A new 13D filing with the SEC shows that Bill Ackman‘s Pershing Square has taken a 9.9% stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG), consisting of 2.88 million shares of the fast-casual restaurant company’s stock. The filing reports that the shares were purchased at an aggregate cost of just under $1.20 billion. The stunning move is Ackman’s biggest splash since he took a 7.5% stake in Mondelez International Inc (NASDAQ:MDLZ) during the third quarter of 2015. Unlike that move, which the market reacted to with tempered enthusiasm, market participants appear much more bullish on Ackman’s latest play, as Chipotle’s shares have popped by 6.26% in after-hours trading.
The filing revealed that Ackman believes Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG) to have “a strong brand, differentiated offering, enormous growth opportunity, and visionary leadership,” and that the company’s shares are undervalued and make for an attractive investment. After a dominant two-and-a-half-year run from the start of 2013 in which Chipotle’s shares gained 150%, they have fallen on hard times, losing 42% of their value over the past year. Chipotle shares have been unhelped by outbreaks of E. coli, norovirus and salmonella at several of the company’s locations, leading to Chipotle’s comparable-store sales to have slumped by an ugly 26.5% in the first-half of 2016.
While the filing asserts Ackman’s belief in the company’s leadership, it also states that he will engage in discussions with that leadership on a variety of issues, including the composition of its Board, which could suggest that the activist investor has an eye on a Board seat for himself and/or another member of his team.
Not everyone agrees with Ackman’s assessment of Chipotle’s growth potential or the competency of its management, as restaurant analyst Howard Penney suggested earlier today that Chipotle’s shares could yet crumble by another 50%. Among other things, Penney stated that “Management doesn’t know what they’re doing,” and that the company’s summer rewards program is a “joke”. In addition to the food health scandals, Chipotle is also facing criminal investigations related to how those incidents were handled.
There was a small increase in hedge fund sentiment towards Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc (NYSE:CMG) during the second quarter, as though the number of hedge funds in our system with positions in the company remained unchanged at 39, the value of their holdings jumped to $1.69 billion from $1.22 billion. That was despite shares of the company declining by 14.4% during the quarter, which suggests that Chipotle bulls felt the bottom had been reached and were fortifying their positions. Eashwar Krishnan’s Tybourne Capital Management and David Blood and Al Gore‘s Generation Investment Management each opened large new Chipotle stakes during the quarter. Tybourne Capital held 595,325 shares on June 30, while Generation Investment Management owned 573,384 shares.
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You can access the original SEC filing by clicking here.
Ownership Summary Table
Name | Sole Voting Power | Shared Voting Power | Sole Dispositive Power | Shared Dispositive Power | Aggregate Amount Owned Power | Percent of Class |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pershing Square Capital Management | 2,882,463 | 2,882,463 | 2,882,463 | 9.9% | ||
PS Management GP | 2,882,463 | 2,882,463 | 2,882,463 | 9.9% | ||
William A. Ackman | 2,882,463 | 2,882,463 | 2,882,463 | 9.9% |
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Page 1 of 11 – SEC Filing
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO § 240.13d-2(a)
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Chipotle
Mexican Grill, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
169656105
(CUSIP Number)
Stephen Fraidin, Esq.
Steve Milankov, Esq.
Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P.
888 Seventh Avenue, 42nd Floor
New York, New York 10019
(212) 813-3700
With a
copy to:
Richard M. Brand, Esq.
Gregory P. Patti, Esq.
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
One World Financial Center
New York, NY 10281
(212)
504-6000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
August 24, 2016
(Date of
Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Page 2 of 11 – SEC Filing
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this
Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. ¨
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See §240.13d-7 for
other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page
shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the
Act (however, see the Notes).
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Page 3 of 11 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 169656105 |
1 | NAME OF Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER (a) ¨ (b) ¨ | |||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) OO (See Item 3) | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER NONE | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 2,882,463 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER NONE | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,882,463 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,882,463 | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT 9.9%* | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE IA |
* | This calculation is based on 29,115,783 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of July 18, 2016 as reported in the Issuers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 22, 2016 for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016. |
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Page 4 of 11 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 169656105 |
1 | NAME OF PS Management GP, LLC | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER (a) ¨ (b) ¨ | |||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) OO (See Item 3) | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF Delaware | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER NONE | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 2,882,463 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER NONE | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,882,463 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,882,463 | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT 9.9%* | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE OO |
* | This calculation is based on 29,115,783 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of July 18, 2016 as reported in the Issuers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 22, 2016 for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016. |
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Page 5 of 11 – SEC Filing
CUSIP No. 169656105 |
1 | NAME OF William A. Ackman | |||||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER (a) ¨ (b) ¨ | |||||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) OO (See Item 3) | |||||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL | |||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF United States | |||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER NONE | ||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 2,882,463 | |||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER NONE | |||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,882,463 | |||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,882,463 | |||||
12 | CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW | |||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT 9.9%* | |||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE IN |
* | This calculation is based on 29,115,783 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of July 18, 2016 as reported in the Issuers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 22, 2016 for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016. |
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Page 6 of 11 – SEC Filing
Item 1. | Security and Issuer |
This statement on Schedule 13D relates to the common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Issuer). The principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 1401 Wynkoop Street, Suite 500,
Denver, CO 80202.
The Reporting Persons (as defined below) beneficially own 2,882,463 shares of Common Stock (the Subject
Shares), which number includes: 554,213 shares of Common Stock and 2,328,250 shares underlying forward purchase contracts.
The Subject Shares represent approximately 9.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock based on 29,115,783 shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of July 18, 2016 as reported in the Issuers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 22, 2016 for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016.
Item 2. | Identity and Background |
(a), (f) This statement is being filed by:
(i) Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Pershing Square);
(ii) PS Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (PS Management); and
(iii) William A. Ackman, a citizen of the United States of America (together with Pershing Square and PS Management, the Reporting
Persons).
The Reporting Persons have entered into a joint filing agreement, dated as of September 6, 2016, a copy of which is
filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
(b) The address of the principal business and principal office of each of the Reporting Persons is 888
Seventh Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, New York 10019.
(c) Pershing Squares principal business is to serve as investment advisor to
certain affiliated funds, including Pershing Square, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (PS), Pershing Square II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (PS II), Pershing Square International, Ltd., a Cayman
Islands exempted company (PS International), and Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated in Guernsey (PSH and together with PS, PS II and PS International, the Pershing
Square Funds).
PS Managements principal business is to serve as the sole general partner of Pershing Square.
The principal occupation of William A. Ackman is to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Pershing Square and the managing member of PS
Management.
(d), (e) During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons (i) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding
traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violations with respect to such laws.
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Page 7 of 11 – SEC Filing
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration |
The source of funding for the
transactions pursuant to which the Reporting Persons obtained beneficial ownership of the Subject Shares was derived from the respective capital of the Pershing Square Funds, and from the net proceeds the Pershing Square Funds received from writing,
and in certain cases, unwinding, the various derivatives described below.
The Pershing Square Funds purchased 554,213 shares of Common
Stock for aggregate consideration (including brokerage commissions) of $224,491,131.
The Pershing Square Funds entered into
over-the-counter forward purchase contracts providing for the purchase of 2,328,250 shares of Common Stock for a net purchase price of $974,342,953 (less rebate amounts for early settlement, if applicable).
The Pershing Square Funds wrote and unwound listed American-style put options referencing shares of Common Stock for net proceeds of
$1,667,375. In addition, the Pershing Square Funds wrote out-of-the-money, over-the-counter European-style put options referencing forward purchase contracts providing for the purchase of shares of Common Stock for net proceeds of $410,500.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction |
The Issuer is a leading fast casual restaurant company that the
Reporting Persons believe has a strong brand, differentiated offering, enormous growth opportunity, and visionary leadership. The Reporting Persons believe that the Issuers Common Stock is undervalued and is an attractive investment.
The Reporting Persons intend to engage in discussions with the Issuer and Issuers management and board of directors, other stockholders
of the Issuer and other interested parties that may relate to the governance and board composition, business, operations, cost structure, management, assets, capitalization, financial condition, strategic plans, and the future of the Issuer.
The Reporting Persons may also propose or take one or more of the actions described in subsections (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D,
including but not limited to, solicitation of proxies, and may discuss such actions with the Issuer and Issuers management and the board of directors, other stockholders of the Issuer and other interested parties.
The Reporting Persons intend to review their investments in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors and subject to
the obligations described herein, including, without limitation, the Issuers financial position and strategic direction, actions taken by the board of directors, price levels of shares of Common Stock, other investment opportunities available
to the Reporting Persons, concentration of positions in the portfolios managed by the Reporting Persons, tax considerations for investors in the Pershing Square Funds, market conditions and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting
Persons may take such actions with respect to their investments in the Issuer as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, purchasing additional shares of Common Stock or other financial instruments related to the Issuer or selling some
or all of their beneficial or economic holdings, engaging in hedging or similar transactions with respect to the securities relating to the Issuer and/or otherwise changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4 of
Schedule 13D.
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Page 8 of 11 – SEC Filing
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer |
(a), (b) Information about the number and
percentage of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons is set forth in Item 1, and that information is incorporated by reference herein.
Pershing Square, as the investment adviser to the Pershing Square Funds, may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of
(and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) the Subject Shares. As the general partner of Pershing Square, PS Management may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or to direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose
or direct the disposition of) the Subject Shares. By virtue of William A. Ackmans position as the Chief Executive Officer of Pershing Square and managing member of PS Management, William A. Ackman may be deemed to have the shared power to
vote or direct the vote of (and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of) the Subject Shares and, therefore, William A. Ackman may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Subject Shares.
(c) Exhibit 99.2, which is filed herewith and incorporated by reference into this Item 5(c) as if restated in full, describes all of the
transactions in the Common Stock or derivatives relating to Common Stock that were effected in the past 60 days by the Reporting Persons for the benefit of the Pershing Square Funds. Except as set forth in Exhibit 99.2, no reportable
transactions were effected by any Reporting Person within the last 60 days.
(d) The Pershing Square Funds have the right to receive
dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of the Common Stock covered by this Schedule 13D. No other person is known to the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from,
or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of the Common Stock covered by this Schedule 13D.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer |
As of September 6, 2016, the Pershing Square Funds own 2,328,250 over-the-counter forward purchase contracts having a net purchase price of
$974,342,953 (less rebate amounts for early settlement, if applicable). The counterparty to such over-the-counter forward purchase contracts is UBS AG.
None of the forward purchase contracts gives the Reporting Persons direct or indirect voting, investment or dispositive control over any
securities of the Issuer or requires the counterparty thereto to acquire, hold, vote or dispose of any securities of the Issuer.
The
foregoing summary of the over-the-counter forward purchase contracts is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual language of such contracts, the form of which is filed as Exhibits 99.3, and which is incorporated herein by
reference. Supplemental financial terms of these contracts are detailed in Exhibit 99.2 for transactions in the last 60 days.
Except
as described herein, the Reporting Persons have no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) with respect to any securities of the Issuer.
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Page 9 of 11 – SEC Filing
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits |
Exhibit 99.1 | Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2016, among Pershing Square, PS Management and William A. Ackman. | |
Exhibit 99.2 | Trading data. | |
Exhibit 99.3 | Form of Confirmation for Forward Purchase Contracts. |
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Page 10 of 11 – SEC Filing
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of each of the undersigneds knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certify that the
information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: September 6, 2016
PERSHING SQUARE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. | ||
By: | PS Management GP, LLC, its General Partner | |
By | /s/ William A. Ackman | |
William A. Ackman | ||
Managing Member | ||
PS MANAGEMENT GP, LLC | ||
By | /s/ William A. Ackman | |
William A. Ackman | ||
Managing Member | ||
/s/ William A. Ackman | ||
William A. Ackman |
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Page 11 of 11 – SEC Filing
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit | Description | |
Exhibit 99.1 | Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of September 6, 2016, among Pershing Square, PS Management and William A. Ackman. | |
Exhibit 99.2 | Trading data. | |
Exhibit 99.3 | Form of Confirmation for Forward Purchase Contracts. |