yahoo news | Billionaire Bill Ackman Has 39% of His Hedge Fund's $17.7 Billion Stock...

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square fund now holds just 13 stocks, but almost two‑thirds of its $17.7 billion equity portfolio is concentrated in three “stellar” names. Roughly 39 % of the fund’s assets are split among Brookfield (about 14.5 % of assets), Uber (≈12.3 %) and Alphabet (≈12.2 %). Ackman’s strategy of a highly focused portfolio lets investors see his biggest bets through the fund’s public filings and consider copying those ideas without investing directly with him.

Brookfield (NYSE: BN) is being built as an investment‑led insurance company that, like Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, aims to grow insurance float and redeploy it into equity investments. With $120 billion in invested assets at the end of 2025 and a target of $600 billion, the firm also holds a large stake in Brookfield Asset Management, which is expected to generate billions of dollars in carried‑interest earnings over the next decade. Ackman expects about 25 % earnings growth this year, and at under 17 times last year’s distributable earnings the stock appears markedly undervalued.

Uber (NYSE: UBER) is valued for its massive rider network and its push into autonomous‑vehicle partnerships, notably with Waymo and Motional. The company posted 18 % user growth, a 35 % rise in earnings per share and accelerating free‑cash‑flow generation, trading at less than 22 times forward earnings. Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG/GOOGL) is the other AI‑centric holding, benefitting from integrated generative‑AI features in Google Search, rapid growth in Google Cloud powered by its Gemini 3 model and custom TPUs, and expanding AI partnerships such as with Apple’s Siri. With a forward‑earnings multiple around 28 times, the stock may still be underpriced given its AI‑driven revenue and margin upside.

Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/billionaire-bill-ackman-39-hedge-005000635.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

#billackman #pershingsquare #Brookfield #uber #alphabet

yahoo news | Big money titans rally to back Bill Ackman against $2M ‘shakedown’ demand by ex-...

Billionaire hedge‑fund manager Bill Ackman says he is being subjected to a $2 million “shakedown” by a former employee who is demanding a severance payment after alleging an unsafe workplace. Ackman explained in a viral X post that he founded his family office, Table, about 15 years ago and placed it in the hands of a trusted friend, allowing it to grow massively in headcount and costs despite its largely administrative role. He described his involvement as mostly hands‑off, conducting only an annual review, and noted that as expenses and turnover ballooned he brought in his Harvard‑educated nephew to turn around operations, which resulted in layoffs affecting roughly a third of the staff.

The dispute centers on an in‑house lawyer, “Ronda,” who rejected a three‑month severance offer and instead demanded two years’ pay for a tenure of just two and a half years. Ronda sent a threatening letter accusing Ackman’s firm of harassment, gender discrimination, and an unsafe work environment, alleging that Ackman’s nephew made inappropriate, gender‑based remarks toward a female employee. Ackman countered that the allegations were “interesting” but unsubstantiated, saying internal reviews showed no evidence of broader problems, that workplace sensitivity training had already been implemented, and that the $2 million demand seemed opportunistic, especially given his daughter’s medical crisis and the firm’s pending IPO.

The post resonated online, prompting a wave of support from high‑profile figures in tech and finance. Bryan Johnson, Chamath Palihapitiya, Joe Lonsdale, Donald Trump Jr., and even former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes publicly urged Ackman to fight the claim, labeling it an extortionate “tax” on wealthy executives. Ackman later noted it was “reassuring that there appears to be a consensus” backing his decision to contest the demand rather than settle, framing the matter as a fight against baseless accusations and a defense of truth.

Read more: https://nypost.com/2026/04/10/business/billionaire-bill-ackman-blasts-2m-shakedown-demand-by-former-staffer/

#billackman #harvard #ronda #theranos

yahoo news | Bill Ackman Eyes New Fund to Bet Against Market Complacency - EconoTimes

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management is in early talks to spin off a new standalone fund that would focus on “asymmetric” trades—high‑reward bets that exploit market complacency. The strategy mirrors the firm’s celebrated pandemic‑era move, when Ackman placed $27 million in credit derivatives that later yielded about $2.6 billion as corporate bond markets collapsed.

The proposed vehicle would keep most of its capital in short‑term U.S. Treasury instruments, preserving dry‑powder for large‑scale credit and macro wagers. It comes as Pershing Square’s flagship Amsterdam‑listed fund has already lost more than 16 % of its value through March 2025, prompting Ackman to double down on opportunistic, high‑conviction investing rather than retreat.

If launched, the fund would offer investors exposure to a hedge‑fund style approach that thrives on volatility and mispricing, albeit with significant risk. In a climate of ongoing global economic uncertainty and unpredictable market swings, contrarian macro strategies like this could regain relevance and attract those seeking high‑risk, high‑potential returns.

Read more: https://econotimes.com/Bill-Ackman-Eyes-New-Fund-to-Bet-Against-Market-Complacency-1738534

#billackman #creditderivatives #hedge-fund #macrostrategies #globaleconomic

yahoo news | UMG will review Pershing Square bid but backs management team

Pershing Square has lodged an unsolicited, non‑binding €55 billion ($63.5 bn) proposal to acquire Universal Music Group (UMG). In its brief response, UMG confirmed receipt of the offer and said the board would review it “in accordance with its fiduciary duties” and assess the impact on shareholders, employees, artists, songwriters and other stakeholders. The company also reiterated its confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Sir Lucian Grainge, stating it would not comment further until the review is complete.

The hedge‑fund’s proposal includes appointing veteran entertainment executive Michael Ovitz to UMG’s board and negotiating a new employment contract and compensation package for Grainge. In an investor call, Pershing Square founder Bill Ackman emphasized that the deal’s fate hinges on the support of UMG’s largest shareholder, the Bolloré Group, and on board approval. He noted that the approach was not a surprise, having been hinted at during a dinner with Grainge and Ovitz, but that details remain limited.

Analysts at CMU suggest the cash component of the bid would mainly be financed by selling Universal’s stake in Spotify and by loading roughly €5.4 billion of new debt onto the company. The proposal, therefore, relies heavily on leveraging UMG’s existing assets to fund the transaction, raising questions about the long‑term financial implications for the label and its diverse group of stakeholders.

Read more: https://musically.com/2026/04/08/umg-will-review-pershing-square-bid-but-backs-management-team/

#umg #pershingsquare #universalmusicgroup #billackman #bollorégroup

bing news | Bill Ackman thinks he’ll convince UMG shareholders to take his deal. JP Morgan isn’t so sure.

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square has lodged an unsolicited, non‑binding cash‑and‑shares proposal to buy Universal Music Group (UMG) at a valuation of roughly $64 billion. The offer would give UMG shareholders €9.4 billion in cash plus 0.77 shares of a newly created “New UMG” for each share they hold. Pershing Square would fund about a quarter of the cash itself, while the balance would come from new investment‑grade debt and the sale of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify. Ackman says the deal would also free up up to €750 million for UMG’s artists from the Spotify sale and could pave the way for a NYSE listing via Pershing Square’s SPARC vehicle.

The proposal hinges on the backing of Bolloré Group, which currently owns a 28 % stake in UMG, and the approval of UMG’s board led by Sir Lucian Grainge. While Ackman asserts “overwhelming shareholder support” and reports an encouraging response from Bolloré, JP Morgan analyst Daniel Kerven warned that Bolloré may not back the plan, noting there is nothing in Pershing’s offer that UMG could not achieve on its own with major shareholder support. Other analysts echoed the uncertainty: ING said the proposal raises “many valid points” but might fail, and Deutsche Bank called it “opportunistic and timely” but offered no prediction. Tencent, which holds about 20 % of UMG through a consortium, appears indifferent and was reportedly “out of the loop” before the announcement.

If the deal proceeds, Pershing Square would contribute €2.5 billion in cash, while €5.4 billion would be raised through debt and €1.5 billion would come from selling the Spotify stake. The financing structure means Pershing Square is putting up roughly a quarter of the cash, with the remainder financed externally and by liquidating an existing UMG asset. The transaction could open a window for other private‑equity firms—such as Blackstone and Apollo—to pursue UMG, which recently launched a €500 million share‑repurchase program citing a “meaningful dislocation” in its market valuation. UMG’s board has said it will review the proposal in line with its fiduciary duties but will not comment further until that review is complete.

Read more: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bill-ackman-thinks-hell-convince-umg-shareholders-to-take-his-deal-jp-morgan-isnt-so-sure/

#billackman #umg #pershingsquare #universalmusicgroup #bollorégroup

yahoo news | Pershing Square Bids €30.40 Per Share to Acquire Universal Music Group in $9.4B ...

Pershing Square Capital Management, the hedge fund run by billionaire Bill Ackman, has lodged a non‑binding offer to acquire Universal Music Group at €30.40 a share – roughly a 78 % premium to the current market price. The proposal would give UMG shareholders €5.05 in cash per share (about €9.4 billion in total) and 0.77 shares in a newly created publicly‑listed entity for every share they own, with the combined company eventually listed on the NYSE under U.S. GAAP and eligible for inclusion in the S&P 500.

Ackman contends that UMG’s share price is chronically depressed, not because of weak fundamentals but due to a mix of structural and market headwinds. He points to the uncertainty surrounding the Bolloré Group’s 18 % stake, the long‑delayed U.S. listing, an under‑leveraged balance sheet, the absence of a clear capital‑allocation plan, and the market’s failure to value UMG’s €2.7 billion holding in Spotify. Despite these challenges, he praised CEO Sir Lucian Grainge and his team for delivering solid operational results while the stock lagged.

The deal is expected to close before year‑end, with full equity financing backed by Pershing Square and its affiliates and debt financing locked in at signing. Approximately 17 % of UMG’s existing shares would be retired, leaving the merged entity with about 1.54 billion shares while preserving its investment‑grade credit rating. Legal and financial advisers on the transaction include Sullivan & Cromwell, White & Case, Stibbe, and Jefferies.

Read more: https://econotimes.com/Pershing-Square-Bids-3040-Per-Share-to-Acquire-Universal-Music-Group-in-94B-Deal-1738302

#pershingsquarecapitalmanagement #billackman #universalmusicgroup #nyse #s&p500

What Is UMG’s Real Value? Investors & Music Execs Weigh in on Pershing Square Bid

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.billboard.com/pro/umg-pershing-square-offer-investors-execs-bill-ackman-bid/

UMG Board of Directors Has ‘Complete Confidence in’ Lucian Grainge Following Pershing Square Bid

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.billboard.com/pro/umg-board-of-directors-statement-pershing-square-offer/

Universal Music Backs Lucian Grainge Amid Takeover Bid by Bill Ackman
#Music #MusicIndustryNews #BillAckman #UniversalMusicGroup

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/music/music-industry-news/universal-music-statement-bill-ackman-acquisition-proposal-1236558292/