World News for Students of English

24-10-2025 07:00

Unilever is delaying the spin-off of its Magnum Ice Cream division because the US government shutdown has stopped official reviews of new stock listings.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cannot process the necessary registration statement, so the company must wait before listing the Magnum Ice Cream Company in Amsterdam, New York, and London. The delay shows how the shutdown, now in its third week, is disrupting global business and could cost the US economy up to 15 billion dollars a week. Other companies, such as DeepGreenX, have also had to cancel or postpone listings.

Unilever will keep a 19.9% stake in its ice cream business, which also includes Ben & Jerry’s and Cornetto. Investors say the delay is not a major issue because the company’s long-term growth and market position remain strong despite the temporary setback.

Difficult words: spin-off (creating a new company from part of another one), listing (when a company’s shares are put on a stock exchange so that people can buy and sell them), setback (a problem or delay that stops progress or makes something take longer).

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