Ahold Buys Back $148 Million in Debt

AMSRTERDAM -- Ahold said it had repurchased around $148 million in outstanding notes and bonds as part of a debt reduction program. The company said the repurchased notes and bonds represent approximately 8.9% of the outstanding amount due on bonds maturing in May 2008 and 11.7% remaining due on bonds maturing in December 2007. The buyback leaves outstanding amounts of $1.3 billion on the 2008 bonds and $161 million on the 2007 notes.