Investment firms Blackstone Inc. and CD&R are considering the possibility of acquiring the ice cream manufacturer Magnum Ice Cream Co., which was spun off from Unilever less than six months ago, Reuters reports citing informed sources.
According to sources, investors are monitoring the movement of Magnum's stock price, preparing to make a decision on submitting an offer. Unilever completed the spin-off of Magnum in December 2025, with the ice cream manufacturer valued at €7.8 billion. Its stock price this year rose to €16.5 and fell to €11. At the end of last week, the company's shares surged by 14% in trading in Amsterdam, reaching €14.8.
Unilever retains 19.9% of Magnum's shares and plans to exit within five years.
Summer will judge them
Both Blackstone and CD&R are waiting for the company to publish its summer sales report before making a decision, noted one of Reuters' sources. A significant portion of Magnum's annual revenue comes from the summer period.
Other private equity funds are also showing interest in acquiring the company, agency sources say.
According to Magnum's own estimates, its share of the global ice cream market, which totals $87 billion, is approximately 21%, while its main competitor Froneri holds 11%.
Magnum owns four of the five leading ice cream brands in the world, including Ben & Jerry's and Cornetto.
