Finance

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 read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Unilever allocates $1.7 billion a year for M&A with US focus, says CEO
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

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

Unilever's $1.7 Billion Annual M&A Focus on US Market

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)

Key Takeaways

  • Unilever allocates $1.7 billion annually for M&A.
  • Focus is primarily on the United States market.
  • Ice cream business demerged and listed in Amsterdam.
  • CEO expects operating margin to rise post-demerger.
  • Event details shared at JPMorgan-hosted event.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a merger?
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.
What are acquisitions?
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.
What is an operating margin?
Operating margin is a financial metric that measures the percentage of revenue remaining after covering operating expenses, indicating a company's operational efficiency.
What is a demerger?
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.
What is a financial community?
The financial community refers to the network of individuals and organizations involved in finance, including banks, investors, regulators, and financial service providers.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category