UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported ):       February 27, 2015      
 
MUTUALFIRST FINANCIAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)
 
 
Maryland
 
000-27905
 
35-2085640
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
110 E. Charles Street, Muncie, Indiana
 
47305-2419
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:       (765) 747-2800              
 
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 


Item 1.01                            Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement .

On February 26, 2015, MutualFirst Financial, Inc. (the "Company")  entered into a Standstill Agreement (the "Agreement") with Financial Edge Fund, L.P., Financial Edge - Strategic Fund, L.P., PL Capital Focused Fund, L.P., Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P., PL Capital, LLC, PL Capital Advisors, LLC, Goodbody/PL Capital, LLC, John W. Palmer and Richard J. Lashley  (collectively, the "PL Capital Parties").

The Agreement provides that on February 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company will amend Section 2.11(a) of the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws to remove the requirement that in order to qualify to stand for election or to continue to serve as a director of the Company, a person must have his or her principal residence in any county in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has an office.  The Agreement also provides that on February 26, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors will be expanded from twelve members to thirteen members, and Mr. Lashley will be appointed as a director of the Company to serve in the class of directors with terms expiring at the Company's 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.  The Agreement further provides that on February 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company will cause the Board of Directors of the Company's wholly owned banking subsidiary, MutualBank (the "Bank"), to expand the Bank's Board of Directors to thirteen members and to appoint Mr. Lashley to fill the vacancy created by the expansion of the Bank's Board of Directors to serve until the annual meeting of the Bank's sole stockholder in 2015, at which time the Company, as sole stockholder of the Bank, will elect Mr. Lashley to a two-year term to expire at the Bank's 2017 annual meeting.

Until the later of the date of the Company's 2016 annual meeting of stockholders or the last day that Mr. Lashley (or any substitute nominee) serves as a director of the Company or the Bank (the "Standstill Period"), the PL Capital Parties have agreed not to, among other things: (i) acquire, offer or propose to acquire or agree to acquire beneficial ownership in excess of 9.99% of the outstanding common stock of the Company; (ii) engage in or participate in any solicitation of proxies with respect to the voting of any securities of the Company; (iii) form, join or participate in a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than a group involving solely members of the PL Capital Parties) with respect to securities of the Company; (iv) acquire, offer or propose to acquire or agree to acquire any of the assets of the Company; (v) arrange or participate in any financing (except for margin loan financing for shares beneficially owned) for the purchase of any securities of the Company; (vi) propose or seek to offer to the Company or any of its stockholders any business combination, restructuring, recapitalization or similar transaction or otherwise seek to control or change the management, board of directors or policies of the Company or the Bank, propose or seek any amendment, waiver or modification of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, nominate any person as a director of the Company who is not nominated by the then incumbent directors (provided that if there is a vacancy on the board the PL Capital Parties may submit suggestions to the board of directors or the nominating and governance committee for nominees), or propose any matter to be voted upon by the Company's stockholders; (vii) sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any interest in the shares of common stock of the Company beneficially owned by the PL Capital Parties to any person that would reasonably be understood to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the common stock, except in a transaction approved by the Company's Board of Directors; (viii) initiate or participate in any litigation against the Company or the Bank or their respective directors or officers; or (ix)
 
2

 
 
announce an intention to or enter into any arrangement or understanding with others to do or assist others to do any of the foregoing actions.

At any annual meeting of the Company's stockholders during the Standstill Period, the PL Capital Parties also have agreed: (1) to vote all shares of common stock of the Company they beneficially own in favor of the nominees for election or re-election as a director of the Company selected by the Board of Directors, and (2) with respect to any other proposal submitted by any stockholder to a vote of the Company's stockholders, to vote all of the shares of common stock of the Company they beneficially own in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors with respect to any such stockholder proposal.

The Agreement provides that it will not be construed to limit or affect: (1) any action or inaction by Mr. Lashley in his capacity as a member of the Company's or the Bank's Board of Directors, provided he acts in good faith in the discharge of his fiduciary duties as a board member; or (2) the ability of the PL Capital Parties to engage in discussions with the president and chief executive officer of the Company, or upon invitation, with other members of management or the Board of Directors of the Company.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

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

(d)              Pursuant to the Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Richard J. Lashley as a director of the Company with a term commencing on February 26, 2015 and expiring at the Company's 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.  The Board committees to which Mr. Lashley will be appointed have not yet been determined.

Mr. Lashley is a co-founder and principal of PL Capital since 1996.  Prior to joining PL Capital, Mr. Lashley was a CPA and corporate finance advisor at KPMG from 1984-1996.

Mr. Lashley will generally be entitled to the same compensation arrangement as is provided to the other non-employee directors of the Company and the Bank.  A description of this arrangement is contained under the heading "Director Compensation" in the Company's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 25, 2014 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Mr. Lashley has not engaged in any transaction with the Company that requires disclosure of any information pursuant to Item 404(a) of SEC Regulation S-K.

Item 5.03                     Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year .

(a)              On February 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company amended Section 2.11(a) of Article II of the Company's amended and restated bylaws to remove the requirement that in order to qualify to stand for election or continue to serve as a director of the Company, a person must have his or her principal residence in any county in which the Company
 
3

 
or any of its subsidiaries has an office. A copy of the Company's bylaws as amended is attached as an exhibit to this report. 

Item 8.01                   Other Events .

On February 27, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing the execution of the Agreement.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01                   Financial Statements and Exhibits .

(a)
Not applicable.
(b)
Not applicable.
(c)
Not applicable.
(d)
Exhibits

The following exhibits are included herewith.

 
Exhibit Number
 
Description
3(ii)
Company Bylaws (as amended)
10.1
Standstill Agreement, dated February 26, 2015, by and among, MutualFirst Financial, Inc. and PL Capital Parties
99.1
Press Release dated February 27, 2015

 
 
 
4

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 


  MUTUALFIRST FINANCIAL, INC.
 
Date:  February 27, 2015
By:
/ s/David W. Heeter                                                                                     
   
David W. Heeter
   
President and Chief Executive Officer

 
 
 
 
 
 

 


 
6
EXHIBIT 3(ii)
MUTUALFIRST FINANCIAL, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
(Effective February 26, 2015)

ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1.01.  Annual Meeting .   An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time within the 31-day period beginning on the first Wednesday in April of each year as the Board of Directors shall each year fix.  Except as provided otherwise by the Corporation's Charter or by law, any business may be considered at an annual meeting without the purpose of the meeting having been specified in the notice.  Failure to hold an annual meeting does not invalidate the Corporation's existence or affect any otherwise valid corporate act.

Section 1.02.  Special Meetings .   Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the "Whole Board").  Special meetings of the stockholders shall be called by the Secretary at the request of stockholders only on the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.  Such written request shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted upon at the meeting, and shall be delivered at the home office of the Corporation addressed to the President or the Secretary.  The Secretary shall inform the stockholders who make the request of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing a notice of the meeting and, upon payment of these costs to the Corporation, notify each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting.  The Board of Directors shall have the sole power to fix (1) the record date for determining stockholders entitled to request a special meeting of stockholders and the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting and (2) the date, time and place of the special meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be considered present in person and may vote at the special meeting.




Section 1.03.  Notice of Meetings .     Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each stockholders' meeting, the Secretary shall give notice in writing or by electronic transmission of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting and to each other stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting.  The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and may vote at the meeting, and, if the meeting is a special meeting or notice of the purpose is required by statute, the purpose of the meeting.  Notice is given to a stockholder when it is personally delivered to the stockholder, left at the stockholder's residence or usual place of business, mailed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, or transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions.  If the Corporation has received a request from a stockholder that notice not be sent by electronic transmission, the Corporation may not provide notice to the stockholder by electronic transmission.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, each person who is entitled to notice waives notice if such person, before or after the meeting, delivers a written waiver or waiver by electronic transmission which is filed with the records of the stockholders' meetings, or is present at the meeting in person or by proxy.

As used in these Bylaws, the term "electronic transmission" shall have the meaning given to such term by Section 1-101(k-1) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") or any successor provision.

Section 1.04.  Adjournment.   A meeting of stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time to time without further notice to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date.  At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 1.05.  Quorum . At any meeting of the stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast at least one-third of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting constitutes a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law.  Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may, in accordance with Section 1.04, adjourn the meeting to another place, date or time.

Section 1.06.  General Right to Vote; Proxies .  Unless the Charter of the Corporation provides for a greater or lesser number of votes per share or limits or denies voting rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders; however, a share is not entitled to be voted if any installment

 
1


payable on it is overdue and unpaid. In all elections for directors, directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or as provided in the Charter of the Corporation, all other matters voted on by stockholders shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast on the matter.

   A stockholder may vote the stock the stockholder owns of record either in person or by proxy.  A stockholder may sign a writing authorizing another person to act as proxy.  Signing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholder's authorized agent signing the writing or causing the stockholder's signature to be affixed to the writing by any reasonable means, including facsimile signature.  A stockholder may authorize another person to act as proxy by transmitting, or authorizing the transmission of, an authorization for the person to act as the proxy to the person authorized to act as proxy or to any other person authorized to receive the proxy authorization on behalf of the person authorized to act as the proxy, including a proxy solicitation firm or proxy support service organization.  The authorization may be transmitted by a telegram, cablegram, datagram, electronic mail or any other electronic or telephonic means.  Unless a proxy provides otherwise, it is not valid more than 11 months after its date.  A proxy is revocable by a stockholder at any time without condition or qualification unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest. A proxy may be made irrevocable for as long as it is coupled with an interest. The interest with which a proxy may be coupled includes an interest in the stock to be voted under the proxy or another general interest in the Corporation or its assets or liabilities.

Section 1.07.  Conduct of Business .

(a)  The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order.

(b) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation = s notice of meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in Section 1.09, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Section 1.09.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at a special meeting of stockholders only pursuant to the Corporation = s notice of meeting.  The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.09 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with Section 1.09, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal be disregarded.

Section 1.08.  Conduct of Voting .    The Board of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more persons as inspectors of election, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof, in accordance with applicable law.  At all meetings of stockholders the proxies and ballots shall be received, and all

 
2


questions touching the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies, the acceptance or rejection of votes not otherwise specified by these Bylaws, the Charter of the Corporation or law, shall be decided or determined by the inspector of elections All voting, including on the election of directors but excepting where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or his or her proxy, a written vote shall be taken.  Every written  vote shall be taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting.  Every vote taken by ballot shall be counted by an inspector or inspectors appointed by the chairman of the meeting.  No candidate for election as a director at a meeting shall serve as an inspector at such meeting.

Section 1.09.  Stockholder Proposals .   For any stockholder proposal to be presented in connection with an annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (including proposals made under rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the A Exchange Act @ )), including any nomination or proposal relating to the nomination of a director to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the stockholders must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, a stockholder = s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days or more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year = s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 120 th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of annual meeting was mailed or public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  No adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall commence a new period for the giving of notice of a stockholder proposal hereunder.  Such stockholder = s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person = s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation = s books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholders and such beneficial owner.

Section 1.10.  Informal Action by Stockholders .    Except as provided in the following sentence, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent which sets forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and is filed in paper or

 
3


electronic format with the records of stockholder meetings. Unless the Charter of the Corporation requires otherwise, the holders of any class of the Corporation's stock other than common stock, entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, may take action or consent to any action by delivering a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of the stockholders if the Corporation gives notice of the action so taken to each stockholder not later than ten days after the effective time of the action.


ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 2.01.  Function of Directors, Number and Term of Office .   The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The number of directors shall be as provided for in the Charter of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members and shall designate, when present, either the Chairman of the Board or the President to preside at its meetings.

The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of preferred stock, shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as reasonably possible, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the conclusion of the first annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of the second class to expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter and the term of office of the third class to expire at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  At each annual meeting of stockholders, commencing with the first annual meeting, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Section 2.02.  Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships .   A vacancy on the board of Directors may be filled only in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the Corporation.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of stock separately entitled to elect one or more directors, a majority of the remaining directors, whether or nor sufficient to constitute a quorum, may fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results from any cause.  A director so chosen by the remaining directors shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, at which time the stockholders shall elect a director to hold office for the balance of the term then remaining.

Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed only in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the Corporation.


4


Section 2.03.  Regular Meetings .   Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places or by means of remote communication, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors.  A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.  Any regular meeting of the Board of Directors may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting other than by announcement.

Section 2.04.  Special Meetings .   Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third (1/3) of the directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number) or by the President and shall be held at such place or by means of remote communication, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place or means of remote communication, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic transmission of the same not less than 24 hours before the meeting.  Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.  No notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need be given to any director who attends except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, or to any director who, by electronic transmission or in writing executed and filed with the records of the meeting either before or after the holding thereof, waives such notice.  Any special meeting of the Board of Directors may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting other than by announcement.

Section 2.05.  Quorum .   At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.  If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

Section 2.06.  Participation in Meetings By Conference Telephone .   Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or other  communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.07.  Conduct of Business .   At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation's Charter or required by law.  Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed in paper or electronic form with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.


5


Section 2.08.  Powers The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, these Bylaws or the Charter of the Corporation, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the unqualified power:

(i)              To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;

(ii)              To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;

(iii)              To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith;

(iv)              To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other person for the time being;

(v)              To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;

(vi)              To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;

(vii)              To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and

(viii)              To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs.

Section 2.09.  Compensation of Directors .   Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees (and expenses, if any) and other compensation for their services as directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.

Section 2.10.  Presumption of Assent .    A director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to such action unless such director announces his dissent at the meeting and (a) such director's dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting, (b) such director files his written dissent to such action with the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof, or (c) such director forwards his written dissent within 24 hours after the meeting is adjourned, by certified mail, return receipt requested, bearing a postmark from the United States Postal Service, to the secretary of the meeting or the Secretary of the Corporation. Such right to dissent shall not

 
6


apply to a director who voted in favor of such action or failed to make his dissent known at the meeting.

Section 2.11.  Qualifications .  No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of Directors if such person (i) has, within the previous 10 years, been the subject of supervisory action by a financial regulatory agency that resulted in a cease and desist order or an agreement or other written statement subject to public disclosure under 12 U.S.C. 1818 (u), or any successor provision, (ii) has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under state or federal law, or (iii) is currently charged in any information, indictment, or other complaint with the commission of or participation in such a crime.  No person shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors if such person is the nominee or representative of a person or group that includes a person who is ineligible for election to the Board of Directors under this Section 2.11.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to construe and apply the provisions of this Section 2.11 and to make all determinations necessary or desirable to implement such provisions, including but not limited to determinations as to whether a person is a nominee or representative of a person or a group and whether a person is included in a group.

Section 2.12.  Resignation Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice of such resignation to the President or the Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified therein, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof.


ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

Section 3.01.  Committees of the Board of Directors .   The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee and other committees composed of one or more directors and delegate to these committees any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except the power to authorize dividends on stock (except as provided in Section 2-309(d) of the MGCL), issue stock other than as provided in the next sentence, recommend to the stockholders any action which requires stockholder approval, amend these Bylaws, or approve any merger or share exchange which does not require stockholder approval.  If the Board of Directors has given general authorization for the issuance of stock providing for or establishing a method or procedure for determining the maximum number of shares to be issued, a committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with that general authorization or any stock option or other plan or program adopted by the Board of Directors, may authorize or fix the terms of stock subject to classification or reclassification and the terms on which any stock may be issued, including all terms and conditions required or permitted to be established or authorized by the Board of Directors under Sections 2-203 and 2-208 of the MGCL.  Any committee so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors if the resolution which designated the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide.  In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she

 
7


or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

Section 3.02.  Conduct of Business Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.  Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings, one­-third (1/3) of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.  Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed in paper or electronic form with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.  The members of any committee may conduct any meeting thereof by conference telephone or other communications equipment in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06 of these Bylaws.

Section 3.03.  Nominating Committee .   The Board of Directors may appoint a Nominating Committee of the Board, consisting of not less than three members.  The Nominating Committee shall have authority (i) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 1.07 of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw,  (ii) to recommend to the Board of Directors nominees for election to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing and (iii) to perform any other duties or responsibilities delegated to the Nominating Committee by the Board of Directors, whether pursuant to the charter of the Nominating Committee or otherwise.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 4.01.  Generally .

(a)              The Board of Directors as soon as may be practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and from time to time may choose such other officers as it may deem proper.  The President shall be chosen from among the directors.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except no person may serve concurrently as both President and Vice President of the Corporation.

(b)              The term of office of all officers shall be until the next annual election of officers and until their respective successors are chosen, but any officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors.

(c)              All officers chosen by the Board of Directors shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this

 
8


ARTICLE IV.  Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.

Section 4.02.  President .   The President shall be the chief executive officer and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general power over the management and oversight of the administration and operation of the Corporation's business and general supervisory power and authority over its policies and affairs.  The President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and of any committee thereof are carried into effect.

Each meeting of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by such officer as has been designated by the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, by such officer or other person as is chosen at the meeting.  The Secretary or, in his or her absence, the General Counsel of the Corporation or such officer as has been designated by the Board of Directors or, in his or her absence, such officer or other person as is chosen by the person presiding, shall act as secretary of each such meeting.

Section 4.03.  Vice President .    The Vice President or Vice Presidents, if any, shall perform the duties of the President in the President's absence or during his or her disability to act.  In addition, the Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly assigned to them from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.

Section 4.04.  Secretary The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident to such offices and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned thereto by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.

Section 4.05.  Treasurer .   The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies and securities of the Corporation, other than monies and securities of any division of the Corporation which has a treasurer or financial officer appointed by the Board of Directors, and shall keep regular books of account.  The funds of the Corporation shall be deposited in the name of the Corporation by the Treasurer with such banks or trust companies or other entities as the Board of Directors from time to time shall designate.  The Treasurer shall sign or countersign such instruments as require his or her signature, shall perform all such duties and have all such powers as are usually incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President, and may be required to give bond, payable by the Corporation, for the faithful performance of his duties in such sum and with such surety as may be required by the Board of Directors.

Section 4.06.  Assistant Secretaries and Other officers .   The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistants to the Treasurer, or one appointee to both such positions, which officers shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.

 
9



Section 4.07.  Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations Stock of other corporations or associations, registered in the name of the Corporation, may be voted by the President, a Vice-President, or a proxy appointed by either of them.  The Board of Directors, however, may by resolution appoint some other person to vote such shares, in which case such person shall be entitled to vote such shares upon the production of a certified copy of such resolution.

ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.01.  Certificates of Stock; Uncertificated Shares The Board of Directors may determine to issue certificated or uncertificated shares of capital stock and other securities of the Corporation.  For certificated shares, a stockholder is entitled to a certificate that represents and certifies the shares of stock he or she holds in the Corporation.  Each stock certificate shall include on its face the name of the Corporation, the name of the stockholder or other person to whom it is issued and the class of stock and number of shares represented by the certificate and be in such form, not inconsistent with law or with the Charter, as shall be approved by the Board of Directors or any officer(s) designated for such purpose by resolution of the Board of Directors.  Each stock certificate shall be signed by the President or the Chairman of the Board, and countersigned by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer.  Each certificate shall be sealed with the actual corporate seal or a facsimile of it or in any other form and the signatures on each certificate may be either manual or facsimile signatures.  Each stock certificate also shall include on its face or back: (a) a statement of any restrictions on transferability and a statement of the designations and any preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of the stock of each class which the Corporation is authorized to issue, of the differences in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each series of preferred stock which the Corporation is authorized to issue, to the extent they have been set, and of the authority of the Board of Directors to set the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series of preferred stock; or (b) a statement which provides in substance that the Corporation will furnish a full statement of such information to any stockholder on request and without charge.  Such request may be made to the Secretary or to the Corporation's transfer agent.  Upon the issuance of uncertificated shares of capital stock, the Corporation shall send the stockholder a written statement of the same information required above on stock certificates.  A certificate is valid and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an officer of the Corporation when it is issued. A certificate may not be issued until the stock represented by it is fully paid.
Section 5.02.  Transfers of Stock The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock, and may appoint transfer agents and registrars thereof.  The duties of transfer agent and registrar may be combined.
10



Section 5.03.  Record Dates or Closing of Transfer Books .   The Board of Directors may set a record date or direct that the stock transfer books be closed for a stated period for the purpose of making any proper determination with respect to stockholders, including which stockholders are entitled to notice of a meeting, vote at a meeting, receive a dividend, or be allotted other rights.  The record date may not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed nor, subject to Section 1.04, more than 90 days before the date on which the action requiring the determination will be taken; the transfer books may not be closed for a period longer than 20 days; and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, the record date or the closing of the transfer books shall be at least ten days before the date of the meeting.

Section 5.04.  Stock Ledger .   The Corporation shall maintain a stock ledger which contains the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of stock of each class which the stockholder holds.  The stock ledger may be in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual inspection.  The original or a duplicate of the stock ledger shall be kept at the offices of a transfer agent for the particular class of stock or, if none, at the principal executive offices of the Corporation.

Section 5.05.  Certification of Beneficial Owners The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder of the Corporation may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder.  The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may certify; the purpose for which the certification may be made; the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable.  On receipt of a certification which complies with the procedure adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Section, the person specified in the certification is, for the purpose set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

Section 5.06.  Lost Stock Certificates .   The Board of Directors of the Corporation may determine the conditions for issuing a new stock certificate in place of one which is alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or the Board of Directors may delegate such power to any officer or officers of the Corporation.  In their discretion, the Board of Directors or such officer or officers may require the owner of the certificate to give a bond, with sufficient surety, to indemnify the Corporation against any loss or claim arising as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.  In their discretion, the Board of Directors or such officer or officers may refuse to issue such new certificate save upon the order of some court having jurisdiction in the premises.

Section 5.07.  Regulations .   The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.



11


ARTICLE VI

FINANCE

Section 6.01.  Checks, Drafts, Etc .   All checks, drafts and orders for the payment of money, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of the Corporation, shall, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice-President, an Assistant Vice-President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.

Section 6.02.  Annual Statement of Affairs .   The President or chief accounting officer shall prepare annually a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Corporation, to include a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year.  The statement of affairs shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the stockholders and, within 20 days after the meeting, placed on file at the Corporation = s principal office.

Section 6.03.  Fiscal Year .   The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the 12 calendar months ending on December 31 in each year.

Section 6.04.  Dividends .   If declared by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof, the Corporation may pay dividends on its shares in cash, property, or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, unless such dividend is contrary to law or to a restriction contained in the Charter of the Corporation.

Section 6.05.  Loans .   No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by the Board of Directors.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 6.06.  Deposits . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in any of its duly authorized depositories as the Board of Directors may select.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01.  Facsimile Signatures .   In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Section 7.02.  Corporate Seal The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary.  If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

 
12



Section 7.03.  Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records .   Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer and agent of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any advisor, accountant, appraiser or other experts or consultants selected by the Board of Directors or officers of the Corporation, regardless of whether such expert or consultant may also be a director.

Section 7.04.  Notices .   Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mail, postage paid, by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or by sending such notice by facsimile machine or other electronic transmission.  Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation.  The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered or dispatched, if delivered through the mail, by telegram or mailgram or by facsimile machine or other electronic transmission, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.

Section 7.05.  Waivers .   A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent.  Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

Section 7.06.  Time Periods .   In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded and the day of the event shall be included.



13


ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws of the Corporation may be adopted, amended or repealed as provided in ARTICLE 9 of the Charter of the Corporation.



14
EXHIBIT 10.1
STANDSTILL AGREEMENT

This Standstill Agreement (this "Agreement") is made by and between MutualFirst Financial, Inc. ("MutualFirst") on the one hand, and Financial Edge Fund, L.P., Financial Edge - Strategic Fund, L.P., PL Capital Focused Fund, L.P., Goodbody/PL Capital, L.P., PL Capital, LLC, PL Capital Advisors, LLC, Goodbody/PL Capital, LLC, John W. Palmer and Richard J. Lashley  (collectively, the "PL Capital Parties"), on the other hand, on behalf of themselves and their respective affiliates (MutualFirst and the PL Capital Parties together, collectively, the "Parties").  In consideration of the covenants, promises and undertakings set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Bylaw Amendment

On February 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of MutualFirst will amend Section 2.11(a) of its Amended and Restated Bylaws to remove the requirement that in order to qualify to stand for election or to continue to serve as a director, a person must have his or her principal residence in any county in which MutualFirst or any of its subsidiaries has an office.

2.              Board Expansion and Membership

On February 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of MutualFirst will be expanded from its present twelve-member size to thirteen members, and Richard J. Lashley will be appointed a director of MutualFirst to serve in the class of directors with terms expiring at the conclusion of MutualFirst's 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. At all times from and after the date of this Agreement, subject to Section 5 hereof, MutualFirst's Board of Directors will also appoint, at its sole discretion, all other persons to fill remaining director positions or vacancies on the MutualFirst Board of Directors.  Mr. Lashley shall receive the normal compensation and benefits paid to directors of MutualFirst while he serves as a director thereof.

On February 26, 2015, the Board of Directors of MutualFirst will cause the Board of Directors of MutualBank (the "Bank") to expand the Bank's Board of Directors to thirteen members and to appoint Mr. Lashley to fill the vacancy created by the expansion of the Bank's Board of Directors for a term to expire at the annual meeting of the Bank's sole shareholder to be held in 2015, as required by Article III, Section 11 of the Bank's Bylaws.  At the annual meeting of the Bank's sole shareholder to be held in 2015, MutualFirst, as the Bank's sole shareholder, shall cause Mr. Lashley to be elected as a director of the Bank to serve in the class of directors with terms expiring at the conclusion of the Bank's 2017 annual meeting of its sole shareholder.  Mr. Lashley shall receive the normal compensation and benefits paid to directors of the Bank while he serves as a director thereof.

Mr. Lashley or the Substitute (as hereinafter defined), as the case may be, agrees to promptly submit his resignation as a member of the Board of Directors of each of MutualFirst and the Bank upon the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 16 hereof.




3.              Standstill

The PL Capital Parties each agree that during the Standstill Period (as hereinafter defined), the PL Capital Parties and their affiliates or associates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) will not (and they will not assist or encourage others to), directly or indirectly, in any manner, without prior written approval of the Board of Directors of MutualFirst:
 
(i)              acquire, offer or propose to acquire, solicit an offer to sell or agree to acquire directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, by purchase, gift, tender, exchange or otherwise, any direct or indirect beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) or any direct or indirect interest in any securities or direct or indirect rights, warrants or options to acquire, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for (collectively, an "Acquisition"), any securities of MutualFirst, such that as a result of such of such Acquisition, the PL Capital Parties would maintain beneficial ownership in excess of 9.99% of the outstanding shares of MutualFirst common stock;

(ii)              make, engage in, or in any way participate in, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, any "solicitation" of "proxies" or consents to vote (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act) or seek to advise, encourage or influence in any manner whatsoever any person with respect to the voting of any voting securities of MutualFirst;

(iii)              form, join, encourage, influence, advise or in any way participate in a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (other than a group involving solely the PL Capital Parties) with respect to any voting securities of MutualFirst or otherwise in any manner agree, attempt, seek or propose to deposit any securities of MutualFirst in any voting trust or similar arrangement, or subject any securities of MutualFirst to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting thereof (other than any such voting trust, arrangement or agreement solely among the PL Capital Parties) except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (for the benefit of clarification and the avoidance of doubt, this provision shall not prohibit changes in the membership of the group involving the PL Capital Parties as long as any additional member(s) agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement);

(iv)              acquire, offer or propose to acquire or agree to acquire, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert with others, by purchase, tender, exchange or otherwise, (a) any of the assets, tangible and intangible, direct or indirect, of MutualFirst or (b) direct or indirect rights, warrants or options to acquire any assets of MutualFirst;

(v)              arrange, or in any way participate, directly or indirectly, in any financing (except for margin loan financing for shares beneficially owned) for the purchase of any securities or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any securities or assets of MutualFirst;

(vi)              otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, propose or to seek to offer to MutualFirst or any of its stockholders any business combination, restructuring, recapitalization

 
2


or similar transaction to or with MutualFirst or the Bank or otherwise seek, alone or in concert with others, to control or change the management, Board of Directors or policies of MutualFirst or the Bank, propose or seek any amendment, waiver or modification of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of MutualFirst, nominate any person as a director of MutualFirst who is not nominated by the then incumbent directors (provided that if there is a vacancy on the MutualFirst Board of Directors the PL Capital Parties may submit suggestions on a confidential basis to the MutualFirst Board of Directors or the Nominating Committee of the MutualFirst Board of Directors for nominees to the Board of Directors pursuant to the nomination policy adopted by the Board of Directors), or propose any matter to be voted upon by the stockholders of MutualFirst;

(vii)              directly or indirectly, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any interest in the shares of MutualFirst common stock beneficially owned by the PL Capital Parties to any person that would reasonably be understood to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of MutualFirst common stock, except in a transaction approved by the MutualFirst Board of Directors;

(viii)              except in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, initiate or participate, by encouragement or otherwise, in any litigation against MutualFirst or the Bank or their respective directors or officers, or in any derivative litigation on behalf of MutualFirst, except for testimony which may be required by law; or

(ix)              announce an intention to do, or enter into any arrangement or understanding with others to do, or advise, assist or encourage others to do, any of the actions restricted or prohibited under clauses (i) through (viii) of this Paragraph 3, publicly announce or disclose any request to be excused from any of the foregoing obligations of this Paragraph 3 or otherwise take or cause any action or make any statement inconsistent with any of the foregoing.

At any MutualFirst annual meeting of stockholders during the Standstill Period, the PL Capital Parties agree: (1) to vote all shares of MutualFirst they or any of them beneficially own in favor of the nominees for election or reelection as director of MutualFirst selected by the Board of Directors of MutualFirst and agree otherwise to support such director candidates, and (2) with respect to any other proposal submitted by any MutualFirst stockholder to a vote of the MutualFirst stockholders, to vote all of the MutualFirst shares they beneficially own in accordance with the recommendation of the MutualFirst Board of Directors with respect to any such stockholder proposal.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing herein will be construed to limit or affect:  (1) any action or inaction by Mr. Lashley or the Substitute in his capacity as a member of MutualFirst's Board of Directors or the Bank's Board of Directors, provided he acts in good faith in the discharge of his fiduciary duties as a Board member; or (2) the ability of the PL Capital Parties to engage in discussions relating to the topics listed in Paragraph 3 of this Agreement directly with the President and Chief Executive Officer of MutualFirst, or upon invitation, with other members of management or the Board of Directors of MutualFirst.


3


The "Standstill Period" shall begin as of the date of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect until the later of (1) the close of business on the date of the 2016 annual meeting of stockholders of MutualFirst or (2) the last day that Mr. Lashley or any substitute for Mr. Lashley nominated by the PL Capital Parties pursuant to Paragraph 5 hereof (the "Substitute"), as the case may be, serves as a director of MutualFirst or the Bank.

Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, at the sole option of MutualFirst, the Standstill Period may be terminated by MutualFirst in the event that the beneficial ownership of the PL Capital Parties decreases below 5% of the outstanding shares of MutualFirst common stock (in which event Mr. Lashley or the Substitute, as the case may be, shall promptly submit his resignation as a director of MutualFirst and the Bank).
 
4.              Non-Disparagement

During the Standstill Period, the PL Capital Parties agree not to disparage MutualFirst or any officers, directors (including director nominees) or employees of MutualFirst or its affiliates or subsidiaries in any public or quasi-public forum, and MutualFirst agrees not to disparage any of the PL Capital Parties or any officers, partners or employees of the PL Capital Parties in any public or quasi-public forum.

5.              PL Capital Nominees

MutualFirst agrees that if either Mr. Lashley or any Substitute is unable to serve as a director, resigns as a director or is removed as a director of MutualFirst or the Bank prior to the expiration of the Standstill Period, then the MutualFirst or the Bank's Board of Directors, as applicable, shall appoint a substitute director, selected by the PL Capital Parties and subject to the approval of the applicable Board of Directors, in its discretion, after exercising its fiduciary duties in good faith, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed (any such substitute director, a "Substitute"), to fill the resulting vacancy in the class of directors with terms expiring at the conclusion of the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders.

6.              Authority

Each of the Parties that is a corporation or other legal entity and each individual Party executing this Agreement on behalf of a corporation or other legal entity, represents and warrants that: (a) such corporation or other legal entity is duly organized, validly authorized and in good standing, and possesses full power and authority to enter into and perform the terms of this Agreement; (b) the execution, delivery and performance of the terms of this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite acts and consents of the company or other legal entity and do not contravene the terms of any other obligation to which the corporation or other legal entity is subject; and (c) this Agreement constitutes a legal, binding and valid obligation of each such entity, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 
4


7.              Expenses

All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses.

8.              Amendment In Writing

This Agreement and each of its terms may only be amended, waived, supplemented or modified in a writing signed by the signatories hereto or their respective clients.

9.              Governing Law/Venue/Jurisdiction

This Agreement, and the rights and liabilities of the Parties hereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland without regard to conflict of law provisions.  The venue and jurisdiction for adjudication of any and all disputes between the Parties to this Agreement shall be in the State of Maryland Circuit Court in and for Baltimore County.

10.              Notice of Breach and Remedies

The Parties expressly agree that an actual or threatened breach of this Agreement by any Party will give rise to irreparable injury that cannot adequately be compensated by damages. Accordingly, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled, each Party shall be entitled to seek a temporary restraining order or injunctive relief to prevent a breach of the provisions of this Agreement or to secure specific enforcement of its terms and provisions.

The PL Capital Parties expressly agree that they will not be excused or claim to be excused from performance under this Agreement as a result of any material breach by MutualFirst unless and until MutualFirst is given written notice of such breach and thirty (30) business days either to cure such breach or for MutualFirst to seek relief in court.  If MutualFirst seeks relief in court, the PL Capital Parties irrevocably stipulate that any failure to perform by the PL Capital Parties shall be deemed to constitute irreparable harm under this Agreement, therefore MutualFirst shall not be required to provide further proof of irreparable harm in order to obtain equitable relief and the PL Capital Parties shall not deny or contest that such circumstances would cause MutualFirst irreparable harm.  If, after such thirty (30) business day period, MutualFirst has not either reasonably cured such material breach or obtained relief in court, the PL Capital Parties may terminate this Agreement by delivery of written notice to MutualFirst.

MutualFirst expressly agrees that it will not be excused or claim to be excused from performance under this Agreement as a result of any material breach by the PL Capital Parties or any of them unless and until the PL Capital Parties are given written notice of such breach and thirty (30) business days either to cure such breach or for the PL Capital Parties to seek relief in court.  If the PL Capital Parties seek relief in court, MutualFirst irrevocably stipulates that any failure to perform by MutualFirst shall be deemed to constitute irreparable harm under this Agreement, therefore the PL Capital Parties shall not be required to provide further proof of

 
5


irreparable harm in order to obtain equitable relief and MutualFirst shall not deny or contest that such circumstances would cause the PL Capital Parties irreparable harm.  If, after such thirty (30) business day period, the PL Capital Parties have not either reasonably cured such material breach or obtained relief in court, MutualFirst may terminate this Agreement by delivery of written notice to the PL Capital Parties.

11.              Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be considered to be an original or true copy of this Agreement.  Faxed or emailed signatures shall be presumed valid.

12.              Nonwaiver

The failure of any one of the Parties to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver thereof or deprive the Parties of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement.

13.              Disclosure of This Agreement

The parties contemplate that the PL Capital Parties will file a Schedule 13D amendment attaching this Agreement, that MutualFirst will file a Form 8-K attaching this Agreement and that during the Standstill Period there will be no other public comments (except as required by applicable law, including regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) by the Parties regarding this Agreement other than a press release by MutualFirst factually summarizing this Agreement and referring to the Form 8-K filing, which press release shall be subject to prior approval by the PL Capital Parties (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld).

14.              Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the full, complete and entire understanding, agreement, and arrangement of and between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior oral and written understandings, agreements and arrangements between them.  There are no other agreements, covenants, promises or arrangements between the Parties other than those set forth in this Agreement (including the attachments hereto).

15.              Notice

All notices and other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing, and sufficient if by same-day hand delivery (including delivery by courier) or sent by fax, addressed as follows:

 
6


If to MutualFirst:

David W. Heeter
President and Chief Executive Officer
MutualFirst Financial, Inc.
110 E. Charles Street
Muncie, IN 47305
Fax: (765) 213-2981

with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:

James S. Fleischer, Esq. and
Martin L. Meyrowitz, P.C.
Silver, Freedman, Taff & Tiernan LLP
3299 K Street, N.W., Suite 100
Washington, DC  20007
Fax: (202) 337-5502

If to the PL Capital Parties:

Richard J. Lashley
PL Capital, LLC
67 Park Place East
Suite 675
Morristown, New Jersey 07960
Fax: (973) 539-5404

with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:

Joseph P. Vitale, Esq.
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Fax: ( 212  )  593-5955

16.              Termination

This Agreement shall cease, terminate and have no further force and effect upon the expiration of the last day of the Standstill Period as set forth in Section 3, unless earlier terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof or by mutual written agreement of the Parties.

17.              Further Assurances

The PL Capital Parties and MutualFirst agree to take, or cause to be taken, all such further or other actions as shall reasonably be necessary to make effective and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


7


18.              Successors and Assigns

All covenants and agreements contained herein shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

19.              No Third Party Beneficiaries

This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the parties and is not enforceable by any other person.

[Signature page follows]
 
 
 
 
 
 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have each executed this Agreement on the date set forth below.

Dated:              February 26, 2015

For:              Financial Edge Fund L.P.
Financial Edge - Strategic Fund L.P.
PL Capital Focused Fund L.P.
Goodbody/PL Capital L.P.
PL Capital LLC
PL Capital Advisors LLC
Goodbody/PL Capital LLC
   
   
   
 
 
 
             /s/ John W. Palmer   
John W. Palmer
     
By:              /s/ Richard J. Lashley
Richard J. Lashley
Managing Member
 
/s/ Richard J. Lashley     
Richard J. Lashley
 
 
By:               /s/ John W. Palmer   
Managing Member
 
   
     
     
For:      MutualFirst Financial, Inc.
 
By:               /s/ David W. Heeter
David W. Heeter
President and Chief Executive
Officer
 
   




9
EXHIBIT 99.1
PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contacts:
David Heeter, CEO
     
Phone:  (765) 747-2800
     
Fax:  (765) 213-2981


MUTUALFIRST FINANCIAL, INC.
ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH MAJOR STOCKHOLDER

Muncie, Indiana. February 27, 2015 – MutualFirst Financial, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ Global Market: MFSF), the holding company for MutualBank (the "Bank"), and PL Capital, LLC and certain affiliated entities and others (collectively, the "PL Capital Parties") announced that they have entered into an agreement (the "Agreement")  pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will amend its bylaws to remove the requirement that in order to qualify to stand for election or to continue to serve as a director, a person must have his or her principal residence in any county in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has an office.  The Company also has agreed to appoint PL Capital principal Richard J. Lashley to the Company's Board of Directors.  Mr. Lashley was added to the Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank on February 26, 2015 and will serve in the class of directors whose term expires at the conclusion of the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in May 2017.

During the term of the Agreement, which is scheduled to continue through the later of the date of the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2016 or the last day Mr. Lashley (or any substitute nominee) serves as a director of the Company or the Bank, the PL Capital Parties and Mr. Lashley will not, among other things, solicit proxies in opposition to any recommendations or proposals of the Company's Board of Directors, initiate or solicit stockholder proposals or seek to place any representatives on the Company's Board of Directors (other than any replacement director), oppose any proposal or director nomination submitted by the Board of Directors to the Company's stockholders, vote for any nominee to the Company's Board of Directors other than those nominated or supported by the Board of Directors, seek to exercise any control or influence over the management of the Company or the Boards of Directors of the Company or the Bank (although nothing in the Agreement will prevent Mr. Lashley from expressing his views to other members of the Board at duly convened meetings of the Boards of Directors), propose or seek to effect a merger or sale of the Company or initiate litigation against the Company.

PL Capital, LLC, an investment firm based in Naperville, Illinois that invests in community banks and thrifts is the Company's largest institutional stockholder.  Mr. Lashley has extensive financial experience and is Co-Founder of PL Capital, LLC and has previously served as a director of seven banks and thrifts throughout the U.S.

Dave Heeter, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, said "We believe that Mr. Lashley is well qualified to serve as a director and it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to reach this agreement with PL Capital.  This agreement will permit us to focus on the Company's financial performance and profitability and continue to maximize value to our

shareholders. We believe the actions taken today fully address the concerns raised by Ancora Advisors and satisfy the reasons for their board nominations and stockholder proposal."

MutualFirst Financial, Inc. is the parent company of MutualBank, an Indiana-based financial institution. MutualBank has thirty full-service retail financial centers in Delaware, Elkhart, Grant, Kosciusko, Randolph, St. Joseph and Wabash Counties in Indiana. MutualBank has two offices located in Carmel and Crawfordsville, Indiana specializing in wealth management and trust services and a loan origination office in New Buffalo, Michigan. MutualBank also operates a wholly owned subsidiary of Summit Mortgage which operates out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. MutualBank is a leading mortgage lender in each of the market areas it serves, and provides a full range of financial services including business banking, wealth management, trust services, investments and internet banking services. The Company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "MFSF" and can be found on the internet at www.bankwithmutual.com.




This news release contains forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.  They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend" "plan," "estimate" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may."

Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties.  A number of factors – many of which are beyond the Company's control – could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements.  The Company's reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission describe some of these factors, including general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, the cost of funds, changes in credit quality and interest rate risks associated with the Company's business and operations.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.  The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.