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The fate of some of the world’s most beloved ice cream brands hangs in the balance as Unilever contemplates where to list its £13 billion ice cream division. The consumer goods giant faces mounting pressure from multiple directions as London, Amsterdam, and New York vie for the prestigious listing.
Rachel Reeves, the UK Chancellor, has personally intervened by meeting with Unilever’s chief executive Hein Schumacher to advocate for a London listing. The stakes are particularly high for the London Stock Exchange, which has recently witnessed several high-profile departures to other markets.
The situation is further complicated by Nelson Peltz, the activist investor who holds a £1.1 billion stake through his hedge fund Trian. Peltz is pushing strongly for a New York listing, arguing it would command a higher valuation. Meanwhile, Amsterdam’s claim stems from a 2020 pledge made by Unilever to the Dutch government regarding any potential spin-off of its food and refreshments division.
The ice cream division, which includes iconic brands such as Magnum, Ben & Jerry’s, and Viennetta, generated operating profits of €760 million on sales of €7.9 billion in 2023. The separation, likely to be executed through a demerger, represents a significant strategic shift for Unilever under Schumacher’s leadership.
British institutional shareholders, who control approximately 30% of Unilever, strongly favour a London listing. Their position is influenced by investment restrictions on overseas holdings and concerns about potential share price depression from forced selling if the business lists elsewhere.
The decision, expected to be announced by the end of next month, will mark a crucial moment in Unilever’s corporate history. The outcome will not only affect the company’s future but also signal the relative strength of competing financial centres in the post-Brexit era.
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