Court to Notify Royal Ahold N.V. Investors as a Result of $1.1 Billion Worldwide Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit
BALTIMORE, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
A multi-national notification program began today, as ordered by the United States District Court for the District of
Maryland, to alert investors, brokers, financial institutions and other nominees who bought or received as a dividend
Royal Ahold N.V. common stock and/or American Depository Receipts (ADRs) from July 30, 1999 through February 23, 2003
about a USD $1.1 billion settlement of a class action lawsuit against Royal Ahold and numerous co-defendants.
On February 24, 2003, Royal Ahold announced that it had inflated earnings by at least $500 million based on conduct at
Ahold's wholly-owned U.S. Foodservice, Inc. subsidiary. On February 24, 2003, Ahold also informed investors that Ahold
would restate previously announced revenues that it improperly consolidated from certain joint ventures. Following
Ahold's February 24, 2003 announcement, the value of Ahold common stock and ADRs declined in value by more than 60%.
According to the class action lawsuit, Ahold eventually announced restatements exceeding $24 billion in revenues and
$1.1 billion in income. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants' conduct presented a misleading financial picture of
Ahold to investors, and artificially inflated the price of Ahold's common stock and ADRs during the period from July 30,
1999 through February 23, 2003.
The Court defined "Class Members" in the Settlement to include all people and entities who bought or received as a
dividend Royal Ahold N.V. common stock and/or ADRs from July 30, 1999 through February 23, 2003, regardless of where
such people live or purchased their shares of Royal Ahold.
Notices informing Class Members about their legal rights will be mailed, and are scheduled to appear in publications in
approximately 24 countries and 14 languages, leading up to a hearing on June 16, 2006, when the Court will consider
whether to approve the Settlement.
In November 2003, the Court appointed the law firm of Entwistle & Cappucci LLP, of New York, NY to represent the Class. That firm has been litigating this case known as In re Royal
Ahold Securities and "ERISA" Litigation, MDL 1539 since that time, and they negotiated the Settlement.
Those affected by this Settlement can send in a claim form to ask for a payment, or they can ask to be excluded from, or
object to, the Settlement and its terms. The deadline for exclusions and objections is May 12, 2006.
Payment amounts will depend on the number of valid claim forms that Class Members send in, how many shares of Ahold
stock they bought or received as a dividend, and when they bought and sold them. The deadline to file claims is August
18, 2006.
Toll-free telephone numbers have been established in numerous countries, along with a Web site,
http://www.AholdSettlement.com , where notices, the claim form, the Plan of Allocation and the Settlement Agreement may
be obtained. Those affected may also write to Ahold Claims Administrator, PO Box 9000 #6378, Merrick, NY 11566-9000,
USA.
Country Toll Free Number
Australia 0011 800 1020 4060
Austria 00 800 1020 4060
Belgium 00 800 1020 4060
Canada 1 888 410 0027
Denmark 00 800 1020 4060
England 00 800 1020 4060
Finland 00 800 1020 4060
France 00 800 1020 4060 (France Telecom)
40 800 1020 4060 (TELE 2)
50 800 1020 4060 (Omnicom)
70 800 1020 4060 (Le 7 Cegetel)
90 800 1020 4060 (9 Telecom)
Germany 00 800 1020 4060
Hong Kong 00 800 1020 4060
Ireland 00 800 1020 4060
Italy 00 800 1020 4060
Japan 00 800 1020 4060
Liechtenstein 809 2288, then when prompted enter 800 467 8208
Luxembourg 00 800 1020 4060
Netherlands 00 800 1020 4060
Norway 00 800 1020 4060
Portugal 00 800 1020 4060
Scotland 00 800 1020 4060
Singapore 001 800 1020 4060 (Singtel IDD)
002 800 1020 4060 (MobileONE IDD)
008 800 1020 4060 (Starhub IDD)
013 800 1020 4060 (Singtel Budget Call)
018 800 1020 4060 (Starhub I-Call)
019 800 1020 4060 (Singtel V019)
Spain 00 800 1020 4060
Sweden 00 800 1020 4060
Switzerland 00 800 1020 4060
United States 1 888 410 0027
From any other country, Class Members may place a toll call to the Claims Administrator in the U.S. by calling
+1-941-906-4864.
SOURCE: The United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Web site: http://www.AholdSettlement.com