Consumer goods giant Unilever has postponed the demerger of its ice cream business, including the popular Magnum and Ben & Jerry's brands, due to the ongoing US federal government shutdown. The delay prevents the new company, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, from listing its shares on the New York Stock Exchange as planned.

• The US Securities and Exchange Commission is currently unable to approve the necessary registration statement.
• The demerger was initially scheduled to begin operating by mid-November.
• The US government shutdown, currently at 20 days, is the third-longest if partial stoppages are included.