Bill Ackman is planning to take Pershing Square public: report

• Bill Ackman is aiming to take Pershing Square public as soon as next year, the WSJ reports.
• Ackman aims to secure funding by first selling a stake in his firm, the Journal reported.
• It would be an unusual move for a hedge fund.

Billionaire Bill Ackman is planning to take his investment firm Pershing Square public, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal.

But first, Ackman intends to drum up some funding by selling a stake in his firm to investors in a deal that's expected to close very soon, people familiar with the matter told the WSJ.