13.HEADINGS. Section and other headings contained in this Award Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope or intent of this Award Agreement or any provision hereof.
14.SEVERABILITY. Every provision of this Award Agreement and of the Plan is intended to be severable. If any term hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason, such illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or legality of the remaining terms of this Award Agreement.
15.COUNTERPARTS. This Award Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
16.BINDING EFFECT. Except as otherwise provided in this Award Agreement or in the Plan, every covenant, term, and provision of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors, transferees, and assigns.
17.MODIFICATIONS. This Award Agreement may be modified or amended at any time, in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan.
18.TAX CONSEQUENCES. Section 7 of the Plan is hereby incorporated herein by reference. You hereby agree that the Company does not have a duty to design or administer the Plan or its other compensation programs in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities. In the event that either you or the Company believe that, or subsequently begins to believe that, this Award will result in the imposition of excise taxation under Code Section 409A, you and the Company agree to take such action, including amending the terms of this Award, so as to not result in the imposition of such excise taxation or, if such excise taxation cannot be avoided, to minimize such excise taxation. You hereby agree that you will not file a Section 83(b) election in respect of this Award, and, if you do so, the Award shall be immediately forfeited to the Company for no consideration.
19.NOTICES.
(a) All notices required or permitted under your Award or the Plan shall be in writing (including electronically) and shall be deemed effectively given: (i) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (ii) when sent by confirmed facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not during normal business hours of the recipient, then on the next business day, (iii) five calendar days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (iv) one business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the other party hereto at such party’s address hereinafter set forth on the signature page hereof, addressed to you at the last address you provided to the Company, or at such other address as such party may designate by ten days advance written notice to the other party hereto.
(b) The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to participation in the Plan and this Award by electronic means or to request your consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. By accepting this Award, you consent to receive