With just $6 billion in assets left, of what once totaled $83 billion,
For all intents and purposes, Reserve Management is now out of business. Given its longtime vow to guarantee investors safety and its spectacular failure to do that with the Sept. 16 implosion of its flagship Primary Fund industry watchers say the companys demise is not surprising, and also warranted.
The first rule of investing is to allow investors to redeem, said Peter Crane, principal of
During a meeting Wednesday night, the Reserves board of trustees voted to liquidate the assets of the Reserve Yield Plus Fund, as well as 17 additional municipal money market funds, Reserve announced late Thursday.
Connie Bugbee, managing director of
As to why the fund changed its prospectus a year ago to invest in commercial paper and began loading up on
But that is no excuse for the fund to have changed course so radically, Bugbee said. If your name is at the top, that is where the buck stops. Whether Bruce Bent was CEO in effect or in name only, he bears responsibility.
Reserve is in discussions with the
On Thursday, Reserve Management formally applied for the
If Treasury approves Reserves application for the guarantee, investors should be able to receive their money back in full; otherwise, their money will remain frozen until the capital markets return to normal trading. As to whether Treasury will approve the firms application for the money funds guarantee, industry watchers say the government might do so for the investors sake.
A call to the company was not returned on Thursday evening.