UNILEVER GROUP
Unilever PLC
History and Structure of Unilever
Following the implementation of the cross-border merger between Unilever PLC and Unilever N.V. on November 29, 2020 (“Unification”), Unilever PLC is the single parent company of the Unilever Group.
From its formation in 1930 until Unification, the Unilever Group operated under a dual-headed legal structure with two parent companies: Unilever N.V., which was incorporated under the name Naamlooze Vennootschap Margarine Unie in The Netherlands in 1927, and Unilever PLC, which was incorporated under the name Lever Brothers Limited in England and Wales in 1894. During this time, together with their group companies, Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC operated as nearly as practicable as a single economic entity.
On November 29, 2020, following approval of the shareholders of each of Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC, the Unilever Group completed the Unification of its dual-parent legal structure. Unification did not change the composition of our Board of Directors or our governance framework, and our Board of Directors continues to delegate a number of its authorities pursuant to the Governance of Unilever.
Unilever PLC’s shares are traded through its listings on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam, with its securities also traded on the New York Stock Exchange under its American Depositary Share program.
Business of the Unilever Group
Description of Business
The Unilever Group is one of the world’s leading consumer goods companies, making and selling more than 400 brands in over 190 countries. Every day, approximately 3.4 billion people use Unilever’s products to look good, feel good and get more out of life.
The Unilever Group’s vision is to deliver winning performance by being the global leader in sustainable business with a strategy to ensure its purpose-led and future-fit business model drives superior performance, creating long-term value for its stakeholders.
Business Groups and Brands
In 2022, we announced the Compass Organization, whereby the Unilever Group now uses an operating model organized around five distinct Business Groups: Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition and Ice Cream, as set out below:
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The Beauty & Wellbeing Business Group, headquartered in the United States operates in four key categories: hair care, skin care, health and wellbeing (which includes vitamins, minerals and supplements) and Prestige Beauty. Its brands include Sunsilk, Pond’s, Vaseline, Clear, TRESemmé, Liquid I.V. and Carver Korea. The Prestige Beauty brands include Hourglass, Dermalogica, Living Proof, Kate Somerville, Garancia, Tatcha and REN.
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The Personal Care Business Group, headquartered in London, operates in three key categories: skin cleansing, deodorants and oral care, as well as Dollar Shave Club and Elida Beauty, which re-founds iconic beauty brands for today’s generation. Dove, Rexona, Lux, and Axe are some of the world’s leading Personal Care brands. Other important brands include Signal, Lifebuoy and Closeup. Elida Beauty brands include Caress, TIGI (Bed Head, Cat Walk and S-Factor) and Q-tips cotton swabs.
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The Home Care Business Group, headquartered in London, operates in four key categories: fabric cleaning, fabric enhancers, home & hygiene and water & air. Its fabric cleaning and fabric enhancer brands include OMO (‘Dirt is Good’), Comfort, Surf, Radiant, Rin, Skip, Love & Care, Love Home & Planet and Seventh Generation. Its home & hygiene products include surface and toilet cleaners as well as dishwashing products, through brands like Cif, Domestos and Sunlight. Home Care also produces water and air purification products, through its Pureit, Truliva and Blueair brands.