Ackman's Pershing Square Is Said to Take Passive Stake in Nike

(Bloomberg) -- Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management has built a stake in Nike Inc., according to a person familiar with the matter.

Unlike Pershing Square’s activist campaigns, in which it pressures company executives or directors to make changes, its investment in the sportswear company is passive, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the details are private.

A representative for Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Nike shares have risen more than 30 percent since the end of September, valuing the company at $110 billion.

Faced with shrinking assets, Ackman is cutting 10 employees from the firm, a person familiar with that matter said this week. The firm now oversees about $9 billion in assets, less than half of its 2015 peak.

Ackman’s Nike investment was reported earlier by Reuters.

--With assistance from Matt Townsend

To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Deveau in New York at sdeveau2@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Elizabeth Fournier at efournier5@bloomberg.net, Michael Hytha

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.