Greenspan joins NY hedge fund

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Author: Anuj Gangahar, Financial Times

Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, is to become an adviser to Paulson & Co, the $28bn New York-based hedge fund company that achieved spectacular investment returns at the height of the credit squeeze last year.

Mr Greenspan will join the advisory board of the credit specialist investment house. Paulson will be the only hedge fund that Mr Greenspan will work with under the terms of the agreement.

Paulson was propelled into the spotlight last year as perhaps the biggest known winner in making aggressive bets against US subprime home loans. Investors estimate that its funds racked up profits of $12bn.

Mr Greenspan already holds separate advisory roles with Deutsche Bank and Pimco, the asset management firm. The financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

John Paulson, president of the hedge fund, said: “Few people, if any in the world, have the experience with, and depth of understanding of, global financial markets [of Mr] Greenspan.”

He said Mr Greenspan would share his perspectives with the Paulson investment management team on the direction of the economy, assessing the potential for and severity of a US recession.

Mr Greenspan served as chairman of the Fed for 18 years until 2006. His pronouncements on the economy through regular public appearances still have the power to move markets.