Walmart’s annual shareholder meeting going virtual — but without the party

The huge, celebrity-studded celebration for Walmart employees that precedes its annual shareholder meeting has been canceled. 

Walmart Inc. canceled the event, which was scheduled for Friday, June 5, and has been held at the Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark., since 1994, citing the COVID-19 outbreak. The company will hold its formal shareholders meeting online, on June 3.

"The logistics and lead time required to coordinate 5,000 associates traveling from around the world to attend both the Friday meeting and corresponding Associates Week events has created too much uncertainty to ensure everyone's safety given the current state of the coronavirus pandemic," Walmart stated. 

The meeting will focus on shareholder voting on formal business and proxy proposals. Shareholders may vote their shares electronically, online, by mail, or by phone prior to the formal business meeting on June 3. Shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting may also vote their shares online during the meeting.