Except as the Committee may otherwise permit pursuant to the Plan, during the period before the shares of Restricted Stock vest in accordance with Section 2 (the “ Restriction Period ”), the non-vested shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, encumbered, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by the Participant. Any attempt by the Participant to assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of Restricted Stock contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the shares of Restricted Stock, shall be null, void and without effect. The rights and protections of the Company hereunder shall extend to any successors or assigns of the Company and to the Company’s parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates. This Agreement may be assigned by the Company without the Participant’s consent.