may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Amendment without the prior written consent of Bank. 5. Severability; Construction . Wherever possible, each provision of this Amendment shall be interpreted in such a manner so as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but, if any provision of this Amendment shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such provision or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Amendment. All obligations of Borrower and rights of Bank expressed herein shall be in addition to and not in limitation of those provided by applicable law. 6. Counterparts: Facsimile and Other Electronic Transmission . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Amendment. Receipt of an executed signature page to this Amendment by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall constitute for all purposes effective delivery thereof. Electronic records of this executed Amendment maintained by Bank shall be deemed to be originals. 7. GOVERNING  LAW .   THIS  AMENDMENT  SHALL  BE  A  CONTRACT  MADE  UNDER  AND  BE CONSTRUED,  ENFORCED  AND  GOVERNED  BY  THE  LAWS  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES. 8. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .      BANK AND BORROWER WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY  CLAIM  OR  CAUSE  OF  ACTION  BASED  UPON  OR  ARISING  OUT  OF  THIS  AMENDMENT  OR  ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, INCLUDING CLAIMS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY  AND  ALL  OTHER  COMMON  LAW  OR  STATUTORY  BASES.  ALL  DISPUTES,  CONTROVERSIES, CLAIMS,    ACTIONS AND SIMILAR PROCEEDINGS ARISING WITH RESPECT TO BORROWER’S ACCOUNT(S) OR ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR TRANSACTION SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SITTING IN DURHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA OR THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BELOW WITH RESPECT TO ARBITRATION OF SUCH MATTERS. IF THE JURY WAIVER SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION IS NOT ENFORCEABLE, THEN ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN WILL BE FINALLY SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION IN DURHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA IN ACCORDANCE WITH    THE THEN- CURRENT COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION BY ONE ARBITRATOR APPOINTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID RULES. THE ARBITRATOR SHALL APPLY NORTH CAROLINA LAW TO THE RESOLUTION OF ANY DISPUTE, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO RULES OF CONFLICTS OF  LAW  OR  RULES  OF  STATUTORY  ARBITRATION.  JUDGMENT  ON  THE  AWARD  RENDERED  BY  THE ARBITRATOR MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY 3