AHOLD OFFERING STOCK TO FINANCE STOP & SHOP BUY

ZAANDAM, Netherlands -- Ahold here last week announced a global stock offering to finance its acquisition of Stop & Shop Cos., Quincy, Mass., plus other international expansion projects.

et share, includes the assumption of $1.1 billion of interest-bearing debt.

Of the shares, 14 million will be offered in the United States, where Ahold has about 50% of its operations, the company said. The offering also will focus on investors in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Switzerland.

Ahold still is discussing the terms and conditions, including a divestiture of up to 32 stores, for antitrust approval of the Stop & Shop deal, slated to close by July 31. As of June 24, 87% of all Stop & Shop common shares outstanding had been pledged or validly tendered, Ahold reported.