Ameris Bancorp and The Prosperity Banking Company today jointly announced that the previously announced merger under which Ameris will acquire Prosperity has received all requisite regulatory approvals.  The shareholders of Prosperity, at a special meeting of shareholders held onNovember 20, 2013, also previously approved the merger.  Ameris and Prosperity expect the merger to be completed on or about December 23, 2013.  

Ameris and Prosperity also announced today that the deadline for Prosperity shareholders to elect the form of consideration that they will receive upon the closing of the merger has been set for 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on December 15, 2013 (the "Election Deadline").  Upon completion of the merger, each share of Prosperity common stock will be converted into the right to receive, at the election of the shareholder, either shares of Ameris common stock or cash, as provided in the merger agreement.  

Elections can be made by mailing a completed form of election (the "Election Statement"), which was previously mailed to each Prosperity shareholder, to Computershare Investor Services, P.O. Box 43011, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3011.  Completed Election Statements may also be delivered by courier to Computershare Investor Services, 250 Royall Street, Suite V, Canton, Massachusetts02021.  All inquiries with respect to the completion of the Election Statement, including requests for additional copies of the Election Statement, may be made directly to Computershare Investor Services at (888) 565-5423.  For shareholders holding shares of Prosperity common stock through a broker, bank, trustee, or other nominee, you should contact your broker, bank, trustee or other nominee for instructions on how to make an election or with questions and inquiries with respect to the completion of the Election Statement.

If a Prosperity shareholder fails to submit an Election Statement that is received by Computershare Investor Services prior to the Election Deadline, or if an Election Statement is improperly completed and/or is not signed, such shareholder will receive shares of Ameris common stock upon completion of the merger.

Ameris Bancorp, the holding company of Ameris Bank, is headquartered in Moultrie, Georgia, and at the end of the most recent quarter had 57 locations in Georgia, Alabama, northern Florida and South Carolina. 

The Prosperity Banking Company, the holding company of Prosperity Bank, is headquartered in St. Augustine, Florida, and at the end of the most recent quarter had 12 banking offices located in St. Johns, Duval, Flagler, Bay, Putnam and Volusia Counties, Florida.