Despite new Merrill Lynch chief executive John Thain telling staff just weeks ago that he was no longer a âÂÂGoldman guyâÂÂ, both of the large US investments in the bankâÂÂs $6.6bn (â¬4.5bn) capital-raising announced yesterday were by funds controlled or connected to former Goldman Sachs bankers.
TPG-Axon Capital and The New Jersey Division of Investment each invested million of dollars in Merrill Lynchâs convertible bond issue and are both controlled by ex-Goldman Sachs staff.