Asset Junkie ! dot Com

Oh, Raj.

You tell us you’re one of the best players of the equity long/short strategy in the market. Well, guess what. If I had the information you do when you trade, I could do it too, while eating an apple, relieving myself, and singing a song, all at once. Oh, and, I have a belly button.

Letter to Shareholders of Galleon Group, from Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam (Courtesy of USA Today):

October 21, 2009

Dear Galleon Employees, Clients and Friends,

I have decided that it is now in the best interest of our investors and employees to conduct an orderly wind down of Galleon’s funds while we explore various alternatives for our business. At this important time, I want to reassure investors of the liquidity of our funds and assure Galleon employees that we are seeking the best way to keep together what I believe is the best long / short equity team in the business.

As many of you know, we have built our business on the fundamental belief in rigorous investment analysis combined with active trading around core positions. We have encouraged and invited our investors to attend our daily research morning meetings. Many of you have done so and got a first hand look at our process. This research process is the core of our investment and trading strategy.

The privilege of managing investors’ capital is a responsibility that I have always taken very seriously. I want to reiterate that I am innocent of all charges and will defend myself against these accusations with the same intensity and focus I have brought to managing our investors’ capital.

For those who have been my partners and supporters over the last 17 years, I sincerely thank you. I also want to thank you for the innumerable expressions of support I have received from you over the past few days.

Sincerely

Raj Rajaratnam

Rajaratnam, 52, and a couple of his cohorts have been accused of trading on (according to authorities) Sun Microsystems, Google and Hilton, among others, with material, non-public information. This is called insider trading and is illegal. Therefore, it is against the law. Do not try it. It is unlawful. Apparently Raj missed the last part(s) there.

Investigators allege that the perpetrators profited in this scheme to the tune of more than $25,000,000.00.