Ameris BancorpABCB

Ameris Bancorp Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosure

10-KFiled Feb 26, 20262 min read
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The change in the carrying value of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 is summarized below for both the total Company and by the Company's reporting units.
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)20252024
Consolidated
Carrying amount of goodwill at beginning of year$1,015,646 $1,015,646 
Carrying amount of goodwill at end of year$1,015,646 $1,015,646 
Banking
Carrying amount of goodwill at beginning of year$951,148 $951,148 
Carrying amount of goodwill at end of year$951,148 $951,148 
Premium Finance Division
Carrying amount of goodwill at beginning of year$64,498 $64,498 
Carrying amount of goodwill at end of year$64,498 $64,498 

The Company performs its annual impairment test at December 31 of each year and more frequently if a triggering event occurs. Impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value.

At December 31, 2025, the Company performed its annual qualitative assessment and determined that it was more likely than not that the reporting units' fair values exceeded their carrying values.

The carrying value of intangible assets as of December 31, 2025 and 2024 was $54.8 million and $70.8 million, respectively. Intangible assets are comprised of core deposit intangibles, referral relationships intangibles, patent intangibles, trade name intangibles and non-compete agreement intangibles.

The following is a summary of information related to acquired intangible assets:
As of December 31, 2025As of December 31, 2024
(dollars in thousands)
Gross
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Gross
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Amortized intangible assets:
Core deposit premiums$86,454 $72,223 $86,454 $66,093 
Referral relationships88,651 48,638 88,651 39,214 
Trade names2,734 2,406 2,734 2,065 
Patent420 168 420 126 
Non-compete agreements570 570 570 570 
$178,829 $124,005 $178,829 $108,068 

The aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets was approximately $15.9 million, $17.2 million and $18.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):
2026$12,394 
202711,127 
202810,005 
20297,954 
20306,672 
Thereafter6,672 
$54,824 

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 26, 2026Showing above
2024Feb 28, 2025
2023Feb 28, 2024
2022Feb 28, 2023
2021Feb 28, 2022
2020Feb 26, 2021
2019Mar 9, 2020
2018Mar 1, 2019
2017Mar 1, 2018
2016Feb 27, 2017
2015Feb 29, 2016

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.

Other Available Disclosures

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