Bill Ackman Coupang Investment and Philanthropic Efforts

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Bill Ackman's investment in Coupang has been a significant one, with Pershing Square Capital Management, his hedge fund, taking a 6% stake in the company in 2021.

Ackman's investment in Coupang is a testament to his confidence in the company's growth potential.

Coupang's revenue grew from $2.4 billion in 2019 to $10.9 billion in 2021, with Ackman's investment likely playing a role in this expansion.

Ackman has been involved in various philanthropic efforts throughout his career, including donating to the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance.

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Bill Ackman's Philanthropy

Bill Ackman's philanthropy is a significant aspect of his personality. He has a net wealth of US$2 billion.

Ackman has donated over US$1.3 billion of Coupang shares to charity. This is a remarkable gesture, considering the stock's value increased five percent to US$51 on Monday. The donated shares will benefit humanity through the Pershing Square Foundation and another not-for-profit organization.

Ackman's foundation, Pershing Square Foundation, invests in "outstanding leaders and innovative organizations" that address significant social issues.

Ackman Gifts $1.3 Billion to Charity

Free stock photo of agreement, analyst, angel investor
Credit: pexels.com, Free stock photo of agreement, analyst, angel investor

Bill Ackman has made a significant move in his philanthropic efforts by gifting over $1.3 billion of Coupang shares to charity.

Ackman's donation is a result of Coupang's incredible success, which has nearly doubled in market capitalisation from its initial public offering price of $35 per share.

The billionaire CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management made the donation to the Pershing Square Foundation, a donor-advised fund, and another non-profit organisation.

Ackman's investment in Coupang was made in a 2010 seed funding round, and he has been a "day one" investor in the e-commerce start-up.

Coupang's remarkable success has made Ackman's 26.5 million shares worth over $1.3 billion, which will now benefit humanity.

The Pershing Square Foundation is committed to supporting exceptional leaders and innovative organisations that tackle important social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable impact across the globe.

Ackman's donation is a significant boost to the foundation's efforts, which have already committed over $400 million in grants and social investments since its inception.

Coupang's stock nearly doubled in its first trading day, and on March 15, it was up 4.1 percent to close at $50.45, valuing Ackman's gifted shares at over $1.3 billion.

The Bottom Line

Young Asian woman using a laptop and credit card for online shopping at home.
Credit: pexels.com, Young Asian woman using a laptop and credit card for online shopping at home.

Bill Ackman's philanthropy is a double-edged sword, as it can both help and hurt the company he's invested in.

He's likely to set conditions for the sale of the stock at some point in the future, allowing him to reap benefits from his investment.

Ackman is killing two birds with one stone, making it more likely that he'll continue to support the company.

The charitable funds that receive Coupang stock may sell it for cash to be redeployed in businesses that actually make money, but Ackman's conditions will prevent this.

Ackman's strong support for the company is evident in his actions, and he's likely to remain a key backer.

Discover more: Bill Ackman Stocks

Coupang Investment

Bill Ackman's investment in Coupang was a significant one, with Pershing Square Holdings, his investment firm, acquiring a 23% stake in the company.

Coupang's valuation at the time of the investment was around $65 billion, making it one of the most valuable startups in the world.

Bill Ackman's investment in Coupang was a strategic move to tap into the company's growing e-commerce market in South Korea.

For another approach, see: Bill Ackman Company

Bill Ackman's Investment

Credit: youtube.com, U.S. billionaire investor donates entire stake in Coupang

Bill Ackman's investment in Coupang was a significant one, as he was a "day one" investor in the e-commerce start-up.

Ackman's involvement with Coupang began early on, and he participated in a 2014 seed funding round for the company.

Coupang's IPO on the NYSE on March 11 was a major milestone, raising $4.6 billion.

The company's stock nearly doubled on its first trading day, with Ackman's 26.5 million shares becoming worth about $1.3 billion on March 15.

Ackman's shares were worth $1.3 billion on March 15, after the stock closed at $50.45.

Intriguing read: Bill Ackman Net Worth

What's This in Dollars?

Let's break down the numbers behind Ackman's stock donation. Based on a 23.8% tax rate, he'd owe around $286 million in capital gains taxes, but by donating all the stock, he pays none. Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management earned $1.4 billion in 2020, so let's simplify with $700 million as his earnings.

Assuming he uses the higher deduction rate of 50% for stock donations to donor-advised funds, Ackman can deduct up to $350 million of his $700 million earnings. He could also carry forward any excess deductions for five additional years.

Coupang IPO

Credit: youtube.com, Coupang CEO Bom Kim on the company's monster IPO

Bill Ackman was a "day one" investor in Coupang, an e-commerce start-up founded in 2010 by Bom Suk Kim.

Coupang is often referred to as the Amazon of South Korea.

On March 11, Coupang went public on the NYSE and raised $4.6 billion in its IPO.

The company sold 130 million shares at $35 apiece, above its target range of $32 to $34.

Coupang's stock nearly doubled on its first trading day.

On Mar. 15, the stock was up 4.1 percent to close at $50.45, and Ackman's 26.5 million shares were worth about $1.3 billion.

Ackman also participated in a 2014 seed funding round for Coupang, along with asset manager BlackRock and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital.

Here's a breakdown of Coupang's IPO numbers:

Coupang's rapid growth is impressive, with total revenue reaching $12 billion in 2020, up nearly 91% from the previous year.

Bill Ackman's Donations

Bill Ackman donated over US$1.3 billion of his Coupang shares to charity.

Photo of Three People Smiling While Having a Meeting
Credit: pexels.com, Photo of Three People Smiling While Having a Meeting

This significant donation is a result of Coupang's incredible success, which saw its stock nearly double in market capitalization after its initial public offering.

Ackman's net wealth is US$2 billion, and he had invested in Coupang at its inception in 2010.

Coupang was founded by Harvard University dropout Bom Kim and has also received investments from SoftBank Group and Stanley Druckenmiller.

Ackman's donation will benefit humanity through Pershing Square Foundation, a donor-advised fund, and another not-for-profit organization.

Ackman's Pershing Square Foundation has committed over $400 million in grants and social investments since its inception in 2006.

Ackman's entire Coupang stake was donated to three entities, including Pershing Square Foundation, with the other two organizations remaining unnamed.

Eigene Stiftung

Ackman's own foundation benefits from the donation. According to CNBC, Ackman invested in Coupang as a private individual in an early funding round, but his 13 billion dollar hedge fund Pershing Capital is not involved in the online retailer.

Credit: youtube.com, (Interview) Einblicke des Investment-Gurus Bill Ackman

Ackman's hedge fund is not directly involved in Coupang, but his own foundation is benefiting from the donation. Ackman has transferred some Coupang shares to the Pershing Square Foundation, a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), and another non-profit organization.

The Pershing Square Foundation is a DAF, which is a type of donation that allows the giver to decide how the funds are used later. The foundation is not a traditional charity, but rather a way for Ackman to give back to the community.

Ackman has not disclosed how the 26.5 million Coupang shares were divided among the three organizations.

Take a look at this: Bill Ackman Closed End Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of Chipotle does Bill Ackman own?

Bill Ackman owns 2.1% of Chipotle through his hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management. This significant stake makes him a major investor in the company.

Victoria Funk

Junior Writer

Victoria Funk is a talented writer with a keen eye for investigative journalism. With a passion for uncovering the truth, she has made a name for herself in the industry by tackling complex and often overlooked topics. Her in-depth articles on "Banking Scandals" have sparked important conversations and shed light on the need for greater financial transparency.

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