Bill Ackman's US fund set to debut at $2B following IPO delay

Bill Ackman's US fund set to debut at $2B following IPO delay
The launch setback comes after SEC update indicating a sharp dropoff in expected proceeds from the deal.
JUL 30, 2024
By  Bloomberg

Bill Ackman’s planned initial public offering for a US closed-end fund is expected to bring in $2 billion, less than 1/10th the target the billionaire hedge-fund manager suggested the sale could raise earlier this month.

Pershing Square USA Ltd.’s IPO is expected to price on August 5 after the close, according to a term sheet seen by Bloomberg News. Pricing is contingent on the US Securities and Exchange Commission declaring effective an IPO registration statement. The fund would debut on the New York Stock Exchange the next day.

That regulatory approval was expected earlier this month, and Pershing Square USA’s IPO, which was slated to price Monday, according to an earlier term sheet seen by Bloomberg, was subsequently delayed.

The regulatory hiccup came after Pershing Square USA filed an SEC update that featured a letter Ackman wrote to investors saying the firm was scaling back the expected proceeds from the deal to between $2.5 billion and $4 billion — a sharp dropoff from a target of $25 billion the billionaire floated to prospective investors earlier in July. The $2 billion target is also well short of a $10 billion cap the firm had in place on the sale.

The diminished pricing was the latest blow to the process that just Monday saw Seth Klarman’s Baupost Group decide against investing in the fund, according to a Bloomberg News report. Ackman had named the hedge fund as one of the potential backers in last week’s letter to investors. He wrote that Baupost would invest $150 million in the IPO.

The IPO is currently oversubscribed and Pershing Square is expected to host another investor town hall on Wednesday, according to a person familiar. The firm expects an aggregate offering of 40 million shares priced at $50 each, the filing shows.

A roster of more than 25 banks are working on the deal, led by global coordinators and bookrunners Citigroup, UBS Investment Bank, BofA Securities and Jefferies. Wells Fargo Securities, RBC Capital Markets, BTG Pactual, Barclays and Deutsche Bank Securities are acting as bookrunners for the IPO.

Latest News

Married retirees could be in for an $18,100 Social Security cut by 2032, CRFB says
Married retirees could be in for an $18,100 Social Security cut by 2032, CRFB says

A new analysis finds long-running fiscal woes coupled with impacts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act stand to erode the major pillar for retirement income planning.

SEC bars New Jersey advisor after $9.9M fraud against Gold Star families
SEC bars New Jersey advisor after $9.9M fraud against Gold Star families

Caz Craffy, whom the Department of Justice hit with a 12-year prison term last year for defrauding grieving military families, has been officially exiled from the securities agency.

Navigating the great wealth transfer: Are advisors ready for both waves?
Navigating the great wealth transfer: Are advisors ready for both waves?

After years or decades spent building deep relationships with clients, experienced advisors' attention and intention must turn toward their spouses, children, and future generations.

UBS Financial loses another investor lawsuit involving Tesla stock
UBS Financial loses another investor lawsuit involving Tesla stock

The customer’s UBS financial advisor allegedly mishandled an options strategy called a collar, according to the client’s attorney.

Trump's one big beautiful bill reshapes charitable giving for donors and advisors
Trump's one big beautiful bill reshapes charitable giving for donors and advisors

An expansion to a 2017 TCJA provision, a permanent increase to the standard deduction, and additional incentives for non-itemizers add new twists to the donate-or-wait decision.

SPONSORED How advisors can build for high-net-worth complexity

Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.

SPONSORED RILAs bring stability, growth during volatile markets

Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.