Thursday, February 12, 2004
Zaandam, The Netherlands, February 12, 2004 Ahold today announced that it has received the request that the VEB (Association of Dutch Stockholders) has filed at the Enterprise Chamber (Ondernemingskamer) of the Amsterdam Court of Appeals.
The petition serves to institute an inquiry. The inquiry period requested in the petition runs from September 27, 1999 until December 18, 2003.
The petition has been filed by holders of approximately 1.2 million shares. This represents 0.06% of the total outstanding capital of more than 1.9 billion shares.
As previously indicated, Ahold deems this procedure unnecessary and premature, given the fact that a number of external investigations have been underway for much of the past year. This new request adds nothing to investigations currently underway, according to the company. In addition, it is Aholds view that such an inquiry will markedly hamper the conduct of the companys business. It therefore limits the companys possibility to fully devote itself to restoring shareholder value.
Ahold will raise this and other proceedings during the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on corporate governance planned for March 3, 2004.