Except as the Committee may otherwise permit pursuant to the Plan, the rights and interests of the Recipient under this Agreement may not be sold, assigned, encumbered, pledged, or otherwise transferred except in the event of the death of the Recipient, by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. In the event of any attempt by the Recipient to sell, assign, encumber, pledge or otherwise transfer its rights and interests hereunder, except as provided in this Agreement [or in the Recipient’s Employment Agreement] * , or in the event of the levy or any attachment, execution or similar process upon the rights or interests hereby conferred, the Company may terminate the Performance Shares and unvested Earned Shares by notice to the Recipient, and the Performance Shares and unvested Earned Shares and all rights hereunder shall thereupon become null and void. The obligations, rights and protections of the Company hereunder shall extend to any successors or assigns of the Company.