Ahold Delhaize successfully priced its inaugural Sustainability-Linked Bond

Zaandam, the Netherlands, March 11, 2021 – Ahold Delhaize today announced that it successfully priced its inaugural Sustainability-Linked Bond, amounting to €600 million with a term of 9 years, maturing on March 18, 2030.  The bond was issued in accordance with Ahold Delhaize’s published Sustainability-Linked Bond Framework (the Framework), which follows the ICMA Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles. In its Second Party Opinion, Sustainalytics considers the Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) ambitious and aligned with Ahold Delhaize’s sustainability strategy, including alignment with a 1.5-degree temperature rise scenario and Ahold Delhaize’s leading efforts with respect to food waste reduction. The Framework and Second Party Opinion can be found here. The bond is linked to Ahold Delhaize achieving two Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) by 2025:  
SPT 1: Reduction of Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions by 29% from a 2018 baseline  
SPT 2: Reduction of food waste by 32% from a 2016 baseline 
The sustainability-linked feature will result in a coupon adjustment if Ahold Delhaize’s performance does not achieve one or both of the stated SPTs. 
SPT 1 and 2 are aligned with Ahold Delhaize’s 2030 goals aiming to reduce Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions by 50% and food waste by 50%. The carbon emission goal is validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative and the food waste goal is measured according to the Food Loss and Waste Protocol. Cautionary notice 
This communication is not for release, distribution or publication, whether directly or indirectly and whether in whole or in part, into or in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan or any (other) jurisdiction where any of such activities would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. 
The offer of bonds referred to in this communication was limited in the EEA and the United Kingdom to qualified investors only. The bonds have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “US Securities Act”) and will also not be registered with any authority competent with respect to securities in any state or other jurisdiction of the United States of America. The bonds may not be offered or sold in the United States of America without either registration of the securities or an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act being applicable. 
This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words and expressions such as maturing, 2030, ambitious, aligned, strategy, scenario, leading, further, commitments, ambition, achievement, targets, step, will, 2025, by, next phase, long-term, journey, opportunity, promise 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 of Koninklijke Ahold 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 Company’s public filings and other disclosures. Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company’s management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Company’s management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.