SC 13G 1 d1057095_13-g.txt SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G (Rule 13d-102) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b)(c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b) (Amendment No._) United Community Banks, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $1 per share ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 90984P105 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) December 11, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [_] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [_] Rule 13d-1(d) The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). CUSIP No. 90984P105 --------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Ronald E. Gutfleish c/o Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) [_] (b) [x] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 4,919,800 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 4,919,800 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,919,800 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.2% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN CUSIP No. 90984P105 --------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) [_] (b) [x] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 4,919,800 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 4,919,800 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,919,800 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.2% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA CUSIP No. 90984P105 --------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a) [_] (b) [x] 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 5. SOLE VOTING POWER 0 6. SHARED VOTING POWER 4,749,029 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 4,749,029 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 4,749,029 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [_] 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.1% 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO CUSIP No. 90984P105 --------------------- Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: United Community Banks, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 125 Highway 515 Blairsville, Georgia 30512 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(a). Name of Persons Filing: Ronald E. Gutfleish Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence: Ronald E. Gutfleish c/o Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 3 West Main Street, 3rd Floor Irvington, NY 10533 Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 3 West Main Street, 3rd Floor Irvington, NY 10533 Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. c/o Goldman Sachs (Cayman) Trust, Limited P.O. Box 896 Harbour Centre, 2nd Floor George Town, Grand Cayman Cayman Islands -------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(c). Citizenship Ronald E. Gutfleish - United States Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC - Delaware limited liability company Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. - Cayman Islands exempted company Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, par value $1 per share -------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 90984P105 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 3. If This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a: (a) [_] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act. (b) [_] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act. (c) [_] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act. (d) [_] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act. (e) [_] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) [_] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [_] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) [_] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (i) [_] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act; (j) [_] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership. Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: Ronald E. Gutfleish 4,919,800 shares Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 4,919,800 shares Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 4,749,029 shares ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Percent of class: Ronald E. Gutfleish 5.2% Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 5.2% Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 5.1% ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote Ronald E. Gutfleish 0 shares Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 0 shares Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 0 shares ---------------------------------------------------------------------, (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote Ronald E. Gutfleish 4,919,800 shares Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 4,919,800 shares Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 4,749,029 shares ---------------------------------------------------------------------, (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of Ronald E. Gutfleish 0 shares Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 0 shares Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 0 shares -------------------------------------------------------------------------------, (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of Ronald E. Gutfleish 4,919,800 shares Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC 4,919,800 shares Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd. 4,749,029 shares -------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities check the following [ ]. N/A ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. N/A ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. If a parent holding company or Control person has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company or control person has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary. N/A ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(c) or ss.240.13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identity of each member of the group. N/A ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5. N/A ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 10. Certifications. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. December 21, 2009 ---------------------------------------- (Date) Ronald E. Gutfleish* /s/ Ronald E. Gutfleish ---------------------------------------- Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC* BY: /s/ Ronald E. Gutfleish ---------------------------------------- Name: Ronald E. Gutfleish Title: Managing Member Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd.* BY: /s/ Ronald E. Gutfleish ---------------------------------------- Name: Ronald E. Gutfleish Title: Portfolio Manager * The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership in the Common Stock, except to the extent of their pecuniary interests therein. Exhibit A AGREEMENT The undersigned agree that this Schedule 13G dated December 21, 2009 relating to the Common Stock of United Community Banks, Inc. shall be filed on behalf of the undersigned. December 21, 2009 ---------------------------------------- (Date) Ronald E. Gutfleish* /s/ Ronald E. Gutfleish ---------------------------------------- Elm Ridge Capital Management, LLC* BY: /s/ Ronald E. Gutfleish ---------------------------------------- Name: Ronald E. Gutfleish Title: Managing Member Elm Ridge Offshore Master Fund, Ltd.* BY: /s/ Ronald E. Gutfleish ---------------------------------------- Name: Ronald E. Gutfleish Title: Portfolio Manager * The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership in the Common Stock, except to the extent of their pecuniary interests therein. SK 03563 0004 1057095