Document:

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.3
CONTINUING GUARANTY

TO:    WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

1.    GUARANTY; DEFINITIONS.  In consideration of any credit or other financial accommodation heretofore, now or hereafter extended or made to ROANOKE GAS COMPANY ("Borrowers"), or any of them, by WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank"), and for other valuable consideration, the undersigned RGC RESOURCES, INC. ("Guarantor"), jointly and severally unconditionally guarantees and promises to pay to Bank, or order, on demand in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, any and all Indebtedness of any of the Borrowers to Bank.  The term "Indebtedness" is used herein in its most comprehensive sense and includes any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of Borrowers, or any of them, heretofore, now or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntary or involuntary and however arising, whether due or not due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined, including under any swap, derivative, foreign exchange, hedge, deposit, treasury management or other similar transaction or arrangement, and whether any of the Borrowers may be liable individually or jointly with others, or whether recovery upon such Indebtedness may be or hereafter becomes unenforceable.  This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not collection.

2.    MAXIMUM LIABILITY; SUCCESSIVE TRANSACTIONS; REVOCATION; OBLIGATION UNDER OTHER GUARANTIES.  This is a continuing guaranty and all rights, powers and remedies hereunder shall apply to all past, present and future Indebtedness of each of the Borrowers to Bank, including that arising under successive transactions which shall either continue the Indebtedness, increase or decrease it, or from time to time create new Indebtedness after all or any prior Indebtedness has been satisfied, and notwithstanding the death, incapacity, dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of any of the Borrowers or Guarantor or any other event or proceeding affecting any of the Borrowers or Guarantor.  This Guaranty shall not apply to any new Indebtedness created after actual receipt by Bank of written notice of its revocation as to such new Indebtedness; provided however, that loans or advances made by Bank to any of the Borrowers after revocation under commitments existing prior to receipt by Bank of such revocation, and extensions, renewals or modifications, of any kind, of Indebtedness incurred by any of the Borrowers or committed by Bank prior to receipt by Bank of such revocation, shall not be considered new Indebtedness.  Any such notice must be sent to Bank by registered U.S. mail, postage prepaid, addressed to its office at MAC R4050-021, 201 South Jefferson Street, 2nd Floor, Roanoke, Virginia 24011-1701, or at such other address as Bank shall from time to time designate.  Any payment by Guarantor shall not reduce Guarantor's maximum obligation hereunder unless written notice to that effect is actually received by Bank at or prior to the time of such payment.  The obligations of Guarantor hereunder shall be in addition to any obligations of Guarantor under any other guaranties of any liabilities or obligations of any of the Borrowers or any other persons heretofore or hereafter given to Bank unless said other guaranties are expressly modified or revoked in writing; and this Guaranty shall not, unless expressly herein provided, affect or invalidate any such other guaranties.

3.    OBLIGATIONS JOINT AND SEVERAL; SEPARATE ACTIONS; REINSTATEMENT OF LIABILITY.  The obligations hereunder are joint and several and independent of the obligations of Borrowers, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against Guarantor whether action is brought against any of the Borrowers or any other person, or whether any of the Borrowers or any other person is joined in any such action or actions.  Guarantor acknowledges that this Guaranty is absolute and unconditional, there are no conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Guaranty, and this Guaranty is in full force and effect and is binding on Guarantor as of the date written below, regardless of whether Bank obtains collateral or any guaranties from others or takes any other action contemplated by Guarantor.  Guarantor agrees that any payment of any Indebtedness or other act which shall toll any statute of limitations applicable thereto shall similarly operate to toll such statute of limitations applicable to Guarantor's liability hereunder.  The liability of Guarantor hereunder shall be reinstated and revived and the rights of Bank shall continue if and to the extent for any reason any amount at any time paid on account of any Indebtedness guaranteed hereby is rescinded or must 

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otherwise be restored by Bank, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, all as though such amount had not been paid.  The determination as to whether any amount so paid must be rescinded or restored shall be made by Bank in its sole discretion; provided however, that if Bank chooses to contest any such matter at the request of Guarantor, Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold Bank harmless from and against all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, expended or incurred by Bank in connection therewith, including without limitation, in any litigation with respect thereto.

4.    AUTHORIZATIONS TO BANK.  Guarantor authorizes Bank either before or after revocation hereof, without notice to or demand on Guarantor, and without affecting Guarantor's liability hereunder, from time to time to:  (a) alter, compromise, renew, extend, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change the terms of the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, including increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon; (b) take and hold security for the payment of this Guaranty or the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, and exchange, enforce, waive, subordinate or release any such security; (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof, including without limitation, a non-judicial sale permitted by the terms of the controlling security agreement, mortgage or deed of trust, as Bank in its discretion may determine; (d) release or substitute any one or more of the endorsers or any other guarantors of the Indebtedness, or any portion thereof, or any other party thereto; and (e) apply payments received by Bank from any of the Borrowers to any Indebtedness of any of the Borrowers to Bank, in such order as Bank shall determine in its sole discretion, whether or not such Indebtedness is covered by this Guaranty, and Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law regarding application of payments which specifies otherwise.  Bank may without notice assign this Guaranty in whole or in part.  Upon Bank's request, Guarantor agrees to provide to Bank copies of Guarantor's financial statements.

5.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  Guarantor represents and warrants to Bank that: (a) this Guaranty is executed at Borrowers' request; (b) Guarantor shall not, without Bank's prior written consent, sell, lease, assign, encumber, hypothecate, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial or material part of Guarantor's assets other than in the ordinary course of Guarantor's business; (c) Bank has made no representation to Guarantor as to the creditworthiness of any of the Borrowers; and (d) Guarantor has established adequate means of obtaining from each of the Borrowers on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to Borrowers' financial condition.  Guarantor agrees to keep adequately informed from such means of any facts, events or circumstances which might in any way affect Guarantor's risks hereunder, and Guarantor further agrees that Bank shall have no obligation to disclose to Guarantor any information or material about any of the Borrowers which is acquired by Bank in any manner.

6.    GUARANTOR'S WAIVERS.

(a)    Guarantor waives any right to require Bank to: (i) proceed against any of the Borrowers or any other person; (ii) marshal assets or proceed against or exhaust any security held from any of the Borrowers or any other person; (iii) give notice of the terms, time and place of any public or private sale or other disposition of personal property security held from any of the Borrowers or any other person; (iv) take any other action or pursue any other remedy in Bank's power; or (v) make any presentment or demand for performance, or give any notice of nonperformance, protest, notice of protest or notice of dishonor hereunder or in connection with any obligations or evidences of indebtedness held by Bank as security for or which constitute in whole or in part the Indebtedness guaranteed hereunder, or in connection with the creation of new or additional Indebtedness.  In addition to the foregoing, Guarantor waives any rights it may have under Sections 49-25 and 49-26 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, including any right to require Bank to proceed against Borrowers or any collateral that secures the Indebtedness.

(b)    Guarantor waives any defense to its obligations hereunder based upon or arising by reason of: (i) any disability or other defense of any of the Borrowers or any other person; (ii) the cessation or limitation from any cause whatsoever, other than payment in full, of the Indebtedness of any of the Borrowers or any other person; (iii) any lack of authority of any officer, director, partner, agent or any other 

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person acting or purporting to act on behalf of any of the Borrowers which is a corporation, partnership or other type of entity, or any defect in the formation of any such Borrower; (iv) the application by any of the Borrowers of the proceeds of any Indebtedness for purposes other than the purposes represented by Borrowers to, or intended or understood by, Bank or Guarantor; (v) any act or omission by Bank which directly or indirectly results in or aids the discharge of any of the Borrowers or any portion of the Indebtedness by operation of law or otherwise, or which in any way impairs or suspends any rights or remedies of Bank against  any of the Borrowers; (vi) any impairment of the value of any interest in any security for the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, including without limitation, the failure to obtain or maintain perfection or recordation of any interest in any such security, the release of any such security without substitution, and/or the failure to preserve the value of, or to comply with applicable law in disposing of, any such security; (vii) any modification of the Indebtedness, in any form whatsoever, including any modification made after revocation hereof to any Indebtedness incurred prior to such revocation, and including without limitation the renewal, extension, acceleration or other change in time for payment of, or other change in the terms of, the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, including increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon; or (viii) any requirement that Bank give any notice of acceptance of this Guaranty.  Until all Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, and Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which Bank now has or may hereafter have against any of the Borrowers or any other person, and waives any benefit of, or any right to participate in, any security now or hereafter held by Bank.  Guarantor further waives all rights and defenses Guarantor may have arising out of (A) any election of remedies by Bank, even though that election of remedies, such as a non-judicial foreclosure with respect to any security for any portion of the Indebtedness, destroys Guarantor's rights of subrogation or Guarantor's rights to proceed against any of the Borrowers for reimbursement, or (B) any loss of rights Guarantor may suffer by reason of any rights, powers or remedies of any of the Borrowers in connection with any anti-deficiency laws or any other laws limiting, qualifying or discharging Borrowers' Indebtedness, whether by operation of law, or otherwise, including any rights Guarantor may have to a fair market value hearing to determine the size of a deficiency following any foreclosure sale or other disposition of any real property security for any portion of the Indebtedness.

7.    BANK'S RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GUARANTOR'S PROPERTY IN BANK'S POSSESSION.  In addition to all liens upon and rights of setoff against the monies, securities or other property of Guarantor given to Bank by law, Bank shall have a lien upon and a right of setoff against all monies, securities and other property of Guarantor now or hereafter in the possession of or on deposit with Bank, whether held in a general or special account or deposit or for safekeeping or otherwise, and every such lien and right of setoff may be exercised without demand upon or notice to Guarantor.  No lien or right of setoff shall be deemed to have been waived by any act or conduct on the part of Bank, or by any neglect to exercise such right of setoff or to enforce such lien, or by any delay in so doing, and every right of setoff and lien shall continue in full force and effect until such right of setoff or lien is specifically waived or released by Bank in writing.

8.    SUBORDINATION.  Any Indebtedness of any of the Borrowers now or hereafter held by Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the Indebtedness of Borrowers to Bank.   Any notes or other instruments now or hereafter evidencing such Indebtedness of any of the Borrowers to Guarantor shall be marked with a legend that the same are subject to this Guaranty and, if Bank so requests, shall be delivered to Bank. Bank is hereby authorized in the name of Guarantor from time to time to file financing statements and continuation statements and execute such other documents and take such other action as Bank deems necessary or appropriate to perfect, preserve and enforce its rights hereunder.

9.    REMEDIES; NO WAIVER.  All rights, powers and remedies of Bank hereunder are cumulative.  No delay, failure or discontinuance of Bank in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall affect or operate as a waiver of such right, power or remedy; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude, waive or otherwise affect any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.  Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind by Bank of any breach of this Guaranty, or any such waiver of any provisions or conditions hereof, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set forth in writing.

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10.    COSTS, EXPENSES AND ATTORNEYS' FEES.  Guarantor shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand the full amount of all payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (to include outside counsel fees), expended or incurred by Bank in connection with the enforcement of any of Bank's rights, powers or remedies and/or the collection of any amounts which become due to Bank under this Guaranty, and the prosecution or defense of any action in any way related to this Guaranty, whether incurred at the trial or appellate level, in an arbitration proceeding or otherwise, and including any of the foregoing incurred in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding (including without limitation, any adversary proceeding, contested matter or motion brought by Bank or any other person) relating to Guarantor or any other person or entity.  All of the foregoing shall be paid by Guarantor with interest from the date of demand until paid in full at a rate per annum equal to the greater of ten percent (10%) or Bank’s Prime Rate in effect from time to time.

11.    SUCCESSORS; ASSIGNMENT.  This Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties; provided however, that Guarantor may not assign or transfer any of its interests or rights hereunder without Bank's prior written consent.  Guarantor acknowledges that Bank has the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate or grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, any Indebtedness of Borrowers to Bank and any obligations with respect thereto, including this Guaranty.  In connection therewith, Bank may disclose all documents and information which Bank now has or hereafter acquires relating to Guarantor and/or this Guaranty, whether furnished by Borrowers, Guarantor or otherwise.  Guarantor further agrees that Bank may disclose such documents and information to Borrowers.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any non-public information regarding Guarantor, its operations, assets and existing and contemplated business plans will be treated by Bank in a confidential  matter, and will not be disclosed by Bank to persons who are not parties to this Agreement, except (i) to Borrowers, (ii) to Bank’s affiliates, attorneys, representatives, agents and other advisors and to officers, directors and employees of Bank, (iii) as required by law or by any court, governmental or regulatory authority, (iv) as agreed by Guarantor, (v) if such information becomes generally available to the public, (vi) in connection with the assignment, participation or pledge of Bank’s interest in any indebtedness of Borrowers to Bank provided that such assignment, participation or pledge contains confidentiality provisions substantially similar to this provision, and (vii) in connection with any litigation or adversary proceeding involving claims related to this Agreement or in connection with Bank’s exercise of any right or remedy under this Agreement or the obligations guaranteed hereby.

12.    AMENDMENT.  This Guaranty may be amended or modified only in writing signed by Bank and Guarantor.

13.    OBLIGATIONS OF MARRIED PERSONS.  Any married person who signs this Guaranty as a Guarantor hereby expressly agrees that recourse may be had against his or her separate property for all his or her obligations under this Guaranty.

14.    APPLICATION OF SINGULAR AND PLURAL.  In all cases where there is but a single Borrower, then all words used herein in the plural shall be deemed to have been used in the singular where the context and construction so require; and when there is more than one Borrower named herein, or when this Guaranty is executed by more than one Guarantor, the word "Borrowers" and the word "Guarantor" respectively shall mean all or any one or more of them as the context requires.

15.    UNDERSTANDING WITH RESPECT TO WAIVERS; SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.  Guarantor warrants and agrees that each of the waivers set forth herein is made with Guarantor's full knowledge of its significance and consequences, and that under the circumstances, the waivers are reasonable and not contrary to public policy or law.  If any waiver or other provision of this Guaranty shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable public policy or law, such waiver or other provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such waiver or other provision or any remaining provisions of this Guaranty. 

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16.    GOVERNING LAW.  This Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

17.    ARBITRATION.

(a)    Arbitration.  The parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, to submit to binding arbitration all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys, and other agents), whether in tort, contract or otherwise, in any way arising out of or relating to this Guaranty and its negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment, modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement, default or termination; provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude or limit the Bank's right to confess judgment pursuant to a warrant of attorney provision set forth in any document related to the Indebtedness; and provided, further, that no party shall have the right to demand binding arbitration of any claim, dispute or controversy seeking to (i) strike-off or open a judgment obtained by confession pursuant to a warrant of attorney contained in any document related to the Indebtedness, including, without limitation, this Agreement, or (ii) challenge the waiver of a right to prior notice and a hearing before judgment is entered, or after judgment is entered, but before execution upon the judgment.  In the event of a court ordered arbitration, the party requesting arbitration shall be responsible for timely filing the demand for arbitration and paying the appropriate filing fee within 30 days of the abatement order or the time specified by the court.  Failure to timely file the demand for arbitration as ordered by the court will result in that party’s right to demand arbitration being automatically terminated.  

(b)    Governing Rules.  Any arbitration proceeding will (i) proceed in a location in Virginia selected by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”); (ii) be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the documents between the parties; and (iii) be conducted by the AAA, or such other administrator as the parties shall mutually agree upon, in accordance with the AAA’s commercial dispute resolution procedures, unless the claim or counterclaim is at least $1,000,000.00 exclusive of claimed interest, arbitration fees and costs in which case the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the AAA’s optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes (the commercial dispute resolution procedures or the optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes to be referred to herein, as applicable, as the “Rules”).  If there is any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Rules, the terms and procedures set forth herein shall control.  Any party who fails or refuses to submit to arbitration following a demand by any other party shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any dispute.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. §91 or any similar applicable state law.

(c)    No Waiver of Provisional Remedies, Self-Help and Foreclosure.  The arbitration requirement does not limit the right of any party to (i) foreclose against real or personal property collateral; (ii) exercise self-help remedies relating to collateral or proceeds of collateral such as setoff or repossession; or (iii) obtain provisional or ancillary remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief, attachment or the appointment of a receiver, before during or after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding.  This exclusion does not constitute a waiver of the right or obligation of any party to submit any dispute to arbitration or reference hereunder, including those arising from the exercise of the actions detailed in sections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.

(d)    Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers.  Any arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000.00 or less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules, and who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000.00.  Any dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000.00 shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations.  The arbitrator will be a neutral attorney licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia or a neutral retired judge of the state or federal judiciary of Virginia, in either case with a minimum of ten years experience in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be arbitrated.  The arbitrator will determine whether or not an issue is arbitratable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in 

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determining any claim.  In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator's discretion) any pre-hearing motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or motions for summary adjudication.  The arbitrator shall resolve all disputes in accordance with the substantive law of Virginia and may grant any remedy or relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award.  The arbitrator shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.  The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief.

(e)    Discovery.  In any arbitration proceeding, discovery will be permitted in accordance with the Rules.  All discovery shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to the dispute being arbitrated and must be completed no later than 20 days before the hearing date.  Any requests for an extension of the discovery periods, or any discovery disputes, will be subject to final determination by the arbitrator upon a showing that the request for discovery is essential for the party's presentation and that no alternative means for obtaining information is available.

(f)    Class Proceedings and Consolidations.  No party hereto shall be entitled to join or consolidate disputes by or against others in any arbitration, except parties who have executed this Guaranty or any other contract, instrument or document relating to any Indebtedness, or to include in any arbitration any dispute as a representative or member of a class, or to act in any arbitration in the interest of the general public or in a private attorney general capacity. 

(g)    Payment Of Arbitration Costs And Fees.  The arbitrator shall award all costs and expenses of the arbitration proceeding.

(h)    Miscellaneous.  To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrators and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA.  No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content or results thereof, except for disclosures of information by a party required in the ordinary course of its business or by applicable law or regulation.  If more than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially applies to a dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to the documents between the parties or the subject matter of the dispute shall control.  This arbitration provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of any of the documents or any relationship between the parties.

(i)    Small Claims Court.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each party retains the right to pursue in Small Claims Court any dispute within that court’s jurisdiction.  Further, this arbitration provision shall apply only to disputes in which either party seeks to recover an amount of money (excluding attorneys’ fees and costs) that exceeds the jurisdictional limit of the Small Claims Court.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as of March 31, 2016.

RGC RESOURCES, INC.

By: /s/ John S. D'Orazio                            
Name: John S. D'Orazio                           
Title: President and CEO                          

By: /s/ Paul W. Nester                               
Name: Paul W. Nester                              
Title: VP, Treasurer, Sec and CFO            

7Exhibit

Exhibit 10.1

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT 

THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made as of the 1st of April, 2016 between RGC Resources, Inc. ("the Corporation") and John S. D’Orazio ("Executive"),

 - W I T N E S S E T H -

WHEREAS the Corporation desires for the Executive to be able to perform his executive duties and functions on an impartial and objective basis in the event of activities preceding, associated with, or resulting from a change in control of the Corporation as hereinafter defined ("Change in Control");

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

1.  TERM.  This Agreement is effective as of the date hereof and shall terminate, except to the extent that any obligation remains unpaid as of such time, upon the earliest of the following:

(i)  the termination of the Executive's employment with the Corporation prior to or simultaneously with a Change in Control; or

(ii)  two years from the date of a Change in Control; or 

(iii) May 1, 2018, but only if no Change in Control has occurred as of such date.

2.  CHANGE IN CONTROL.  For purposes of the Agreement, a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any person (individual, corporation, partnership or other entity) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 50 percent or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding securities ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having the right to vote at elections of directors ("Voting Securities"), (ii) in the event that following a merger, recapitalization, reorganization, consolidation or sale of assets by the Corporation, or any combination thereof, any person becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the Voting Securities of the surviving entity, or (iii) the shareholders of the Corporation shall liquidate or sell substantially all of the Corporation’s assets.  The first day upon which there exists a Change in Control shall be referred to herein as the "Operative Date."

3.  TERMINATION FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL.  If a Change in Control shall have occurred, the Executive will be entitled to the benefits provided in Paragraph 4 hereof if, within 90 day prior to the Operative Date or within the two-year period beginning on the Operative Date, the Executive's employment with the Corporation (hereinafter defined) is terminated unless such termination is (a) because of his death, (b) by the Corporation for Cause or Disability, or (c) by the Executive other than for Good Reason, all as hereinafter more particularly defined.

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(i)  Disability.  If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness, he shall have been absent from his duties with the Corporation on a full-time basis for six (6) months and within thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given he shall not have returned to the full-time performance of his duties, the Corporation may terminate the Agreement for "Disability."

(ii)  Cause.  The Corporation may terminate the Executive's employment for Cause.  For purposes of the Agreement, the Corporation shall have "Cause" to terminate the Executive's employment hereunder upon (A) the willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially perform his duties with the Corporation (other than any such failure resulting from his/her incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Corporation which specifically identifies the manner that the Executive has not substantially performed his duties or (B) the willful engaging by the Executive in gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the Corporation.  For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Executive's part shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by him not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interests of the Corporation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause based upon clauses (A) or (B) above unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a copy of a resolution, duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire membership of the Board at meeting of the Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for him, together with his counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board the Executive was guilty of conduct set forth above in clauses (A) or (B) and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

(iii)  Good Reason.  The Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of any of the events specified below.  For purposes of the Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:

(A)  Without the Executive's express written consent, the assignment to him of any duties materially inconsistent with his duties and responsibilities with the Corporation immediately prior to a Change in Control;

(B)  A reduction by the Corporation in the Executive's annual base compensation below his total base compensation applicable to the 12 months preceding the Operative Date or as increased after such date;

(C)  The failure by the Corporation to provide the Executive with benefits whose aggregate value is at least as favorable as the aggregate value of benefits enjoyed by him under any thrift, incentive or compensation plan, or any pension, life insurance, health and accident or disability plan in which he is participating at the time of a Change in Control, or the taking of any action by the Corporation which would adversely affect his participation in or materially reduce his benefits under any of such plans at the time of a Change in Control, unless such reduction relates to a reduction in benefits applicable to all employees generally;

(D)  The failure by the Corporation to provide the Executive with any other material fringe benefit enjoyed by him at the time of the Change in Control;

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(E)  Any purported termination of the Executive's employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination satisfying the requirements of subparagraph (iv) below (and, if applicable, subparagraph (ii) above) and, for purposes of the Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective; 

(F)  Breach by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement; or 

(G)  The Corporation’s requiring the Executive to be based at an office that is both more than 50 miles from where his office is located immediately prior to the Change in Control and further from his then current residence, except for required travel on the Corporation’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the business travel obligations which the Executive undertook on behalf of the Corporation prior to the Change in Control.

If any of the events occur which would entitle the Executive to terminate his employment for Good Reason hereunder and he does not so exercise his right to terminate his employment, any such failure shall not operate to waive his right to terminate his employment for that or any subsequent action or actions, whether similar or dissimilar, which would constitute Good Reason.

(iv)  Notice of Termination.  Any termination by the Corporation pursuant to subparagraphs (i) or (ii) above or by the Executive pursuant to subparagraph (iii) above shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination.  For purposes of the Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in the Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated.

(v)  Date of Termination.  "Date of Termination" shall mean (a) if the Agreement is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such thirty-day period), (b) if his employment is terminated pursuant to subparagraph (iii) above, the date specified in the Notice of Termination, and (c) if his employment is terminated for any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given.  Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Date of Termination shall not occur, and the Executive’s employment with the Corporation shall not be deemed to have occurred, until the Executive shall have a Separation from Service.  The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this Agreement:

"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  A reference to any section or provision of the Code shall also be deemed to be a reference to any applicable regulations and rulings thereunder, as well as to comparable provisions of future laws.
"Leave of Absence" means a military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence of the Executive which does not exceed six months (or such longer period for which the Executive retains a right to reemployment with the Corporation or a Related Entity under an applicable statute or by contract), but only if there is a reasonable expectation that the Executive will return to perform services for the Corporation or a Related Entity.

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"Related Entity" means any entity which is aggregated with the Corporation pursuant to Section 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code or would be so aggregated if the language "at least 50 percent" were used instead of "at least 80 percent" each place it appears in Section 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.414(c)-2.
"Separation from Service" means the Executive’s separation from service (as such term is used for purposes of Section 409A of the Code) with the Corporation and any Related Entities.  The Executive shall be deemed to have a Separation from Service on a date only if the Corporation and the Executive reasonably anticipate that (a) no further services will be performed for the Corporation or any Related Entities after such date or (b) the level of bona fide services the Executive will perform for the Corporation or any Related Entities after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) will permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services to the Corporation and any Related Entities if the Executive has then been providing services to the Corporation and any Related Entities for less than 36 months).  For purposes of this section, for periods during which the Executive is on a paid Leave of Absence and has not otherwise terminated employment, the Executive shall be treated as providing bona fide services at a level equal to the level of services that he would have been required to perform to receive the compensation paid with respect to such Leave of Absence.  Also for purposes of this section, periods during which the Executive is on an unpaid Leave of Absence and has not otherwise terminated employment shall be disregarded (including for purposes of determining the 36-month, or shorter, period).

4.  COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION.  Upon termination of the Executive's employment within 90 day prior to the Operative Date or within twenty-four (24) months following the Operative Date, unless such termination is because of the Executive's death, or by the Corporation for Cause or Disability or by the Executive other than for Good Reason, the Corporation shall pay to the Executive the following:
  
(i)  The Corporation shall pay the Executive his full salary (whether such salary has been paid by the Corporation or by any of its subsidiaries) through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given and all other unpaid amounts, if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of Termination under any plan or other arrangement of the Company, at the time such payments are due (and in any event within 90 days after the Separation from Service);

(A)  The Corporation shall pay to the Executive an amount equal to 1.5 multiplied by the Executive's annualized includable compensation for the base period, within the meaning of Section 280G(d)(1) of the Code, provided, however, that if any of such payment is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed ("Excise Tax"), such payment shall be reduced to a smaller amount, even to zero, which smaller amount shall be the largest amount payable under this paragraph that would not be subject in whole or in part to the Excise Tax after considering all other payments to the Executive required to be considered under Sections 4999 or 280G of the Code.  Such payment shall be referred to as the "Severance Payment."  The Severance Payment shall be made in a lump sum within 90 days after the Separation from Service.

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(B)  In the event that the Severance Payment is subsequently determined to be less than the amount actually paid hereunder, the Executive shall repay the excess to the Corporation at the time that the proper amount is finally determined, plus interest on the amount of such repayment at the Applicable Federal Rate.  In the event that the Severance Payment is determined to exceed the amount actually paid hereunder, the Corporation shall pay the Executive such difference plus interest on the amount of such additional payment at the Applicable Federal Rate at the time that the amount of such difference is finally determined.  

(C)  In the event that the amount of the Severance Payment exceeds or is less than the amount initially paid, such difference shall constitute a loan by the Corporation to the Executive, or by the Executive to the Corporation, as the case may be, payable on the fifth (5th) day after demand (together with interest at the Applicable Federal Rate).

(D)  The amount of any payment provided for in this subparagraph shall not be reduced, offset or subject to recovery by the Company or the Company's Successor by reason of any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another Corporation after the Date of Termination, or otherwise.

(ii)  The Corporation shall also pay to the Executive all legal fees and related expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with this Agreement, whether or not the Executive prevails (including, without limitation, all such fees and expenses, if any, incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement).

(iii)  If the Executive employment with the Corporation is terminated or the Executive resigns for Good Reason within 90 days prior to the Operative Date or within 24 months following the Operative Date, the Corporation shall provide him with reasonable outplacement services for up to 12 months following the Date of Termination of the Executive.

(iv)  The Executive shall not be eligible to receive any benefits provided in this Section 4 (other than payments under Section 4(i) unless the Executive first executes a written release and agreement provided by the Corporation releasing the Corporation of any and all claims the Executive might have against the Corporation. 
  
(v)  The Corporation shall maintain in full force and effect, for the Executive's continued benefit until the earlier of  (A) the death of the Executive; (B) the Executive's commencement of full-time employment with a new Corporation; or (C) within 90 days prior to the Operative Date or twenty-four (24) months following the Operative Date,  all life insurance, medical, health and accident, and disability plans, programs or arrangements in which the Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to the Operative Date, provided that the Executive's continued participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of such plans and programs.  In the event that the Executive's participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall arrange to provide the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those which the Executive is entitled to receive under such plans and programs.  In the case of any insurance provided the Executive pursuant to this subparagraph (iii), each premium therefor shall be paid after, but no later than 30 days after, the Corporation’s receipt of the invoice for such premium.  No 

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coverage shall be provided to the Executive under a self-insured medical plan of the Corporation after the Separation from Service; provided that such coverage may be provided during the period of time during which the Executive would be entitled to continuation coverage under such plan pursuant to Section 4980A of the Code if the Executive elected such continuation coverage and paid the applicable premiums.  Except for coverage permitted by the preceding sentence, no benefits shall be provided pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) other than through the purchase of insurance by the Corporation.

(vi)  The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided under the Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise.  It is specifically understood that any compensation the Executive receives from the Corporation or any other person for services rendered prior to or after termination of employment, such as a payment under any deferred compensation plan maintained by the Corporation, will not reduce or offset the benefits to which he is entitled hereunder.

(E)  The Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.  If the Executive should die while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of the Agreement to his devisee, legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to his estate.

(F)  If a Change of Control occurs during the term of this Agreement, (1) the unexercised portions, if any, of all Options as defined under the RGC Resources Amended and Restated Key Employee Stock Option Plan or the RGC Resources, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Bonus Plan (the “Plans”) granted to the Executive under the Plans that have not expired or been forfeited pursuant to their terms shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable.

5.  AGREEMENT BINDING ON SUCCESSORS.  The Corporation will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, share exchange, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement.  Failure of the Corporation to obtain such agreement prior to or simultaneously with a Change of Control shall be a breach of the Agreement which shall entitle the Executive to terminate his employment for Good Reason under Paragraph 3(iii) on or after the Operative Date, except that, for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date of his Notice of Termination shall be deemed the Date of Termination.

6.  NOTICE.  For the purposes of the Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on the date hand delivered or the date mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Executive at his residence address and to the Corporation directed to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

7.  MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.  No provisions of the Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by 

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the Executive and the Corporation.  No waiver by any party hereto at any time or the breach by the other party hereto or of compliance with any condition or provision of the Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  No agreements of representations, 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 the Agreement.  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

8.  VALIDITY.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of the Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of the Agreement and such other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

9.  COUNTERPARTS AND GOVERNING LAW.  The Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.  The Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, excepting its principles of conflict of laws.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed the Agreement as of the date first above written.

RGC Resources, Inc.                    Employee Name

By: /s/ S. Frank Smith                    /s/ John S. D'Orazio       
               S. Frank Smith                            John S. D’Orazio

      Its: Compensation Committee Chairman

    

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