Quarterly Report


 

 
 
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
     
þ   Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006
     
o   Transition Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period ended
Commission File Number 000-33227
Southern Community Financial Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
North Carolina   56-2270620
     
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)    
     
4605 Country Club Road    
Winston-Salem, North Carolina   27104
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (336) 768-8500
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock, No Par Value
7.95% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities
7.95% Junior Subordinated Debentures
Guarantee with respect to 7.95% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
As of May 1, 2006 (the most recent practicable date), the registrant had outstanding 17,659,077 shares of Common Stock, no par value.
 
 

 


 

             
        Page No.
Part I.  
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
       
   
 
       
Item 1 -  
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
       
   
 
       
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005
    3  
   
 
       
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
    4  
   
 
       
   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
    5  
   
 
       
   
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity Three Months Ended March 31, 2006
    6  
   
 
       
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
    7  
   
 
       
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    8  
   
 
       
Item 2 -  
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
    15  
   
 
       
Item 3 -  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
    19  
   
 
       
Item 4 -  
Controls and Procedures
    20  
   
 
       
Part II.  
Other Information
       
   
 
       
Item 1A -  
Risk Factors
    20  
   
 
       
Item 2 -  
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
    20  
   
 
       
Item 6 -  
Exhibits
    21  
   
 
       
Signatures  
 
    22  

- 2 -


 

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 — Financial Statements
SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2006     2005 *  
    (Amounts in thousands, except share data)  
Assets
               
Cash and due from banks
  $ 25,807     $ 24,606  
Federal funds sold
    596       648  
Investment securities
               
Available for sale, at fair value
    203,250       203,808  
Held to maturity, at amortized cost
    87,366       88,108  
 
               
Loans
    921,195       868,827  
Allowance for loan losses
    (12,211 )     (11,785 )
 
           
Net Loans
    908,984       857,042  
 
               
Premises and equipment
    36,226       31,259  
Goodwill
    49,792       49,792  
Other assets
    30,104       30,261  
 
           
Total Assets
  $ 1,342,125     $ 1,285,524  
 
           
 
               
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
               
Deposits
               
Demand
  $ 112,341     $ 111,226  
Money market, savings and NOW
    347,034       315,112  
Time
    536,979       514,263  
 
           
Total Deposits
    996,354       940,601  
 
               
Short-term borrowings
    48,161       9,186  
Long-term debt
    152,825       192,551  
Other liabilities
    8,402       7,780  
 
           
Total Liabilities
    1,205,742       1,150,118  
 
           
 
               
Stockholders’ Equity
               
Preferred stock, no par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively
           
Common stock, no par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 17,673,077 shares at March 31, 2006 and 17,612,472 shares at December 31, 2005, respectively
    122,338       122,490  
Retained earnings
    17,457       16,128  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (3,412 )     (3,212 )
 
           
Total Stockholders’ Equity
    136,383       135,406  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
               
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 1,342,125     $ 1,285,524  
 
           
 
*   Derived from audited consolidated financial statements
See accompanying notes.

- 3 -


 

SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
    (Amounts in thousands, except share  
    and per share data)  
Interest Income
               
Loans
  $ 16,259     $ 12,302  
Investment securities available for sale
    2,140       2,204  
Investment securities held to maturity
    854       822  
Federal funds sold
    21       12  
 
           
 
               
Total Interest Income
    19,274       15,340  
 
           
Interest Expense
               
Money market, savings, NOW deposits
    2,097       765  
Time deposits
    4,883       3,422  
Borrowings
    2,320       2,117  
 
           
 
               
Total Interest Expense
    9,300       6,304  
 
           
 
               
Net Interest Income
    9,974       9,036  
 
               
Provision for Loan Losses
    475       395  
 
           
 
               
Net Interest Income After Provision for Loan Losses
    9,499       8,641  
 
           
 
               
Non-Interest Income
    1,823       1,746  
 
           
 
               
Non-Interest Expense
               
Salaries and employee benefits
    4,484       3,978  
Occupancy and equipment
    1,608       1,342  
Other
    2,340       2,577  
 
           
 
               
Total Non-Interest Expense
    8,432       7,897  
 
           
 
               
Income Before Income Taxes
    2,890       2,490  
 
               
Income Tax Expense
    1,033       890  
 
           
 
               
Net Income
  $ 1,857     $ 1,600  
 
           
Net Income Per Share
               
Basic
  $ 0.11     $ 0.09  
Diluted
    0.10       0.09  
 
               
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
               
Basic
    17,624,034       17,867,222  
Diluted
    17,857,395       18,251,528  
See accompanying notes.

- 4 -


 

SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Net income
  $ 1,857     $ 1,600  
 
           
 
               
Other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Securities available for sale:
               
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available for sale securities
    (345 )     (3,050 )
Tax effect
    133       1,177  
 
           
Net of tax amount
    (212 )     (1,873 )
 
           
Cash flow hedging activities:
               
Unrealized holding losses on cash flow hedging activities
    9        
Tax effect
    (3 )      
Reclassification of gains (losses) recognized in net income
    10       (110 )
Tax effect
    (4 )     42  
 
           
Net of tax amount
    12       (68 )
 
           
 
               
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
    (200 )     (1,941 )
 
           
 
               
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 1,657     $ (341 )
 
           
See accompanying notes.

- 5 -


 

SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
                                         
                            Accumulated        
                            Other     Total  
    Common Stock     Retained     Comprehensive     Stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     Earnings     Income (loss)     Equity  
    (Amounts in thousands, except share data)  
Balance at December 31, 2005
    17,612,472     $ 122,490     $ 16,128     $ (3,212 )   $ 135,406  
Net income
                1,857             1,857  
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
                      (200 )     (200 )
Common shares repurchased
    (70,400 )     (659 )                 (659 )
Stock options exercised
    131,005       496                   496  
Stock-based compensation
          11                   11  
Cash dividends of $.03 per share
                (528 )           (528 )
 
                             
Balance at March 31, 2006
    17,673,077     $ 122,338     $ 17,457     $ (3,412 )   $ 136,383  
 
                             
See accompanying notes.

- 6 -


 

SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
               
Net income
  $ 1,857     $ 1,600  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    944       978  
Provision for loan losses
    475       395  
Stock-based compensation
    11       93  
Net increase in cash surrender value of life insurance
    (96 )     (119 )
Realized loss on sale of premise and equipment
          4  
Deferred income taxes
    (147 )     (9 )
Realized (gain) loss on sale of foreclosed property
    (11 )     18  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Increase in other assets
    (510 )     (74 )
Increase in other liabilities
    622       (157 )
 
           
Total Adjustments
    1,288       1,129  
 
           
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
    3,145       2,729  
 
           
 
               
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
               
(Increase) decrease in federal funds sold
    52       (1,675 )
Purchase of:
               
Available-for-sale investment securities
    (5,265 )     (10,462 )
Held-to-maturity investment securities
    (141 )     (17,000 )
Proceeds from maturities and calls of:
               
Available-for-sale investment securities
    5,327       19,334  
Held-to-maturity investment securities
    872       2,257  
Net increase in loans
    (52,417 )     (14,381 )
Purchases of premises and equipment
    (5,748 )     (540 )
Proceeds from disposal of premises and equipment
          1  
Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets
    135       134  
 
           
Net Cash Used by Investing Activities
    (57,185 )     (22,332 )
 
           
 
               
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
Net increase (decrease) in deposits
    56,146       (7,791 )
Net increase in short-term borrowings
    38,975       5,779  
Net increase (decrease) in long-term borrowings
    (39,189 )     24,972  
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock
    496       585  
Common stock repurchased
    (659 )      
Cash dividends paid
    (528 )     (2,140 )
 
           
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
    55,241       21,405  
 
           
Net Increase in Cash and Due From Banks
    1,201       1,802  
Cash and Due From Banks, Beginning of Year
    24,606       17,758  
 
           
Cash and Due From Banks, End of Period
  $ 25,807     $ 19,560  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

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Note 1 — Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Southern Community Financial Corporation (the “Company”), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Southern Community Bank and Trust and its wholly-owned subsidiary, VCS Management, L.L.C., the managing general partner for Salem Capital Partners L.P., a Small Business Investment Company. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. In management’s opinion, the financial information, which is unaudited, reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information as of and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions relating to reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses. To a lesser extent, significant estimates are also associated with the valuation of securities, intangibles, and derivative instruments, determination of stock-based compensation and income tax assets or liabilities, and accounting for acquisitions. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006.
The organization and business of Southern Community Financial Corporation, accounting policies followed by the Company and other relevant information are contained in the notes to the consolidated financial statements filed as part of the Company’s 2005 annual report on Form 10-K. This quarterly report should be read in conjunction with the annual report.
Recently issued accounting pronouncements – Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004) Share-Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R). See Note 3 for additional information regarding the impact of the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 123R.
Note 2 — Net Income Per Share
Basic and diluted net income per share are computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options were exercised, resulting in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the net income of the Company.
Basic and diluted net income per share have been computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding or assumed to be outstanding as summarized below.

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Note 2 — Net Income Per Share (Continued)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
Weighted average number of common shares used in computing basic net income per share
    17,624,034       17,867,222  
 
               
Effect of dilutive stock options
    233,361       384,306  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares used in computing diluted net income per share
    17,857,395       18,251,528  
 
           
 
               
Net income (in thousands)
  $ 1,857     $ 1,600  
Basic
    0.11       0.09  
Diluted
    0.10       0.09  
For the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, net income for determining diluted earnings per share was equivalent to net income. Options to purchase shares that have been excluded from the determination of diluted earnings per share because they are antidilutive (the exercised price is higher than the current market price) amount to 511,773 and 464,165 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Note 3 – Stock-based compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” (“SFAS No. 123R”) which was issued by the FASB in December 2004. SFAS No. 123R revises SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation,” and supersedes APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (APB No. 25) and its related interpretations. SFAS No. 123R requires recognition of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments in the financial statements over the period the employee is required to perform the services in exchange for the award (usually the vesting period). SFAS No. 123R also requires measurement of the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award based on the grant-date fair value of the award. SFAS No. 123R also amends SFAS No. 95 “Statement of Cash Flows,” to require that excess tax benefits be reported as financing cash inflows, rather than as a reduction of taxes paid, which is included within operating cash flows.
The Company adopted SFAS No. 123R using the modified prospective application as permitted under SFAS No. 123R. Accordingly, prior period amounts have not been restated. Under this application, the Company is required to record compensation expense for all awards granted after the date of adoption and for the unvested portion of previously granted awards that remain outstanding at the date of adoption.
Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company used the intrinsic value method as prescribed by APB No. 25 and thus recognized no compensation expense for options granted with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
The Company has adopted share-based compensation plans and an employee stock purchase plan, which are described below. The compensation cost that has been charged against income for those plans was approximately $11 thousand and $70 thousand for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The income tax benefit recognized for share-based compensation arrangements was approximately $1 thousand and $25 thousand for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

- 9 -


 

Note 3 – Stock-based compensation (Continued)
Stock Option Plans
During 1997 the Company adopted, with stockholder approval, the 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the 1997 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan. Both plans were amended in 2000 and in 2001, with stockholder approval, to increase the number of shares available for grant. Each of these plans makes available options to purchase 875,253 shares of the Company’s common stock. During 2002 the Company adopted, with stockholder approval in 2003, the 2002 Incentive Stock Option Plan with 350,000 options available and the 2002 Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan with 150,000 options available. In 2004, in connection with the acquisition of The Community Bank, the Company assumed three stock option plans: the 2001 Stock Option Plan for Directors, with 97,428 options available, The Community Bank Amended And Restated Stock Option Plan For Key Employees, with 26,000 options available, and The Community Bank Stock Option Plan with 267,927 options available. The exercise price of all options granted to date is the fair value of the Company’s common shares on the date of grant.
All options had an initial vesting period of five years. During the first quarter 2005, the Company vested all unvested stock options. As a result of this decision 623,725 non-vested options were accelerated from their established vesting over a five-year period from date of grant to being fully vested. Stock options granted after December 31, 2005 and stock options granted to advisory board members vest over a five-year period. All unexercised options expire ten years after the date of grant.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
On December 19, 2002, the Board approved the creation of, and on February 20, 2003 the Board adopted, the 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2002 ESPP”). An aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company has been reserved for issuance by the Company upon exercise of options to be granted from time to time under the 2002 ESPP. The purpose of the 2002 ESPP is to provide employees of the Company with an opportunity to purchase shares of the common stock of the Company in order to encourage employee participation in the ownership and economic success of the Company.
The 2002 ESPP provides employees of the Company the right to purchase, annually, shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of fair market value. As a result of changes in income tax regulations, for the 2005-2006 plan year and beyond, the purchase price has been changed in the plan to 95% of fair value. The number of shares that can be purchased in any calendar year by any individual is limited to the lesser of: (1) shares with a fair market value of $25 thousand; or (2) shares with a fair market value of 20% of the individual’s annual compensation. Shares purchased through the 2002 ESPP must be held by the employee for one year, after which time the employee is free to dispose of the stock.
For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004, employees of the Company purchased 21,059 and 22,350 shares, respectively, under the ESPP.
The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate for the expected life at the time of grant. Volatility is based on the average volatility of the Company based upon the previous four years’ trading history. The expected life and forfeiture assumptions are based on historical data. Dividend yield is based on the yield at the time of the option grant.

- 10 -


 

Note 3 – Stock-based compensation (Continued)
     The following table illustrates the assumptions for the Black-Scholes model used in determining the fair value of options granted to employees for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.
                 
    March 31,
    2006   2005
Assumptions in estimating average option fair values:
               
Risk-free interest rate
    4.67 %     3.73 %
Dividend yield
    1.30 %     1.09 %
Volatility
    28.67 %     30.56 %
Expected life
  7.5 years   7 years
A summary of option activity under the stock option plans as of March 31, 2006 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2006 is presented below.
                                 
                    Weighted        
            Weighted     Average        
            Average     Remaining     Aggregate  
            Exercise     Contractual     Intrinsic  
    Shares     Price     Term     Value  
                            (in thousands)  
Outstanding December 31, 2005
    1,271,917     $ 7.51                  
Granted
    45,000       9.27                  
Exercised
    (131,005 )     3.78                  
Forfeited or expired
    (14,760 )     8.61                  
 
                             
Outstanding March 31, 2006
    1,171,152       7.98     5.6 years   $ 2,238  
 
                             
Exercisable March 31, 2006
    1,118,150       7.92     5.4 years     2,236  
 
                             
The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $3.32 per share. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $685 thousand. There were no shares that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2006.
As of March 31, 2006, there was $172 thousand of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation arrangements granted under the plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.9 years.
Cash received from option exercises under all share-based payment arrangements for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $496 thousand. There was no tax benefit realized for tax deductions from option exercise of the share-based payment arrangements during the three months ended March 31, 2006.
The adoption of SFAS No. 123R and its fair value compensation cost recognition provisions are different from the nonrecognition provisions under SFAS No. 123 and the intrinsic value method for compensation cost allowed under APB No. 25. The adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 123R for the three months ended March 31, 2006 resulted in the recognition of $8 thousand of share-based compensation expense related to employee awards that would have resulted in no expense under the provisions of APB No. 25, and $3 thousand of share-based compensation expense to related to advisory board member awards that would have resulted in a similar expense under the provisions of APB No. 25. The impact on net income and earnings per share of the adoption of the provisions of SFAS No. 123R during the first quarter of 2006 was insignificant.

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Note 3 – Stock-based compensation (Continued)
During the first quarter 2005, the Company vested all unvested stock options. As a result of this decision 623,725 non-vested options were accelerated from their established vesting over a 5 year period from date of grant to being fully vested. At the date the decision was made to accelerate the vesting, some of the options had exercise prices below market value. In accordance with the provisions of APB No. 25, compensation expense of $70,000 ($45,000 net of tax effect) has been recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2005 to reflect the effects of the accelerated vesting. The Company applied certain assumptions in the determination of the expense recognized during the period which were based on historical employee attrition rates.
The decision to accelerate the vesting of these options, which we believe to be in the best interest of our stockholders, was made primarily to reduce non-cash compensation expenses that would have been recorded in future periods following our application of SFAS No. 123R. Because we accelerated these options, we expect to reduce our non-cash compensation expense related to these options by approximately $1.6 million (pre-tax) between the first quarter of 2006 and 2009, based on estimated value calculations using the Black-Scholes methodology.
         
    Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2005
    (Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Net income:
       
As reported
  $ 1,600  
Add: Total stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net earnings, net of related tax effects
    45  
 
       
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (1,515 )
Pro forma
  $ 130  
 
       
Basic earnings per share:
       
As reported
  $ 0.09  
Pro forma
    0.01  
 
       
Diluted earnings per share:
       
As reported
  $ 0.09  
Pro forma
    0.01  

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Note 4 – Loans
Following is a summary of loans at each of the balance sheet dates presented:
                                 
    At March 31,     At December 31,  
    2006     2005  
            Percent             Percent  
    Amount     of Total     Amount     of Total  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
Residential mortgage loans
  $ 230,223       25.0 %   $ 244,177       28.0 %
 
Commercial mortgage loans
    317,316       34.5 %     286,658       33.0 %
Construction loans
    182,409       19.8 %     156,900       18.1 %
Commercial and industrial loans
    165,014       17.9 %     151,950       17.5 %
Loans to individuals
    26,233       2.8 %     29,142       3.4 %
 
                       
 
Subtotal
    921,195       100.0 %     868,827       100.0 %
 
                           
 
Less: Allowance for loan losses
    (12,211 )             (11,785 )        
 
                           
 
Net loans
  $ 908,984             $ 857,042          
 
                           
An analysis of the allowance for loan losses is as follows:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
    (Amount in thousands)  
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 11,785     $ 12,537  
 
               
Provision for loan losses
    475       395  
 
           
 
               
Charges-offs
    (113 )     (321 )
Recoveries
    64       13  
 
           
 
               
Net charge-offs
    (49 )     (308 )
 
               
Adjustment on allowancwe for acquired loans
          (491 )
 
           
 
               
Balance at end of period
  $ 12,211     $ 12,133  
 
           
The following is a summary of nonperforming assets at the periods presented:
                         
    March 31,     December 31,     March 31,  
    2006     2005     2005  
    (Amounts in thousands)  
Nonaccrual loans
  $ 2,058     $ 1,408     $ 7,910  
Foreclosed assets
    129       280       885  
 
                 
Total nonperforming assets
  $ 2,187     $ 1,688     $ 8,795  
 
                 

- 13 -


 

Note 4 – Loans (Continued)
Management estimates the allowance balance required using past loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the portfolio, information about specific borrower situations, estimated collateral values, economic conditions, and other factors. The allowance consists of several components. One component is for loans that are individually classified as impaired and measured under FASB Statement No. 114. The other components are for collective loan impairment measured under FASB Statement No. 5. Allocations of the allowance may be made for specific loans, but the entire allowance is available for any loan that, in management’s judgment, should be charged off.
During the first quarter of 2005, management completed an extensive review of the allowance for loan losses related to the loan portfolio acquired in the first quarter of 2004 in connection with The Community Bank acquisition. This review was completed during the one year allocation period, and as a result, management determined the allowance for loan losses as recorded in the preliminary purchase price allocation should be adjusted downward. A purchase price allocation adjustment of $491 thousand was recorded as a reduction of the allowance for loan losses and a reduction of goodwill, net of tax, of $302 thousand.
As of March 31, 2006, the Company had recorded investment in loans considered impaired in accordance with SFAS No. 114 of $2.3 million with a corresponding valuation allowance of $533 thousand.
Note 5 – Non-Interest Income and Other Non-Interest Expense
The major components of other non-interest income are as follows:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts
  $ 1,035     $ 839  
Presold mortgage loan fees
    214       250  
Investment brokerage fees
    115       208  
SBIC management fees
    130       108  
Other
    329       341  
 
           
 
               
 
  $ 1,823     $ 1,746  
 
           
The major components of other non-interest expense are as follows:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2006     2005  
Postage, printing and office supplies
  $ 189     $ 265  
Telephone and communication
    243     $ 204  
Advertising and promotion
    235       202  
Data processing and other outsourced services
    167       138  
Professional services
    332       454  
Other
    1,174       1,314  
 
           
 
               
 
  $ 2,340     $ 2,577  
 
           
Note 6 – Common Stock Repurchase Programs
The Company announced a plan to repurchase up to 300,000 shares of its common stock in March 2005, and to repurchase an additional 600,000 shares of its common stock in September 2005. Through March 31, 2006, the Company had repurchased 531,200 shares at an average price of $9.28 per share under the two plans, including 70,400 shares at an average price of $9.36 purchased during the first quarter of 2006.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain certain forward-looking statements consisting of estimates with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates. These factors include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, loan demand, real estate values, and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines; changes in legislation or regulation; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services.
Summary of First Quarter
During the first quarter, the Company achieved record loan growth while maintaining excellent credit quality. On the funding side, we continued efforts to build local deposits to improve our funding mix, and our initiatives resulted in record deposit growth. For the quarter, total loans grew by a record $52.4 million or 6.0% to end the period at $921.2 million. Total deposits were $996.4 million at March 31, 2006, an increase of $55.8 million over the prior quarter-end, driven by increases of $33.1 million of non-maturity deposits and $22.7 million of time deposits. With an increased level of earning assets coupled with increases in variable interest rates, total interest income increased by $605 thousand, or 3.2% on a linked-quarter basis. Continued strong loan demand, funded with growth in deposits and the resulting improvement in funding mix, contributed to a fifteen basis point expansion in our net interest margin, to 3.42% from 3.27% compared with the quarter ended December 31, 2005. Compared with the first quarter of 2005, net interest income increased $938 thousand, or 10.4%. The increase in net interest income combined with improvements in non-interest income to produce net income of $1.9 million, an increase of $257 thousand or 16.1% over the first quarter of 2005. Earnings per fully diluted share were $0.10 and $0.09 for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Excluding the after-tax impact of approximately $255 thousand of unusual expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2005, earnings for the first quarter of 2006 were consistent with those of the same period a year ago.
In March 2005, the Company announced a plan to repurchase up to 300,000 shares of stock. In September 2005, the Company announced a plan to repurchase up to 600,000 additional shares of stock. During the fourth quarter of 2005, the Company completed the repurchase program under the first authorization and began to repurchase shares under the second authorization. Through March 31, 2006, the Company had repurchased 531,200 shares at an average price of $9.28 per share, including 70,400 shares repurchased during the first quarter of 2006 at an average price of $9.36 per share.
On April 27, 2006, Southern Community Financial Corporation announced that its Board of Directors, at their regular meeting on April 19, 2006, declared a quarterly cash dividend of three and one-half cents ($0.035) per share on the Corporation’s common stock. The dividend is payable on June 1, 2006 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 15, 2006. This dividend represents a 16.7% increase over the previous quarterly dividends of $0.03 per share, and is the fifth consecutive quarterly dividend, following a former practice of annual dividends. The Company’s first cash dividend was paid in March 2004.
Financial Condition at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005
During the three-month period ending March 31, 2006, total assets increased by $56.6 million, or 4.4%, to $1.3 billion. The Company’s loan portfolio, net of allowance for loan losses, increased to $908.9 million, a $51.9 million, or 6.1% increase for the first three months. Emphasis on growing local deposits netted an increase in non-maturity deposits of $33.1 million, or 7.7% during the period, with time deposits increasing by $22.7 million, or 4.4%.
The Company experienced strong loan demand in the first quarter, in our existing markets and from the opening of our Guilford County regional office in Greensboro in December 2005 and our banking office in Raleigh in February 2006. At March 31, 2006, gross loans totaled $921.2 million, an increase of $52.4 or 6.0% from December 31, 2005. Commercial mortgage loans, which total $317.3 million or 34.5% of gross loans, continue to comprise the largest segment of the portfolio. Commercial mortgage loans also experienced the most growth during the quarter increasing by $30.7 million. Loans secured by residential mortgages and the commercial and industrial portfolio represent 25.0% and 17.9% of gross loans, respectively. Construction lending experienced the second largest portfolio growth during the quarter, increasing $25.5 million to end the period at $182.4 million or 19.8% of the total loan portfolio.

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We utilize various funding sources, as necessary, to support balance sheet management and growth. Asset growth during the period was funded primarily by increases in deposits and wholesale borrowings. Customer deposits continue to be our primary funding source. At March 31, 2006, deposits totaled $996.4 million, an increase of $55.8 million or 5.9% from year-end 2005. Core deposits accounted for the majority of the deposit growth during the period, increasing $112.4 million or 20.1% over the last twelve months and $36.9 million or 5.9% over the last three months.
Our capital position remains strong, with all of our regulatory capital ratios at levels that make us “well capitalized” under federal bank regulatory capital guidelines. At March 31, 2006, our stockholders’ equity totaled $136.4 million, an increase of $977 thousand from the December 31, 2005 balance. The increase is primarily the result of earnings of $1.9 million offset by $528 thousand of cash dividends declared and paid during the period, a $212 net decrease in the fair market value of available-for-sale securities, and the repurchase of $659 thousand, or 70,400 shares, of the Company’s outstanding common stock during the period.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 and 2005
Net Income . Our net income for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $1.9 million, an increase of $257 thousand, or 16.1%, from the same three-month period in 2005. Net income per share was $0.11 basic and $0.10 diluted for the three months ended March 31, 2006 as compared with $0.09 basic and diluted for the same period in 2005. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2006 was $10.0 million, up $938 thousand, or 10.4% compared with the first quarter 2005, the result of higher levels of interest-earning assets and an improved net interest margin. The rising interest rate environment and the repositioning of our balance sheet contributed to the 15 basis point expansion of our net interest margin to 3.42% for the first quarter of 2006, from 3.27% in each of the first and the fourth quarters of 2005. Non-interest expense increased $536 thousand compared with the same quarter a year ago. Results for the first quarter of 2005 included pre-tax expenses of $345 thousand incurred as a result of the departure of two members of senior management and $70 thousand associated with the Company’s decision to vest all outstanding unvested options. Excluding the impact of these expenses, earnings for the first quarter of 2006 were consistent with those of the same period a year ago. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily the result of the continued expansion of our franchise and investment in our infrastructure to support our growth.
Net Interest Income . During the three months ended March 31, 2006, our net interest income was $10.0 million, an increase of $938 thousand or 10.4% over the first quarter 2005. As a result of the balance sheet changes and the positive effects of rising short-term interest rates on our floating rate loan portfolio, our net interest margin expanded by 15 basis points to 3.42% for the first quarter of 2006, compared to 3.27% for the first quarter of 2005. Our efforts in repositioning our balance sheet by reducing our level of investment securities to total assets while increasing our focus on deposit growth are reflected in the mix of interest-earning assets and liabilities and the resulting expansion of our net interest margin. With continued strong loan demand, our average loans increased $82.2 million, or 10.2%, more than offsetting the $19.2 million decrease in average investment securities, when compared with the first quarter 2005. Proceeds of $11.7 million from the sales of investment securities in the fourth quarter of 2005 and cash flows from maturities, calls and repayments of mortgage backed securities are being reinvested in higher-yielding loans, positively impacting our net interest margin. Allowing the investment portfolio to run-off, combined with sales of $11.7 million of lower-yielding investments in the fourth quarter of 2005, has resulted in a reduction in our investment portfolio from 25.4% of total assets one year ago to 21.7% as of March 31, 2006. Rising interest rates have also impacted our funding costs. Our cost on average interest bearing liabilities for the first quarter of 2006 increased 101 basis points to 3.58% compared the first quarter of 2005. However, strong local deposit growth has allowed us to reduce our level of wholesale borrowings and mitigated rising funding costs as the wholesale markets reacted to anticipated Federal Reserve rate hikes. As of March 31, 2006 deposits and borrowings represented 83.2% and 16.8% of total funding, respectively, compared with 76.0% and 24.0% of total funding, respectively, as of the end of the first quarter of 2005.
The rates earned on a significant portion of our loan portfolio adjust when index rates, such as prime, change. As a result, interest rate increases generally result in an increase in our interest income on loans. Between March 2005 and March 2006, the Federal Reserve increased the targeted federal funds rate by 200 basis points, to 4.75%, causing a corresponding increase in the prime rate. However, a flattened yield curve has impacted fixed rate loan and investment portfolio yields, and they have not kept pace with the increase in short-term interest rates. Our average yield on interest-earning assets in the first quarter of 2006 increased by 105 basis points above that of the first quarter 2005 to 6.60%. Our net interest margin in the future will be impacted by actions taken by the Federal Reserve Board with respect to interest rates and competition in our markets. As our balance sheet is slightly asset-sensitive, we would expect to see some compression in our margins if interest rates stop increasing or begin to decline, as some of our lower-rate funding

- 16 -


 

reprices at higher levels. In addition, continued robust loan growth may outpace our ability to attract lower-cost local deposits. As such, we will seek to fund this growth as efficiently as possible through our ready access to correspondents and other wholesale market funds.
Average Yield/Cost Analysis
The following table contains information relating to the Company’s average balance sheet and reflects the average yield on assets and cost of liabilities for the periods indicated. Such annualized yields and costs are derived by dividing annualized income or expense by the average balances of assets or liabilities, respectively, for the periods presented. The average loan portfolio balances include nonaccrual loans.
                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2006     Three Months Ended March 31, 2005  
    Average     Interest     Average     Average     Interest     Average  
    balance     earned/paid     yield/cost     balance     earned/paid     yield/cost  
Interest-earning assets:
                                               
Loans
  $ 887,704     $ 16,259       7.43 %   $ 805,497     $ 12,302       6.19 %
Investment securities available for sale
    206,850       2,140       4.20 %     224,342       2,204       3.98 %
Investment securities held to maturity
    87,532       854       3.96 %     89,253       822       3.74 %
Federal funds sold
    1,845       21       4.62 %     1,428       12       3.44 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest earning assets
    1,183,931       19,274       6.60 %     1,120,520       15,340       5.55 %
 
                                       
Other assets
    122,602                       116,392                  
 
                                           
Total assets
  $ 1,306,533                     $ 1,236,912                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Deposits:
                                               
NOW, Money Market, and Savings
  $ 325,575     $ 2,097       2.61 %   $ 238,788     $ 765       1.30 %
Time deposits greater than $100K
    310,794       3,072       4.01 %     279,311       2,020       2.93 %
Other time deposits
    208,301       1,811       3.53 %     219,858       1,402       2.59 %
Short-term borrowings
    43,255       458       4.29 %     72,933       436       2.42 %
Long-term debt
    166,223       1,862       4.54 %     181,974       1,681       3.75 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Total interest bearing liabilities
  1,054,148       9,300       3.58 %     992,864       6,304       2.57 %
 
                                       
 
                                               
Demand deposits
    108,089                       98,458                  
Other Liabilities
    8,792                       10,114                  
Stockholders’ equity
    135,504                       135,476                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,306,533                     $ 1,236,912                  
 
                                           
 
                                               
Net interest income and net interest spread
          $ 9,974       3.02 %           $ 9,036       2.98 %
 
                                       
Net interest margin
                    3.42 %                     3.27 %
 
                                           
Ratio of average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
    112.31 %                     112.86 %                
 
                                           

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Provision for Loan Losses . In evaluating the allowance for loan losses, we consider factors that include growth, composition and industry diversification of the portfolio, historical loan loss experience, current delinquency levels, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral, prevailing economic conditions and other relevant factors. The provision for loan losses at March 31, 2006 totaled $475 thousand, compared to a provision of $395 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2005. During the three months ended March 31, 2006 net loan charge-offs totaled $49 thousand, a decrease from $308 thousand of net charge-offs during the three months ended March 31, 2005. On an annualized basis, our percentage of net loan charge-offs to average loans outstanding declined fourteen basis points to 0.02% for the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to 0.16% reported for the three months ended March 31, 2005. Non-performing assets at March 31, 2006 increased to $2.1 million or 0.16% of total assets from $1.4 million or 0.13% of total assets at December 31, 2005 but were down significantly from $7.9 million or 0.71% of total assets as of March 31, 2005. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2006 represented 1.33% of loans outstanding, compared with 1.36% at December 31, 2005 and 1.50% at March 31, 2005. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans outstanding have declined as a result of trends in the economy and the loan portfolio and continued strong credit quality. We believe that the Company’s allowance is adequate to absorb probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio.
Non-Interest Income . For the three months ended March 31, 2006, non-interest income increased by $77 thousand or 4.4% to $1.8 million from $1.7 million for the same period in the prior year. The increase was due to the higher levels of service charges and fees on deposit accounts from a larger deposit base, partially offset by declines in our mortgage banking and wealth management services revenues. We expect a continued positive trend in service charge fee income in the future as we continue to expand our branch network and deposit base. We have recently hired a mortgage banking veteran to lead our mortgage operations, and reorganized our brokerage and trust services into a wealth management group. We believe the changes made in these areas will have a positive impact on non-interest income in the future. In addition, as Salem Capital Partners’ portfolio matures, we anticipate some fluctuation in our non-interest income as our share of gains and losses on their investments are recognized.
Non-Interest Expense . We strive to maintain non-interest expenses at levels that we believe are appropriate given the nature of our operations and the investments in personnel and facilities that have been necessary to support and service our growth. From 1998 forward through the current three-month period, we have consistently maintained our ratio of non-interest expense to average total assets below 3.0%. Because of our growth, we have consistently seen increases in every major component of our non-interest expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2006, our non-interest expense increased $536 thousand or 6.8% over the same period in 2005. On a consolidated basis, salaries and employee benefit expense increased $506 thousand or 12.7%. Occupancy and equipment expense increased $266 thousand, or 19.9%. Other expenses decreased $237 thousand or 9.2% to $2.3 million. The first quarter of 2005 included $345 thousand of expenses incurred as a result of the departure of two members of senior management and $70 thousand associated with the Company’s decision to vest all outstanding unvested options. Due to our strong asset growth, our annualized ratio of non-interest expenses to average total assets increased slightly to 2.62% as compared with 2.59% for the same three months in 2005. During 2006, we anticipate some variability within our non-interest expense due to the move of our operations and certain other administrative departments into a new facility in the second and third quarters.
Provision for Income Taxes . Our provision for income taxes, as a percentage of income before income taxes, was 35.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Market and public confidence in our financial strength and in the strength of financial institutions in general will largely determine our access to appropriate levels of liquidity. This confidence is significantly dependent on our ability to maintain sound asset quality and appropriate levels of capital resources.
Liquidity is defined as our ability to meet anticipated customer demands for funds under credit commitments and deposit withdrawals at a reasonable cost and on a timely basis. Management measures our liquidity position by giving consideration to both on- and off-balance sheet sources of funds and demands for funds on a daily and weekly basis.
Sources of liquidity include cash and cash equivalents, net of federal requirements to maintain reserves against deposit liabilities; investment securities eligible for pledging to secure borrowings from dealers and customers pursuant to securities sold under repurchase agreements, investments available for sale, loan repayments, loan sales, deposits, and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank and from correspondent banks under overnight federal funds credit lines.

- 18 -


 

In addition to interest rate-sensitive deposits, the Company’s primary demand for liquidity is anticipated fundings under credit commitments to customers.
Federal funds sold and investment securities aggregated $291.0 million at March 31, 2006, a decrease of $1.4 million from $292.6 million at December 31, 2005. While we have reduced the size of our investment portfolio in response to the current and expected near-term interest rate environment, we believe our liquidity is adequate to fund expected loan demand and current deposit and borrowing maturities. Supplementing customer deposits as a source of funding, we have available lines of credit from various correspondent banks to purchase federal funds on a short-term basis of approximately $73.0 million. We also have the credit capacity to borrow up to $334.5 million, as of March 31, 2006, from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHLB), with $127.3 million outstanding as of that date. At March 31, 2005, we had FHLB borrowings outstanding of $172.8 million. We also had repurchase agreements with total outstanding balances of $23.8 million at March 31, 2006. Of this balance, $3.8 million represented accommodations for our deposit customers and $20.0 million was with our correspondent banks. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase generally mature within ninety days from the transaction date and are collateralized by U.S. Government Agency obligations. We have repurchase lines of credit aggregating $130 million from various institutions. The repurchases must be adequately collateralized. At March 31, 2006, our outstanding commitments to extend credit consisted of loan commitments of $223.4 million and amounts available under home equity credit lines, other credit lines and letters of credit of $76.7 million, $12.5 million and $14.3 million, respectively. We believe that our combined aggregate liquidity position from all sources is sufficient to meet the funding requirements of loan demand and deposit maturities and withdrawals in the near term.
Throughout our nine-year history, our loan demand has exceeded our growth in core deposits. We have therefore relied heavily on certificates of deposits as a source of funds. While the majority of these funds are from our local market area, the bank has utilized brokered and out-of-market certificates of deposits to diversify and supplement our deposit base. During 2005, the bank began initiatives to increase demand and other non-interest bearing deposit accounts to improve our funding mix. As a result of those initiatives, non-maturity deposits at March 31, 2006 increased $109.7 million or 31.4%, compared to March 31, 2005, and have had a positive impact on our net interest margin. Certificates of deposits represented 53.9% of our total deposits at March 31, 2006, a decrease from 58.2% at March 31, 2005. Brokered and out-of-market deposits increased by 1.6% at the end of the first quarter 2006. Time deposits of $100,000 or more totaled $326.6 million and $272.7 million at March 31, 2006 and March 31, 2005, respectively. Large certificates of deposits are generally considered rate sensitive. While we will need to pay competitive rates to retain these deposits at their maturities, there are other subjective factors that will determine their continued retention. At March 31, 2006, our Tier I capital to average quarterly asset ratio was 9.8%, and all of our capital ratios exceeded the minimums established for a well-capitalized bank by regulatory measures. Our Tier I risk-based capital ratio at March 31, 2006 was 12.8%.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market risk reflects the risk of economic loss resulting from adverse changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk of loss can be reflected in diminished current market values and/or reduced potential net interest income in future periods.
The Company’s market risk arises primarily from interest rate risk inherent in its lending, deposit-taking and borrowing activities. The structure of the Company’s loan and liability portfolios is such that a significant decline in interest rates may adversely impact net market values and net interest income. The Company does not maintain a trading account nor is the Company subject to currency exchange risk or commodity price risk.
Our asset and liability committee is responsible for reviewing our liquidity requirements and managing our sensitivity to changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk arises because the interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities of the bank have different maturities and characteristics. In order to measure this interest rate risk, we use a simulation process quarterly that measures the impact of changing interest rates on net interest income. The results of the most recent analysis indicated that the Company continues to be slightly asset sensitive, and that if interest rates increased or decreased by two percentage points, our net interest income over a one-year time frame could increase by 1.3% or decrease by 7.7%, respectively.

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Southern Community Financial Corporation’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2006. Based on that evaluation, the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of March 31, 2006, to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company assesses the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting quarterly and enhances its controls in response to internal control assessments and internal and external audit and regulatory recommendations. No such control enhancements during the quarter ended March 31, 2006 or through the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On March 29, 2005, the Company announced a plan to repurchase up to 300,000 shares of its common stock. On September 23, 2005, the Company announced a plan to repurchase up to 600,000 additional shares of its common stock. The table below sets forth information with respect to shares of common stock repurchased by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2006. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our share repurchase program.
                                 
                    Total Number of    
                    Shares    
    Total           Purchased as   Maximum Number of
    Number of   Average   Part of Publicly   Shares That May Yet
    Shares   Price Paid   Announced   Be Purchased Under
Period   Purchased   per Share   Programs   the Programs
January 1, 2006 to January 31, 2006
        $             439,200  
February 1, 2006 to February 28, 2006
    31,621     $ 9.44       31,621       407,579  
March 1, 2006 to March 31, 2006
    38,779     $ 9.31       38,779       368,800  

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Item 6. Exhibits
     (a) Exhibits.
     
Exhibit 10.1
  Employment agreement with F. Scott Bauer
 
   
Exhibit 10.2
  Employment agreement with Jeff T. Clark
 
   
Exhibit 10.3
  Employment agreement with David W. Hinshaw
 
   
Exhibit 31.1
  Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
 
   
Exhibit 31.2
  Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
 
   
Exhibit 32
  Section 1350 Certification

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
             
    SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION  
 
           
Date: May 10, 2006
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer    
 
     
 
F. Scott Bauer
   
 
      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer    
 
           
Date: May 10, 2006
  By:   /s/ David W. Hinshaw    
 
     
 
David W. Hinshaw
   
 
      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    

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Exhibit 10.1 Employment agreement with F. Scott Bauer
Employment Agreement
     This Employment Agreement is entered into effective as of this 28th day of April, 2006, by and among Southern Community Financial Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, Southern Community Bank and Trust, a North Carolina-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Community Financial Corporation (the “ Bank ”), and F. Scott Bauer, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank (the “ Executive ”). Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank are referred to in this Employment Agreement individually and together as the “ Employer .”
      Whereas , the Executive is the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer, possessing unique skills, knowledge, and experience relating to the Employer’s business, and the Executive has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the profitability, growth, and financial strength of the Employer and affiliates,
      Whereas , the Employer and the Executive desire to set forth in this Employment Agreement the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment,
      Whereas , the Executive and the Bank are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as of November 18, 1996, but the Executive and the Bank intend that this Employment Agreement supersede and replace the previous employment agreement in its entirety, and
      Whereas , none of the conditions or events included in the definition of the term “golden parachute payment” that is set forth in Section 18(k)(4)(A)(ii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1828(k)(4)(A)(ii)] and in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rule 359.1(f)(1)(ii) [12 CFR 359.1(f)(1)(ii)] exists or, to the best knowledge of the Employer, is contemplated insofar as the Bank or any affiliates are concerned.
      Now Therefore , in consideration of these premises, the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.
Article 1
Employment
      1.1 Employment . Effective on the date and for the term specified in section 1.4, the Employer hereby employs the Executive to serve as Chief Executive Officer according to the terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement. The Executive hereby accepts employment according to the terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement.
      1.2 Duties . As Chief Executive Officer, the Executive shall serve under the direction of the Employer’s board of directors and in accordance with the Employer’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as each may be amended or restated from time to time. The Executive shall report directly to the board of directors. He shall serve the Employer faithfully, diligently, competently, and to the best of his ability, and he shall exclusively devote his full working time, energy, and attention to the business of the Employer and to the promotion of the Employer’s interests throughout the term of this Employment Agreement. Without the written consent of the board of directors of each of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank, during the term of this Employment Agreement the Executive shall not render services to or for any person, firm, corporation, or other entity or organization in exchange for compensation, regardless of the form in which the compensation is paid and regardless of whether it is paid directly or indirectly to the Executive. Nothing in this Article 2 shall prevent the Executive from managing his personal investments and affairs, provided that doing so does not interfere with the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer.

 


 

      1.3 Service on the Board of Directors . The Executive is currently serving as a director of each of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank. Southern Community Financial Corporation shall nominate the Executive for election as a director at such times as necessary so that the Executive will, if elected by stockholders, remain a director of Southern Community Financial Corporation throughout the term of this Employment Agreement. The Executive hereby consents to serving as a director and to being named as a director of Southern Community Financial Corporation in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The board of directors of each of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank shall undertake every lawful effort to ensure that the Executive continues throughout the term of his employment to be elected or reelected as a director of the Bank. The Executive shall be deemed to have resigned as a director of each of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank effective immediately after termination of the Executive’s employment under Article 5 of this Employment Agreement, regardless of whether the Executive submits a formal, written resignation as director.
      1.4 Term of Employment . The initial term of employment under this Employment Agreement shall be for the period commencing upon the April 28, 2006 effective date of this Employment Agreement and ending three calendar years from the effective date of this Employment Agreement. On each anniversary of the effective date of this Employment Agreement, the term of this Employment Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year period beyond the then-effective expiration date unless written notice from the Employer or the Executive is received 90 days prior to an anniversary date advising the other that this Employment Agreement shall not be further extended. If the board decides not to extend the term of this Employment Agreement, this Employment Agreement shall nevertheless remain in force until its then-current three-year term expires. The board’s decision not to extend the term of this Employment Agreement shall not – by itself – give the Executive any rights under this Employment Agreement to claim an adverse change in his position, compensation, or circumstances or otherwise to claim entitlement to severance benefits under Articles 4 or 5 of this Employment Agreement, absent some other reason that entitles Executive to such benefits pursuant to either or both of such Articles. References herein to the term of this Employment Agreement shall refer to the initial term, as the same may be extended. Unless sooner terminated, the Executive’s employment and the term of this Employment Agreement shall terminate when the Executive attains age 65.
Article 2
Compensation and Other Benefits
      2.1 Base Salary . In consideration of the Executive’s performance of his obligations under this Employment Agreement, Southern Community Financial Corporation shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive a salary at the annual rate of not less than $315,000, payable in equal or approximately equal monthly installments. The Executive’s salary shall be reviewed annually by the Employer’s board of directors or by the board committee having jurisdiction over executive compensation. The Executive’s salary shall be increased no less frequently than annually to account for cost of living increases. The Executive’s salary also may be increased beyond the amount necessary to account for cost of living increases at the discretion of the committee having jurisdiction over executive compensation. However, the Executive’s salary shall not be reduced. The Executive’s salary, as the same may be increased from time to time, is referred to in this Employment Agreement as the “ Base Salary .”
      2.2 Benefit Plans and Perquisites . The Executive shall be entitled throughout the term of this Employment Agreement to participate in any and all officer or employee compensation, bonus, incentive, and benefit plans in effect from time to time, including without limitation plans providing pension, retirement, medical, dental, disability, and group life benefits, and to receive any and all other fringe benefits provided from time to time, provided that the Executive satisfies the eligibility requirements for the plans or benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing –
     (a)  Participation in Stock Plans . The Executive shall be eligible to participate in any stock-based compensation, incentive, bonus, or purchase

 


 

plans existing on the date of this Employment Agreement or adopted during the term of this Employment Agreement.
     (b)  Club Dues . During the term of this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall pay or cause to be paid the Executive’s membership dues in civic clubs. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall be reimbursed for dues and expenses associated with his membership in and use of the private country club of his choice in Forsyth County, but the Executive shall be solely responsible for club membership assessments.
     (c)  Use of Automobile. The Executive shall have the use of an automobile titled in the Employer’s name for use by the Executive to carry out his duties for the Employer, the insurance and maintenance expenses of which shall be paid by the Employer. As additional compensation, the Executive may use such automobile for personal purposes, provided that the Executive renders an accounting of his business and personal use to the Employer in accordance with regulations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     (d)  Long-Term Care and Disability Insurance . The Employer shall purchase and maintain long-term care insurance for the benefit of the Executive, which policy shall be fully paid no later than the date on which the Executive attains age 60. The Employer shall reimburse the Executive for the Executive’s cost to purchase and maintain disability insurance coverage on himself during the term of this Employment Agreement. The amount reimbursed by the Employer shall be grossed up to compensate the Executive for federal and state income taxes imposed as a result of the Employer’s reimbursement of the Executive’s cost. The disability insurance policy and long-term care insurance policy shall be owned by the Executive exclusively.
     (e)  Life Insurance . In addition to any split dollar life insurance agreement associated with a salary continuation agreement or supplemental retirement plan agreement existing as of the date hereof or entered into hereafter by the Employer and the Executive, the Employer shall use its best efforts to enter into a separate split dollar agreement with the Executive granting to the Executive the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries of a portion of the total death benefits payable at the Executive’s death under an insurance policy or policies held by the Employer on the Executive’s life. The amount of the death benefit for which the Executive shall be granted the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries shall be no less than $500,000. The split dollar agreement and the Executive’s right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries shall survive termination of the Executive’s employment, unless termination of employment is a termination for Cause, as defined in Article 3. If the Executive is not insured through a BOLI (bank-owned life insurance) financing within the year after the effective date of this Employment Agreement, the Employer agrees to maintain term life insurance coverage throughout the term of this Employment Agreement providing $500,000 of term life insurance coverage for the Executive.
     (f)  Reimbursement of Business Expenses . Upon submission of appropriate documentation by the Executive and approval by the board of directors or by a board committee appointed for such purpose, the Employer agrees to reimburse the Executive for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred performing his obligations under this Employment Agreement, including but not limited to all reasonable business travel and entertainment expenses incurred while acting at the request of or in the service of the Employer and reasonable expenses for attendance at annual and other periodic meetings of trade associations. Except for club dues under section 2.2(b), to be reimbursable each expense must be of a nature qualifying it as a proper deduction on the Employer’s income tax returns as a business expense rather than deductible compensation to the Executive. The records and other documentary evidence submitted by the Executive to the Employer with each request for reimbursement shall be in the form required by applicable statutes and regulations issued by appropriate taxing authorities for the substantiation of expenditures as deductible business expenses of the Employer rather than deductible compensation to the Executive.
      2.3 Vacation . The Executive shall be entitled to five weeks of paid time off (“PTO”) per calendar year, effective on January 1 of each year, to be

 


 

used for vacation. Executive may not carry over any accrued but unused vacation into the next successive year.
      2.4 Taxes . All compensation of the Executive shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by federal, state, and local law.
      2.5 Indemnification and Insurance . (a) Indemnification . The Employer shall indemnify the Executive or cause the Executive to be indemnified with respect to his activities as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Employer or as a person who is serving or has served at the request of the Employer (a “ representative ”) as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of an affiliated corporation, joint venture trust or other enterprise, domestic or foreign, in which the Employer has a direct or indirect ownership interest against expenses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him (“ Expenses ”) in connection with any claim against the Executive that is the subject of any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or other type of proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or otherwise and whether formal or informal (a “ Proceeding ”), to which the Executive was, is, or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the Executive being or having been such a director, officer, employee, agent, or representative.
     The indemnification provided herein shall not be exclusive of any other indemnification or right to which the Executive may be entitled and shall continue after the Executive has ceased to occupy a position as an officer, director, employee, agent or representative with respect to Proceedings relating to or arising out of the Executive’s acts or omissions during his service in such position. The indemnification provided to the Executive under this Employment Agreement for the Executive’s service as a representative shall be payable if and only if and only to the extent that reimbursement to the Executive by the affiliated entity with which the Executive has served as a representative, whether pursuant to agreement, applicable law, articles of incorporation or association, by-laws or regulations of the entity, or insurance maintained by such affiliated entity, is insufficient to compensate the Executive for Expenses actually incurred and otherwise payable by the Employer under this Employment Agreement. Any payments for such Expenses in fact made to or on behalf of the Executive directly or indirectly by the affiliated entity with which the Executive served as a representative shall reduce the obligation of the Employer hereunder.
     (b)  Exclusions . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, however, nothing in this Section 2.5 requires indemnification, reimbursement, or payment by the Employer, and the Executive shall not be entitled to demand indemnification, reimbursement, or payment –
     (1) if and to the extent indemnification, reimbursement, or payment constitutes a “prohibited indemnification payment” within the meaning of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rule 359.1(l)(1) [12 CFR 359.1(l)(1)], or
     (2) for any claim or any part thereof as to which the Executive shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, from which no appeal is or can be taken, by clear and convincing evidence, to have acted with deliberate intent to cause injury to the Employer or with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Employer, or
     (3) for any claim or any part thereof arising under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a result of which the Executive is required to pay any penalty, fine, settlement, or judgment, or
     (4) for any obligation of the Executive based upon or attributable to the Executive gaining in fact any personal gain, profit, or advantage to which he was not entitled, or
     (5) any proceeding initiated by the Executive without the consent or authorization of the Employer’s board of directors, but this exclusion shall not apply with respect to any claims brought

 


 

by the Executive (a) to enforce his rights under this Employment Agreement, or (b) in any Proceeding initiated by another person or entity whether or not such claims were brought by the Executive against a person or entity who was otherwise a party to such proceeding.
     (c)  Insurance . The Employer shall maintain or cause to be maintained fidelity and Directors & Officers’ liability insurance covering the Executive throughout the term of this Employment Agreement.
Article 3
Termination of Employment
      3.1 Termination by the Employer . (a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically on the date of the Executive’s death. If the Executive dies in active service to the Employer, for twelve months after the Executive’s death the Employer shall provide the Executive’s family with and pay the premiums for continuing health care coverage under COBRA substantially identical to that provided for the Executive before his death.
     By delivery of written notice 30 days in advance to the Executive, the Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment if the Executive is disabled. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the Executive shall be considered “ disabled ” if for health or medical-related reasons he is unable to and does not perform his duties hereunder for a period of 90 consecutive days. The Executive shall not be considered disabled, however, if he returns to work on a full-time basis within 30 days after the Employer gives him notice of termination due to disability.
     (b)  Termination Without Cause . With written notice to the Executive 60 days in advance, the Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause. Upon such event, the compensation and benefits after termination provisions of Sections 4.4 and 4.5 shall apply, in addition to any other applicable post-termination payments or benefits provided for in this Employment Agreement.
     (c)  Termination with Cause . The Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment with Cause. The Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until the Employer delivers to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted at a meeting of the board of directors called and held for such purpose, which resolution shall (1) contain findings that, in the good faith opinion of the board, the Executive has committed an act constituting Cause, and (2) specify the particulars thereof. The resolution of the board of directors shall be deemed to have been duly adopted if and only if it is adopted by the affirmative vote of the directors of Southern Community Financial Corporation then in office or the directors of the Bank then in office, in either case excluding the Executive, at a meeting duly called and held for that purpose. Notice of the meeting and the proposed termination for Cause shall be given to the Executive a reasonable amount of time before the board’s meeting. The Executive and his counsel (if the Executive chooses to have counsel present) shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard by the board at the meeting. Nothing in this Employment Agreement limits the Executive’s or his beneficiaries’ right to contest the validity or propriety of the board’s determination of Cause. Upon such event, the Executive shall not be entitled to any further compensation or other benefits beyond his effective termination date in accordance with Section 4.1, except such benefits which by the terms of their plan document continue after such termination or except as may be otherwise provided for in this Employment Agreement.
     (d)  Definition of Cause . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Cause ” means any of the following –
     (1) an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement, or theft by the Executive in the course of his employment. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, no act or failure to act on the part of the Executive shall be deemed to have been intentional if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence. An act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered

 


 

intentional if it is not in good faith and if it is without a reasonable belief that the action or failure to act is in the best interests of the Employer, or
     (2) intentional violation of any law or significant policy of the Employer committed in connection with the Executive’s employment, which in the Employer’s judgment has a material adverse effect on the Employer, or
     (3) the Executive’s gross negligence or gross neglect of duties in the performance of his duties to the Employer, or
     (4) intentional wrongful damage by the Executive to the business or property of the Employer, including without limitation the reputation of the Employer, which in the Employer’s sole judgment causes material harm to the Employer, or
     (5) a breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duties as an officer or director of the Employer or misconduct involving dishonesty, in either case whether in his capacity as an officer or as a director of the Bank or Southern Community Financial Corporation, or
     (6) a breach by the Executive of this Employment Agreement that, in the sole judgment of the Employer, is a material breach, which breach is not corrected by the Executive within 30 days after receiving written notice of the breach which the Employer shall provide, or
     (7) removal of the Executive from office or permanent prohibition of the Executive from participating in the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under section 8(e)(4) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), or
     (8) conviction of the Executive for or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or the actual incarceration of the Executive.
      3.2 Termination by the Executive . The Executive may terminate his employment with written notice to the Employer 60 days in advance, whether with or without Good Reason. If the Executive terminates with Good Reason, the termination will take effect at the conclusion of the 60-day period unless the event or circumstance constituting Good Reason is cured by the Employer or unless the notice of termination for Good Reason is revoked by the Executive within the 60-day period. Upon such event, the compensation and benefits after termination provisions of Sections 4.4 and 4.5 shall apply, in addition to any other applicable post-termination payments or benefits provided for in this Employment Agreement. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Good Reason ” means any of the following events occur without the Executive’s written consent –
     (a)  Reduced Base Salary : reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary,
     (b)  Participation in Benefit Plans Reduced or Terminated : reduction of the Executive’s bonus, incentive, or other compensation award opportunities under the Employer’s benefit plans, unless a company-wide reduction of all officers’ award opportunities occurs simultaneously, or termination of the Executive’s participation in any officer or employee benefit plan maintained by the Employer, unless the plan is terminated because of changes in law or loss of tax deductibility to the Employer for contributions to the plan, or unless the plan is terminated as a matter of policy applied equally to all participants in the plan,
     (c)  Reduced Responsibilities or Status :
     (1) assignment to the Executive of duties that are materially inconsistent with the Executive’s position as the Employer’s principal executive officer or that represent a reduction of his authority,

 


 

     (2) failure to appoint or reappoint the Executive as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank,
     (3) failure to nominate the Executive as a director of Southern Community Financial Corporation, or
     (4) failure to elect or reelect the Executive or cause the Executive to be elected or reelected to the board of directors of the Bank in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Employment Agreement,
     (d)  Failure to Obtain Assumption Agreement : failure to obtain an assumption of the Employer’s obligations under this Employment Agreement by any successor to the Employer, regardless of whether the entity becomes a successor to the Employer as a result of a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or other form of purchase, sale or reorganization,
     (e)  Material Breach : a material breach of this Employment Agreement by the Employer that is not corrected within 30 days after receiving written notice of the breach from the Executive, or
     (f)  Relocation of the Executive : relocation of the Bank’s principal executive offices, or requiring the Executive to change his principal work location, to any location that is more than 15 miles from the location of the Bank’s principal executive offices on the date of this Employment Agreement.
      3.3 Notice . Any purported termination by the Employer or by the Executive shall be communicated by written notice of termination to the other. The notice must state the specific termination provision of this Employment Agreement relied upon. The notice must also state the date on which termination shall become effective, which shall be a date not earlier than the date of the termination notice. If termination is for Cause or with Good Reason, the notice must state in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances forming the basis for termination of the Executive’s employment.
Article 4
Compensation and Benefits After Termination
      4.1 Cause . If the Executive’s employment terminates for Cause, the Executive shall receive the salary to which he is entitled through the date on which termination becomes effective and any other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans and policies in effect on the date of termination.
      4.2 Termination by the Executive Other than for Good Reason . If the Executive terminates employment other than for Good Reason, the Executive shall receive the salary to which he is entitled through the date on which his termination becomes effective and any other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans and policies.
      4.3 Termination Because of Disability . If the Executive’s employment terminates because of disability, the Executive shall receive the salary earned through the date on which termination becomes effective, any unpaid bonus or incentive compensation due to the Executive for the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the termination becomes effective, any payments the Executive is eligible to receive under any disability insurance program in which the Executive participates, and such other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans, policies, and agreements.
      4.4 Termination Without Cause and Termination for Good Reason . If the Employer terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause or if the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall continue to receive his most recent Base Salary level for the unexpired term of this Employment Agreement, but he shall not be entitled to continued participation in the Employer’s or a subsidiary’s retirement plans or any stock-based plans unless the terms of any applicable plan document allow such participation. The Employer and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the compensation and

 


 

benefits under this Section 4.4 shall not be payable if compensation and benefits are payable or shall have been paid previously to the Executive under Article 5 of this Employment Agreement.
      4.5 Post-Termination Insurance and Medical Coverage . If the Executive’s employment terminates involuntarily but without Cause or voluntarily but with Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates because of disability, the Employer shall continue or cause to be continued at the Employer’s expense life, disability, medical, and long-term care insurance benefits in effect during the two years preceding the date of the Executive’s termination, including the disability and long-term care insurance reimbursement benefit specified in Section 2.2. The life, disability, and medical insurance benefits shall continue until the first to occur of (1) the Executive’s return to employment with the Employer or another employer, (2) the Executive’s death, or (3) the end of the term remaining under this Employment Agreement at the time of the Executive’s termination. Nothing in this Section 4.5 diminishes the Employer’s obligation under Section 2.2 to provide the Executive with a fully paid long-term care insurance policy owned exclusively by the Executive, and any remaining policy premiums shall be paid in full if the Executive’s employment terminates involuntarily but without Cause or voluntarily but with Good Reason or because of disability. Likewise, nothing in this Section 4.5 diminishes the Employer’s obligation under Section 2.2 to provide the Executive with a split dollar insurance benefit that survives the Executive’s employment termination.
      4.6 Salary Continuation Agreement . The Bank and the Executive shall use their best efforts to finalize and enter into a Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement, replacing the supplemental executive retirement plan arrangement currently in force. The Salary Continuation Agreement shall provide for an annual benefit of $188,504 payable to the Executive in equal monthly installments for his lifetime, beginning with any termination of service by the Executive from the Bank on or after attaining age 60. Unless the Salary Continuation Agreement or Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement explicitly provides otherwise, whether benefits are properly payable to the Executive under the Salary Continuation Agreement or the Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement shall be determined solely by reference to those agreements, except that the Executive shall forfeit all benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement for violation of the covenant against competition in Section 7.3 of this Employment Agreement. The split dollar insurance benefit provided by the Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in this Section 4.6 shall be in addition to the split dollar life insurance benefit provided to the Executive under Section 2.2.
Article 5
Change in Control Benefits
      5.1 Change in Control Benefits . (a) If a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall make or cause to be made a lump-sum payment to the Executive in an amount in cash equal to three times the Executive’s annual compensation. For this purpose, annual compensation means (1) the Executive’s Base Salary when the Change in Control occurs plus (2) any bonus or incentive compensation earned for the calendar year ended immediately before the year in which the Change in Control occurred, regardless of when the bonus or incentive compensation earned for the preceding calendar year is paid and regardless of whether all or part of the bonus or incentive compensation is subject to elective deferral. Annual compensation shall be calculated without regard to any deferrals under qualified or nonqualified plans, but annual compensation shall not include interest or other earnings credited to the Executive under qualified or nonqualified plans. The amount payable to the Executive hereunder shall not be reduced to account for the time value of money or discounted to present value. The payment required under this paragraph (a) is payable no later than five business days after the Change in Control. The Executive shall be entitled to benefits under this paragraph (a) on no more than one occasion.
     (b)  Benefit Plans : In addition to insurance and medical benefits under Sections 2.2 and 4.5 of this Employment Agreement and any benefits to which the Executive may be entitled under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in Section 4.6 of this

 


 

Employment Agreement, if a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Employment Agreement the Employer shall (1) cause the Executive to become fully vested in any qualified and non-qualified plans, programs, or arrangements in which the Executive participated if the plan, program, or arrangement does not address the effect of a change in control, and (2) contribute or cause to be contributed to the Executive’s 401(k) plan account, if any, the matching and profit-sharing contributions, if any, that the Executive is entitled to based upon all W-2 income earned by the Executive for the plan year.
      5.2 Definition of Change in Control . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Change in Control ” means any one or more of the following events occurs –
     (a)  Merger . Southern Community Financial Corporation merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into Southern Community Financial Corporation, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were holders of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the merger or consolidation. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the term “ person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, or other entity,
     (b)  Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership. after the date of this Employment Agreement a report on Schedule 13D, Schedule TO, or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G) is filed or is required to be filed under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the combined voting power of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s voting securities outstanding (but this paragraph (b) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of voting shares held by the Employer in a fiduciary capacity or beneficial ownership of voting shares held by an employee benefit plan of the Employer),
     (c)  Change in Board Composition . during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute Southern Community Financial Corporation’s board of directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided, however , that – for purposes of this paragraph (c) – each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds ( ƀ ) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the period shall be deemed to have been a director at the beginning of the two-year period, or
     (d)  Sale of Assets . Southern Community Financial Corporation sells to a third party all or substantially all of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s assets. For this purpose, sale of all or substantially all of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s assets includes, but is not limited to, sale of the Bank alone.
      5.3 No Multiple Severance Payments . If the Executive receives payment under Section 5.1 he shall not be entitled to any benefits under Section 4.4 of this Employment Agreement.
      5.4 Gross-Up for Taxes . (a) Additional Payment to Account for Excise Taxes . If the Executive receives the lump sum payment under Section 5.1 of this Employment Agreement and acceleration of benefits under any other benefit, compensation, or incentive plan or arrangement with the Employer (collectively, the “ Total Benefits ”), and if any part of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax under section 280G and section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), the Employer shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive the following additional amounts, consisting of ( x ) a payment equal to the Excise Tax payable by the Executive under section 4999 on the Total Benefits (the “ Excise Tax Payment ”) and ( y ) a payment equal to the amount necessary to provide the Excise Tax Payment net of all income, payroll, and excise taxes. Together, the additional amounts described in clauses ( x ) and ( y ) are referred to in this Employment Agreement as the “ Gross-Up Payment

 


 

Amount .” Payment of the Gross-Up Payment Amount shall be made in addition to the amount set forth in Section 5.1.
     Calculating the Excise Tax. For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax and for purposes of determining the amount of the Excise Tax,
  (1)   Determination of “Parachute Payments” Subject to the Excise Tax : any other payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the Executive’s termination of employment (whether under the terms of this Employment Agreement or any other agreement or any other benefit plan or arrangement with the Employer, any person whose actions result in a Change in Control, or any person affiliated with the Employer or such person) shall be treated as “ parachute payments ” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all “ excess parachute payments ” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of the certified public accounting firm that is retained by Southern Community Financial Corporation as of the date immediately before the Change in Control (the “ Accounting Firm ”) such other payments or benefits do not constitute (in whole or in part) parachute payments, or such excess parachute payments represent (in whole or in part) reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code in excess of the “base amount” (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax,
 
  (2)   Calculation of Benefits Subject to Excise Tax : the amount of the Total Benefits that shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (a) the total amount of the Total Benefits reduced by the amount of such Total Benefits that in the opinion of the Accounting Firm are not parachute payments, or (b) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) (after applying clause (1), above), and
 
  (3)   Value of Noncash Benefits and Deferred Payments : the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accounting Firm in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
      Assumed Marginal Income Tax Rate . For purposes of determining the Gross-Up Payment Amount, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar years in which the Gross-Up Payment Amount is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on the date of the Change in Control or termination of employment, net of the reduction in federal income taxes that can be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes (calculated by assuming that any reduction under section 68 of the Internal Revenue Code in the amount of itemized deductions allowable to the Executive applies first to reduce the amount of such state and local income taxes that would otherwise be deductible by the Executive, and applicable federal FICA and Medicare withholding taxes).
      Return of Reduced Excise Tax Payment or Payment of Additional Excise Tax . If the Excise Tax is later determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder when the Change in Control occurred or when the Executive’s employment terminated, the Executive shall repay to Southern Community Financial Corporation – when the amount of the reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined – the portion of the Gross-Up Payment Amount attributable to the reduction (plus that portion of the Gross-Up Payment Amount attributable to the Excise Tax, federal, state and local income taxes and FICA and Medicare withholding taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment Amount being repaid by the Executive to the extent that the repayment results in a

 


 

reduction in Excise Tax, FICA and Medicare withholding taxes and/or a federal, state or local income tax deduction).
     If the Excise Tax is later determined to be more than the amount taken into account hereunder when the Change in Control occurred or when the Executive’s employment terminated (due, for example, to a payment whose existence or amount cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment Amount), Southern Community Financial Corporation shall make an additional payment to the Executive for that excess (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the Executive for the excess) when the amount of the excess is finally determined.
     (b)  Responsibilities of the Accounting Firm and Southern Community Financial Corporation . Determinations Shall Be Made by the Accounting Firm . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4(a), all determinations required to be made under this Section 5.4(b) – including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment Amount is required, the amount of the Gross-Up Payment Amount and the assumptions to be used to arrive at the determination (collectively, the “ Determination ”) – shall be made by the Accounting Firm, which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Executive within 15 business days after receipt of notice from Southern Community Financial Corporation or the Executive that there has been a Gross-Up Payment Amount, or such earlier time as is requested by Southern Community Financial Corporation.
      Fees and Expenses of the Accounting Firm and Agreement with the Accounting Firm . All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by Southern Community Financial Corporation. Southern Community Financial Corporation shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of its services hereunder.
      Accounting Firm’s Opinion . If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Accounting Firm shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion to that effect, and to the effect that failure to report Excise Tax, if any, on the Executive’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.
      Accounting Firm’s Determination Is Binding; Underpayment and Overpayment . The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding on Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Executive. Because of the uncertainty in determining whether any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax at the time of the Determination, it is possible that a Gross-Up Payment Amount that should have been made will not have been made by Southern Community Financial Corporation (“ Underpayment ”), or that a Gross-Up Payment Amount will be made that should not have been made by Southern Community Financial Corporation (“ Overpayment ”). If, after a Determination by the Accounting Firm, the Executive is required to make a payment of additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred. The Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be paid promptly by Southern Community Financial Corporation to or for the benefit of the Executive. If the Gross-Up Payment Amount exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive for his Excise Tax according to Section 5.4(a), the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Overpayment that has been made. The Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be paid promptly by the Executive to or for the benefit of Southern Community Financial Corporation. Provided that his expenses are reimbursed by Southern Community Financial Corporation, the Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable requests by Southern Community Financial Corporation in any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service relating to the Excise Tax.
      Accounting Firm Conflict of Interest . If the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity, or group effecting the Change in Control, the Executive may appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the Determinations required hereunder (in which case the term “Accounting Firm” as used in this Employment Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the accounting firm appointed by the Executive under this paragraph).

 


 

Article 6
Confidentiality and Creative Work
      6.1 Non-disclosure . The Executive covenants and agrees that he will not reveal to any person, firm, or corporation any confidential information of any nature concerning the Employer or its business, or anything connected therewith. As used in this Article 6, the term “ confidential information ” means all of the Employer’s and its affiliates’ confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets in existence on the date hereof or existing at any time during the term of this Employment Agreement, including but not limited to –
     (a) the whole or any portion or phase of any business plans, financial information, purchasing data, supplier data, accounting data, or other financial information,
     (b) the whole or any portion or phase of any research and development information, design procedures, algorithms or processes, or other technical information,
     (c) the whole or any portion or phase of any marketing or sales information, sales records, customer lists, prices, sales projections, or other sales information, and
     (d) trade secrets, as defined from time to time by the laws of the State of North Carolina.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, confidential information excludes information that – as of the date hereof or at any time after the date hereof – is published or disseminated without obligation of confidence or that becomes a part of the public domain (1) by or through action of the Employer, or (2) otherwise than by or at the direction of the Executive. This Section 6.1 does not prohibit disclosure required by an order of a court having jurisdiction or a subpoena from an appropriate governmental agency or disclosure made by the Executive in the ordinary course of business and within the scope of his authority.
      6.2 Return of Materials . The Executive agrees to deliver or return to the Employer upon termination, upon expiration of this Employment Agreement, or as soon thereafter as possible, all written information and any other similar items furnished by the Employer or prepared by the Executive in connection with his services hereunder. The Executive will retain no copies thereof after termination of this Employment Agreement or termination of the Executive’s employment.
      6.3 Creative Work . The Executive agrees that all creative work and work product, including but not limited to all technology, business management tools, processes, software, patents, trademarks, and copyrights developed by the Executive during the term of this Employment Agreement and in the course and scope of his duties hereunder, regardless of when or where such work or work product was produced, constitutes work made for hire, all rights of which are owned by the Employer. The Executive hereby assigns to the Employer all rights, title, and interest, whether by way of copyrights, trade secret, trademark, patent, or otherwise, in all such work or work product, regardless of whether the same is subject to protection by patent, trademark, or copyright laws.
      6.4 Injunctive Relief . The Executive acknowledges that it is impossible to measure in money the damages that will be suffered by the Employer if the Executive fails to observe the obligations imposed on him by this Article 6. Accordingly, if the Bank institutes an action to enforce the provisions hereof, the Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law is available to the Employer and the Executive agrees not to urge in any such action the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists.
      6.5 Affiliates’ Confidential Information is Covered; Confidentiality Obligation Survives Termination . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the term “ affiliate ” includes Southern Community Financial Corporation, the Bank, and

 


 

any entity that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Southern Community Financial Corporation or the Bank. The rights and obligations set forth in this Article 6 shall survive termination of this Employment Agreement.
Article 7
Competition After Employment Termination
      7.1 Covenant Not to Solicit Employees . The Executive agrees not to solicit the services of any officer or employee of the Employer for one year after the Executive’s employment termination.
      7.2 Covenant Not to Compete . (a) The Executive covenants and agrees that he will not, without advance written consent of the Employer, compete directly or indirectly with the Employer for two years after termination of his employment, plus any period during which the Executive is in violation of this covenant not to compete and any period during which the Employer seeks by litigation to enforce this covenant not to compete. For purposes of this section –
  (1)   the term “compete” means
     (a) providing financial products or services on behalf of any financial institution for any person residing in the territory,
     (b) assisting (other than through the performance of ministerial or clerical duties) any financial institution in providing financial products or services to any person residing in the territory, or
     (c) inducing or attempting to induce any person who was a customer of the Employer at the date of the Executive’s termination of employment to seek financial products or services from another financial institution.
  (2)   the words “directly or indirectly” means –
     (a) acting as a consultant, officer, director, independent contractor, or employee of any financial institution in competition with the Employer in the territory, or
     (b) communicating to such financial institution the names or addresses or any financial information concerning any person who was a customer of the Employer at the Executive’s termination of employment.
(3) the term “customer” means any person to whom the Employer is providing financial products or services on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.
(4) the term “financial institution” means any bank, savings association, or bank or savings association holding company, or any other institution, the business of which is engaging in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities as described in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, other than the Employer or one of its affiliated corporations.
(5) “financial product or service” means any product or service that a financial institution or a financial holding company could offer by engaging in any activity that is financial in nature or incidental to such a financial activity under section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and that is offered by the Employer or an affiliate on the date of the Executive’s employment termination, including but not limited to banking activities and activities that are closely related and a proper incident to banking.

 


 

(6) the term “person” means any individual or individuals, corporation, partnership, fiduciary or association.
(7) the term “territory” means all of Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Rockingham, Surry, Stokes, and Yadkin Counties in North Carolina and the area within a 15-mile radius of any full-service banking office of the Bank at the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.
     (b) If any provision of this section or any word, phrase, clause, sentence or other portion thereof (including, without limitation, the geographical and temporal restrictions contained therein) is held to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the unenforceable or invalid provision or portion shall be modified or deleted so that the provisions hereof, as modified, are legal and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.
      7.3 Remedies . Because of the unique character of the services to be rendered by the Executive hereunder, the Executive understands that the Employer would not have an adequate remedy at law for the material breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any one or more of the Executive’s covenants set forth in this Article 7. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that the Employer’s remedies for a material breach or threatened breach of this Article 7 include but are not limited to (a) forfeiture of any money representing accrued salary, contingent payments, or other fringe benefits due and payable to the Executive, (b) forfeiture of any severance benefits under Sections 4.4 and 4.5 of this Employment Agreement, (c) forfeiture of benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in Section 4.6 of this Agreement, and (d) a suit in equity by the Employer to enjoin the Executive from the breach or threatened breach of such covenants. The Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law is available to the Employer and the Executive agrees not to urge in any such action the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the Employer from pursuing any other remedies for the breach or threatened breach.
      7.4 Article 7 Survives Termination But Is Void After a Change in Control . The rights and obligations set forth in this Article 7 shall survive termination of this Employment Agreement. However, Article 7 shall become null and void effective immediately upon a Change in Control.
Article 8
Miscellaneous
      8.1 Successors and Assigns . (a) This Employment Agreement Is Binding on The Employer’s Successors . This Employment Agreement shall be binding upon the Employer and any successor to the Employer, including any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization, or otherwise. But this Employment Agreement and the Employer’s obligations under this Employment Agreement are not otherwise assignable, transferable, or delegable by the Employer. By agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, the Employer shall require any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer to expressly assume and agree to perform this Employment Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Employer would be required to perform if no such succession had occurred.
     (b)  This Employment Agreement Is Enforceable by the Executive and His Heirs . This Employment Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, and legatees.
     (c)  This Employment Agreement Is Personal in Nature and Is Not Assignable . This Employment Agreement is personal in nature. Without written consent of the other parties, no party shall assign, transfer, or delegate this Employment Agreement or any rights or obligations under this Employment Agreement except as expressly provided herein. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive’s right to receive payments hereunder is not assignable or transferable, whether by pledge,

 


 

creation of a security interest, or otherwise, except for a transfer by the Executive’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Executive attempts an assignment or transfer that is contrary to this Section 8.1, the Employer shall have no liability to pay any amount to the assignee or transferee.
      8.2 Governing Law, Jurisdiction, and Forum . This Employment Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the internal laws of the State of North Carolina, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provision or rule (whether of the State of North Carolina or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of North Carolina. By entering into this Employment Agreement, the Executive acknowledges that he is subject to the jurisdiction of both the federal and state courts in the State of North Carolina. Any actions or proceedings instituted under this Employment Agreement shall be brought and tried solely in courts located in Forsyth County, North Carolina or in the federal court having jurisdiction in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Executive expressly waives his rights to have any such actions or proceedings brought or tried elsewhere.
      8.3 Entire Agreement . This Employment Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties concerning the employment of the Executive. Any oral or written statements, representations, agreements, or understandings made or entered into prior to or contemporaneously with the execution of this Employment Agreement are hereby rescinded, revoked, and rendered null and void by the parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Employment Agreement supersedes in its entirety the Employment Agreement dated as of November 18, 1996, entered into by the Executive and the Bank, as amended or supplemented. The November 18, 1996 Employment Agreement shall hereafter be void and of no force or effect.
      8.4 Notices . All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board of Directors, Southern Community Financial Corporation, 4605 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104.
      8.5 Severability . In the case of conflict between any provision of this Employment Agreement and any statute, regulation, or judicial precedent, the latter shall prevail, but the affected provisions of this Employment Agreement shall be curtailed and limited solely to the extent necessary to bring them within the requirements of law. If any provision of this Employment Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be indefinite, invalid, void or voidable, or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this Employment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless that would clearly be contrary to the intentions of the parties or would result in an injustice.
      8.6 Captions and Counterparts . The captions in this Employment Agreement are solely for convenience. The captions in no way define, limit, or describe the scope or intent of this Employment Agreement. This Employment Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
      8.7 No Duty to Mitigate . The Employer hereby acknowledges that it will be difficult and could be impossible (a) for the Executive to find reasonably comparable employment after his employment terminates, and (b) to measure the amount of damages the Executive may suffer as a result of termination. Additionally, the Employer acknowledges that its general severance pay plans do not provide for mitigation, offset, or reduction of any severance payment received thereunder. Accordingly, the Employer further acknowledges that the payment of severance benefits under this Employment Agreement is reasonable and shall be liquidated damages. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Employment Agreement by seeking other employment. Moreover, the amount of any payment provided for in this Employment Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned

 


 

or benefits provided as the result of employment of the Executive or as a result of the Executive being self-employed after termination of his employment.
      8.8 Amendment and Waiver . This Employment Agreement may not be amended, released, discharged, abandoned, changed, or modified in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Employment Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor affect the validity of this Employment Agreement or any part thereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver or any breach of this Employment Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
      8.9 Payment of Legal Fees . The Employer is aware that after a Change in Control management could cause or attempt to cause the Employer to refuse to comply with its obligations under this Employment Agreement, or could institute or cause or attempt to cause the Employer to institute litigation seeking to have this Employment Agreement declared unenforceable, or could take or attempt to take other action to deny Executive the benefits intended under this Employment Agreement. In these circumstances, the purpose of this Employment Agreement would be frustrated. It is the Employer’s intention that the Executive not be required to incur the expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Employment Agreement, whether by litigation or other legal action, because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be granted to the Executive hereunder. It is the Employer’s intention that the Executive not be forced to negotiate settlement of his rights under this Employment Agreement under threat of incurring expenses. Accordingly, if after a Change in Control occurs it appears to the Executive that (a) the Employer has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Employment Agreement, or (b) the Employer or any other person has taken any action to declare this Employment Agreement void or unenforceable, or instituted any litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish, or to recover from the Executive the benefits intended to be provided to the Executive hereunder, the Employer irrevocably authorizes the Executive from time to time to retain counsel of his choice, at the Employer’s expense as provided in this Section 8.9, to represent the Executive in connection with the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Employer or any director, officer, stockholder, or other person affiliated with the Employer, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or previous attorney-client relationship between the Employer and any counsel chosen by the Executive under this Section 8.9, the Employer irrevocably consents to the Executive entering into an attorney-client relationship with that counsel, and the Employer and the Executive agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between the Executive and that counsel. The fees and expenses of counsel selected from time to time by the Executive as provided in this section shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive by the Employer on a regular, periodic basis upon presentation by the Executive of a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with such counsel’s customary practices, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $500,000, whether suit be brought or not, and whether or not incurred in trial, bankruptcy, or appellate proceedings. The Employer’s obligation to pay the Executive’s legal fees provided by this Section 8.9 operates separately from and in addition to any legal fee reimbursement obligation the Employer may have with the Executive under any separate severance or other agreement. Anything in this Section 8.9 to the contrary notwithstanding however, the Employer shall not be required to pay or reimburse Executive’s legal expenses if doing so would violate section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1828(k)] and Rule 359.3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [12 CFR 359.3].
      8.10 Consultation with Counsel and Interpretation of this Employment Agreement . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has had the assistance of counsel of his choosing in the negotiation of this Employment Agreement, or he has chosen not to have the assistance of his own counsel. Both the Employer and the Executive have participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Employment Agreement, and they hereby agree that there shall not be strict interpretation against either party in connection with any review of this Employment Agreement in which interpretation thereof is an issue.

 


 

      8.11 Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A . The Employer and the Executive intend that their exercise of authority or discretion under this Employment Agreement shall comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If when the Executive’s employment terminates the Executive is a specified employee, as defined in section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and if any payments under this Employment Agreement, including Articles 4 or 5, will result in additional tax or interest to the Executive because of section 409A, then despite any provision of this Employment Agreement to the contrary the Executive will not be entitled to the payments until the earliest of (a) the date that is at least six months after termination of the Executive’s employment for reasons other than the Executive’s death, (b) the date of the Executive’s death, or (c) any earlier date that does not result in additional tax or interest to the Executive under section 409A. As promptly as possible after the end of the period during which payments are delayed under this provision, the entire amount of the delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a single lump sum. If any provision of this Employment Agreement does not satisfy the requirements of section 409A, such provision shall nevertheless be applied in a manner consistent with those requirements. If any provision of this Employment Agreement would subject the Executive to additional tax or interest under section 409A, the Employer shall reform the provision. However, the Employer shall maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provision without subjecting the Executive to additional tax or interest, and the Employer shall not be required to incur any additional compensation expense as a result of the reformed provision. References in this Employment Agreement to section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 include rules, regulations, and guidance of general application issued by the Department of the Treasury under Internal Revenue Code section 409A.

 


 

      In Witness Whereof , the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.
           
Executive   Southern Community Bank and Trust
 
       
/s/ F. Scott Bauer
  By:   /s/ David W. Hinshaw  
 
         
F. Scott Bauer
         
 
  Its:   EVP & Chief Financial Officer  
 
         
    Southern Community Financial Corporation  
 
         
 
  By:   /s/ David W. Hinshaw  
 
         
 
  Its:   EVP & Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

Exhibit 10.2 Employment agreement with Jeff T. Clark
Employment Agreement
     This Employment Agreement is entered into effective as of this 28th day of April, 2006, by and among Southern Community Financial Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, Southern Community Bank and Trust, a North Carolina-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Community Financial Corporation (the “ Bank ”), and Jeffrey T. Clark, President of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank (the “ Executive ”). Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank are referred to in this Employment Agreement individually and together as the “ Employer .”
      Whereas , the Executive is the President of the Employer, possessing unique skills, knowledge, and experience relating to the Employer’s business, and the Executive has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the profitability, growth, and financial strength of the Employer and affiliates,
      Whereas , the Employer and the Executive desire to set forth in this Employment Agreement the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment,
      Whereas , the Executive and the Bank are parties to an Employment Agreement dated as of November 18, 1996, but the Executive and the Bank intend that this Employment Agreement supersede and replace the previous employment agreement in its entirety, and
      Whereas , none of the conditions or events included in the definition of the term “golden parachute payment” that is set forth in Section 18(k)(4)(A)(ii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1828(k)(4)(A)(ii)] and in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rule 359.1(f)(1)(ii) [12 CFR 359.1(f)(1)(ii)] exists or, to the best knowledge of the Employer, is contemplated insofar as the Bank or any affiliates are concerned.
      Now Therefore , in consideration of these premises, the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.
Article 1
Employment
     1.1 Employment . Effective on the date and for the term specified in section 1.3, the Employer hereby employs the Executive to serve as President according to the terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement. The Executive hereby accepts employment according to the terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement.
     1.2 Duties . As President, the Executive shall serve under the direction of the Employer’s Chief Executive Officer and in accordance with the Employer’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as each may be amended or restated from time to time. The Executive shall report directly to the Chief Executive Officer. He shall serve the Employer faithfully, diligently, competently, and to the best of his ability, and he shall exclusively devote his full working time, energy, and attention to the business of the Employer and to the promotion of the Employer’s interests throughout the term of this Employment Agreement. Without the written consent of the board of directors of each of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank, during the term of this Employment Agreement the Executive shall not render services to or for any person, firm, corporation, or other entity or organization in exchange for compensation, regardless of the form in which the compensation is paid and regardless of whether it is paid directly or indirectly to the Executive. Nothing in this Article 2 shall prevent the Executive from managing his personal investments and affairs, provided that doing so does not interfere with the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities as President.

 


 

     1.3 Term of Employment . The initial term of employment under this Employment Agreement shall be for the period commencing upon the April 28, 2006 effective date of this Employment Agreement and ending three calendar years from the effective date of this Employment Agreement. On each anniversary of the effective date of this Employment Agreement, the term of this Employment Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year period beyond the then-effective expiration date unless written notice from the Employer or the Executive is received 90 days prior to an anniversary date advising the other that this Employment Agreement shall not be further extended. If the board decides not to extend the term of this Employment Agreement, this Employment Agreement shall nevertheless remain in force until its then-current three-year term expires. The board’s decision not to extend the term of this Employment Agreement shall not – by itself – give the Executive any rights under this Employment Agreement to claim an adverse change in his position, compensation, or circumstances or otherwise to claim entitlement to severance benefits under Articles 4 or 5 of this Employment Agreement, absent some other reason that entitles Executive to such benefits pursuant to either or both of such Articles. References herein to the term of this Employment Agreement shall refer to the initial term, as the same may be extended. Unless sooner terminated, the Executive’s employment and the term of this Employment Agreement shall terminate when the Executive attains age 65.
Article 2
Compensation and Other Benefits
     2.1 Base Salary . In consideration of the Executive’s performance of his obligations under this Employment Agreement, Southern Community Financial Corporation shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive a salary at the annual rate of not less than $230,000, payable in equal or approximately equal monthly installments. The Executive’s salary shall be reviewed annually by the Employer’s board of directors or by the board committee having jurisdiction over executive compensation. The Executive’s salary shall be increased no less frequently than annually to account for cost of living increases. The Executive’s salary also may be increased beyond the amount necessary to account for cost of living increases at the discretion of the committee having jurisdiction over executive compensation. However, the Executive’s salary shall not be reduced. The Executive’s salary, as the same may be increased from time to time, is referred to in this Employment Agreement as the “ Base Salary .”
     2.2 Benefit Plans and Perquisites . The Executive shall be entitled throughout the term of this Employment Agreement to participate in any and all officer or employee compensation, bonus, incentive, and benefit plans in effect from time to time, including without limitation plans providing pension, retirement, medical, dental, disability, and group life benefits, and to receive any and all other fringe benefits provided from time to time, provided that the Executive satisfies the eligibility requirements for the plans or benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing –
     (a)  Participation in Stock Plans . The Executive shall be eligible to participate in any stock-based compensation, incentive, bonus, or purchase plans existing on the date of this Employment Agreement or adopted during the term of this Employment Agreement.
     (b)  Club Dues . During the term of this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall pay or cause to be paid the Executive’s membership assessments and dues in civic clubs. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall be reimbursed for assessments, dues, and expenses associated with his membership in and use of the private country club of his choice in Forsyth County.
     (c)  Use of Automobile. The Executive shall have the use of an automobile titled in the Employer’s name for use by the Executive to carry out his duties for the Employer, the insurance and maintenance expenses of which shall be paid by the Employer. As additional compensation, the Executive may use such automobile for personal purposes, provided that the Executive renders an accounting of his business and personal use to the Employer in accordance with regulations under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 


 

     (d)  Disability Insurance . The Employer shall reimburse the Executive for the Executive’s cost to purchase and maintain disability insurance coverage on himself during the term of this Employment Agreement. The amount reimbursed by the Employer shall be grossed up to compensate the Executive for federal and state income taxes imposed as a result of the Employer’s reimbursement of the Executive’s cost. The disability insurance policy shall be owned by the Executive exclusively.
     (e)  Reimbursement of Business Expenses . Upon submission of appropriate documentation by the Executive and approval by the board of directors or by a board committee appointed for such purpose, the Employer agrees to reimburse the Executive for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred performing his obligations under this Employment Agreement, including but not limited to all reasonable business travel and entertainment expenses incurred while acting at the request of or in the service of the Employer and reasonable expenses for attendance at annual and other periodic meetings of trade associations. Except for club dues under section 2.2(b), to be reimbursable each expense must be of a nature qualifying it as a proper deduction on the Employer’s income tax returns as a business expense rather than deductible compensation to the Executive. The records and other documentary evidence submitted by the Executive to the Employer with each request for reimbursement shall be in the form required by applicable statutes and regulations issued by appropriate taxing authorities for the substantiation of expenditures as deductible business expenses of the Employer rather than deductible compensation to the Executive.
     2.3 Vacation . The Executive shall be entitled to four weeks of paid time off (“PTO”) per calendar year, effective on January 1 of each year, to be used for vacation. Executive may not carry over any accrued but unused vacation into the next successive year.
     2.4 Taxes . All compensation of the Executive shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by federal, state, and local law.
     2.5 Indemnification and Insurance . (a) Indemnification . The Employer shall indemnify the Executive or cause the Executive to be indemnified with respect to his activities as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Employer or as a person who is serving or has served at the request of the Employer (a “ representative ”) as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of an affiliated corporation, joint venture trust or other enterprise, domestic or foreign, in which the Employer has a direct or indirect ownership interest against expenses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him (“ Expenses ”) in connection with any claim against the Executive that is the subject of any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or other type of proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or otherwise and whether formal or informal (a “ Proceeding ”), to which the Executive was, is, or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the Executive being or having been such a director, officer, employee, agent, or representative.
     The indemnification provided herein shall not be exclusive of any other indemnification or right to which the Executive may be entitled and shall continue after the Executive has ceased to occupy a position as an officer, director, employee, agent or representative with respect to Proceedings relating to or arising out of the Executive’s acts or omissions during his service in such position. The indemnification provided to the Executive under this Employment Agreement for the Executive’s service as a representative shall be payable if and only if and only to the extent that reimbursement to the Executive by the affiliated entity with which the Executive has served as a representative, whether pursuant to agreement, applicable law, articles of incorporation or association, by-laws or regulations of the entity, or insurance maintained by such affiliated entity, is insufficient to compensate the Executive for Expenses actually incurred and otherwise payable by the Employer under this Employment Agreement. Any payments for such Expenses in fact made to or on behalf of the Executive directly or indirectly by the affiliated entity with which the Executive served as a representative shall reduce the obligation of the Employer hereunder.

 


 

     (b)  Exclusions . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, however, nothing in this Section 2.5 requires indemnification, reimbursement, or payment by the Employer, and the Executive shall not be entitled to demand indemnification, reimbursement, or payment –
     (1) if and to the extent indemnification, reimbursement, or payment constitutes a “prohibited indemnification payment” within the meaning of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rule 359.1(l)(1) [12 CFR 359.1(l)(1)], or
     (2) for any claim or any part thereof as to which the Executive shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, from which no appeal is or can be taken, by clear and convincing evidence, to have acted with deliberate intent to cause injury to the Employer or with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Employer, or
     (3) for any claim or any part thereof arising under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a result of which the Executive is required to pay any penalty, fine, settlement, or judgment, or
     (4) for any obligation of the Executive based upon or attributable to the Executive gaining in fact any personal gain, profit, or advantage to which he was not entitled, or
     (5) any proceeding initiated by the Executive without the consent or authorization of the Employer’s board of directors, but this exclusion shall not apply with respect to any claims brought by the Executive (a) to enforce his rights under this Employment Agreement, or (b) in any Proceeding initiated by another person or entity whether or not such claims were brought by the Executive against a person or entity who was otherwise a party to such proceeding.
     (c)  Insurance . The Employer shall maintain or cause to be maintained fidelity and Directors & Officers’ liability insurance covering the Executive throughout the term of this Employment Agreement.
Article 3
Termination of Employment
     3.1 Termination by the Employer . (a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically on the date of the Executive’s death. If the Executive dies in active service to the Employer, for twelve months after the Executive’s death the Employer shall provide the Executive’s family with and pay the premiums for continuing health care coverage under COBRA substantially identical to that provided for the Executive before his death.
     By delivery of written notice 30 days in advance to the Executive, the Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment if the Executive is disabled. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the Executive shall be considered “ disabled ” if for health or medical-related reasons he is unable to and does not perform his duties hereunder for a period of 90 consecutive days. The Executive shall not be considered disabled, however, if he returns to work on a full-time basis within 30 days after the Employer gives him notice of termination due to disability.
     (b)  Termination Without Cause . With written notice to the Executive 60 days in advance, the Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause. Upon such event, the compensation and benefits after termination provisions of Sections 4.4 and 4.5 shall apply, in addition to any other applicable post-termination payments or benefits provided for in this Employment Agreement.
     (c)  Termination with Cause . The Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment with Cause. Upon such event, the Executive shall not be entitled to any further compensation or other benefits beyond his effective termination date in accordance with Section 4.1, except such benefits which by the terms of their plan document continue after such termination or except as may be

 


 

otherwise provided for in this Employment Agreement. The term “ Cause ” means any of the following –
     (1) an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement, or theft by the Executive in the course of his employment. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, no act or failure to act on the part of the Executive shall be deemed to have been intentional if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence. An act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered intentional if it is not in good faith and if it is without a reasonable belief that the action or failure to act is in the best interests of the Employer, or
     (2) intentional violation of any law or significant policy of the Employer committed in connection with the Executive’s employment, which in the Employer’s judgment has a material adverse effect on the Employer, or
     (3) the Executive’s gross negligence or gross neglect of duties in the performance of his duties to the Employer, or
     (4) intentional wrongful damage by the Executive to the business or property of the Employer, including without limitation the reputation of the Employer, which in the Employer’s sole judgment causes material harm to the Employer, or
     (5) a breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duties as an officer or director of the Employer or misconduct involving dishonesty, in either case whether in his capacity as an officer or as a director of the Bank or Southern Community Financial Corporation, or
     (6) a breach by the Executive of this Employment Agreement that, in the sole judgment of the Employer, is a material breach, which breach is not corrected by the Executive within 30 days after receiving written notice of the breach which the Employer shall provide, or
     (7) removal of the Executive from office or permanent prohibition of the Executive from participating in the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under section 8(e)(4) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), or
     (8) conviction of the Executive for or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or the actual incarceration of the Executive.
     3.2 Termination by the Executive . The Executive may terminate his employment with written notice to the Employer 60 days in advance, whether with or without Good Reason. If the Executive terminates with Good Reason, the termination will take effect at the conclusion of the 60-day period unless the event or circumstance constituting Good Reason is cured by the Employer or unless the notice of termination for Good Reason is revoked by the Executive within the 60-day period. Upon such event, the compensation and benefits after termination provisions of Sections 4.4 and 4.5 shall apply, in addition to any other applicable post-termination payments or benefits provided for in this Employment Agreement. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Good Reason ” means any of the following events occur without the Executive’s written consent –
     (a)  Reduced Base Salary : reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary, or
     (b)  Participation in Benefit Plans Reduced or Terminated : reduction of the Executive’s bonus, incentive, or other compensation award opportunities under the Employer’s benefit plans, unless a company-wide reduction of all officers’ award opportunities occurs simultaneously, or termination of the Executive’s participation in any officer or employee benefit plan maintained by the Employer, unless the plan is terminated because of changes in law or loss of tax deductibility to the Employer for contributions to the plan, or

 


 

unless the plan is terminated as a matter of policy applied equally to all participants in the plan, or
     (c)  Reduced Responsibilities or Status : assignment to the Executive of duties that are materially inconsistent with the Executive’s position as the Employer’s President or that represent a reduction of his authority, or
     (d)  Failure to Obtain Assumption Agreement : failure to obtain an assumption of the Employer’s obligations under this Employment Agreement by any successor to the Employer, regardless of whether the entity becomes a successor to the Employer as a result of a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or other form of purchase, sale or reorganization, or
     (e)  Material Breach : a material breach of this Employment Agreement by the Employer that is not corrected within 30 days after receiving written notice of the breach from the Executive, or
     (f)  Relocation of the Executive : relocation of the Bank’s principal executive offices, or requiring the Executive to change his principal work location, to any location that is more than 15 miles from the location of the Bank’s principal executive offices on the date of this Employment Agreement.
     3.3 Notice . Any purported termination by the Employer or by the Executive shall be communicated by written notice of termination to the other. The notice must state the specific termination provision of this Employment Agreement relied upon. The notice must also state the date on which termination shall become effective, which shall be a date not earlier than the date of the termination notice. If termination is for Cause or with Good Reason, the notice must state in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances forming the basis for termination of the Executive’s employment.
Article 4
Compensation and Benefits After Termination
     4.1 Cause . If the Executive’s employment terminates for Cause, the Executive shall receive the salary to which he is entitled through the date on which termination becomes effective and any other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans and policies in effect on the date of termination.
     4.2 Termination by the Executive Other than for Good Reason . If the Executive terminates employment other than for Good Reason, the Executive shall receive the salary to which he is entitled through the date on which his termination becomes effective and any other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans and policies.
     4.3 Continued Salary in the Case of Termination Because of Disability . If the Executive’s employment terminates because of disability, the Executive shall receive the salary earned through the date on which termination becomes effective, any unpaid bonus or incentive compensation due to the Executive for the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the termination becomes effective, any payments the Executive is eligible to receive under any disability insurance program in which the Executive participates, and such other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans, policies, and agreements.
     4.4 Termination Without Cause and Termination for Good Reason . If the Employer terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause or if the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall continue to receive his most recent Base Salary level for the unexpired term of this Employment Agreement, but he shall not be entitled to continued participation in the Employer’s or a subsidiary’s retirement plans or any stock-based plans unless the terms of any applicable plan document allow such participation. The Employer and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the compensation and benefits under this Section 4.4 shall not be payable if compensation and benefits are payable or shall have been paid previously to the Executive under Article 5 of this Employment Agreement.
     4.5 Post-Termination Insurance and Medical Coverage . If the Executive’s employment terminates involuntarily but without Cause or voluntarily but with

 


 

Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates because of disability, the Employer shall continue or cause to be continued at the Employer’s expense life, health, and disability insurance benefits in effect during the two years preceding the date of the Executive’s termination. The life, health, and disability insurance benefits shall continue until the first to occur of (a) the Executive’s return to employment with the Employer or another employer, (b) the Executive’s attainment of age 65, (c) the Executive’s death, or (d) the end of the term remaining under this Employment Agreement at the time of the Executive’s termination.
     4.6 Salary Continuation Agreement . The Bank and the Executive shall use their best efforts to finalize and enter into a Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement. The Salary Continuation Agreement shall provide for an annual benefit payable to the Executive in equal monthly installments for his lifetime, beginning after his termination of service with the Bank on or after attaining age 65. Unless the Salary Continuation Agreement or Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement explicitly provides otherwise, whether benefits are properly payable to the Executive under the Salary Continuation Agreement or the Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement shall be determined solely by reference to those agreements, except that the Executive shall forfeit all benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement for violation of the covenant against competition in Section 7.3 of this Employment Agreement.
Article 5
Change in Control Benefits
     5.1 Change in Control Benefits . (a) If a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall make or cause to be made a lump-sum payment to the Executive in an amount in cash equal to three times the Executive’s annual compensation. For this purpose, annual compensation means (1) the Executive’s Base Salary when the Change in Control occurs plus (2) any bonus or incentive compensation earned for the calendar year ended immediately before the year in which the Change in Control occurred, regardless of when the bonus or incentive compensation earned for the preceding calendar year is paid and regardless of whether all or part of the bonus or incentive compensation is subject to elective deferral. Annual compensation shall be calculated without regard to any deferrals under qualified or nonqualified plans, but annual compensation shall not include interest or other earnings credited to the Executive under qualified or nonqualified plans. The amount payable to the Executive hereunder shall not be reduced to account for the time value of money or discounted to present value. The payment required under this paragraph (a) is payable no later than five business days after the Change in Control. If the Executive is removed from office or if his employment terminates before a Change in Control occurs but after discussions with a third party regarding a Change in Control commence, and if those discussions ultimately conclude with a Change in Control, then for purposes of this Employment Agreement the removal of the Executive or termination of his employment shall be deemed to have occurred after the Change in Control. The Executive shall be entitled to benefits under this paragraph (a) on no more than one occasion.
     (b)  Benefit Plans : In addition to insurance and medical benefits under Section 4.5 of this Employment Agreement and any benefits to which the Executive may be entitled under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in Section 4.6 of this Employment Agreement, if a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Employment Agreement the Employer shall (1) cause the Executive to become fully vested in any qualified and non-qualified plans, programs, or arrangements in which the Executive participated if the plan, program, or arrangement does not address the effect of a change in control, and (2) contribute or cause to be contributed to the Executive’s 401(k) plan account, if any, the matching and profit-sharing contributions, if any, that the Executive is entitled to based upon all W-2 income earned by the Executive for the plan year.
     5.2 Definition of Change in Control . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Change in Control ” means any one or more of the following events occurs –

 


 

     (a)  Merger . Southern Community Financial Corporation merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into Southern Community Financial Corporation, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were holders of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the merger or consolidation. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the term “ person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, or other entity,
     (b)  Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership. after the date of this Employment Agreement a report on Schedule 13D, Schedule TO, or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G) is filed or is required to be filed under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the combined voting power of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s voting securities outstanding (but this paragraph (b) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of voting shares held by the Employer in a fiduciary capacity or beneficial ownership of voting shares held by an employee benefit plan of the Employer),
     (c)  Change in Board Composition . during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute Southern Community Financial Corporation’s board of directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided, however , that – for purposes of this paragraph (c) – each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds ( ƀ ) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the period shall be deemed to have been a director at the beginning of the two-year period, or
     (d)  Sale of Assets . Southern Community Financial Corporation sells to a third party all or substantially all of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s assets. For this purpose, sale of all or substantially all of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s assets includes, but is not limited to, sale of the Bank alone.
     5.3 No Multiple Severance Payments . If the Executive receives payment under Section 5.1 he shall not be entitled to any benefits under Section 4.4 of this Employment Agreement.
     5.4 Gross-Up for Taxes . (a) Additional Payment to Account for Excise Taxes . If the Executive receives the lump sum payment under Section 5.1 of this Employment Agreement and acceleration of benefits under any other benefit, compensation, or incentive plan or arrangement with the Employer (collectively, the “ Total Benefits ”), and if any part of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax under section 280G and section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), the Employer shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive the following additional amounts, consisting of ( x ) a payment equal to the Excise Tax payable by the Executive under section 4999 on the Total Benefits (the “ Excise Tax Payment ”) and ( y ) a payment equal to the amount necessary to provide the Excise Tax Payment net of all income, payroll, and excise taxes. Together, the additional amounts described in clauses ( x ) and ( y ) are referred to in this Employment Agreement as the “ Gross-Up Payment Amount .” Payment of the Gross-Up Payment Amount shall be made in addition to the amount set forth in Section 5.1.
      Calculating the Excise Tax . For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax and for purposes of determining the amount of the Excise Tax,
  (1)   Determination of “Parachute Payments” Subject to the Excise Tax : any other payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the Executive’s termination of employment (whether under the terms of this Employment Agreement or any other agreement or any other benefit plan or arrangement with the Employer, any person whose actions result in a

 


 

      Change in Control, or any person affiliated with the Employer or such person) shall be treated as “ parachute payments ” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all “ excess parachute payments ” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of the certified public accounting firm that is retained by Southern Community Financial Corporation as of the date immediately before the Change in Control (the “ Accounting Firm ”) such other payments or benefits do not constitute (in whole or in part) parachute payments, or such excess parachute payments represent (in whole or in part) reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code in excess of the “base amount” (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax,
(2) Calculation of Benefits Subject to Excise Tax : the amount of the Total Benefits that shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (a) the total amount of the Total Benefits reduced by the amount of such Total Benefits that in the opinion of the Accounting Firm are not parachute payments, or (b) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) (after applying clause (1), above), and
(3) Value of Noncash Benefits and Deferred Payments : the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accounting Firm in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
      Assumed Marginal Income Tax Rate . For purposes of determining the Gross-Up Payment Amount, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar years in which the Gross-Up Payment Amount is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on the date of the Change in Control or termination of employment, net of the reduction in federal income taxes that can be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes (calculated by assuming that any reduction under section 68 of the Internal Revenue Code in the amount of itemized deductions allowable to the Executive applies first to reduce the amount of such state and local income taxes that would otherwise be deductible by the Executive, and applicable federal FICA and Medicare withholding taxes).
      Return of Reduced Excise Tax Payment or Payment of Additional Excise Tax . If the Excise Tax is later determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder when the Change in Control occurred or when the Executive’s employment terminated, the Executive shall repay to Southern Community Financial Corporation – when the amount of the reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined – the portion of the Gross-Up Payment Amount attributable to the reduction (plus that portion of the Gross-Up Payment Amount attributable to the Excise Tax, federal, state and local income taxes and FICA and Medicare withholding taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment Amount being repaid by the Executive to the extent that the repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax, FICA and Medicare withholding taxes and/or a federal, state or local income tax deduction).
     If the Excise Tax is later determined to be more than the amount taken into account hereunder when the Change in Control occurred or when the Executive’s employment terminated (due, for example, to a payment whose existence or amount cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment Amount), Southern Community Financial Corporation shall make an additional payment to the Executive for that excess (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the Executive for the excess) when the amount of the excess is finally determined.
     (b)  Responsibilities of the Accounting Firm and Southern Community Financial Corporation . Determinations Shall Be Made by the Accounting Firm .

 


 

Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4(a), all determinations required to be made under this Section 5.4(b) – including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment Amount is required, the amount of the Gross-Up Payment Amount and the assumptions to be used to arrive at the determination (collectively, the “ Determination ”) – shall be made by the Accounting Firm, which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Executive within 15 business days after receipt of notice from Southern Community Financial Corporation or the Executive that there has been a Gross-Up Payment Amount, or such earlier time as is requested by Southern Community Financial Corporation.
      Fees and Expenses of the Accounting Firm and Agreement with the Accounting Firm . All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by Southern Community Financial Corporation. Southern Community Financial Corporation shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of its services hereunder.
      Accounting Firm’s Opinion . If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Accounting Firm shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion to that effect, and to the effect that failure to report Excise Tax, if any, on the Executive’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.
      Accounting Firm’s Determination Is Binding; Underpayment and Overpayment . The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding on Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Executive. Because of the uncertainty in determining whether any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax at the time of the Determination, it is possible that a Gross-Up Payment Amount that should have been made will not have been made by Southern Community Financial Corporation (“ Underpayment ”), or that a Gross-Up Payment Amount will be made that should not have been made by Southern Community Financial Corporation (“ Overpayment ”). If, after a Determination by the Accounting Firm, the Executive is required to make a payment of additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred. The Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be paid promptly by Southern Community Financial Corporation to or for the benefit of the Executive. If the Gross-Up Payment Amount exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive for his Excise Tax according to Section 5.4(a), the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Overpayment that has been made. The Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be paid promptly by the Executive to or for the benefit of Southern Community Financial Corporation. Provided that his expenses are reimbursed by Southern Community Financial Corporation, the Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable requests by Southern Community Financial Corporation in any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service relating to the Excise Tax.
      Accounting Firm Conflict of Interest . If the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity, or group effecting the Change in Control, the Executive may appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the Determinations required hereunder (in which case the term “Accounting Firm” as used in this Employment Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the accounting firm appointed by the Executive under this paragraph).
Article 6
Confidentiality and Creative Work
     6.1 Non-disclosure . The Executive covenants and agrees that he will not reveal to any person, firm, or corporation any confidential information of any nature concerning the Employer or its business, or anything connected therewith. As used in this Article 6, the term “ confidential information ” means all of the Employer’s and its affiliates’ confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets in existence on the date hereof or existing at any time during the term of this Employment Agreement, including but not limited to –

 


 

     (a) the whole or any portion or phase of any business plans, financial information, purchasing data, supplier data, accounting data, or other financial information,
     (b) the whole or any portion or phase of any research and development information, design procedures, algorithms or processes, or other technical information,
     (c) the whole or any portion or phase of any marketing or sales information, sales records, customer lists, prices, sales projections, or other sales information, and
     (d) trade secrets, as defined from time to time by the laws of the State of North Carolina.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, confidential information excludes information that – as of the date hereof or at any time after the date hereof – is published or disseminated without obligation of confidence or that becomes a part of the public domain (1) by or through action of the Employer, or (2) otherwise than by or at the direction of the Executive. This Section 6.1 does not prohibit disclosure required by an order of a court having jurisdiction or a subpoena from an appropriate governmental agency or disclosure made by the Executive in the ordinary course of business and within the scope of his authority.
     6.2 Return of Materials . The Executive agrees to deliver or return to the Employer upon termination, upon expiration of this Employment Agreement, or as soon thereafter as possible, all written information and any other similar items furnished by the Employer or prepared by the Executive in connection with his services hereunder. The Executive will retain no copies thereof after termination of this Employment Agreement or termination of the Executive’s employment.
     6.3 Creative Work . The Executive agrees that all creative work and work product, including but not limited to all technology, business management tools, processes, software, patents, trademarks, and copyrights developed by the Executive during the term of this Employment Agreement and in the course and scope of his duties hereunder, regardless of when or where such work or work product was produced, constitutes work made for hire, all rights of which are owned by the Employer. The Executive hereby assigns to the Employer all rights, title, and interest, whether by way of copyrights, trade secret, trademark, patent, or otherwise, in all such work or work product, regardless of whether the same is subject to protection by patent, trademark, or copyright laws.
     6.4 Injunctive Relief . The Executive acknowledges that it is impossible to measure in money the damages that will be suffered by the Employer if the Executive fails to observe the obligations imposed on him by this Article 6. Accordingly, if the Bank institutes an action to enforce the provisions hereof, the Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law is available to the Employer and the Executive agrees not to urge in any such action the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists.
     6.5 Affiliates’ Confidential Information is Covered; Confidentiality Obligation Survives Termination . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the term “ affiliate ” includes Southern Community Financial Corporation, the Bank, and any entity that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Southern Community Financial Corporation or the Bank. The rights and obligations set forth in this Article 6 shall survive termination of this Employment Agreement.
Article 7
Competition After Employment Termination
     7.1 Covenant Not to Solicit Employees . The Executive agrees not to solicit the services of any officer or employee of the Employer for one year after the Executive’s employment termination.

 


 

     7.2 Covenant Not to Compete . (a) The Executive covenants and agrees that he will not, without advance written consent of the Employer, compete directly or indirectly with the Employer for two years after termination of his employment, plus any period during which the Executive is in violation of this covenant not to compete and any period during which the Employer seeks by litigation to enforce this covenant not to compete. For purposes of this section –
  (1)   the term “compete” means
     (a) providing financial products or services on behalf of any financial institution for any person residing in the territory,
     (b) assisting (other than through the performance of ministerial or clerical duties) any financial institution in providing financial products or services to any person residing in the territory, or
     (c) inducing or attempting to induce any person who was a customer of the Employer at the date of the Executive’s termination of employment to seek financial products or services from another financial institution.
  (2)   the words “directly or indirectly” means –
     (a) acting as a consultant, officer, director, independent contractor, or employee of any financial institution in competition with the Employer in the territory, or
     (b) communicating to such financial institution the names or addresses or any financial information concerning any person who was a customer of the Employer at the Executive’s termination of employment.
(3) the term “customer” means any person to whom the Employer is providing financial products or services on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.
(4) the term “financial institution” means any bank, savings association, or bank or savings association holding company, or any other institution, the business of which is engaging in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities as described in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, other than the Employer or one of its affiliated corporations.
(5) “financial product or service” means any product or service that a financial institution or a financial holding company could offer by engaging in any activity that is financial in nature or incidental to such a financial activity under section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and that is offered by the Employer or an affiliate on the date of the Executive’s employment termination, including but not limited to banking activities and activities that are closely related and a proper incident to banking.
(6) the term “person” means any individual or individuals, corporation, partnership, fiduciary or association.
(7) the term “territory” means all of Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin Counties in North Carolina and the area within a 15-mile radius of any full-service banking office of the Bank at the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.
     (b) If any provision of this section or any word, phrase, clause, sentence or other portion thereof (including, without limitation, the geographical and temporal restrictions contained therein) is held to be

 


 

unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the unenforceable or invalid provision or portion shall be modified or deleted so that the provisions hereof, as modified, are legal and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.
     7.3 Remedies . Because of the unique character of the services to be rendered by the Executive hereunder, the Executive understands that the Employer would not have an adequate remedy at law for the material breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any one or more of the Executive’s covenants set forth in this Article 7. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that the Employer’s remedies for a material breach or threatened breach of this Article 7 include but are not limited to (a) forfeiture of any money representing accrued salary, contingent payments, or other fringe benefits due and payable to the Executive, (b) forfeiture of any severance benefits under Sections 4.4 and 4.5 of this Employment Agreement, (c) forfeiture of benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in Section 4.6 of this Agreement, and (d) a suit in equity by the Employer to enjoin the Executive from the breach or threatened breach of such covenants. The Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law is available to the Employer and the Executive agrees not to urge in any such action the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the Employer from pursuing any other remedies for the breach or threatened breach.
     7.4 Article 7 Survives Termination But Is Void After a Change in Control . The rights and obligations set forth in this Article 7 shall survive termination of this Employment Agreement. However, Article 7 shall become null and void effective immediately upon a Change in Control.
Article 8
Miscellaneous
     8.1 Successors and Assigns . (a) This Employment Agreement Is Binding on The Employer’s Successors . This Employment Agreement shall be binding upon the Employer and any successor to the Employer, including any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization, or otherwise. But this Employment Agreement and the Employer’s obligations under this Employment Agreement are not otherwise assignable, transferable, or delegable by the Employer. By agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, the Employer shall require any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer to expressly assume and agree to perform this Employment Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Employer would be required to perform if no such succession had occurred.
     (b)  This Employment Agreement Is Enforceable by the Executive and His Heirs . This Employment Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, and legatees.
     (c)  This Employment Agreement Is Personal in Nature and Is Not Assignable . This Employment Agreement is personal in nature. Without written consent of the other parties, no party shall assign, transfer, or delegate this Employment Agreement or any rights or obligations under this Employment Agreement except as expressly provided herein. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive’s right to receive payments hereunder is not assignable or transferable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise, except for a transfer by the Executive’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Executive attempts an assignment or transfer that is contrary to this Section 8.1, the Employer shall have no liability to pay any amount to the assignee or transferee.
     8.2 Governing Law, Jurisdiction, and Forum . This Employment Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the internal laws of the State of North Carolina, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provision or rule (whether of the State of North Carolina or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of North Carolina. By entering into this Employment Agreement, the Executive

 


 

acknowledges that he is subject to the jurisdiction of both the federal and state courts in the State of North Carolina. Any actions or proceedings instituted under this Employment Agreement shall be brought and tried solely in courts located in Forsyth County, North Carolina or in the federal court having jurisdiction in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Executive expressly waives his rights to have any such actions or proceedings brought or tried elsewhere.
     8.3 Entire Agreement . This Employment Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties concerning the employment of the Executive. Any oral or written statements, representations, agreements, or understandings made or entered into prior to or contemporaneously with the execution of this Employment Agreement are hereby rescinded, revoked, and rendered null and void by the parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that this Employment Agreement supersedes in its entirety the Employment Agreement dated as of November 18, 1996, entered into by the Executive and the Bank, as amended or supplemented. The November 18, 1996 Employment Agreement shall hereafter be void and of no force or effect.
     8.4 Notices . All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board of Directors, Southern Community Financial Corporation, 4605 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104.
     8.5 Severability . In the case of conflict between any provision of this Employment Agreement and any statute, regulation, or judicial precedent, the latter shall prevail, but the affected provisions of this Employment Agreement shall be curtailed and limited solely to the extent necessary to bring them within the requirements of law. If any provision of this Employment Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be indefinite, invalid, void or voidable, or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this Employment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless that would clearly be contrary to the intentions of the parties or would result in an injustice.
     8.6 Captions and Counterparts . The captions in this Employment Agreement are solely for convenience. The captions in no way define, limit, or describe the scope or intent of this Employment Agreement. This Employment Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
     8.7 No Duty to Mitigate . The Employer hereby acknowledges that it will be difficult and could be impossible (a) for the Executive to find reasonably comparable employment after his employment terminates, and (b) to measure the amount of damages the Executive may suffer as a result of termination. Additionally, the Employer acknowledges that its general severance pay plans do not provide for mitigation, offset, or reduction of any severance payment received thereunder. Accordingly, the Employer further acknowledges that the payment of severance benefits under this Employment Agreement is reasonable and shall be liquidated damages. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Employment Agreement by seeking other employment. Moreover, the amount of any payment provided for in this Employment Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned or benefits provided as the result of employment of the Executive or as a result of the Executive being self-employed after termination of his employment.
     8.8 Amendment and Waiver . This Employment Agreement may not be amended, released, discharged, abandoned, changed, or modified in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Employment Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor affect the validity of this Employment Agreement or any part thereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver or any breach of this Employment Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 


 

     8.9 Payment of Legal Fees . The Employer is aware that after a Change in Control management could cause or attempt to cause the Employer to refuse to comply with its obligations under this Employment Agreement, or could institute or cause or attempt to cause the Employer to institute litigation seeking to have this Employment Agreement declared unenforceable, or could take or attempt to take other action to deny Executive the benefits intended under this Employment Agreement. In these circumstances, the purpose of this Employment Agreement would be frustrated. It is the Employer’s intention that the Executive not be required to incur the expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Employment Agreement, whether by litigation or other legal action, because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be granted to the Executive hereunder. It is the Employer’s intention that the Executive not be forced to negotiate settlement of his rights under this Employment Agreement under threat of incurring expenses. Accordingly, if after a Change in Control occurs it appears to the Executive that (a) the Employer has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Employment Agreement, or (b) the Employer or any other person has taken any action to declare this Employment Agreement void or unenforceable, or instituted any litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish, or to recover from the Executive the benefits intended to be provided to the Executive hereunder, the Employer irrevocably authorizes the Executive from time to time to retain counsel of his choice, at the Employer’s expense as provided in this Section 8.9, to represent the Executive in connection with the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Employer or any director, officer, stockholder, or other person affiliated with the Employer, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or previous attorney-client relationship between the Employer and any counsel chosen by the Executive under this Section 8.9, the Employer irrevocably consents to the Executive entering into an attorney-client relationship with that counsel, and the Employer and the Executive agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between the Executive and that counsel. The fees and expenses of counsel selected from time to time by the Executive as provided in this section shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive by the Employer on a regular, periodic basis upon presentation by the Executive of a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with such counsel’s customary practices, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $500,000, whether suit be brought or not, and whether or not incurred in trial, bankruptcy, or appellate proceedings. The Employer’s obligation to pay the Executive’s legal fees provided by this Section 8.9 operates separately from and in addition to any legal fee reimbursement obligation the Employer may have with the Executive under any separate severance or other agreement. Anything in this Section 8.9 to the contrary notwithstanding however, the Employer shall not be required to pay or reimburse Executive’s legal expenses if doing so would violate section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1828(k)] and Rule 359.3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [12 CFR 359.3].
     8.10 Consultation with Counsel and Interpretation of this Employment Agreement . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has had the assistance of counsel of his choosing in the negotiation of this Employment Agreement, or he has chosen not to have the assistance of his own counsel. Both the Employer and the Executive have participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Employment Agreement, and they hereby agree that there shall not be strict interpretation against either party in connection with any review of this Employment Agreement in which interpretation thereof is an issue.
     8.11 Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A . The Employer and the Executive intend that their exercise of authority or discretion under this Employment Agreement shall comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If when the Executive’s employment terminates the Executive is a specified employee, as defined in section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and if any payments under this Employment Agreement, including Articles 4 or 5, will result in additional tax or interest to the Executive because of section 409A, then despite any provision of this Employment Agreement to the contrary the Executive will not be entitled to the payments until the earliest of (a) the date that is at least six months after termination of the Executive’s employment for reasons other than the Executive’s death, (b) the date of the Executive’s death, or (c) any earlier date that does not result in additional tax or interest to the Executive under

 


 

section 409A. As promptly as possible after the end of the period during which payments are delayed under this provision, the entire amount of the delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a single lump sum. If any provision of this Employment Agreement does not satisfy the requirements of section 409A, such provision shall nevertheless be applied in a manner consistent with those requirements. If any provision of this Employment Agreement would subject the Executive to additional tax or interest under section 409A, the Employer shall reform the provision. However, the Employer shall maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provision without subjecting the Executive to additional tax or interest, and the Employer shall not be required to incur any additional compensation expense as a result of the reformed provision. References in this Employment Agreement to section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 include rules, regulations, and guidance of general application issued by the Department of the Treasury under Internal Revenue Code section 409A.
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      In Witness Whereof , the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.
             
Executive   Southern Community Bank and Trust    
 
           
/s/ Jeffery T. Clark
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer    
 
Jeffrey T. Clark
     
 
F. Scott Bauer
   
 
  Its:   Chief Executive Officer    
 
           
    Southern Community Financial Corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer    
 
     
 
F. Scott Bauer
   
 
  Its:   Chief Executive Officer    

 

 

Exhibit 10.3 Employment agreement with David W. Hinshaw
Employment Agreement
     This Employment Agreement is entered into effective as of this 28 th day of April, 2006, by and among Southern Community Financial Corporation, a North Carolina corporation, Southern Community Bank and Trust, a North Carolina-chartered bank and wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Community Financial Corporation (the “ Bank ”), and David W. Hinshaw, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank (the “ Executive ”). Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank are referred to in this Employment Agreement individually and together as the “ Employer .”
      Whereas , the Executive is the Chief Financial Officer of the Employer, possessing unique skills, knowledge, and experience relating to the Employer’s business, and the Executive has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the profitability, growth, and financial strength of the Employer and affiliates,
      Whereas , the Employer and the Executive desire to set forth in this Employment Agreement the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment,
      Whereas , the Executive and the Bank are parties to a June 1, 2005 Employment Agreement,
      Whereas , the Employer and the Executive intend that, except as may be otherwise provided in this Employment Agreement, this Employment Agreement shall supersede and replace in its entirety the June 1, 2005 Employment Agreement, and that from and after the date of this Employment Agreement the June 1, 2005 Employment Agreement between the Executive and the Bank shall be of no further force or effect, and
      Whereas , none of the conditions or events included in the definition of the term “golden parachute payment” that is set forth in section 18(k)(4)(A)(ii) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1828(k)(4)(A)(ii)] and in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rule 359.1(f)(1)(ii) [12 CFR 359.1(f)(1)(ii)] exists or, to the best knowledge of the Employer, is contemplated insofar as the Bank or any affiliates are concerned.
      Now Therefore , in consideration of these premises, the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.
Article 1
Employment
     1.1 Employment . Effective on the date and for the term specified in section 1.4, the Employer hereby employs the Executive to serve as Chief Financial Officer according to the terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement. The Executive hereby accepts employment according to the terms and conditions of this Employment Agreement.
     1.2 Duties . As Chief Financial Officer, the Executive shall serve under the direction of the Employer’s Chief Executive Officer and in accordance with the Employer’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as each may be amended or restated from time to time. The Executive shall serve the Employer faithfully, diligently, competently, and to the best of his ability, and he shall exclusively devote his full working time, energy, and attention to the business of the Employer and to the promotion of the Employer’s interests throughout the term of this Employment Agreement. Without the written consent of the Chief Executive Officer, during the term of this Employment Agreement the Executive shall not render services to or for any person, firm, corporation, or other entity or organization in exchange for compensation, regardless of the form in which the compensation is paid and regardless of whether it is paid directly or indirectly to the Executive. Nothing in this Article 2 shall prevent the Executive from managing his personal investments

 


 

and affairs, provided that doing so does not interfere with the proper performance of his duties and responsibilities as Chief Financial Officer.
     1.3 Term of Employment . The initial term of employment under this Employment Agreement shall be for the period commencing upon the April 28, 2006 effective date of this Employment Agreement and ending three calendar years from the effective date of this Employment Agreement. On each anniversary of the effective date of this Employment Agreement, the term of this Employment Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional year period beyond the then-effective expiration date unless written notice from the Employer or the Executive is received 90 days prior to an anniversary date advising the other that this Employment Agreement shall not be further extended. If the board decides not to extend the term of this Employment Agreement, this Employment Agreement shall nevertheless remain in force until its then-current three-year term expires. The board’s decision not to extend the term of this Employment Agreement shall not – by itself – give the Executive any rights under this Employment Agreement to claim an adverse change in his position, compensation, or circumstances or otherwise to claim entitlement to severance benefits under Articles 4 or 5 of this Employment Agreement, absent some other reason that entitles Executive to such benefits pursuant to either or both of such Articles. References herein to the term of this Employment Agreement shall refer to the initial term, as the same may be extended. Unless sooner terminated, the Executive’s employment and the term of this Employment Agreement shall terminate when the Executive attains age 65.
Article 2
Compensation and Other Benefits
     2.1 Base Salary . In consideration of the Executive’s performance of his obligations under this Employment Agreement, Southern Community Financial Corporation shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive a salary at the annual rate of not less than $190,000, payable in equal or approximately equal monthly installments. The Executive’s salary shall be reviewed annually by the Employer’s board of directors or by the board committee having jurisdiction over executive compensation, and may be increased at the discretion of the committee having jurisdiction over executive compensation. However, the Executive’s salary shall not be reduced. The Executive’s salary, as the same may be increased from time to time, is referred to in this Employment Agreement as the “ Base Salary .”
     2.2 Benefit Plans and Perquisites . The Executive shall be entitled throughout the term of this Employment Agreement to participate in any and all officer or employee compensation, bonus, incentive, and benefit plans in effect from time to time, including without limitation plans providing pension, retirement, medical, dental, disability, and group life benefits, and to receive any and all other fringe benefits provided from time to time, provided that the Executive satisfies the eligibility requirements for the plans or benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing –
     (a)  Participation in Stock Plans . The Executive shall be eligible to participate in any stock-based compensation, incentive, bonus, or purchase plans existing on the date of this Employment Agreement or adopted during the term of this Employment Agreement.
     (b)  Club Dues . During the term of this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall pay or cause to be paid the Executive’s membership assessments and dues in civic clubs. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Executive shall be reimbursed for assessments, dues, and expenses associated with his membership in and use of a private country club of his choice in Forsyth County.
     (c)  Disability Insurance . The Employer shall reimburse the Executive for the Executive’s cost to purchase and maintain disability insurance coverage on himself during the term of this Employment Agreement. The amount reimbursed by the Employer shall be grossed up to compensate the Executive for federal and state income taxes imposed as a result of the Employer’s reimbursement of the Executive’s cost. The disability insurance policy shall be owned by the Executive exclusively.

 


 

     (d)  Reimbursement of Business Expenses . Upon submission of appropriate documentation by the Executive and approval by the board of directors or by a board committee appointed for such purpose, the Employer agrees to reimburse the Executive for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred performing his obligations under this Employment Agreement, including but not limited to all reasonable business travel and entertainment expenses incurred while acting at the request of or in the service of the Employer and reasonable expenses for attendance at annual and other periodic meetings of trade associations. Except for club dues under section 2.2(b), to be reimbursable each expense must be of a nature qualifying it as a proper deduction on the Employer’s income tax returns as a business expense rather than deductible compensation to the Executive. The records and other documentary evidence submitted by the Executive to the Employer with each request for reimbursement shall be in the form required by applicable statutes and regulations issued by appropriate taxing authorities for the substantiation of expenditures as deductible business expenses of the Employer rather than deductible compensation to the Executive.
     2.3 Vacation . The Executive shall be entitled to paid annual vacation and sick leave in accordance with the policies established from time to time by the Employer. The Executive shall not be entitled to any additional compensation for failure to use allotted vacation or sick leave, nor shall the Executive be allowed to carry over unused vacation allowance from one calendar year to the next. The Executive shall be entitled to accumulate unused sick leave from one year to the next for use solely in the case of actual illness.
     2.4 Taxes . All compensation of the Executive shall be subject to withholding and other employment taxes imposed by federal, state, and local law.
     2.5 Indemnification and Insurance . (a) Indemnification . The Employer shall indemnify the Executive or cause the Executive to be indemnified with respect to his activities as a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Employer or as a person who is serving or has served at the request of the Employer (a “ representative ”) as a director, officer, employee, agent, or trustee of an affiliated corporation, joint venture trust or other enterprise, domestic or foreign, in which the Employer has a direct or indirect ownership interest against expenses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him (“ Expenses ”) in connection with any claim against the Executive that is the subject of any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or other type of proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or otherwise and whether formal or informal (a “ Proceeding ”), to which the Executive was, is, or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the Executive being or having been such a director, officer, employee, agent, or representative.
     The indemnification provided herein shall not be exclusive of any other indemnification or right to which the Executive may be entitled and shall continue after the Executive has ceased to occupy a position as an officer, director, employee, agent or representative with respect to Proceedings relating to or arising out of the Executive’s acts or omissions during his service in such position. The indemnification provided to the Executive under this Employment Agreement for the Executive’s service as a representative shall be payable if and only if and only to the extent that reimbursement to the Executive by the affiliated entity with which the Executive has served as a representative, whether pursuant to agreement, applicable law, articles of incorporation or association, by-laws or regulations of the entity, or insurance maintained by such affiliated entity, is insufficient to compensate the Executive for Expenses actually incurred and otherwise payable by the Employer under this Employment Agreement. Any payments for such Expenses in fact made to or on behalf of the Executive directly or indirectly by the affiliated entity with which the Executive served as a representative shall reduce the obligation of the Employer hereunder.
     (b)  Exclusions . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, however, nothing in this Section 2.5 requires indemnification, reimbursement, or payment by the Employer, and the Executive shall not be entitled to demand indemnification, reimbursement, or payment –

 


 

     (1) if and to the extent indemnification, reimbursement, or payment constitutes a “prohibited indemnification payment” within the meaning of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Rule 359.1(l)(1) [12 CFR 359.1(l)(1)], or
     (2) for any claim or any part thereof as to which the Executive shall have been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, from which no appeal is or can be taken, by clear and convincing evidence, to have acted with deliberate intent to cause injury to the Employer or with reckless disregard for the best interests of the Employer, or
     (3) for any claim or any part thereof arising under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a result of which the Executive is required to pay any penalty, fine, settlement, or judgment, or
     (4) for any obligation of the Executive based upon or attributable to the Executive gaining in fact any personal gain, profit, or advantage to which he was not entitled, or
     (5) any proceeding initiated by the Executive without the consent or authorization of the Employer’s board of directors, but this exclusion shall not apply with respect to any claims brought by the Executive (a) to enforce his rights under this Employment Agreement, or (b) in any Proceeding initiated by another person or entity whether or not such claims were brought by the Executive against a person or entity who was otherwise a party to such proceeding.
     (c)  Insurance . The Employer shall maintain or cause to be maintained fidelity and Directors & Officers’ liability insurance covering the Executive throughout the term of this Employment Agreement.
Article 3
Termination of Employment
     3.1 Termination by the Employer . (a) Death or Disability . The Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically on the date of the Executive’s death. If the Executive dies in active service to the Employer, for twelve months after the Executive’s death the Employer shall provide the Executive’s family with and pay the premiums for continuing health care coverage under COBRA substantially identical to that provided for the Executive before his death.
     Subject to the Employer’s obligations and the Executive’s rights under (1) Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act, and to (2) the vacation leave, disability leave, sick leave, and any other leave policies of the Employer, the Executive’s employment under this Employment Agreement shall terminate automatically if the Executive becomes disabled during the term of this Employment Agreement and the Employer determines that the Executive is unable to perform the essential functions of his job under this Employment Agreement for 60 business days or during any 12-month period. Upon termination because of disability under this section 3.1(a), the Executive shall be entitled to receive any compensation the Executive has earned before the date of termination but that remains unpaid, plus any payments to which he may be entitled under a disability income plan maintained by the Employer. If there is a dispute between the Employer and the Executive about whether the Executive suffers from a physical or mental disability entitling the Employer to terminate the Executive’s employment under this section 3.1(a), the question of the Executive’s disability shall be submitted for resolution to an impartial physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina. The impartial physician’s decision shall be final and binding on the Employer and the Executive. The impartial physician shall be selected by mutual agreement of the Employer and the Executive. If the Employer and the Executive are unable to agree upon an impartial physician, each of the Employer and the Executive shall select a physician. Those two physicians shall then determine whether the Executive suffers from a physical or mental disability rendering him unable to perform the essential functions of his job, and their decision shall be final and binding on the Employer and the Executive. The Employer

 


 

shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the physician or physicians for making the determination of disability required under this section 3.1(a).
     (b)  Termination Without Cause . With written notice to the Executive 60 days in advance, the Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause. Upon such event, the compensation and benefits after termination provisions of Sections 4.4 and 4.5 shall apply, in addition to any other applicable post-termination payments or benefits provided for in this Employment Agreement.
     (c)  Termination with Cause . The Employer may terminate the Executive’s employment with Cause. Upon such event, the Executive shall not be entitled to any further compensation or other benefits beyond his effective termination date in accordance with Section 4.1, except such benefits which by the terms of their plan document continue after such termination or except as may be otherwise provided for in this Employment Agreement. The term “ Cause ” means any of the following –
     (1) an intentional act of fraud, embezzlement, or theft by the Executive in the course of his employment. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, no act or failure to act on the part of the Executive shall be deemed to have been intentional if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence. An act or failure to act on the Executive’s part shall be considered intentional if it is not in good faith and if it is without a reasonable belief that the action or failure to act is in the best interests of the Employer, or
     (2) intentional violation of any law or significant policy of the Employer committed in connection with the Executive’s employment, which in the Employer’s judgment has a material adverse effect on the Employer, or
     (3) the Executive’s gross negligence or gross neglect of duties in the performance of his duties to the Employer, or
     (4) intentional wrongful damage by the Executive to the business or property of the Employer, including without limitation the reputation of the Employer, which in the Employer’s sole judgment causes material harm to the Employer, or
     (5) a breach by the Executive of his fiduciary duties as an officer or director of the Employer or misconduct involving dishonesty, in either case whether in his capacity as an officer or as a director of the Bank or Southern Community Financial Corporation, or
     (6) a breach by the Executive of this Employment Agreement that, in the sole judgment of the Employer, is a material breach, which breach is not corrected by the Executive within 30 days after receiving written notice of the breach which the Employer shall provide, or
     (7) removal of the Executive from office or permanent prohibition of the Executive from participating in the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under section 8(e)(4) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), or
     (8) conviction of the Executive for or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or the actual incarceration of the Executive.
     3.2 Termination by the Executive . The Executive may terminate his employment with written notice to the Employer 60 days in advance, whether with or without Good Reason. If the Executive terminates with Good Reason, the termination will take effect at the conclusion of the 60-day period unless the event or circumstance constituting Good Reason is cured by the Employer or unless the notice of termination for Good Reason is revoked by the Executive within the 60-day period. Upon such event, the compensation and benefits

 


 

after termination provisions of Sections 4.4 and 4.5 shall apply, in addition to any other applicable post-termination payments or benefits provided for in this Employment Agreement. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Good Reason ” means any of the following events occur without the Executive’s written consent –
     (a)  Reduced Base Salary : reduction of the Executive’s Base Salary,
     (b)  Participation in Benefit Plans Reduced or Terminated : reduction of the Executive’s bonus, incentive, or other compensation award opportunities under the Employer’s benefit plans, unless a company-wide reduction of all officers’ award opportunities occurs simultaneously, or termination of the Executive’s participation in any officer or employee benefit plan maintained by the Employer, unless the plan is terminated because of changes in law or loss of tax deductibility to the Employer for contributions to the plan, or unless the plan is terminated as a matter of policy applied equally to all participants in the plan,
     (c)  Reduced Responsibilities or Status : (1) assignment to the Executive of duties that are materially inconsistent with the Executive’s position as the Employer’s principal financial officer or that represent a reduction of his authority, or (2) failure to appoint or reappoint the Executive as Chief Financial Officer of Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Bank,
     (d)  Failure to Obtain Assumption Agreement : failure to obtain an assumption of the Employer’s obligations under this Employment Agreement by any successor to the Employer, regardless of whether the entity becomes a successor to the Employer as a result of a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or other form of purchase, sale or reorganization,
     (e)  Material Breach : a material breach of this Employment Agreement by the Employer that is not corrected within 30 days after receiving written notice of the breach from the Executive, or
     (f)  Relocation of the Executive : relocation of the Bank’s principal executive offices, or requiring the Executive to change his principal work location, to any location that is more than 15 miles from the location of the Bank’s principal executive offices on the date of this Employment Agreement.
     3.3 Notice . Any purported termination by the Employer or by the Executive shall be communicated by written notice of termination to the other. The notice must state the specific termination provision of this Employment Agreement relied upon. The notice must also state the date on which termination shall become effective, which shall be a date not earlier than the date of the termination notice. If termination is for Cause or with Good Reason, the notice must state in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances forming the basis for termination of the Executive’s employment.
Article 4
Compensation and Benefits After Termination
     4.1 Cause . If the Executive’s employment terminates for Cause, the Executive shall receive the salary to which he is entitled through the date on which termination becomes effective and any other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans and policies in effect on the date of termination.
     4.2 Termination by the Executive Other than for Good Reason . If the Executive terminates employment other than for Good Reason, the Executive shall receive the salary to which he is entitled through the date on which his termination becomes effective and any other benefits to which he may be entitled under the Employer’s benefit plans and policies.
     4.3 Compensation and Benefits After Termination Because of Disability . If the Executive’s employment terminates because of disability, the Executive shall receive the compensation and benefits provided under section 3.1(a) of this Employment Agreement.
     4.4 Termination Without Cause and Termination for Good Reason . If the Employer terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause or if the Executive

 


 

terminates employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall continue to receive his most recent Base Salary level for the unexpired term of this Employment Agreement, but he shall not be entitled to continued participation in the Employer’s or a subsidiary’s retirement plans or any stock-based plans unless the terms of any applicable plan document allow such participation. The Employer and the Executive acknowledge and agree that the compensation and benefits under this Section 4.4 shall not be payable if compensation and benefits are payable or shall have been paid previously to the Executive under Article 5 of this Employment Agreement.
     4.5 Post-Termination Insurance and Medical Coverage . If the Executive’s employment terminates involuntarily but without Cause or voluntarily but with Good Reason, or if the Executive’s employment terminates because of disability, the Employer shall continue or cause to be continued at the Employer’s expense life, health, and disability insurance benefits in effect during the two years preceding the date of the Executive’s termination. The life, health, and disability insurance benefits shall continue until the first to occur of (a) the Executive’s return to employment with the Employer or another employer, (b) the Executive’s attainment of age 65, (c) the Executive’s death, or (d) the end of the term remaining under this Employment Agreement at the time of the Executive’s termination.
     4.6 Salary Continuation Agreement . The Bank and the Executive shall use their best efforts to finalize and enter into a Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement. The Salary Continuation Agreement shall provide for an annual benefit payable to the Executive in equal monthly installments for his lifetime, beginning after his termination of service with the Bank on or after attaining age 65. Unless the Salary Continuation Agreement or Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement explicitly provides otherwise, whether benefits are properly payable to the Executive under the Salary Continuation Agreement or the Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement shall be determined solely by reference to those agreements, except that the Executive shall forfeit all benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement for violation of the covenant against competition in Section 7.3 of this Employment Agreement.
Article 5
Change in Control Benefits
     5.1 Change in Control Benefits . (a) If a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Employment Agreement, the Employer shall make or cause to be made a lump-sum payment to the Executive in an amount in cash equal to three times the Executive’s annual compensation. For this purpose, annual compensation means (1) the Executive’s Base Salary when the Change in Control occurs plus (2) any bonus or incentive compensation earned for the calendar year ended immediately before the year in which the Change in Control occurred, regardless of when the bonus or incentive compensation earned for the preceding calendar year is paid and regardless of whether all or part of the bonus or incentive compensation is subject to elective deferral. Annual compensation shall be calculated without regard to any deferrals under qualified or nonqualified plans, but annual compensation shall not include interest or other earnings credited to the Executive under qualified or nonqualified plans. The amount payable to the Executive hereunder shall not be reduced to account for the time value of money or discounted to present value. The payment required under this paragraph (a) is payable no later than five business days after the Change in Control. If the Executive is removed from office or if his employment terminates before a Change in Control occurs but after discussions with a third party regarding a Change in Control commence, and if those discussions ultimately conclude with a Change in Control, then for purposes of this Employment Agreement the removal of the Executive or termination of his employment shall be deemed to have occurred after the Change in Control. The Executive shall be entitled to benefits under this paragraph (a) on no more than one occasion.
     (b)  Benefit Plans : In addition to insurance and medical benefits under Section 4.5 of this Employment Agreement and any benefits to which the Executive may be entitled under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in Section 4.6 of this Employment Agreement, if a Change in Control occurs during the term of this Employment Agreement the Employer shall (1) cause the Executive to become

 


 

fully vested in any qualified and non-qualified plans, programs, or arrangements in which the Executive participated if the plan, program, or arrangement does not address the effect of a change in control, and (2) contribute or cause to be contributed to the Executive’s 401(k) plan account, if any, the matching and profit-sharing contributions, if any, that the Executive is entitled to based upon all W-2 income earned by the Executive for the plan year.
     5.2 Definition of Change in Control . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, “ Change in Control ” means any one or more of the following events occurs –
     (a)  Merger . Southern Community Financial Corporation merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into Southern Community Financial Corporation, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were holders of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s voting securities immediately before the merger or consolidation. For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the term “ person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, or other entity,
     (b)  Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership. after the date of this Employment Agreement a report on Schedule 13D, Schedule TO, or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G) is filed or is required to be filed under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the combined voting power of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s voting securities outstanding (but this paragraph (b) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of voting shares held by the Employer in a fiduciary capacity or beneficial ownership of voting shares held by an employee benefit plan of the Employer),
     (c)  Change in Board Composition . during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute Southern Community Financial Corporation’s board of directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided, however , that – for purposes of this paragraph (c) – each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds ( ƀ ) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the period shall be deemed to have been a director at the beginning of the two-year period, or
     (d)  Sale of Assets . Southern Community Financial Corporation sells to a third party all or substantially all of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s assets. For this purpose, sale of all or substantially all of Southern Community Financial Corporation’s assets includes but is not limited to sale of the Bank alone.
     5.3 No Multiple Severance Payments . If the Executive receives payment under Section 5.1 he shall not be entitled to any benefits under Section 4.4 of this Employment Agreement.
     5.4 Gross-Up for Taxes . (a) Additional Payment to Account for Excise Taxes . If the Executive receives the lump sum payment under Section 5.1 of this Employment Agreement and acceleration of benefits under any other benefit, compensation, or incentive plan or arrangement with the Employer (collectively, the “ Total Benefits ”), and if any part of the Total Benefits is subject to the Excise Tax under section 280G and section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), the Employer shall pay or cause to be paid to the Executive the following additional amounts, consisting of ( x ) a payment equal to the Excise Tax payable by the Executive under section 4999 on the Total Benefits (the “ Excise Tax Payment ”) and ( y ) a payment equal to the amount necessary to provide the Excise Tax Payment net of all income, payroll, and excise taxes. Together, the additional amounts described in clauses ( x ) and ( y ) are referred to in this Employment Agreement as the “ Gross-Up Payment Amount .” Payment of the Gross-Up Payment Amount shall be made in addition to the amount set forth in Section 5.1.

 


 

      Calculating the Excise Tax . For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax and for purposes of determining the amount of the Excise Tax,
  (1)   Determination of “Parachute Payments” Subject to the Excise Tax : any other payments or benefits received or to be received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the Executive’s termination of employment (whether under the terms of this Employment Agreement or any other agreement or any other benefit plan or arrangement with the Employer, any person whose actions result in a Change in Control, or any person affiliated with the Employer or such person) shall be treated as “ parachute payments ” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all “ excess parachute payments ” within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless in the opinion of the certified public accounting firm that is retained by Southern Community Financial Corporation as of the date immediately before the Change in Control (the “ Accounting Firm ”) such other payments or benefits do not constitute (in whole or in part) parachute payments, or such excess parachute payments represent (in whole or in part) reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code in excess of the “base amount” (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax,
(2) Calculation of Benefits Subject to Excise Tax : the amount of the Total Benefits that shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (a) the total amount of the Total Benefits reduced by the amount of such Total Benefits that in the opinion of the Accounting Firm are not parachute payments, or (b) the amount of excess parachute payments within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) (after applying clause (1), above), and
(3) Value of Noncash Benefits and Deferred Payments : the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accounting Firm in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
      Assumed Marginal Income Tax Rate . For purposes of determining the Gross-Up Payment Amount, the Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income taxation in the calendar years in which the Gross-Up Payment Amount is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the Executive’s residence on the date of the Change in Control or termination of employment, net of the reduction in federal income taxes that can be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes (calculated by assuming that any reduction under section 68 of the Internal Revenue Code in the amount of itemized deductions allowable to the Executive applies first to reduce the amount of such state and local income taxes that would otherwise be deductible by the Executive, and applicable federal FICA and Medicare withholding taxes).
      Return of Reduced Excise Tax Payment or Payment of Additional Excise Tax . If the Excise Tax is later determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder when the Change in Control occurred or when the Executive’s employment terminated, the Executive shall repay to Southern Community Financial Corporation – when the amount of the reduction in Excise Tax is finally determined – the portion of the Gross-Up Payment Amount attributable to the reduction (plus that portion of the Gross-Up Payment Amount attributable to the Excise Tax, federal, state and local income taxes and FICA and Medicare withholding taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment Amount being repaid by the Executive to the extent that the repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax, FICA and Medicare withholding taxes and/or a federal, state or local income tax deduction).

 


 

     If the Excise Tax is later determined to be more than the amount taken into account hereunder when the Change in Control occurred or when the Executive’s employment terminated (due, for example, to a payment whose existence or amount cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment Amount), Southern Community Financial Corporation shall make an additional payment to the Executive for that excess (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the Executive for the excess) when the amount of the excess is finally determined.
     (b)  Responsibilities of the Accounting Firm and Southern Community Financial Corporation . Determinations Shall Be Made by the Accounting Firm . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.4(a), all determinations required to be made under this Section 5.4(b) – including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment Amount is required, the amount of the Gross-Up Payment Amount and the assumptions to be used to arrive at the determination (collectively, the “ Determination ”) – shall be made by the Accounting Firm, which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Executive within 15 business days after receipt of notice from Southern Community Financial Corporation or the Executive that there has been a Gross-Up Payment Amount, or such earlier time as is requested by Southern Community Financial Corporation.
      Fees and Expenses of the Accounting Firm and Agreement with the Accounting Firm . All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by Southern Community Financial Corporation. Southern Community Financial Corporation shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of its services hereunder.
      Accounting Firm’s Opinion . If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Accounting Firm shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion to that effect, and to the effect that failure to report Excise Tax, if any, on the Executive’s applicable federal income tax return will not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty.
      Accounting Firm’s Determination Is Binding; Underpayment and Overpayment . The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding on Southern Community Financial Corporation and the Executive. Because of the uncertainty in determining whether any of the Total Benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax at the time of the Determination, it is possible that a Gross-Up Payment Amount that should have been made will not have been made by Southern Community Financial Corporation (“ Underpayment ”), or that a Gross-Up Payment Amount will be made that should not have been made by Southern Community Financial Corporation (“ Overpayment ”). If, after a Determination by the Accounting Firm, the Executive is required to make a payment of additional Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred. The Underpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be paid promptly by Southern Community Financial Corporation to or for the benefit of the Executive. If the Gross-Up Payment Amount exceeds the amount necessary to reimburse the Executive for his Excise Tax according to Section 5.4(a), the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Overpayment that has been made. The Overpayment (together with interest at the rate provided in section 1274(d)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code) shall be paid promptly by the Executive to or for the benefit of Southern Community Financial Corporation. Provided that his expenses are reimbursed by Southern Community Financial Corporation, the Executive shall cooperate with any reasonable requests by Southern Community Financial Corporation in any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service relating to the Excise Tax.
      Accounting Firm Conflict of Interest . If the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity, or group effecting the Change in Control, the Executive may appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the Determinations required hereunder (in which case the term “Accounting Firm” as used in this Employment Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the accounting firm appointed by the Executive under this paragraph).

 


 

Article 6
Confidentiality and Creative Work
     6.1 Non-disclosure . The Executive covenants and agrees that he will not reveal to any person, firm, or corporation any confidential information of any nature concerning the Employer or its business, or anything connected therewith. As used in this Article 6, the term “ confidential information ” means all of the Employer’s and its affiliates’ confidential and proprietary information and trade secrets in existence on the date hereof or existing at any time during the term of this Employment Agreement, including but not limited to –
     (a) the whole or any portion or phase of any business plans, financial information, purchasing data, supplier data, accounting data, or other financial information,
     (b) the whole or any portion or phase of any research and development information, design procedures, algorithms or processes, or other technical information,
     (c) the whole or any portion or phase of any marketing or sales information, sales records, customer lists, prices, sales projections, or other sales information, and
     (d) trade secrets, as defined from time to time by the laws of the State of North Carolina.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, confidential information excludes information that – as of the date hereof or at any time after the date hereof – is published or disseminated without obligation of confidence or that becomes a part of the public domain (1) by or through action of the Employer, or (2) otherwise than by or at the direction of the Executive. This Section 6.1 does not prohibit disclosure required by an order of a court having jurisdiction or a subpoena from an appropriate governmental agency or disclosure made by the Executive in the ordinary course of business and within the scope of his authority.
     6.2 Return of Materials . The Executive agrees to deliver or return to the Employer upon termination, upon expiration of this Employment Agreement, or as soon thereafter as possible, all written information and any other similar items furnished by the Employer or prepared by the Executive in connection with his services hereunder. The Executive will retain no copies thereof after termination of this Employment Agreement or termination of the Executive’s employment.
     6.3 Creative Work . The Executive agrees that all creative work and work product, including but not limited to all technology, business management tools, processes, software, patents, trademarks, and copyrights developed by the Executive during the term of this Employment Agreement and in the course and scope of his duties hereunder, regardless of when or where such work or work product was produced, constitutes work made for hire, all rights of which are owned by the Employer. The Executive hereby assigns to the Employer all rights, title, and interest, whether by way of copyrights, trade secret, trademark, patent, or otherwise, in all such work or work product, regardless of whether the same is subject to protection by patent, trademark, or copyright laws.
     6.4 Injunctive Relief . The Executive acknowledges that it is impossible to measure in money the damages that will be suffered by the Employer if the Executive fails to observe the obligations imposed on him by this Article 6. Accordingly, if the Bank institutes an action to enforce the provisions hereof, the Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law is available to the Employer and the Executive agrees not to urge in any such action the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists.
     6.5 Affiliates’ Confidential Information is Covered; Confidentiality Obligation Survives Termination . For purposes of this Employment Agreement, the term “ affiliate ” includes Southern Community Financial Corporation, the Bank, and any entity that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with Southern Community

 


 

Financial Corporation or the Bank. The rights and obligations set forth in this Article 6 shall survive termination of this Employment Agreement.

 


 

Article 7
Competition After Employment Termination
     7.1 Covenant Not to Solicit Employees . The Executive agrees not to solicit the services of any officer or employee of the Employer for one year after the Executive’s employment termination.
     7.2 Covenant Not to Compete . (a) The Executive covenants and agrees that he will not, without advance written consent of the Employer, compete directly or indirectly with the Employer for two years after termination of his employment, plus any period during which the Executive is in violation of this covenant not to compete and any period during which the Employer seeks by litigation to enforce this covenant not to compete. For purposes of this section –
  (1)   the term “compete” means
     (a) providing financial products or services on behalf of any financial institution for any person residing in the territory,
     (b) assisting (other than through the performance of ministerial or clerical duties) any financial institution in providing financial products or services to any person residing in the territory, or
     (c) inducing or attempting to induce any person who was a customer of the Employer at the date of the Executive’s termination of employment to seek financial products or services from another financial institution.
  (2)   the words “directly or indirectly” means –
     (a) acting as a consultant, officer, director, independent contractor, or employee of any financial institution in competition with the Employer in the territory, or
     (b) communicating to such financial institution the names or addresses or any financial information concerning any person who was a customer of the Employer at the Executive’s termination of employment.
(3) the term “customer” means any person to whom the Employer is providing financial products or services on the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.
(4) the term “financial institution” means any bank, savings association, or bank or savings association holding company, or any other institution, the business of which is engaging in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities as described in section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, other than the Employer or one of its affiliated corporations.
(5) “financial product or service” means any product or service that a financial institution or a financial holding company could offer by engaging in any activity that is financial in nature or incidental to such a financial activity under section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and that is offered by the Employer or an affiliate on the date of the Executive’s employment termination, including but not limited to banking activities and activities that are closely related and a proper incident to banking.
(6) the term “person” means any individual or individuals, corporation, partnership, fiduciary or association.
(7) the term “territory” means the following divisible list of territories: all of Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Rockingham,

 


 

Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin Counties in North Carolina and the area within a 15-mile radius of any full-service banking office of the Bank at the date of the Executive’s termination of employment.
     (b) If any provision of this section or any word, phrase, clause, sentence or other portion thereof (including, without limitation, the geographical and temporal restrictions contained therein) is held to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the unenforceable or invalid provision or portion shall be modified or deleted so that the provisions hereof, as modified, are legal and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.
     7.3 Remedies . Because of the unique character of the services to be rendered by the Executive hereunder, the Executive understands that the Employer would not have an adequate remedy at law for the material breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any one or more of the Executive’s covenants set forth in this Article 7. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that the Employer’s remedies for a material breach or threatened breach of this Article 7 include but are not limited to (a) forfeiture of any money representing accrued salary, contingent payments, or other fringe benefits due and payable to the Executive, (b) forfeiture of any severance benefits under Sections 4.4 and 4.5 of this Employment Agreement, (c) forfeiture of benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement and Endorsement Split Dollar Agreement referred to in Section 4.6 of this Agreement, (d) forfeiture of any stock options granted to the Executive at commencement of his employment under the June 1, 2005 Employment Agreement that remain unexercised, and (e) a suit in equity by the Employer to enjoin the Executive from the breach or threatened breach of such covenants. The Executive hereby waives the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law is available to the Employer and the Executive agrees not to urge in any such action the claim or defense that an adequate remedy at law exists. Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the Employer from pursuing any other remedies for the breach or threatened breach.
     7.4 Article 7 Survives Termination But Is Void After a Change in Control . The rights and obligations set forth in this Article 7 shall survive termination of this Employment Agreement. However, Article 7 shall become null and void effective immediately upon a Change in Control.
Article 8
Miscellaneous
     8.1 Successors and Assigns . (a) This Employment Agreement Is Binding on The Employer’s Successors . This Employment Agreement shall be binding upon the Employer and any successor to the Employer, including any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization, or otherwise. But this Employment Agreement and the Employer’s obligations under this Employment Agreement are not otherwise assignable, transferable, or delegable by the Employer. By agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Executive, the Employer shall require any successor to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Employer to expressly assume and agree to perform this Employment Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Employer would be required to perform if no such succession had occurred.
     (b)  This Employment Agreement Is Enforceable by the Executive and His Heirs . This Employment Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, and legatees.
     (c)  This Employment Agreement Is Personal in Nature and Is Not Assignable . This Employment Agreement is personal in nature. Without written consent of the other parties, no party shall assign, transfer, or delegate this Employment Agreement or any rights or obligations under this Employment Agreement except as expressly provided herein. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive’s right to receive payments hereunder is not assignable or transferable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise, except for a transfer by the Executive’s will or by the laws of descent and distribution. If the Executive attempts an assignment or transfer that is contrary to this Section 8.1, the

 


 

Employer shall have no liability to pay any amount to the assignee or transferee.
     8.2 Governing Law, Jurisdiction, and Forum . This Employment Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the internal laws of the State of North Carolina, without giving effect to any conflict of laws provision or rule (whether of the State of North Carolina or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of North Carolina. By entering into this Employment Agreement, the Executive acknowledges that he is subject to the jurisdiction of both the federal and state courts in the State of North Carolina. Any actions or proceedings instituted under this Employment Agreement shall be brought and tried solely in courts located in Forsyth County, North Carolina or in the federal court having jurisdiction in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Executive expressly waives his rights to have any such actions or proceedings brought or tried elsewhere.
     8.3 Entire Agreement . This Employment Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the parties concerning the employment of the Executive. Any oral or written statements, representations, agreements, or understandings made or entered into prior to or contemporaneously with the execution of this Employment Agreement are hereby rescinded, revoked, and rendered null and void by the parties. Except as may be otherwise provided in this Employment Agreement, this Employment Agreement supersedes in its entirety the June 1, 2005 Employment Agreement between the Executive and the Bank, and from and after the date of this Employment Agreement the June 1, 2005 Employment Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
     8.4 Notices . All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board of Directors, Southern Community Financial Corporation, 4605 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104.
     8.5 Severability . In the case of conflict between any provision of this Employment Agreement and any statute, regulation, or judicial precedent, the latter shall prevail, but the affected provisions of this Employment Agreement shall be curtailed and limited solely to the extent necessary to bring them within the requirements of law. If any provision of this Employment Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be indefinite, invalid, void or voidable, or otherwise unenforceable, the remainder of this Employment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect unless that would clearly be contrary to the intentions of the parties or would result in an injustice.
     8.6 Captions and Counterparts . The captions in this Employment Agreement are solely for convenience. The captions in no way define, limit, or describe the scope or intent of this Employment Agreement. This Employment Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
     8.7 No Duty to Mitigate . The Employer hereby acknowledges that it will be difficult and could be impossible (a) for the Executive to find reasonably comparable employment after his employment terminates, and (b) to measure the amount of damages the Executive may suffer as a result of termination. Additionally, the Employer acknowledges that its general severance pay plans do not provide for mitigation, offset, or reduction of any severance payment received thereunder. Accordingly, the Employer further acknowledges that the payment of severance benefits under this Employment Agreement is reasonable and shall be liquidated damages. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Employment Agreement by seeking other employment. Moreover, the amount of any payment provided for in this Employment Agreement shall not be reduced by any compensation earned or benefits provided as the result of employment of the Executive or as a result of the Executive being self-employed after termination of his employment.

 


 

     8.8 Amendment and Waiver . This Employment Agreement may not be amended, released, discharged, abandoned, changed, or modified in any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Employment Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor affect the validity of this Employment Agreement or any part thereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver or any breach of this Employment Agreement shall be held to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.
     8.9 Payment of Legal Fees . The Employer is aware that after a Change in Control management could cause or attempt to cause the Employer to refuse to comply with its obligations under this Employment Agreement, or could institute or cause or attempt to cause the Employer to institute litigation seeking to have this Employment Agreement declared unenforceable, or could take or attempt to take other action to deny Executive the benefits intended under this Employment Agreement. In these circumstances, the purpose of this Employment Agreement would be frustrated. It is the Employer’s intention that the Executive not be required to incur the expenses associated with the enforcement of his rights under this Employment Agreement, whether by litigation or other legal action, because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be granted to the Executive hereunder. It is the Employer’s intention that the Executive not be forced to negotiate settlement of his rights under this Employment Agreement under threat of incurring expenses. Accordingly, if after a Change in Control occurs it appears to the Executive that (a) the Employer has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Employment Agreement, or (b) the Employer or any other person has taken any action to declare this Employment Agreement void or unenforceable, or instituted any litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish, or to recover from the Executive the benefits intended to be provided to the Executive hereunder, the Employer irrevocably authorizes the Executive from time to time to retain counsel of his choice, at the Employer’s expense as provided in this Section 8.9, to represent the Executive in connection with the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Employer or any director, officer, stockholder, or other person affiliated with the Employer, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or previous attorney-client relationship between the Employer and any counsel chosen by the Executive under this Section 8.9, the Employer irrevocably consents to the Executive entering into an attorney-client relationship with that counsel, and the Employer and the Executive agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between the Executive and that counsel. The fees and expenses of counsel selected from time to time by the Executive as provided in this section shall be paid or reimbursed to the Executive by the Employer on a regular, periodic basis upon presentation by the Executive of a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with such counsel’s customary practices, up to a maximum aggregate amount of $250,000, whether suit be brought or not, and whether or not incurred in trial, bankruptcy, or appellate proceedings. The Employer’s obligation to pay the Executive’s legal fees provided by this Section 8.9 operates separately from and in addition to any legal fee reimbursement obligation the Employer may have with the Executive under any separate severance or other agreement. Anything in this Section 8.9 to the contrary notwithstanding however, the Employer shall not be required to pay or reimburse Executive’s legal expenses if doing so would violate section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act [12 U.S.C. 1828(k)] and Rule 359.3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation [12 CFR 359.3].
     8.10 Consultation with Counsel and Interpretation of this Employment Agreement . The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has had the assistance of counsel of his choosing in the negotiation of this Employment Agreement, or he has chosen not to have the assistance of his own counsel. Both the Employer and the Executive have participated in the negotiation and drafting of this Employment Agreement, and they hereby agree that there shall not be strict interpretation against either party in connection with any review of this Employment Agreement in which interpretation thereof is an issue.
     8.11 Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A . The Employer and the Executive intend that their exercise of authority or discretion under this Employment Agreement shall comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If when the Executive’s employment terminates the Executive is

 


 

a specified employee, as defined in section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and if any payments under this Employment Agreement, including Articles 4 or 5, will result in additional tax or interest to the Executive because of section 409A, then despite any provision of this Employment Agreement to the contrary the Executive will not be entitled to the payments until the earliest of (a) the date that is at least six months after termination of the Executive’s employment for reasons other than the Executive’s death, (b) the date of the Executive’s death, or (c) any earlier date that does not result in additional tax or interest to the Executive under section 409A. As promptly as possible after the end of the period during which payments are delayed under this provision, the entire amount of the delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a single lump sum. If any provision of this Employment Agreement does not satisfy the requirements of section 409A, such provision shall nevertheless be applied in a manner consistent with those requirements. If any provision of this Employment Agreement would subject the Executive to additional tax or interest under section 409A, the Employer shall reform the provision. However, the Employer shall maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provision without subjecting the Executive to additional tax or interest, and the Employer shall not be required to incur any additional compensation expense as a result of the reformed provision. References in this Employment Agreement to section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 include rules, regulations, and guidance of general application issued by the Department of the Treasury under Internal Revenue Code section 409A.
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      In Witness Whereof , the parties have executed this Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.
             
Executive   Southern Community Bank and Trust    
 
           
/s/ David W. Hinshaw
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer    
 
David W. Hinshaw
     
 
F. Scott Bauer
   
 
  Its:   Chief Executive Officer    
 
           
    Southern Community Financial Corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer    
 
     
 
F. Scott Bauer
   
 
  Its:   Chief Executive Officer    

 

 

Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
I, F. Scott Bauer, certify that:
(1)   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Southern Community Financial Corporation, a North Carolina holding company (the “registrant”);
(2)   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
(3)   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
(4)   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
(5)   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
Date: May 10, 2006
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer
 
     
 
 F. Scott Bauer
 
      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
I, David W. Hinshaw, certify that:
(1)   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Southern Community Financial Corporation, a North Carolina holding company (the “registrant”);
(2)   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
(3)   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
(4)   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
(5)   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
             
Date: May 10, 2006
  By:   /s/ David W. Hinshaw    
 
     
 
David W. Hinshaw
   
 
      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    

 

 

Exhibit 32
Section 1350 Certification
The undersigned hereby certifies that, to his knowledge, (i) the Form 10-Q filed by Southern Community Financial Corporation (the “Issuer”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (ii) the information contained in that report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer on the dates and for the periods presented therein.
             
    SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION  
 
           
Date: May 10, 2006
  By:   /s/ F. Scott Bauer    
 
     
 
F. Scott Bauer
   
 
      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer    
 
           
Date: May 10, 2006
  By:   /s/ David W. Hinshaw    
 
     
 
David W. Hinshaw
   
 
      Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer