47
Ahold
Annual Report 2011
Groupata glance
Performance
(Governance
Financials
Investors
How we manage risk continued
From time to time, Ahold and its businesses are parties to legal and regulatory proceedings in a
number of countries, including the United States. Based on the prevailing regulatory environment
or economic conditions in the markets in which Ahold businesses operate, litigation may increase
in frequency and materiality. These legal and regulatory proceedings may include matters
involving personnel and employment issues, personal injury, antitrust claims, contract claims and
other matters. We estimate our exposure to these legal proceedings and establish accruals for
the estimated liabilities, where it is reasonably possible to estimate and where the potential
realization of a loss contingency is more likely than not. The assessment of exposures and
ultimate outcomes of legal and regulatory proceedings involves uncertainties. Adverse outcomes
in these legal proceedings, or changes in our assessments of proceedings, could potentially
result in material adverse effects on our financial results. For further information, see Note 34 to
the consolidated financial statements.
