Document:

Employment Agreement, dated January 23,2006 - Rodney A. Lefever

 Exhibit 10.2 
  
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
  
 AGREEMENT made this 23rd day of January, 2006, by and between SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), and RODNEY A.
LEFEVER, an adult individual whose principal residence is at 620 Fieldcrest Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 (the “Employee”), on the other side. 
  
 Background 
  
 The Company desires to induce the Employee to remain in its employment, and the Employee hereby agrees to accept continuation of employment with the
Company on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth. 
  
 1. Position. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Employee’s employment, and the Employee hereby agrees to continue employment with the Company, as Senior Vice President and Group Executive.

  
 2. Duties. 
  
 2.1. The Employee agrees to assume such duties and
responsibilities as may be consistent with the position of Senior Vice President and Group Executive, and as may be assigned to the Employee by the Board of Directors, the President or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company or by the by-laws of
the Company, from time to time. No change in the duties of the Employee shall in any way diminish the compensation payable to him or her pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 4 hereof. 
  
 2.2. The Employee agrees to devote his or her full time, skill, attention and energies, and his or her best
efforts to the performance of his or her duties under this Agreement consistent with practices and policies established from time to time by the Company. The Employee agrees, in addition to the covenants concerning Non-Competition contained in
Paragraph 14, that he or she will not engage in any other business activity (including, without limitation, participation by the Employee on any unaffiliated profit or non-profit board of directors) except: (i) upon the prior written notice to
and consent of the Company’s Board of Directors, or (ii) solely as an investor in real or personal property, the management of which shall not detract from the performance of his or her duties hereunder; provided, however, that the
engagement by the Employee in any such business activity shall at all times be in conformity with the Company’s Code of Conduct, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Employee shall terminate any such activity upon reasonable request by the Company. 
  
 3. Period of Employment. Unless terminated earlier pursuant to subparagraph 7.3, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 10.5 or 10.7 hereof, the period of employment (the “Period of Employment”) shall commence on the date
of this Agreement and end on the second December 31 next following the date of this Agreement (the “Termination Date”). If written election not to renew by either party is not received by the other party by (a) November 1 of
the year of the effective date of this Agreement, or (b) November 1 any subsequent year, if this Agreement has 

 
previously been extended pursuant to this paragraph 3, then the Period of Employment will be automatically extended to the next anniversary of the
Termination Date. 
  
 4. Compensation. For all services
rendered by the Employee under this Agreement, the Company shall pay, or shall cause to pay, to the Employee compensation as provided below: 
  
 4.1. Base Salary. Commencing on the date hereof and continuing for the next twelve (12) months of employment hereunder, the
Company shall pay the Employee, in equal monthly installments, a minimum base salary at the rate of $182,464.00 per year. In connection with the annual review required by subparagraph 4.3 hereof, the Employee’s base salary shall be reviewed and
in light of such review may be increased (but not decreased), taking into account any change in the Employee’s responsibilities, performance of the Employee and other pertinent factors. Payment of any increase in the Employee’s base salary
(if any) shall commence no later than July 1st of the year in which the increase is granted. 
  
 4.2. Bonus. The Company may but shall not be required
to pay to the Employee annual bonus compensation in such amount as may be determined by the appropriate Board of Directors or its designee within guidelines established by the Company. Such bonus shall not exceed the amount of the Employee’s
base compensation. 
  
 4.3. Annual Review.
The determination of compensation payable by the Company hereunder shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the Company, or its nominee, which shall perform an annual review of this Agreement, the Employee’s performance with the Company,
and compensation payable hereunder. The results of such review, including recommendation as to salary adjustment and bonus, shall be reported to the Company and shall be memorialized in the minutes of the meetings of the Company’s Board of
Directors or held in a confidential file by the Company’ s Human Resources Department. 
  
 5. Employee Expenses. Subject to such general employee expense account policies as the Company may from time to time adopt, the Company will pay or reimburse the Employee upon presentation of vouchers or
invoices for reasonable expenses incurred by the Employee in the performance of his or her duties in carrying out the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, expenses for such items as entertainment, travel, meals,
hotel and similar items. In the event that any reimbursed expenses are disallowed by the Internal Revenue Service as deductions to the Company, the Employee shall retain such reimbursed expense amounts which the Employee shall treat and report as
additional compensation and which the Company shall treat as deductible salary expense. 
  
 The Bank also shall provide the Employee during his or her employment under this Agreement with the full time use of a car selected by the Employee and comparable to the car available at present. Such car shall be
used by the Employee in accordance with any and all general car policy(ies) as the Company may from time to time adopt. Such car shall be selected, maintained and replaced in accordance with the Company’s general policy on cars for employees
having need of a car for such use. 
  

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 6. Vacations. The Employee will be entitled to paid vacation annually as specified under the
Company’s Vacation Policy, to be taken at times reasonably convenient to the Company. 
  
 7. Benefits. 
  
 7.1. The Employee shall be entitled to group term life insurance insuring the Employee’s life during the term of employment, disability insurance coverage, and accidental death and dismemberment benefits, including death benefit, in
such amounts and in such coverage as shall be consistent with the insurance coverage programs available to other salaried employees of the Company, as the same may change from time to time. The Employee shall designate the beneficiary of such policy
and benefits. 
  
 7.2. The Employee shall be
entitled to major medical and health insurance coverage for the Employee and his or her immediate family on such terms, in such amounts and in such coverage as shall be consistent with the insurance coverage programs available to other salaried
employees of the Company generally, as the same may change from time to time. 
  
 7.3. If the Employee becomes and continues to be permanently disabled, such disability to be defined as the Employee’s inability, as a result of illness, incapacity, disease or calamity to perform a substantial
part of his or her reasonable duties as set forth herein, with no reasonable expectation that the Employee will be able to resume the performance of his or her reasonable duties, the Company shall continue to pay, or shall cause the Company to pay,
to the Employee the base salary set forth in paragraph 4, above, and, except as provided in the next sentence of this paragraph, all other benefits as set forth in this Agreement for a period of no less than six (6) months following the
commencement of such permanent disability. Any provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Employee shall be conclusively deemed to be permanently disabled if he or she is physically or mentally unable to perform his or her duties or a
substantial part thereof for a period of six consecutive months. The Employee shall have no right to earn any bonus compensation during such period of time. Thereafter, if such permanent disability continues, this Agreement shall terminate and the
Company (i) shall have no further obligation to the Employee under this Agreement other than in connection with such benefits as may be available under such disability insurance programs, and (ii) shall not be obligated to provide or pay
for any benefits under the programs or policies listed in subparagraphs 7.1 and 7.2 above, except as provided in subparagraph 10.11. 
  
 7.4. To the extent such benefits are not specifically described or duplicated hereinabove in this paragraph 7, the Employee shall also be
entitled to participate in any and all thrift, profit sharing, benefit and pension and similar plans, now or hereafter maintained by the Company and offered by the Company to its salaried, non-union employees generally; provided, however, that if
such participation in any such plan is terminated by the Company’s Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, then the Employee shall have no automatic entitlement to participate in the same. 
  
 8. Confidential Information. During the term of employment, and at any
time thereafter, the Employee shall not, without the consent of a senior officer of the Company, 

  

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disclose to any person, firm or corporation (except, during the term of his or her employment, to the extent necessary to perform his or her duties
hereunder) any customer lists, trade secrets, reports, correspondence, mailing lists, manuals, price lists, employee lists, prospective employee lists, letters, records or any other confidential information relating to the business of the Company or
any Affiliate of the Company and shall not, without the consent of a senior officer of the Company, deliver any oral address or speech or publish, or knowingly permit to be published, any written matter in any way relating to confidential
information regarding the business of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. 
  
 9. Property Rights. The Employee agrees that all literary work, copyrightable material or other proprietary information or materials developed by the Employee during the term of this Agreement and relating to,
or capable of being used or adopted for use in, the business of the Company shall inure to and be the property of the Company and must be promptly disclosed to the Company. Both during employment by the Company, and thereafter, the Employee shall,
at the expense of the Company, execute such documents and do such things as the Company reasonably may request to enable the Company or their nominee (i) to apply for copyright or equivalent protection in the United States, Canada and elsewhere
for any literary work hereinabove referred in this paragraph, or (ii) to be vested with any such copyright protection in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. 
  
 10. Termination. 
  
 10.1. Effect of Non-Renewal. If the Employee receives written election not to renew from the Company in accordance with paragraph 3
at least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of the calendar year containing the Termination Date (or, if applicable, any subsequent anniversary of the Termination Date), then the Agreement shall expire upon the Termination Date or such
other date as the parties may agree to in writing. After receipt of written election not to renew from the Company, the Employee may elect to treat such failure to renew as notice of termination by delivering written notice to the Company within
thirty (30) calendar days thereafter. This election to treat a failure to renew as a notice of termination shall not affect the Period of Employment unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. Unless the parties agree otherwise in writing,
the effective date of the notice of termination shall be the date of delivery of such election to the Company. Upon the effective date of a notice of termination under this subparagraph 10.1, the Company may request the Employee to, and if
requested, the Employee shall continue to perform his or her duties as set forth in this Agreement for a period not to exceed three (3) months from the effective date of notice of termination. In addition to such period, the Employee shall be
reasonably available for a period of nine (9) additional months for advice and consultation as requested by the Company. The Employee shall be entitled to receive all salary and benefits to which the Employee is entitled under this Agreement
until the applicable Termination Date; provided, however, that in the event the Employee obtains other employment during the period prior to the Termination Date, then the amount of base salary due hereunder shall be decreased by the salary and
benefits received by the Employee attributable to other employment during such period. However, if the Company gives the Employee a written election not to renew and simultaneously or subsequently terminates the Employee for Cause in accordance with
subparagraph 10.3, the Employee’s termination shall be governed by subparagraphs 10.3 and 10.4, and not by this subparagraph. 
  

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 10.2. Termination by the Employee. This Agreement may be terminated upon action of
the Employee by not less than two (2) months notice to the Company. The Employee agrees in the event of termination under this subparagraph to cooperate, advise and consult the Company as needed to assist in the transition of the
Employee’s replacement during such two (2) month period and thereafter for a period of four (4) months during reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances. 
  
 10.3. Termination by the Company for Cause. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent
immediate termination by the Company of the Employee’s employment under this Agreement for Cause, as defined in this Agreement. 
  
 10.4. Effect of Termination by Employee or Termination by the Company for Cause. If this Agreement is terminated under
subparagraphs 10.2 or 10.3 hereof, the Company shall be obligated to pay the Employee his or her base salary to the date of such termination, plus any accrued bonus. The Bank or the Company shall not be obligated to provide or pay for any further
benefits under the programs or policies listed in paragraph 7 above except to the extent that any of the benefits available under such programs or policies survive termination of the Employee’s employment by their express terms, or as required
by law (e.g., COBRA Benefits), in which event they shall continue only as required by their express terms or as required by law, whichever is applicable. The qualifying event for determining COBRA Benefits shall be the date on which the Employee
terminates employment or suffers a reduction of hours that would otherwise cause him to lose coverage under the applicable group health plan but for the extension of benefits hereunder. 
  
 10.5. Termination by the Company Without Cause or by the Employee Due to Adverse Change. In addition
to termination under subparagraphs 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 above, the Employee’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time without cause during the term provided in this Employment Agreement or by the Employee as
follows: (i) within twelve (12) months following the effective date of this Agreement if there occurs an Adverse Change in the Employee’s Circumstances within such twelve month period; or (ii) within twelve (12) months
following a Change in Control if there occurs an Adverse Change in the Employee’s Circumstances within such twelve (12) month period. In the event of and in consideration for all amounts and benefits payable hereunder by reason of a Change
in Control, the Employee acknowledges that the provisions of paragraph 14 hereof shall extend to any offices or facilities of any business that becomes an affiliate of or successor to the Company on account of such Change in Control. 
  
 In any such event of termination under this subparagraph
10.5, the Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump sum an amount equal to the greater of the Employee’s then current monthly salary rate or the rate in effect prior to any reduction which led to the termination times the greater of
(A) the number of months otherwise remaining in the Period of Employment set forth in paragraph 3, or (B) 12 months. The Company shall also provide the Employee with benefits in accordance with subparagraph 10.11 hereof. 
  

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 10.6. (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that
it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of the Employee, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, would constitute an
“excess parachute payment” within the meaning of §280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (each such payment, a “Parachute Payment”) and would result in the imposition on the Employee of
an excise tax under Code §4999, then, in addition to any other benefits to which the Employee is entitled under this Agreement or otherwise, the Employee shall be paid an amount in cash equal to the sum of the excise taxes payable by the
Employee by reason of receiving Parachute Payments plus the amount necessary to place the Employee in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal, state and local excise, income or other taxes at the highest
possible applicable rates on such Parachute Payments (including, without limitation, any payments under this subparagraph 10.6(a)) as if no excise taxes had been imposed with respect to Parachute Payments (the “Parachute Gross-up”). Any
Parachute Gross-up otherwise required by this subparagraph 10.6(a) shall not be made later than the time of the corresponding payment or benefit hereunder giving rise to the underlying Code §4999 excise tax (to the extent such determination has
been made prior to such time), even if the payment of the excise tax is not required under the Code until a later time. Any Parachute Gross-up otherwise required under this subparagraph 10.6(a) shall be made whether or not there is a Change in
Control, whether or not payments or benefits are payable under this Agreement, whether or not the payments or benefits giving rise to the Parachute Gross-up are made in respect of a Change in Control and whether or not the Employee’s employment
with the Employer shall have been terminated. 
  
 (b) All determinations to be made under this subparagraph 10.6 shall be made by an independent public accounting firm chosen by the Company (the “Accounting Firm”). 
  
 (c) In the event the Internal Revenue Service notifies the Employee of an inquiry with respect to the
applicability of Code §280G or Code §4999 to any payment by the Company, or assessment of tax under Code §4999 with respect to any payment by the Company, the Employee shall provide notice to the Company of such inquiry or assessment
within 10 days, and shall take no action with respect to such inquiry or assessment until the Company has responded thereto (provided such response is timely with respect to the inquiry or assessment). The Company shall have the right to appoint an
attorney or accountant to represent the Employee with respect to such inquiry or assessment, and the Employee shall fully cooperate with such representative as a condition of receiving a Parachute Gross-up with respect to such inquiry or assessment.

  
 (d) All of the fees and expenses of the
Accounting Firm in performing the determinations referred to in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above, or of the representative appointed pursuant to subparagraph (c) above, shall be borne solely by the Company. 
  
 (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing in this subparagraph 10.6,
if the imposition of a Code §4999 excise tax could be avoided by a reduction of the payments due to the Employee under this paragraph 10 (determined before application of subparagraph 10.6(a)) by an amount of 10% or less, then the total of all
such payments will be reduced to an amount one 

  

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dollar ($1.00) below the amount that would cause a Code §4999 excise tax to be imposed, and subparagraph 10.6(a) will not apply. 
  
 10.7. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
above, this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the close of business on the last business day in the calendar year in which the Employee attains the age of 65. Upon such termination, the Employee shall be entitled, to the extent he or she is
covered by such at the time, to all retirement, pension, insurance and other benefits available to the Company’s employees. 
  
 10.8. Upon termination of employment hereunder, the Employee shall not malign, criticize or otherwise disparage the Company or its
officers, directors or Affiliates. 
  
 10.9. Any
claims for benefits under paragraph 10 of the Agreement shall be governed by the claims procedures in the Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. Key Employee Severance Pay Plan, as amended from time to time. However, the severance benefit provisions of this
Agreement shall govern in lieu of the severance provisions of such Plan. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, the benefits provided under this Agreement in the case of a termination shall be in lieu of those provided by the Company and
its Affiliates under any other severance plans. 
  
 10.10. Prior to receiving any lump sum payments to which the Employee is entitled under this Agreement, the Employee agrees to sign an acknowledgment of receipt and release of claims in a form acceptable to the Company. 
  
 10.11. If the Employee ceases to be an active employee of
the Company or any Affiliate, but the Employee is still entitled to receive salary and benefits under one or more provisions of this Agreement other than this subparagraph, the Employee will receive the following benefits, but only to the extent the
Employee is entitled under such other provisions of this Agreement: applicable salary, COBRA Benefits, life insurance, and any payments due under any non-qualified pension or savings plans under which the Employee already participates. 

 
 11. Records. Upon the termination of employment hereunder, the
Employee shall deliver to the Company all correspondence, reports, customer lists, office keys, manuals, advertising brochures, sample contracts, price lists, employee lists, prospective employee lists, mailing lists, letters, records and any and
all other documents pertaining to or containing information relative to the business of the Company, and the Employee shall not remove any of such records either during the course of employment or upon the termination thereof. 
  
 The Employee understands that in the event of a violation of the provisions
of this paragraph 11, the Company, shall have the right to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other existing rights provided herein or by operation of law, without the requirement of posting bond. The remedies provided in this paragraph 11
shall be in addition to any legal or equitable remedies existing between the Employee and the Company, and shall not be construed as a limitation upon, or as alternative or in lieu of, such remedies. 
  

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 12. Prohibited Assignment. The Employee shall have no right to exchange, convert, encumber or
dispose of the rights to receive the benefits or payments under this Agreement, which payments, benefits and rights thereto are expressly declared to be non-assignable and non-transferable. 
  
 13. Indemnification. To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall
indemnify the Employee and hold him or her harmless from all liability and claims, whether meritorious or not, including the cost of defense thereof (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) which have arisen or accrued or which hereafter may
arise or accrue and are based upon any act or omission which the Employee has taken or committed or hereafter may take or commit on behalf of or in connection with the Company in his or her official capacity, so long as the following conditions are
met with respect to such claim or liability: (a) if such action was taken in the exercise of reasonable business judgment and was taken in an area within the scope of responsibility of the Employee, or (b) if not within the scope of the
Employee’s responsibility, (i) at the time of such act or omission the Board of Directors of the Company had knowledge of the facts or circumstances pursuant to which such act was taken or such omission occurred and (ii) no written
objection to such act or omission was duly made by the Board. 
  
 Actions taken by the Employee which are covered by this Agreement specifically include (by way of illustration), but are not limited to, (a) the payment of any salary, bonus or other compensation to any officer, director, or employee,
(b) the reimbursement or payment of any expenses incurred by any such officer, director or employee, (c) the making or retention of any investments (including, without limitation, loans) by the Company, or (d) injury claims against
the Company or the Employee based on negligence or other alleged tortious actions and which arise in connection with the conduct of the Company’s business. 
  

The Employee shall indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from all liability and claims, whether meritorious or not, including the cost of the
defense thereof (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) which have arisen or accrued or which hereafter may arise or accrue and are based upon acts taken without the consent or approval of the Board of Directors of the Company and which
represent the Employee’s deliberate malfeasance or gross negligence. 
  
 14. Non-Competition. During the Period of Employment hereunder, and in the event the Employee’s employment is terminated pursuant to subparagraphs 10.2 or 10.3 hereof, then for the later of (a) one
year thereafter or (b) the period during which compensation or benefits are being provided pursuant to this Agreement after its termination, the Employee will not directly for himself or herself or any third party, become engaged in any
business or activity which is directly in competition with any services or financial products sold by, or any business or activity engaged in by, the Company, including, without limitation, any business or activity engaged in by any federally or
state chartered bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, trust company and/or credit union, and/or any services or financial products sold by such entities, including, without limitation, the taking and accepting of deposits, the provision
of trust services, the making of loans and/or the extension of credit, brokering loans and/or leases and the provision of insurance and investment services, within a 25 mile radius of any office or facility of the Company or any of their Affiliates.
This provision shall not restrict the Employee from owning or investing in publicly traded securities of financial institutions, so long as his or her 

  

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aggregate holdings in any financial institution do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the outstanding capital stock of such institution. 
  
 During the Period of Employment hereunder, and for a period of two years
thereafter no matter the reason of termination, the Employee will not solicit any person who was a customer of the Company during the period of the Employee’s employment hereunder, or solicit potential customers who are or were identified
through leads developed during the course of employment with the Company, or otherwise divert or attempt to divert any existing business of the Company within any area of 100 miles of any office or facility of the Company or any of their Affiliates.

  
 The Employee will not, either during the Period of Employment
hereunder or for a period of two years thereafter directly for himself or any third party, solicit, induce, recruit or cause another person in the employment of the Company or any of their Affiliates to terminate his or her employment for the
purposes of joining, associating, or becoming employed with any business or activity which is in competition with any services or financial products sold, or any business or activity engaged in, by Company. 
  
 The Employee understands that in the event of a violation of any provision of
this Agreement, the Company shall have the right to seek injunctive relief, in addition to any other existing rights provided in this Agreement or by operation of law, without the requirement of posting bond. The remedies provided in this paragraph
shall be in addition to any legal or equitable remedies existing at law or provided for in any other agreement between the Employee or the Company, and shall not be construed as a limitation upon, or as an alternative or in lieu of, any such
remedies. If any provisions of this paragraph shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable in part by reason of it being too great a period of time or covering too great a geographical area, it shall be in full force
and effect as to that period of time or geographical area determined to be reasonable by the court. 
  
 15. Survival. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the parties agree that the Employee’s obligations under paragraphs 8
and 9 of this Agreement will continue despite the expiration of the term of this Agreement or its termination. 
  
 16. Preemptive Considerations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein: 
  
 16.1. If the Employee is suspended and/or temporarily
prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Company’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) and (g)(1)) or any amendments or supplements thereto, the
Company’s obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Company may in its discretion (i) pay the Employee all or
part of the compensation withheld while this Agreement’s obligations were suspended, and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were suspended. 
  
 16.2. If the Employee is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the
Company’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or 

  

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(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1818 (e)(4) or (g)(1)) or any amendments or supplements thereto, all obligations of the Company under
the contract shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the parties shall not be affected. 
  
 16.3. If the Company is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act), all obligations under this
Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this subparagraph 16.3 shall not affect any vested rights of the parties. 
  
 17. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement: 
  
 The term “Adverse Change in the Employee’s Circumstances” shall include and be limited to (a) a significant change in the nature or
scope of the Employee’s duties as set forth in the first sentence of paragraph 2 hereof such that the Employee has been reduced to a position of materially lesser authority, status or responsibility (provided, however, for purposes of this
subparagraph, in circumstances not involving a Change in Control, so long as the Employee remains a senior officer (which shall mean and include any officer position with the Company above the position of vice president), an Adverse Change in the
Employee’s Circumstances shall not be deemed to have occurred), or the time required to be spent by the Employee 60 miles or more beyond the Company’s geographic market area shall be increased without the Employee’s consent by more
than twenty percent (20%), as compared to the average of the two (2) preceding years, or (b) a reduction in the Employee’s base compensation or (c) any other material and willful breach by the Company of any other provision of
this Agreement. 
  
 The term “Affiliate” shall mean with
respect to the Company, persons or entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company. 
  
 The term “Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company. 
  
 The term “Cause” shall mean any of the following: (a) the Employee’s personal dishonesty; (b) the
Employee’s incompetence; (c) the Employee’s willful misconduct; (d) the Employee’s breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit; (e) the Employee’s intentional failure to perform stated duties; (f) the
Employee’s willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses); (g) the issuance of a final cease-and-desist order by a state or federal agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any
entity which controls the Company to the extent such cease-and-desist order requires the termination of the Employee; or (h) a material breach by the Employee of any provision of this Agreement. 
  
 The term “Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur, after
the date hereof, of any of the following: 
  
 (a)
if any Person is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any
securities acquired directly from the Company or its subsidiaries) representing 25% or more of either the then outstanding shares of stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; 
  

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 (b) if during any period of 24 consecutive months during the existence of this Agreement
commencing on or after the date hereof, the individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than death to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided that a
director who was not a director at the beginning of such 24-month period shall be deemed to have satisfied such 24-month requirement (and be an Incumbent Director) if such director was elected by, or on the recommendation of or with the approval of,
at least two-thirds of the directors who then qualified as Incumbent Directors either actually (because they were directors at the beginning of such 24-month period) or by prior operation of this clause (b); 
  
 (c) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation other than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least 60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the beneficial owner, as defined in clause (a),
directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its subsidiaries) representing 40% or more of either the then outstanding
shares of stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; or 
  
 (d) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or there is consummated an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 60% of the
combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by Persons in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale. 
  
 Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, no subsequent event or condition shall constitute a Change in
Control for purposes of this Agreement, with the result that there can be no more than one Change in Control hereunder. 
  
 The term “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined or any entity succeeding to substantially all of the assets and business of
the Company. 
  
 The term “COBRA Benefit” shall refer to
the right to continue group health insurance benefits under sections 601-607 of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended, (29 U.S.C. part 6) Act and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
  

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 The term “Period of Employment” shall have the meaning described in paragraph 3. 
  
 The term “Person” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto by
Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof (except that such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (iv) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company, or (v)such Employee or any “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) which
includes the Employee). 
  
 The term “Termination Date”
shall have the meaning described in paragraph 3. 
  
 18.
Miscellaneous. 
  
 18.1.
Assignment. This Agreement (including, without limitation, paragraph 14 hereof relating to non-competition) shall be binding upon the parties hereto, the heirs and legal representatives of the Employee and the successors and assigns of the
Company. 
  
 18.2. Notices. Any notice
required, permitted or intended to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given only if delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the
appropriate address shown below, or such revised address as is delivered to the other party by the same means; except as provided in subparagraph 10.3 hereinabove with regard to constructive notice. 
  

	 	(a)	Notices to the Company or to shall be sent to: 

 Susquehanna Bancshares 
 Attn. Director of Human Resources 
 26 North Cedar Street 
 P.O. Box 1000 
 Lititz, PA 17543-7000 
  

	 	(b)	Notices to the Employee shall be sent to: 

 Rodney A. Lefever 
 620 Fieldcrest Road 
 Lancaster, PA 17601 
  
 18.3. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties in connection with the subject matter
hereof, supersedes any and all prior agreements or understandings between the parties and may only be changed by agreement in writing between the parties. 
  
 18.4. Construction. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

  

 -12- 

 18.5. Paragraph Headings. The paragraph headings herein have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound, the parties have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES, INC.
		
	By:	 	/S/    EDWARD BALDERSTON,
JR.        
	 Title:
	 	 Executive Vice President and Chief
 Administrative Officer

  

					
	 Witness:
	 	 	 	EMPLOYEE
			
	/s/    JAMES H. FOSTER        	 	 	 	/s/    RODNEY A. LEFEVER        
	 	 	 	 	 

  

 -13-Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement

 Exhibit 4.2 
  
 AMERIS BANCORP 
  
 2005 OMNIBUS STOCK OWNERSHIP 
 AND
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN 
  
 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION
AGREEMENT 
  

					
	 Grantee:

	  	 Number of Shares:

	  	 Date of Grant:

	_____________________	  	_____________________	  	_____________________
			
	 Expiration Date* :

	  	 Exercise Price Per Share:

	  	 
	_____________________	  	$                                      
  	  	 

  
  

			
	 Vesting Dates and Amounts*:

	  	 Exercisability Dates*:

	____________________________	  	____________________________
	____________________________	  	____________________________
	____________________________	  	____________________________
	____________________________	  	____________________________
	____________________________	  	____________________________

  
 THIS AGREEMENT
(this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the date of the grant set forth above (the “Grant Date”), by and between Ameris Bancorp (f/k/a ABC Bancorp), a Georgia corporation (“Ameris”), and the above-named
individual (the “Grantee”). 
  
 W I
T N E S S E T H: 
  
 WHEREAS, Ameris has established the “ABC Bancorp 2005 Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long-Term Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”) to advance the interests of Ameris and any parent or subsidiary
corporation of Ameris (together with Ameris, the “Company”) by strengthening the Company’s ability to attract and retain individuals of training, experience and ability in the employ of the Company and to furnish additional incentive
to such key employees to promote the Company’s financial success; and 
  
 WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized a grant of an option to acquire capital stock
of Ameris to the Grantee as reflected herein on the Grant Date, the Board approved such grant on the Grant Date, and the Committee has the full power and authority to direct the execution and delivery of this Agreement in the name and on behalf of
Ameris in order to evidence and to set forth fully the terms of said grant; 
  

	*	Subject to acceleration as provided in Sections 3 and 4 hereof. 

 NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows: 
  
 1. Grant of ISO. Subject and pursuant to all terms and conditions
stated in this Agreement and in the Plan, which is incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof as though fully set forth herein, Ameris grants to the Grantee on the Grant Date an incentive stock option (the “ISO”, as
defined in the Plan), within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), to purchase the number of shares of Ameris’s common stock, $1.00 par value per share (the “Common
Stock”), set forth above (the “Option Shares”), at the exercise price per share set forth above (the “Per-Share Price”), on or before the expiration date set forth above (the “Expiration Date”). Unless sooner
vested pursuant to Section 3 or 4 hereof, the ISO shall become vested to the Grantee in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth above (each such date upon which all or any part of the ISO shall vest, a “Vesting Date”) so long
as (i) the Grantee remains employed with the Company throughout the period commencing on the Grant Date and continuing through the applicable Vesting Date and (ii) the performance targets set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto with
respect to such Vesting Date have been met. The Grantee hereby accepts the ISO on such terms and conditions. The Grantee shall, subject to the limitations of this Agreement and the Plan, have the right to exercise the ISO under the exercisability
schedule set forth above (each such date upon which all or any part of the ISO shall first become exercisable, an “Exercisability Date”) by purchasing all or any part of the Option Shares then available for purchase under the vesting
schedule set forth above. 
  
 2. Exercise of ISO. The
Grantee may exercise all or any part of the ISO by delivering written notice to the Committee (in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B) of the number of Option Shares (in a multiple of 100, except in the case of a full exercise of the
remaining vested portion of the ISO) to be purchased together with payment in an amount equal to the product of the Per-Share Price times the number of Option Shares to be purchased (the “Exercise Price”) made in one of the following forms
or a combination thereof: 
  
 (a) Payment in Cash. The
Committee may require the Grantee to make a cash payment to the Company equal to the amount of the Exercise Price; or 
  
 (b) Payment in Shares. The Grantee may request, in lieu of cash payment, that the Company either accept shares (of the same class as the Option
Shares) owned by the Grantee or withhold Option Shares, each as more fully described below. If the Committee grants any such request in whole or in part, in its sole and absolute discretion, any shares so accepted or withheld by the Company under
this paragraph (b) shall be valued at their fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board. In no such event shall any fractional shares be accepted or withheld, and thus any deficiency remaining after the acceptance or withholding
of whole shares shall be satisfied by the Grantee in cash. 
  
 In
the event the Committee has indicated to the Grantee that it will permit payment of the Exercise Price to be made in whole or in part with previously issued stock owned by the Grantee, the stock certificates evidencing the surrendered shares shall
accompany the notice of exercise and shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by duly executed stock powers to transfer the same to the Company. In the event that the Committee has indicated to the Grantee that it will permit payment of the Exercise
Price to be made in whole or in part with Option Shares, the notice of exercise need not be accompanied by any stock certificates but shall include a statement directing the Company to 
  

 2 

 retain that number of Option Shares as shall equal the number of shares that would have been surrendered to the Company
by the Grantee if the Exercise Price had been paid with previously issued stock. 
  
 In the event the Grantee does not make such payment when requested, the Company may refuse to issue or cause to be delivered any shares under this Agreement or any other incentive plan agreement entered into by the
Grantee and the Company until such payment has been made or arrangements for such payment satisfactory to the Company have been made. 
  
 Such notice of exercise shall be sent to the Committee at Ameris Bancorp, 24 Second Avenue SE, Moultrie, Georgia 31768, Attention: Chairman. The ISO shall
be deemed to have been exercised on the date the written notice and required consideration are received on behalf of the Committee. 
  
 3. Vesting and Exercisability of ISO Following Termination of Employment. 
  
 (a) Employment Termination Prior to Exercisability Date of ISO. In the case of any termination of the Grantee’s
employment with the Company, voluntarily or involuntarily, prior to an Exercisability Date, and other than under the circumstances described in Section 4 hereof, the following provisions shall apply: 
  
 (1) Unvested Portion of ISO. Any unvested portion of
the ISO shall immediately terminate upon the earlier of (i) the date the employment of the Grantee with the Company terminates, or (ii) the date the Grantee is given written notice of his or her discharge from such employment;
provided, however, that in the event such termination of employment occurs due to Retirement, Disability or Death (as each such term is defined in the Plan), then the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may cause all or any
part of such unvested portion of the ISO to become fully vested immediately upon the date of such employment termination (and thus become immediately exercisable and otherwise subject to the terms and conditions of subparagraph (2) immediately
below). 
  
 (2) Vested Portion of ISO. Any
vested but theretofore unexercisable portion of the ISO (including any portion of the ISO that vests in the discretion of the Committee pursuant to subparagraph (1) immediately above) shall become immediately exercisable but shall terminate
effective three (3) months after the earlier of (i) the date the employment of the Grantee with the Company terminates, or (ii) the date the Grantee is given written notice of his or her discharge from such employment;
provided, however, that in the event such termination of employment occurs due to either Disability or Death, such vested portion of the ISO may be exercised at any time (i) within one (1) year from such Disability (but in
all events prior to the Expiration Date), or (ii) prior to the Expiration Date in the case of employment termination by reason of Death. 
  
 (b) Employment Termination On or After Exercisability Date of ISO. In the case of any termination of the Grantee’s employment with the
Company, voluntarily or involuntarily, on or after an Exercisability Date, any vested and theretofore exercisable (but unexercised) portion of the ISO shall terminate effective three (3) months after the earlier of (i) the date the
employment of the 
  

 3 

 Grantee with the Company terminates, or (ii) the date the Grantee is given written notice of his or her discharge
from such employment; provided, however, that in the event such employment termination occurs due to Disability or Death, the ISO may be exercised at any time (i) within one (1) year from such Disability (but in all events
prior to the Expiration Date) or (ii) prior to the Expiration Date in the case of employment termination by reason of Death. 
  
 4. Vesting and Exercisability of ISO Following Change in Control. If a Triggering Event (as defined in the Plan) shall occur within the 12-month
period beginning with a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan) of the Company, then, effective immediately prior to such Triggering Event, any unvested and/or unexercisable portion of the ISO shall automatically become fully and immediately
vested and exercisable. 
  
 5. Legal Restrictions. If in
the opinion of legal counsel for the Company the issuance or sale of any Option Shares would not be lawful for any reason, including, without limitation, the inability of the Company to obtain from any governmental authority or regulatory body
having jurisdiction the authority deemed by such counsel to be necessary to such issuance or sale, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or sell any Option Shares pursuant to the exercise of this ISO to the Grantee or any other authorized
person unless a registration statement that complies with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), in respect of such Option Shares is in effect at the time thereof, or other appropriate action has been taken
under and pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Act, or the Company receives evidence satisfactory to such counsel that the issuance and sale of such Option Shares, in the absence of an effective registration statement or other appropriate
action, would not constitute a violation of the Act or any applicable state securities law. It is further agreed that the Company is in no event obligated to register any Option Shares, to comply with any exemption from registration requirements or
to take any other action which may be required in order to permit, or to remedy or remove any prohibition or limitation on, the issuance or sale of such Option Shares to the Grantee. The Grantee further acknowledges that the Act and/or applicable
state securities laws may restrict the right and govern the manner in which the Grantee may dispose of Option Shares, and the Grantee agrees not to offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any such shares in a manner which would violate the Act or any
other federal or state law. 
  
 6. Option Shares Delivered in
Escrow. All Option Shares issued upon any exercise of the ISO shall be held in escrow for a period which ends on the later of (i) two (2) years from the Grant Date or (ii) one (1) year after the issuance of such shares
pursuant to the exercise of the ISO. Such shares shall be held by the Company or its designee. During such escrow period, the Grantee shall have all rights of a shareholder of the Company, including, but not limited to, the rights to vote, receive
dividends and transfer such shares. The sole purpose of the escrow is to inform the Company of any disqualifying disposition (described in Section 422(a)(1) of the Code) of the Option Shares and it shall be administered solely for this purpose.

  
 7. No Rights as Shareholder or to Employment. Neither
the Grantee nor any other person authorized to purchase Common Stock upon exercise of this ISO shall have any interest in or shareholder rights with respect to any shares of the Common Stock which are subject to this ISO until such shares have been
issued and delivered into escrow as provided in Section 6 hereof. Furthermore, neither this Agreement nor the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee any rights of 
  

 4 

 employment with the Company, including, without limitation, any right to continue in the employ of the Company, or shall
affect the right of the Company to terminate the employment of the Grantee at any time, with or without cause. 
  
 8. Withholding Taxes. As a condition of exercise of this ISO, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, withhold or require the Grantee to pay or
reimburse the Company for any taxes which the Company determines are required to be withheld in connection with the grant or any exercise of this ISO. 
  
 9. Heirs and Successors. This Agreement and all terms and conditions hereof shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their successors, heirs,
legatees and legal representatives. 
  
 10. Nontransferability;
Who May Exercise. Neither this Agreement nor the ISO granted hereby may be transferred or assigned, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and the ISO may not be exercised by any person other than the Grantee during the
Grantee’s lifetime. 
  
 11. Plan Controls. Copies of
the Plan will be made available to the Grantee upon request. In the event of any conflict between the Plan and this Agreement, the Plan shall control and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. 
  
 12. Governing Law; Venue. To the extent not superseded by federal law,
the laws of the State of Georgia shall control in all matters relating to this Agreement and any action relating to this Agreement must be brought in Colquitt County, State of Georgia. 
  
 13. Counterparts; Facsimile Delivery. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in counterparts, each of which
will be deemed an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Executed counterparts may be delivered via facsimile transmission. 
  
 14. Compliance with Section 409A. The Company expressly reserves the right to modify or amend this Agreement
without the consent of the Grantee if the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that such modification or amendment is necessary or desirable for purposes of compliance with or exemption from the requirements of Section 409A of the Code
or any regulations or other guidance issued thereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall have no liability whatsoever to the Grantee or any other person in the event that this Agreement is determined to be subject to and not
in compliance with Section 409A of the Code. 
  
 [Signatures
on following page.] 
  

 5 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement, all as of the Grant Date set
forth herein. 
  

			
	 AMERIS BANCORP

		
	By:	 	  

	 	 	Chairman of the Committee
	
	  

	GRANTEE

 EXHIBIT A 
  
 PERFORMANCE TARGETS 
  
 [To be completed.] 

 EXHIBIT B 
  
 EXERCISE OF INCENTIVE 
 STOCK OPTION 
  
 The
undersigned Optionee under that certain Ameris Bancorp Incentive Stock Option Agreement dated as of
                                        
             (the “Agreement”), hereby exercises the Incentive Stock Option granted under the Agreement for the following number of shares of Common Stock, subject to the terms
and conditions of the Agreement: 
  

				
	 Number of shares being purchased
 (must be a multiple of 100 or full exercise):
	  	 	                    
		
	 Total purchase price submitted herewith:
	  	$	                    

  

	
	  

	(Signature)
	
	  

	(Date)

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