Gates Foundation Sells Final 7.7M Shares in $3.2B Exit as Ackman Buys $2.1B
Gates Foundation sold its final 7.7 million Microsoft shares for $3.2 billion, ending a decades-long position as it winds down operations by 2045. Bill Ackman's Pershing Square bought 5.65 million Microsoft shares for $2.09 billion using Alphabet stock, as AI division reorganization follows weak Copilot adoption.
1. Gates Foundation Finalizes Microsoft Divestment
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust sold its final 7.7 million Microsoft shares for approximately $3.2 billion in the first quarter, ending a decades-long position as part of its plan to sunset operations by 2045 and distribute around $200 billion in charitable funding over the next two decades.
2. Pershing Square Builds New Microsoft Stake
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square acquired roughly 5.65 million Microsoft shares valued at about $2.09 billion at quarter-end, financing the purchase through sales of Alphabet stock while maintaining a bullish long-term view on both companies.
3. AI Adoption Concerns Spur Reorganization
Market concerns over weak Copilot adoption—about 15 million users out of 450 million Microsoft 365 commercial seats and a market share drop from 18.8% to 11.5%—prompted a reorganization of the AI division in March and sidelining of the executive overseeing the unit.
4. Market Implications
The high-profile exit by one founding investor and aggressive accumulation by a major hedge fund highlight divergent strategies that may influence market sentiment, with AI execution and enterprise software growth expected to guide near-term stock performance.