December
- Ahold announces that it has signed an agreement to sell its Brazilian retail chain G. Barbosa Comercial Ltda. to an affiliate of ACON Investments, a US-based investment firm which has other retailing investments in Latin America.
- Ahold announces it has entered into an agreement to sell its U.S. retail subsidiaries BI-LO and Bruno's to an affiliate of the Lone Star Funds.
- Ahold announces that its subsidiary Disco Ahold International Holdings N.V. ("DAIH") has appealed an Argentine judicial order rendered by a federal court in San Rafael, Province of Mendoza, Argentina, of which DAIH was notified on December 3, 2004. The order relates to the transfer of approximately 85% of the shares of Disco S.A. to Cencosud S.A., which was communicated on November 1, 2004. If ultimately enforced the order could lead the parties to reverse the transfer, at least temporarily.
- Ahold announces it has successfully completed the sale of its Spanish retail activities to the Permira Funds.
November
- Ahold announces third quarter 2004 results
- Ahold announces that Bill Grize, President and CEO of Ahold U.S. Retail, will be stepping down from the Ahold Corporate Executive Board at the end of December 2004, in preparation for his retirement.
- Ahold announced it has reached agreement on the divestment of its 13 large hypermarkets in Poland to Carrefour. The closing of the transaction, the price of which was not disclosed, is expected in the first quarter of 2005.
- Ahold closes transaction of Canica stake in ICA AB; extraordinary dividend of ICA AB paid.
- Ahold transfers controlling interest in Disco to Cencosud.
October
- Ahold announces that it has reached final agreement with Canica AS on the purchase price of Canica's 20% interest in the Scandinavian joint venture ICA AB.
- Ahold announces that, in an appeal, the Amsterdam Court of Appeals dismissed on October 14, 2004 claims made by Amstel Capital Management B.V. ("ACM") against the previous judgment made by the Remedial Injunctions Section of the Amsterdam District Court.
- The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") announced that it had reached a final settlement with Ahold. As reflected in the SEC's Complaint and Litigation Release, Ahold cooperated fully with the SEC in its investigation and has undertaken significant remedial actions in connection with the issues that were investigated. Ahold will continue to cooperate fully with the SEC and other authorities. This settlement completely resolves the SEC's investigation of Ahold and its various operating companies, including its U.S. Foodservice subsidiary.
- Ahold announces that it has received the decision from the Swedish arbitration tribunal regarding the premium which is part of the price of the put option exercised by Canica AS ("Canica") of its 20% interest in the Scandinavian joint venture ICA AB.
- Ahold announces it has sold its Spanish retail interest to the Permira Funds. Closing is anticipated before the end of the year and is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, including antitrust approval.
- Ahold announces that Andrew Parkinson has been named as President of its wholly-owned subsidiary Peapod, the leading internet grocer in U.S., effective October 1, 2004.
September
- Ahold announces that it has reached a settlement with the Dutch Public Prosecutor with regard to the investigation into side letters.
- Ahold announces its intention to divest its Benelux foodservice unit, Deli XL
August
- Ahold appoints Bart Karis as Senior Vice President General Merchandising.
- Karel Vuursteen resigns as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Royal Ahold N.V. because of personal circumstances.
- Ahold publishes its results second quarter 2004.
- Ahold announces new U.S. Foodservice Securitization Program.
- Ahold appoints Alex Gibbons as Ahold's Chief Information Officer.
July
- Ahold announces 2004 second quarter sales.
- Ahold announces that it entered into an agreement with ICA Forbundet Invest AB, its partner in the Scandinavian joint venture ICA AB.
- Ahold announces that it has recieved a notice from Canica AS ("Canica"), its joint venture partner in the Scandinavian joint venture ICA AB, that Canica has exercised its put option with respect to its 20% interest in ICA AB.
June
- Ahold publishes its first quarter 2004 results.
- Annual Shareholders' Meeting: "Ahold is focused, ambitious and moving fast": President and CEO Anders Moberg.
- Shareholders adopt 2003 financial statements.
- Rene Dahan and Karen de Segundo appointed to Supervisory Board. They partially replace Sir Michael Perry, chairman of the Remuneration Committee, Bob Tobin and Roland Fahlin, who all stepped down.
- Deloitte appointed external auditor for 2004 and 2005.
- Official language of annual report changed to English.
May
- Ahold places on its corporate website the document it filed with the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeals.
- Ahold joint venture partner Canica AS offers shares to ICA Forbundet Invest AB
April
- Ahold publishes its 2003 results.
- Ahold announces the names of the new executive leadership team that will lead its American subsidiaryU.S. Foodservice under CEO Lawrence Benjamin. The company also announced the reorganization of U.S. Foodservice's field operations.
- As a further step in its "Road to Recovery" strategy, Ahold announces a number of changes to its Finance organization.
- Ahold announces its intention to call its 4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005 in the aggregateprincipal amount of EUR 920 million on or about June 2, 2004.
March
- Ahold announces it has reached agreement with Chilean retailer Cencosud S.A. on the terms of sale of its controlling stake in the Argentine supermarket chain Disco S.A.
- Ahold announces it has reached agreement on the sale of its stake in CRC.Ahold, operating in Thailand, to its partner, the Central Group. The divestment is the final step in the overall sale of Ahold's Asian operations.
- Ahold announces it has sold its Brazilian retail chain Bompreço to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Simultaneously, Ahold sold its Brazilian credit card operation Hipercard to Unibanco S.A.
February
- Ahold announces that as part of Ahold's corporate governance initiative, term limits have been established for Corporate Executive Board members.
- Jan Andreae decides on his own initiative to withdraw from the Executive Board.
- Ahold announces its plans with regard to the recommendations of the Dutch Tabaksblat Committee on corporate governance.
- On February 11, 2004, Ahold announces its intention to divest its BI-LO and Bruno's subsidiaries.
- Ahold announces that agreement has been reached with the holders of (depository receipts of) cumulative preferred financing shares (the "Preferred Shares") on the restructuring of the Preferred Shares.
January
- Exclusive negotiations end with joint prospective buyers, the investor Mr. Fransisco de Narváez and Casino Guichard Perrachon S.A., for the sale of Ahold's controlling stake in the Argentine supermarket chain Disco S.A.
- Ahold announces plans for corporate restructuring:
- Retail corporate headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia, will be closed and Ahold U.S. Retail and Corporate functions aligned with those of the new business arena based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. This arena will integrate the back-office functions of Ahold operating companies, Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover. The change is effective July 2004.
- The European Competence Center will be closed. Services provided by the ECC will be aligned with the requirements of the Ahold corporate headquarters and the Netherlands arena. This change is effective March 2004.
- U.S. subsidiary Tops Markets LLC ("Tops") intends to divest its chain of 204 convenience stores. These are Ahold's remaining convenience stores in the United States, operating under the banners of Wilson Farms Neighborhood Food Stores, Sugarcreek Stores and Tops Xpress.
- Ahold announces consolidated net sales for 2003.
