Goldman's View On Europe Bailout Plan #42 - "Unlikely To Calm Markets"

We now know that the European Union, as part of its most recent ridiculous idea for a global eurozone bailout, is planning on soon issuing its own bonds and thus becoming a defacto Treasury. How the hell it plans on doing this is simply beyond comprehension, but it certainly involves a lot of "financial innovation"... ergo - enter Goldman Sachs, from whom it would need a ringing endorsement to proceed with its plan. Alas, the just released note from Erik Nielsen is anything but favorable. (and yes title is a ref: Douglas Adams - the EU has the answer, if only they could find the question now).

The heads of state of the 16-member Euro-zone met last night to finally and formally approve the Greek package (the IMF’s part will be approved tomorrow Sunday in an extra-ordinary Board meeting in Washington.) The Euro-zone leaders used the occasion to issued a broader statement (below).

• On Greece: The money will be there for the May 19 payment. The Greek PM reiterated his “total commitment” to the policy reforms agreed. My comment: Good, but entirely expected news. I maintain my view on the risk to the program and its implementation.
• On the present broader crisis: “All the institutions of the euro area (Council, Commission, ECB) as well as all euro area Member States agree to use the full range of means available to ensure the stability of the euro area”. My comment: Note the words “the full range of means available” – they may hesitate before pulling out the really big guns, but it’ll happen if needed.
• More specifically, the Commission will propose a European stabilization mechanism to preserve financial stability in Europe, which will be submitted for decision to an extraordinary ECOFIN meeting tomorrow Sunday. There’ll also be a proposal for stronger governance to be presented on May 12 My comment: They’ll try to finesse the messy process of get help to Greece. They may try to pool their money more formally, but it’ll still have to come from individual country borrowing (and hence national approval processes) as opposed to a common bond. Also, there won’t be any money for unconditional disbursement. I suspect that the governance stuff could refer to punishment of those who slip on their fiscal policies, e.g. suspension of payments from the structural funds. There will be nothing in terms of surrendering fiscal authority or other dramatic stuff.
• Finally, they agreed to accelerate their work on financial regulation.

All in all this is good news, but it is unlikely in itself to calm markets; its all too “slow-burner” stuff. But what it will do is to provide sort of a fig leaf for the ECB to introduce exceptional measures, just like the Greek package (and the ECB’s own “approval” of it) made it possible to suspend the ratings agency from determining access for Greek sovereign securities. I am not sure what exactly the next ECB measures will be, but I would rather suspect an announcement probably already tomorrow, maybe along with the Ecofin decision, on additional measures. It could be the mega-loans to the banks rumoured yesterday, it could be a FX-swap arrangement, or “simply” a re-introduction of 12-months repos along with an easing of haircuts. I rather doubt that it’ll be outright purchases of sovereign debt at this stage.

Stay tuned.

Erik F. Nielsen

Chief European Economist

Goldman Sachs

(from ZeroHedge, May 8, 2010)

Paulson's investors are concerned

by Gregory Zuckerman and Jenny Strasburg

John Paulson hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing. But the hedge-fund billionaire has gone on the offensive to reassure investors that his huge firm will emerge unscathed from a case that has drawn him into a political and legal vortex.

The steps, including a conference call with about 100 investors late Monday, come amid indications from some clients that they might withdraw money from his firm after a lawsuit brought by the government against Goldman Sachs Group Inc. related to an investment created at his firm's request.

Bloomberg News

John Paulson

Investors have indicated they are concerned that scrutiny over the firm's deals may spread, including to overseas regulators. They said they wanted to protect themselves in case new information emerges that could damage the hedge fund, they say. Another issue, they say: The legal case could simply prove a distraction for Mr. Paulson.

"Some of the callers asked pointed questions, almost like a court inquisition, but most people were supportive," said Brad Alford, who runs Alpha Capital Management. "I felt reassured that he did nothing wrong."

WSJ Professional

• Swap Deals in Focus

"It's not a rush for the doors," said another investor in Paulson & Co. who has communicated with larger Paulson investors since Friday, when the government unveiled its Goldman case.

Mr. Paulson sent a letter to investors Tuesday night saying that in 2007 his firm wasn't seen as an experienced mortgage investor, and that "many of the most sophisticated investors in the world" were "more than willing to bet against us."

Mr. Paulson's firm focuses on largely liquid investments, or those that are relatively easy to sell without pushing prices much lower. Even if a number of investors ask out, the firm likely will be able to sell investments without crippling their holdings, investors say.

Some traders have been examining Mr. Paulson's top holdings and positions in which filings indicate he has been a substantial holder since the news, they say. When the news of the lawsuit broke on Friday, some of these stocks, including Conseco Inc., Cheniere Energy Inc. and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd., fell sharply.

The case has delayed the planned initial public offering of a Canadian investment fund, Propel Multi-Strategy Fund, which was formed to give individual investors exposure to two funds advised by Paulson, according to people familiar with the offering. Propel didn't respond to requests for comment.

More

• In Europe, Politicians Call for Goldman Ban
• Goldman Sachs Profit Soars as Revenue Increases
• Goldman's Tourre De-Registered in U.K.
• GOP Lawmakers Question SEC's Timing
• Recap: Goldman's Conference Call

On the Monday night conference call, some investors asked if Mr. Paulson or anyone at the firm had received a government notice of potential civil charges, called a Wells notice, according to people familiar with the call.

Mr. Paulson said no. Mr. Paulson said the case wasn't a distraction that was affecting the firm's investments, and that he was confident the public glare would abate.

On the conference call, Mr. Paulson calmly explained the trade with Goldman, which involved a "short" bet on mortgage bonds. He said that the very nature of the transaction required both a "long" and "short" investor, suggesting that investors knew that a bearish investor had bet against the deal.

Mr. Paulson suggested to clients that the large investors who purchased the Goldman deal and others relied on rating firms, and didn't do enough of their homework, investors say.

The hedge-fund firm has a deadline next Friday for investors who want to withdraw money on June 30. Paulson allows most investors to pull out four times a year, but they need to give at least 60 days notice. Investors can cancel redemptions before the end of June.

Magnetar Capital LLC, another hedge-fund firm that, like Paulson, was heavily invested in collateralized debt obligations in 2007 also has been working to reassure investors that it believes its mortgage-linked investment strategy was sound and can withstand regulatory scrutiny.

Investors in Magnetar, which oversees some $7 billion in assets, also have a deadline next week to request June withdrawals of money. The Evanston, Ill.-based firm sent an 11-page letter to investors Monday saying that it didn't control which individual assets went into CDO deals in which it invested.

It isn't clear whether ongoing scrutiny of Magnetar will rattle its investors, who have known some details of the firm's strategy for several years. An article earlier this month in news outlet ProPublica was the latest to assert that Magnetar designed deals built to fail that caused cascading losses for investors on the other side of the trades. The hedge fund's strategy was also the subject of a January 2008 Wall Street Journal article. Magnetar told investors this week that it based its mortgage-CDO strategy on statistical models, not a fundamental belief that the housing market would slide.

A Magnetar spokesman said, "Our communications with investors have been very positive and supportive."

(from WSJ, April 21, 2010)

Goldman Sachs says no to Christmas party

In an attempt to keep a low profile, The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has told its employees that it won't be hosting a corporate Christmas party this year. The investment bank is also prohibiting employees from funding their own parties, an insider at the firm told InvestmentNews.

The Christmas party ban comes as Goldman has been under sharp public criticism for paying bigger bonuses this year while national unemployment hovers at 10.2% and many workers have taken pay cuts.

In the third quarter, the company announced a profit of $3.19 billion and said it has set aside nearly half of its revenue to reward its employees. Last year, Goldman paid out $4.8 billion in bonuses, awarding 953 employees at least $1 million each and 78 employees at least $4 million. The rewards this year are expected to be greater. Melissa Daly, a spokeswoman, confirmed that Goldman will not host a Christmas party this year and that it didn't hold one in 2008. She could not comment on whether the company is banning employees from holding their own parties.

Given the shaky economic climate, it makes sense that Goldman is putting the kibosh on holiday festivities, said Steven Hall, managing director of Steven Hall & Partners LLC, an executive compensation shop.

“The last thing they want are pictures showing up of lavish parties while everyone is talking about their paying lavish bonuses,” Mr. Hall said. “This is just not the time to be flaunting it.”

(from investmentnews.com, November 12, 2009)