In the event that any provision of the Award Agreement is declared to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be reformed, if possible, to the extent necessary to render it legal, valid and enforceable, or otherwise deleted, and the remainder of the Award Agreement shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to reform or delete such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision.
Section headings are inserted solely for convenience of reference, and shall not constitute a part of the Award Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.
Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or in the Plan, every covenant, term, and provision of the 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.
The Award Agreement may be modified or amended at any time, in accordance with the Plan and provided that Participant must consent in writing to any modification that would impair his or her rights under the Award Agreement provided that no such consent shall be required with respect to any modification if the Committee determines in its sole discretion that such modification either (i) is required or advisable in order for the Company, the Plan or the Option to satisfy or conform to Applicable Law or to meet the requirements of any accounting standard, or (ii) is not reasonably likely to significantly diminish the benefits provided under such Option.
| 13. | “MARKET STAND-OFF” CONDITIONS |
Participant agrees that, if requested by the Company, Participant will not sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Shares held by Participant without the prior written consent of the Company during such period of time.
This Option is granted pursuant to the terms of the Plan, and shall in all respects be interpreted in accordance therewith. The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and the Award Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and the Award Agreement as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules. Any action, decision, interpretation or determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company and Participant. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, the Award Agreement, or the Option.
Any notice, demand or request required or permitted to be given under the Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally or three (3) days after being deposited in the United States mail, as certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, and addressed, if to the Company, at its principal place of business, Attention: Stock Administration, and if to Participant, at his or her most recent address as shown in the employment or stock records of the Company.
| 16. | GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE |
The validity, construction, interpretation, and effect of this Option shall be governed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws. For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises directly or indirectly from the relationship of the parties evidenced by this Option, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Delaware and agree that such litigation shall be conducted only in the courts of Delaware, or the federal courts for the United States for Delaware, and no other courts, where this grant is made and/or to be performed.