Could 24 (Reuters) – Invoice Ackman questioned the valuation of Carl Icahn’s flagship agency as he took one other jab at his outdated rival, whose firm has develop into the goal of short-seller Hindenburg Analysis.
The billionaire investor mentioned in a tweet on Wednesday that he was “fascinated” by the state of affairs between the brief vendor and Icahn Enterprises (IEP.O), whereas noting that the corporate’s premium had been sustained by a big dividend yield.
“The yield is generated by returning capital to outdoors shareholders, which is in flip funded by the corporate promoting inventory to traders,” Ackman mentioned, including the system is extremely depending on the “upkeep of the premium and the placidity of Icahn’s margin lender(s)”.
A consultant for Icahn was not instantly obtainable for remark. Invoice Ackman declined to remark past his tweet.
In its report, Hindenburg has accused IEP of overvaluing its holdings and counting on a “Ponzi-like” construction to pay dividends. Icahn has referred to as Hindenburg’s report “self-serving” and reiterated his protection of the corporate.
Shares in IEP have misplaced greater than half their worth to this point this yr. The inventory was down one other 0.3% in prolonged buying and selling.
On Could 10, IEP mentioned it was contacted by U.S. prosecutors, and it posted a shock quarterly loss within the first quarter.
Icahn locked horns with Ackman over the complement firm Herbalife in early 2013 by taking the alternative aspect of the commerce, in what was dubbed on the time as “the battle of the billionaires”.
“IEP’s efficiency historical past and governance construction don’t justify a premium; moderately they counsel that a big low cost to internet asset worth can be acceptable,” Ackman mentioned, including he was neither lengthy nor brief on the inventory.
Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Modifying by Anil D’Silva
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