Unilever Seeks Ice Cream Spinoff Instead of Sale, FT Reports (1)

Unilever Plc is looking to spin off its ice cream business instead of selling it to private equity groups, the Financial Times reported.

The consumer-goods company, which owns brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum, is seeking a spinoff after private equity firms lost interest because of the ice cream business’s large size and complicated supply chain, the FT said, citing people familiar with the matter.

US depositary receipts of Unilever slipped 0.8% at 1:39 p.m. in New York trading. The company’s European shares have gained 24% so far this year.

Bloomberg News reported in July that Unilever ...