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Compact case
Case
-
Reference no. SSE2023.03
Published by: Stockholm School of Economics (SSE)
Originally published in: 2024
Version: 2021-04-27
Length: 5 pages
Data source: Field research

Abstract

This is part of a case series. During the month of March 2020, financial markets, and especially corporate bond markets, seized up. Credit spreads widened, trading became difficult, and issuance fell. A useful summary of these events can be found in Haddad, Moreira and Muir (2020). In this environment, bond mutual funds in many countries faced withdrawals that were difficult to meet. In Sweden, the month of March saw total outflows from bond mutual funds of 40 BSEK, which represented 22% of their AUM. Spiltan, Sweden's largest bond mutual fund manager, closed their fund on March 20, along with several other large funds, arguing that market prices were unreasonable and that trading at sufficient scale to meet redemptions was impossible. As aggressive interventions in corporate bond markets were announced by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, markets calmed down. All twenty-six funds which had closed in the Nordic region had opened for redemptions again by March 26, except for Spiltan's two largest funds. Only after a week did they open for redemptions again. The Spiltan (A) case concerns the decision to close the fund, and the (B) case the decision to remain closed after other funds had opened.

Time period

The events covered by this case took place in 2020.

Geographical setting

Region:
Europe

Featured company

Spiltan AB
Employees:
11-50
Type:
Privately held
Industry:
Asset management

Featured protagonists

  • Lars Lönnquist (male), Fund manager
  • Erik Brännström (male), CEO
  • Per Börjesson (male), Chair person

About

Abstract

This is part of a case series. During the month of March 2020, financial markets, and especially corporate bond markets, seized up. Credit spreads widened, trading became difficult, and issuance fell. A useful summary of these events can be found in Haddad, Moreira and Muir (2020). In this environment, bond mutual funds in many countries faced withdrawals that were difficult to meet. In Sweden, the month of March saw total outflows from bond mutual funds of 40 BSEK, which represented 22% of their AUM. Spiltan, Sweden's largest bond mutual fund manager, closed their fund on March 20, along with several other large funds, arguing that market prices were unreasonable and that trading at sufficient scale to meet redemptions was impossible. As aggressive interventions in corporate bond markets were announced by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, markets calmed down. All twenty-six funds which had closed in the Nordic region had opened for redemptions again by March 26, except for Spiltan's two largest funds. Only after a week did they open for redemptions again. The Spiltan (A) case concerns the decision to close the fund, and the (B) case the decision to remain closed after other funds had opened.

Settings

Time period

The events covered by this case took place in 2020.

Geographical setting

Region:
Europe

Featured company

Spiltan AB
Employees:
11-50
Type:
Privately held
Industry:
Asset management

Featured protagonists

  • Lars Lönnquist (male), Fund manager
  • Erik Brännström (male), CEO
  • Per Börjesson (male), Chair person

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