The Anglo-Dutch conglomerate UNILEVER has announced that it has paid $2.3 bn for the American firm SLIM FAST FOODS CO ($611 million turnover in 1999), specialised in meal substitutes and diet products, with a 45% market share in the United States. In addition, UNILEVER said that the American ice cream manufacturer BEN & JERRY'S had accepted its $326 million bid. This operation will take the form of a public tender at a unit price of $43.6 a share. See EI of 31 March.