This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as contemplated by Section 3.5 , no Party may assign this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder or delegate its responsibilities or obligations without the prior written approval of the other Party, which may be withheld in its sole and absolute discretion; provided, (a) pursuant to Section 3.5 , Empire shall be obligated to assign those rights and obligation in this Agreement to the Affiliate eligible to obtain the Operating License (i.e., the Operator), without the need for such prior written approval, provided, if such Affiliate is a Highly Competitive Business following a Change of Control of Empire or Operator, bet365 shall have a termination right pursuant to Section 16.2.2 , or (b) subject to bet365’s termination right in Section 16.2.2 and Empire’s termination right in Section 16.2.3 , this Agreement shall be assigned in connection with a Change of Control of bet365, Empire or the Operator; provided that in the case of any such assignment, such assignee, prior to the assignment, obtains all necessary Gaming Approvals to comply with its obligations under this Agreement.