transferability of Option . The Option, or any portion thereof, is not transferable except as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order. Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, the Option shall not be assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by the Participant in any way whether by operation of law or otherwise, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, or the levy of any attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and without effect.

Section 12. Plan Governs . Notwithstanding anything in this Award Agreement to the contrary, this Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, a copy of which may be obtained by the Participant from the office of the Corporate Secretary of the Company. This Award Agreement shall be subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding any term of this Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event of any discrepancy between the corporate records of the Company and this Award Agreement, the corporate records of the Company shall control.

Section 13. Not an Employment Contract . Neither the Option nor this Award Agreement shall confer on the Participant any rights with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, nor shall they interfere in any way with any right the Company or a Subsidiary may otherwise have to terminate or modify the terms of the Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

Section 14. No Rights as Shareholder . The Participant shall not have any rights of a Shareholder with respect to the Covered Shares until a stock certificate or its equivalent has been duly issued following exercise of the Option as provided herein.

Section 15. Amendment . Without limitation of Section 18 and Section 19 below, this Award Agreement may be amended in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, and may otherwise be amended in writing by the Participant and the Company without the consent of any other person.

Section 16. Governing Law . This Award Agreement, the Plan and all actions taken in connection herewith and therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana without reference to principles of conflict of laws, except as superseded by applicable federal law.

Section 17. Validity . If any provision of this Award Agreement is determined to be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but this Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

Section 18. Section 409A Amendment . The Option is intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A and this Award Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with such intent. The Committee reserves the right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend this Award Agreement without the consent of the Participant in order to maintain an exclusion from the application of, or to maintain compliance with, Code Section 409A; and the Participant hereby acknowledges and consents to such rights of the Committee.

Section 19. Clawback . The Option and any amount or benefit received under the Plan shall be subject to potential cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback or other action in accordance with the terms of any applicable Company or Subsidiary clawback policy (the “ Policy ”) or any applicable law, as may be in effect from time to time. The Participant hereby acknowledges and consents to the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s application, implementation and enforcement of (a) the Policy and any similar policy established by the Company or a Subsidiary that may apply to the Participant together with all other similarly situated participants, whether adopted prior to or following the date of this Award Agreement and (b) any provision of applicable law relating to cancellation, rescission, payback or recoupment of compensation, and agrees that the Company or a Subsidiary may take such actions as may be necessary to effectuate the Policy, any similar policy and applicable law without further consideration or action.

* * * * *

Lakeland Financial Corporation

B y:

Print Name:

Title:

Participant

Print Name:

Exhibit 4.5

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

2013 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

The Participant specified below is hereby granted a restricted stock unit award (the “ Award ”) by Lakeland Financial Corporation , an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”), under the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). The Award shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and the terms set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (“ Award Agreement ”).

Section 1. Award . The Company hereby grants to the Participant the Award of restricted stock units (each such unit, an “ RSU ”), where each RSU represents the right of the Participant to receive one Share in the future once the Restricted Period ends, subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan.

Section 2. Terms of Restricted Stock Unit Award . The following words and phrases relating to the Award shall have the following meanings:

(a) The “ Participant ” is ______________________________ .

(b) The “ Grant Date ” is ______________________________ .

Except for words and phrases otherwise defined in this Award Agreement, any capitalized word or phrase in this Award Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Plan.

Section 3. Restricted Period .

(a) The “ Restricted Period ” for each installment of RSUs set forth in the table immediately below (each, an “ Installment ”) shall begin on the Grant Date and end as described in the schedule set forth in the table immediately below; provided that the Participant’s Termination of Service has not occurred prior thereto:

Installment	Restricted Period will end on:
__% of RSUs	Date/Event/Other Condition

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 , the Restricted Period for all the RSUs shall cease immediately and such RSUs shall become fully vested immediately upon the Participant’s Termination of Service due to the Participant’s Disability or the Participant’s death.

(d) Except as set forth in Section 3 (b) and Section 3 (c) above, if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs prior to the expiration of one or more Restricted Periods, the Participant shall forfeit all right, title and interest in and to any Installment(s) still subject to a Restricted Period as of such Termination of Service.

Section 4. Settlement of RSUs . Delivery of Shares or other amounts under this Award Agreement and the Plan shall be subject to the following:

(a) Delivery of Shares . The Company shall deliver to the Participant one Share free and clear of any restrictions in settlement of each of the vested and unrestricted RSUs within 30 days following the end of the respective Restricted Period.

(b) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any other term of this Award Agreement or the Plan, the Company shall have no obligation to deliver any Shares or make any other distribution of benefits under this Award Agreement or the Plan unless such delivery or distribution complies with all applicable laws and the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity.

(c) Certificates Not Required. To the extent that this Award Agreement and the Plan provide for the issuance of Shares, such issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any securities exchange or similar entity.

Section 5. Withholding . All deliveries of Shares pursuant to the Award shall be subject to withholding of all applicable taxes. The Company shall have the right to require the Participant (or if applicable, permitted assigns, heirs and Designated Beneficiaries) to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any tax requirements prior to the delivery date of any Shares in connection with the Award. As permitted by the Committee from time to time, such withholding obligation may be satisfied at the election of the Participant (a) through cash payment by the Participant, (b) through the surrender of Shares that the Participant already owns or (c) through the surrender of Shares to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan; provided , however , that except as otherwise specifically provided by the Committee, such Shares under clause (c) may not be used to satisfy more than the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligation.

Section 7. Dividend Equivalents . The Participant shall be entitled to receive a payment of additional RSUs equal in value to any dividends and distributions paid with respect to the RSUs (other than dividends and distributions that may be issued with respect to Shares by virtue of any corporate transaction, to the extent adjustment is made pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Plan) during the Restricted Period (“ Dividend Equivalents ”); provided , however , that no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable to or for the benefit of the Participant with respect to record dates for such dividends or distributions occurring before the Grant Date or on or after the date, if any, on which the Participant has forfeited the RSUs. Dividend Equivalents shall be provided at the time the respective dividends or distributions are paid and shall be subject to the same restrictions applicable to the underlying RSUs.

Section 8. No Rights as Shareholder . The Participant shall not have any rights of a Shareholder with respect to the RSUs, including but not limited to, voting rights, prior to the settlement of the RSUs pursuant to Section 4(a) above and issuance of Shares as provided herein.

Section 9. Heirs and Successors . This Award Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the Company and its successors and assigns, and upon any person acquiring all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or business. If any rights of the Participant or benefits distributable to the Participant under this Award Agreement have not been settled or distributed at the time of the Participant’s death, such rights shall be settled for and such benefits shall be distributed to the Designated Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of this Award Agreement and the Plan. The “ Designated Beneficiary ” shall be the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Participant in a writing filed with the Committee in such form as the Committee may require. The Participant’s designation of beneficiary may be amended or revoked from time to time by the Participant in accordance with any procedures established by the Committee. If a Participant fails to designate a beneficiary, or if the Designated Beneficiary does not survive the Participant, any benefits that would have been provided to the Participant shall be provided to the legal representative of the estate of the Participant. If a Participant designates a beneficiary and the Designated Beneficiary survives the Participant but dies before the provision of the Designated Beneficiary’s benefits under this Award Agreement, then any benefits that would have been provided to the Designated Beneficiary shall be provided to the legal representative of the estate of the Designated Beneficiary.

Section 10. Administration . The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of this Award Agreement and the Plan shall be vested in the Committee, and the Committee shall have all powers with respect to this Award Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of this Award Agreement or the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by the Committee with respect to this Award Agreement or the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.

Section 11. Plan Governs . Notwithstanding any provision of this Award Agreement to the contrary, this Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, a copy of which may be obtained by the Participant from the office of the Corporate Secretary of the Company. This Award Agreement shall be subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding any provision of this Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event of any discrepancy between the corporate records of the Company and this Award Agreement, the corporate records of the Company shall control.

Section 12. Not an Employment Contract . Neither the Award nor this Award Agreement shall confer on the Participant any rights with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, nor shall they interfere in any way with any right the Company or a Subsidiary may otherwise have to terminate or modify the terms of the Participant’s employment or other service at any time.

Section 13. Amendment . Without limitation of Section 16 and Section 17 below, this Award Agreement may be amended in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, and may otherwise be amended in writing by the Participant and the Company without the consent of any other person.

Section 14. Governing Law . This Award Agreement, the Plan and all actions taken in connection herewith and therewith shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without reference to principles of conflict of laws, except as superseded by applicable federal law.

Section 15. Validity . If any provision of this Award Agreement is determined to be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but this Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.

Section 16. Section 409A Amendment . The Award is intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A and this Award Agreement shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with such intent. The Committee reserves the right (including the right to delegate such right) to unilaterally amend this Award Agreement without the consent of the Participant in order to maintain an exclusion from the application of, or to maintain compliance with, Code Section 409A; and the Participant hereby acknowledges and consents to such rights of the Committee.

Section 17. Clawback . The Award and any amount or benefit received under the Plan shall be subject to potential cancellation, recoupment, rescission, payback or other action in accordance with the terms of any applicable Company or Subsidiary clawback policy (the “ Policy ”) or any applicable law, as may be in effect from time to time. The Participant hereby acknowledges and consents to the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s application, implementation and enforcement of (a) the Policy and any similar policy established by the Company or a Subsidiary that may apply to the Participant together with all other similarly situated participants, whether adopted prior to or following the date of this Award Agreement and (b) any provision of applicable law relating to cancellation, rescission, payback or recoupment of compensation, and agrees that the Company or a Subsidiary may take such actions as may be necessary to effectuate the Policy, any similar policy and applicable law, without further consideration or action.

* * * * *

Lakeland Financial Corporation

B y:

Print Name:

Title:

Participant

Print Name:

Exhibit 5.1

Lakeland Financial Corporation

July 9, 2013

Lakeland Financial Corporation

202 East Center Street

P.O. Box 1387

Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387

Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Lakeland Financial Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Lakeland Financial Corporation, an Indiana corporation (the “ Company ”). This opinion is being rendered in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), of 290,578 shares (the “ Shares ”) of common stock, no par value per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”), authorized for issuance pursuant to the Lakeland Financial Corporation 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”), as set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on July 9, 2013 (together with all exhibits thereto, the “ Registration Statement ”). This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

I have made such legal and factual investigations as I deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. I have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of: (a) the Registration Statement; (b) the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended and currently in effect (the “ Articles of Incorporation ”); (c) the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and currently in effect (the “ Bylaws ”); (d) the resolutions of the board of directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) dated February 12, 2013 with respect to the filing of the Registration Statement; (e) the Plan; and (f) such other certificates, statutes and other instruments and documents as were considered appropriate for purposes of the opinions hereafter expressed. In my investigation, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the proper execution of all documents submitted to me as originals, the conformity to the original documents of all documents submitted to me as facsimile, electronic or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to matters of fact, I have relied upon oral or written representations of officers of the Company.

The opinions set forth herein are subject to the following assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions being true and correct at or before the time of the delivery of any Shares issued pursuant to the Plan: (a) either certificates representing the Shares shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered to the person entitled thereto against payment of the agreed consideration therefor (in an amount not less than the par value thereof), or if any Share is to be issued in uncertificated form, the Company’s books shall reflect the issuance of such Share to the person entitled thereto against payment of the agreed consideration therefor (in an amount not less than the par value thereof), all in accordance with the Plan; (b) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), shall have become effective under the Act, and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded; and (c) the Shares shall have been issued in accordance with the Plan.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein, it is my opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when the Registration Statement becomes effective and the Shares have been issued in accordance with the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, and subject to the restrictions imposed by the Plan, fully paid and nonassessable.

I express no opinion concerning the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Indiana Business Corporation Law.

I express no opinion with respect to any specific legal issues other than those explicitly addressed herein. I assume no obligation to update this opinion letter after the date that the Registration Statement initially becomes effective or otherwise advise you with respect to any facts or circumstances or changes in law that may occur or come to my attention after such date (even though the change may affect the legal conclusions stated in this opinion letter).

I hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not admit that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Kristin L. Pruitt

Kristin L. Pruitt

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Lakeland Financial Corporation of our report dated March 4, 2013 relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Lakeland Financial Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2012.

/s/Crowe Horwath LLP

Crowe Horwath LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

July 8, 2013