Unilever Delays Ice Cream Spinoff on US Federal Shutdown

Core Viewpoint - Unilever Plc has postponed the demerger of its Magnum Ice Cream Co. due to the US government shutdown, but it still anticipates completing the spinoff within the year [1][3]. Group 1: Demerger Details - The demerger was initially scheduled for mid-November, with primary listings planned in the Netherlands and secondary listings in London and New York [3]. - Unilever is exploring alternative methods to facilitate the ice cream company's listing on the NYSE, as the SEC has established a process for IPOs to proceed during the government shutdown, albeit with a delay [4]. Group 2: Business Performance - Unilever has been working on the separation of its ice cream division since last year to revitalize its business and address sluggish growth, as the unit has faced inconsistent performance due to seasonality, high production costs, and rising cocoa prices [5]. - Recently, sales in the ice cream unit have shown improvement, particularly in the US, which is the largest market for its brands, including Ben & Jerry's, Breyers, and Magnum [6]. Group 3: Shareholding Post-Demerger - Following the split, Unilever will retain approximately 20% of Magnum's share capital for a period of up to five years [7].