Finance

Pershing Square proposes $900 million deal to increase Howard Hughes stake

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 19, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 26, 2026

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(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management said on Tuesday it would buy 10 million newly issued shares of Howard Hughes Holdings for $900 million as it revised

Pershing Square Plans $900 Million Acquisition to Boost Howard Hughes Stake

(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management said on Tuesday it would buy 10 million newly issued shares of Howard Hughes Holdings for $900 million as it revised its proposal to the real estate developer.

Shares of Howard Hughes dipped 5% in extended trading.

Under the proposal, Ackman would become chairman and CEO of Howard Hughes, Pershing said, adding the company's current CEO, David O'Reilly, will lead its principal subsidiary, Howard Hughes Corp.

The deal would take Pershing's stake in Howard Hughes to 48% from the 37.6% it currently owns.

Howard Hughes did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The new proposal replaces Pershing's previous offer of $1 billion for Howard Hughes it made in January, when it said it would increase its stake in the company to between 61% and 69%.

Pershing Square's management team will not receive cash, equity or other compensation in the transaction, but require Howard Hughes to pay a 1.5% annual fee of its market capitalization to Pershing under a services agreement.

Howard Hughes currently has a market capitalization of about $3.8 billion, according to LSEG data.

Pershing said it would finance the deal for Howard Hughes, which owns and manages commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate in the U.S., with cash on hand.

Earlier in the day, Ackman said in a post on X that Pershing would announce a potential transaction which would create a "modern-day version of Berkshire Hathaway."

Ackman has been personally involved with Howard Hughes for a decade and stepped off the company's board in April after having served as its chairman since 2010.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar and Anil D'Silva)

Key Takeaways

  • Pershing Square proposes a $900 million deal for Howard Hughes.
  • Bill Ackman to become chairman and CEO of Howard Hughes.
  • The acquisition increases Pershing's stake to 48%.
  • Previous $1 billion offer was revised to $900 million.
  • Ackman envisions a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value of Pershing Square's proposed deal?
Pershing Square proposes to buy 10 million newly issued shares of Howard Hughes Holdings for $900 million.
What will be the new stake of Pershing Square in Howard Hughes?
The deal would increase Pershing's stake in Howard Hughes from 37.6% to 48%.
Who will lead Howard Hughes after the acquisition?
Bill Ackman will become chairman and CEO of Howard Hughes, while the current CEO, David O'Reilly, will lead its principal subsidiary.
How will Pershing Square finance the deal?
Pershing Square plans to finance the acquisition with cash on hand.
What was the previous offer made by Pershing Square?
The new proposal replaces Pershing's previous offer of $1 billion made in January, which aimed to increase its stake to between 61% and 69%.

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