Herbalife (HLF) has found multiple hidden listening devices at its headquarters in Los Angeles, Fox Business News’ Charlie Gasparino reports. The source of this information also said the bugs, discovered over the last year, were “non-governmental”.
“Clearly the company feels it’s been spied upon by outside forces that are not the government,” Gasparino reported.
Herbalife is infamously locked in a heated battle with hedge fund activist Bill Ackman, who in December 2012 unveiled his $1 billion short position against Herbalife and said he considered it a pyramid scheme.
Gasparino later tweeted that Ackman denied any connection to the bugs.
“We have no idea and we are uninvolved in the listening devices found at [Herbalife] HQ,” Ackman told FBN, according to the Gasparino tweet.
Herbalife has repeatedly said it is a legitimate multilevel marketing company and has forcefully rejected the claims by Ackman, who runs the $12 billion hedge fund Pershing Square Capital.
Herbalife was last trading Monday at $61.27, down 0.70% from Friday and well off its $83.51 January high. Nevertheless, shares are still up 41% on a year-over-year basis.
