ZAANDAM, The Netherlands, Nov. 16, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Ahold (NYSE:AHO) has again been awarded the annual Dutch Investor Relations Prize. The food retail and foodservice company was chosen from among the 25 companies listed on the Amsterdam Exchanges (AEX) based on the results of a wide-ranging survey of four key target groups within the investment community in The Netherlands.
The 2001 survey canvassed almost 300 portfolio managers, retail investors, financial media and investment analysts and advisors. Ahold scored an average of 9 out of 10, the highest investor relations (IR) score ever recorded by each target group. This year marks the 7th time Ahold has won the award in the 12 years the survey has been conducted.
The survey was compiled earlier in the year by the authoritative Dutch research bureau Rematch. The AEX stock-listed companies were assessed on a range of key criteria including credibility, clarity, transparency and timeliness of financial reporting.
In addition to IR perception, the Ahold website (www.ahold.com) and its annual report were also highly regarded by respondents, particularly in terms of readability, design and informative character.
Ahold is a multi-local food retailer and foodservice operator with annualized sales of approximately Euro 65 billion, serving approximately 35 million customers in 27 countries every week.
To view this release in its .pdf format, please click the link: http://reports.huginonline.com/840705/96987.pdf
Editors please note: A photo of Cees van der Hoeven, Ahold President & CEO, receiving the 2001 Dutch Investor Relations Award from Aalt Klaassen, Director of Rematch B.V., is available from Ahold Corporate Communications upon request.
This Ahold press release contains "forward-looking statements". Actual results may differ from such statements as they may have been influenced by factors beyond the company's ability to control, as more fully discussed in the company's annual report.