Overview

• The cofounders published an open letter and launched freebenandjerrys.com calling for Ben & Jerry’s to be released from The Magnum Ice Cream Company before its listing.
• Magnum and Unilever responded that Ben & Jerry’s is not for sale and will remain part of the spun‑off ice‑cream group.
• Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield protested at Magnum’s investor briefing, timing their campaign to the company’s pre‑IPO roadshow.
• Magnum targets a mid‑November float with a primary listing in Amsterdam and secondary listings in London and New York, with Unilever initially retaining about a 20% stake.
• Legal disputes continue over alleged breaches of the 2000 merger safeguards, including Ben & Jerry’s claim that Unilever improperly removed CEO David Stever, and Cohen says Unilever rejected a proposed investor buyout valued at roughly $1.5–$2.5 billion.