Stiritz: I still hold Herbalife and 'have a lot of confidence in Carl Icahn'

Major Herbalife (HLF) shareholder Bill Stiritz told CNBC on Friday he still holds shares of the nutrition product company, and he has a lot of confidence in Carl Icahn, another major stockholder.

This comes after hedge fund manager Bill Ackman said on CNBC, "I would guess by the time the next filing comes out, Bill Stiritz is gone." Ackman was referring to Post Holdings Chairman Stiritz's stake worth $211 million in Herbalife. He also thinks the next filing will show Fidelity's exit from its stake, last worth $501 million.

Earlier, Ackman confirmed to CNBC he was approached indirectly by Icahn to purchase Icahn's stake in Herbalife. Ackman has been a vocal critic of the company and has been short the stock since late 2012. Ackman said Jefferies contacted him to buy shares in the company, saying Icahn was selling his stake.

Icahn's firm owned a stake worth more than $1.1 billion in the nutritional supplement company.

"Carl is kind of the last man standing, and I think if he's gone, the whole confidence thing blows up," Ackman told CNBC. He has called Herbalife a pyramid scheme — allegations the company denies.

Said Icahn: "I am not commenting on rumors and stories about what I am doing."

Herbalife stock was down about 4.5 percent Friday.

Stiritz said he still believes in the Herbalife business. "Herbalife's business is positive for society," he said, adding: "I have a lot of confidence in Carl Icahn."

Correction: This story was revised to correct the spelling of Stiritz in one reference.