Unilever is courting private equity groups to see if they would bid for its ice cream business.
The consumer goods giant is working with bankers at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan to gauge interest, according to the Financial Times. The reports will stoke concerns that London’s stock market could miss out on what could be a blockbuster listing worth up to £15billion.
Chief executive Hein Schumacher plans to spin off the ice cream division behind brands including Wall’s, Magnum and Ben & Jerry’s.
This week he hinted at a potential stock market listing by the end of 2025 and said he was ‘open to all options’ for where to list.
But he did not rule out other options – such as selling to a private buyer – and said he wanted to ‘maximise returns for shareholders’.
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It would be a bitter blow for London if the demerged company fell into the clutches of private equity.
Speculation over its future came as Ben & Jerry’s said it will stick to its woke agenda.
It has come under fire for its political views, which have included demands for a ceasefire in Gaza and accusing President Biden of ‘fanning the flames of war’ in Ukraine.
Unilever shares rose 0.9 per cent.
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