Executive Employment Agreement/Sturm


 Exhibit 10.2 
 EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”), is entered into as of the 31st day of May, 2007, by and between AMERIS BANCORP, a Georgia corporation (“Employer”), and H. RICHARD STURM, an individual resident of the State of South Carolina
(“Executive”). 
 W I T N E S S E T H: 
 WHEREAS, Employer wishes to employ Executive as its Regional Executive for the Western Region of South Carolina, and Executive wishes to serve in such position, on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 WHEREAS, Executive desires to be assured of a secure minimum compensation from Employer for his services over a defined term;

 WHEREAS, Employer desires to assure the continued services of Executive on behalf of Employer on an objective and impartial basis
and without distraction or conflict of interest in the event of an attempt by any person or entity to obtain control of Employer; 
 WHEREAS, Employer desires to provide fair and reasonable benefits to Executive on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and 
 WHEREAS, Employer desires reasonable protection of its confidential business and customer information which it has developed over the years at substantial expense and assurance that Executive will not compete
with Employer for a reasonable period of time after termination of his employment with Employer, except as otherwise provided herein; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises, the mutual covenants and undertakings herein contained, Employer and Executive, each intending to be legally bound, covenant and agree as follows: 
 1. Employment. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Employer employs Executive as its Regional
Executive for the Western Region of South Carolina, and Executive hereby accepts such employment. 
 2. Position and Duties.
Executive agrees to serve as the Regional Executive for the Western Region of South Carolina of Employer as set forth in Section 1 hereof and to perform such duties as may reasonably be assigned to him by the Board of Directors (the
“Board”) or the Chief Executive Officer of Employer; provided, however, that such duties shall be of the same character as those generally associated with the office held by Executive. Employee shall be based, and shall
perform his duties, at Employer’s regional executive office for South Carolina, which will be located in Columbia, South Carolina, and Employer shall not, without the written consent of Executive, relocate or transfer Executive to a location
other than its South Carolina regional executive office. During the Term (as hereinafter defined) of this Agreement, Executive agrees that he will serve Employer faithfully and to the best of his ability and that he will devote his full business
time, attention and skills to Employer’s business; provided, however, that the 







 
foregoing shall not be deemed to restrict Executive from devoting a reasonable amount of time and attention to the management of his personal affairs and
investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with the responsible performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; and provided further, however, that Executive may serve as a director or officer of any charitable,
religious, civic, educational, or trade organizations to the extent that such activities, individually or in the aggregate, do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. 
 3. Term. This Agreement shall commence as of May 31, 2007 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue in effect until
May 31, 2008 (such period, the “Term”); provided, however, that commencing on May 31, 2008, and on each May 31st thereafter, the Term shall automatically be extended for one (1) year unless either the
Company or the Executive shall have given written notice to the other at least ninety (90) days prior thereto that the Term shall not be so extended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be earlier terminated by Employer or
Executive in accordance with the terms of Section 8 hereof; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any notice by Employer not to extend, the Term shall not expire prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months after the
occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in Subsection 23(B) hereof). 
 4. Compensation. 
 (A) Executive shall receive an annual salary of One Hundred Sixty-Five Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($165,000.00) (“Base Compensation”) payable
at regular intervals in accordance with Employer’s normal payroll practices now or hereafter in effect. Employer may consider and declare from time to time increases in the salary it pays Executive and thereby increase the Base Compensation.
Any and all increases in Executive’s salary pursuant to this Section 4(A) shall cause the level of Base Compensation to be increased by the amount of each such increase for purposes of this Agreement. The increased level of Base
Compensation as provided in this Section 4(A) shall become the level of Base Compensation for the remainder of the Term until there is a further increase in Base Compensation as provided herein. 
 (B) In addition to his Base Compensation, Executive shall be awarded, during each calendar year during the Term hereof, an annual bonus (an “Annual
Bonus”) either pursuant to a bonus or incentive plan of Employer or otherwise on terms no less favorable than those awarded to other executive officers of Employer. 
 5. Other Benefits. So long as Executive is employed by Employer pursuant to this Agreement, he shall be included as a participant in all present and future employee benefit, retirement and compensation
plans of Employer generally available to its employees, consistent with his Base Compensation and his position with Employer, including, without limitation, Employer’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, and Executive and his dependents shall be
included in Employer’s hospitalization, major medical, disability and group life insurance plans. Executive acknowledges that, notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, any of Employer’s benefit plans and programs may be
modified from time to time and that Employer is not required to continue any plan or program currently in effect or adopted hereafter; provided, however, that each of the above benefits shall continue in effect on terms no less
favorable than those for other executive officers of Employer (as permitted by law) during the Term hereof. 
  

 2 







 6. Expenses. So long as Executive is employed by Employer pursuant to this Agreement,
Executive shall receive reimbursement from Employer for all reasonable business expenses incurred in the course of his employment by Employer upon proper submission to Employer of written vouchers and statements for reimbursement. In addition,
Employer shall (A) provide to Executive an automobile allowance or an automobile (and pay for all costs associated therewith) during the Term hereof, and (B) reimburse Executive for all mileage driven by Executive in his personal
automobile in connection with his duties hereunder in accordance with Employer’s mileage reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time. Employer shall also use its reasonable best efforts to provide to Executive a country club membership
for business and personal use and shall pay for all initiation fees and monthly dues related thereto for business purposes; provided, however, that, if such membership is not already owned by Executive as of the date hereof, then such
membership shall be and remain the sole property of Employer. 
 7. Vacation. Executive shall be entitled to four
(4) weeks paid vacation during each calendar year of Executive’s employment hereunder. 
 8. Termination. Subject to
the respective continuing obligations of the parties hereto, including, without limitation, those set forth in Subsections 10(A), 10(B), 10(C) and 10(D) hereof, Executive’s employment by Employer hereunder may be terminated prior to the
expiration of the Term hereof as follows: 
 (A) Employer, by action of the Board and upon written notice to Executive, may terminate
Executive’s employment with Employer immediately for cause. For purposes of this Subsection 8(A), “cause” for termination of Executive’s employment shall exist (a) if Executive is convicted of (from which no appeal may be
taken), or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, any act of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement, or any felony, (b) if, in the determination of the Board, Executive has engaged in gross or willful misconduct materially damaging to the
business of Employer (it being understood, however, that neither conduct pursuant to Executive’s exercise of his good faith business judgment nor unintentional physical damage to any property of Employer by Executive shall be a ground for such
a determination by the Board), or (c) if Executive has failed, without reasonable cause, to follow reasonable written instructions of the Board consistent with Executive’s position with Employer and, after written notice from the Board of
such failure, Executive at any time thereafter again so fails. 
 (B) Executive, upon sixty (60) days written notice to Employer, may
terminate his employment with Employer for good reason, unless the grounds for such termination shall have been cured by Employer within thirty (30) days after receipt of Executive’s written notice of termination describing specifically
the particular circumstance he believes constituted grounds for a termination for good reason and requesting cure. For purposes of this Subsection 8(B), “good reason” for termination shall mean a good faith determination by Executive that
any one or more of the following events has occurred, without Executive’s express written consent: 
 (1) after a Change
of Control, a change in Executive’s reporting responsibilities, titles or offices as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, or any removal of Executive from, or any failure to re-elect Executive to, any of 

  

 3 







 
Executive’s positions that he held immediately prior to the Change of Control, which has the effect of diminishing Executive’s responsibility or
authority; 
 (2) after a Change of Control, a reduction by Employer in Executive’s Base Compensation as in effect
immediately prior to the Change of Control or as the same may be increased from time to time or a change in the eligibility requirements or performance criteria under any bonus, incentive or compensation plan, program or arrangement under which
Executive is covered immediately prior to the Change of Control which adversely affects Executive; 
 (3) at the time of a
Change of Control, Employer requires Executive to be based anywhere other than within a fifty (50) mile radius of Employer’s regional executive office in Columbia, South Carolina; 
 (4) after a Change of Control and without replacement by a plan providing benefits to Executive substantially equal to or greater than
those discontinued, the failure by Employer to continue in effect, within its maximum stated term, any pension, bonus, incentive, stock ownership, purchase, option, life insurance, health, accident, disability, or any other employee benefit plan,
program or arrangement in which Executive is participating at the time of the Change of Control, or the taking of any action by Employer after a Change of Control that would adversely affect Executive’s participation or materially reduce
Executive’s benefits under any of such plans; 
 (5) after a Change of Control, the taking of any action by Employer that
would materially adversely affect the physical conditions existing at the time of the Change of Control in or under which Executive performs his employment duties, provided that Employer may take action with respect to such conditions after a
Change of Control so long as such conditions are at least commensurate with the conditions in or under which an officer of Executive’s status would customarily perform his employment duties; or 
 (6) after a Change of Control, a material change in the fundamental business philosophy, direction and precepts of Employer and its
subsidiaries, considered as a whole, as the same existed prior to the Change of Control. 
 Any event described in Subsection 8(B)(1) through (6) hereof
which occurs prior to a Change of Control but which Executive reasonably demonstrates (x) was at the request of a third party who has indicated an intention, or taken steps reasonably calculated, to effect a Change of Control or
(y) otherwise arose in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change of Control which actually occurs, shall constitute good reason for purposes hereof, notwithstanding that it occurred prior to a Change of Control. 
 (C) Executive, upon ninety (90) days written notice to Employer, may terminate his employment with Employer without good reason. 
 (D) Employer, upon ninety (90) days written notice to Executive, may terminate Executive’s employment with Employer without cause. 

 

 4 







 (E) Executive’s employment with Employer shall terminate in the event of Executive’s death or
disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall be defined as Executive’s inability by reason of illness or other physical or mental incapacity to perform the duties required by his employment for any consecutive one
hundred eighty (180) day period. 
 9. Compensation Upon Termination. In the event of termination of Executive’s
employment with Employer pursuant to Section 8 hereof, compensation shall continue to be paid by Employer to Executive as follows: 
 (A) In the event of a termination pursuant to Subsection 8(A) or Subsection 8(C) hereof, compensation provided for herein (including, without limitation, Base Compensation and an Annual Bonus) shall continue to be paid, and Executive shall
continue to participate in the employee benefit, retirement, compensation plans and other perquisites as provided in Section 5 hereof, through and including the Date of Termination (as hereinafter defined) specified in the Notice of Termination
(as hereinafter defined). Any benefits payable under insurance, health, retirement and bonus plans as a result of Executive’s participation in such plans through the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall be paid when
due under such plans. 
 (B) In the event of a termination pursuant to Subsection 8(B) or Subsection 8(D) hereof, compensation provided for
herein (including, without limitation, Base Compensation and an Annual Bonus) shall continue to be paid, and Executive shall continue to participate in the employee benefit, retirement, compensation plans and other perquisites as provided in
Section 5 hereof, through the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination, and any benefits payable under insurance, health, retirement and bonus plans as a result of Executive’s participation in such plans through the Date
of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination shall be paid when due under such plans. In addition, if the event of termination pursuant to Subsection 8(B) hereof occurs within twelve (12) months after the date of a Change of Control,
then, subject to the terms of Section 12 hereof, (1) Executive shall be entitled to continue to receive from Employer for one (1) additional 12-month period his Base Compensation at the rates in effect at the time of termination plus
an Annual Bonus in accordance with the Company’s Incentive Plan as of the date of the event of termination, payable in accordance with Employer’s standard payment practices then existing; (2) Executive shall be entitled to continue to
participate for one (1) additional 12-month period in each employee welfare benefit plan (as such term is defined in the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) in which Executive was entitled to participate immediately
prior to the date of his termination, unless an essentially equivalent and no less favorable benefit is provided by a subsequent employer of Executive, provided that if the terms of any such employee welfare benefit plan or applicable laws do
not permit continued participation by Executive, Employer will arrange to provide to Executive a benefit substantially similar to, and no less favorable than, the benefit he was entitled to receive under such plan at the end of the period of
coverage; and (3) Employer shall contribute the maximum contributions allowable under Employer’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, or any successor plans thereto, for the benefit of Executive. 
 (C) In the event of a termination pursuant to Subsection 8(E) hereof, compensation provided for herein (including, without limitation, Base Compensation
and an Annual Bonus) shall continue to be paid, and Executive shall continue to participate in the employee benefit, 

  

 5 







 
retirement, and compensation plans and other perquisites as provided in Section 5 hereof, (1) in the event of Executive’s death, through the
date of death, or (2) in the event of Executive’s disability, through the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination. Any benefits payable under insurance, health, retirement and bonus plans as a result of Executive’s
participation in such plans through the date of death or the Date of Termination specified in the Notice of Termination, as the case may be, shall be paid when due under those plans. 
 (D) Employer will permit Executive or his personal representative(s) or heirs, during a period of ninety (90) days following the Date of Termination
of Executive’s employment by Employer (as specified in the Notice of Termination) for the reasons set forth in Subsection 8(B) or Subsection 8(D) hereof, to purchase all of the stock of Employer that would be issuable under all outstanding
stock options, if any, previously granted by Employer to Executive under any Employer stock option plan then in effect, whether or not such options are then exercisable, at a cash purchase price equal to the purchase price as set forth in such
outstanding stock options. 
 10. Restrictive Covenants. 
 (A) Executive acknowledges that (1) Employer has separately bargained and paid additional consideration for the restrictive covenants herein; and
(2) Employer will provide certain benefits to Executive hereunder in reliance on such covenants in view of the unique and essential nature of the services Executive will perform on behalf of Employer and the irreparable injury that would befall
Employer should Executive breach such covenants. 
 (B) Executive further acknowledges that his services are of a special, unique and
extraordinary character and that his position with Employer will place him in a position of confidence and trust with employees of Employer and its subsidiaries and affiliates and with Employer’s other constituencies and will allow him access
to trade secrets and confidential information concerning Employer and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 
 (C) Executive further acknowledges
that the type and periods of restrictions imposed by the covenants in this Section 10 are fair and reasonable and that such restrictions will not prevent Executive from earning a livelihood. 
 (D) Having acknowledged the foregoing, Executive covenants and agrees with Employer as follows: 
 (1) For a period of one (1) year after the termination of Executive’s employment by Employer for any reason or for no reason,
Executive shall not divulge or furnish any confidential information of Employer acquired by him while employed by Employer to any person, firm or corporation, other than to Employer or upon its written request, or use any such confidential
information (which shall at all times remain the property of Employer) directly or indirectly for Executive’ own benefit or for the benefit of any person, firm or corporation other than Employer. For purposes hereof, the term “confidential
information” means data and information relating to the Banking Business (as hereinafter defined) which is or has been disclosed to Executive or of which Executive became aware as a consequence of or through Executive’s relationship to
Employer and which has value to Employer and is not generally known to its 

  

 6 







 
competitors. Without limiting the foregoing, “confidential information” shall include: (a) all items of information that could be classified
as a trade secret under the South Carolina Trade Secrets Act; (b) the names, addresses and banking requirements of the customers of Employer or its subsidiaries and the nature and amount of business done with such customers; (c) the names
and addresses of employees and other business contacts of Employer or its subsidiaries; (d) the particular names, methods and procedures utilized by Employer or its subsidiaries in the conduct and advertising of their business;
(e) application, operating system, communication and other computer software and derivatives thereof, including, without limitation, sources and object codes, flow charts, coding sheets, routines, subrouting and related documentation and
manuals of Employer or its subsidiaries; and (f) marketing techniques, purchasing information, pricing policies, loan policies, quoting procedures, financial information, customer data and other materials or information relating to
Employer’s or its subsidiaries’ manner of doing business. Confidential information shall not include any data or information that has been voluntarily disclosed to the public by Employer (except where such public disclosure has been made
by Executive without authorization) or that has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or that otherwise enters the public domain through lawful means. 
 (2) While Executive is employed by Employer and for a period of one (1) year after termination of Executive’s employment
pursuant to Subsection 8(A), 8(C) or 8(E) hereof, Executive shall not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of Employer), on Executive’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, divert or appropriate, or
attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate, directly or by assisting others, any Banking Business from any of the customers of Employer or its subsidiaries, including actively sought prospective customers, with whom Executive has or had material
contact during the last year of Executive’s employment, for purposes of providing products or services that are competitive with those provided by Employer or its subsidiaries. The term “Banking Business” shall mean the business
conducted by Employer and its subsidiaries, which is the business of banking, including the solicitation of time and demand deposits and the making of residential, consumer, commercial and corporate loans. 
 (3) While Executive is employed by Employer and for a period of one (1) year after termination of Executive’s employment
pursuant to Subsection 8(A), 8(C) or 8(E) hereof, Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, as an executive employee or in any other capacity which involves duties and
responsibilities similar to those undertaken for Employer, engage in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the Banking Business within a fifty (50) mile radius of any office or branch of Employer located in the State of
South Carolina. 
 (4) While Executive is employed by Employer and for a period of one (1) year after termination of
Executive’s employment pursuant to Subsection 8(A), 8(C) or 8(E) hereof, Executive will not on Executive’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit, recruit or hire away, or attempt to solicit, recruit or hire away,
directly or by assisting others, any employee of Employer or its subsidiaries, whether or not such 

  

 7 







 
employee is a full-time employee or a temporary employee of Employer or its subsidiaries and whether or not such employment is pursuant to a written
agreement and whether or not such employment is for a determined period or is at will. 
 (5) If Executive’s employment
is terminated pursuant to Subsection 8(A), 8(C) or 8(E) hereof, and Executive subsequently (a) solicits, diverts or appropriates, or attempts to solicit, divert or appropriate, directly or by assisting others, on Executive’s own behalf or
in the service or on behalf of others, any Banking Business from any of the customers of Employer or its subsidiaries, including actively sought prospective customers, with whom Executive has or had material contact during the last year of
Executive’s employment, for purposes of providing products or services that are competitive with those provided by Employer or its subsidiaries, (b) engages, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service or on behalf
of others, as an executive employee or in any other capacity which involves duties and responsibilities similar to those undertaken for Employer, in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the Banking Business within a fifty
(50) mile radius of any office or branch of Employer located in the State of South Carolina, or (c) solicits, recruits or hires away, or attempts to solicit, recruit or hire away, directly or by assisting others, on Executive’s own
behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, any employee of Employer or its subsidiaries, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or a temporary employee of Employer or its subsidiaries and whether or not such employment is
pursuant to written agreement and whether or not such employment is for a determined period or is at will, then, in addition to any other remedies available to Employer hereunder, Employer may immediately terminate and shall not be required to
continue on behalf of the Executive or his dependents and beneficiaries any compensation provided for herein (including, without limitation, Base Compensation and any Annual Bonus) and any employee benefit, retirement and compensation plans and
other prerequisites provided in Section 5 hereof other than those benefits that Employer may be required to maintain for Executive under applicable federal or state law. 
 (6) If Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Subsection 8(B) or Subsection 8(D) hereof, then Executive may thereafter
(a) solicit, divert or appropriate, or attempt to solicit, divert or appropriate, directly or by assisting others, on Executive’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, any Banking Business from any of the customers of
Employer or its subsidiaries, including actively sought prospective customers, with whom Executive has or had material contact during the last year of Executive’s employment, for purposes of providing products or services that are competitive
with those provided by Employer or its subsidiaries, (b) engage, either directly or indirectly, on his own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, as an executive employee or in any other capacity which involves duties and
responsibilities similar to those undertaken for Employer, in any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the Banking Business within a fifty (50) mile radius of any office or branch of Employer located in the State of South
Carolina, or (c) solicit, recruit or hire away, or attempt to solicit, recruit or hire away, directly or by assisting others, on Executive’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, any employee of Employer or its subsidiaries,
whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or a temporary employee of Employer or its subsidiaries and whether or not such employment 

  

 8 







 
is pursuant to a written agreement and whether or not such employment is for a determined period or is at will; provided, however, that if
Executive engages in the activities described in clause (a), (b) or (c) of this Subsection 10(D)(6), then Employer may immediately terminate and shall not be required to continue on behalf of Executive or his dependents and beneficiaries
any compensation provided for herein (including, without limitation, Base Compensation, any Annual Bonus and any payments pursuant to Subsection 9(B) hereof) and any employee benefit, retirement and compensation plans and other perquisites provided
in Section 5 hereof other than those benefits that Employer may be required to maintain for Executive under applicable federal or state law. 
 (7) If Executive’s employment by Employer is terminated for any reason or for no reason, Executive will turn over immediately thereafter to Employer all business correspondence, letters, papers, reports, customer
lists, financial statements, credit reports or other confidential information or documents of Employer in the possession or control of Executive, all of which writings are and will continue to be the sole and exclusive property of Employer.

 (E) Executive acknowledges that irreparable loss and injury would result to Employer upon the breach of any of the covenants contained in
this Section 10 and that damages arising out of such breach would be difficult to ascertain. Executive hereby agrees that, in addition to all other remedies provided at law or in equity, Employer may petition and obtain from a court of law or
equity, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting any bond or other security, both temporary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent a breach by Executive of any covenant contained in this Section 10, and shall be
entitled to an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits arising out of any such breach. In the event that the provisions of this Section 10 should ever be deemed to exceed the time, geographic or any other limitations
permitted by applicable law, then such provisions shall be deemed reformed to the maximum extent permitted thereby. 
 11. Notice of
Termination and Date of Termination. Any termination of Executive’s employment with Employer as contemplated by Section 8 hereof, except in the circumstances of Executive’s death, shall be communicated by written notice of
termination (the “Notice of Termination”) by the terminating party to the other party hereto. Any Notice of Termination given pursuant to Subsections 8(A), 8(B) or 8(E) hereof shall indicate the specific provisions of this Agreement relied
upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for such termination. Any Notice of Termination given pursuant to Subsections 8(C) or 8(D) hereof shall indicate the provision of this Agreement
relied upon, but need not state any basis for such termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of Termination” shall mean: (A) if Executive’s employment is terminated because of disability, thirty (30) days after
Notice of Termination is given (unless Executive shall have returned to the performance of Executive’s duties on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period); or (B) if Executive’s employment is terminated for cause,
good reason (pursuant to Subsection 8(B) hereof) or pursuant to Subsection 8(C) or Subsection 8(D) hereof, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if within thirty (30) days after any such Notice
of Termination is given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally resolved, either by mutual
agreement of the parties or by a final judgment, 

  

 9 







 
order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected). 
 12. Excess Parachute Payments and One Million Dollar Deduction Limit. 
 (A) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if any portion of the payments and benefits provided hereunder and benefits provided to,
or for the benefit of, Executive under any other plan or agreement of Employer (such payments or benefits are collectively referred to as the “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under
Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or would be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to Section 280G of the Code, the Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) if and to the extent
necessary so that no portion of any Payment to be made or benefit to be provided to Executive shall be subject to the Excise Tax or shall be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to Section 280G of the Code (such reduced amount is hereinafter
referred to as the “Limited Payment Amount”). Unless Executive shall have given prior written notice specifying a different order to Employer to effectuate the Limited Payment Amount, Employer shall reduce or eliminate the Payments, by
first reducing or eliminating those payments or benefits which are not payable in cash and then by reducing or eliminating cash payments, in each case in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time
from the Determination (as hereinafter defined). Any notice given by Executive pursuant to the preceding sentence shall take precedence over the provisions of any other plan, arrangement or agreement governing Executive’s rights and
entitlements to any benefits or compensation. 
 (B) An initial determination as to whether the Payments shall be reduced to the Limited
Payment Amount pursuant to the Code and the amount of such Limited Payment Amount shall be made by an accounting firm at Employer’s expense selected by Employer which is designated as one of the four largest accounting firms in the United
States (the “Accounting Firm”). The Accounting Firm shall provide its determination (the “Determination”), together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation to Employer and Executive within thirty (30) days of
the Termination Date, if applicable, and if the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive with respect to a Payment or Payments, it shall furnish Executive with an opinion reasonably acceptable to Executive that no Excise
Tax will be imposed with respect to any such Payment or Payments. Within ten (10) days of the delivery of the Determination to Executive, Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). If there is no
Dispute, the Determination shall be binding, final and conclusive upon Employer and Executive subject to the application of Subsection 12(C) below. 
 (C) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Payments to be made to, or provided for the benefit of, Executive either have been made or will not be made by Employer
which, in either case, will be inconsistent with the limitations provided in Section 12(A) hereof (hereinafter referred to as an “Excess Payment” or “Underpayment”, respectively). If it is established pursuant to a final
determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved that an Excess Payment has been made, such Excess Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to
Executive made on the date Executive received 

  

 10 







 
the Excess Payment, and Executive shall repay the Excess Payment to Employer on demand (but not less than ten (10) days after written notice is received
by Executive), together with interest on the Excess Payment at the “Applicable Federal Rate” (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) from the date of Executive’s receipt of such Excess Payment until the date of such
repayment. In the event that it is determined (1) by the Accounting Firm, Employer (which shall include the position taken by Employer, or together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or the IRS; (2) pursuant to
a determination by a court; or (3) upon the resolution of the Dispute to Executive’s satisfaction, that an Underpayment has occurred, Employer shall pay an amount equal to the Underpayment to Executive within ten (10) days of such
determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at the Applicable Federal Rate from the date such amount would have been paid to Executive until the date of payment. 
 (D) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if any portion of the Payments would be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to
Section 162(m) of the Code, the Payments to be made to Executive in any taxable year of Employer shall be reduced (but not below zero) if and to the extent necessary so that no portion of any Payment to be made or benefit to be provided to
Executive in such taxable year of Employer shall be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code. The amount by which any Payment is reduced pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, together with interest thereon at
the Applicable Federal Rate, shall be paid by Employer to Executive on or before the fifth business day of the immediately succeeding taxable year of Employer, subject to the application of the limitations of the immediately preceding sentence and
this Section 12. Unless Executive shall have given prior written notice specifying a different order to Employer to effectuate this Section 12, Employer shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in any one taxable year of Employer by first
reducing or eliminating those payments or benefits which are not payable in cash and then by reducing or eliminating cash payments, in each case in reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time from the
Section 162(m) Determination (as hereinafter defined). Any notice given by Executive pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall take precedence over the provisions of any other plan, arrangement or agreement governing Executive’s
rights and entitlements to any benefits or compensation. 
 (E) The determination as to whether the Payments shall be reduced pursuant to
Section 12(D) hereof and the amount of the Payments to be made in each taxable year after the application of Section 12(D) hereof shall be made by the Accounting Firm at Employer’s expense. The Accounting Firm shall provide its
determination (the “Section 162(m) Determination”), together with detailed supporting calculations and documentation to Employer and Executive within thirty (30) days of the termination date specified in the Notice of Termination. The
Section 162(m) Determination shall be binding, final and conclusive upon Employer and Executive. 
 13. Payments After
Death. Should Executive die after termination of his employment with Employer while any amounts are payable to him hereunder, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s executors, administrators,
heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees, and all amounts payable hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to Executive’s devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such designee, to his estate.

  

 11 







 14. Full Settlement. The respective obligations of the parties hereto to make payments or
otherwise to perform hereunder shall not be affected by any rights of set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which one party hereto may have against the other party hereto. In no event shall Executive be obligated
to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts which may be payable to Executive by Employer hereunder. 
 15. Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered or mailed by United States registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: 
  

			
	 If to Executive:
	  	H. Richard Sturm
		  	P. O. Box 5835
		  	Columbia, SC 29250
		  	
	 If to Employer:
	  	Ameris Bancorp
		  	24 Second Avenue, S.E.
		  	Moultrie, Georgia 31768
		  	Attention: Chief Executive Officer

 or to such address as either party hereto may have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith,
except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. 
 16. Governing Law. The validity,
interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof. 
 17. Successors. Employer shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all
or substantially all of the business or assets of Employer, by agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and same extent that Employer would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of Employer to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a material, intentional breach of this Agreement and shall entitle Executive to
terminate his employment with Employer for good reason pursuant to Subsection 8(B) hereof. All references to Employer in this Agreement shall include, unless the context otherwise requires, all subsidiaries and controlled affiliates of Employer.

 18. Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver,
modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and Employer. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be
performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior subsequent time. No agreements or representation, oral or otherwise, 

  

 12 







 
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. 

19. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability
of any other provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. 
 20. Counterparts. This Agreement may
be executed (and delivered via facsimile) in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. 
 21. Assignment. This Agreement is personal in nature, and neither party hereto shall, without the prior written consent of the other,
assign or transfer this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as provided in Sections 13 and 17 above. Without limiting the foregoing, Executive’s right to receive compensation hereunder shall not be assignable or
transferable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest or otherwise, other than a transfer by his will or by the laws of descent or distribution as set forth in Section 13 hereof, and in the event of any attempted assignment or
transfer contrary to this Section 21, Employer shall have no liability to pay any amounts so attempted to be assigned or transferred. 
 22. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof. 
 23. Construction; Definition of Change of Control. 
 (A) Whenever the singular number is used in this Agreement and when required by the context, the same shall include the plural and vice versa, and the
masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement
or any of its provisions. All references to Employer in this Agreement shall include, unless the context otherwise requires, all subsidiaries and controlled affiliates of Employer. 
 (B) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control” shall have occurred if: 
 (1) a majority of the directors of Employer shall be persons other than persons: (a) for whose election proxies shall have been
solicited by the Board, or (b) who are then serving as directors appointed by the Board to fill vacancies on the Board caused by death or resignation (but not by removal) or to fill newly-created directorships; 
 (2) twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding voting power of Employer shall have been acquired or beneficially owned (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor rule thereto) by any person (other than Employer, a subsidiary of Employer or Executive) or by any two or more persons acting as a partnership, limited
partnership, syndicate or other group acting 

  

 13 







 
in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of any voting stock of Employer (hereinafter a “Group”), which Group does not include
Executive; or 
 (3) there shall have occurred: 
 (a) a merger or consolidation of Employer with or into another corporation (other than (i) a merger or consolidation with a
subsidiary of Employer or (ii) a merger or consolidation in which (aa) the holders of voting stock of Employer immediately prior to the merger as a class continue to hold immediately after the merger at least a majority of all outstanding
voting power of the surviving or resulting corporation or its parent and (bb) all holders of each outstanding class or series of voting stock of Employer immediately prior to the merger or consolidation have the right to receive substantially the
same cash, securities or other property in exchange for their voting stock of Employer as all other holders of such class or series); 
 (b) a statutory exchange of shares of one or more classes or series of outstanding voting stock of Employer for cash, securities or other property; 
 (c) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of Employer (in one transaction or a series of transactions);
or 
 (d) the liquidation or dissolution of Employer; 
 unless twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the voting stock (or the voting equity interest) of the surviving corporation or the corporation or other entity acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of
Employer (in the case of a merger, consolidation or disposition of assets) or of Employer or its resulting parent corporation (in the case of a statutory share exchange) is beneficially owned by the Executive or a Group that includes the Executive.

 24. Compliance with Code Section 409A. To the extent compliance with the requirements of Treas. Reg. §
1.409A-3(i)(2) or any successor provision is necessary, as determined by Employer, to ensure that no additional tax is imposed under Section 409A of the Code on any amount or benefit due to Executive upon or following Executive’s
separation from service, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any such amount or benefit that is otherwise payable or distributable to Executive within six (6) months following Executive’s separation
from service will be accumulated and paid or distributed to Executive without interest immediately following the six-month anniversary of Executive’s separation from service (or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death with respect to
amounts or benefits then accumulated, with subsequent amounts or benefits to be paid or distributed as scheduled). 
 25.
Representations and Warranties of Employer. Employer hereby represents and warrants to Executive that: (i) this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Board, executed and delivered by Employer, and constitutes the valid and
binding agreement of Employer, enforceable against Employer in accordance with its terms; and (ii) Employer has the full power authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and has taken all necessary action to secure all approvals
required in connection herewith. 
  

 14 







 26. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or
the breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in Moultrie, Georgia in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. The decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding as to any
matter submitted to them under this Agreement, and judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. 
 27. Attorneys’ Fees. If there is any legal action, arbitration or proceeding between Executive and the Employer arising from or based on this Agreement or the interpretation or enforcement of any
provisions hereof, then the unsuccessful party to such action, arbitration or proceeding shall pay to the prevailing party all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by such prevailing party in
such action, arbitration or proceeding, in any appeal in connection therewith and in any action or proceeding taken to enforce any judgment or order so obtained by the prevailing party. If such prevailing party recovers a judgment in any such
action, arbitration, proceeding or appeal, then such costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees shall be included in and as a part of such judgment. 
 [Signatures next page] 
  

 15 







 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has executed, sealed and delivered this Agreement, and Employer has
caused this Agreement to be executed, sealed and delivered, all as of the day and year first above set forth. 
  

			
	AMERIS BANCORP
		
	By:	 	/s/ Edwin W. Hortman, Jr.
		 	Edwin W. Hortman, Jr., President and
		 	Chief Executive Officer


 [Corporate Seal] 
  
  

			
		
	Attest:	 	/s/ Cindi H. Lewis
		 	Cindi H. Lewis, Corporate Secretary

  
  

			
		
	/s/ H. Richard Sturm	 	(SEAL)
	H. Richard Sturm	 	


  

 16