Exhibit 4.5


 


FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


 


THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURE dated as of May 22, 2015, is by and among Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware trust company, as Trustee (herein,
together with its successors in interest, the “Trustee”), Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (the “Successor
Company”), and Merchants & Southern Banks of Florida, Incorporated, a Florida corporation (the “Company”),
under the Indenture referred to below.


 


NOW, THEREFORE,
in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by the parties hereto, the Trustee, the Company and the Successor Company hereby agree as follows:


 


PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS


 


The Trustee and the
Company are parties to that certain Indenture dated as of March 30, 2006 (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Company
issued U.S. $3,093,000 of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2036.


 


As permitted by the
terms of the Indenture, the Company, simultaneously with the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall merge (referred
to herein for purposes of Article XI of the Indenture as the “Merger”) with and into the Successor Company with the
Successor Company as the surviving corporation. The parties hereto are entering into this First Supplemental Indenture pursuant
to, and in accordance with, Articles IX and XI of the Indenture.


 


SECTION 1. Definitions.
All capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Indenture, either directly or by reference therein, shall have the respective
meanings assigned them in the Indenture except as otherwise provided herein or unless the context otherwise requires.


 


SECTION 2. Interpretation.


 


		(a)	In this First Supplemental Indenture, unless a clear contrary intention appears:



 


		(i)	the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;



 


		(ii)	reference to any gender includes the other gender;



 


		(iii)	the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words
of similar import refer to this First Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision;



 


		(iv)	reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable,
only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture, and reference to a Person
in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually, provided that nothing in this clause (iv)
is intended to authorize any assignment not otherwise permitted by this First Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture;



 




    	 



    	 



    

 


		(v)	reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument
as amended, supplemented or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the
terms hereof, as well as any substitution or replacement therefor, and reference to any note includes modifications thereof and
any note issued in extension or renewal thereof or in substitution or replacement therefor;



 


		(vi)	reference to any Section means such Section of this First Supplemental Indenture; and



 


		(vii)	the word “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including
without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term.



 


		(b)	No provision in this First Supplemental Indenture shall be interpreted or construed against any
Person because that Person or its legal representative drafted such provision.



 


SECTION 3. Assumption
of Obligations.


 


		(a)	Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.1 and Section 11.2 of the Indenture,
the Successor Company hereby expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance
of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be kept, performed, or observed by the Company under the Indenture.



 


		(b)	Pursuant to, and in compliance and accordance with, Section 11.2 of the Indenture, the Successor
Company succeeds to and is substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if the Successor Company had originally been named
in the Indenture as the Company.



 


		(c)	The Successor Company also succeeds to and is substituted for the Company with the same effect
as if the Successor Company had originally been named in (i) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated
as of March 30, 2006 (the “Trust Agreement”), as Sponsor (as defined in the Trust Agreement) and (ii) the Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2006 (the “Guarantee”), as Guarantor (as defined in the Guarantee).



 




    	2



    	 



    

 


SECTION 4. Representations
and Warranties. The Successor Company represents and warrants that (a) it has all necessary power and authority to execute
and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture and to perform the Indenture, (b) it is the successor of the Company pursuant to
the Merger effected in accordance with applicable law, (c) it is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia,
(d) both immediately before and after giving effect to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture, no Default or Event of
Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing
and (e) this First Supplemental Indenture is executed and delivered pursuant to Section 9.1 and Article XI of the Indenture and
does not require the consent of the Securityholders.


 


SECTION 5. Conditions
of Effectiveness. This First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of the
Merger; provided, however, that:


 


		(a)	the Trustee shall have executed a counterpart of this First Supplemental Indenture and shall have
received one or more counterparts of this First Supplemental Indenture executed by the Successor Company and the Company;



 


		(b)	the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate stating that (i) this First Supplemental
Indenture complies with the requirements of Article IX of the Indenture; and (ii) in the opinion of the signers, all conditions
precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied
with;



 


		(c)	the Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) all conditions precedent
provided for in the Indenture relating to the Merger and this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; (ii) the Merger
and this First Supplemental Indenture comply with Articles IX and XI of the Indenture; (iii) this First Supplemental Indenture
is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of Article IX of the Indenture; and (iv) it is proper for the Trustee,
under the provisions of Article IX of the Indenture, to join in the execution of this First Supplemental Indenture; and



 


		(d)	the Successor Company and the Company shall have duly executed and filed with the Department of
State of the State of Florida and the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia articles or a certificate of merger in connection
with the Merger.



 


SECTION 6. Reference
to the Indenture.


 


		(a)	Upon the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Indenture to
“this Indenture,” “hereunder,” “herein” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference
to the Indenture, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.



 


		(b)	Upon the effectiveness of this First Supplemental Indenture, each reference in the Debentures to
the Indenture, including each term defined by reference to the Indenture, shall mean and be a reference to the Indenture or such
term, as the case may be, as affected, amended and supplemented hereby.



 




    	3



    	 



    

 


		(c)	The Indenture, as amended and supplemented hereby, shall remain in full force and effect and is
hereby ratified and confirmed.



 


SECTION 7. Execution
in Counterparts. This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
when taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.


 


SECTION 8. Governing
Law; Binding Effect. This First Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.


 


SECTION 9. The
Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency
of this First Supplemental Indenture or the due execution thereof by the Company or the Successor Company. The recitals of fact
contained herein shall be taken as the statements solely of the Company or the Successor Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility
for the correctness thereof.


 


[Signatures on following page.]


 




    	4



    	 



    

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.


 


	 	MERCHANTS & SOUTHERN BANKS OF FLORIDA, INCORPORATED
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ G. T. Mallini
	 	 	G. T. Mallini
	 	 	President
	 	 
	 	AMERIS BANCORP
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
	 	 	Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
	 	 	President and Chief Executive Officer
	 	 
	 	WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Michael H. Wass
	 	 	Michael H. Wass
	 	 	Assistant Vice President


 




    	5