March 31 (UPI) -- McCormick entered into an agreement to purchase the food portion of Unilever for a cash and equity deal that values the company at $45 billion. McCormick will pay $15.7 billion in cash. Unilever's shareholders will own 55.1% of the combined company, while the Unilever company will own 9.9%, "underscoring its support and confidence in the strategic merits, integration plan and execution of the combined company," a press release said . Unilever's foods include Hellman's, Knorr