UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 18, 2014

 

 

AMERIS BANCORP

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Georgia		001-13901		58-1456434
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

310 First Street, S.E., Moultrie, Georgia		31768
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (229) 890-1111

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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Item 8.01.

Other Events.

On February 18, 2014, Ameris Bancorp (the “Company”) received the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to redeem the 28,000 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, that remain outstanding. The shares have a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, with dividends currently accruing on such amount at 9% per annum. The shares were originally issued to the U.S. Treasury in November 2008 pursuant to the Troubled Asset Relief Program and were sold by the Treasury to other investors in June 2012 through a registered public offering. The Company intends to effect the redemption of the shares during the first quarter of 2014 in order to minimize the additional dividends payable with respect to the shares prior to their redemption.

 

 

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: February 21, 2014