Unilever violating merger deal over Israel sale – Ben & Jerry’s founders on MSNBC

(Reuters) – The founders of ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s mentioned on MSNBC on Sunday that dad or mum Unilever PLC is in violation of the 2000 merger deal over its sale of Ben & Jerry’s enterprise in Israel to a neighborhood licensee who may promote their merchandise within the West Financial institution.

“That settlement gave authority over the social mission to the impartial board of Ben & Jerry’s. Unilever has usurped their authority and reversed the choice that was made and we will not enable that to occur, we will not sit idly by,” Ben Cohen mentioned in a televised interview.

Associate Jerry Greenfield mentioned the settlement is legally binding and must be adhered to.

Unilever, in distinction, has mentioned it retained the best to make operational choices for Ben & Jerry’s, and that the sale couldn’t be undone as a result of it has irrevocably closed.

Ben & Jerry’s mentioned earlier this month that it plans to amend its lawsuit difficult Unilever’s sale of the Israeli enterprise in Federal court docket in Manhattan. Unilever should reply by Nov. 1.

In July 2021, the Burlington, Vermont primarily based firm determined to finish gross sales in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, calling it “inconsistent” with the progressive values and social mission it retained the best to advertise.

That call prompted a backlash towards Unilever, together with divestments by pension funds from the buyer items firm and accusations of anti-Semitism by some Jewish teams.

(Reporting by Alden Bentley; Enhancing by Christopher Cushing)