Exhibit 10.17

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), is
made and dated as of May 24, 1999 by and between ABC BANCORP, a Georgia
corporation (“Employer”), and KENNETH J. HUNNICUTT, an individual resident of
Moultrie, Georgia (“Executive”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, Executive and Employer are parties to that certain Executive Employment
Agreement dated as of September 20, 1994, as amended by the Amendment No.1
thereto dated as of September 30, 1996 (as so amended, the “Original
Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, Executive and Employer each wish to modify and amend and restate the
Original Agreement in the manner set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, Executive is and has been employed by Employer as its President and
Chief Executive Officer and makes and has made valuable contributions to the
profitability and financial strength of Employer;

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires to encourage Executive to continue to make valuable
contributions to Employer’s business operations and not to seek or accept
employment elsewhere;

 

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

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires to assure the continued services of Executive on
behalf of Employer on an objective and impartial basis and without distraction
or conflict of interest in the event of an attempt by any person to obtain
control of Employer;

 

WHEREAS, Employer recognizes that when faced with a proposal for a change of
control of Employer, Executive will have a significant role in helping the Board
of Directors assess the options and advising Employer’s Board of Directors (the
“Board”) on what is in the best interests of Employer and its shareholders, and
it is necessary for Executive to be able to provide this advice and counsel
without being influenced by the uncertainties of his own situation;

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WHEREAS, Employer desires to provide fair and reasonable benefits to Executive
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Employer desires reasonable protection of its confidential business and
customer information which it has developed over the years at substantial
expense and assurance that Executive will not compete with Employer for a
reasonable period of time after termination of his employment with Employer,
except as otherwise provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises, the mutual covenants and
undertakings herein contained and the continued employment of Executive by
Employer as its President and Chief Executive Officer, each intending to be
legally bound, covenant and agree as follows:

 

1. Employment. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, Employer employs Executive as Employer’s President and Chief
Executive Officer, and Executive accepts such employment.

 

2. Position and Duties. Executive agrees to serve as the President and Chief
Executive Officer of Employer and to perform such duties in that office as may
reasonably be assigned to him by the Board; provided, however, that such duties
shall be performed in or from the offices of Employer currently located at
Moultrie, Georgia, and shall be of the same character as those previously
performed by Executive and generally associated with the office held by
Executive. Executive shall not be required to be absent from the location of the
principal executive offices of Employer on travel status or otherwise more than
sixty (60) days in any calendar year. Employer shall not, without the written
consent of Executive, relocate or transfer Executive to a location more than
fifty (50) miles from his principal residence. Executive shall render services
to Employer as its President and Chief Executive Officer in substantially the
same manner and to substantially the same extent as Executive rendered his
services to Employer before the date hereof. While employed by Employer,
Executive shall devote substantially all his business time and efforts to
Employer’s business and shall not engage in any other related business;
provided, however, that Executive may use his discretion in fixing his hours and
schedule of work consistent with the proper discharge of his duties.

 

3. Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date hereof (the
“Effective Date”) and, unless otherwise earlier terminated pursuant to Section 7
hereof, shall end on the date which is five (5) years following the Effective
Date (such term shall herein be referred to as the “Term”); provided, however,
that the term of this Agreement shall not expire prior to the expiration of
twenty-four (24) months after the occurrence of a Change of Control (as
hereinafter defined).

 

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4. Compensation.

 

(A) Executive shall receive an annual salary of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($250,000) (“Base Compensation”) payable at regular intervals in
accordance with Employer’s normal payroll practices now or hereafter in effect.
Employer may consider and declare from time to time increases in the salary it
pays Executive and thereby increase the Base Compensation. Prior to (but not
after) a Change of Control, Employer may also declare decreases in the salary it
pays Executive if the operating results of Employer are significantly less
favorable than those for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and Employer
makes similar decreases in the salary it pays to other executive officers of
Employer. After a Change of Control, Employer shall consider and declare salary
increases based upon the following standards:

 

(1) Inflation;

 

(2) Adjustments to the salaries of other senior management personnel; and

 

(3) Past performance of Executive and the contribution which Executive makes to
the business and profits of Employer during the Term.

 

Any and all increases or decreases in Executive’s salary pursuant to this
Section 4(A) shall cause the level of Base Compensation to be increased or
decreased by the amount of each such increase or decrease for purposes of this
Agreement. The increased or decreased level of Base Compensation as provided in
this Section 4(A) shall become the level of Base Compensation for the remainder
of the Term of this Agreement until there is a further increase or decrease in
Base Compensation as provided herein.

 

(B) In addition to the Base Compensation, Executive shall be awarded, for each
fiscal year during the Term, an annual bonus (an “Annual Bonus”) either pursuant
to a bonus or incentive plan of Employer or otherwise on terms no less favorable
than those currently in effect as of the date hereof.

 

5. Compensation Pursuant to Plans. So long as Executive is employed by Employer
pursuant to this Agreement, he shall be included as a participant in all present
and future employee benefit, retirement and compensation plans generally
available to employees of Employer, consistent with his Base Compensation and
his position as President and Chief Executive Officer, including, without
limitation, Employer’s pension plan, stock option plans, and hospitalization,
major medical, disability and group life insurance plans, each of which Employer
agrees to continue in effect on terms no less favorable than those currently in
effect as of the date hereof (as permitted by law) during the Term of this
Agreement (i) unless prior to a Change of Control the operating results of
Employer are significantly less favorable than those for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998, or (ii) unless (either before

 

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or after a Change of Control) (a) changes in the accounting or tax treatment of
such plans would adversely affect Employer’s operating results or financial
condition in a material way, and (b) the Board concludes that modifications to
such plans need to be made to avoid such adverse effects.

 

6. Expenses. So long as Executive is employed by Employer pursuant to this
Agreement, Executive shall receive reimbursement from Employer for all
reasonable business expenses incurred in the course of his employment by
Employer, upon submission to Employer of written vouchers and statements for
reimbursement. So long as Executive is employed by Employer pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, Employer shall continue in effect vacation policies
applicable to Executive no less favorable from his point of view than those
written vacation policies in effect on the date hereof. So long as Executive is
employed by Employer pursuant to this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to
office space and working conditions no less favorable from his point of view
than were in effect for him on the date hereof and the use of an automobile
(together with the payment of related expenses) on terms no less favorable than
those currently in effect as of the date hereof.

 

7. Termination. Subject to the respective continuing obligations of the parties,
including, but not limited to, those set forth in Subsections 9(A), 9(B), 9(C)
and 9(D) hereof, Executive’s employment by Employer hereunder may be terminated
prior to the expiration of the Term of this Agreement as follows:

 

(A) Employer, by action of the Board and upon written notice to the Executive,
may terminate Executive’s employment with Employer immediately for cause. For
purposes of this Subsection 7(A), “cause” for termination of the Executive’s
employment shall exist if the Executive has been convicted of a felony or a
felony prosecution has been brought against the Executive or if the termination
is evidenced by a resolution adopted in good faith by two-thirds of the Board
that the Executive (a) intentionally and continually failed substantially to
perform his reasonably assigned duties with the Company (other than a failure
resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or
from the Executive’s assignment of duties that would constitute “Good Reason” as
hereinafter defined) which failure continued for a period of at least thirty
(30) days after a written notice of demand for substantial performance has been
delivered to the Executive specifying the manner in which the Executive has
failed substantially to perform, or (b) intentionally engaged in conduct which
is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company; provided, however, that
(i) where the Executive has been terminated for cause because a felony
prosecution has been brought against him and no conviction or plea of guilty or
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent results therefrom, then said
termination shall no longer be deemed to have been for cause and the Executive
shall be entitled to all the benefits provided by Sections 4 and 5 hereof from
and after the date on which the prosecution of the Executive has been dismissed
or a judgement of acquittal has been entered, whichever shall first occur, until
the expiration of the Term; and (ii) no termination of the Executive’s
employment shall be for cause as set forth in clause (b) above until (x) there
shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a written notice setting
forth that the Executive was

 

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guilty of the conduct set forth in clause (b) and specifying the particulars
thereof in detail, and (y) the Executive shall have been provided an opportunity
to be heard in person by the Board (with the assistance of the Executive’s
counsel if the Executive so desires). No act, nor failure to act, on the
Executive’s part shall be considered “intentional” unless the Executive has
acted or failed to act with a lack of good faith and with a lack of reasonable
belief that the Executive’s action or failure to act was in the best interest of
the Company.

 

(B) Executive, by written notice to Employer, may terminate his employment with
Employer immediately for good reason. For purposes of this Subsection 7(B),
“good reason” shall mean a good faith determination by Executive, in Executive’s
sole and absolute judgment, that any one or more of the following events has
occurred, without Executive’s express written consent, after a Change of
Control:

 

(1) a change in Executive’s reporting responsibilities, titles or offices as in
effect immediately prior to the Change of Control, or any removal of the
Executive from, or any failure to re-elect the Executive to, any of such
positions which has the effect of diminishing Executive’s responsibility or
authority;

 

(2) a reduction by Employer in Executive’s Base Compensation as in effect
immediately prior to the Change of Control or as the same may be increased from
time to time or a change in the eligibility requirements or performance criteria
under any bonus, incentive or compensation plan, program or arrangement under
which Executive is covered immediately prior to the Change of Control which
adversely affects Executive;

 

(3) Employer requires Executive to be based anywhere other than within fifty
(50) miles of Executive’s job location at the time of the Change of Control,
provided that if Executive’s job location at such time is not within fifty (50)
miles of Employer’s principal executive offices, then Employer may thereafter
require Executive to be based within such fifty (50) mile radius without such
event constituting good reason hereunder;

 

(4) without replacement by a plan providing benefits to Executive equal to or
greater than those discontinued, the failure by Employer to continue in effect,
within its maximum stated term, any pension, bonus, incentive, stock ownership,
purchase, option, life insurance, health, accident disability, or any other
employee benefit plan, program or arrangement in which Executive is
participating at the time of the Change of Control, or the taking of any action
by Employer that would adversely affect Executive’s participation or materially
reduce Executive’s benefits under any of such plans;

 

(5) the taking of any action by Employer that would materially adversely affect
the physical conditions existing at the time of the Change of Control in or
under which Executive performs his employment duties, provided that Employer may
take

 

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action with respect to such conditions after a Change of Control so long as such
conditions are at least commensurate with the conditions in or under which an
officer of Executive’s status would customarily perform his employment duties;
or

 

(6) a material change in the fundamental business philosophy, direction, and
precepts of Employer and its subsidiaries, considered as a whole, as the same
existed prior to the Change of Control.

 

Any event described in this Subsection 7(B)(1) through (6) which occurs prior to
a Change of Control but which Executive reasonably demonstrates (A) was at the
request of a third party who has indicated an intention, or taken steps
reasonably calculated, to effect a Change of Control or (B) otherwise arose in
connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change of Control which actually
occurs, shall constitute good reason for purposes hereof, notwithstanding that
it occurred prior to a Change of Control.

 

(C) Executive, upon ninety (90) days written notice to Employer, may terminate
his employment with Employer without good reason.

 

(D) Executive’s employment with Employer shall terminate in the event of
Executive’s death or disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “disability”
shall be defined as Executive’s inability by reason of illness or other physical
or mental incapacity to perform the duties required by his employment for any
consecutive one hundred eighty (180) day period.

 

(E) For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall have occurred
if:

 

(1) a majority of the directors of the Company shall be persons other than
persons: (a) for whose election proxies shall have been solicited by the Board,
or (b) who are then serving as directors appointed by the Board to fill
vacancies on the Board caused by death or resignation (but not by removal) or to
fill newly-created directorships;

 

(2) a majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company shall have been
acquired or beneficially owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor rule thereto) by any person
(other than the Company, a subsidiary of the Company or the Executive) or Group
(as defined below), which Group does not include the Executive; or

 

(3) there shall have occurred:

 

(a) a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into

 

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another corporation (other than (1) a merger or consolidation with a subsidiary
of the Company or (2) a merger or consolidation in which (aa) the holders of
voting stock of the Company immediately prior to the merger as a class continue
to hold immediately after the merger at least a majority of all outstanding
voting power of the surviving or resulting corporation or its parent and (bb)
all holders of each outstanding class or series of voting stock of the Company
immediately prior to the merger or consolidation have the right to receive
substantially the same cash, securities or other property in exchange for their
voting stock of the Company as all other holders of such class or series);

 

(b) a statutory exchange of shares of one or more classes or series of
outstanding voting stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property;

 

(c) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company (in one transaction or a series of transactions); or

 

(d) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

 

unless more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting stock (or the voting
equity interest) of the surviving corporation or the corporation or other entity
acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (in the case of
a merger, consolidation or disposition of assets) or of the Company or its
resulting parent corporation (in the case of a statutory share exchange) is
beneficially owned by the Executive or a Group that includes the Executive.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Group” shall mean any two or more persons
acting as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group acting
in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of voting stock of
the Company.

 

8. Compensation Upon Termination. In the event of termination of Executive’s
employment with Employer pursuant to Section 7 hereof, compensation shall
continue to be paid by Employer to Executive as follows:

 

(A) In the event of termination pursuant to Subsection 7(A) or 7(C),
compensation provided for herein (including Base Compensation and an Annual
Bonus) shall continue to be paid, and Executive shall continue to participate in
the employee benefit, retirement, compensation plans and other perquisites as
provided in Sections 5 and 6 hereof, through and including the Date of
Termination (as hereinafter defined) specified in the Notice of

 

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Termination (as hereinafter defined). Any benefits payable under insurance,
health, retirement and bonus plans as a result of Executive’s participation in
such plans through such date shall be paid when due under those plans.

 

(B) In the event of termination pursuant to Subsection 7(B), compensation
provided for herein (including Base Compensation and an Annual Bonus) shall
continue to be paid, and Executive shall continue to participate in the employee
benefit, retirement, compensation plans and other perquisites as provided in
Sections 5 and 6 hereof, through the Date of Termination specified in the Notice
of Termination. Any benefits payable under insurance, health, retirement and
bonus plans as a result of Executive’s participation in such plans through such
date shall be paid when due under those plans. In addition, Executive shall be
entitled to continue to receive from Employer for three (3) additional 12-month
periods (1) his Base Compensation at the rates in effect at the time of
termination and (2) a Bonus Amount equal to the greater of (i) the most recent
Annual Bonus paid or payable to Executive or, if greater, the Annual Bonus paid
or payable for the full fiscal year ended prior to the fiscal year during which
a Change of Control occurred or (ii) the average of the Annual Bonuses paid or
payable during the three full fiscal years ended prior to the Date of
Termination or, if greater, the three full fiscal years ended prior to the
Change of Control (or, in each case, such lesser period for which Annual Bonuses
were paid or payable to Executive), and during such periods, Employer shall
maintain in full force and effect for the continued benefit of Executive each
employee welfare benefit plan (as such term is defined in the Executive
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) in which Executive was
entitled to participate immediately prior to the date of his termination, unless
an essentially equivalent and no less favorable benefit is provided by a
subsequent employer of Executive. If the terms of any employee welfare benefit
plan of Employer or applicable laws do not permit continued participation by
Executive, Employer will arrange to provide to Executive a benefit substantially
similar to, and no less favorable than, the benefit he was entitled to receive
under such plan at the end of the period of coverage.

 

(C) In the event of termination pursuant to Subsection 7(D), compensation
provided for herein (including Base Compensation and an Annual Bonus) shall
continue to be paid, and Executive shall continue to participate in the employee
benefit, retirement, and compensation plans and other perquisites as provided in
Sections 5 and 6 hereof, (1) in the event of Executive’s death, through the date
of death, or (2) in the event of Executive’s disability, through the Date of
Termination specified in the Notice of Termination. Any benefits payable under
insurance, health, retirement and bonus plans as a result of Executive’s
participation in such plans through such date shall be paid when due under those
plans.

 

(D) Employer will permit Executive or his personal representative(s) or heirs,
during a period of three (3) months following Executive’s termination of
employment by Employer for the reasons set forth in Subsection 7(B) to require
Employer, upon written request, to purchase all outstanding stock options
previously granted to Executive under any Employer stock option plan then in
effect whether or not such options are then exercisable or

 

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have terminated at a cash purchase price equal to the amount by which the
aggregate “fair market value” of the shares subject to such options exceeds the
aggregate option price for such shares. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“fair market value” shall mean the higher of (1) the average of the highest
asked prices for the shares Employer’s common stock in the over-the-counter
market as reported on the NASDAQ system if the shares are traded on such system
for the thirty (30) business days preceding such termination, or (2) the average
per share price actually paid for the most highly priced 1% of the Employer’s
shares acquired in connection with the Change of Control of Employer by any
person or group acquiring such control.

 

9. Restrictive Covenants. In order to induce Employer to enter into this
Agreement, Executive hereby agrees as follows:

 

(A) While Executive is employed by Employer and for a period of two years after
termination of such employment for reasons other than those set forth in
Subsection 7(B) of this Agreement, Executive shall not divulge or furnish any
trade secrets (as defined in §10-1-761 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated) of Employer or any confidential information acquired by him while
employed by Employer concerning the policies, plans, procedures or customers of
Employer to any person, firm or corporation, other than Employer or upon its
written request, or use any such trade secret or confidential information (which
shall at all times remain the property of Employer) directly or indirectly for
Executive’s own benefit or for the benefit of any person, firm or corporation
other than Employer.

 

(B) For a period of two years after termination of Executive’s employment by
Employer for reasons other than those set forth in Subsection 7(B) of this
Agreement, Executive shall not directly or indirectly provide banking or
bank-related services to, or solicit the banking or bank-related business of,
any customer of Employer at the time of such provision of services or
solicitation which Executive served either alone or with others while employed
by Employer in any city, town, borough, township, village or other place in
which Executive performed services for Employer while employed by it, or assist
any actual or potential competitor of Employer to provide banking or
bank-related services to or solicit any such customer’s banking or bank-related
business in any such place.

 

(C) While Executive is employed by Employer and for a period of one year after
termination of Executive’s employment by Employer for reasons other than those
set forth in Subsection 7(B) of this Agreement, Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, as principal, agent, or trustee, or through the agency of any
corporation, partnership, trade association, agent or agency, engage in any
banking or bank-related business or venture which competes with the business of
Employer as conducted during Executive’s employment by Employer within a radius
of fifty (50) miles of Employer’s main office.

 

(D) If Executive’s employment by Employer is terminated for reasons other than
those set forth in Subsection 7(B) of this Agreement, Executive will turn over
immediately thereafter to Employer all business correspondence, letters, papers,
reports, customers’ lists,

 

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financial statements, credit reports or other confidential information or
documents of Employer or its affiliates in the possession or control of
Executive, all of which writings are and will continue to be the sole and
exclusive property of Employer or its affiliates.

 

If Executive’s employment by Employer is terminated during the Term of this
Agreement for reasons set forth in Subsection 7(B) of this Agreement, Executive
shall have no obligations to Employer with respect to trade secrets,
confidential information or non-competition under this Section 9. Executive
acknowledges that irreparable loss and injury would result to Employer upon the
breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 9 and that damages
arising out of such breach would be difficult to ascertain. Executive hereby
agrees that, in addition to all other remedies provided at law or at equity,
Employer may petition and obtain from a court of law or equity both temporary
and permanent injunctive relief to prevent a breach by Executive of any covenant
contained in this Section 9.

 

10. Notice of Termination and Date of Termination. Any termination of
Executive’s employment with Employer as contemplated by Section 7 hereof, except
in the circumstances of Executive’s death, shall be communicated by written
“Notice of Termination” by the terminating party to the other party hereto. Any
“Notice of Termination” pursuant to Subsections 7(A), 7(B) or 7(D) shall
indicate the specific provisions of this Agreement relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for such termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of
Termination” shall mean: (A) if Executive’s employment is terminated because of
disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (unless
Executive shall have returned to the performance of Executive’s duties on a
full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period); or (B) if Executive’s
employment is terminated for cause, retirement, good reason or pursuant to
Subsection 7(C) hereof, the date specified in the Notice of Termination;
provided, however, that if within thirty (30) days after any such Notice of
Termination is given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies
the other party that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally resolved, either
by mutual agreement of the parties or by a final judgment, order or decree of a
court of competent jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefrom having expired
and no appeal having been perfected).

 

11. Excess Parachute Payments and One Million Dollar Deduction Limit.

 

(A) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if any portion of
the payments and benefits provided hereunder and benefits provided to, or for
the benefit of, Executive under any other plan or agreement of Employer (such
payments or benefits are collectively referred to as the “Payments”) would be
subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed under Section 4999 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or would be
nondeductible by Employer pursuant to Section 280G of the Code, the Payments
shall be reduced (but not below zero) if and to the extent necessary so that no
portion of any Payment to be made or benefit to be provided to Executive shall
be subject to the Excise Tax or shall be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to
Section 280G of the Code

 

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(such reduced amount is hereinafter referred to as the “Limited Payment
Amount”). Unless Executive shall have given prior written notice specifying a
different order to Employer to effectuate the Limited Payment Amount, Employer
shall reduce or eliminate the Payments, by first reducing or eliminating those
payments or benefits which are not payable in cash and then by reducing or
eliminating cash payments, in each case in reverse order beginning with payments
or benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time from the Determination (as
hereinafter defined). Any notice given by Executive pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall take precedence over the provisions of any other plan,
arrangement or agreement governing Executive’s rights and entitlements to any
benefits or compensation.

 

(B) An initial determination as to whether the Payments shall be reduced to the
Limited Payment Amount pursuant to the Code and the amount of such Limited
Payment Amount shall be made by an accounting firm at Employer’s expense
selected by Employer which is designated as one of the six largest accounting
firms in the United States (the “Accounting Firm”). The Accounting Firm shall
provide its determination (the “Determination”), together with detailed
supporting calculations and documentation to Employer and Executive within
thirty (30) days of the Termination Date, if applicable, and if the Accounting
Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by Executive with respect to a
Payment or Payments, it shall furnish Executive with an opinion reasonably
acceptable to Executive that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to any
such Payment or Payments. Within ten (10) days of the delivery of the
Determination to Executive, Executive shall have the right to dispute the
Determination (the “Dispute”). If there is no Dispute, the Determination shall
be binding, final and conclusive upon Employer and Executive subject to the
application of Subsection 11(c) below.

 

(C) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Sections 4999 and 280G
of the Code, it is possible that the Payments to be made to, or provided for the
benefit of, Executive either have been made or will not be made by Employer
which, in either case, will be inconsistent with the limitations provided in
Section 11(a) (hereinafter referred to as an “Excess Payment” or “Underpayment”,
respectively). If it is established pursuant to a final determination of a court
or an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and
conclusively resolved, that an Excess Payment has been made, such Excess Payment
shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to Executive made on the date
Executive received the Excess Payment and Executive shall repay the Excess
Payment to Employer on demand (but not less than ten (10) days after written
notice is received by Executive), together with interest on the Excess Payment
at the “Applicable Federal Rate” (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code)
from the date of Executive’s receipt of such Excess Payment until the date of
such repayment. In the event that it is determined by (1) the Accounting Firm,
Employer (which shall include the position taken by Employer, or together with
its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or the IRS, (2)
pursuant to a determination by a court, or (3) upon the resolution to
Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, that an Underpayment has occurred,
Employer shall pay an amount equal to the Underpayment to Executive within ten
(10) days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such
amount at the Applicable Federal Rate from the date such amount would have been
paid to Executive until the date of payment.

 

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(D) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if any portion of
the Payments would be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to Section 162(m) of
the Code, the Payments to be made to Executive in any taxable year of Employer
shall be reduced (but not below zero) if and to the extent necessary so that no
portion of any Payment to be made or benefit to be provided to Executive in such
taxable year of Employer shall be nondeductible by Employer pursuant to Section
162(m) of the Code. The amount by which any Payment is reduced pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence, together with interest thereon at the Applicable
Federal Rate, shall be paid by Employer to Executive on or before the fifth
business day of the immediately succeeding taxable year of Employer, subject to
the application of the limitations of the immediately preceding sentence and
this Section 11. Unless Executive shall have given prior written notice
specifying a different order to Employer to effectuate this Section 11, Employer
shall reduce or eliminate the Payments in any one taxable year of Employer by
first reducing or eliminating those payments or benefits which are not payable
in cash and then by reducing or eliminating cash payments, in each case in
reverse order beginning with payments or benefits which are to be paid the
farthest in time from the Section 162(m) Determination (as hereinafter defined).
Any notice given by Executive pursuant to the preceding sentence shall take
precedence over the provisions of any other plan, arrangement or agreement
governing Executive’s rights and entitlements to any benefits or compensation.

 

(E) The determination as to whether the Payments shall be reduced pursuant to
Section 11(d) hereof and the amount of the Payments to be made in each taxable
year after the application of Section 11(d) hereof shall be made by the
Accounting Firm at Employer’s expense. The Accounting Firm shall provide its
determination (the “Section 162(m) Determination”), together with detailed
supporting calculations and documentation to Employer and Executive within
thirty (30) days of the termination date specified in the Notice of Termination.
The Section 162(m) Determination shall be binding, final and conclusive upon
Employer and Executive.

 

12. Legal Fees and Expenses. If a dispute arises regarding the termination of
Executive pursuant to Section 7 hereof or as to the interpretation or
enforcement of this Agreement and Executive obtains a final judgment in his
favor in a court of competent jurisdiction or his claim is settled by Employer
prior to the rendering of a judgment by such a court, all reasonable legal fees
and expenses incurred by Executive in contesting or disputing any such
termination or seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided for in
this Agreement or otherwise pursuing his claim shall be paid by Employer, to the
extent permitted by law.

 

13. Payments After Death. Should Executive die after termination of his
employment with Employer while any amounts are payable to him hereunder, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s
executors,

 

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administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees and all amounts
payable hereunder shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
to Executive’s devisee, legatee or other designee or, if there is no such
designee, to his estate.

 

14. Notices. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given when delivered or mailed by United States registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to Executive:

  

Kenneth J. Hunnicutt

    

766 Georgia Highway 111

    

Moultrie, Georgia 31768

If to Employer:

  

ABC Bancorp

    

310 First Street, S.E.

    

Moultrie, Georgia 31768

 

or to such address as either party hereto may have furnished to the other party
in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address
shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

15. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia without giving
effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

16. Successors. Employer shall require any successor (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
substantially all of the business or assets of Employer, by agreement in form
and substance satisfactory to Executive, to expressly assume and agree to
perform this Agreement in the same manner and same extent that Employer would be
required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of
Employer to obtain such agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such
succession shall be a material intentional breach of this Agreement and shall
entitle Executive to terminate his employment with Employer for good reason
pursuant to Subsection 7(B) hereof. As used in this Agreement, “Employer” shall
mean Employer as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business or
assets as aforesaid.

 

17. Modification. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or
discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing
signed by Executive and Employer. No waiver by either party hereto at any time
of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior
subsequent time. No agreements or representation, oral or otherwise, express or
implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either
party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.

 

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18. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provisions of this Agreement which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

19. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

 

20. Assignment. This Agreement is personal in nature and neither party hereto
shall, without consent of the other, assign or transfer this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder except as provided in Sections 13 and 16 above.
Without limiting the foregoing, Executive’s right to receive compensation
hereunder shall not be assignable or transferable, whether by pledge, creation
of a security interest or otherwise, other than a transfer by his will or by the
laws of descent or distribution as set forth in Section 13 hereof, and in the
event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 20,
Employer shall have no liability to pay any amounts so attempted to be assigned
or transferred.

 

21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between
the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, understandings
and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof.

 

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

 

    ABC BANCORP

[CORPORATE SEAL]

       

Attest:

 

By:

 

/s/ Doyle Weltzbarker

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Its:

 

Chairman

/s/ Sara R. Hall

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Secretary

               

/s/ Kenneth J. Hunnicutt    (SEAL)

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        KENNETH J. HUNNICUTT

 

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