Paul Polman, chief executive of Unilever, said that takeover laws had to be reviewed in order to give companies a better chance of defending themselves Simon Dawson/Getty ImagesThe chief executive of Unilever has questioned if the City’s takeover code, which regulates mergers and acquisitions, provides a level playing field for companies at risk of takeover. Paul Polman, whose Anglo-Dutch group rebuffed a £115 billion takeover approach from Kraft Heinz last month, said there needed to be easier and more flexible ways for companies to defend their performance during the City’s mandated 28-day takeover window. Mr Polman told The Times: “The UK and Holland have some of the most liberal takeover laws in the world and I think there is a job to be done in looking at these laws, particularly when it comes to companies of national importance and interest. There has to be a level playing field.”The consumer goods group…

Source: The Times March 15, 2017 00:56 UTC