India demergers hit 10-year peak: 29 deals worth $40B as HUL, Jubilant carve out consumer arms

Demerger activity surged in 2025 with 29 deals topping $40 billion, the highest in a decade. Retail-relevant splits include HUL hiving off Kwality Wall's ice cream and Jubilant separating its consumer business, as investors reward focused pure-plays over sprawling conglomerates.

— Source publishedWed, 27 May, 2026, 22:32 IST·First seen Wed, 27 May, 2026, 22:43 IST·Source Business Standard · Companies

What happened

Hindustan Unilever · India recorded 29 demergers worth over $40 billion in 2025, a 10-year high. Retail-relevant deals include HUL spinning off Kwality Wall's

Key facts

  • 29 deals
  • $40 billion
  • 50 deals in 3 years
  • $43 billion
  • 75% of EM demergers in 2026
  • $764 million in 2026

Why this matters

The demerger wave validates carve-out playbooks as a value-unlock lever and opens a pipeline of newly independent consumer assets that may become acquisition or partnership targets within 12–24 months post-listing.