Unilever (UL) ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's has drawn buyout interest from founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The two founders have started talks in recent months about a possible deal for the purchase, but it is uncertain whether discussions will advance, the sources told Bloomberg.

Cohen and Greenfield may need to partner with socially minded investors, according to the report. The brand could be valued at several billion dollars, so the founders would need substantial financial backing, one of the sources said.

Unilever is on track to demerger the ice cream business and its not for sale, a spokesperson for Unilever said told Bloomberg. A representative for Cohen and Greenfield declined to give a comment to the news outlet.

Unilever did not immediately reply to a request for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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