Blackstone and CD&R Explore Bid for Magnum Ice Cream after 12% Share Surge
Blackstone and CD&R are exploring bids for The Magnum Ice Cream Company following its spin-off by Unilever late last year, monitoring a 12% surge to 1,260 pence and 8.6% year-to-date gains. TMICC reported Q1 organic sales growth of 4.5% to €1.77bn and commands a 21% global ice-cream market share.
1. Private Equity Interest
Blackstone and CD&R have entered early-stage talks to bid for The Magnum Ice Cream Company, evaluating TMICC’s performance since its spin-off by Unilever. Both firms are tracking the company’s share price movement and operational metrics before submitting any formal proposals.
2. TMICC’s Financial and Stock Performance
TMICC’s shares climbed almost 12% to 1,260 pence on the day of the report and are up 8.6% year to date. The company posted Q1 organic sales growth of 4.5%, reaching €1.77bn in revenue, driven by a 2.9% volume increase under CEO Peter ter Kulve.
3. Market Position and Ownership Structure
Following the spin-off, TMICC holds a 21% global ice-cream market share, making it the largest standalone manufacturer. Unilever retains a 19.9% stake, which it plans to unwind over five years, while TMICC focuses exclusively on branded products like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s.