Magnum Ice Cream says Ben & Jerry's board chair not fit to serve

Core Viewpoint - The Magnum Ice Cream Company has determined that the chair of Ben & Jerry's independent board no longer meets the criteria to serve, following internal investigations, indicating escalating tensions between the two brands as Unilever prepares for the spin-off of the Magnum division [1][2][3]. Group 1: Internal Investigations and Board Changes - Magnum's filing states that after investigations by external advisers, the current chair of Ben & Jerry's is deemed unfit to serve on the board [3]. - The nature of the investigations has not been disclosed, raising questions about the implications for Ben & Jerry's governance [3][5]. - Magnum has communicated its findings to Ben & Jerry's board and is awaiting a response to determine its next steps [5]. Group 2: Background and Context - Ben & Jerry's independent board, chaired by Anuradha Mittal, has been involved in advocacy on controversial topics, which has drawn criticism from Unilever [4]. - The merger agreement from 2000 stipulates that replacing board members requires a majority vote, complicating Magnum's ability to enforce changes [6]. - Tensions between Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have been ongoing since 2021, particularly regarding the brand's stance on political issues, including its decision to stop sales in the Israeli-occupied West Bank [7].