Unilever consolidates to prepare for deals as M&A hopes rise

Bonds of Unilever, the consumer goods firm, jumped on Thursday, despite it being a day of risk aversion in the markets, after it announced plans to merge its Dutch and UK entities. Unilever billed the move as simplifying its corporate structure to prepare for what it expects to be "the increasingly dynamic business environment that the Covid-19 pandemic will create" — as bankers predict industrial shake-ups will lead to mergers and acquisitions.