consented to in writing by the former employer or person. Optionee will use in the performance of Optionee’s duties only information which is (a)(i) common knowledge in the industry or (ii) otherwise legally in the public domain, (b) otherwise provided or developed by the Company, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (c) in the case of materials, property or information belonging to any former employer or other person to whom Optionee has an obligation of confidentiality, approved for such use in writing by such former employer or person.
Section 4.5Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation. Optionee acknowledges that, in the course of Optionee’s employment and/or services, Optionee will become familiar with the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ and Affiliates’ trade secrets and with other confidential information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and that Optionee’s services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates. Therefore, Optionee agrees that:
(a)Restriction. While employed or engaged by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and for a period beginning on the date of Optionee’s Termination of Services for any reason and ending on the first anniversary of such date of Termination of Services, Optionee shall not (i) directly or indirectly through another entity induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, licensee or other business relation of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to cease doing business with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (ii) engage in any activity (whether as owner, partner, officer, director, employee, consultant, investor, lender or otherwise, except as the holder of not more than 1% of the outstanding stock of a publicly-held company) forWal-Mart Stores Inc., Costco Wholesale Corporation, or Target Corporation, or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates (including, without limitation, Sam’s West, Inc. and Sam’s East, Inc. and any successors thereof), or any other person or entity that competes with the Company with respect to any business or activity of the Company entered into by the Company after the Grant Date, or (iii) either alone or in association with others (A) solicit, or permit any organization directly or indirectly controlled by the Optionee to solicit, any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, or (B) solicit for employment, hire or engage as an independent contractor, or permit any organization directly or indirectly controlled by the Optionee to solicit for employment, hire or engage as an independent contractor, any person who was employed by the Company at the time of the termination or cessation of the Optionee’s employment with the Company;provided that this clause (B) shall not apply to the solicitation, hiring or engagement of any individual whose employment with the Company has been terminated for a period of six (6) months or longer at the time of such solicitation, hiring or employment.
(b)Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of Section 4.5(a), a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum duration, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum duration, scope and area permitted by law. Optionee agrees that because his or her services are unique and Optionee has access to confidential information, money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Article IV. Optionee agrees that the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Article IV, may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in addition to any other remedy available to them in a court of competent jurisdiction without posting bond or other security.
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