Corporate Restructuring through Demerger: A Case Study on Hindustan Unilever Limited

Abstract

Corporate restructuring decisions (demerger, etc.) are taken to enhance sustainability. Sustainability is enhanced if some more value for the stakeholders can be generated. Traditional measures like return on investment (ROI) can highlight short run sustainability well. But, to indicate long run sustainability, we need modern measures like economic value added (EVA). The present study highlights whether corporate restructuring through demerger adds value for the stakeholders. For this purpose, the demerger of Unilever India Exports Limited from Hindustan Unilever Limited has been taken as a case study. Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) demerged its fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) exports business into a wholly owned subsidiary Unilever India Exports Limited (UIEL) with effect from 1st April 2011. In this study, financial performance of HUL has been measured in pre and post demerger period respectively. Then performance of UIEL has also been measured after its incorporation. Performance has been measured under traditional and modern approach both. Finally a comparative analysis has been done between the performances in pre and post demerger period. On the basis of the comparative analysis it has been concluded that the demerger of UIEL is a value generating demerger.

Keywords: Demerger, Sustainability, Return on Investment; Economic Value Added, Cost of Capital

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