Zaandam, the Netherlands - Ahold and Delhaize Group today announced the filing of the common draft terms of the cross-border merger (the Joint Merger Proposal).

Delhaize today filed the Joint Merger Proposal at the Brussels Commercial Court. This is one of the required steps ahead of convening the companies' respective Extraordinary General Meetings of shareholders, which are expected to take place in the first half of 2016.

The Joint Merger Proposal, together with the draft Articles of Association of the future combined company, are available at www.adcombined.com, www.ahold.com and www.delhaizegroup.com.

On June 24, 2015, Ahold and Delhaize Group announced their intention to merge, creating an international retailer with a portfolio of strong, trusted local brands and more than 375,000 associates serving more than 50 million customers each week in the United States and Europe.

The transaction is expected to be completed mid-2016, following associate consultation procedures, shareholder approval and regulatory clearances.

Download the Common Draft Terms (in English, French and Dutch)

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
This communication is being made in connection with the proposed business combination transaction between Koninklijke
Ahold N.V. also known as Royal Ahold ('Ahold') and Delhaize Group NV/SA ('Delhaize'). This communication is not intended
to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or
subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction in connection with the proposed
transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable Dutch, Belgian and other European regulations. This communication is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, any jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC
In connection with the proposed transaction, Ahold will file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a prospectus. The prospectus will be mailed to the holders of American Depositary Shares of Delhaize and holders of ordinary shares of Delhaize (other than holders of ordinary shares of Delhaize who are non-U.S. persons (as defined in the applicable rules of the SEC)). INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AHOLD, DELHAIZE, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Ahold and Delhaize through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the prospectus and other documents filed by Ahold with the SEC by contacting Ahold Investor Relations at investor.relations@ahold.com or by calling +31 88 659 5213, and will be able to obtain free copies of the prospectus and other documents filed by Delhaize by contacting Investor Relations Delhaize Group at Investor@delhaizegroup.com or by calling +32 2 412 2151.

Royal Ahold NV issued this content on 2016-01-15 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-22 16:20:07 UTC

Original Document: https://www.ahold.com/Media/Ahold-and-Delhaize-announce-filing-of-Joint-Merger-Proposal.htm?year=2016