Unilever PLC (LON:ULVR) has announced plans to merge its UK and Dutch divisions under the PLC, though it is maintaining separate listings.
Dutch shareholders will receive one new Unilever PLC share in exchange for each Unilever NV share held.
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The FTSE 100 company pointed out the unification will not change operations, locations, activities or staffing levels, but simplify the legal structure for acquisitions and demergers.
It will also create an equal voting basis per share for all shareholders.
The consumer goods giant had tried to simplify the entity structure under a new Dutch share class in 2018 but the board withdrew the proposal after large UK shareholders objected.
“Previously the deal was deemed unworkable by UK shareholders as many would need to sell shares due to the loss of indexation and their fund structures,” analysts at Liberum commented.
“It may be true that NV shareholders face a similar issue, though Unilever does expect to earn indexation for the PLC shares on the Euronext Amsterdam.”
Shares rose 1% to 4,418p early on Thursday.
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