| 5. | Confidential Information. The Associate agrees that he will not at any time, whether prior to or subsequent to the Retirement Date, directly or indirectly use any Confidential Information (as defined below) obtained during the course of his employment with Walmart or otherwise, except as previously authorized by Walmart in writing. Additionally, the Associate shall not at any time, whether prior to or subsequent to the Retirement Date, disclose any Confidential Information obtained during the course of his employment with Walmart or otherwise, unless such disclosure is (a) previously authorized by Walmart in writing, or (b) required by applicable legal proceeding. In addition, the Associate shall not disclose any information for which Walmart holds a legally recognized privilege against disclosure or discovery (“Privileged Information”), or take any other action that would cause such privilege to be waived by Walmart. In the event that the Associate is required by applicable legal proceeding (including, without limitation, by oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand, or other legal proceeding) to disclose any Confidential Information or Privileged Information, the Associate shall provide Walmart with prompt prior written notice of such requirement. The Associate shall also, to the extent legally permissible, provide Walmart as promptly as practicable with a description of the information that may be required to be disclosed (and, if applicable, the text of the disclosure itself) and cooperate with Walmart (at Walmart’s expense) to the extent Walmart may seek to limit such disclosure, including, if requested, by taking all reasonable steps to resist or narrow any such disclosure or to obtain a protective order or other remedy with respect thereto. If a protective order or other remedy is not obtained and disclosure is legally required, the Associate shall (a) disclose such information only to the extent required in the written opinion of the Associate’s legal counsel, and (b) give advance notice to Walmart of the information to be actually disclosed as far in advance as is reasonably possible. In any such event, the Associate and his legal counsel shall use reasonable commercial efforts to ensure that all Confidential Information or Privileged Information that is so disclosed is accorded confidential treatment by the recipient thereof.
“Confidential Information” means information pertaining to the business of Walmart, and includes, without limitation, information regarding processes, suppliers, consultants and service providers (including the terms, conditions, or other business arrangements with suppliers, consultants and service providers), advertising, marketing, and external and internal communications plans and strategies, labor matters and strategies, government relations plans and strategies, litigation matters and strategies, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigatory and compliance information and strategies, tax matters and strategies, community relations and public affairs plans and strategies, charitable giving plans and strategies, sustainability plans and strategies, profit margins, seasonal plans, goals, objectives, projections, compilations, and analyses regarding Walmart’s business, salary, staffing, compensation, promotion, diversity objectives and other employment-related data, and any know-how, techniques, practices or non-public technical information regarding the business of Walmart. “Confidential Information” does not include information that is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Associate or any of the Associate’s representatives or information that Walmart has authorized the Associate to disclose.
As requested by Walmart, the Associate shall return to Walmart all documents, programs, software, equipment, files, statistics, and other written or electronic business materials, including any and all copies both paper and electronic, concerning Walmart.
The Associate acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this confidentiality statement prohibits him from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation. The Associate does not need the prior authorization of Walmart’s Legal Department to make any such reports or disclosures and he is not required to notify the Company that he has made such reports or disclosures. |