Case Study 2

A Tale of Two Hedge Funds: Magnetar and Peloton

(Case 5 from ST)
It is a group work. Please work with your team members for the group home work on the
following five questions:
1. Summarize the CDO strategy deployed by Magnetar during 2007. How was this different from
Pelotons strategy during 2007 and early 2008? How was it different from John Paulsons
strategy? Although Magnetars bet was relatively safe, how could it have lost money? Think of
one way other than the one mentioned in the case. How could Magnetar mitigate this risk?
2. Describe Pelotons liquidity crisis, including UBSs role.
3. Describe the role of credit rating agencies in the CDO market.
4. What caused the 20072008 financial crisis? Discuss the role that banks, rating agencies,
investors, and others played in CDOs. What principal-agent problems existed? Why did so many
astute investors not recognize these signs? What should be done to prevent this crisis from
happening again?
5. Discuss John Paulsons success in the financial crisis. Provide details on what he did? Is he
always successful in his career?