Unilever May Sell

Unilever (NYSE:UL) – Unilever is weighing a possible $3-billion sale of its U.S. ice cream brands including Ben & Jerry’s, according to a Bloomberg report.

The Klondike and Breyers brands are reported to be part of the ongoing discussions with outside parties, while the Magnum and Ben & Jerry's brands are not.

London-based Unilever is the largest ice cream maker in the world, but has been under activist pressure that has placed a spotlight on many of the well-known businesses. A potential complication with a sale is that Unilever makes its local ice cream brands at the same sites as its international ones, which leaves open the possibility that the consumer goods giant would consider a full exit from the ice cream business down the road.

Shares of Unilever fell 18 cents soon after Thursday’s opening bell to $50.64, and is off 6% for the year.

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