Ameris Bancorp (ABCB) 8-K/A Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

EXHIBIT 99.2

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors

Ameris Bancorp

Moultrie, Georgia

We have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the financial statements of Ameris Bancorp for the year ended December 31, 2011, and have issued our report thereon dated February 24, 2012. We have also audited the statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by Ameris Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (collectively, the “Company”), pursuant to the Purchase and Assumption Agreement dated as of February 24, 2012 (the “Agreement”). This financial statement is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by Ameris Bank based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by Ameris Bank is free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statement. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by Ameris Bank as of February 24, 2012, is fairly presented, in all material respects, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Porter Keadle Moore, LLC        

Atlanta, Georgia

May 4, 2012

Statement of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed

by Ameris Bank

(a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp)

(dollars in thousands)

		$xxxxxxxxxxxxx
	Central Bank of Georgia
Assets acquired:
Cash and due from banks	$	33,150
Securities available for sale		39,920
Loans		124,782
Other real estate owned		6,177
FDIC indemnification asset		52,654
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		4,606
Total assets acquired		261,289
Cash received (paid) to settle the acquisition		31,900
Total assets acquired net of cash settlement		293,189
Liabilities assumed:
Deposits		261,036
Other borrowings		10,334
Other liabilities		1,782
Total liabilities assumed		273,152
Net assets acquired	$	20,037

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement

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NOTES TO STATEMENT OF ASSETS ACQUIRED AND LIABILITIES ASSUMED

by AMERIS BANK

(a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMERIS BANCORP)

Note 1 — FDIC-Assisted Acquisition of Certain Assets and Liabilities of Central Bank of Georgia

On February 24, 2012 (the “Closing Date”), Ameris Bank (the “Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”), entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the “Agreement”) by and among the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), as Receiver of Central Bank of Georgia, Ellaville, Georgia (“Central”), the Bank and the FDIC acting in its corporate capacity, pursuant to which the Bank acquired certain assets and assumed substantially all of the deposits and certain liabilities of Central (the “Acquisition”).

Central operated five branches, located in Ellaville, Buena Vista, Cusseta, Butler and Macon, Georgia. The Bank assumed all of the deposits of Central, totaling approximately $261.0 million at fair value. Additionally, the Bank acquired loans with an estimated fair value of approximately $124.8 million and an unpaid principal balance of approximately $190.6 million and other real estate owned (“OREO”) having a fair value of approximately $6.2 million. Investment securities available for sale totaling approximately $39.9 million at fair value were purchased. Substantially all of the acquired loans and all of the acquired OREO are covered by shared-loss agreements between the FDIC and the Bank.

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Acquisition are presented at their estimated fair values as of the Closing Date. The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were determined as described in Note 3 below. These fair value estimates are considered preliminary and are subject to change after the Closing Date as additional information relative to Closing Date fair values becomes available. The Bank and the FDIC are engaged in ongoing discussions that may impact which assets and liabilities are ultimately acquired or assumed by the Bank and/or the purchase prices. In addition, the tax treatment of FDIC-assisted acquisitions is complex and subject to interpretations that may result in future adjustments of deferred taxes as of the Closing Date.

Note 2 — Shared-Loss Agreement and FDIC Indemnification Asset

As part of the Agreement, the Bank and the FDIC entered into certain shared-loss agreements. Pursuant to the terms of these shared-loss agreements, the FDIC’s obligation to reimburse the Bank for losses with respect to certain loans and OREO begins with the first dollar of loss incurred. Approximately $195.6 million in pre-Acquisition book value and commitments of assets, which include single-family residential mortgage assets, commercial real estate, commercial and industrial loans, consumer loans and other commercial assets, are covered under these agreements. The amounts covered by the shared-loss agreements are the pre-acquisition book values of the underlying assets, the contractual balance of unfunded commitments that were acquired and certain future net direct costs. The FDIC will reimburse the Bank for 80% of all losses with respect to covered assets of Central. The Bank will reimburse the FDIC for its share of recoveries with respect to losses for which the FDIC paid the Bank a reimbursement under the shared-loss agreements. Certain other assets of Central were acquired by the Bank that are not covered by shared-loss agreements with the FDIC. These assets include investment securities purchased at fair market value and other tangible assets.

The shared-loss agreement applicable to single-family residential mortgage assets provides for FDIC loss sharing and Bank reimbursement to the FDIC, in each case as described above, for ten years. The shared-loss agreement applicable to commercial and other loans and other assets provides for FDIC loss sharing for five years and Bank reimbursement of recoveries to the FDIC for eight years, in each case as described above.

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The following tables summarize the assets covered by the shared-loss agreements, the amount covered by the FDIC and the fair value (dollars in thousands):

					Loss Sharing Certificate
Assets subject to loss-sharing:	Amounts covered		Fair Value		SFR certificate (10 years for losses)		Commercial certificate (5 years for losses)
Loans	$	181,571	$	112,011	$	38,551	$	143,020
OREO		13,986		6,177		5,849		8,137
Total	$	195,557	$	118,188	$	44,400	$	151,157

The shared-loss agreements are subject to certain servicing procedures as specified in agreements with the FDIC. The expected reimbursements under the shared-loss agreements were recorded as indemnification assets on the statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by the Bank at their estimated fair value of approximately $52.7 million as of the Closing Date. The FDIC loss share indemnification assets reflect the present value of the expected net cash reimbursement related to the shared-loss agreements described above.

Note 3 — Basis of Presentation

The Bank has determined that the Acquisition constitutes a business acquisition as defined by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations. Accordingly, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are presented at their estimated fair values as required by that topic. Fair values were determined based on the requirements of ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements.In many cases the determination of these fair values required management to make estimates about discount rates, future expected cash flows, market conditions and other future events that are highly subjective in nature and subject to change. The following is a description of the methods used to determine the fair values of significant assets and liabilities and the fair value determination of each involves significant estimates and assumptions.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the audited statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed by the Bank. The most significant assumptions related to this statement concern the estimates of fair value.

Cash, cash items, due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in banks and the Federal Reserve account

The carrying amount of these assets is a reasonable estimate of fair value based on their short term nature. Cash items consist of items that are readily convertible into cash and have maturities less than three months.

Investment securities

Investment securities were acquired at their fair values at pricing supplied by an independent third party investment broker.

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Loans

Fair values for loans were based on a discounted cash flow methodology that considered factors including the type of loan and related collateral, accrual status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan, prepayments, whether or not the loan was amortizing and a discount rate reflecting the Bank’s assessment of risk inherent in the cash flow estimates. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the certain groups when applying various valuation techniques.

The Bank has used the provisions of ASC 310,Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, which applies to a loan with evidence of deterioration of credit quality since origination, acquired by completion of a transfer for which it is probable, at acquisition, that the investor will be unable to collect all contractually required payments receivable. ASC 310 prohibits carrying over or creating an allowance for loan losses upon initial recognition for loans which fall under the scope of this standard. As of the Closing Date, the preliminary estimate of the contractually required payments receivable for all ASC 310 loans acquired in the Acquisition were approximately $137.4 million and the estimated fair value of the loans was approximately $73.4 million, net of an accretable discount of approximately $10.4 million, the difference between the value of the loans on our balance sheet and the cash flows they are expected to produce. These amounts were determined based upon the estimated remaining life of the underlying loans, which include the effects of estimated prepayments. As of the Closing Date, a majority of these loans were valued based on the liquidation value of the underlying collateral because the future cash flows are primarily based on the liquidation of underlying collateral. There was no allowance for credit losses established related to these FASB ASC 310 loans as of the Closing Date, based on the provision of this standard.

Pursuant to an AICPA letter dated December 18, 2009, the AICPA summarized the SEC Staff’s view regarding the accounting in subsequent periods for discount accretion associated with loan receivables acquired in a business combination or asset purchase. Regarding the accounting for such loan receivables, in the absence of further standard setting, the AICPA understands that the SEC Staff would not object to an accounting policy based on contractual cash flows (ASC Topic 310-20 approach) or an accounting policy based on expected cash flows (ASC Topic 310-30 approach). As such, the Bank believes analogizing to ASC Topic 310-30 is the more appropriate option to follow in accounting for the credit portion of the fair value discount. By doing so, the non-ASC Topic 310-30 loans are only being accreted up to the value that the acquirer expected to receive at acquisition of the loan.

Other Real Estate Owned (OREO)

Central has approximately $6.2 million in fair value of OREO and foreclosed properties, which includes all real estate, other than bank premises used in bank operations, owned or controlled by Central, including real estate acquired in settlement of loans. Properties are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the Closing Date. Fair values of OREO are determined by sales agreement or appraisal, and costs to sell are based on estimation per the terms and conditions of the sales agreement or terms customary for real estate transactions.

FDIC indemnification asset

These shared-loss assets are measured separately from the related loans and OREO acquired as they are not contractually embedded in the assets and are not transferable with the assets should the Bank choose to dispose of them. Fair value was estimated using projected cash flows related to the shared-loss agreements based on the expected reimbursements for losses and the applicable shared-loss percentages. These expected reimbursements do not include reimbursable amounts related to future covered expenditures.

Other Assets, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities

All other assets, accrued expenses and other liabilities are recorded at Central’s book value which was determined to approximate fair value as of the Closing Date. Other assets include stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) purchased at its fair value totaling approximately $1.1 million.

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Deferred taxes

As a result of the bargain purchase gain on the Acquisition of approximately $20.0 million, the Bank recorded a deferred tax liability, related to the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of the acquired loans and OREO and FDIC indemnification assets of approximately $7.0 million. Deferred taxes are reported based upon the principles in ASC Topic 740,Income Taxes,and are calculated based on the estimated federal and state income tax rates currently in effect for the Bank.

Deposits

The fair values used for the demand and savings deposits that comprise the accounts acquired in the Acquisition equal, by definition, the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair values for time deposits are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered to the interest rates embedded on such time deposits.

Note 4 — Net Assets Acquired

Under the terms of the Agreement, the FDIC agreed to transfer to the Bank (i) certain assets subject to shared-loss agreements at book value, (ii) certain assets that are not subject to the shared-loss agreements at a contractually-specified purchase price, (iii) certain assets at fair value and (iv) certain liabilities at book value.

Details related to the transfers, as of the Closing Date, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

		$xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Net Assets assumed per purchase and assumption agreement	$	2,448
Cash received (paid) to the FDIC to settle the transaction		31,900
Purchase accounting adjustments:
Securities		(350	)
Loans		(57,810	)
OREO		(7,809	)
FDIC indemnification asset		52,654
Other assets		704
Other borrowings		(250	)
Other liabilities		(1,450	)
Net assets acquired	$	20,037

Note 5 — Investment Securities

The table below reflects the type of acquired investment securities and related fair value as of the Closing Date (dollars in thousands):

	Fair Value		Average Yield			Average Maturity
Fixed Agency	$	13,951		1.79	%		14.72
Fixed CMO		19,999		0.97	%		19.77
Fixed MBS		4,500		0.74	%		6.75
Floating CMO		597		2.58	%		13.44
Floating MBS		873		2.04	%		22.50
	$	39,920		1.28	%		16.53

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Note 6 — Loans

The following table presents information regarding the loan portfolio acquired as of the Closing Date at fair value (dollars in thousands):

	Loans with deterioration of credit quality		Loans without a deterioration of credit quality		Total loans, at fair value
Commercial, industrial, agricultural	$	1,256	$	6,288	$	7,544
Real estate – residential		22,389		22,213		44,602
Real estate – commercial & farmland		34,458		10,538		44,996
Construction & development		15,038		5,507		20,545
Consumer		273		6,822		7,095
	$	73,414	$	51,368	$	124,782

The acquired portfolio contained both fixed and variable rate loans. The following table provides information about the portfolio according to loan rate type and at fair value as of the Closing Date (dollars in thousands):

								Fair Value amounts with:
	Fair Value		Effective Yield			Maturity (years)		Fixed Rates		Variable Rates
Commercial, industrial, agricultural	$	7,544		5.58	%		1.46	$	6,858	$	686
Real estate – residential		44,602		6.29	%		4.05		32,639		11,963
Real estate – commercial & farmland		44,996		5.14	%		2.16		30,302		14,694
Construction & development		20,545		6.44	%		2.07		16,689		3,856
Consumer		7,095		7.60	%		2.33		6,944		151
	$	124,782		5.89	%		2.75	$	93,432	$	31,350

A majority of the acquired portfolio shows some deterioration of credit quality; therefore, it is likely that the loan portfolio actual maturity and yields will differ from the contractual amounts shown above.

There are no unused commitments for troubled debt restructurings as of the Closing Date.

Loans are placed on non-accrual status when it has been determined that the full collection of principal and interest is in doubt, typically when the loan becomes 90 days past due. Payments received on non-accrual loans are applied to principal until all past due principal payments have been recovered and then applied to interest. Non-accrual loans may be returned to accrual status once the borrower is current on all past due principal and interest payments and shows the ability to continue to pay under the terms of the borrowing agreement for the foreseeable future. Delinquency is determined based on the contractual terms of the loan agreements.

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The following table presents purchased loans accounted for under ASC Topic 310-30 as of the Closing Date:

February 24, 2012

(dollars in thousands)

		Central
Contractually-required principal and interest	$		137,407
Non-accretable (credit quality) difference			(53,603	)
Cash flows expected to be collected			83,804
Accretable discount			(10,390	)
Fair value of loans accounted for under ASC 310-30	$		73,414

Note 7 — Intangible Assets

In connection with the Acquisition, the fair value of the assets acquired exceeded the consideration paid. Accordingly, no goodwill was recorded as a result of the Acquisition and the Bank recorded a pre-tax bargain purchase gain of approximately $20.0 million. The statement of assets acquired and liabilities assumed reflects a core deposit intangible asset of approximately $1.1 million as of the Closing Date. The core deposit intangible asset will be amortized utilizing the straight line amortization method over an estimated economic life not to exceed five years. The Bank will review the valuation of this intangible asset periodically to ensure that no impairment has occurred. If any impairment is subsequently determined, the Bank will record the impairment as an expense in its consolidated statement of operations.

Note 8 — Deposits

Deposits assumed consist of the following as of the Closing Date:

	February 24, 2012
	Fair Value		Weighted Average Contractual Cost			Weighted Average Effective Cost
	(dollars in thousands)
Non-interest bearing demand deposits	$	53,167		0.00	%		0.00	%
Interest bearing demand deposits		37,562		0.68	%		0.68	%
Savings deposits		8,560		0.25	%		0.25	%
Time deposits		161,747		1.32	%		0.73	%
Total	$	261,036		0.92	%		0.56	%

As of the Closing Date, the scheduled maturities of time deposits with balances of more than $100,000 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

		Central
0 – 3 months	$		30,557
3 – 6 months			18,235
6 – 12 months			31,508
Over one year			35,544
Total	$		115,844

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As of the Closing Date, a portion of the acquired time deposits were concentrated in internet or out-of-market deposit accounts that had no identifiable relationship with the Bank. In accordance with certain guidelines, the Company adjusted the contractual rates of the out-of-market time deposits to levels deemed to be market level rates. Customers whose rates were adjusted had the right to redeem their time deposits without a penalty for early withdrawal (dollars in thousands).

Contractual maturity	Balance		Contractual Cost			Adjusted Cost			Percentage deemed out-of-market
0-3 months	$	40,480		1.41	%		0.39	%		74.0	%
3-6 months		28,313		1.13	%		0.67	%		51.2	%
6-12 months		46,821		1.24	%		0.91	%		46.4	%
1-2 years		42,569		1.38	%		0.88	%		57.4	%
over 2 years		3,564		1.95	%		0.93	%		42.0	%
	$	161,747		1.32	%		0.73	%		56.9	%

Note 9 — Subsequent Events

The Bank has evaluated subsequent events through the time of filing this Current Report on Form 8-K/A. There were no reportable events.

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