Monday, March 27, 2000
Royal Ahold, the international food provider, and U.S. Foodservice announced today that the waiting period required under the United States Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act expired on March 25, 2000 in connection with Ahold's acquisition of U.S. Foodservice.
Ahold and U.S. Foodservice announced on March 7 their agreement providing for Ahold's acquisition of all outstanding common shares of U.S. Foodservice, America's second largest foodservice distributor. Now that the waiting period has expired, Ahold has cleared the HSR regulatory hurdle. Ahold's tender offer for U.S. Foodservice, which commenced on March 13, 2000, is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Friday, April 7, 2000.
U.S. Foodservice
U.S. Foodservice, with sales of approximately USD 7 billion, is one of the largest broadline foodservice distributors in the United States, distributing food and related products to restaurants and institutional foodservice establishments across the continental United States. U.S. Foodservice markets and distributes national, private label and signature brand items to over 143,000 foodservice customers, including restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, cafeterias and schools. U.S. Foodservice's diverse customer base encompasses independent and chain businesses as well as consumers through its e-commerce website www.nextdaygourmet.com.
Royal Ahold
Ahold operates 4,000 supermarkets, superstores, hypermarkets and other store formats in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia, with 1999 sales of Euro 33.6 billion and net earnings of Euro 752.1 million. Ahold shares are listed in Amsterdam, Zurich and as ADRs on the New York Stock Exchange (AHO).