On Jan. 23, Pershing Square founder Bill Ackman (Trades, Portfolio) disclosed ownership of 33,333,332 shares, or 30.9% ownership, of Platform Specialty Products (PAH, Financial). The 13G filing came on the same day the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange and requested to cancel its former listing on the London Stock Exchange. His holding consists of 29,166,665 common shares and 12,500,001 warrants to purchase an additional 4,166,667 common shares, and makes him the company’s largest institutional shareholder.
Platform Specialty Products was formerly a shell company based in the Virgin Islands that held its IPO on the London Stock Exchange in May 2013 and was seeking to acquire a target company. Its board decided to switch exchanges when the company acquired MacDermid Inc., a Miami high-tech chemicals maker whose products are used in the electronics, metal and plastic plating, graphic arts and offshore oil production and drilling industries. The company made the transaction in October for $1.8 billion and changed its name from Platform Acquisition Holdings PLC (LSE:PAH, Financial).
Ackman owned a stake in the company of similar size before it shifted stock exchanges.
The acquired company produced $742 million in sales and $180 million in adjusted EBITDA for the year ended Sept. 30, 2013, with a gross margin of 51.0% and $148 million in free cash flow. The newly formed company has a market cap of $1.08 billion.
Â
uruFocus Real Time Picks alerts you for the stock purchases and sales that Gurus have made within the last two days. Follow your favorite Gurus closely with GuruFocus' Premium Membership! If you are not a Premium Member, we invite you for a 7-Day Free Trial.
