Exhibit 4.1


 





REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


 


This REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 31, 2018, is entered into by and among Ameris Bancorp,
a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), William J. Villari, an individual resident of the State of Georgia (“Villari”),
and The Villari Family Gift Trust (the “Trust” and, together with Villari, “Purchasers” and
each a “Purchaser”).


 


WHEREAS:


 


A.       In
connection with that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 25, 2018, among the Company and Purchasers (collectively,
the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Stock Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to Purchasers an aggregate of 830,301 shares (the “Purchaser Shares”)
of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common Stock”).


 


B.        Pursuant
to the Stock Purchase Agreement, 177,934 of the Purchaser Shares shall be issued to the Trust, and 652,367 of the Purchaser Shares
shall be issued to Villari.


 


C.       The
Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Purchaser Shares under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the “Securities Act”), as set forth in this Agreement.


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser hereby agree as follows:


 


1. Definitions.


 


For purposes of this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified:


 


“Business
Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized
or required by law to remain closed.


 


“Filing Deadline”
means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), forty-five (45) days following
the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Filing Deadline falls on a day other than a Business Day,
then the Filing Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day.


 


“Holder”
means any Person owning or having the right to acquire Registrable Securities, including initially each Purchaser and thereafter
any permitted assignee thereof.


 


“Other Shareholders”
shall mean Persons who, by virtue of agreements with the Company other than this Agreement, are entitled to include their securities
in certain registrations hereunder.


 


“Person”
means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization,
any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.


 






    	 	 	 



     


    

 


“Registrable
Securities” means the Purchaser Shares, and any shares of capital stock issued or issuable from time to time (with any
adjustments) in replacement of, in exchange for or otherwise in respect of the Purchaser Shares.


 


“Registration
Statement” means a registration statement or statements prepared in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act (“Rule 415”) or any successor rule providing for the offering of securities
on a continuous or delayed basis.


 


“Rule 144”
means Rule 144 as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
successor rule that may be promulgated by the SEC.


 


“SEC”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 


“SEC Guidance”
means: (i) any publicly available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the staff of the SEC; and (ii)
the Securities Act.


 


2. Registration.


 


(a)              
Filing of Registration Statement. On or before the Filing Deadline, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC
a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or any successor form) as a “shelf” registration statement under Rule 415 covering
the resale of all of the Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement.


 


(b)              
Alternative Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 2(a), if on the date the Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 2(a) is filed with the SEC, the Company does not meet the eligibility requirements for filing a Registration
Statement on Form S-3, then in such case the Company shall instead prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (or any successor form) covering the resale of the Registrable Securities as otherwise contemplated by Section 2(a).


 


(c)              
Effectiveness. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective upon,
or as soon as practicable after, filing. The Company shall use its best efforts to: (i) respond promptly to any and all comments
made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the Registration Statement; and (ii) submit promptly to the SEC after the Company
learns that no review of the Registration Statement will be made by the staff of the SEC, or that the staff of the SEC has no further
comments on the Registration Statement, as the case may be, a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement to a time and date not later than two (2) Business Days after the submission of such request. The Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement until the earliest
to occur of: (A) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities eligible for resale thereunder have been publicly sold pursuant
to either the Registration Statement or Rule 144; (B) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities remaining to be sold
under such Registration Statement (in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company) may be immediately sold to the public under
Rule 144 without volume limitations; and (C) the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the date hereof (the period beginning
on the date hereof and ending on the earliest to occur of (A), (B) or (C) above being referred to herein as the “Registration
Period”).


 






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(d)              
Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement
and each increase in the number thereof included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders based on the aggregate
number of Registrable Securities issuable to each Holder at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial number of
Registrable Securities or increase thereof becomes effective or is declared effective by the SEC. In the event that a Holder sells
or otherwise transfers any of such Holder’s Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated such transferred Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement.


 


(e)              
Registration of Other Securities. The Company may include any securities held by Other Shareholders on any Registration
Statement filed by the Company on behalf of the Holders.


 


(f)               
Additional Registrations. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in Section 2(a) and Section 2(b),
in the event the SEC informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule
415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly: (i) inform
each of the Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the initial Registration Statement
as required by the SEC; or (ii) withdraw the Registration Statement and file a new registration statement, in either case covering
the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the SEC, on Form S-3 or such other form available to
the Company to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior
to filing such amendment or new Registration Statement, the Company shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities or other
shares of Common Stock permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding
that the Company used commercial reasonable efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all or a greater number of
Registrable Securities), the number of Registrable Securities or other shares of Common Stock to be registered on such Registration
Statement will be reduced on a pro rata basis (and the Company shall file a new registration statement to cover the remaining
Registrable Securities in a manner consistent with the other terms of this Agreement). If the Company amends the initial Registration
Statement or files a new Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 2(f) or under the
immediately preceding sentence, then the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as allowed by SEC
or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form
S-3 or such other form available to the Company to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for
resale on the initial Registration Statement, as amended, or the new Registration Statement.


 






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3. Obligations
of the Company.


 


In the case of a Registration
Statement effected by the Company pursuant to Section 2, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to:


 


(a)              
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the prospectus used in
connection with such Registration Statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act or to maintain
the effectiveness of such Registration Statement during the Registration Period, or as may be reasonably requested by a Holder
in order to incorporate information concerning such Holder or such Holder’s intended method of distribution;


 


(b)              
so long as a Registration Statement is effective covering the resale of the applicable Registrable Securities owned by a
Holder, furnish to each Holder such number of copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, including a preliminary
prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably request;


 


(c)              
notify each Holder immediately after becoming aware of the occurrence of any event (but shall not, without the prior written
consent of such Holder, disclose to such Holder any facts or circumstances constituting material non-public information) as a result
of which the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, contains an untrue statement of material fact
or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light
of the circumstances then existing, and as promptly as practicable prepare and file with the SEC and furnish to each Holder a copy
of a supplement or an amendment to such prospectus as may be necessary so that such prospectus does not contain an untrue statement
of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;


 


(d)              
prevent the issuance of any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement; and,
if any such stop order is issued, notify each Holder promptly thereof and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain
the release of the suspension of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement;


 


(e)              
notify each Holder promptly after the date that such Registration Statement, or any successor registration statement, becomes
effective of such effectiveness;


 


(f)               
permit each Holder to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (and any prospectuses
related thereto) within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof with the SEC; and


 






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(g)               
promptly
cause all Registrable Securities of each Holder (x) to be listed on each securities exchange on which outstanding securities of
the Company of the same class or series as such Registrable Securities are then listed, and (y) to be issued in book-entry form,
without restrictive legends, upon such Holder’s presentation of each share certificate representing such Registrable Securities
to the Company’s transfer agent and registrar, so that the shares can be traded without restriction, including by the Company
causing the Company’s outside counsel to provide to the Company’s transfer agent and registrar (with a copy to such
Holder) such customary legal opinions as required by such transfer agent and registrar in connection with issuing such Registrable
Shares in book-entry form, which opinions shall be so provided within ten (10) days after such Holder’s delivery to such
outside counsel of a customary shareholder representation letter necessary for the delivery of such legal opinions (which letter,
in the case of each Purchaser, is substantially in the form of letter provided by Villari in connection with such Purchaser’s
previous acquisition of shares from the Company).


 


4. Obligations of Each Holder.


 


In connection with
the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, each Holder shall:


 


(a)              
timely furnish to the Company: (i) a completed shareholder questionnaire in such form as shall be reasonably requested by
the Company; and (ii) such information in writing regarding itself and the intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities
as the Company shall reasonably request in order to effect the registration thereof;


 


(b)              
upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(c) or 3(d),
immediately discontinue any sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until
the filing of an amendment or supplement as described in Section 3(c), or withdrawal of the stop order referred to in Section 3(d),
and use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of such notice and its contents;


 


(c)              
to the extent required by applicable law, deliver a prospectus to the purchaser of such Registrable Securities;


 


(d)              
notify the Company when it has sold all of the Registrable Securities held by it; and


 


(e)              
notify the Company in the event that any information supplied by such Holder in writing for inclusion in such Registration
Statement or related prospectus is untrue or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
such information not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing; immediately discontinue any sale or other disposition
of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until the filing of an amendment or supplement to such prospectus
as may be necessary so that such prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
and use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company as may be appropriate to make such amendment or supplement effective
for such purpose.


 






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5. Indemnification.


 


In the event that any
Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:


 


(a)              
To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, employees,
agents and representatives of such Holder, and each Person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (whether joint or several) (collectively, including reasonable legal expenses
or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same, “Losses”), insofar
as any such Losses (or any actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in such Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered,
including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; or (ii) the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), the
Company will reimburse such Holder, and each such officer, director, employee, agent, representative or controlling Person, for
any reasonable legal expenses or other out-of-pocket expenses as reasonably incurred by any such Person in connection with investigating
or defending any Loss; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any Loss if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), nor shall the Company be obligated to indemnify any Person for any Loss to the extent that such Loss arises out of or
is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading that was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Person expressly for use in such Registration Statement or (B)
a failure of such Person to deliver or cause to be delivered the final prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and made
available by the Company, if such delivery is required by applicable law.


 


(b)              
To the extent permitted by law, each Holder who is named in such Registration Statement as a selling shareholder, acting
severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives
of the Company, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
against any Losses to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make statements therein not misleading that was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by
such Person expressly for use in such Registration Statement; or (ii) a failure of such Holder to deliver or cause to be delivered
the final prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and made available by the Company, if such delivery is required under
applicable law. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), such Holder will reimburse the Company and any such officer, director,
employee, agent, representative, or controlling Person for any reasonable legal expenses or other out-of-pocket expenses as reasonably
incurred by any such Person, in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss; provided, however,
that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such Loss if such settlement is effected without
the consent of such Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).


 






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(c)              
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action (including
any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party
under this Section 5, promptly deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying
party shall have the right to participate in and to assume the defense thereof with counsel selected by the indemnifying party
and reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party. With regard to such an action which the indemnifying party elects to defend
or compromise, the indemnified party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost and expense (except that the indemnifying
party will be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of the separate co-counsel in the event that the counsel selected
by the indemnifying party cannot independently represent both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party due to a conflict
of interest or is not, in the indemnified party’s reasonable determination, adequately representing the indemnified party).
If the indemnifying party fails to provide notice that the indemnifying party is assuming the defense of the action, the indemnified
party (at the indemnifying party’s expense) may defend against, or enter into any compromise with respect to, the matter
in any manner it reasonably may deem appropriate. The party controlling the defense of any action shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to the other party or parties copies of all correspondence, pleadings, motions, briefs, appeals or other written statements
relating to or submitted in connection with the defense of such action and timely notices of and the right to participate (as an
observer) in any proceeding relating to such action. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable
time of the delivery of notice of any such action, to the extent materially prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall
relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 5 with respect to such action, but
the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any
indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 5 or with respect to any other action unless the indemnifying party is materially
prejudiced with respect to such other action as a result of not receiving such notice.


 


(d)              
In the event that the indemnity provided in Sections 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party for any reason, the Company and each Holder agree, severally and not jointly, to contribute to the aggregate Losses to which
the Company or such Holder may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and
such Holder in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by
reference to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the Company or by such Holder.
The Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation
or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this Section 5, each Person who controls a Holder within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each
officer, director, employee, agent or representative of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder,
and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer,
director, employee, agent or representative of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in
each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this Section 5(d).


 






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(e)              
The obligations of the Company and each Holder under this Section 5 shall survive the completion of any offering or
sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement under this Agreement, or otherwise.


 


6. Reports.


 


With a view to making
available to each Holder the benefits of Rule 144 and any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit
such Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable
efforts to:


 


(a)              
make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;


 


(b)              
file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and


 


(c)              
furnish to such Holder, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Securities, promptly upon written request (i) a written
statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and the Exchange Act; (ii)
to the extent not publicly available through the SEC’s EDGAR database, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report
of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the SEC; and (iii) such other information as may
be reasonably requested by such Holder in connection with such Holder’s compliance with any rule or regulation of the SEC
which permits the selling of any such securities without registration.


 


7. Miscellaneous.


 


(a)              
Expenses of Registration. All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and
expenses of counsel and other advisors to each Holder, incurred in connection with the registrations, filings or qualifications
described herein, including (without limitation) all registration, filing and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting
fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be borne by the Company.


 


(b)              
Amendment; Waiver. Except as expressly provided herein, neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended
or waived except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities then outstanding. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section shall be binding upon each Holder,
each future Holder and the Company. The failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise,
or the delay by any party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.


 






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(c)              
Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice,
request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given: (i) when delivered personally to the recipient;
(ii) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid); (iii) when
sent to the recipient by confirmed facsimile or email transmission; or (iv) five (5) Business Days after being mailed to the recipient
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, and in each case addressed to the appropriate address
indicated below (or provided by such Holder pursuant to Section 7(d)), or such other address as may be given in a notice sent by
a party to any other party in accordance with this Section 7(c).


 


In the case of the Company:


 


Ameris Bancorp


1301 Riverplace Boulevard


Suite 2600


Jacksonville, Florida 32207


Attn: Dennis J. Zember Jr.


Facsimile: (229) 890-2235


Email: dennis.zember@amerisbank.com


 


In the case of Villari or the
Trust:


 


Mr. William J. Villari


2065 East Lake Road


Atlanta, Georgia 30307


Email: wvillari@gmail.com


 


(d)              
Assignment. Upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities by a Holder, the rights of such Holder hereunder with
respect to such securities so transferred shall be assigned automatically to the transferee thereof, and such transferee shall
thereupon be deemed to be a “Holder” for purposes of this Agreement, provided that: (i) the Company is, within
a reasonable period of time following such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee;
(ii) the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions hereof; and (iii) such transfer is
made in accordance with the applicable requirements of all applicable state and federal securities laws.


 


(e)              
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all
of which together shall be deemed one and the same instrument. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to any
other party hereto by facsimile or other electronic transmission.


 


(f)               
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within the State of Georgia.


 


(g)              
Holder of Record. A Person is deemed to be a Holder whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect
to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the
record owner of such Registrable Securities.


 






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(h)              
Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Stock Purchase Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings,
other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the Stock Purchase Agreement supersede all prior
agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.


 


(i)                
Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect
the meaning hereof.


 


(j)                
Successors, Assigns and Transferees. No right, duty or obligation hereunder may be assigned, transferred, delegated
or sublicensed by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, except as otherwise provided in Section
7(d). The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of the Holders. Any
transfer or assignment made other than as provided in the first sentence of this Section 7(j) shall be null and void.


 


(k)       Equitable
Remedies. Each party hereto acknowledges that the other parties hereto would be irreparably damaged in the event of a breach
or threatened breach by such party of any of its obligations under this Agreement and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach
or a threatened breach by such party of any such obligations, each other party hereto shall, in addition to any and all other rights
and remedies that may be available to them in respect of such breach, be entitled to an injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction
(without any requirement to post bond) granting such parties specific performance by such party of its obligations under this Agreement.
In any action or arbitration proceeding brought by any party hereto to enforce the rights and obligations of the parties set forth
in this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be awarded its reasonable costs in bringing, prosecuting or defending such action
or proceeding (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in addition to any award granted by the court or arbitrator.


 


(l)       Arbitration.
Notwithstanding any reference in this Agreement to an arbitrator or arbitration proceeding, no party hereto shall be deemed to
have agreed to enter into or participate or be bound by any arbitration unless such party separately and specifically so agrees
in writing.


 


[Signature page follows.]


  




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the undersigned have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first-above written.


 


	 	“Company”
	 	 	 
	 	AMERIS BANCORP, a Georgia corporation
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Dennis J. Zember Jr.
	 	Name:  	Dennis J. Zember Jr.
	 	Title:	EVP & COO
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	“Purchasers”
	 	 	 
	 	WILLIAM J. VILLARI, an individual resident of the State of Georgia
	 	 	 
	 	Sign:	/s/ William J. Villari
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	THE VILLARI FAMILY GIFT TRUST, a trust organized under the laws of the State of Georgia
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ William J. Villari
	 	Name:  	William J. Villari
	 	Title:  	Member