Unilever allocates $1.7 billion a year for M&A with US focus, says CEO
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 9, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 9, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Unilever is dedicating $1.7 billion annually for M&A, focusing on the US. The recent demerger of its ice cream business is expected to boost operating margins.
LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Unilever is allocating about 1.5 billion euros ($1.74 billion) a year for mergers and acquisitions, focusing heavily on deals in the United States, CEO Fernando Fernandez said on Tuesday.
The group finalised the demerger of its ice cream business as The Magnum Ice Cream Company listed in Amsterdam on Monday and Fernandez, speaking at an event hosted by JPMorgan, said Unilever's second-half operating margin after the separation would be at least 19.5%, up from 18.5% including ice cream.
($1 = 0.8597 euros)
(Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Hugo LhomedetEditing by David Goodman)
A merger is a business combination where two companies join to form a single entity, often to enhance operational efficiency, expand market reach, or increase competitive advantage.
Acquisitions occur when one company purchases another company, gaining control over its assets, operations, and management, often to expand its market presence or product offerings.
Operating margin is a financial metric that measures the percentage of revenue remaining after covering operating expenses, indicating a company's operational efficiency.
A demerger is a corporate restructuring process where a company splits into two or more independent entities, often to enhance focus on core operations or unlock shareholder value.
The financial community refers to the network of individuals and organizations involved in finance, including banks, investors, regulators, and financial service providers.
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