Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Magnum Ice Cream Debuts as Unilever Spin-Off With Shares Below Reference Price

Investors face an unresolved Ben & Jerry’s governance dispute that could weigh on the newly independent group’s brands.

Overview

  • Trading began in Amsterdam with secondary listings in London and New York, opening at €12.20 versus a €12.80 reference price for an implied valuation near €7.8–7.93 billion.
  • Unilever completed the demerger and holds a 19.9% stake that it intends to sell down within five years.
  • The company becomes the world’s largest standalone ice cream group, controlling roughly one-fifth of the market and generating about €7.9 billion in annual revenue.
  • TMICC is seeking to remove Ben & Jerry’s independent board chair Anuradha Mittal after an audit flagged deficiencies at the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, while Mittal has said she will not step down; the brand contributes roughly 14% of group revenue.
  • Management has flagged limited near-term payouts with no dividend until 2027 and potential index or dividend-fund selling pressure, and Unilever shares fell roughly 3–4% on the day of the listing.