William Ackman on Israel
From Bill Ackman Milken Conference 2026-MAY-04 Monday · · TorontoWealthGroup
“I think Israel is in a very I mean, it's a country that it's I describe it as Silicon Valley as a country. Imagine if the United States was just Silicon Valley and that's and there are going to be a huge beneficiary of AI. I mean, Israel's biggest kind of competitive disadvantage is there are 9 million people that live there and they're competing against countries with tens of millions or hundreds of millions of people. But in the world of AI, you know, your population is not as critical as important. You don't need millions of people to be a major competitor in the world of AI and AI and cyber security and defense tech are probably the most important growth areas and they're very well positioned for that.”
On , William Ackman, CEO & Portfolio Manager at Pershing Square, spoke about Israel during Bill Ackman Milken Conference 2026-MAY-04 Monday on TorontoWealthGroup.
About William Ackman
In late April and early May 2026, Bill Ackman oversaw the dual IPO of Pershing Square USA (PSUS), a new closed-end fund, and Pershing Square Inc. (PS), the alternative asset management company. The offering raised $5 billion, which Ackman described as the sixth-largest IPO in the prior decade and the largest closed-end fund offering in U.S. history. He stated that the capital would be deployed within weeks, calling it a "great time to put the capital to work." Ackman emphasized that the fund would differ from typical closed-end funds by offering lower fees, better governance, quarterly earnings calls, and investor days, and he characterized it as "the rebirth of the closed-end investment company universe." He also noted that retail investors received larger allocations than usual, which he said contributed to early trading volatility. Ackman discussed his investment philosophy in several interviews, stating that the most important factor in his approach is "business quality" and the durability of a company's growth. He said that founder-led companies are particularly attractive because their leaders have long-term stakes in the business. On the topic of artificial intelligence, Ackman described it as both the "greatest time to build a business" and a "major threat to portfolios," adding that every company is now an AI company and that boards are prioritizing the topic. He expressed a bullish view on the market, saying that stocks are "fairly valued" and that he sees "cuts ahead" for interest rates. Ackman also commented on his activist campaign involving Universal Music Group, stating that the company needs a "reset" and that his proposal includes a move from Amsterdam to a U.S. listing, a new board led by Mike Ovitz, and a more aggressive buyback program. He said succession at Pershing Square is already in place.