<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Amsterdam, the Netherlands-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">2.12.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Ahold has announced that it has reached an agreement with Hakon Invest of Sweden to sell its 60% holding in ICA, a Scandinavian retailer, for SEK 21.2 billion (over 3.3 billion USD) in cash, which includes ICA’s 2012 dividend of SEK 1.2 billion (over 188 million USD).<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/aholdica021213body.jpg" alt="Tuesday Images 021113" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Ahold’s growth strategy, introduced in 2011, has focused on the businesses it controls to create value. Ahold began the review of strategic options for its stake in ICA in September, according to a statement released by the company.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Financing of the transaction will have to be approved by the ICA Retailer’s Association and pass regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to be completed in the middle of this year.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In terms of sourcing and responsible retailing, the transaction will have no direct impact on the joint activities of ICA and Ahold. These initiatives, over 30 years old, are mutually beneficial and support business goals. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="https://www.ahold.com/" target="_new">Ahold</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
