Ackman’s Pershing Square fund buys 2 percent stake in Kraft, backs bid for Cadbury

Ackman’s Pershing Square buys 2 pct of Kraft

PORTLAND, Ore. — Pershing Square Capital Management LP, a hedge fund run by activist investor William Ackman, has purchased a roughly 2 percent stake in Kraft Foods Inc.

Kraft said Ackman supports its bid to acquire British candy maker Cadbury PLC but is urging it to limit the stock component of the more than $16 billion stock-and-cash offer.

Kraft, maker of Oreo cookies and Nabisco crackers, said Friday that Ackman’s investment is a sign of “great confidence” in the company’s management and prospects.

Ackman could not immediately be reached for comment.

He was the second major U.S. investor to weigh in on Kraft’s campaign to buy Cadbury, the maker of Dairy Milk candy bars and Dentyne gum.

Berkshire Hathaway, managed by billionaire Warren Buffett and Kraft’s largest shareholder, also warned against using more shares to accomplish the deal. Investors already see Kraft’s stock as undervalued and worry selling more shares would further diminish their value.

Kraft is the sole bidder for Cadbury so far, but investors and others expect The Hershey Co. to issue a competing bid soon.

Under UK takeover rules, Kraft has until Tuesday to raise its bid and Hershey until the end of next week to put in an offer or walk away for several months.

Kraft shareholders are scheduled to meet Feb. 1 to vote on whether to issue 370 million more shares to help finance the offer. Unless another bid emerges, the company has until Feb. 2 to get Cadbury shareholder approval on the offer.

Kraft’s shares rose 2 percent closing at $29.58 on Friday.