Cautionary notice
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which do not refer to historical facts but refer to expectations based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those included in such statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements as to Ahold's business performance, Reshaping Retail strategy, customer proposition, growing own-brand penetration across Ahold's business, restructuring of staff services at Ahold U.S.A., omni-channel strategy, acceleration of Ahold's investments in online business and the expected negative impact thereof on the Netherlands margin, the SPAR acquisition being expected to be slightly margin-dilutive and one-off costs in the Czech Republic, free cash flow, expected effect of revised IFRSs, the return of former C1000 stores to Jumbo, expected synergies from combination of operations, Ahold's ability to expand its geographical reach, the share buyback and GRO shares. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Ahold’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as the effect of general economic or political conditions, fluctuations in exchange rates or interest rates, increases or changes in competition, Ahold’s ability to implement and successfully complete its plans and strategies, the benefits from and resources generated by Ahold’s plans and strategies being less than or different from those anticipated, changes in Ahold’s liquidity needs, the actions of competitors and third parties and other factors discussed in Ahold’s public filings and other disclosures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Ahold does not assume any obligation to update any public information or forward-looking statements in this press release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by applicable laws. Outside the Netherlands, Koninklijke Ahold N.V., being its registered name, presents itself under the name of “Royal Ahold” or simply "Ahold."
