GlobeNewswire Inc | Nov 4, 2020 01:46AM EST

November 04, 2020

Zaandam, the Netherlands,November 4, 2020AholdDelhaize today announcesthe authorization ofa new 1 billion share buyback program, tostart at the beginning of 2021. The new program is a testament to the strength the company expects to continue to see in its business model.

Maintaining a balanced approach between funding growth in key channels and returning excess liquidity to shareholders is part ofAholdDelhaizes financial framework and supports its Leading Together strategy.As COVID-19continues to impactthe companyscommunities,AholdDelhaizeaims to also strike the appropriate balancewithimportant investments in additional safety measures, enhanced associatepayand benefits, and significant charitable donations, which resulted in approximately 470 million in COVID-19-related costs year to date.

The purpose of theshare buybackprogram is to reduce the capital ofAholdDelhaize, by cancelling all or part of the common shares acquired through theprogram.Theprogram will be executed within the limits of relevant laws and regulations, the existing authority granted atAholdDelhaizes 2020annual general meeting of shareholders on April8, 2020, and the authority (if granted) by the 2021annual general meeting on April14, 2021.

The share buyback program is executed in several tranches. For each of them, a dealer is mandated to execute the purchase of the shares at his own discretions in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and within pre-defined execution parameters. Shares are bought in the market and accumulated on the treasury share account until cancellation. Pursuant to the relevant statutory provisions, cancellation may not be effectedearlier than two months after a resolution to cancel shares is adopted and publicly announced.Ahold Delhaizeiscommitted to the share buyback program, but given the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, management will continue to monitor macroeconomic developments. The program is also subject to changes in corporate activities, such as material M&A activity.

AholdDelhaize will provide regular updates on the progress of the program by means of press releases.

Cautionary notice

This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words and expressions such as 2021, expects, continue(s), maintaining, growth, strategy, aims, will be, existing, if, until, committed, uncertainty, monitor, developments, subject to or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause actual results ofKoninklijkeAhold Delhaize N.V. (the Company) to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the Companys public filings and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Companys management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Companys management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they aremadeand the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.