But, as reported by Bloomberg, Herbalife has registered website domain names such as threalbillackman.com and billackman.net, signalling the increasingly personal brawl fostered by hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman?s short bet against the nutrition company isn?t likely to get any nicer.
Ackman, who runs Pershing Square Capital Management, accused the company of operating a pyramid scheme in December, announcing a huge short position against Herbalife shares. Herbalife shares tanked but have since rebounded, rising more than 17% since the beginning of the year.
Ackman, at the time, launched his own website, called factsaboutherbalife.com.
Herbalife has fought back, denying that its multi-level marketing program is a pyramid scheme and accusing Ackmann of distorting its business model.
The battle has attracted other heavyweights from the investing world. Setting up a showdown of hedge-fund titans, Third Point?s Dan Loeb weighed in earlier this month to take an 8.2% stake in Herbalife.
Then last week things got, well, if not interesting ? at least weird, as Ackman squared off with fellow billionaire Carl Icahn in an on-air verbal throwdown on CNBC after Icahn criticized Pershing Square for publicly touting its short position.
Icahn called Ackman a ?crybaby,? while Ackman called Icahn a ?liar? and a hypocrite.
For his part, Ackman took exception to Herbalife?s domain-name move, telling Bloomberg: ?What legitimate company would do something like that. The spotlight is on Herbalife and they are doing everything they can do to turn it away.?
? William L. Watts