BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 21, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delhaize Group- Etablissements Delhaize Freres et Cie "Le Lion"- (Euronext Brussels:DELB) (NYSE:DEG), the Belgian international food retailer, announces that its Board of Directors has decided to call its shareholders for an extraordinary general meeting on May 2, 2002. The Board of Directors has also decided to call, in case the legal quorum is not reached at this general meeting, a second extraordinary meeting on May 23, 2002, immediately prior to the annual general meeting.
At these extraordinary general meetings, shareholders will be requested to approve an abridged corporate name (i.e "Delhaize Group"), to renew and amend the authorizations granted to the Board of Directors with respect to authorized capital, the purchase, transfer and pledge of company's shares as well as to vote on miscellaneous amendments of less importance to the Articles of Association.
This communication does not replace the official notices to the meetings that will be made according to the law.
Delhaize Group
Delhaize Group is a Belgian food retailer that operated at the end 2001 a sales network of 2,444 stores in ten countries on three continents. In 2001, Delhaize Group posted EUR 21.4 billion in sales and cash earnings of EUR 339.0 million. Delhaize Group employs approximately 147,000 people. Delhaize Group is listed on Euronext Brussels and the New York Stock Exchange.
This press release is available in English, French and Dutch. You can also find it on the recently renewed web site, http://www.delhaizegroup.com.