Document:

ex10_14.htm

    
      

    

    Exhibit
10.14

    

    FIRST
AMENDMENT TO

    EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT

    

    THIS
AMENDMENT (“Amendment”), made and entered into as of December 11th, 2008 (the
“Effective Date”) by and between Douglas J. Hertha, a resident of the State of
Georgia (“Employee”), and SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., a Georgia
corporation (“Employer”).

    

    W I T N E
S S E T H:

    

    WHEREAS,
Employer currently employs Employee as its Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer pursuant to that certain employment agreement between Employer
and Employee dated February 10, 2005 (the “Employment Agreement”);

    

    WHEREAS,
Employer and Employee desire to continue such employment; and

    

    WHEREAS, Employer and Employee now
desire to amend the Employment Agreement primarily so that the payments and
benefits under the Employment Agreement comply with, or are exempt from, the
rules of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended;

    

                  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the continued employment of Employee
by Employer, of the premises and the mutual promises and covenants contained
herein, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to
be legally bound, agree to modify the Employment Agreement as follows, effective
as of January 1, 2009:

    

    1.    
        By adding the following to the
end of the existing Section 4:

    

    “All
reimbursements shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable, but in no
event shall any reimbursement be paid after the last day of the taxable year
following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred, nor shall the
amount of reimbursable expenses incurred or in-kind benefits provided in one
taxable year affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the in-kind
benefits provided, as applicable, in any other taxable year.  The
right to a reimbursement or an in-kind benefit under this Agreement will not be
subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.”

    

    2.  
          By deleting the
existing Section 12.5 and substituting therefor the following:

    

    “12.5           If
this Agreement and Employee’s employment are terminated either (i) by the
Employer at any time for any reason other than for Cause or (ii) by Employee
upon the Employer’s breach of this Agreement; then Employer, as Employer’s sole
remaining obligation under this Agreement, shall: (i) pay Employee’s Base Salary
to Employee for the remaining months of the term of this Agreement in
substantially equal monthly installments beginning with the month following the
month of Employee’s termination of employment at the Base Salary rate then in
effect; (ii) reimburse Employee for the cost of COBRA health continuation
coverage for Employee for the lesser of (a) the remaining term of this
Agreement, or (b) the period during which Employee is entitled to COBRA health
continuation coverage from the Employer, provided that, in either case, Employee
must elect such coverage and pay the applicable premium; and (iii) pay to
Employee the cost for term life insurance coverage provided by the Employer to
the Employee for the remaining months of the term of this Agreement in
substantially equal monthly installments beginning with the month following the
month of Employee’s termination of employment in an amount not to exceed the
monthly cost of premiums for such coverage in effect on the effective date of
termination.”

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    3. 
            By
adding the following immediately following the phrase “pursuant to Section 12.4”
in Section 12.6: “, or for any reason other than pursuant to Section
12.2,”.

    

    4.       
     By adding the following new Section
12.7:

    

    “12.7           Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary (i) Employee shall be treated as
having incurred a termination of employment hereunder, and shall be entitled to
payments and benefits under Section 12.5 or 15.2, as applicable, only if he has
incurred a ‘separation from service,’ within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the ‘Code’), from Employer and all affiliated
companies that, together with Employer, constitute the ‘service recipient’
within the meaning of the regulations issued under Code Section 409A; and (ii)
if Employee is a ‘specified employee’ within the meaning of Code Section 409A,
at the date of his termination of employment, then any payments made in
connection with Employee’s termination of employment that would result in a tax
under Code Section 409A if paid during the first six (6) months after
termination of employment shall be withheld, starting with the payments latest
in time during such six (6) month period, and paid to Employee during the
seventh month following the date of his termination of employment.”

    

    5.   
         By deleting the existing
Section 15.1 and substituting therefor the following:

    

    “15.1           ‘Change
in Control’ shall be deemed to have occurred during the term of this Agreement
if:

    

    15.1.1      on
or after January 1, 2009 (the ‘Amendment Date’), any one person, or more than
one person acting as a group (other than any person or more than one person
acting as a group who is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total fair market value of the stock of Employer prior to such acquisition),
acquires stock of Employer that, together with stock held by such person or
group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value
or total voting power of the stock of Employer;

    

    15.1.2      within
any twelve-month period (beginning on or after the Amendment Date), a majority
of members of Employer’s Board of Directors is replaced by directors whose
appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of
Employer’s Board of Directors before the date of the appointment or
election;

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    15.1.3      within
any twelve-month period (beginning on or after the Amendment Date), any one
person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock
of Employer possessing thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power of
the stock of Employer; or

    

    15.1.4      within
any twelve-month period (beginning on or after the Amendment Date), any one
person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires assets of Employer
that have a total gross fair market value of eighty-five percent (85%) or more
of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of Employer
immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that
transfers to the following entities or person(s) shall not be deemed to result
in a Change in Control under this subsection 15.1.4:

    

    (i)         
   a shareholder (determined immediately before the asset
transfer) of Employer in exchange for or with respect to its stock;

    

    (ii)            an
entity, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of which
is owned, directly or indirectly, by Employer;

    

    (iii)            a
person, or more than one person acting as a group, that owns, directly or
indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total value or voting power of
all the outstanding stock of Employer; or

    

    (iv)           an
entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the total value or voting power of which
is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in the above subsection
15.1.4(iii).

    

    For
purposes of this Section 15.1, persons will be considered to be acting as a
group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger,
consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction
with Employer, to the extent provided under Code Section 409A.”

    

    6.       
     By deleting the first clause of Section 15.2 up
through and including the phrase “(‘Termination of Employment’)” and
substituting therefor the following:

    

    “In the
event of a Change in Control, if Employer terminates Employee without Cause
contemporaneously with or subsequent to the Change in Control, or if Employer
takes any action specified in Section 15.4 of this Agreement during the term of
this Agreement contemporaneously with or subsequent to a Change in Control and
Employee terminates his employment contemporaneously with or subsequent to such
action and, in either case, Employee’s termination of employment occurs within
two (2) years following the Change in Control (‘Termination of
Employment’)”.

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    7.     
       By deleting the last sentence of
Section 15.2 and substituting therefor the following:

    

    “In the
event the Aggregate Severance is required to be reduced pursuant to this
Section, the portions of the Aggregate Severance paid or provided latest in time
will be reduced first and if portions of the Aggregate Severance to be paid or
provided at the same time must be reduced, noncash benefits will be reduced
before cash payments.”

    

    8.       
     By deleting the first sentence of the existing
Section 15.3 and substituting therefor the following:

    

    “During
the remaining term of this Agreement following the effective date of a Change in
Control, if Employer takes any of the following actions and Employee terminates
his employment contemporaneously with or subsequent to such action and such
termination occurs within two (2) years following the Change in Control, such
termination shall be deemed to be a termination of employment by Employer
without Cause.”

    

    9.    
        By deleting the last sentence of
the existing Section 15.3 and substituting therefor the following:

    

    “In any
such event, if Employee terminates his employment contemporaneously with or
subsequent to such action and such termination occurs within two (2) years
following the Change in Control, Employee shall be entitled to all payments
provided for in Section 15.2 of this Agreement.”

    

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the day and year
first written above.

    

    

    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      	 
      	 
      	
                              “Employee”

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	/s/
      Michael Hobbs	 
      	/s/ Douglas J. Hertha	
                              (SEAL)

                            
	
                              Witness

                            	 
      	
                              Douglas
      J. Hertha

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                              “Employer”

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	
                              ATTEST

                            	 
      	
                              SouthCrest
      Financial Group, Inc.

                            
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      
	 
      	 
      	
                              By:

                            	Daniel
      W. Brinks	 
      
	/s/
      Imogene B. Johnson	 
      	
                              Its:

                            	Chairman	 
      
	
                              (CORPORATE
      SEAL)

                            	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
      

                    

                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

    

    

     

     4ex10_16.htm

    
      

    

    Exhibit
10.16

    

    FIRST
AMENDMENT TO THE

    BANK
OF UPSON

    EXECUTIVE
SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT

    

    This
FIRST AMENDMENT is made and entered into on the 11th day of
December, 2008, by and between Bank of Upson (the “Bank”), a bank organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Georgia, and Douglas Hertha, an
executive of the Bank (the “Officer”).

    

    WITNESSETH:

    

    WHEREAS, the Bank and the Officer
previously entered into that certain Officer Salary Continuation Agreement,
dated March 30, 2007, (the “Agreement”); and

    

    WHEREAS,
the Bank and the Officer desire to amend the Agreement to comply with the final
regulations issued under Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

    

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
mutual covenants contained herein, the Bank and the Officer do hereby agree,
effective as of January 1, 2009, to amend the Agreement as follows:

    

    1.       
     By deleting Paragraph III(A) in its entirety and
substituting therefor the following:

    

    “A.           Retirement
Date:

    

    ‘Retirement
Date’ shall mean the date the Officer experiences a Separation from Service on
or after the Officer’s Normal Retirement Age.”

    

    2.             By
deleting from Paragraph III(D) the phrase “without cause” and substituting
therefor the phrase “other than for cause”.

    

    3.    
        By deleting Paragraph III(E) in
its entirety and substituting therefor the following:

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    “E.           Separation from
Service:

    

    ‘Separation
from Service’ shall mean a termination of the Officer’s employment where either
(1) the Officer has ceased to perform any services for the Bank and all
affiliated companies that, together with the Bank, constitute the ‘service
recipient’ within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the regulations
thereunder (collectively, the ‘Service Recipient’) or (2) the level of bona fide
services the Officer performs for the Service Recipient after a given date
(whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) permanently decreases
(excluding either a decrease as a result of military leave, sick leave, or other
bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six (6)
months, or if longer, so long as the Officer retains a right to reemployment
with the Service Recipient under an applicable statute or by contract or any
other decrease permitted under Code Section 409A) to no more than twenty percent
(20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed for the Service
Recipient (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the
immediately preceding thirty-six-(36)-month period (or the full period of
service if the Officer has been providing services to the Service Recipient for
less than thirty-six (36) months).”

    

    4.        
    By deleting Paragraph III(G) in its entirety and
substituting therefor the following:

    

    “G.           Change of
Control:

    

    ‘Change
of Control’ means (1) with respect to the Bank or Southcrest Financial Group,
Inc. (the ‘Holding Company’) a ‘change in ownership of a corporation’ as defined
under Code Section 409A; (2) with respect to the Holding Company, a ‘change in
effective control of a corporation’ as defined under Code Section 409A; or (3)
with respect to the Bank or the Holding Company, a ‘change in ownership of a
substantial portion of a corporation’s assets’ as defined under Code Section
409A, but substituting ‘eighty-five percent (85%)’ for the phrase ‘40 percent’
in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii)(A), or any successor
thereto.”

     

    5.     
       By deleting Paragraph III(H) in its
entirety and substituting therefor the following:

    

    “H.           Restriction on Timing of
Distribution:

     

    Notwithstanding
any provision in the Agreement to the contrary, to the extent necessary to avoid
the imposition of tax on the Officer under Code Section 409A, any payments that
are otherwise payable to the Officer within the first six (6) months following
the effective date of his Separation from Service, shall be suspended and paid
as soon as practicable following the end of the six-month period following such
effective date if, immediately prior to the Officer’s Separation from Service,
the Officer is determined to be a “specified employee” (within the meaning of
Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i)) of the Bank (or any related “service recipient”
within the meaning of Code Section 409A and the regulations
thereunder).  Any payments suspended by operation of the foregoing
sentence shall be paid as a lump sum to the Officer during the seventh month
following the date of his Separation from Service.  Payments (or
portions thereof) that would be paid latest in time during the six-month period
will be suspended first.”

     

    6.        
    By adding the following new Paragraph
III(J):

    

    “J.           Accrued Liability Retirement
Account:

    

    ‘Accrued
Liability Retirement Account’ means the bookkeeping account established and
maintained by the Bank to reflect the liability that should be accrued by the
Bank under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for the Bank’s
obligation to the Officer under this Agreement.”

    
      
         

      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    7.    
        By capitalizing the phrase
“accrued liability retirement account” wherever it appears in the
Agreement.

    

    8.     
       By deleting the last sentence of
Paragraph IV in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

    

    “Such
monthly installments shall be paid on the first business day of each month,
commencing with the month following the month in which such Separation from
Service occurs.”

    

    9.  
          By deleting from
Paragraph V(A) the phrase “Retirement Date” and substituting therefor the phrase
“Normal Retirement Age”.

    

    9.  
          By inserting into
the first sentence of Paragraph V(B) the phrase “following Normal Retirement
Age” after the word “Officer” and before the comma.

    

    10.           By
deleting Paragraph VI in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

    

    
      	
               
      

            	
              “VI.

            	
              [RESERVED]”

            

    

    

    11.           By
deleting the first paragraph of Paragraph VIII in its entirety and substituting
therefor the following:

    

    “In the
event that the employment of the Officer shall terminate prior to Normal
Retirement Age, by the Officer’s voluntary action, or by the Officer’s discharge
by the Bank other than for cause, then this Agreement shall terminate upon the
date of such Termination of Employment and the Bank shall pay to the Officer an
amount of money equal to the balance of the Officer’s Accrued liability
Retirement Account on the date of said termination, multiplied by the Officer’s
cumulative vested percentage.  This compensation shall be paid in one
(1) lump sum the first day of the second month following Separation from Service
on or after the date of the Termination of Employment.”

    

    12.           By
deleting the third paragraph of Paragraph VIII in its entirety and substituting
therefor the following:

    

    “In the
event the Officer’s employment is terminated by the Bank for cause at any time,
this Agreement shall terminate and all benefits provided herein shall be
forfeited.”

    

    13.           By
deleting Paragraph X in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

    

    “X.   
      CHANGE OF CONTROL

    

    If the
Officer experiences a Separation from Service on or after the date of the
Officer’s Termination of Employment (voluntarily or involuntarily), except a
termination for cause, within two (2) years after a Change of Control, then the
Officer shall receive one hundred percent (100%) of the benefits in Paragraph IV
herein upon attaining Normal Retirement Age.  Said benefit shall be
paid in equal monthly installments (1/12th of the
annual benefit) commencing on the first day of the month following the month in
which the Officer attains Normal Retirement Age.”

    
      
         

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    14.           By
deleting Paragraph XI(C) in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

    

    “C.           Amendment or
Termination:

    

    This
Agreement may be amended, at any time, by mutual written consent of the Officer
and the Bank, except that no amendment may reduce the Officer’s Accrued
Liability Retirement Account.  The Bank may unilaterally amend the
Agreement to conform with written directives to the Bank to comply with
legislative changes or tax law, including, without limitation, Section 409A of
the Code and any and all Treasury regulations and guidance promulgated
thereunder.  No amendment shall provide for or otherwise permit any
acceleration of the time or schedule of any payment under the Agreement in a
manner that would be prohibited under Section 409A(a)(3) of the
Code.

    

    The Bank
may, at any time, terminate the Agreement except that no termination may reduce
the Officer’s Accrued Liability Retirement Account.  Except as
provided in this Subparagraph XI(C), the termination of the Agreement shall not
cause a distribution of benefits.  Rather, after such termination,
benefit distributions will be made in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement as if no such termination had occurred.  Notwithstanding the
preceding provisions of this Subparagraph XI(C), the Bank may elect to terminate
the Agreement under any circumstances permitted by Treasury Regulations Section
1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).  In any such event, the Bank shall distribute the
Officer’s Accrued Liability Retirement Account, determined as of the date of the
termination of the Agreement, to the Officer in a lump sum at the earliest date
permitted under such Treasury guidance.”

    

    15.           By
deleting Paragraph XI(I) in its entirety and substituting therefor the
following:

    

    “I.           Tax
Withholding:

    

    The
Officer is responsible for payment of all taxes applicable to compensation and
benefits paid or provided to the Officer under the Agreement, including federal
and state income tax withholding, except the Bank shall withhold any taxes that,
in its reasonable judgment, are required to be withheld, including but not
limited to taxes owed under Section 409A of the Code and regulations thereunder
and all employment taxes due to be paid by the Bank pursuant to Section 3121(v)
of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder (i.e., Federal Insurance
Contributions Act (“FICA”) taxes on the present value of payments hereunder
which are no longer subject to vesting).  The Bank’s sole liability
regarding taxes is to forward any amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing
authority(ies).  By participating in the Agreement, the Officer
consents to the deduction of all tax withholdings attributable to participation
in the Agreement from the benefits due under the Agreement or other payments due
to the Officer by the Bank to satisfy the employee-portion of such
obligations.  If insufficient cash wages are available or if the
Officer so desires, the Officer may remit payment in cash for the withholding
amounts.

    
      
         

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    Notwithstanding
any other provision in the Agreement to the contrary, payments due under the
Agreement may be accelerated to pay, where applicable, the FICA tax imposed
under Sections 3101, 3121(a), and 3121(v)(2) of the Code and any state, local,
and foreign tax obligations (the ‘Tax Obligations’) that may be imposed on
amounts deferred pursuant to the Agreement prior to the time such amounts are
paid or made available and to pay the income tax at source on wages imposed
under Section 3401 of the Code or the corresponding withholding provisions of
applicable state, local, or foreign tax laws as a result of an accelerated
payment of the Tax Obligations (the ‘Income Tax
Obligations’).  Accelerated payments pursuant to this Subparagraph
XII(I) shall not exceed the amount of the Tax Obligations and Income Tax
Obligations and shall be made as a payment directly to taxing authorities
pursuant to the applicable withholding provisions.  Any accelerated
payments pursuant to this Subparagraph XII(I) shall reduce the benefit otherwise
payable to the Officer pursuant to the Agreement.”

    

    16.           By
adding the following new Paragraph XI(L):

    

    “L.           Accelerated Payouts in the
Event of 409A Violations.

    

    Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Agreement to the contrary, the Bank shall make
payments hereunder before such payments are otherwise due if it determines that
the provisions of the Agreement fail to meet the requirements of Code Section
409A and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; provided, however,
that such payment(s) may not exceed the amount required to be included in income
as a result of such failure to comply the requirements of Code Section 409A and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and, to the extent permissible
therein, any taxes, penalties, interest and costs attributable
thereto.”

    

    17.           By
deleting the last sentence of Paragraph XIII in its entirety.

    

    

    [Signatures
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    Except as
provided herein, the terms of the Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.

    

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Amendment to be
executed as of the date first above written.

    

    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          	 
      	
                                  BANK
      OF UPSON

                                	 
	 
      	
                                  Thomaston,
      Georgia

                                	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                  By:

                                	/s/
      Imogene B. Johnson	 
	 
      	
                                  Print
      Name:

                                	Imogene
      B. Johnson	 
	 
      	
                                  Title:

                                	Assisstant
      Vice President	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	/s/
      Douglas Hertha	 
	 
      	
                                  [Officer]

                                	 
      	 

                        

                      

                    

                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

    

    

     

     6

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