Document:

Document

Exhibit 10.1

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of this 19th day of January, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), is by and between Colony Bank (“Employer”), a Georgia Bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of Colony Bankcorp, Inc. (the “Holding Company”) and Max Edward Hoyle (“Employee”), a resident of the State of Georgia (collectively, the “Parties”).

WHEREAS, Employee is currently engaged as the Chief Banking Officer of both the Holding Company and Employer; 

WHEREAS, the Holding Company, Employer and Employee desire to enter an employment agreement to memorialize the terms of Employee’s employment; and

WHEREAS, Employer and Employee desire to terminate the Change-in-Control Agreement between the Parties, dated as of February 20, 2018 effective as of the Effective Date.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, Employer and Employee hereby agree as follows:
									
		1	Employment; Termination of Change-in-Control Agreement.

(a)        Agreement to Employ. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Employer hereby agrees to employ Employee and Employee hereby agrees to be employed with Employer as of the Effective Date.

(b)       Term of Agreement. The term of this Agreement and Employee’s employment with Employer hereunder shall begin on the Effective Date and shall end on the second (2nd) anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Term”), unless terminated earlier in accordance with Section 4 below. Continued employment following the end of this Agreement shall be on an “at will” basis, unless such term of employment is extended by a subsequent agreement duly executed by each of the parties to this Employment Agreement, in which case such employment shall be subject to the terms and conditions contained in the subsequent written agreement.

(c)        Termination of Change-in-Control Agreement. Employer and Employee agree that, effective as of the Effective Date, the Change-in-Control Agreement by and between Employer and Employee dated as of February 20, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”) shall be terminated and be null and void.
										
		2		Position; Extent of Service; Office Location.

(a)       Position. During the Term, Employee shall serve as Chief Banking Officer of Employer and the Holding Company, and in such other position or positions with Employer and/or the Holding Company as may be reasonably delegated by the Chief Executive Officer of Employer. 

(b)       Extent of Service. During the Term, Employee shall (i) use Employee’s reasonable best efforts, judgment, skill and energy to perform the services required of Employee’s under this Agreement in a manner consonant with the duties of Employee’s position; (ii) devote substantially all of Employee’s business effort, time, energy, and skill (reasonable vacations and reasonable absences due to illness excepted) to fulfill Employee’s employment duties; (iii) faithfully, loyally and diligently perform such duties, subject to the control and supervision of the Chief Executive Officer of Employer; and (iv) diligently follow and implement all lawful management policies and decisions of the Chief Executive Officer of Employer that are communicated to Employee.

(c)       Office Location. Employee shall maintain an office at the Employer’s office in Albany, Georgia, or at one of the Employer’s other offices as determined by mutual agreement between Employee and the Chief Executive Officer of Employer. In addition, Employee from time-to time may be required to travel to other geographic locations in connection with the performance of Employee’s duties.
									
		3	Compensation and Benefits.

(a)       Base Salary. During the Term, Employer shall pay to Employee base salary at the rate of Two Hundred Twelve Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($212,000) per year (“Base Salary”), subject to applicable withholdings required by law or authorized by Employee. Employee’s Base Salary will be paid in accordance with 

Employer’s ordinary payroll policies and practices then in effect. Employee’s Base Salary is subject to review annually by the Chief Executive Officer of Employer and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Employer (the “Bank Board”) and the Board of Directors of the Holding Company (the “Holding Company Board”) in connection with the annual performance review process.

(b)       Bonus Plans. During the Term, Employee shall have an opportunity to receive an annual bonus based upon the achievement of performance goals established from year to year by the Compensation Committee of the Bank Board (the “Annual Bonus”) and the Compensation Committee of the Holding Company Board, pursuant to the terms and conditions of Employer’s standard cash incentive plan for peer executives. Except as otherwise provided by Employer, Employee must be employed by Employer on the date the Annual Bonus, if any, is paid in order to receive the Annual Bonus.

(c)       Benefit Plans. During the Term, Employee shall be eligible to participate in each employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by Employer, including, without limitation, each medical, dental, group life, accident or disability insurance, and retirement contribution matching, in each case, whether now existing or established hereafter, to the extent that Employee is eligible to participate in any such plan under the generally applicable provisions thereof. Nothing in this Agreement shall require Employer to create or maintain any employee benefit plans, nor shall anything in this Agreement prohibit Employer from changing or discontinuing any existing employee benefit plans.

(d)       PTO and Holidays. During the Term, Employee shall be entitled to up to twenty-seven (27) days of paid-time off (PTO), plus holidays offered consistent with Employer policy. Unused PTO shall be treated in accordance with Employer policy.

(e)       Reimbursement of Expenses. During the Term, Employer shall reimburse Employee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Employee on behalf of Employer in the ordinary course of business, in accordance with Employer’s then current reimbursement procedures.

(f)       Terms Regarding Reimbursement of Expenses. If Employee is entitled to be paid or reimbursed for any taxable expenses under this Agreement, and such payments or reimbursements are includible in Employee’s federal gross taxable income, the amount of such expenses reimbursable in any one calendar year shall not affect the amount reimbursable in any other calendar year, and the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made no later than December 31 of the year after the year in which the expense was incurred. No right of Employee to reimbursement of expenses shall be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

            4.         Termination of Employment.  This Agreement and Employee’s employment with Employer may be terminated as follows:

(a)       Death. Employee’s employment and this Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the death of Employee.

(b)       Disability. If Employee is incapacitated by accident, sickness or otherwise so as to render Employee’s mentally or physically incapable of performing fully the services required of Employee’s under this Agreement (referred to herein as a “Disability”) for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days or for an aggregate of one hundred twenty (120) business days during any twelve (12) month period, Employer may terminate Employee’s employment and this Agreement effective immediately after the expiration of either of such periods, upon giving Employee written notice of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, if it is determined by Employer that Employee has a “disability” as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Employee’s employment shall not be terminated on the basis of such disability unless it is first determined by Employer after consultation with Employee that there is no reasonable accommodation which would permit Employee to perform the essential functions of Employee’s position without imposing an undue hardship on Employer.

(c)       By Employer. Employer may terminate Employee’s employment and this Agreement with or without Cause immediately on written notice to Employee. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean a good faith determination by Employer that any of the following has occurred: (i) any intentional misconduct by Employee in connection with Employer’s business or relating to Employee’s duties, or any willful violation of any 

laws, rules or regulations applicable to banks or the banking industry generally (including but not limited to the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the State of Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, or any other applicable regulatory authority); (ii) Employee’s material failure to comply with Employer’s policies or guidelines of employment or corporate governance policies or guidelines, including, without limitation, any business code of ethics adopted by Employer; (iii) any act of fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement by Employee, whether or not such act was committed in connection with the business of Employer; (iv) a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a breach of any of the obligations set forth in Section 6 hereof, that, if such breach is capable of being cured, is not cured by Employee within ten (10) days of written notice by Employer of the breach; or (v) the conviction by Employee of, or Employee’s pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude (including pleading guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or lesser charge which results from plea bargaining), whether or not such felony, crime or lesser offense is connected with the business of Employer.

(d)       By Employee. Employee’s employment and this Agreement may be terminated by Employee for any reason or with Good Reason (as defined herein) by delivering a written notice of termination to Employer thirty (30) days prior to the desired date of termination (with the thirty (30) day period to be referred to as the “Notice Period”). During the Notice Period, and at the sole discretion of Employer, Employee may be required to assist Employer with identifying a successor and in transitioning Employee’s duties and responsibilities to that successor. Moreover, during the Notice Period, and at the sole discretion of Employer, Employee may be relieved of all duties and/or prohibited from physically working at the offices of Employer. A termination by Employee shall not constitute termination for Good Reason unless Employee shall first have delivered to Employer written notice setting forth with specificity the occurrence deemed to give rise to a right to terminate for Good Reason (which notice must be given no later than sixty (60) days after the initial occurrence of such event) (the “Good Reason Notice”), and Employer has not taken action to correct, rescind or otherwise substantially reverse the occurrence supporting termination for Good Reason as identified by Employee within thirty (30) days following its receipt of such Good Reason Notice. Good Reason shall not include Employee’s death or Disability. Employee’s date of termination for Good Reason must occur within a period of one hundred twenty (120) days after the occurrence of an event of Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following, without Employee’s consent: (i) a material diminution in Employee’s Base Salary (other than an across-the-board reduction in base salary that affects all peer executives); (ii) a material diminution in Employee’s authority, duties, or responsibilities; or (iii) the relocation of Employee’s principal office to a location that is more than thirty-five (35) miles from Employer’s principal offices in Fitzgerald, Georgia or Employee’s principal office if other than Fitzgerald, Georgia; provided, however, that Good Reason shall not include any relocation of Employee’s principal office which is proposed or initiated by Employee.

(e)       By Written Agreement. The Parties may agree in writing to terminate Employee’s employment with Employer and this Agreement on the terms set forth in such writing.
									
		5	Obligations Upon Termination.

(a)       Termination for Any Reason. If this Agreement and Employee’s employment with Employer are terminated for any reason, Employer shall be obligated to pay to Employee (or, in the case of a termination under Section 4(a), Employee’s estate) only: (i) any Base Salary already earned but unpaid (which shall be paid in a lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days after Employee’s date of termination); and (ii) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which Employee is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of Employer (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”).

(b)       Termination by Employer Without Cause; Resignation by Employee for Good Reason.  During the Term, if Employer terminates Employee’s employment and this Agreement other than for Cause or Disability or Employee terminates Employee’s employment and this Agreement for Good Reason (each, a “Qualifying Termination”), then, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, Employer shall pay to Employee:

(i)         if the Qualifying Termination occurs prior to a Change in Control (as defined in this Section 5) or more than twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, an amount equal to one (1) times Employee’s then-current Base Salary, subject to applicable withholding and payable in approximately equal installments for a period of twelve (12) months (the “Non-CIC Severance Period”) in accordance with Employer’s ordinary payroll policies and practices then in effect, with such payments commencing with Employer’s first regular 

payroll that occurs after the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of termination and continuing for the Non-CIC Severance Period; provided that the first such payment shall consist of all amounts payable to Employee pursuant to this Section 5(b)(i) between the date of termination and the first payroll date to occur after the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of termination; or 

(ii)        if the Qualifying Termination occurs within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, an amount equal to one and one-half (1.5) times the sum of (x) Employee’s then-current Base Salary plus (y) an amount equal to the annual bonus paid by Employer to Employee with respect to the calendar year immediately preceding the effective date of the Qualifying Termination, subject to applicable withholdings and payable in a single lump sum within thirty (30) days following the Change in Control (the amounts described in (i) and (ii) herein referred to herein collectively as the “Severance”). 

The Severance shall be subject to Employee’s continued compliance in all material respects with Section 6 hereof and the execution, delivery, and non-revocation of a separation agreement and general release (other than of Employer’s obligations under this Agreement), in form reasonably acceptable to Employer (the “Release”).

(c)       Termination Other than by Reason of a Qualifying Termination. If this Agreement and Employee’s employment terminates other than by reason of a Qualifying Termination, Employer shall be obligated to pay to Employee only the Accrued Obligations and shall have no further obligations to Employee.

(d)       Termination upon Expiration of the Term. If this Agreement and Employee’s employment with Employer terminate as a result of the expiration of the Term, Employer shall be obligated to pay to Employee only the Accrued Obligations and shall have no further obligations to Employee.

(e)       Survival of Restrictions on Conduct of Employee. The provisions of Section 6 of this Agreement, as well as any other terms of this Agreement necessary for the interpretation of Section 6, shall survive termination of the Agreement pursuant to the time periods specified therein.

(f)      Definition of Change in Control.  For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” means and includes the occurrence of any one of the following events but shall specifically exclude a public offering of any class or series of the Holding Company’s equity securities pursuant to a registration statement filed by the Holding Company under the Securities Act of 1933:

(i)       during any consecutive 12-month period, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Holding Company Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board, provided that any person becoming a director after the beginning of such 12-month period and whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Holding Company Board shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Holding Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors (“Election Contest”) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Holding Company Board (“Proxy Contest”), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; or

(ii)       any person becomes a Beneficial Owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of either (A) 50% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Holding Company (“Holding Company Common Stock”) or (B) securities of the Holding Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Holding Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors (the “Holding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (ii), the following acquisitions of Holding Company Common Stock or Holding Company Voting Securities shall not constitute a Change in Control: (w) an acquisition directly from the Holding Company, (x) an acquisition by the Holding Company or a Subsidiary, (y) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Holding Company or any Subsidiary, or (z) an acquisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in subsection (iii) below); or

(iii)       the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Holding Company or a Subsidiary (a “Reorganization”), or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Holding Company’s assets (a “Sale”) or the acquisition of assets or stock of another corporation or other entity (an “Acquisition”), unless immediately following such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners, respectively, of the outstanding Holding Company Common Stock and outstanding Holding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Holding Company or all or substantially all of the Holding Company’s assets or stock either directly or through one or more subsidiaries, the “Surviving Entity”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition, of the outstanding Holding Company Common Stock and the outstanding Holding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) no person (other than (x) the Holding Company or any Subsidiary, (y) the Surviving Entity or its ultimate parent entity, or (z) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by any of the foregoing) is the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the total common stock or 50% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Entity, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (any Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”).
									
		6	Restrictions on Conduct of Employee.

(a)       Acknowledgements.

(i)       Condition of Employment and Other Consideration. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has received good and valuable consideration for entering into this Agreement, including, without limitation, access to and use of Employer’s Confidential Information and access to Employer’s donor and employee relationships and goodwill, and further acknowledges that Employer would not employ or continue to employ Employee in the absence of Employee’s execution of and compliance with this Agreement.

(ii)       Access to Confidential Information, Relationships, and Goodwill. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee is being provided and entrusted with Confidential Information, including highly confidential business information that is subject to extensive measures to maintain its secrecy within Employer, is not known in the trade or disclosed to the public, and would materially harm Employer’s legitimate business interests if it was disclosed or used in violation of this Agreement. Employee also acknowledges and agrees that Employee is being provided and entrusted with access to Employer’s donor and employee relationships and goodwill. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that Employer would not provide access to the Confidential Information, donor and employee relationships, and goodwill in the absence of Employee’s execution of and compliance with this Agreement. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that Employer’s Confidential Information, donor and employee relationships, and goodwill are valuable assets of Employer and are legitimate business interests that are properly subject to protection through the covenants contained in this Agreement.

(iii)       Potential Unfair Competition. Employee acknowledges and agrees that as a result of Employee’s employment with Employer, Employee’s knowledge of and access to Confidential Information, and Employee’s relationships with Employer’s donors and employees, Employee would have an unfair competitive advantage if Employee were to engage in activities in violation of this Agreement.

(iv)       No Undue Hardship. Employee acknowledges and agrees that, in the event that Employee’s employment with Employer terminates, Employee possesses marketable skills and abilities that will enable Employee to find suitable employment without violating the covenants set forth in this Agreement.

(v)       Voluntary Execution. Employee acknowledges and affirms that Employee is executing this Agreement voluntarily, that Employee has read this Agreement carefully and had a full and 

reasonable opportunity to consider this Agreement (including an opportunity to consult with legal counsel), and that Employee has not been pressured or in any way coerced, threatened or intimidated into signing this Agreement.

(b)       Definitions. The following capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings assigned to them below, which definitions shall apply to both the singular and the plural forms of such terms:

(i)       “Competitive Services” means the community banking or commercial banking business, including, without limitation, originating, underwriting, closing and selling loans, receiving deposits and otherwise engaging in the business of banking, as well as the business of providing any other activities, products, or services of the type conducted, authorized, offered, or provided by Employer as of Employee’s Termination Date, or during the two (2) years immediately prior to Employee’s Termination Date.

(ii)       “Confidential Information” means any and all data and information relating to Employer, or their respective activities, business, donors, or clients that (i) is disclosed to Employee or of which Employee becomes aware as a consequence of Employee’s employment with Employer; (ii) has value to Employer; and (iii) is not generally known outside of Employer. “Confidential Information” shall include, but is not limited to the following types of information regarding, related to, or concerning Employer: trade secrets (as defined by O.C.G.A. § 10-1-761); financial plans and data; management planning information; business plans; operational methods; market studies; marketing plans or strategies; pricing information; product development techniques or plans; donor or customer lists; donor or customer files, data and financial information; details of donor or customer contracts; current and anticipated donor or customer requirements; identifying and other information pertaining to business referral sources; past, current and planned research and development; computer aided systems, software, strategies and programs; business acquisition plans; management organization and related information (including, without limitation, data and other information concerning the compensation and benefits paid to officers, directors, employees and management); personnel and compensation policies; new personnel acquisition plans; and other similar information. “Confidential Information” also includes combinations of information or materials which individually may be generally known outside of Employer, but for which the nature, method, or procedure for combining such information or materials is not generally known outside of Employer. In addition to data and information relating to Employer, “Confidential Information” also includes any and all data and information relating to or concerning a third party that otherwise meets the definition set forth above, that was provided or made available to Employer by such third party, and that Employer has a duty or obligation to keep confidential. This definition shall not limit any definition of “confidential information” or any equivalent term under state or federal law. “Confidential Information” shall not include information that has become generally available to the public by the act of one who has the right to disclose such information without violating any right or privilege of Employer.

(iii)       “Intellectual Property Rights” means all intellectual property rights worldwide arising under statutory or common law or by contract and whether or not perfected, pending, now existing or hereafter filed, issued, or acquired, including all (A) patent rights; (B) rights associated with works of authorship including copyrights and mask work rights; (C) rights relating to the protection of trade secrets and confidential information; (D) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, and trade names; and (E) any right analogous to those set forth herein and any other proprietary rights relating to intangible property.
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(iv)       “Invention” means any discovery, process, formula, method, compound, composition of matter, technique, development, improvement, design, schematic, device, concept, system, technical information, or know-how, whether patentable or not, and any and all patent rights therein, whether now or hereafter perfected and reduced to practice.

(v)        “Material Contact” means contact between Employee and a customer or potential customer of Employer (i) with whom or which Employee has or had dealings on behalf of Employer; (ii) whose dealings with Employer are or were coordinated or supervised by Employee; (iii) about whom Employee obtains Confidential Information in the ordinary course of business as a result of Employee’s employment with Employer; or (iv) who receives products or services of Employer, the sale or provision of which results or resulted in compensation, commissions, or earnings for Employee within the two (2) years preceding the conduct in question (if the conduct occurs while Employee is still employed by Employer) or the Termination Date (if the conduct occurs after Employee’s Termination), as applicable.

(vi)      “Person” means any individual or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity or enterprise.

(vii)        “Principal or Representative” means a principal, owner, partner, shareholder, joint venturer, investor, member, trustee, director, officer, manager, employee, agent, representative or consultant.

(viii)         “Protected Customer” means any Person to whom Employer has sold its products or services or actively solicited to sell its products or services, and with whom Employee has had Material Contact on behalf of Employer during the last two years of Employee’s employment with Employer.

(ix)        “Protected Work” means any and all ideas, Inventions, Works, hardware systems, logos, trade dress, trademarks, service marks, brand names, and trade names (i) conceived, developed or produced by Employee, in whole or in part, alone or by others working with Employee or under Employee’s direction, during the period of Employee’s employment which relates to Employer’s business, (ii) conceived, produced or used or intended for use by or on behalf of Employer or its customers or (iii) conceived, developed or produced by Employee after Employee leaves the employ of Employer that relates to or is based on Confidential Information to which Employee had access by virtue of Employee’s employment with Employer.

(x)       “Protective Covenants” means the protective covenants contained in Section 6 of this Agreement.

(xi)       “Restricted Period” means any time during Employee’s employment with Employer, plus twelve (12) months following Employee’s Termination Date.

(xii)       “Restricted Territory” means anywhere within a fifty (50) mile radius of each of the following: (i) any office or branch location or locations of Employer to which Employee was principally assigned during the one (1) year preceding the conduct in question (if the conduct occurs while Employee is still employed by Employer) or the Termination Date (if the conduct occurs after Employee’s Termination), as applicable; (ii) any office or branch location or locations of Employer at which Employee otherwise conducted loan production activities during the one (1) year preceding the conduct in question (if the conduct occurs while Employee is still employed by Employer) or the Termination Date (if the conduct occurs after Employee’s Termination), as applicable; and (iii) any office or branch location of Employer with respect to which Employee had oversight or supervision of the loan production activities of other employees or service providers during the one (1) year preceding the conduct in question (if the conduct occurs while Employee is still employed by Employer) or the Termination Date (if the conduct occurs after Employee’s Termination), as applicable. 

 (xiii)     “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Holding Company.

(xiv)         “Termination” means the termination of Employee’s employment with Employer, for any reason, whether with or without cause, upon the initiative of either party.

(xv)        “Termination Date” means the date of Employee’s Termination.

(xvi)       “Works” means any works of authorship, compilations, documents, data, notes, designs, photographs, artwork, drawings, visual or aural works, data bases, computer programs, software (source code and object code), systems, programs, software integration techniques, schematics, flow charts, studies, research, findings, manuals, pamphlets, instructional and training materials and other materials, including, without limitation, any modifications or improvements thereto or derivatives therefrom, and whether or not subject to copyright or trade secret protection.

(c)       Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Confidential Information. Employee agrees that Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, use any Confidential Information on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any Person other than Employer, or reveal, divulge, or disclose any Confidential Information to any Person not 

expressly authorized by Employer to receive such Confidential Information. This obligation shall remain in effect for as long as the information or materials in question retain their status as Confidential Information. Employee further agrees that Employee shall fully cooperate with Employer in maintaining the Confidential Information to the extent permitted by law. The parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, alter either Employer’s rights or Employee’s obligations under any state or federal statutory or common law regarding trade secrets and unfair trade practices. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Employee shall not be restricted from: (i) disclosing information that is required to be disclosed by law, court order or other valid and appropriate legal process; provided, however, that in the event such disclosure is required by law, Employee shall provide Employer with prompt notice of such requirement so that Employer may seek an appropriate protective order prior to any such required disclosure by Employee; (ii) reporting possible violations of federal, state, or local law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, or from making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal, state, or local law or regulation, and Employee shall not need the prior authorization of Employer to make any such reports or disclosures and shall not be required to notify Employer that Employee has made such reports or disclosures; (iii) disclosing a trade secret (as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1839) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, in either event solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (iv) disclosing a trade secret (as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 1839) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.

(d)       Non-Competition. Employee agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Employee will not, without prior written consent of Employer, directly or indirectly (i) carry on or engage in Competitive Services within the Restricted Territory on Employee’s own or on behalf of any Person or any Principal or Representative of any Person.

(e)       Non-Solicitation of Protected Customers. Employee agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of Employer, directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or as a Principal or Representative of any Person, solicit, divert, take away, or attempt to solicit, divert, or take away a Protected Customer for the purpose of engaging in, providing, or selling Competitive Services.

(f)       Non-Recruitment of Employees and Independent Contractors. Employee agrees that during the Restricted Period, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee’s own behalf or as a Principal or Representative of any Person, recruit, solicit, or induce or attempt to recruit, solicit or induce any employee or independent contractor of Employer to terminate Employee’s/Employee’s employment or other relationship with Employer or to enter into employment or any other kind of business relationship with Employee or any other Person.

(g)       Proprietary Rights.

(i)       Ownership of Protected Works. Employee acknowledges and agrees that any and all Confidential Information and Protected Works, and all Intellectual Property Rights therein, are the sole and exclusive property of Employer, and that no compensation in addition to Employee’s base salary is due to Employee for development, assignment or transfer of Protected Works. Employee acknowledges and agrees that all Works related to or useful in the business of Employer, whether created within or without Employer’s facilities and before, during or after normal business hours, are specifically intended to be “works made for hire” by Employee created within the scope of employment with Employer, and Protected Works. Employee hereby waives any and all moral rights Employee may have to the Works in the United States and all other countries, including, without limitation, any rights Employee may have under 17 U.S.C. § 106A.

(ii)       Disclosure of Protected Works. Employee will promptly and fully disclose in writing to Employer the existence of any Protected Works and maintain adequate written records of all Protected Works, which records remains the exclusive property of Employer.

(iii)       Assignment of Protected Works. Employee hereby assigns and transfers, and agrees to assign and transfer, all of Employee’s rights, title and interest, as and when those rights arise, in any and all Protected Works, including all Intellectual Property Rights therein, to Employer. If and to the extent it is impossible as a matter of law to assign rights, including, without limitation, Intellectual Property Rights in any portion of the Protected Works to Employer, Employee hereby grants to Employer an exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, 

transferable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, worldwide and unlimited right and license (with right to sublicense) to make (including the right to practice methods, processes and procedures), have made, sell, import, export, distribute, use and exploit in any possible ways (including, but not limited to, modify, copy, amend, translate, display, further develop, prepare derivative works of, distribute and sublicense) all Intellectual Property Rights pertaining to the Protected Works, and any portion of it. Employee shall not be entitled to use Protected Works for Employee’s own benefit or the benefit of anyone, except Employer, without written permission from Employer and then only subject to the terms of such permission. Employee agrees that Employee will not oppose or object in any way to applications for registration of Protected Works by Employer or others designated by Employer. Employee agrees to exercise reasonable care to avoid making Protected Works available to any third party and shall be liable to Employer for all damages and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, if Protected Works are made available to third parties by Employee’s, without the express written consent of Employer.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Employee will not be obligated to assign to Employer any Invention or Work for which no equipment, supplies, facilities, or Confidential Information of Employer was used and which was developed entirely on Employee’s own time, unless (i) the Invention or Work relates (A) directly to the business of Employer, or (B) to Employer’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development; or (ii) the Invention or Work results from any work performed by Employee for Employer. Employee likewise will not be obligated to assign to Employer any Invention or Work that is conceived by Employee after Employee leaves the employ of Employer, except that Employee is so obligated if the same relates to or is based on Confidential Information to which Employee had access by virtue of Employee’s employment with Employer. Similarly, Employee will not be obligated to assign any Invention or Work to Employer that was conceived and reduced to practice prior to Employee’s employment, regardless of whether such Invention or Work relates to or would be useful in the business of Employer.

(iv)       Reasonable Assistance. Employee will, during and after Employee’s employment, communicate to Employer any facts known to Employee’s regarding the Protected Works and, at Employer’s request, testify in any legal proceedings, sign all lawful papers, make all rightful oaths, execute and deliver all transfers, assignments, instruments and papers (including, without limitation, applications for registration, divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, foreign counterparts, or reissue applications) and take such further action as may be considered necessary by Employer to carry into full force and effect the assignment, transfer, and conveyance made or to be made of title to the Protected Works and all Intellectual Property Rights therein clearly and exclusively to Employer and to enforce and defend Employer’s rights therein.

(v)       Prior Works and Inventions; No Other Duties. Employee acknowledges and affirms that either (A) there are no Works or Inventions conceived, developed or produced by Employee, whether or not perfected and reduced to practice, prior to Employee’s employment Employer, or (B) Employee has, on or before signing this Agreement, disclosed all such prior Works and Inventions to Employer in writing and provided to Employer a detailed written description thereof. Employee acknowledges and agrees that there is no other contract or duty on Employee’s part now in existence to assign Protected Works to anyone other than Employer.

(h)       Return of Materials. Employee agrees that Employee will not retain or destroy (except as set forth below), and will immediately return to Employer on or prior to the Termination Date, or at any other time Employer requests such return, any and all property of Employer that is in Employee’s possession or subject to Employee’s control, including, but not limited to, donor or customer files and information, papers, drawings, notes, manuals, specifications, designs, devices, code, email, documents, diskettes, CDs, tapes, keys, access cards, credit cards, identification cards, equipment, computers, mobile devices, other electronic media, all other files and documents relating to Employer and its business (regardless of form, but specifically including all electronic files and data of Employer), together with all Protected Works and Confidential Information belonging to Employer or that Employee received from or through Employee’s employment with Employer. Employee will not make, distribute, or retain copies of any such information or property. To the extent that Employee has electronic files or information in Employee’s possession or control that belong to Employer, contain Confidential Information, or constitute Protected Works (specifically including but not limited to electronic files or information stored on personal computers, mobile devices, electronic media, or in cloud storage), on or prior to the Termination Date, or at any other time Employer requests, Employee shall (i) provide Employer with an electronic copy of all of such files or information (in an electronic format that readily accessible by Employer); (ii) after doing so, delete all such files and information, including all copies and derivatives thereof, from all non-Employer-owned computers, mobile 

devices, electronic media, cloud storage, and other media, devices, and equipment, such that such files and information are permanently deleted and irretrievable; and (iii) if requested by Employer, provide a written certification to Employer that the required deletions have been completed and specifying the files and information deleted and the media source from which they were deleted.
									
		(i)	Enforcement of Protective Covenants.

(i)       Rights and Remedies Upon Breach. The Parties specifically acknowledge and agree that the remedy at law for any breach of the Protective Covenants will be inadequate, and that in the event Employee breaches, or threatens to breach, any of the Protective Covenants, Employer shall have the right and remedy, without the necessity of proving actual damage or posting any bond, to enjoin, preliminarily and permanently, Employee from violating or threatening to violate the Protective Covenants and to have the Protective Covenants specifically enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction, it being agreed that any breach or threatened breach of the Protective Covenants would cause irreparable injury to Employer and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to Employer. Employee understands and agrees that if Employee violates any of the obligations set forth in the Protective Covenants, the period of restriction applicable to each obligation violated shall cease to run during the pendency of any litigation over such violation, provided that such litigation was initiated during the period of restriction. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available to Employer at law or in equity Employer’s ability to enforce its rights under the Protective Covenants or applicable law against Employee shall not be impaired in any way by the existence of a claim or cause of action on the part of Employee based on, or arising out of, this Agreement or any other event or transaction.

(ii)       Severability and Modification of Covenants. Employee acknowledges and agrees that each of the Protective Covenants is reasonable and valid in time and scope and in all other respects. The Parties agree that it is their intention that the Protective Covenants be enforced in accordance with their terms to the maximum extent permitted by law. Each of the Protective Covenants shall be considered and construed as a separate and independent covenant. Should any part or provision of any of the Protective Covenants be held invalid, void, or unenforceable, such invalidity, voidness, or unenforceability shall not render invalid, void, or unenforceable any other part or provision of this Agreement or such Protective Covenant. If any of the provisions of the Protective Covenants should ever be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to exceed the scope permitted by the applicable law, such provision or provisions shall be automatically modified to such lesser scope as such court may deem just and proper for the reasonable protection of Employer’s legitimate business interests and may be enforced by Employer to that extent in the manner described above and all other provisions of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable.

7.       Existing Covenants. Employee represents and warrants that Employee’s employment with Employer does not and will not breach any agreement that Employee has with any former employer to keep in confidence proprietary or confidential information or not to compete with any such former employer. Employee will not disclose to Employer or use on its behalf any proprietary or confidential information of any other party required to be kept confidential by Employee.

8.       Disclosure of Agreement. Employee acknowledges and agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Employee will disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement to any prospective employer, business partner, investor or lender prior to entering into an employment, partnership or other business relationship with such prospective employer, business partner, investor or lender. Employee further agrees that Employer shall have the right to make any such prospective employer, business partner, investor or lender of Employee aware of the existence and terms of this Agreement.

9.       Miscellaneous.

(a)       Applicable Law; Forum Selection; Consent to Jurisdiction. The Parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles. The Parties that the exclusive forum for any action to enforce this Agreement, as well as any action relating to or arising out of this Agreement, shall be the state or federal courts of the State of Georgia. With respect to any such court action, Employee hereby (a) irrevocably submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts; (b) consents to venue; and (c) waives any other requirement (whether imposed by statute, rule of court, or otherwise) with respect to personal jurisdiction or venue. The Parties hereto further agree 

that the state and federal courts of the State of Georgia are convenient forums for any dispute that may arise herefrom and that neither party shall raise as a defense that such courts are not convenient forums.

(b)       Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(c)       Waiver. Failure of either Party to insist, in one or more instances, on performance by the other in strict accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of any right granted in this Agreement or of the future performance of any such term or condition or of any other term or condition of this Agreement, unless such waiver is contained in a writing signed by the Party making the waiver.

(d)       Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between Employer and Employee with respect to the subject matter hereof and, from and after the date hereof, this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement, written or oral, between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Prior Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. 

(e)       Assignment. This Agreement can be assigned by Employer and shall be binding and inure to the benefit of Employer, its successors and assigns. No right, obligation or duty of this Agreement may be assigned by Employee without the prior written consent of Employer.

(f)       Notices. Any notice required or desired to be delivered under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, by courier service, by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by telecopy and shall be effective upon actual receipt by the party to which such notice shall be directed, and shall be addressed as follows (or to such other address as the party entitled to notice shall hereafter designate in accordance with the terms hereof):

If to Employer:              Chief Executive Officer
115 S. Grant Street
Fitzgerald, GA 31750

If to Employee:              Max Edward Hoyle
Current address on file with Employer

(g)       Construction. The Parties understand and agree that because they both have been given the opportunity to have counsel review and revise this Agreement, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement. Instead, the language of all parts of this Agreement shall be construed as a whole, and according to its fair meaning, and not strictly for or against either of the parties.

(h)       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and it shall not be necessary that the signatures of the Parties hereto be contained on any one counterpart hereof. Each counterpart shall be deemed an original but all counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Any signature page of any such counterpart, or any electronic facsimile thereof, may be attached or appended to any other counterpart to complete a fully executed counterpart of this Agreement, and any telecopy or other electronic transmission of any signature shall be deemed an original and shall bind such Party.

(i)       Third Party Beneficiaries. The parties acknowledge and agree that any direct and indirect parent companies or subsidiaries of Employer are intended to be beneficiaries of this Agreement and shall have every right to enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

(j)       Acknowledgements. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has read and reviewed this Agreement in its entirety, and that Employee has been given the opportunity to ask Employer 

questions about this Agreement. Employee further acknowledges and agrees that Employee has been given an opportunity to consult with an attorney of Employee’s choice regarding this Agreement.

10.       Code Section 280G. 

(a)        Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by Employer to or for the benefit of Employee (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (such benefits, payments or distributions are hereinafter referred to as “Payments”) would, if paid, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then, prior to the making of any Payments to Employee, a calculation shall be made comparing (X) the net after-tax benefit to Employee of the Payments after payment by Employee of the Excise Tax, to (Y) the net after-tax benefit to Employee if the Payments had been limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax.  If the amount calculated under (X) above is less than the amount calculated under (Y) above, then the Payments shall be limited to the extent necessary to avoid being subject to the Excise Tax (the “Reduced Amount”).  The reduction of the Payments due hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by first reducing cash Payments and then, to the extent necessary, reducing those Payments having the next highest ratio of Parachute Value (as defined below) to actual present value of such Payments as of the date of the Change in Control, as determined by the Determination Firm (as defined in Section 10(b)(ii)) below).  For purposes of this Section 10, present value shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code.  For purposes of this Section 10, the “Parachute Value” of a Payment means the present value as of the date of the Change in Control of the portion of such Payment that constitutes a “parachute payment” under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, as determined by the Determination Firm for purposes of determining whether and to what extent the Excise Tax will apply to such Payment.  

(b)        All determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including whether an Excise Tax would otherwise be imposed, whether the Payments shall be reduced, the amount of the Reduced Amount, and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by an accounting firm or compensation consulting firm selected by Employer (the “Determination Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to Employer and Employee within 15 business days after the receipt of notice from Employee that a Payment is due to be made, or such earlier time as is requested by Employer.  All fees and expenses of the Determination Firm shall be borne solely by Employer.  Any determination by the Determination Firm shall be binding upon Employer and Employee.  As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Determination Firm hereunder, it is possible that Payments which Employee was entitled to, but did not receive pursuant to Section 10, could have been made without the imposition of the Excise Tax (“Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  In such event, the Determination Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by Employer to or for the benefit of Employee but no later than March 15 of the year after the year in which the Underpayment is determined to exist, which is when the legally binding right to such Underpayment arises.

(c)        In the event that the provisions of Code Section 280G and 4999 or any successor provisions are repealed without succession, this Section 10 shall be of no further force or effect.”

 11.       Code Section 409A.

(a)       General. This Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in a manner so that any amount or benefit payable hereunder shall be paid or provided in a manner that is either exempt from or compliant with the requirements Section 409A of the Code and applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder (and any applicable transition relief under Section 409A of the Code). Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Agreement is not warranted or guaranteed. Neither Employer nor its directors, officers, employees or advisers shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by Employee as a result of the application of Section 409A of the Code.

(b)       Definitional Restrictions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code (“Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation”) would otherwise be payable or distributable 

hereunder, or a different form of payment of such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation would be effected, by reason of a Change in Control or Employee’s termination of employment, such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation will not be payable or distributable to Employee, and/or such different form of payment will not be effected, by reason of such circumstance unless the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control or termination of employment, as the case may be, meet any description or definition of “change in control event” or “separation from service”, as the case may be, in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition). If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation, or the application of a different form of payment, such payment or distribution shall be made at the time and in the form that would have applied absent the non-409A-conforming event.

(c)       Treatment of Installment Payments. Each payment of termination benefits under Section 5(b) of this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment, as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2), for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.

(d)       Timing of Release of Claims. Whenever in this Agreement a payment or benefit is conditioned on Employee’s execution and non-revocation of a release of claims, such release must be executed and all revocation periods shall have expired within 60 days after Employee’s date of termination; failing which such payment or benefit shall be forfeited. If such payment or benefit constitutes Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation, then such payment or benefit shall be made (or in the case of installment payments, installments that would have otherwise been payable during such 60-day period shall be accumulated and paid) on the 60th day after Employee’s date of termination provided such release shall have been executed and such revocation periods shall have expired. If such payment or benefit is exempt from Section 409A of the Code, Employer may elect to make or commence payment at any time during such 60-day period.

(e)       Six-Month Delay in Certain Circumstances. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would constitute Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Agreement by reason of Employee’s separation from service during a period in which Employee is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by Employer under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes): (i) the amount of such Non-Exempt Deferred Compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following Employee’s separation from service will be accumulated through and paid or provided on the first day of the seventh month following Employee’s separation from service (or, if Employee dies during such period, within 30 days after Employee’s death) (in either case, the “Required Delay Period”); and (ii) the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume at the end of the Required Delay Period. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder.

11.       Regulatory Action.

(a)       If Employee is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of Employer’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) and (g)(1)), all obligations of Employer under this Agreement shall terminate, as of the effective date of such order.

(b)       If Employee is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of Employer’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(3) and (g)(1)), all obligations of Employer under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Employer shall reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were suspended.

(c)       If Employer is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default.

(d)       All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent a determination is made that continuation of the Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Employer (1) by the director of the FDIC or Employee’s or Employee’s designee (the “Director”), at the time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of Employer under the authority contained in 13(c) of the FDIA; or (2) by the Director, at the time the Director approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to operation of Employer when Employer is determined by the Director to be in an unsafe and unsound condition.

(e)       Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, no payments shall be made pursuant to any provision herein in contravention of the requirements of Section 2[18(k)] of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. 1828(k)). In particular, the provisions pertaining to the potential for payments shall have no force or effect as long as either the agreement concerning the potential for payments or the actual payment of such amounts would be considered a “golden parachute payment,” with the meaning of 12 C.F.R. Section 359.1(f).

[Signatures on following page]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Agreement.

COLONY BANK

By:         /s/      T. Heath Fountain                        
Name:  T. Heath Fountain
Title:    President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:      January 22, 2021

EMPLOYEE

/s/ Max Edward Hoyle                                            
Max Edward Hoyle

Date:     January 22, 2021EXHIBIT
10.1

 

NEITHER
THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE
HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT
BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN
A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY
BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE 

		SECURITIES.	

 

 

	Principal
    Amount: $43,500.00 	Issue
    Date: January 15, 2021 

	Purchase
    Price:	$43,500.00
    

 

 

CONVERTIBLE
PROMISSORY NOTE

 

FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, BLACKSTAR ENTERPRISE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Borrower”),
hereby promises to pay to the order of POWER UP LENDING GROUP LTD., a Virginia corporation, or registered assigns (the
“Holder”) the sum of $43,500.00 together with any interest as set forth herein, on January 15, 2022 (the “Maturity
Date”), and to pay interest on the unpaid principal balance hereof at the rate of ten percent (10%)(the “Interest
Rate”) per annum from the date hereof (the “Issue Date”) until the same becomes
due and payable, whether at maturity or upon acceleration or by prepayment or otherwise. This Note may not be prepaid in whole
or in part except as otherwise explicitly set forth herein. Any amount of principal or interest on this Note which is not paid
when due shall bear interest at the rate of twenty two percent (22%) per annum from the due date thereof until the same is paid
(“Default Interest”). Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 365 day year and the actual number of days elapsed.
Interest shall commence accruing on the Issue Date but shall not be payable until the Note becomes payable (whether at Maturity
Date or upon acceleration or by prepayment). All payments due hereunder (to the extent not converted into common stock, $0.001
par value per share (the “Common Stock”) in accordance with the terms hereof) shall be made in lawful money of the
United States of America. All payments shall be made at such address as the Holder shall hereafter give to the Borrower by written
notice made in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Each capitalized term used herein, and not otherwise defined, shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof, pursuant to which this
Note was originally issued (the “Purchase Agreement”).

 

This
Note is free from all taxes, liens, claims and encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof and shall not be subject to preemptive
rights or other similar rights of shareholders of the Borrower and will not impose personal liability upon the holder thereof.

 

The
following terms shall apply to this Note:

 

ARTICLE
I. CONVERSION RIGHTS

 

1.1
 Conversion Right. The Holder shall have the right from time to time, and at any time during the period beginning on
the date which is one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of this Note and ending on the later of: (i) the Maturity Date
and (ii) the date of payment of the Default

    	1 

    	 

    

Amount
(as defined in Article III), each in respect of the remaining outstanding amount of this Note to convert all or any part of the
outstanding and unpaid amount of this Note into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, as such Common Stock exists
on the Issue Date, or any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Borrower into which such Common Stock shall hereafter
be changed or reclassified at the conversion price (the “Conversion Price”) determined as provided herein (a “Conversion”);
provided, however, that in no event shall the Holder be entitled to convert any portion of this Note in excess of
that portion of this Note upon conversion of which the sum of (1) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the
Holder and its affiliates (other than shares of Common Stock which may be deemed beneficially owned through the ownership of the
unconverted portion of the Notes or the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other security of the Borrower subject to a
limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitations contained herein) and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the conversion of the portion of this Note with respect to which the determination of this proviso is being made,
would result in beneficial ownership by the Holder and its affiliates of more than 4.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
For purposes of the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Regulations 13D-G thereunder,
except as otherwise provided in clause (1) of such proviso. The beneficial ownership limitations on conversion as set forth
in the section may NOT be waived by the Holder. The number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon each conversion of
this Note shall be determined by dividing the Conversion Amount (as defined below) by the applicable Conversion Price then in
effect on the date specified in the notice of conversion, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Notice of Conversion”),
delivered to the Borrower by the Holder in accordance with Section 1.4 below; provided that the Notice of Conversion is submitted
by facsimile or e-mail (or by other means resulting in, or reasonably expected to result in, notice) to the Borrower before 6:00
p.m., New York, New York time on such conversion date (the “Conversion Date”); however, if the Notice of Conversion
is sent after 6:00pm, New York, New York time the Conversion Date shall be the next business day. The term “Conversion Amount”
means, with respect to any conversion of this Note, the sum of (1) the principal amount of this Note to be converted in such conversion
plus (2) at the Holder’s option, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such principal amount at the interest rates
provided in this Note to the Conversion Date, plus (3) at the Holder’s option, Default Interest, if any, on the amounts
referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (1) and/or (2) plus (4) at the Holder’s option, any amounts owed
to the Holder pursuant to Sections 1.4 hereof.

 

1.2
Conversion Price. The conversion price (the “Conversion Price”) shall equal the Variable Conversion Price (as
defined herein) (subject to equitable adjustments by the Borrower relating to the Borrower’s securities or the securities
of any subsidiary of the Borrower, combinations, recapitalization, reclassifications, extraordinary distributions and similar
events). The "Variable Conversion Price" shall mean 61% multiplied by the Market Price (as defined herein) (representing
a discount rate of 39%). “Market Price” means the lowest Trading Price (as defined below) for the Common Stock during
the twenty (20) Trading Day period ending on the latest complete Trading Day prior to the Conversion Date. “Trading Price”
means, for any security as of any date, the closing bid price on the OTCQB, OTCQX, Pink Sheets electronic quotation system or
applicable trading market (the “OTC”) as reported by a reliable reporting service (“Reporting Service”)
designated by the Holder (i.e. Bloomberg) or, if the OTC is not the principal trading market for such security, the closing bid
price of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded or, if no
closing bid price of such security is available in any of the foregoing manners, the average of the closing bid prices of any
market makers for such security that are listed in the “pink sheets”. If the Trading Price cannot be calculated for
such security on such date in the manner provided above, the Trading Price shall be the fair

    	2 

    	 

    

market
value as reasonably determined by the Borrower. “Trading Day” shall mean any day on which the Common Stock is tradable
for any period on the OTC, or on the principal securities exchange or other securities market on which the Common Stock is then
being traded.

 

1.3
Authorized Shares. The Borrower covenants that during the period the conversion right exists, the Borrower will reserve
from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares, free from preemptive rights, to provide for the issuance
of Common Stock upon the full conversion of this Note issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Borrower is required at all
times to have authorized and reserved six times the number of shares that would be issuable upon full conversion of the Note (assuming
that the 4.99% limitation set forth in Section 1.1 is not in effect)(based on the respective Conversion Price of the Note (as
defined in Section 1.2) in effect from time to time, initially 20,871,651 shares)(the “Reserved
Amount”). The Reserved Amount shall be increased (or decreased with the written consent of the Holder) from time to time
in accordance with the Borrower’s obligations hereunder. The Borrower represents that upon issuance, such shares will be
duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. In addition, if the Borrower shall issue any securities or make any change
to its capital structure which would change the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Notes shall be convertible at
the then current Conversion Price, the Borrower shall at the same time make proper provision so that thereafter there shall be
a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock authorized and reserved, free from preemptive rights, for conversion of the outstanding
Note. The Borrower (i) acknowledges that it has irrevocably instructed its transfer agent to issue certificates for the Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note, and (ii) agrees that its issuance of this Note shall constitute full authority to
its officers and agents who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates
for shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Note.

 

If,
at any time the Borrower does not maintain the Reserved Amount it will be considered

an
Event of Default under Section 3.2 of the Note.

 

1.4
Method of Conversion.

 

(a)               
Mechanics of Conversion. As set forth in Section 1.1 hereof, from time to time, and at any time during the period beginning
on the date which is one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of this Note and ending on the later of: (i) the Maturity
Date and (ii) the date of payment of the Default Amount, this Note may be converted by the Holder in whole or in part at any time
from time to time after the Issue Date, by (A) submitting to the Borrower a Notice of Conversion (by facsimile, e-mail or other
reasonable means of communication dispatched on the Conversion Date prior to 6:00 p.m., New York, New York time) and (B) subject
to Section 1.4(b), surrendering this Note at the principal office of the Borrower (upon payment in full of any amounts owed hereunder).

 

(b)               
Surrender of Note Upon Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon conversion of this Note
in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Borrower unless
the entire unpaid principal amount of this Note is so converted. The Holder and the Borrower shall maintain records showing the
principal amount so converted and the dates of such conversions or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to the
Holder and the Borrower, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note upon each such conversion.

 

(c)                
Delivery of Common Stock Upon Conversion. Upon receipt by the Borrower from the Holder of a facsimile transmission or e-mail
(or other reasonable means of communication) of a Notice of Conversion meeting the requirements for conversion as provided in
this Section 1.4, the Borrower shall issue and deliver or cause to be issued and delivered to or upon the order of the Holder
certificates for the

 

    	3 

    	 

    

 

Common
Stock issuable upon such conversion within two (2) business days after such receipt (the “Deadline”) (and, solely
in the case of conversion of the entire unpaid principal amount hereof, surrender of this Note) in accordance with the terms hereof
and the Purchase Agreement. Upon receipt by the Borrower of a Notice of Conversion, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder
of record of the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the outstanding principal amount and the amount of accrued and unpaid
interest on this Note shall be reduced to reflect such conversion, and, unless the Borrower defaults on its obligations hereunder,
all rights with respect to the portion of this Note being so converted shall forthwith terminate except the right to receive the
Common Stock or other securities, cash or other assets, as herein provided, on such conversion. If the Holder shall have given
a Notice of Conversion as provided herein, the Borrower’s obligation to issue and deliver the certificates for Common Stock
shall be absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the absence of any action by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or
consent with respect to any provision thereof, the recovery of any judgment against any person or any action to enforce the same,
any failure or delay in the enforcement of any other obligation of the Borrower to the holder of record, or any setoff, counterclaim,
recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder of any obligation to the Borrower, and irrespective
of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Borrower to the Holder in connection with such conversion.

 

(d)               
Delivery of Common Stock by Electronic Transfer. In lieu of delivering physical certificates representing the Common Stock
issuable upon conversion, provided the Borrower is participating in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated
Securities Transfer (“FAST”) program, upon request of the Holder and its compliance with the provisions set forth
herein, the Borrower shall use its best efforts to cause its transfer agent to electronically transmit the Common Stock issuable
upon conversion to the Holder by crediting the account of Holder’s Prime Broker with DTC through its Deposit and Withdrawal
at Custodian (“DWAC”) system.

 

(e)               
Failure to Deliver Common Stock Prior to Deadline. Without in any way limiting the Holder’s right to pursue other
remedies, including actual damages and/or equitable relief, the parties agree that if delivery of the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of this Note is not delivered by the Deadline due to action and/or inaction of the Borrower, the Borrower shall pay
to the Holder $2,000 per day in cash, for each day beyond the Deadline that the Borrower fails to deliver such Common Stock (the
“Fail to Deliver Fee”); provided; however that the Fail to Deliver Fee shall not be due if the failure is a result
of a third party (i.e., transfer agent; and not the result of any failure to pay such transfer agent) despite the best efforts
of the Borrower to effect delivery of such Common Stock. Such cash amount shall be paid to Holder by the fifth day of the month
following the month in which it has accrued or, at the option of the Holder (by written notice to the Borrower by the first day
of the month following the month in which it has accrued), shall be added to the principal amount of this Note, in which event
interest shall accrue thereon in accordance with the terms of this Note and such additional principal amount shall be convertible
into Common Stock in accordance with the terms of this Note. The Borrower agrees that ther ight to convert is a valuable right
to the Holder. The damages resulting from a failure, attempt to frustrate, interference with such conversion right are difficult
if not impossible to qualify. Accordingly, the parties acknowledge that the liquidated damages provision contained in this Section
1.4(e) are justified.

 

1.5
Concerning the Shares. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note may not be sold or transferred
unless: (i) such shares are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act or (ii) the Borrower or its transfer
agent shall have been furnished with an opinion of counsel

 

    	4 

    	 

    

 

(which
opinion shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions) to the effect that
the shares to be sold or transferred may be sold or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration (such as Rule
144 or a successor rule) (“Rule 144”); or (iii) such shares are transferred to an “affiliate” (as defined
in Rule 144) of the Borrower who agrees to sell or otherwise transfer the shares only in accordance with this Section 1.5 and
who is an Accredited Investor (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

 

Any
restrictive legend on certificates representing shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note shall be removed
and the Borrower shall issue to the Holder a new certificate therefore free of any transfer legend if the Borrower or its transfer
agent shall have received an opinion of counsel from Holder’s counsel, in form, substance and scope customary for opinions
of counsel in comparable transactions, to the effect that (i) a public sale or transfer of such Common Stock may be made without
registration under the Act, which opinion shall be accepted by the Company so that the sale or transfer is effected; or (ii) in
the case of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note, such security is registered for sale by the Holder under an
effective registration statement filed under the Act; or otherwise may be sold pursuant to an exemption from registration. In
the event that the Company does not reasonably accept the opinion of counsel provided by the Holder with respect to the transfer
of Securities pursuant to an exemption from registration (such as Rule 144), at the Deadline, it will be considered an Event of
Default pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Note.

 

1.6
Effect of Certain Events.

  

(a)               
Effect of Merger, Consolidation, Etc. At the option of the Holder, the sale, conveyance or disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Borrower, the effectuation by the Borrower of a transaction or series of related transactions in which
more than 50% of the voting power of the Borrower is disposed of, or the consolidation, merger or other business combination of
the Borrower with or into any other Person (as defined below) or Persons when the Borrower is not the survivor shall be deemed
to be an Event of Default (as defined in Article III) pursuant to which the Borrower shall be required to pay to the Holder upon
the consummation of and as a condition to such transaction an amount equal to the Default Amount (as defined in Article III).
“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other
entity or organization.

 

(b)               
Adjustment Due to Merger, Consolidation, Etc. If, at any time when this Note is issued and outstanding and prior to conversion
of all of the Note, there shall be any merger, consolidation, exchange of shares, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar
event, as a result of which shares of Common Stock of the Borrower shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares
of another class or classes of stock or securities of the Borrower or another entity, or in case of any sale or conveyance of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Borrower other than in connection with a plan of complete liquidation of the Borrower,
then the Holder of this Note shall thereafter have the right to receive upon conversion of this Note, upon the basis and upon
the terms and conditions specified herein and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore issuable upon conversion,
such stock, securities or assets which the Holder would have been entitled to receive in such transaction had this Note been converted
in full immediately prior to such transaction (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth herein), and in any such
case appropriate provisions shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the Holder of this Note to the end that
the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, provisions for adjustment of the Conversion Price and of the number of shares
issuable upon conversion of the Note) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as may be practicable in relation to any securities
or assets thereafter deliverable upon the conversion hereof. The Borrower shall not affect any transaction described in this Section
1.6(b) unless (a) it first gives, to the extent practicable, ten (10) days prior written notice (but in any event at least

 

    	5 

    	 

    

 

five
(5) days prior written notice) of the record date of the special meeting of shareholders to approve, or if there is no such record
date, the consummation of, such merger, consolidation, exchange of shares, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar event
or sale of assets (during which time the Holder shall be entitled to convert this Note) and (b) the resulting successor or acquiring
entity (if not the Borrower) assumes by written instrument the obligations of this Note. The above provisions shall similarly
apply to successive consolidations, mergers, sales, transfers or share exchanges.

 

(c)                
Adjustment Due to Distribution. If the Borrower shall declare or make any distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire
its assets) to holders of Common Stock as a dividend, stock repurchase, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including any
dividend or distribution to the Borrower’s shareholders in cash or shares (or rights to acquire shares) of capital stock
of a subsidiary (i.e., a spin-off)) (a “Distribution”), then the Holder of this Note shall be entitled, upon any conversion
of this Note after the date of record for determining shareholders entitled to such Distribution, to receive the amount of such
assets which would have been payable to the Holder with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion had
such Holder been the holder of such shares of Common Stock on the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
such Distribution.

 

1.7
Prepayment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note, at any time during the periods set forth
on the table immediately following this paragraph (the “Prepayment Periods”) or as otherwise agreed to between the
Borrower and the Holder, the Borrower shall have the right, exercisable on not more than three (3) Trading Days prior written
notice to the Holder of the Note to prepay the outstanding Note (principal and accrued interest), in full, in accordance with
this Section 1.7. Any notice of prepayment hereunder (an “Optional Prepayment Notice”) shall be delivered to the Holder
of the Note at its registered addresses and shall state: (1) that the Borrower is exercising its right to prepay the Note, and
(2) the date of prepayment which shall be not more than three (3) Trading Days from the date of the Optional Prepayment Notice.
On the date fixed for prepayment (the “Optional Prepayment Date”), the Borrower shall make payment of the Optional
Prepayment Amount (as defined below) to Holder, or upon the direction of the Holder as specified by the Holder in a writing to
the Borrower (which shall direction to be sent to Borrower by the Holder at least one (1) business day prior to the Optional Prepayment
Date). If the Borrower exercises its right to prepay the Note, the Borrower shall make payment to the Holder of an amount in cash
equal to the percentage (“Prepayment Percentage”) as set forth in the table immediately following this paragraph opposite
the applicable Prepayment Period, multiplied by the sum of: (w) the then outstanding principal amount of this Note plus
(x) accrued and unpaid interest on the unpaid principal amount of this Note to the Optional Prepayment Date plus (y) Default
Interest, if any, on the amounts referred to in clauses (w) and (x) plus (z) any amounts owed to the Holder pursuant to
Section 1.4 hereof (the “Optional Prepayment Amount”).

 

	Prepayment
    Period	Prepayment
    Percentage
	              1.    The
    period beginning on the Issue Date and ending on the date which is sixty (60) days following the Issue Date.	120%
	2.     The
    period beginning on the date which is sixty-one (61) days following the Issue Date and ending on the date which is ninety
    (90) days following the Issue Date.	125%
	3.    The
    period beginning on the date that is ninety-one (91) days from the Issue Date and ending one hundred twenty (120) days following
    the Issue Date.	130%

 

    	6 

    	 

    

 

	4.     The
    period beginning on the date that is one hundred twenty-one (121) days from the Issue Date and ending one hundred fifty days
    (150) days following the Issue Date.	135%
	5.    The
    period beginning on the date that is one hundred fifty-one (151) days from the Issue Date and ending one hundred eighty (180)
    days     following     the Issue Date.	139%

 

 

After
the expiration of the Prepayment Periods set forth above, the Holder may submit an Optional Prepayment Notice to the Holder. Upon
receipt by the Holder of the Optional Prepayment Notice post Prepayment Periods, the prepayment shall be subject to the Holder’s
and the Borrower’s agreement with respect to the applicable Prepayment Percentage.

 

Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, the Holder’s conversion rights herein shall not be affected in any way until
the Note is fully paid (funds received by the Holder) pursuant to an Optional Prepayment Notice.

 

ARTICLE
II. CERTAIN COVENANTS

 

2.1
Sale of Assets. So long as the Borrower shall have any obligation under this Note, the Borrower shall not, without
the Holder’s written consent, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any significant portion of its assets outside the ordinary
course of business. Any consent to the disposition of any assets may be conditioned on a specified use of the proceeds of disposition.

 

ARTICLE
III. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

If
any of the following events of default (each, an “Event of Default”) shall occur:

 

3.1
Failure to Pay Principal and Interest. The Borrower fails to pay the principal hereof or interest thereon when due
on this Note, whether at maturity or upon acceleration and such breach continues for a period of five (5) days after written notice
from the Holder.

 

3.2
Conversion and the Shares. The Borrower fails to issue shares of Common Stock to the Holder (or announces or threatens
in writing that it will not honor its obligation to do so) upon exercise by the Holder of the conversion rights of the Holder
in accordance with the terms of this Note, fails to transfer or cause its transfer agent to transfer (issue) (electronically or
in certificated form) any certificate for shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant
to this Note as and when required by this Note, the Borrower directs its transfer agent not to transfer or delays, impairs, and/or
hinders its transfer agent in transferring (or issuing) (electronically or in certificated form) any certificate for shares of
Common Stock to be issued to the Holder upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to this Note as and when required by this Note,
or fails to remove (or directs its transfer agent not to remove or impairs, delays, and/or hinders its transfer agent from removing)
any restrictive legend (or to withdraw any stop transfer instructions in respect thereof) on any certificate for any shares of
Common Stock issued to the Holder upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to this Note as and when required by this Note (or
makes any written announcement, statement or threat that it does not intend to honor the obligations described in this paragraph)
and any such failure shall continue uncured (or any written announcement, statement or threat not to honor its obligations shall
not be rescinded in writing) for two (2) business days after the Holder shall have delivered a Notice of Conversion. It is an
obligation of the Borrower to remain current in its obligations to its transfer agent. It shall be an event of default of this
Note, if a conversion of this Note is

 

    	7 

    	 

    

 

delayed,
hindered or frustrated due to a balance owed by the Borrower to its transfer agent. If at the option of the Holder, the Holder
advances any funds to the Borrower’s transfer agent in order to process a conversion, such advanced funds shall be paid
by the Borrower to the Holder within forty-eight (48) hours of a demand from the Holder.

 

3.3
Breach of Covenants. The Borrower breaches any material covenant or other material term or condition contained in this
Note and any collateral documents including but not limited to the Purchase Agreement and such breach continues for a period of
twenty (20) days after written notice thereof to the Borrower from the Holder.

 

3.4
Breach of Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty of the Borrower made herein or in any agreement,
statement or certificate given in writing pursuant hereto or in connection herewith (including, without limitation, the Purchase
Agreement), shall be false or misleading in any material respect when made and the breach of which has (or with the passage of
time will have) a material adverse effect on the rights of the Holder with respect to this Note or the Purchase Agreement.

 

3.5
Receiver or Trustee. The Borrower or any subsidiary of the Borrower shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver or trustee for it or for a substantial part of its property or business,
or such a receiver or trustee shall otherwise be appointed.

 

3.6
Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings, voluntary or involuntary,
for relief under any bankruptcy law or any law for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any
subsidiary of the Borrower.

 

3.7
Delisting of Common Stock. The Borrower shall fail to maintain the listing of the Common Stock on at least one of the OTC
(which specifically includes the quotation platforms maintained by the OTC Markets Group) or an equivalent replacement exchange,
the Nasdaq National Market, the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the New York Stock Exchange, or the American Stock Exchange.

 

3.8
Failure to Comply with the Exchange Act. The Borrower shall fail to comply with the reporting requirements of the Exchange
Act; and/or the Borrower shall cease to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (the filing of a Form 15
is an immediate Event of Default).

 

3.9
Liquidation. Any dissolution, liquidation, or winding up of Borrower or any substantial portion of its
business.

 

3.10
Cessation of Operations. Any cessation of operations by Borrower or Borrower admits it is otherwise generally unable to
pay its debts as such debts become due, provided, however, that any disclosure of the Borrower’s ability to continue as
a “going concern” shall not be an admission that the Borrower cannot pay its debts as they become due.

 

3.11
Financial Statement Restatement. The restatement of any financial statements filed by the Borrower
with the SEC at any time after 180 days after the Issuance Date for any date or period until this Note is no longer outstanding,
if the result of such restatement would, by comparison to the un-restated financial statement, have constituted a material adverse
effect on the rights of the Holder with respect to this Note or the Purchase Agreement.

 

    	8 

    	 

    

3.12
 Replacement of Transfer Agent. In the event that the Borrower proposes to replace its transfer agent, the Borrower
fails to provide, prior to the effective date of such replacement, a fully executed Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions in
a form as initially delivered pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (including but not limited to the provision to irrevocably reserve
shares of Common Stock in the Reserved Amount) signed by the successor transfer agent to Borrower and the Borrower.

 

3.13
Cross-Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note or the other related or companion documents,
a breach or default by the Borrower of any covenant or other term or condition contained in any of the Other Agreements, after
the passage of all applicable notice and cure or grace periods, shall, at the option of the Holder, be considered a default under
this Note and the Other Agreements, in which event the Holder shall be entitled (but in no event required) to apply all rights
and remedies of the Holder under the terms of this Note and the Other Agreements by reason of a default under said Other Agreement
or hereunder. “Other Agreements” means, collectively, all agreements and instruments between, among or by: (1) the
Borrower, and, or for the benefit of, (2) the Holder and any affiliate of the Holder, including, without limitation, promissory
notes; provided, however, the term “Other Agreements” shall not include the related or companion documents to this
Note. Each of the loan transactions will be cross-defaulted with each other loan transaction and with all other existing and future
debt of Borrower to the Holder.

 

Upon
the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default specified in Section 3.1 (solely with respect to failure to
pay the principal hereof or interest thereon when due at the Maturity Date), the Note shall become immediately due and payable
and the Borrower shall pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Default Amount
(as defined herein). UPON THE OCCURRENCE AND DURING THE CONTINUATION OF ANY EVENT OF DEFAULT SPECIFIED IN SECTION 3.2, THE NOTE
SHALL BECOME IMMEDIATELY DUE AND PAYABLE AND THE BORROWER SHALL PAY TO THE HOLDER, IN FULL SATISFACTION OF ITS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER,
AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO: (Y) THE DEFAULT AMOUNT (AS DEFINED HEREIN); MULTIPLIED BY (Z) TWO (2). Upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of any Event of Default specified in Sections 3.1 (solely with respect to failure to pay the principal hereof or
interest thereon when due on this Note or upon acceleration), 3.3, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, and/or 3.14 exercisable
through the delivery of written notice to the Borrower by such Holders (the “Default Notice”), and upon the occurrence
of an Event of Default specified the remaining sections of Articles III (other than failure to pay the principal hereof or interest
thereon at the Maturity Date specified in Section 3,1 hereof), the Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Borrower
shall pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the greater of (i) 150% times
the sum of (w) the then outstanding principal amount of this Note plus (x) accrued and unpaid interest on the
unpaid principal amount of this Note to the date of payment (the “Mandatory Prepayment Date”) plus (y) Default
Interest, if any, on the amounts referred to in clauses (w) and/or (x) plus (z) any amounts owed to the Holder pursuant
to Section 1.4(e) hereof (the then outstanding principal amount of this Note to the date of payment plus the amounts referred
to in clauses (x), (y) and (z) shall collectively be known as the “Default Amount”) and all other amounts payable
hereunder shall immediately become due and payable, all without demand, presentment or notice, all of which hereby are expressly
waived, together with all costs, including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, of collection, and the Holder shall be
entitled to exercise all other rights and remedies available at law or in equity.

 

If
the Borrower fails to pay the Default Amount within five (5) business days of written notice that such amount is due and payable,
then the Holder shall have the right at any time, so long as the Borrower remains in default (and so long and to the extent that
there are sufficient authorized shares), to require the Borrower, upon written notice, to immediately issue, in lieu of the Default
Amount, the number of shares of Common Stock of the Borrower equal to the Default Amount divided by the Conversion Price then
in effect.

 

    	9 

    	 

    

ARTICLE
IV. MISCELLANEOUS

 

4.1
Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right
or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or
privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privileges. All rights and remedies existing
hereunder are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

 

4.2
Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder
shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served, (ii) deposited in the mail, registered
or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid,
or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, email or facsimile, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as such
party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given
hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the
transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal business
hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business
day during normal business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of
mailing by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing, whichever
shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be:

 

If
to the Borrower, to:

 

BLACKSTAR
ENTERPRISE GROUP, INC.

4450
Arapahoe Ave., Suite 100

Boulder,
CO 80303

Attn:
Joseph E. Kurczodyna, Chief Financial Officer

Fax: 

Email:
capmercbanc@hotmail.com

 

If
to the Holder:

 

POWER
UP LENDING GROUP LTD.

111
Great Neck Road, Suite 214

Great
Neck, NY 11021

Attn:
Curt Kramer, Chief Executive Officer

e-mail:
info@poweruplending.com

 

With
a copy by fax only to (which copy shall not constitute notice):

 

Naidich
Wurman LLP

111
Great Neck Road, Suite 216

Great
Neck, NY 11021

Attn:
Allison Naidich

facsimile:
516-466-3555

e-mail:
allison@nwlaw.com

    	10 

    	 

    

4.3
Amendments. This Note and any provision hereof may only be amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Borrower
and the Holder. The term “Note” and all reference thereto, as used throughout this instrument, shall mean this instrument
(and the other Notes issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement) as originally executed, or if later amended or supplemented, then
as so amended or supplemented.

 

4.4
Assignability. This Note shall be binding upon the Borrower and its successors and assigns, and shall inure to be the
benefit of the Holder and its successors and assigns. Each transferee of this Note must be an “accredited investor”
(as defined in Rule 501(a) of the Securities and Exchange Commission). Notwithstanding anything in this Note to the contrary,
this Note may be pledged as collateral in connection with a bona fide margin account or other lending arrangement; and
may be assigned by the Holder without the consent of the Borrower.

 

4.5
Cost of Collection. If default is made in the payment of this Note, the Borrower shall pay the Holder hereof costs
of collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees.

 

4.6
Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Virginia without
regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action brought by either party against the other concerning the transactions contemplated
by this Note shall be brought only in the state courts of New York or in the federal courts located in the Eastern District of
New York. The parties to this Note hereby irrevocably waive any objection to jurisdiction and venue of any action instituted hereunder
and shall not assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue or based upon forum non conveniens. The Borrower
and Holder waive trial by jury. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorney's
fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Note or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid
or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that
it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may
prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement.
Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding
in connection with this Note, any agreement or any other document delivered in connection with this Note by mailing a copy thereof
via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for
notices to it under this Note and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted
by law.

 

4.7
Purchase Agreement. By its acceptance of this Note, each party agrees to be bound by the applicable terms of the Purchase
Agreement.

 

4.8
Remedies. The Borrower acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to
the Holder, by vitiating the intent and purpose of the transaction contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the Borrower acknowledges
that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Note will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach
or threatened breach by the Borrower of the provisions of this Note, that the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other
available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining,
preventing or curing any breach of this Note and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions

 

    	11 

    	 

    

thereof,
without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be signed in its name by its duly authorized officer this on January 15, 2021

 

BLACKSTAR
ENTERPRISE GROUP, INC. 

 

 

By:
/s/ Joseph E. Kurczodyna

_______________________________

Joseph
E. Kurczodyna

Chief
Financial Officer

    	12 

    	 

    

EXHIBIT
A -- NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

 

The
undersigned hereby elects to convert $_________________ principal amount of the Note (defined below) into that number of shares
of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the conversion of the Note (“Common Stock”) as set forth below, of BLACKSTAR
ENTERPRISE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”) according to the conditions of the convertible note
of the Borrower dated as of January 15, 2021 (the “Note”), as of the date written below. No fee will be charged to
the Holder for any conversion, except for transfer taxes, if any.

 Box Checked
as to applicable instructions:

 

	
        [ ]

         

         
	
        The Borrower shall electronically
        transmit the Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Notice of Conversion to the account of the undersigned or its nominee with
        DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system (“DWAC Transfer”).

        Name of DTC Prime Broker:

        Account Number:

	
        [ ]

         
	
        The undersigned hereby requests
        that the Borrower issue a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock set forth below (which numbers are
        based on the Holder’s calculation attached hereto) in the name(s) specified immediately below or, if additional space is
        necessary, on an attachment hereto:

         

        POWER UP LENDING GROUP LTD.

        111 Great Neck Road, Suite 214

        Great Neck, NY 11021

        Attention: Certificate Delivery

        e-mail: info@poweruplendinggroup.com

 

	Date of conversion: 	_____________

 

	 	 
	Applicable Conversion Price: 	$____________

 

	Number of shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to
    conversion     of     the     Notes: 	______________

 

 

 

	Amount of Principal Balance due remaining under the Note
    after this     conversion:	______________

 

 

 

 

POWER UP LENDING GROUP LTD.

 

By:_________________________________

Name: Curt Kramer

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: __________________

 

 

    	13

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