An investor in an institution with a significant interest in Ahold said he would accept the merger. The $29 billion merger would represent approximately 2,000 U.S. agencies and 6,500 branches worldwide, with revenues of more than $44 billion and 375,000 employees. The parents of Stop-Shop and Food Lion are reportedly in merger talks. A combination of the two makes sense. But funding could be a problem. The merger between The Dutch supermarket company Ahold and its Belgian competitor Delhaize has become official. The agreement was signed this weekend and both are now renewed in the Ahold Delhaize merger. Under these agreements, Weis Markets Inc. purchases 38 Food Lion stores in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, and Supervalu Inc.
purchases 22 Food Lion stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Publix Super Markets Inc. has agreed to acquire 10 Martin subsidiaries in Richmond, Va. A source familiar with the merger talks said that Boer, 57, could resign within a few years, giving Muller the path to the top position if the merger is successful. As part of the proposed transaction, Ahold will submit a registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form F-4 containing a prospectus. The prospectus is sent to holders of American Depositary Shares of Delhaize and holders of delhaize common shares (with other holders of Delhaize common shares who are non-U.S. persons (as defined in the current SEC rules). 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 securityholders may receive free copies of the prospectus and other documents submitted by Ahold and Delhaize to the SEC via the SEC-managed website on www.sec.gov.
In addition, investors and securityholders may receive free copies of the prospectus and other documents: Ahold submitted to the SEC by contacting Ahold Investor Relations at investor.relations@ahold.com or by telephone at `31 88 659 5213 and by receiving free copies of the prospectus and other documents submitted by Delhaize by contacting the Investor Delhaize group at the Investor@delhaizegroup.com or by telephone on 32 2 412 2151. A long journey, which lasted almost a year, has just ended. The final step was taken on Friday, when the American Bureau of Competition agreed. The merger contract was then signed this weekend by Frans Muller (Delhaize) and Dick de Boer (Ahold). Brussels, Belgium and Zaandam, Netherlands – The main international food distributors Delhaize Group (Delhaize) and Koninklijke Ahold N.V. (Ahold) announced today that they have reached a merger agreement. European-based food and pharmaceutical retailers said the deal had received administrative approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Frans Muller, ceo of Delhaize Group, and Ahold CEO Dick Boer signed the merger agreement. A few days earlier, the companies had stated that they were awaiting approval from the supervisory authorities on July 23 and for the merger to take effect on July 24. “Today, this cross-border merger is a success and brings together two major food distribution companies,” said Jan Hommen, Chairman of Ahold`s Supervisory Board. “Ahold Delhaize is ready for a strong start and builds on its solid foundation, heritage and complementary businesses.” The transaction will also give Delhaize access to Ahold`s relatively strong online retail business.
Since the announcement of merger negotiations on May 11, Ahold`s shares have gained more than 10 per cent and Delhaize more than 20 per cent. Frans Muller, CEO of Delhaize, said the conditions were “a fair recognition of the value of both companies.”
