EX-10.1 3 ex101ssbk-sellervotingagre.htm EX-10.1
Exhibit 10.1
VOTING AGREEMENT
This VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 31, 2025, by and among FB Financial Corporation (“Buyer”), a Tennessee corporation, Southern States Bancshares, Inc. (“Seller”), an Alabama corporation, and the undersigned stockholder (the “Stockholder”) of Seller in the Stockholder’s capacity as a stockholder of Seller, and not in his or her capacity as a director, officer, or director and officer, as applicable, of Seller.
Preamble
Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Buyer and Seller are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Seller will merge with and into Buyer, with Buyer as the surviving corporation (the “Merger”), and Southern States Bank, an Alabama state banking corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Seller (“Seller Bank”), will merge with and into FirstBank, a Tennessee state-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer (“Buyer Bank”), with Buyer Bank as the surviving bank (together with the Merger, the “Mergers”).
As of the date hereof, the Stockholder, who is also a director, officer or director and officer, as applicable, of Seller and has Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, those shares of common stock, par value $5.00 per share, of Seller (“Seller Common Stock”) specified on Schedule 1 attached hereto, which, by virtue of the Merger, will be converted into the right to receive shares of Buyer Common Stock (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement), and therefore the Mergers are expected to be of substantial benefit to the Stockholder.
As a condition and inducement to Buyer and Seller entering into the Merger Agreement, Buyer and Seller have required that the Stockholder agree, and the Stockholder has agreed, to enter into this Agreement and abide by the covenants and obligations set forth herein.
Other individuals, as a condition and inducement to Buyer and Seller entering into the Merger Agreement, will enter into and abide by the covenants and obligations set forth in substantially similar voting agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
1.1. Defined Terms. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.
“Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Person.
“Beneficial Ownership” by a Person of any securities means ownership by any Person who, directly or indirectly, through any Contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise,

has or shares (a) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; or (b) investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition, of such security; and shall otherwise be interpreted in accordance with the term “beneficial ownership” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, that for purposes of determining Beneficial Ownership, a Person shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of any securities such Person has, at any time during the term of this Agreement, the right to acquire pursuant to any Contract, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise (irrespective of whether the right to acquire such securities is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time, including the passage of time in excess of 60 days, the satisfaction of any conditions, the occurrence of any event or any combination of the foregoing). The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have a correlative meaning.
“Business” means the business of acting as a commercial, community or retail banking business including, but not limited to, entities that lend money, take deposits, provide financial advice, provide investment advice and offer financial products and services, either directly or indirectly through other Persons.
“Control” (including the terms “Controlling,” “C ontrolled by” and “under common Control with”), with respect to the relationship between or among two or more Persons, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the affairs or management of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, as trustee or executor, by Contract or any other means.
“Constructive Sale” means, with respect to any security, a short sale with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative Contract with respect to such security, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward Contract to deliver such security or entering into any other hedging or other derivative transaction that has the effect of either directly or indirectly materially changing the economic benefits and risks of ownership of any security.
“Covered Shares” means, with respect to the Stockholder, the Existing Shares, together with any shares of Seller Common Stock or other capital stock of Seller and any Buyer securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Seller Common Stock or other capital stock of Seller, in each case, that the Stockholder acquires Beneficial Ownership of on or after the date hereof.
“Encumbrance” means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien (statutory or other), charge, option to purchase, lease or other right to acquire any interest or any claim, restriction, covenant, title defect, hypothecation, assignment, voting trust or agreement, deposit arrangement or other encumbrance of any kind or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement).
“Existing Shares” means, with respect to the Stockholder, all shares of Seller Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Stockholder as specified on Schedule 1 hereto.
“Litigation” means any action, arbitration, mediation, cause of action, lawsuit, claim, complaint, criminal prosecution, governmental or other examination or investigation, audit (other than regular audits of financial statements by outside auditors), hearing, administrative or other proceeding relating to or affecting a Person, its business, its records, its policies, its practices, its compliance with Law, its actions, its Assets (including Contracts related to it), or the transactions contemplated by this
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Agreement or the Merger Agreement, but shall not include regular, periodic examinations of depository institutions and their Affiliates by Governmental Authorities.
“Permitted Transfer” means (a) a Transfer as the result of the death of the Stockholder to a descendant, heir, executor, administrator, testamentary trustee, lifetime trustee or legatee of the Stockholder, (b) Transfers to Affiliates (including trusts) and family members in connection with estate and tax planning purposes, (c) Transfers to any other stockholder or party who has executed a copy of this Agreement on the date hereof, (d) Transfers in connection with the payment of any withholding taxes owed by the Stockholder in connection with any vesting, settlement, or exercise, as applicable, of a Seller Stock Option, Seller Restricted Stock Award, or Seller RSU Award, (e) Transfers in respect of Covered Shares pledged in a bona fide transaction, which is outstanding prior to or as of the date hereof, to a lender to the Stockholder, and (f) such Transfers as Buyer may otherwise permit; provided, that, in the case of the foregoing clauses (a), (b), and (f), prior to the effectiveness of such Transfer, such transferee executes and delivers to Buyer and Seller an agreement that is identical to this Agreement or such other written agreement, in form and substance acceptable to Buyer, to assume all of Stockholder’s obligations hereunder in respect of the Covered Shares subject to such Transfer and to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, with respect to the Covered Shares subject to such Transfer, to the same extent as the Stockholder is bound hereunder and to make each of the representations and warranties hereunder in respect of the Covered Shares Transferred as the Stockholder shall have made hereunder.
“Transfer” means, with respect to any security, the direct or indirect assignment, sale, transfer, tender, exchange, pledge, hypothecation, or the grant, creation or suffrage of an Encumbrance in or upon, or the gift, placement in trust, or the Constructive Sale or other disposition of such security (including transfers by testamentary or intestate succession or otherwise by operation of Law) or any right, title or interest therein (including, but not limited to, any right or power to vote to which the holder thereof may be entitled, whether such right or power is granted by proxy or otherwise), or the record or Beneficial Ownership thereof, the offer to make such a sale, transfer, Constructive Sale or other disposition, and each Contract, arrangement or understanding, whether or not in writing, to effect any of the foregoing. The term “Transferred” shall have a correlative meaning.
ARTICLE II
COVENANTS OF STOCKHOLDER
2.1. Agreement to Vote. The Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that during the term of this Agreement, at a special meeting of the stockholders of Seller or at any other meeting of the stockholders of Seller, however called, including any adjournment or postponement thereof, and in connection with any written consent of the stockholders of Seller, the Stockholder shall, in each case to the fullest extent that such matters are submitted for the vote or written consent of the Stockholder and that the Covered Shares are entitled to vote thereon or consent thereto:
(a) appear at each such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Covered Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and
(b) vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, or deliver (or cause to be delivered) a written consent covering, all of the Covered Shares as to which the Stockholder controls the right to vote individual capacity (and not when Stockholder is acting as a trustee, representative or fiduciary or other similar capacity):
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(i) in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Mergers, and any actions required in furtherance thereof;
(ii) against any action or agreement that could result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation of Seller under the Merger Agreement;
(iii) against any Acquisition Proposal;
(iv) against any action, agreement, amendment to any agreement or organizational document, transaction, matter or proposal submitted for the vote or written consent of the stockholders of Seller that is intended or would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, prevent, delay, postpone, discourage, frustrate the purposes of or adversely affect the Mergers or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement or the performance by Seller of its obligations under the Merger Agreement.
2.2. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that, except for this Agreement, the Stockholder (a) shall not enter into, at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, any voting agreement or voting trust or any other Contract with respect to the Covered Shares, (b) shall not grant at any time while this Agreement remains in effect, a proxy (other than as required to effect the Stockholder’s voting obligations in Section 2.1), Consent or power of attorney in contravention of the obligations of the Stockholder under this Agreement with respect to the Covered Shares, (c) shall not commit any act, except for Permitted Transfers, that could restrict or affect his or her legal power, authority and right to vote any of the Covered Shares then held of record or Beneficially Owned by the Stockholder or otherwise reasonably expected to prevent or disable the Stockholder from performing any of his or her obligations under this Agreement, and (d) shall not take any action that would reasonably be expected to make any representation or warranty of the Stockholder contained herein untrue or incorrect or have the effect of impeding, preventing, delaying, interfering with, disabling or adversely affecting the performance by, the Stockholder of his or her obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to Seller, Buyer and Buyer Bank as follows:
(a) Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action. The Stockholder has the requisite capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform his or her obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder, enforceable against him or her in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exception).
(b) Ownership. The Existing Shares are, and all of the Covered Shares owned by the Stockholder from the date hereof through and on the Closing Date will be, Beneficially Owned by the Stockholder except to the extent such Covered Shares are Transferred after the date hereof pursuant to a Permitted Transfer. From the date hereof through and on the Closing Date, the Stockholder has and will
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have sole title to the Covered Shares, free and clear of any Encumbrances other than those imposed by applicable Securities Laws or restrictions on transfer arising under the Seller Stock Plans. As of the date hereof, the Existing Shares constitute all of the shares of Seller Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Stockholder. The Stockholder has and will have at all times through the Closing Date Beneficial Ownership with respect to all of the Existing Shares and with respect to all of the Covered Shares owned by the Stockholder at all times through the Closing Date. The Stockholder has and will have possession of an outstanding certificate or outstanding certificates representing all of the Covered Shares (other than Covered Shares held at the Depository Trust Company or in book-entry form) and such certificate or certificates does or do not contain any legend or restriction inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(c) No Violation. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the performance by the Stockholder of his or her obligations under this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with or violate any Law or Order applicable to the Stockholder or by which any of his or her Assets is bound, or (ii) constitute or result in a default under or the loss of any benefit under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance on the Assets of the Stockholder under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which the Stockholder is a party or by which the Stockholder or any of his or her Assets is bound, except for any of the foregoing as would not be reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform his or her obligations under this Agreement. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, neither the Stockholder nor any of his or her Affiliates (A) has entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any Covered Shares or entered into any other Contract relating to the voting of the Covered Shares or (B) has appointed or granted a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any Covered Shares.
(d) Consents and Approvals. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Stockholder does not, and the performance by the Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, require the Stockholder to obtain any Consent. No Consent of Stockholder’s spouse is necessary under any “community property” or other laws in order for Stockholder to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(e) Legal Proceedings. There is no Litigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Stockholder, threatened against or affecting the Stockholder or any of his or her Affiliates that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Stockholder to perform his or her obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis.
(f) No Fees. The Stockholder has not employed any broker or finder or incurred any direct or indirect, primary or secondary, liability, indebtedness, obligation, penalty, cost or expense (including costs of investigation, collection and defense), claim, deficiency, guaranty or endorsement of or by any Person (other than endorsements of notes, bills, checks, and drafts presented for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business) of any type, whether accrued, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, matured or unmatured, or otherwise, for any financial advisory fees, investment bankers’ fees, brokerage fees, commissions, or finders’ fees in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) Reliance by Buyer. The Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Buyer is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of Stockholder contained herein.
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ARTICLE IV
OTHER COVENANTS
4.1. Prohibition on Transfers; Other Actions.
(a) Until the earlier of the receipt of the Requisite Seller Stockholder Approval or the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Stockholder hereby agrees not to (i) Transfer any of the Covered Shares, Beneficial Ownership thereof or any other interest specifically therein unless such Transfer is a Permitted Transfer; (ii) enter into any Contract with any Person, or take any other action, that violates or conflicts with or would reasonably be expected to violate or conflict with, or result in or give rise to a violation of or conflict with, the Stockholder’s representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under this Agreement; (iii) grant any proxy, power-of-attorney or other authorization in or with respect to any or all of the Covered Shares other than as required to effect the Stockholder’s voting obligations in Section 2.1; (iv) except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, take any action that could restrict or otherwise affect the Stockholder’s legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Covered Shares then Beneficially Owned by him or her, or otherwise comply with and perform his or her covenants and obligations under this Agreement; or (v) publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing. Any Transfer in violation of this provision shall be void. As promptly as practicable following the date hereof, Seller shall notify its transfer agent that there is a stop transfer order with respect to all of the Covered Shares and that this Agreement places limits on the voting of the Covered Shares; provided, that any such stop transfer order and notice will immediately be withdrawn and terminated by Seller following the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 5.1.
(b) The Stockholder understands and agrees that if the Stockholder attempts to Transfer, vote or provide any other Person with the authority to vote any of the Covered Shares other than in compliance with this Agreement, Seller shall not, and the Stockholder hereby unconditionally and irrevocably instructs Seller to not (i) permit such Transfer on its books and records, (ii) issue a new certificate representing any of the Covered Shares, or (iii) record such vote unless and until the Stockholder shall have complied with the terms of this Agreement.
4.2. Certain Events. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Seller Common Stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Existing Shares” and “Covered Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.
4.3. Notice of Acquisitions. Except for issuances upon Settlement of Seller Equity Awards, Stockholder hereby agrees to notify Seller and Buyer as promptly as practicable (and in any event at least two Business Days prior to the occurrence of any of the following events) in writing of (a) the number of any additional shares of Seller Common Stock or other securities of Seller of which the Stockholder acquires Beneficial Ownership on or after the date hereof, and (b) any proposed Permitted Transfers of the Covered Shares, Beneficial Ownership thereof or other interest specifically therein.
4.4. Acquisition Proposals. In all cases subject to Section 4.6, Stockholder shall not, and shall use his or her reasonable best efforts to cause his or her Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (a) solicit, initiate, seek, encourage (including by providing information or assistance), facilitate or induce any Acquisition Proposal, (b) engage or participate in any
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discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish or cause to be furnished to any Person any information or data in connection with, or afford access to the business, personnel, Assets or Books and Records of the Seller and its Subsidiaries in connection with, or take any other action to solicit, facilitate or induce the making of, any inquiry, offer or proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal (except to notify a Person of the existence of this Section 4.4 or of Section 5.08 of the Merger Agreement), (c) approve, agree to, accept, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal, (d) solicit proxies or become a “participant” in a “solicitation” (as such terms are defined under the Exchange Act) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or otherwise encourage or assist any party in taking or planning any action that would reasonably be expected to compete with, restrain or otherwise serve to interfere with or inhibit the timely consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, (e) initiate a stockholders’ vote or action by consent of Seller’s stockholders with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, (f) except by reason of this Agreement, become a member of a “group” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) with respect to any voting securities of Seller that takes any action in support of an Acquisition Proposal, (g) approve, agree to, accept, endorse or recommend, or propose to approve, agree to, accept, endorse or recommend any definitive agreement contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition Transaction, or (h) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing. Without limiting the foregoing, it is agreed that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section 4.4 by any Affiliate or representative, agent, or attorney of the Stockholder shall constitute a breach of this Section 4.4 by the Stockholder.
4.5. Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. 1
(a) The Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that that during the Stockholder's ownership, directly or indirectly, of Seller and as a director of Seller, the Stockholder and its Affiliates have become familiar with Seller’s trade secrets and with other confidential information concerning Seller and its Affiliates. Therefore, and in further consideration of the compensation to be paid to the Stockholder pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder agrees to the covenants set forth in this Section 4.5 and acknowledges that: (i) the goodwill (including customer relationships) of Seller and its Affiliates associated with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement is being acquired by Buyer; (ii) the Stockholder’s receipt of consideration for the Merger Consideration is a direct benefit from Buyer’s acquisition of such goodwill of Seller and its Affiliates; (iii) it is fair and appropriate to preserve the value of the goodwill of Seller and its Affiliates by entering into the covenants contained in this Section 4.5, which limits the Stockholder's ability to compete with Seller and its Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns; (iv) the agreements and covenants provided by the Stockholder in this Section 4.5 are essential to protect the value of Seller and its Affiliates, including the goodwill associated with Seller and its Affiliates; (v) without the covenants and agreements of the Stockholder contained in this Section 4.5, Buyer would not have entered into the Merger Agreement and such covenants and agreements contained herein were a condition and inducement to Buyer to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions pursuant to the Merger Agreement; and (vi) each and all of the restrictions contained in this Section 4.5, including the duration, scope and geographic area of the covenants described in this Section 4.5 are fair, reasonable and necessary in order to protect Seller and its Affiliates’ goodwill and other assets and legitimate interests of Seller and its Affiliates as those interests exist as of the date hereof.
1 Section 4.5 shall only be included in agreements where the Stockholder is also a director. Where the Stockholder is also an officer with an employment agreement containing equivalent covenants, Section 4.5 shall be omitted and marked as “Reserved”.
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(b) The Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that, for a period commencing on the Closing Date and terminating on the first anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Restricted Period”), such Stockholder shall not, within 50 miles of any branch or other office of Seller or Seller Bank in operation as of the date of this Agreement directly or indirectly, either for him or herself or for any other Person other than for Buyer or its Affiliates, participate in any business (including, without limitation, any division, group or franchise of a larger organization) that engages (or proposes to engage) in the Business; provided, that if as of the date hereof the Stockholder holds not more than a 1% direct or indirect equity interest in such Person, then the Stockholder may retain (but not increase) such ownership interest without being deemed to “participate” in the Business conducted by such Person. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “participate” shall mean having more than 1% direct or indirect ownership interest in any Person, whether as a sole proprietor, investor, owner, equity holder, partner, member, manager, joint venturer, creditor or otherwise, or rendering any direct or indirect service or assistance to any Person (whether as a director, officer, manager, member, supervisor, employee, agent, consultant or otherwise), with respect to the Business; provided, however, that in the event such Person is a reporting company with securities registered under the Exchange Act pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g), or 15(d), such thresholds shall be increased to 5%.
(c) The Stockholder covenants and agrees that during the Restricted Period, the Stockholder shall not directly or indirectly, (i) as employee, agent, consultant, director, equity holder, member, manager, partner or in any other capacity, without Buyer’s prior written consent (other than for the benefit of Buyer or its Affiliates), solicit, call upon, communicate with or attempt to communicate (whether by mail, telephone, electronic mail, social media, personal meeting or any other means), excluding general solicitations of the public that are not based in whole or in part on any list of customers of Seller, Seller Bank, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Bank or any of their respective Affiliates with any Person that is or was a customer of Seller or any of its Affiliates (including Seller Bank) during the one-year period preceding the Closing Date for the purpose of engaging in opportunities related to the Business or contracts related to the Business, or (ii) interfere with or damage (or attempt to interfere with or damage) any relationship between Seller, Seller Bank, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Bank or any of their respective Affiliates and any such customers, supplier, licensee, licensor, franchisee or other business relation (including making, publishing or communicating any negative, defamatory or disparaging statements, remarks or comments concerning or alluding to Seller, Seller Bank, the Surviving Entity, the Surviving Bank or any of their respective Affiliates or their products, customers, suppliers, licensees, licensors, franchisees and other associated third parties or make any maliciously false statements about Seller’s, Seller Bank’s, the Surviving Entity’s, the Surviving Bank’s or any of their respective Affiliates’ employees and officers).
(d) The Stockholder covenants and agrees that during the Restricted Period, such Stockholder shall not directly or indirectly, as employee, agent, consultant, director, equity holder, member, manager, partner or in any other capacity, without Buyer’s prior written consent, employ, engage, recruit, hire, solicit or induce, or cause others to solicit or induce, for employment or engagement, any employee of Seller or its Affiliates (including Seller Bank) (excluding general solicitations of the public that are not based on any list of, or directed at, employees of Seller or its Affiliates (including Seller Bank)).
4.6. Stockholder Capacity. The Stockholder is signing this Agreement solely in his or her capacity as a holder of Seller Common Stock, and nothing herein shall prohibit, prevent or preclude the Stockholder from taking or not taking any action in the Stockholder’s capacity as a director, officer or director and officer of Seller to the extent permitted by the Merger Agreement (including with respect to Superior Proposals). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the obligations of
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Stockholder under this Agreement shall not be applicable in connection with an Acquisition Proposal that is a Superior Proposal, provided that Seller and its Affiliates have complied with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, including Section 5.08. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed or require the Stockholder, in his or capacity as a director, officer or employee, to act or fail to act in accordance with his or her fiduciary duties.
4.7. Further Assurances. From time to time, at the request of Buyer or Seller and without further consideration, the Stockholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.8. Disclosure. The Stockholder hereby authorizes Buyer and Seller to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by applicable Law and any proxy statement filed in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement the Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Covered Shares and the nature of the Stockholder’s obligation under this Agreement.
4.9. Release of Certain Claims.
(a) The undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, effective upon the consummation of the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Seller and Seller Bank, and each of their respective directors and officers (in their capacities as such), and their respective successors and assigns, and each of them (hereinafter, individually and collectively, the “Released Parties”) of and from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, debts, accounts, covenants, agreements, obligations, costs, expenses, actions or causes of action of every nature, character, or description (collectively, “Claims”), which the undersigned, solely in his or her capacity as an officer, director, or employee of Seller or Seller Bank has or claims to have, or previously had or claimed to have, in each case as of the Effective Time, against any of the Released Parties, whether or not in law, equity or otherwise, based in whole or in part on any facts, conduct, activities, transactions, events, or occurrences known or unknown, matured or unmatured, contingent or otherwise (individually a “Released Claim,” and collectively, the “Released Claims”), except for (i) compensation for services that have accrued but have not yet been paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, unpaid reimbursable expenses, or other contract rights relating to severance, employment, stock options, and restricted stock grants which have been disclosed in writing to Buyer on or prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, and (ii) the items listed in Section 4.9(b) below.
(b) For avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Released Claims do not include any of the following:
(i) any Claims that the undersigned may have in any capacity other than as an officer, director, or employee of Seller or Seller Bank, including, but not limited to, (A) Claims as a borrower under loan commitments and agreements between the undersigned and Seller Bank, (B) Claims as a depositor under any deposit account with Seller Bank, (C) Claims as the holder of any Certificate of Deposit issued by Seller Bank, (D) Claims on account of any services rendered by the undersigned in a capacity other than as an officer, director, or employee of any Seller or Seller Bank; and (E) Claims as a holder of any check issued by any other depositor of Seller Bank;
(ii) the Claims excluded in Section 4.9(a)(i) above;
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(iii) any Claims that the undersigned may have under the Merger Agreement; or
(iv) any right to indemnification that the undersigned may have under the articles of incorporation or bylaws of Seller or Seller Bank, under Tennessee law or the Merger Agreement;
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1. Termination. This Agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) the date of termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, and (c) the termination of this Agreement by mutual written consent of the parties hereto; provided, that (i) the provisions of ARTICLE V shall survive any termination of this Agreement and (ii) the provisions of Section 4.5 shall survive until the end of the Restricted Period in the case of termination pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 5.1. Nothing in this Section 5.1 and no termination of this Agreement shall relieve or otherwise limit any party of liability for fraud, or willful or intentional breach of this Agreement.
5.2. No Ownership Interest. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to vest in Buyer or Seller any direct or indirect ownership or incidence of ownership of or with respect to any Covered Shares. All rights, ownership and economic benefits of and relating to the Covered Shares shall remain vested in and belong to the Stockholder, and Buyer or Seller shall not have any authority to direct the Stockholder in the voting or disposition of any of the Covered Shares, except as otherwise provided herein.
5.3 Notices. All notices or other communications which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered by hand, by registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested, by courier or overnight carrier, or by email (with confirmed receipt) to the Persons at the addresses set forth below (or at such other address as may be provided hereunder), and shall be deemed to have been delivered as of the date so delivered:

Buyer: | FB Financial Corporation
| First Bank
| 1221 Broadway, Suite 1300
| Nashville, Tennessee 37203
| Attn: Beth Sims, General Counsel
| Email: bsims@firstbankonline.com
Copy to Counsel: | Alston & Bird
| One Atlantic Center
| 1201 West Peachtree Street
| Atlanta, Georgia 30309
| Attn: Mark Kanaly
| Email: Mark.Kanaly@alston.com

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Seller: | Southern States Bancshares, Inc.
| 100 Office Park Drive
| Birmingham, AL 35223
| Attn: Lynn Joyce, Senior Executive Vice
| President and Chief Financial Officer
| Email: ljoyce@ssbank.bank
Copy to Counsel: | Jones Walker LLP
| 420 20th St. N
| Suite 1100
| Birmingham, AL 35293
| Attn: Mike Waters
| Email: mwaters@joneswalker.com
Shareholder: | To those Persons indicated on Schedule 1.

5.4 Interpretation. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against any party, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. No party to this Agreement shall be considered the draftsman. The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement has been reviewed, negotiated, and accepted by all parties and their attorneys (if such parties elected to engage legal counsel) and, unless otherwise defined herein, the words used shall be construed and interpreted according to their ordinary meaning so as fairly to accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto. Section headings of this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are to be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The word “or” shall not be exclusive and “any” means “any and all.” “Extent” in the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase does not mean simply “if.” The words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any specific Section.
5.5 Counterparts; Delivery by Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement, and any amendments or waivers hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by electronic means, including by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic means, including e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, to deliver a signature to this Agreement or any amendment hereto or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of electronic means, including e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, as a defense to the formation of a contract and each party hereto forever waives any such defense.
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5.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and, to the extent referenced herein, the Merger Agreement, together with the several agreements and other documents and instruments referred to herein or therein or annexed hereto or thereto, constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder and supersedes all prior arrangements or understandings, with respect thereto, written and oral.
5.7 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
5.7.1 The parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in all respects in accordance with and all disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be resolved under, the Laws of the State of Tennessee without regard to any conflict of Laws or choice of Law principles that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the substantive Law of another jurisdiction.
5.7.2 Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding, or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought exclusively in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located in the State of Tennessee. Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Tennessee courts in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding, or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding, or litigation in such Tennessee courts. Service of any court paper may be effected on a party hereto by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable Laws.
5.7.3 EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (III) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (IV) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 5.7.
5.8 Amendments; Waivers. To the extent permitted by Law, this Agreement may be amended or waived by a subsequent writing signed by each of the parties upon the approval of each of the parties. The parties hereto may, to the extent permitted by Law, (a) extend the time for the performance
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of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or satisfaction of any conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure to comply with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition. No failure or delay by any party hereto in exercising any right, power, remedy or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power or privilege.
5.9 Enforcement of Agreement. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties hereto would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity. Each of the parties waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any Law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.
5.10 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.
5.11 Assignment. Except as expressly contemplated hereby, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any party hereto (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise by operation of Law) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in contravention hereof shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentences, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
5.12 Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any Person, other than the parties or their respective successors, any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties hereto and are for the sole benefit of the parties. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the parties hereto in accordance herewith without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the parties hereto of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the parties hereto. Consequently, Persons other than the parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, no Consent, approval or agreement of any third party beneficiary will be required to amend, modify or waive any provision of this Agreement.
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5.13 Expenses. Each of the parties hereto shall bear and pay all direct costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
5.14 Reasonable Efforts. On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Stockholder agrees to execute and deliver such additional documents as Buyer may reasonably request and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable. Without limiting the foregoing, the Stockholder shall execute and deliver to Buyer and any of its designees any proxies reasonably requested by Buyer with respect to the Stockholder’s voting obligations under this Agreement.
[signatures on following page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed (where applicable, by their respective officers or other authorized Person thereunto duly authorized) as of the day and year first written above.
FB FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: __________________________
Name:
Title:
SOUTHERN STATES BANCSHARES, INC.
By: __________________________
Name:
Title:
STOCKHOLDER
______________________________
Name:

Schedule 1
INFORMATION

Name |  | Existing Shares
______________________________ |  | _______________________________

Address for notice:
Name: ________________________
Street: ________________________
________________________
City, State: ________________________
ZIP Code: ________________________
Telephone: ________________________
Fax: ________________________
Email: ________________________