Internal control

Ahold business control framework

Ahold's internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the Company's objectives are achieved. Ahold takes a structured and consistent approach to internal control by aligning strategy, charters, policies, manuals, procedures, instructions, guidelines and processes and people and technology, for the purpose of identifying, evaluating and managing the uncertainties that the Company faces.

For this purpose, the Company has developed the Ahold Business Control Framework ("ABC Framework") to encompass its standards. The ABC Framework was implemented at the Corporate Center. Going forward, the ABC Framework will be implemented at the Company's U.S. and European continental organizations as appropriate, to enhance their existing local internal control frameworks. The ABC Framework is based on the recommendations of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission: Internal Control - Integrated Framework ("COSO Framework"). The goal of these recommendations is to provide a reasonable level of assurance concerning internal control.