Zaandam, The Netherlands/Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 21, 2000 – Royal Ahold,
the international food provider, today announced it has become 100% owner of the
TOPS supermarkets in Malaysia.
Ahold already owned over 65% of the joint venture company RA-PPB (TOPS) Retail Sdn Bhd
in Malaysia, the sole owner of the supermarkets. Its local partner, PPB Group Bhd,
has held the other shares since 1996 when the joint venture was established.
Ahold operates in Malaysia 39 TOPS supermarkets and new sites are targeted. Ahold’s 1999 sales
in Malaysia amounted to Euro 90 million. The company employs nearly 2,000 people in the country.