Certain statements in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements as to plans to divest U.S. Foodservice, plans to focus on the Czech Republic, plans to divest retail operations in Poland and Slovakia, plans to divest Tops, plans to sell the Company’s holding in Jerónimo Martins Retail, plans to retain majority ownership in ICA and in Schuitema, plans to implement brand improvement, plans to improve the Company’s price positioning, plans to strengthen the Company’s consumer insight capability, plans to build on the continental sourcing strategy, plans to reduce operating costs by EUR 500 million and the expected timing thereof, plans for store openings, plans for targeted fill-in expansions and acquisitions, plans for the Value Improvement Program, plans to reorganize the current structure into two continentally based organizations, plans to appoint a European chief operating officer and a U.S. chief operating officer, plans to cut group support office costs by 50% and the expected timing thereof, statements as to an expected retail net sales growth of 5%, statements as to an expected retail operating margin of 5% on average for the retained retail banners, plans to allocate proceeds from divestments to shareholders and debt reduction, statements as to achieving investment grade. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Ahold’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as the effect of general economic or political conditions, fluctuations in exchange rates or interest rates, increases or changes in competition in the markets in which Ahold’s subsidiaries and joint ventures operate, the actions of Ahold’s competitors, joint venture partners, vendors, unions, contractors and other third parties, the actions of Ahold’s customers, including their acceptance of new products and private label products and their reactions to new store formats, store locations, changes in Ahold’s pricing policies and product offering and other strategies, Ahold’s ability to implement and complete successfully its plans and strategies and to meet its targets or delays or additional costs encountered in connection with their implementation or achievement, difficulties or delays in the implementation of new operational improvements and systems, the benefits from and resources generated by Ahold’s plans and strategies being less than or different from those anticipated, the inability to reduce costs or realize cost savings in the manner or to the extent planned, the reaction of Ahold’s employees to operational and other changes in the working environment, actions of courts, law enforcement agencies, government agencies and third parties, changes in Ahold’s liquidity needs, the actions of Ahold’s shareholders, the diversion of management's attention from implementing Ahold’s plans and strategies, unanticipated disruptions to Ahold’s operations, including disruptions due to labor strikes, increases in the cost of healthcare, pensions or insurance, increases in energy costs and transportation costs, any slowdown in independent restaurant growth, rapid fluctuations in costs for resale products where such fluctuations cannot be passed along to customers on a timely basis, the ability to recruit and retain key personnel, and other factors discussed in Ahold’s public filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Ahold does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as may be required by applicable securities law. Outside the Netherlands, Koninklijke Ahold N.V., being its registered name, presents itself under the name of “Royal Ahold” or simply “Ahold.”