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Dear Associates:
Our Company is committed to maintaining an environment inwhich our Associates are
proud to work, our suppliers and other business partners know that they are being dealt with
fairly, and our shareholders can invest with confidence. In furtherance of these goals, we have
updated our Company’s Statement ofEthics to take into accountrecent changes in laws and
regulations.
This revised Statement of Ethics applies to all of our Associates worldwide as well as the
members of our Board of Directors. It is critical that you read thisStatement of Ethics carefully.
As in the past, we ask that each of you make a special commitment to comply with the principles
and policies set forth or referred to in this Statement of Ethics.
Wal-Mart’s business was built upon a foundation of honesty, respect, fairness and
integrity. We must each strive to preserve that foundation by bringing these values to our job
every day. To that end, we must all follow the Statement of Ethics. However, because this
statement cannot possibly describe every practiceor principle related to honest and ethical
conduct, it is also our responsibility to apply common sense, together with a desire simply to do
the right thing, in making business and personal decisions where no stated guideline exists.
The Open Door allows each of us to be heard on any issue. Where ethics are concerned,
our Company goes a step further. You are expectedto raise any questions or concerns regarding
business ethics.
We are all privileged to work for one of the most successful companies in the world. In
order to sustain that success for future generations, it is our responsibility to preserve and
strengthen the core ethical beliefs upon which our Company was founded. We are relying on
each of you to help us fulfill this important responsibility.
S. Robson Walton
Chairman of the Board
H. Lee Scott, Jr.
President & CEO
i
OUR THREE BASIC BELIEFS
When Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart”), he established the
”Three Basic Beliefs” to which we remain firmly committed:
◊ Respect for the Individual
◊ Service to our Customers
◊ Strive for Excellence
The Three Basic Beliefs go hand in hand with the integrity and ethical conduct that is the
foundation of our business.
GUIDING ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
As Wal-Mart Associates and Directors, we must:
• Follow the law at all times;
• Be honest and fair;
• Never manipulate, misrepresent, abuse or conceal information;
• Avoid conflicts of interest between work and personal affairs;
• Never discriminate against anyone;
• Never act unethically - even if someone else instructs you to do so;
• Never ask someone to act unethically;
• Seek assistance if you have questions about thisStatement of Ethics or if you face an
ethical dilemma;
• Cooperate with any investigation ofa possible ethicsviolation; and
• Report ethics violations or suspected violations.
This Statement of Ethics provides an introduction to the responsibilities of all
Associates, along with an overview of certain important policies. This Statement of
Ethics is an important partof employment with Wal-Mart, but is not intended to
create an express or implied contract of employment in and of itself. The policies of
Wal-Mart may be modified at our sole discretion, without notice, at any time.
Employment with Wal-Mart is on an at-will basis, where permitted by law, meaning
Associates are free to resign at any timefor any or for no reason and Wal-Mart may
terminate an Associate at any time for any or for no reason.
ii
CONTENTS
PAGE
Using the Statement of Ethics........................................................................................... 1
Introduction........................................................................................................................ 2
Who Is Covered by the Statement of Ethics .................................................................. 2
What Law Applies ......................................................................................................... 2
Associate Responsibilities ............................................................................................. 2
Additional Responsibilities for Management Associates .............................................. 3
Discipline for Violations................................................................................................ 4
Waivers .......................................................................................................................... 4
When You Have an Ethics Concern................................................................................. 5
How to Raise an Ethics Concern ................................................................................... 5
What Happens When an Ethics Concern is Raised ....................................................... 6
Company Policies............................................................................................................... 7
Responsibilities to Our Company and Shareholders................................................ 7
Duties to Shareholders............................................................................................ 7
Financial Integrity .................................................................................................. 7
Conflicts of Interest................................................................................................ 8
Gifts and Gratuities ................................................................................................ 9
Confidential Information........................................................................................ 9
Trade Secrets .......................................................................................................... 10
Insider Trading ....................................................................................................... 11
Wal-Mart Assets..................................................................................................... 12
Media Statements ................................................................................................... 12
Responsibilities to Our Fellow Associates.................................................................. 13
Dignity and Respect ............................................................................................... 13
Non-Discrimination................................................................................................ 13
Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct ................................................................. 13
Wage and Hour....................................................................................................... 14
Immigration ............................................................................................................ 15
Privacy.................................................................................................................... 15
Fraternization.......................................................................................................... 16
Alcohol and Drug Abuse........................................................................................ 16
Responsibilities to Suppliers, Competitors, Customers, Communities and
Governmental Authorities........................................................................................... 17
Relations with Suppliers......................................................................................... 17
Improper Payments................................................................................................. 18
Environmental, Health and Safety.......................................................................... 18
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Antitrust.................................................................................................................. 19
USA PATRIOT Act ............................................................................................... 20
Governmental Dealings.......................................................................................... 21
Political Activities .................................................................................................. 22
Responsibilities Regarding International Business Practices.................................. 23
Bribes, Kickbacks, or Payoffs ................................................................................ 23
International Trade ................................................................................................ 23
Restrictive Trade Practices & Boycotts.................................................................. 25
Important Contact Information....................................................................................... 26
OTHER POLICIES
The following Wal-Mart policies are referred to in this Statement of Ethics and are
available on the Wal-Mart ”Pipeline” or”Wire” or may be obtained from your
supervisor:
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy (PD-16)
Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers
Company Equipment Usage Policy (PD-54)
Competition Policy (OP-13)
Conflict of Interest Policy (PD-13)
Fraternization Policy (PD-22)
Government Relations Policy (CA-15)
Harassment/Inappropriate Conduct Policy (PD-19)
HIPAA Privacy Policy (PD-59)
Insider Trading Policy (CR-01)
International Anti-Corruption Policy (CR-02)
Personal Computers Policy (I1-03)
Public Relations Policy (CA-10)
Risk Management Resource Manual
Use of Computer Modems and InternetUsage and Security Policy (I1-06)
Working Off the Clock Policy (PD-43)
Workplace Violence Policy (PD-48)
Certain national or local policies correspond to the policies in the list above and any conflicts
with the listed policies are to be resolved in favorof the national or local policies. Nevertheless,
all conflicts are to be resolved in favor of this Statement of Ethics to the extent permissible under
local law.
1
Using the Statement of Ethics
This Statement of Ethics introduces you to specific principles and policies covering key
ethics issues. It will identify risk areas that you may encounter in your job and help you
determine what to do if you have a question orconcern. The Guiding Ethical Principles
contained at the beginning of this Statement of Ethics provide you with a general guide for
appropriate business conduct. However, no code ofethics or statement ofethical principles can
spell out the proper conduct for every situation. In the final analysis, you must rely on your own
good judgment and sense of ethical behavior to make sure that you are always doing the ”right
thing.”
How the Statement of Ethics is Organized
1. Inside the front cover is a letter from Rob Walton, our Chairman, and Lee Scott, our
President and CEO, which addresses the importance of Wal-Mart’s commitment to
ethics.
2. On the next page are our Guiding Ethical Principles, which provide a quick reference to
a set of general guidelinesfor appropriate behavior.
3. The Introduction section explains your responsibility to comply withthis Statement of
Ethics and to report concerns about possible violations of law or policy.
4. The section entitled ”When You Have an Ethics Concern” tells you how to report an
ethics matter, including a way to report a matter confidentially and anonymously. It
also describes what happens once you raise an ethics concern.
5. Several Wal-Mart policies are summarized in this Statement of Ethics. Each summary
consists of an overview of the policy and helpful hints for handling situations that may
arise. The policies are set forth in greater detail on the ”Pipeline” or ”Wire.”
6. This Statement of Ethics will, in many instances, refer to the applicable United States
policy. If you are an Associate working in another country, your country’s management
may adopt similar, more specific policies that relate to these issues. You must read and
familiarize yourself with your country’s specific policies that relate to your job.
2
Introduction
Who Is Covered by the Statement of Ethics
Wal-Mart Associates and Directors. This Statement of Ethics applies to all Associates
worldwide and all members of the Board of Directors of Wal-Mart. It also applies to the
Associates and Directors of all controlled subsidiaries, i.e. where Wal-Mart owns more than 50%
of the stock or equityof the subsidiary.
Third parties. Wal-Mart expects its suppliers, consultants, law firms, public relations
firms, contractors and other service providers to act ethically and in a manner consistent with this
Statement of Ethics. If you hire a service provider, you should take reasonable steps to ensure
that the service providerhas a reputation for integrity and ethical conduct and that the service
provider is acting in a manner that reflects the highest ethical standards.
What Law Applies
Wal-Mart conducts business in many countries around the world. Our Associates are
citizens of many countries and, asa result, our operations are subject to many different laws,
customs and cultures.
Wal-Mart is committed to the highest ethical standards in the conduct of our business
worldwide as set forth in the Guiding Ethical Principles. The number oflaws and regulations
around the world affecting Wal-Mart increases and becomes more complex each year. To the
extent feasible, this Statement of Ethics will bemodified to conform to changes in laws and
customs. In some instances the laws of two or more countries will conflict. When you
encounter a conflict, you should consult with Wal-Mart’s Ethics Office (or, for countries other
than the U.S., the local Wal-Mart Ethics Committee) to understand how to resolve that conflict.
If any requirement of this Statement of Ethics violates or conflicts with the laws
of a particular country, the requirement shall not apply in that country.
Associate Responsibilities
The following basic obligationsapply to all Associates:
• Follow the law at all times! If you see any other Associate violating the law, or if you are
asked to do something by another Associate that does, or you believe may, violate the
law, report it immediately.
• Read and understand the Guiding Ethical Principles and apply them in your job every
day.
• Learn the policies that apply to your job. No one expects you to memorize every policy.
But, you should have a basic understanding of issues covered by each policy, and you
should learn which policies apply to your job. Check the Wal-Mart ”Pipeline” or ”Wire”
3
or ask your supervisor for the complete and latest text of the policies that relate to your
job.
• Seek assistance from your supervisor, the Ethics Office, or other Wal-Mart resources
when you have questions about the application of this Statement of Ethics or other
policies.
• Immediately raise any concern that you or others may have about possible violations of
this Statement of Ethics or any Wal-Mart policy, or about a possible request or act that
you believe might violate this Statement of Ethics or a Wal-Mart policy.
• Understand the ways to raise ethics concerns. You may raise them with a Wal-Mart
supervisor, or, if you prefer, through a confidential, anonymous hotline or by contacting
the Ethics Office directly. The ways to raise concerns are described in more detail below.
If you raise an ethics concern and the issue is not resolved, you should raise it through
another channel.
• Cooperate with Wal-Mart investigations into concerns about violations of this Statement
of Ethics or a Wal-Mart policy.
Wal-Mart prohibits any Associate fromretaliating against anyone who in
good faith raises or helps to resolve an ethics concern.
Additional Responsibilities for Management Associates
If you are a management Associate, you should monitor ethics compliance. Supervision
of ethics is as important as supervision of performance. You should do the following to ensure
that our Company maintains the highest ethical standards:
• When an ethics issue comes to your attention, you are encouraged to contact the Ethics
Office for assistance.
• Meet with your direct reports as a group periodically toreview the Guiding Ethical
Principles and this Statement of Ethics.
• Where there is a conflict between ethics and business objectives, ethics must always
come first.
• Lead by example and train your Associates to beethical in all dealings and to avoid even
the appearance of unethical conduct.
• If an ethics issue arises with one of your Associates, make sure other Associates are not
making the same mistake.
• Ensure open communication by encouraging Associates in your department or division to
ask questions concerning ethics matters.
4
• Encourage self-reporting of ethics violations. If an Associate voluntarily reports that he
or she was involved in an ethics violation, such self-reporting may be considered when
determining the appropriate disciplinary action to be taken.
• Never cover up or ignore an ethics problem. Address ethics matters in a timely manner
and seek guidance if necessary.
• Appreciate Associates who raise ethics issues.
• Never retaliate against anyone for raising anethics issue, assisting in an ethics
investigation or participating or assisting in any proceeding relating to an alleged
violation of any applicable government regulations, laws orrules or an alleged fraud
against shareholders.
Discipline for Violations
Appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination, may be taken against
any Associate whose conduct violates this Statement of Ethics or applicable laws and
regulations, including the Guiding Ethical Principles. Self-reporting of ethics violations is
encouraged and may be considered when determining the appropriate disciplinary action to be
taken.
Also, anyone who knowingly makes a false report of an alleged ethics violation could be
subject to disciplinary action.
Waivers
Any Associate (other than executive officers) may request from the Ethics Office a
waiver of the applicability of this Statement of Ethics. Ethics waiver requests must be submitted
in writing to the Ethics Office by the Associate and must set forth the relevant facts and
circumstances supporting the requested waiver. The Ethics Office will respond in writing to the
Associate.
For members of the Board of Directors and executive officers, requests for waivers of the
Statement of Ethics will only be considered by the Audit Committee or by the full Board of
Directors, as the Board of Directors determines. Members of the Board of Directors and the
Chief Executive Officer must submit their own waiver requests in writing. Written requests must
set forth the relevant facts and circumstances supporting the waiver. After receipt and review of
the request, the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors will respond in writing to the
requester. Any waivers of this Statement of Ethics granted in favor of members of the Board of
Directors or executive officers will bepromptly disclosed to shareholders.
All waiver requests must be approved in advance of the conduct for which approval is
sought.
5
When You Have an Ethics Concern
One of the most important responsibilities Wal-Mart Associateshave is the obligation to
raise a concern about a possible violation of Wal-Mart policy or the law. If you are reluctant to
raise these concerns, you should remember that you can cause harm to our Company and our
fellow Associates if you remain silent when you have an ethics or policy concern. In fact, all
Associates are requiredto report any known or suspected violations of the law, applicable
regulations or this Statement of Ethics or any other Wal-Mart policy.
How to Raise an Ethics Concern
You may report ethics concerns or possible violations of this Statement of Ethics or other
Wal-Mart policies by any of the following methods:
Î Use the Open Door. The Open Door is the most direct way to voice any concern
to a supervisor. If you believe your immediate supervisor is involved in
misconduct, report the misconduct to the next level of management believed not
to be involved or use one of the other reporting channels described below.
-orÎ Contact the Ethics Office.
• Phone. Wal-Mart has an Ethics Hotline, which allows you to report a
violation on a confidentialand anonymous basis.
o United States, Canada or Puerto Rico:1-800-WMETHIC(1-800-963-8442).
o All other locations: Toll-free number posted in each country.
• Email. [email protected].
• Mail. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Attn: Ethics Office
702 SW 8
th
Street
Bentonville, AR 72716-0860
No Associate who in good faith reports a suspected violation will be subject to
retaliation for having made the report.
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What Happens When an Ethics Concern is Raised
The Ethics Office has oversight responsibilityfor possible ethics violations which are
reported through the Ethics Hotline or which are otherwise forwarded to the Ethics Office. If the
reported matter relates to a systemic accounting issue, the Ethics Office will forward the matter
to the Internal Audit Department, which will coordinate and oversee the investigation and
resolution of the matter. The Ethics Office and Internal Audit Department will operate under the
review and supervision of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Guidance on
resolution of ethics matters will be sought from the Wal-Mart Legal Department, as necessary.
The Ethics Office and Internal Audit Department will maintain logs of ethics matters under their
supervision that track the receipt, investigation and resolution of each matter, and will prepare
periodic summary reports for senior management and the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors.
The following diagram outlines the process for handling an ethics concern:
Accounting Issues Non-Accounting Issues
Ethics Hotline forwards (and Supervisor
encouraged to forward) report to
Ethics Office
Associate Reports via:
Open Door
Ethics Hotline
Associate Reports via:
Open Door
Ethics Hotline
Ethics Hotline forwards (and supervisor
encouraged to forward) report to
Ethics Office
Report forwarded to Internal Audit Department
Internal Audit Department oversees
investigation and resolution of ethics report
Internal Audit Department maintains
log of all ethics matters and periodically
provides reports to senior management and
Audit Committee
Ethics Office maintains
log of all ethics matters and periodically
provides reports to senior management and
Audit Committee
Feed-back provided to reporting Associate where feasible
Ethics Office oversees
investigation and resolution of ethics report
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Company Policies
Responsibilities to Our Company and Shareholders
Duties to Shareholders
Wal-Mart is committed to advancing the long-term interests of its shareholders and to
protecting and improving the value of their investment by observing the highest standards of
ethical and legal conduct in all business dealings. Wal-Mart will provide full, fair, accurate,
timely and understandable disclosurein the reports and documents itfiles with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, as well as in its other public communications. Wal-Mart will also
conduct its operations in accordance with accepted principles of good corporate governance.
Financial Integrity
Wal-Mart requires honest and accurate recording and reporting of financial information
in order to make responsible business decisions. All financial books, records and accounts must
accurately reflect transactions and events and conform to generally accepted accounting
principles and to Wal-Mart’s system of internal controls. No Wal-Mart document or record may
be falsified for any reason, and no undisclosed or unrecorded accounts of Wal-Mart’s funds or
assets may be established for any purpose.
Wal-Mart has a separate ”Code of Ethics for the CEO and Senior Financial Officers” that
imposes additional responsibilities on those persons regarding financial integrity. Any
amendments or waivers with respect to such code of ethics may only be approved by the Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors and will be promptly disclosed to shareholders as required
by applicable securities laws.
Things to Remember!
• Watch for financial results that seem inconsistent with underlying performance or
transactions with no clear business purpose.
• Answer all inquiries from Wal-Mart’s management, internal and external auditors
and internal investigators accurately and completely. Do not suppress or withhold
relevant information.
• Retain documents in accordance with applicable laws, regulations or court orders
and in compliance with all internal retention policies and directives.
• Wal-Mart is required by law to retain all complaints received regarding accounting,
internal audit controls, or auditing matters. Complaints regarding these subjects
must be forwarded immediately to the Internal Audit Department.
• Never sign a document that you believe to be inaccurate or untruthful.
• Be alert for any attempts to circumvent internal controls.
• Follow Wal-Mart directions and guidelines for product pricing, markups and
markdowns.
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Conflicts of Interest
You have a responsibility to avoid situationsand relationships that involve actual or
possible conflicts of interest. The appearance of a conflict may be just as damaging to WalMart’s reputation as an actual conflict. A conflict situation can arise if you take actions or have
interests that are inconsistent with the interests of Wal-Mart or that may interfere with your
ability to perform your job effectively on behalf ofthe Company. Situations or transactions that
create the appearance or perception that you cannot carry outyour duties and responsibilities
with integrity and impartiality should be avoided.
You are responsible for advancing Wal-Mart’sbusiness interests when the opportunity to
do so arises. You may not take any opportunities or use any confidential information for your
benefit, or for the benefit of your immediate family members, that you discover or obtain
through your employment with Wal-Mart. Immediate family members include (whether by
birth, adoption, marriage or Domestic Partnership or Civil Union, if recognized by your state or
other local law) your spouse, children, parents, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and
daughters-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law. Refer to the Conflicts of Interest Policy, PD-13, for specific state information.
You may also not use your position with Wal-Mart or any of Wal-Mart’s resources,
property or information for your, or your immediate family members’, personal gain or benefit.
Finally, you may not compete with Wal-Mart in any way during your employment with
Wal-Mart.
A detailed Conflict of Interest Policy, PD-13, is located on the ”Pipeline” or ”Wire,”
where available. Where no ”Pipeline” or ”Wire” is available, the applicable Conflicts of Interest
Policy can be obtained from the local Legal Department or People Division.
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