Document:

Exhibit 4.1

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of January 18, 2017, is entered into by and between Ameris
Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and William J. Villari, an individual resident of the State
of Georgia (“Purchaser”).

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.           In
connection with that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of December 15, 2016 between the Company and Purchaser (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 Purchaser one hundred twenty-eight thousand, five hundred seventy-two (128,572)
shares (the “Purchaser Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Common
Stock”).

 

B.           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 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 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”).

 

    	 	2	 

     

    

 

(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.

 

    	 	3	 

     

    

 

		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

 

(g)          promptly
cause all Registrable Securities 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.

 

    	 	4	 

     

    

 

		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.

 

		5.	Indemnification.

 

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

 

    	 	5	 

     

    

 

(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).

 

    	 	6	 

     

    

 

(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).

 

(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:

 

    	 	7	 

     

    

 

(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.

 

(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 the other party in accordance with this Section 7(c).

 

    	 	8	 

     

    

 

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

 

with a copy (which shall not
constitute notice to the Company) to:

 

Rogers & Hardin LLP

2700 International Tower

229 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Attn: Jody L. Spencer

Facsimile: (404) 230-0972

Email: jspencer@rh-law.com

 

In the case of Purchaser:

Mr. William J. Villari

2065 East Lake Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30307

Email: wvillari@gmail.com

 

with a copy (which shall not
constitute notice to Purchaser) to:

Vedder Price P.C.

222 North LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Attn: Marc L. Klyman, Esq.

Facsimile: (312) 609-5005

Email: mklyman@vedderprice.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.

 

    	 	9	 

     

    

 

(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.

 

(h)          Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the Stock Purchase Agreement constitute the entire agreement between 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 party, 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 party 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.]

 

    	 	10	 

     

    

 

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, CFO & COO
	 	 
	 	“Purchaser”
	 	 	 
	 	WILLIAM J. VILLARI, an individual resident of the State of Georgia
	 	 	 
	 	Sign:	/s/ William J. VillariExhibit 10.1

 

ShAreholders
Agreement

 

among

 

US PREMIUM
FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY

 

and

 

the Shareholders
named herein

 

dated as of

 

January 18, 2017

 

     

     

    

 

TABLE OF
CONTENTS

 

	ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS	1
	 	 
	ARTICLE II MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE COMPANY	6
	 	 
	Section 2.01 Board of Directors	6
	 	 
	Section 2.02 Meetings of the Board of Directors	7
	 	 
	Section 2.03 Voting Arrangements	8
	 	 
	ARTICLE III TRANSFER OF INTERESTS	9
	 	 
	Section 3.01 General Restrictions on Transfer	9
	 	 
	Section 3.02 Drag-along Rights	10
	 	 
	Section 3.03 Tag-along Rights	12
	 	 
	Section 3.04 Ameris Purchase of Villari Shares	14
	 	 
	ARTICLE IV PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS	16
	 	 
	Section 4.01 Preemptive Right	16
	 	 
	ARTICLE V INFORMATION RIGHTS	18
	 	 
	Section 5.01 Financial Statements	18
	 	 
	Section 5.02 Inspection Rights	18
	 	 
	ARTICLE VI TERM AND TERMINATION	19
	 	 
	Section 6.01 Termination	19
	 	 
	Section 6.02 Effect of Termination	19
	 	 
	ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS	19
	 	 
	Section 7.01 Expenses	19
	 	 
	Section 7.02 Release of Liability	19
	 	 
	Section 7.03 Notices	20
	 	 
	Section 7.04 Interpretation	21
	 	 
	Section 7.05 Headings	21
	 	 
	Section 7.06 Severability	22
	 	 
	Section 7.07 Entire Agreement	22
	 	 
	Section 7.08 Successors and Assigns	22
	 	 
	Section 7.09 No Third-party Beneficiaries	22

 

    i 

     

    

 

	Section 7.10 Amendment and Modification; Waiver	22
	 	 
	Section 7.11 Governing Law	22
	 	 
	Section 7.12 Equitable Remedies	23
	 	 
	Section 7.13 Counterparts	23
	 	 
	Section 7.14 Arbitration	23
	 	 
	Section 7.15 Confidentiality	23

 

    ii 

     

    

 

Shareholders
Agreement

 

This Shareholders Agreement
(this “Agreement”), dated as of January 18, 2017, is entered into among US Premium Finance Holding Company,
a Florida corporation (the “Company”), William J. Villari, an individual resident of the State of Georgia (“Villari”),
Ameris Bancorp, a Georgia corporation (“Ameris” and, together with Villari, the “Division Shareholders”),
and The Villari Family Gift Trust (such Person, collectively with the Division Shareholders, the “Shareholders”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, as of the
date hereof, the outstanding Common Stock is owned by the Shareholders as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated
herein by this reference; and

 

WHEREAS, the Shareholders
deem it in their best interests and in the best interests of the Company to set forth in this Agreement their respective rights
and obligations in connection with their investment in the Company;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Article
I

Definitions

 

Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in this Article I.

 

“ABCB Stock”
means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Ameris.

 

“Affiliate” means
with respect to any Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly (including through one or more intermediaries), controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used
with respect to any specified Person, shall mean the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract
or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have correlative meanings.

 

“Agreement” has
the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Ameris” has
the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Ameris Director” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Applicable
Law” means all applicable provisions of (a) constitutions, treaties, statutes, laws (including the common law),
rules, regulations, decrees, ordinances, codes, proclamations, declarations or orders of any Governmental Authority, (b) any consents
or approvals of any Governmental Authority and (c) any orders, decisions, advisory or interpretative opinions, injunctions, judgments,
awards, decrees of, or agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

 

     

     

    

 

“Asset Transfer”
means with respect to an entity (or portion thereof), a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
assets of such entity (or portion thereof).

 

“Average ABCB
Stock Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

 

“Board” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Business” means
the business of soliciting, originating, servicing, administering and collecting: (i) loans made for purposes of funding insurance
premiums; and (ii) other loans made to Persons engaged in the insurance business.

 

“Business
Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia are authorized
or required to close.

 

“Bylaws” means
the bylaws of the Company, as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

 

“Certificate
of Incorporation” means the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as filed with the Department of State of
the State of Florida and as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

 

“Change of
Control” means any transaction or series of related transactions (as a result of a tender offer, merger, consolidation
or otherwise) that results in, or that is in connection with, (a) any Third-Party Purchaser or “group” (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of Third-Party Purchasers acquiring beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly,
of a majority of the then issued and outstanding Common Stock or (b) the sale, lease, exchange, conveyance, transfer or other disposition
(for cash, shares of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company
and its subsidiaries (if any), on a consolidated basis, to any Third-Party Purchaser or “group” (within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of Third-Party Purchasers (including any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
affairs of the Company, or any other distribution made, in connection therewith).

 

“Common Stock” means,
collectively, the Voting Common Stock and the Non-Voting Common Stock; provided, however, that if the context otherwise
requires, or as necessary for consistency of reference or application under the circumstances, “Common Stock” may refer
to either of the Voting Common Stock or the Non-Voting Common Stock.

 

“Company” has
the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Designated
Ameris Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Prior Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

“Director” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

    	 	2	 

     

    

 

“Division”
has the meaning set forth in the Management Agreement.

 

“Division
Shareholders” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Drag-Along
Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).

 

“Drag-Along
Sale” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

 

“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect at the time.

 

“Excluded
Securities” means any Common Stock or other equity securities issued in connection with: (a) a grant to any existing
or prospective consultants, employees, officers or Directors pursuant to any stock option, employee stock purchase or similar equity-based
plans or other compensation agreement; (b) the exercise or conversion of options to purchase shares of Common Stock, or shares
of Common Stock issued to any existing or prospective consultants, employees, officers or Directors pursuant to any stock option,
employee stock purchase or similar equity-based plans or any other compensation agreement; (c) any acquisition by the Company of
the stock, assets, properties or business of any Person; (d) any merger, consolidation or other business combination involving
the Company; (e) the commencement of any Initial Public Offering or any transaction or series of related transactions involving
a Change of Control; (f) a stock split, stock dividend or any similar recapitalization; or (g) any issuance of Financing Equity
where such Financing Equity, together with all then outstanding Financing Equity, is not equal to, and is not convertible into,
an aggregate of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Stock on a fully diluted basis at the time of the issuance
of such Financing Equity, in each case, approved in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

“Exercise
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(c).

 

“Exercising
Shareholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(d).

 

“Financing
Equity” means any Common Stock, warrants or other similar rights to purchase Common Stock issued to lenders or other
institutional investors (excluding the Shareholders) in any arm’s length transaction providing debt financing to the Company.

 

“Fiscal Year” means
for financial accounting purposes, January 1 to December 31.

 

“Fundamental
Matter” means any of the actions specified in Section 2.03(b)(i), Section 2.03(h) or Section 2.03(i).

 

“GAAP” means
United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.

 

“Government
Approval” means any authorization, consent, approval, waiver, exception, variance, order, exemption, publication,
filing, declaration, concession, grant, franchise, agreement, permission, permit, or license of, from or with any Governmental
Authority, the giving notice to, or registration with, any Governmental Authority or any other action in respect of any Governmental
Authority.

 

    	 	3	 

     

    

 

“Governmental
Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency
or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory
authority or quasi-governmental authority (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority
have the force of law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

“Information” has
the meaning set forth in Section 7.15(a).

 

“Initial Public
Offering” means any offering of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the Securities
Act.

 

“Issuance
Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b).

 

“Lien” means
any lien, claim, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, option, preferential arrangement, right of first offer, encumbrance
or other restriction or limitation of any nature whatsoever.

 

“Management
Agreement” means that certain Management and License Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2016, by and among Villari,
the Company and Ameris Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Ameris.

 

“New Ameris
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

 

“New Securities” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(a).

 

“Non-Exercising
Shareholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(d).

 

“Non-Voting
Common Stock” means the non-voting common stock, no par value per share, of the Company and any securities issued by
the Company in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any
reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or similar reorganization.

 

“Organizational
Documents” means the Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

“Over-Allotment
Exercise Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(d).

 

“Over-Allotment
New Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(d).

 

“Over-Allotment
Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(d).

 

    	 	4	 

     

    

 

“Permitted
Transferee” means with respect to any Shareholder, (i) any Affiliate of such Shareholder, (ii) such Shareholder’s
spouse, parents, siblings and descendants (by blood or adoption), and the spouse, parents, siblings and descendants (by blood or
adoption) of such spouses, parents, siblings and descendants (by blood or adoption), and any family partnership, trust or other
entity where any one or more of such Persons described in the immediately preceding clause (i) or this clause (ii) are the sole
beneficial owners or beneficiaries, or (iii) upon the death of any Shareholder, such Shareholder’s estate, administrator
or executor, provided that under the terms of such Shareholder’s will or under the applicable laws of intestate succession,
such Shareholder’s Common Stock is to be Transferred solely to one or more Permitted Transferees as otherwise defined herein.

 

“Person” means
an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization,
trust, association or other entity.

 

“Preemptive
Pro Rata Portion” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(c).

 

“Preemptive
Shareholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(a).

 

“Prior Registration
Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2017, by and between Villari
and Ameris.

 

“Prior Stock
Purchase Agreement” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2016, by and between Villari
and Ameris, relating to the purchase of shares of Common Stock by Ameris from Villari.

 

“Proposed
Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a).

 

“Representative” means,
with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and
other agents of such Person.

 

“Sale Notice” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).

 

“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, which shall be in effect at the time.

 

“Shareholders” has
the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Supermajority
Approval” means, with respect to any matter that must be approved by the Board, (a) the affirmative vote at a meeting
of the Board of at least eighty percent (80%) of the Directors or (b) the unanimous written consent of the entire Board in lieu
of a meeting.

 

“Tag-Along
Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(c).

 

“Tag-Along
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(c).

 

“Tag-Along
Sale” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a).

 

“Third-Party
Purchaser” means any Person who, immediately prior to the contemplated transaction, (a) does not directly or indirectly
own or have the right to acquire any outstanding Common Stock or (b) is not a Permitted Transferee of any Person who directly or
indirectly owns or has the right to acquire any Common Stock.

 

    	 	5	 

     

    

 

“Transfer” means
to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or
involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, any Common Stock owned by a Person or any interest (including
a beneficial interest) in any Common Stock owned by a Person.

 

“Villari” has
the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Villari Director” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Villari Shares” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

 

“Voting Common
Stock” means the voting common stock, no par value per share, of the Company and any securities issued by the Company
in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or similar reorganization.

 

Article
II

Management and Operation of the Company

 

Section
2.01         Board of Directors.

 

(a)          The
Shareholders agree that the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed through a board of directors (the “Board”)
consisting of five (5) members (each, a “Director”); provided, however, that such number of Directors
shall be increased to six (6) automatically and without further action upon Ameris becoming the owner of thirty percent (30%) of
the Common Stock. The Directors shall be elected to the Board in accordance with the following procedures:

 

(i)          Villari
shall have the right to designate four (4) Directors, who shall initially be Villari, Mark Bell, Chris Howard and Doug Shumate
(the “Villari Directors”); and

 

(ii)         Ameris
shall have the right to designate one (1) Director, who shall initially be Dennis Zember (the “Ameris Director”);
provided, however, that upon Ameris becoming the owner of thirty percent (30%) of the Common Stock, Ameris shall have the
right to designate one (1) additional Director and the number of Ameris Directors shall be increased to a total of two (2) Directors.

 

(b)          Each
Shareholder shall vote all shares of Common Stock over which such Shareholder has voting control and shall take all other necessary
or desirable actions within such Shareholder’s control (including in its capacity as shareholder, director, member of a board
committee or officer of the Company or otherwise, and whether at a regular or special meeting of the Shareholders or by written
consent in lieu of a meeting) to elect to the Board any individual designated by a Division Shareholder pursuant to Section
2.01(a). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Shareholder shall be required to elect to the Board
any individual who is a competitor (or an Affiliate or Representative of any such competitor) of: (i) the Division (as defined
in the Management Agreement); (ii) any Shareholder; or (iii) an Affiliate of any Shareholder.

 

    	 	6	 

     

    

 

(c)          Each
Division Shareholder shall have the right at any time to remove (with or without cause) any Director designated by such Division
Shareholder for election to the Board and each other Shareholder shall vote all shares of Common Stock over which such Shareholder
has voting control and shall take all other necessary or desirable actions within such Shareholder’s control (including in
its capacity as shareholder, director, member of a board committee or officer of the Company or otherwise, and whether at a regular
or special meeting of the Shareholders or by written consent in lieu of a meeting) to remove from the Board any individual designated
by such Division Shareholder that such Division Shareholder desires to remove pursuant to this Section 2.01. Except as provided
in the preceding sentence, unless a Division Shareholder shall otherwise consent in writing, no other Shareholder shall take any
action to cause the removal of any Directors designated by a Division Shareholder.

 

(d)          In
the event a vacancy is created on the Board at any time and for any reason (whether as a result of death, disability, retirement,
resignation or removal of an individual pursuant to Section 2.01(c)), the Division Shareholder who designated such individual
shall have the right to designate a different individual to replace such Director and each other Shareholder shall vote all shares
of Common Stock over which such Shareholder has voting control and shall take all other necessary or desirable actions within such
Shareholder’s control (including in its capacity as shareholder, director, member of a board committee or officer of the
Company or otherwise, and whether at a regular or special meeting of the Shareholders or by written consent in lieu of a meeting)
to elect to the Board any individual designated by such Division Shareholder.

 

(e)          The
Board shall have the right to establish any committee of Directors as the Board shall deem appropriate from time to time. Subject
to this Agreement, the Organizational Documents and Applicable Law, committees of the Board shall have the rights, powers and privileges
granted to such committee by the Board from time to time. Any delegation of authority to a committee of Directors to take any action
must be approved in the same manner as would be required for the Board to approve such action directly. Any committee of Directors
shall be composed of the same proportion of Villari Directors and Ameris Directors as the Division Shareholders shall then be entitled
to appoint to the Board pursuant to this Section 2.01; provided, that for so long as Ameris has the right to designate
a Director to the Board, any committee composed of Directors shall consist of at least one Ameris Director.

 

Section
2.02         Meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

(a)          The
Board will meet no less than two (2) times a year at such times and in such places as the Board shall designate from time to time.
In addition to the regular meetings contemplated by the foregoing sentence, special meetings of the Board may be called by any
Director or Division Shareholder on no less than three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice of the time, place and agenda
of the meeting.

 

(b)          The
Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board by means of video conference, teleconference or other similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute
such Director’s presence in person at the meeting.

 

    	 	7	 

     

    

 

(c)          The
presence of a majority of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum; provided, that at least one Ameris Director
is present at such meeting. If a quorum is not achieved at any duly called meeting, such meeting may be postponed to a time no
earlier than 48 hours after written notice of such postponement has been given to the Directors.

 

(d)          Unless
otherwise restricted by this Agreement, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee
thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing
or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
of Directors or committee.

 

Section
2.03         Voting Arrangements. In addition to any vote or consent
of the Board or the Shareholders required by Applicable Law, without Supermajority Approval the Company shall not, and shall not
enter into any commitment to:

 

(a)          amend,
modify or waive the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws;

 

(b)          (i)
make any material change to the nature of the Business conducted by the Company or (ii) enter into any business other than the
Business;

 

(c)          (i)
issue or sell Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company to any Person or (ii) enter into or effect any transaction
or series of related transactions involving the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of Common Stock from any Person, other
than, in each case relating to clause (i) or clause (ii), any Excluded Securities approved in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, or as otherwise contemplated by the terms of this Agreement;

 

(d)          appoint
or remove the Company’s auditors or make any changes in the accounting methods or policies of the Company (other than as
required by GAAP);

 

(e)          enter
into or effect any transaction or series of related transactions involving the purchase, lease, license, exchange or other acquisition
(including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or acquisition of assets) by the Company of any assets and/or equity
interests of any Person;

 

(f)          except
for a Change of Control effected in accordance with Section 3.02, enter into or effect any transaction or series of related
transactions involving the sale, lease, license, exchange or other disposition (including by merger, consolidation, sale of stock
or sale of assets) by the Company of any assets;

 

(g)          establish
a subsidiary or enter into any joint venture or similar business arrangement;

 

(h)          initiate
or consummate an Initial Public Offering or make a public offering and sale of Common Stock or any other securities; or

 

    	 	8	 

     

    

 

(i)          dissolve,
wind-up or liquidate the Company or initiate a bankruptcy proceeding involving the Company.

 

Article
III

Transfer of Interests

 

Section
3.01         General Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a)          Except
as permitted pursuant to Section 3.01(b) or in accordance with the procedures described in Section 3.02, Section
3.03 or Section 3.04, each Shareholder agrees that such Shareholder will not, directly or indirectly, voluntarily or
involuntarily Transfer any of its Common Stock.

 

(b)          The
provisions of Section 3.01(a), Section 3.02 and Section 3.03 shall not apply to any of the following Transfers
by any Shareholder of any of its Common Stock:

 

(i)          to
a Permitted Transferee; or

 

(ii)         pursuant
to a merger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company that has been approved in compliance with Section 2.03(f).

 

(c)          In
addition to any legends required by Applicable Law, each certificate representing the Common Stock of the Company shall bear a
legend substantially in the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS
CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY). NO TRANSFER,
SALE, ASSIGNMENT, PLEDGE, HYPOTHECATION OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE MADE EXCEPT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT AND (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT EFFECTIVE UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE,
BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT.”

 

(d)          Prior
notice shall be given to the Company by the transferor of any Transfer (whether or not to a Permitted Transferee) of any Common
Stock. Prior to consummation of any Transfer by any Shareholder of any of its Common Stock, such party shall cause the transferee
thereof to execute and deliver to the Company a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Company and the non-transferring
Shareholders, whereby such party agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Upon any Transfer by any Shareholder
of any of its Common Stock, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee thereof shall be substituted for, and
shall assume all the rights and obligations under this Agreement of, the transferor thereof, to the extent relating to the Common
Stock that has been so transferred.

 

    	 	9	 

     

    

 

(e)          Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, each Shareholder agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, Transfer any of its Common
Stock (i) except as permitted under the Securities Act and other applicable federal or state securities laws, and then, if requested
by the Company, only upon delivery to the Company of an opinion of counsel in form and substance satisfactory to the Company to
the effect that such Transfer may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, (ii) if it would cause the Company
or any of its subsidiaries to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
or (iii) if it would cause the assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be deemed plan assets as defined under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or its accompanying regulations or result in any “prohibited transaction” thereunder
involving the Company. In any event, the Board may refuse the Transfer to any Person if such Transfer would have a material adverse
effect on the Company as a result of any regulatory or other restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority.

 

(f)          Any
Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Common Stock in violation of this Agreement shall be null and void, no such Transfer shall
be recorded on the Company’s books and the purported transferee in any such Transfer shall not be treated (and the purported
transferor shall continue be treated) as the owner of such Common Stock for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section
3.02         Drag-Along Rights.

 

(a)          If
at any time Villari, while holding (together with his Affiliates) at least a majority of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company,
receives a bona fide offer from a Third-Party Purchaser to consummate, in one transaction, or a series of related transactions,
a Change of Control (a “Drag-Along Sale”), Villari shall have the right to require that Ameris participate in
such Transfer in the manner set forth in this Section 3.02, provided, however, that Ameris shall not be required
to participate in the Drag-Along Sale if the consideration for the Drag-Along Sale is other than cash or registered securities
listed on an established U.S. securities exchange or traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

(b)          Villari
shall exercise his rights pursuant to this Section 3.02 by delivering a written notice (the “Drag-Along Notice”)
to Ameris at least thirty (30) days prior to the closing date of such Drag-Along Sale. The Drag-Along Notice shall make reference
to Villari’s rights and obligations hereunder, shall include a copy (which may be in draft form) of any stock purchase, merger
or other acquisition agreement proposed to be executed by Villari or the Company in connection therewith, and a copy (which may
be in draft form) of any agreement proposed to be executed by Ameris in connection therewith, and shall describe in reasonable
detail:

 

(i)          the
number of shares of Common Stock to be sold by Villari, if the Drag-Along Sale is structured as a Transfer of Common Stock;

 

(ii)         the
identity of the Third-Party Purchaser;

 

(iii)        the
proposed date, time and location of the closing of the Drag-Along Sale; and

 

    	 	10	 

     

    

 

(iv)        the
per share purchase price and the other material terms and conditions of the Transfer, including a description of any non-cash consideration
in sufficient detail to permit the valuation thereof.

 

(c)          If
the Drag-Along Sale is structured as a Transfer of Common Stock, then, subject to Section 3.02(d), Villari and Ameris shall
Transfer to the Third-Party Purchaser the number of shares equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock the Third-Party Purchaser proposes to buy as stated in the Drag-Along Notice and (y) a fraction (A) the numerator of which
is equal to the number of shares of Common Stock then held by Villari or Ameris, as the case may be, and (B) the denominator of
which is equal to the number of shares then held by all of the Shareholders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Villari and
Ameris).

 

(d)          The
consideration to be received by Ameris shall be the same form and amount of consideration per share of Common Stock to be received
by Villari (or, if Villari is given an option as to the form and amount of consideration to be received, the same option shall
be given) and the terms and conditions of such Transfer shall, except as otherwise provided in the immediately succeeding sentence,
be the same as those upon which Villari Transfers his Common Stock. Ameris shall make or provide the same representations, warranties,
covenants, indemnities and agreements as Villari makes or provides in connection with the Drag-Along Sale (except that in the case
of representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements pertaining specifically to Villari, Ameris shall make the
comparable representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements pertaining specifically to itself); provided,
that all representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities shall be made by Villari and Ameris severally and not jointly
and any indemnification obligation shall be pro rata based on the consideration received by Villari and Ameris, in each case in
an amount not to exceed the aggregate proceeds received by Villari and Ameris in connection with the Drag-Along Sale.

 

(e)          The
fees and expenses of Villari incurred in connection with a Drag-Along Sale and for the benefit of all Shareholders (it being understood
that costs incurred by or on behalf of Villari for his sole benefit will not be considered to be for the benefit of all Shareholders),
to the extent not paid or reimbursed by the Company or the Third-Party Purchaser, shall be shared by all the Shareholders on a
pro rata basis, based on the aggregate consideration received by each Shareholder; provided, that no Shareholder shall be
obligated to make or reimburse any out-of-pocket expenditure prior to the consummation of the Drag-Along Sale.

 

(f)          Each
Shareholder shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the Drag-Along Sale, including entering into agreements
and delivering certificates and instruments, in each case consistent with the agreements being entered into and the certificates
being delivered by Villari.

 

(g)          Villari
shall have ninety (90) days following the date of the Drag-Along Notice in which to consummate the Drag-Along Sale, on the terms
set forth in the Drag-Along Notice (which such ninety (90) day period may be extended for a reasonable time not to exceed one hundred
twenty (120) days to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain any Government Approvals). If at the end of such period, Villari
has not completed the Drag-Along Sale, Villari may not then effect a transaction subject to this Section 3.02 without again
fully complying with the provisions of this Section 3.02.

 

    	 	11	 

     

    

 

Section
3.03         Tag-Along Rights.

 

(a)          If
at any time Villari, while holding (together with his Affiliates) at least a majority of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company,
proposes to Transfer any shares of his Common Stock to a Third-Party Purchaser (the “Proposed Transferee”) and
Villari cannot or has not elected to exercise his drag-along rights set forth in Section 3.02, Ameris shall be permitted
to participate in such Transfer (a “Tag-Along Sale”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section
3.03.

 

(b)          Prior
to the consummation of any such Transfer of Common Stock described in Section 3.03(a), Villari shall deliver to Ameris a
written notice (a “Sale Notice”) of the proposed Tag-Along Sale subject to this Section 3.03 at least
thirty (30) days prior to the closing date of the Tag-Along Sale. The Sale Notice shall make reference to Ameris’s rights
hereunder, shall include a copy (which may be in draft form) of any stock purchase, merger or other acquisition agreement proposed
to be executed by Villari or the Company in connection therewith, and a copy (which may be in draft form) of any agreement proposed
to be executed by Ameris in connection therewith, and shall describe in reasonable detail:

 

(i)          
the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock the Proposed Transferee has offered to purchase.

 

(ii)         the
identity of the Proposed Transferee;

 

(iii)        the
proposed date, time and location of the closing of the Tag-Along Sale; and

 

(iv)        the
per share purchase price and the other material terms and conditions of the Transfer, including a description of any non-cash consideration
in sufficient detail to permit the valuation thereof.

 

(c)          Ameris
shall exercise its right to participate in a Transfer of Common Stock by Villari subject to this Section 3.03 by delivering
to Villari a written notice (a “Tag-Along Notice”) stating its election to do so and specifying the number of
shares of Common Stock to be Transferred by it no later than ten (10) Business Days after receipt of the Sale Notice (the “Tag-Along
Period”). The offer of Ameris set forth in a Tag-Along Notice shall be irrevocable, and, to the extent such offer is
accepted, Ameris shall be bound and obligated to Transfer in the proposed Transfer on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Section 3.03. Villari and Ameris shall have the right to Transfer in a Transfer subject to this Section 3.03 the
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock the Proposed Transferee
proposes to buy as stated in the Sale Notice and (y) a fraction (A) the numerator of which is equal to the number of shares of
Common Stock then held by Villari or Ameris, as the case may be, and (B) the denominator of which is equal to the number of shares
then held by all of the Shareholders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Villari and Ameris).

 

(d)          If
Ameris does not deliver a Tag-Along Notice in compliance with Section 3.03(c) above, it shall be deemed to have waived all
of its rights to participate in such Transfer, and Villari shall thereafter be free to Transfer to the Proposed Transferee his
shares of Common Stock at a per share price that is no greater than the per share price set forth in the Sale Notice and on other
same terms and conditions which are not materially more favorable to Villari than those set forth in the Sale Notice without any
further obligation to Ameris.

 

    	 	12	 

     

    

 

(e)          If
Ameris elects to participate in a Transfer pursuant to this Section 3.03, it shall receive the same consideration per share
as Villari after deduction of its proportionate share of the related fees and expenses in accordance with Section 3.03(g)
below.

 

(f)          Ameris
shall make or provide the same representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements as Villari makes or provides
in connection with the Tag-Along Sale (except that in the case of representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements
pertaining specifically to Villari, Ameris shall make the comparable representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and agreements
pertaining specifically to itself); provided, that all representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities shall be made
by Villari and Ameris severally and not jointly and any indemnification obligation in respect of breaches of representations and
warranties shall be pro rata based on the consideration received by Villari and Ameris, in each case in an amount not to exceed
the aggregate proceeds received by Villari and Ameris in connection with any Tag-Along Sale.

 

(g)          The
fees and expenses of Villari incurred in connection with a Tag-Along Sale and for the benefit of all Shareholders (it being understood
that costs incurred by or on behalf of Villari for his sole benefit will not be considered to be for the benefit of all Shareholders),
to the extent not paid or reimbursed by the Company or the Proposed Transferee, shall be shared by all the Shareholders on a pro
rata basis, based on the aggregate consideration received by each such Shareholder; provided, that no Shareholder shall
be obligated to make or reimburse any out-of-pocket expenditure prior to the consummation of the Tag-Along Sale.

 

(h)          Ameris
shall take all actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the Tag-Along Sale, including entering into agreements and
delivering certificates and instruments, in each case consistent with the agreements being entered into and the certificates being
delivered by Villari.

 

(i)          Villari
shall have ninety (90) days following the expiration of the Tag-Along Period in which to Transfer the shares of Common Stock described
in the Sale Notice, on the terms set forth in the Sale Notice (which such ninety (90) day period may be extended for a reasonable
time not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain any Government Approvals). If at
the end of such period, Villari has not completed such Transfer, Villari may not then effect a Transfer of Common Stock subject
to this Section 3.03 without again fully complying with the provisions of this Section 3.03.

 

(j)          If
Villari Transfers to the Proposed Transferee any of his shares of Common Stock in breach of this Section 3.03, then Ameris
shall have the right to Transfer to Villari, and Villari undertakes to purchase from Ameris, the number of shares of Common Stock
that Ameris would have had the right to Transfer to the Proposed Transferee pursuant to this Section 3.03, for a per share
amount and form of consideration and upon the terms and conditions on which the Proposed Transferee bought such Common Stock from
Villari (but without indemnity being granted by Ameris to Villari, other than indemnification in the event that Ameris does not
own such Common Stock free and clear of all Liens); provided, that, nothing contained in this Section 3.03 shall
preclude Ameris from seeking alternative remedies against Villari as a result of his breach of this Section 3.03. Villari
shall also reimburse Ameris for any and all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses, including reasonable legal
fees and expenses, incurred pursuant to the exercise or the attempted exercise of Ameris’s rights as a result of a Transfer
by Villari to the Proposed Transferee of any of his shares of Common Stock in breach of this Section 3.03.

 

    	 	13	 

     

    

 

Section
3.04         Ameris Purchase of Villari Shares.

 

(a)          On
or before December 31, 2017 (or such later date, if any, as may be mutually agreed in writing by Ameris and Villari), but subject
to the receipt of all required Governmental Approvals with respect thereto, Ameris shall purchase from Villari, and Villari shall
sell to Ameris, such number of shares of Voting Common Stock and Non-Voting Common Stock owned by Villari as shall represent at
the time of such purchase twenty-five and 01/100ths percent (25.01%) of the shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding
(the “Villari Shares”), such that after such acquisition, Ameris shall own thirty percent (30%) of both the
outstanding Voting Common Stock and the outstanding Non-Voting Common Stock. The consideration payable by Ameris to Villari for
the Villari Shares shall be (i) twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) in cash (which amount shall be increased by two hundred thousand
dollars ($200,000) for each calendar month or portion thereof beginning January 1, 2018 and continuing through and including June
30, 2018, if Ameris has not acquired the Villari Shares on or before December 31, 2017 and Ameris and Villari have mutually agreed
in writing to a purchase of the Villari Shares at a later date), plus (ii) one hundred fourteen thousand two hundred eighty-five
(114,285) unregistered shares of ABCB Stock (the “New Ameris Shares”); provided, however, that if the
average of the closing sale prices of ABCB Stock as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market during the thirty (30) consecutive full
trading days ending at the closing of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the date of the parties’ consummation
of such purchase of the Villari Shares (such average, the “Average ABCB Stock Price”) shall be less than thirty-five
dollars ($35.00) per share, the number of New Ameris Shares to be issued as consideration for the Villari Shares shall be increased
(subject to the immediately following sentence) to that number of shares of ABCB Stock that, when added together with the Designated
Ameris Shares and multiplied by the Average ABCB Stock Price, equals the aggregate value of eight million five hundred thousand
dollars ($8,500,000). At the same time that Villari acquires the New Ameris Shares, Villari and Ameris shall enter into a registration
rights agreement with respect to the New Ameris Shares that is in form and substance substantially the same as the Prior Registration
Rights Agreement. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the maximum number of New Ameris Shares that may be issued pursuant
to this Section 3.04(a) shall in all events be limited to one share of ABCB Stock fewer than the minimum number of shares
of ABCB Stock the issuance of which would require the approval of the shareholders of Ameris under any Applicable Law or any rule
of the NASDAQ Stock Market or any other applicable securities exchange, and any shortfall in the ABCB Stock consideration to which
Villari would have been entitled that results from the foregoing shall be satisfied by the payment of additional cash consideration
by Ameris equal to the quotient obtained by multiplying (x) that number of shares of ABCB Stock constituting such shortfall, by
(y) the Average ABCB Stock Price. The purchase of the Villari Shares shall be consummated as promptly as practicable after Ameris’s
receipt of all Governmental Approvals with respect thereto, and following the expiration of all applicable waiting periods and
the parties’ compliance with all Applicable Laws, by the parties’ execution of a mutually agreeable stock purchase
agreement similar in substance and form to the Prior Stock Purchase Agreement, as applicable; provided, however, that notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Ameris shall have no obligation hereunder to purchase the Villari Shares pursuant to this paragraph
if it does not receive all required Governmental Approvals thereto on or before December 31, 2017 (or such later date, if any,
as may be mutually agreed in writing by Ameris and Villari) following the exercise by Ameris and Villari of all commercially reasonable
efforts in good faith to do so; provided further, however, that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require
Ameris, or require or permit Villari, to take any action, or commit to take any action, or agree to any condition or restriction,
in connection with obtaining any Governmental Approval that would reasonably be expected to result in Ameris or any Affiliate of
Ameris becoming subject to any cease-and-desist order or other order, formal or informal enforcement action issued by, or written
agreement, consent agreement, operating agreement, memorandum of understanding, commitment letter or similar undertaking with,
or any request to adopt any board resolutions by, any Governmental Authority.

 

    	 	14	 

     

    

 

(b)          If
Ameris does not consummate the purchase of the Villari Shares pursuant to Section 3.04(a) on or before December 31, 2017
(or such later date, if any, as may be mutually agreed in writing by Ameris and Villari), then Villari may institute an Asset Transfer
of the Division at any time during the remainder of the Term by providing written notice to Ameris. For the avoidance of doubt,
Villari may institute an Asset Transfer of the Division without regard to whether any Governmental Approvals contemplated by Section
3.04(a) have been received. Notwithstanding anything in the Management Agreement to the contrary, Villari shall give notice
to Ameris at least five (5) days prior to, directly or indirectly, soliciting, initiating, encouraging, facilitating (including
by way of furnishing information) or taking any other action designed to facilitate any inquiries or proposals regarding any Asset
Transfer of the Division, or engaging in a process designed to effect such an Asset Transfer. Anything to the contrary in the Management
Agreement notwithstanding, upon and after the receipt of any such notice: (i) Ameris will (and will cause its Affiliates, including
Ameris Bank, to) keep all information regarding such proposed Asset Transfer strictly confidential and not disclose such information
to anyone other than the directors and executive officers of Ameris or its Affiliates, who will be under an obligation to maintain
such confidentiality; (ii) Ameris will not (and will cause its Affiliates not to), and Villari will not, (A) disparage each other,
the Division or the transferee of the Asset Transfer, or (B) interfere with, or attempt to circumvent, such proposed Asset Transfer;
(iii) Ameris will not (and will cause its Affiliates, including Ameris Bank, not to) seek to retain the Division’s employees;
(iv) Ameris will (or will cause its Affiliates, including Ameris Bank, to), prior to the date of the Asset Transfer, continue to
fund the new Premium Finance Loans and Non-Premium Finance Loans at least up to the then applicable Portfolio Size Floor pursuant
to the terms and conditions of the Management Agreement; (v) Ameris will (and will cause its Affiliates, including Ameris Bank,
to) permit the Division’s Premium Finance Loans and Non-Premium Finance Loans (or such portion thereof as may be designated
by Villari) to be transferred to the transferee as part of such Asset Transfer, provided that Ameris (or its Affiliates) is paid
the outstanding principal thereof and the accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the date of transfer; and (vi) neither Ameris
nor its Affiliates (including Ameris Bank) will have any right to receive any portion of any premium, goodwill or any such proceeds
paid (in excess of the sums paid to Ameris or its Affiliates for the then outstanding principal and accrued unpaid interest) that
are paid to Villari upon such Asset Transfer (other than a pro rata percentage based on the percentage of Common Stock then owned
by Ameris). If Villari decides to effect an Asset Transfer, then: (i) Villari shall be required to obtain from the prospective
transferee a confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Ameris prior to the disclosure to such
prospective transferee or its agents or representatives of any information regarding the Division’s finances, loans, operations,
or employees; and (ii) the disclosure of any information regarding or relevant to the Division to such transferee shall not cause
Villari to be in violation of any confidentiality requirements or fiduciary obligations in favor of Ameris or any of its Affiliates.
If an Asset Transfer of the Division is initiated by Villari during the Term, then Ameris will (and will cause its Affiliates,
including Ameris Bank, to) use commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Asset Transfer of the Division, including cooperating
with the transferee’s reasonable due diligence requests and promptly executing such documents as Villari may reasonably request
to facilitate such Asset Transfer of the Division. All capitalized terms used in this Section 3.04(b) and not otherwise
defined in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Management Agreement.

 

    	 	15	 

     

    

 

Article
IV

Preemptive Rights

 

Section
4.01         Preemptive Right.

 

(a)          The
Company hereby grants to each Shareholder (each, a “Preemptive Shareholder”) the right to purchase its pro rata
portion of any new Common Stock (other than any Excluded Securities) (the “New Securities”) that the Company
may from time to time propose to issue or sell to any Person.

 

(b)          The
Company shall give written notice (an “Issuance Notice”) of any proposed issuance or sale described in subsection
(a) above to the Preemptive Shareholders within five (5) Business Days following any meeting of the Board at which any such issuance
or sale is approved. The Issuance Notice shall set forth the material terms and conditions of the proposed issuance, including:

 

(i)          the
number of New Securities proposed to be issued and the percentage of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock, on a fully diluted
basis, that such issuance would represent;

 

(ii)         the
proposed issuance date, which shall be at least twenty (20) Business Days from the date of the Issuance Notice; and

 

(iii)        the
proposed purchase price per share.

 

(c)          Each
Preemptive Shareholder shall for a period of fifteen (15) Business Days following the receipt of an Issuance Notice (the “Exercise
Period”) have the right to elect irrevocably to purchase, at the purchase price set forth in the Issuance Notice, the
amount of New Securities equal to the product of (x) the total number of New Securities to be issued by the Company on the issuance
date and (y) a fraction determined by dividing (A) the number of shares of Common Stock owned by such Preemptive Shareholder immediately
prior to such issuance by (B) the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on such date immediately prior to such issuance
(the “Preemptive Pro Rata Portion”) by delivering a written notice to the Company. Such Preemptive Shareholder’s
election to purchase New Securities shall be binding and irrevocable.

 

    	 	16	 

     

    

 

(d)          No
later than five (5) Business Days following the expiration of the Exercise Period, the Company shall notify each Preemptive Shareholder
in writing of the number of New Securities that each Preemptive Shareholder has agreed to purchase (including, for the avoidance
of doubt, where such number is zero) (the “Over-Allotment Notice”). Each Preemptive Shareholder exercising its
right to purchase its Preemptive Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities in full (an “Exercising Shareholder”)
shall have a right of over-allotment such that if any other Preemptive Shareholder fails to exercise its right under this Section
4.01 to purchase its Preemptive Pro Rata Portion of the New Securities (each, a “Non-Exercising Shareholder”),
such Exercising Shareholder may purchase all or any portion of such Non-Exercising Shareholder’s allotment (the “Over-Allotment
New Securities”) by giving written notice to the Company setting forth the number of Over-Allotment New Securities that
such Exercising Shareholder is willing to purchase within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the Over-Allotment Notice (the “Over-Allotment
Exercise Period”). Such Exercising Shareholder’s election to purchase Over-Allotment New Securities shall be binding
and irrevocable. If more than one Exercising Shareholder elects to exercise its right of over-allotment, each Exercising Shareholder
shall have the right to purchase the number of Over-Allotment New Securities it elected to purchase in its written notice; provided,
that if the over-allotment New Securities are over-subscribed, each Exercising Shareholder shall purchase its pro rata portion
of the available Over-Allotment New Securities based upon the relative Preemptive Pro Rata Portions of the Exercising Shareholders.

 

(e)          The
Company shall be free to complete the proposed issuance or sale of New Securities described in the Issuance Notice with respect
to any New Securities not elected to be purchased pursuant to Section 4.01(c) and Section 4.01(d) above in accordance
with the terms and conditions set forth in the Issuance Notice (except that the amount of New Securities to be issued or sold by
the Company may be reduced) so long as such issuance or sale is closed within sixty (60) days after the expiration of the Over-Allotment
Exercise Period (subject to the extension of such sixty (60) day period for a reasonable time not to exceed ninety (90) days to
the extent reasonably necessary to obtain any Government Approvals). In the event the Company has not sold such New Securities
within such time period, the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without first again offering such securities
to the Shareholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.01.

 

(f)          Upon
the consummation of the issuance of any New Securities in accordance with this Section 4.01, the Company shall deliver to
each Exercising Shareholder certificates (if any) evidencing the New Securities, which New Securities shall be issued free and
clear of any Liens (other than those arising hereunder and those attributable to the actions of the purchasers thereof), and the
Company shall so represent and warrant to the purchasers thereof, and further represent and warrant to such purchasers that such
New Securities shall be, upon issuance thereof to the Exercising Shareholders and after payment therefor, duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Each Exercising Shareholder shall deliver to the Company the purchase price for the New
Securities purchased by it by certified or official bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds. Each party to the
purchase and sale of New Securities shall take all such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the purchase
and sale including entering into such additional agreements as may be necessary or appropriate.

 

    	 	17	 

     

    

 

Article
V

Information Rights

 

Section
5.01         Financial Statements. In addition to, and without limiting
any rights that a Shareholder may have with respect to inspection of the books and records of the Company under Applicable Laws,
the Company shall furnish to each Shareholder, the following information:

 

(a)          as
soon as available, and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the unaudited balance
sheet of the Company as at the end of each such Fiscal Year and the unaudited statements of income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’
equity for such year, accompanied by the certification of the chief financial officer of the Company to the effect that, except
as set forth therein, such financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with prior years and fairly present in
all material respects the financial condition of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and changes
in its cash flows and shareholders’ equity for the periods covered thereby;

 

(b)          as
soon as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the balance sheet of the
Company at the end of such quarter and the statements of income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity for such
quarter, all in reasonable detail and all prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, and certified by the chief financial
officer of the Company; and

 

(c)          to
the extent the Company is required by Applicable Law or pursuant to the terms of any outstanding indebtedness of the Company to
prepare such reports, any annual reports, quarterly reports and other periodic reports (without exhibits) actually prepared by
the Company as soon as available.

 

Section
5.02         Inspection Rights.

 

(a)          The
Company shall, and shall cause its officers, Directors and employees to, (i) afford each Shareholder and the Representatives of
each such Shareholder, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, reasonable access at all reasonable times to its
officers, employees, auditors, properties, offices, plants and other facilities and to all books and records, and (ii) afford such
Shareholder the opportunity to consult with its officers from time to time regarding the Company’s affairs, finances and
accounts as each such Shareholder may reasonably request upon reasonable notice.

 

(b)          The
right set forth in Section 5.02(a) above shall not and is not intended to limit any rights which the Shareholders may have
with respect to the books and records of the Company, or to inspect its properties or discuss its affairs, finances and accounts
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated.

 

    	 	18	 

     

    

 

Article
VI

Term and Termination

 

Section
6.01         Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the
earliest of:

 

(a)          the
consummation of an Initial Public Offering;

 

(b)          the
consummation of a merger or other business combination involving the Company whereby the Voting Common Stock becomes a security
that is listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or another national securities exchange;

 

(c)          the
date on which neither of the Division Shareholders owns any Common Stock;

 

(d)          the
dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company; or

 

(e)          the
unanimous written agreement of the Shareholders.

 

Section
6.02         Effect of Termination.

 

(a)          The
termination of this Agreement shall terminate all further rights and obligations of the Shareholders under this Agreement except
that such termination shall not affect:

 

(i)          the
existence of the Company;

 

(ii)         the
obligation of any party to pay any amounts arising on or prior to the date of termination, or as a result of or in connection with
such termination;

 

(iii)        the
rights which any Shareholder may have by operation of law as a shareholder of the Company; or

 

(iv)        the
rights contained herein which by their terms are intended to survive termination of this Agreement.

 

(b)        The following provisions shall survive the termination of this Agreement: this Section 6.02
and Section 7.03, Section 7.11, Section 7.12, Section 7.14 and Section 7.15.

 

Article
VII

Miscellaneous

 

Section
7.01         Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
all costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.

 

Section
7.02         Release of Liability. In the event any Shareholder
shall Transfer all of the Common Stock held by such Shareholder in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement without retaining
any interest therein, then such Shareholder shall cease to be a party to this Agreement and shall be relieved and have no further
liability arising hereunder for events occurring from and after the date of such Transfer.

 

    	 	19	 

     

    

 

Section
7.03         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 such other address as may be given in
a notice sent by a party to the other party in accordance with this Section 7.03):

 

In the case of Ameris:

 

Ameris Bancorp

1301 Riverplace Boulevard

Suite 2600

Jacksonville, Florida 32207

Attn: Dennis J. Zember Jr.

Facsimile: (229) 890-2235

Email: dennis.zember@amerisbank.com

 

with a copy (which shall not
constitute notice to Ameris) to:

 

Rogers & Hardin LLP

2700 International Tower

229 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Attn: Jody L. Spencer

Facsimile: (404) 230-0972

Email: jspencer@rh-law.com

 

In the case of Villari or
The Villari Family Gift Trust: 

Mr. William J. Villari

2065 East Lake Road

Atlanta, GA 30307

Email: wvillari@gmail.com

 

    	 	20	 

     

    

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute
notice to Villari or The Villari Family Gift Trust) to:

Vedder Price P.C.

222 North LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60601

Attn: Marc L. Klyman, Esq.

Facsimile: (312) 609-5005

Email: mklyman@vedderprice.com

 

In the case of the Company:

US Premium Finance Holding Company

2065 East Lake Road

Atlanta, GA 30307

Attn: President

Email: wvillari@gmail.com

with a copy (which shall not
constitute notice to the Company) to:

Vedder Price P.C.

222 North LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60601

Attn: Marc L. Klyman, Esq.

Facsimile: (312) 609-5005

Email: mklyman@vedderprice.com

 

Section
7.04         Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a)
the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,”
“hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. The definitions given
for any defined terms in this Agreement shall apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever
the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. Unless the context otherwise
requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits attached to,
this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended,
supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute
as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement
shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting
an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral
part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

Section
7.05         Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference
only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

    	 	21	 

     

    

 

Section
7.06         Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement
is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any
other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.
Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate
in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually
acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest
extent possible.

 

Section
7.07         Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Organizational
Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein,
and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject
matter. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between this Agreement and any Organizational Document, the Shareholders
and the Company shall, to the extent necessary and permitted by Applicable Law, amend such Organizational Document to comply with
the terms of this Agreement.

 

Section
7.08         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

Section
7.09         No Third-party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for
the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall
confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.

 

Section
7.10         Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement
may only be amended, modified or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto. No waiver by any party of
any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. No waiver
by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by
such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver. No failure
to exercise, or delay in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Agreement shall operate or be construed
as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

 

Section
7.11         Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Florida without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law
provision or rule (whether of the State of Florida or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than those of the State of Florida.

 

    	 	22	 

     

    

 

Section
7.12         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 of the other parties 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.

 

Section
7.13         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed
copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, email or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same
legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

 

Section
7.14         Arbitration. Notwithstanding any reference in this
Agreement to an arbitrator or an 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.

 

Section
7.15         Confidentiality.

 

(a)          Each
Shareholder shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, keep confidential and not divulge any information (including all budgets,
business plans and analyses) concerning the Company or the Division, including the assets, business, operations, financial condition
or prospects of the Company or the Division (collectively, “Information”), and to use, and cause its Representatives
to use, such Information only in connection with the operation of the Company or the Division; provided, that nothing herein
shall prevent any Shareholder from disclosing such Information (i) upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (ii) upon
the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority having jurisdiction over such Shareholder, (iii) to the extent compelled
by legal process or required or requested pursuant to subpoena, interrogatories or other discovery requests, (iv) to the extent
necessary in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, (v) to other Shareholders, (vi) to such Shareholder’s
Representatives that in the reasonable judgment of such Shareholder need to know such Information or (vii) otherwise in accordance
with an applicable provision of this Agreement, provided, further, that in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii), such Shareholder
shall notify the other parties hereto of the proposed disclosure as far in advance of such disclosure as practicable and use reasonable
efforts to ensure that any Information so disclosed is accorded confidential treatment, when and if available.

 

(b)          The
restrictions of Section 7.15(a) shall not apply to information (i) that is or becomes generally available to the public
other than as a result of a disclosure by a Shareholder or any of its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) that
is or becomes available to a Shareholder or any of its Representatives on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure to the
receiving Shareholder and any of its Representatives, (iii) that is or has been independently developed or conceived by such Shareholder
without use of the Company’s Information, (iv) regarding or relevant to the Division that is disclosed to a prospective transferee
in connection with an Asset Transfer, or (v) that becomes available to the receiving Shareholder or any of its Representatives
on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company, any other Shareholder or any of their respective Representatives,
provided, that such source is not known by the recipient of the information to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with
the disclosing Shareholder or any of its Representatives.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

    	 	23	 

     

    

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers (or
other signatories, as applicable) thereunto duly authorized.

 

	 	“Ameris”
	 	 
	 	AMERIS BANCORP, a Georgia corporation
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Dennis J. Zember Jr.
	 	Name: Dennis J. Zember Jr.
	 	Title: EVP, CFO & COO
	 	 
	 	“Villari”
	 	 
	 	WILLIAM J. VILLARI, an individual resident of the State of Georgia
	 	 	 
	 	Sign:	/s/ William J. Villari
	 	 	 
	 	“Shareholder”
	 	 	 
	 	THE VILLARI FAMILY GIFT TRUST
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ William J. Villari
	 	Name: William J. Villari

 

    	 	24	 

     

    

 

	 	“Company”
	 	 	 
	 	US PREMIUM FINANCE HOLDING COMPANY, a Florida corporation
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ William J. Villari
	 	Name: William J. Villari
	 	Title: President

 

    	 	25	 

     

    

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Ownership of Common
Stock by Shareholders

 

	Shareholder	 	Shares of
 Voting
 Common Stock	 	 	Percentage of
 Outstanding
 Voting
 Common Stock	 	 	Shares of
 Non-Voting
 Common Stock
	 	 	Percentage of
 Outstanding
  Non-Voting
  Common Stock	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Ameris Bancorp	 	 	49	 	 	 	4.90	%	 	 	450	 	 	 	5.00	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	The Villari Family Gift Trust	 	 	0	 	 	 	0.00	%	 	 	1,500	 	 	 	16.67	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	William J. Villari	 	 	951	 	 	 	95.10	%	 	 	7,050	 	 	 	78.33	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Total	 	 	1,000	 	 	 	100.00	%	 	 	9,000	 	 	 	100.00	%

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