Al Vinjamur, co-manager of a quantitative group at hedge fund manager SAC Capital Advisors in New York, is reportedly considering the launch of his own U.S. equity long/short fund. Reached at home, Vinjamur denied having plans to leave SAC or launch a new fund, but added that he is taking some time off. "I'm very happy working at SAC," he said. "I've no plans to leave."
SAC is reportedly trying to keep Vinjamur with the firm. Steve Cohen, head of SAC, referred calls to Peter Nussbaum, legal counsel in Stamford, Conn., who declined comment.
Vinjamur co-heads the management of statistical arbitrage strategies for the USD1.9 billion SAC Capital Fund. SAC is the world's 24th largest hedge fund manager, according to Institutional Investor. The Capital Fund is the largest of its six funds.
Vinjamur is regarded as one of the best statistical arbitrage traders in the hedge fund industry and is thought to have generated consistently strong returns over approximately a decade at SAC.
