Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Sinks 4.7% In July, Dashing 2024 Gains

Zinger Key Points
  • Pershing Square lost 4.7% in July, erasing nearly all of its 2024 gains, mainly due to a sharp drop in Universal Music Group shares.
  • Bill Ackman's planned $25 billion IPO collapsed to just $2 billion in interest, leading to its withdrawal and reevaluation of structure.

Bill Ackman‘s primary hedge fund wiped out most of its 2024 gains during late July, adding to the billionaire’s troubles after he withdrew his IPO for a US-traded closed-end fund this week due to weak demand.

Pershing Square Holdings had gained 8.7% by mid-July but lost 4.7% in the latter half of the month, leaving it with a year-to-date gain of just 0.7%, reported Bloomberg.

A major factor in the decline was Pershing Square’s investment in Universal Music Group UMGNF, whose shares fell 24% following disappointing earnings last week.

Meanwhile, Ackman’s ambitious plan to launch a new investment fund on the New York Stock Exchange has faltered, added Bloomberg.

Also Read: As Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Struggles To Reach IPO Stage, Major Hedge Fund Opts Out Investing In Upcoming Fund: Report

Ackman spent recent weeks promoting his U.S.-traded closed-end fund, initially projected to raise $25 billion, but withdrew the deal on July 31 after only $2 billion in interest.

Earlier this week, Pershing Square decided to withdraw the IPO entirely.

Ackman acknowledged that a key concern was whether investors would be better off waiting to invest in the aftermarket rather than during the IPO.

This led to a decision to reevaluate the IPO’s structure, with plans to return with a revised proposal according to CNBC.

Through July, the S&P 500 Index had risen by 15.8% for the year.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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