Shares of Ben & Jerry's parent company Magnum Ice Cream Company jumped 18% after Reuters reported that Blackstone and CD&R are among firms in the early stages of exploring a bid for the company.

It comes just six months after it spun off from Unilever to create the world's largest standalone ice cream maker. 

The private equity firms are monitoring the company's share price before deciding whether to make a move, according to the Reuters report, which cites sources familiar with the matter. Coming into Friday trading, the stock is trading at a similar level since the spin-off completed on Dec. 8 2025. 

CNBC has reached out to the companies for comment.

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