Information Flows in Mutual Fund Families

Abstract

Using a dataset of managers in fund families that offer affiliated funds of mutual funds (AFoMFs), I explore information flows in mutual fund families. I first show that AFoMFs allocate more capital to socially connected funds in the family. I then provide evidence that this investment behavior is information-driven. AFoMF managers increase (decrease) connected fund holdings that subsequently provide positive (negative) abnormal returns, thereby utilizing social connections to extract private information. Finally, I show that, in return for information sharing, AFoMF managers provide liquidity subsidization to connected, distressed funds, suggesting that an implicit contract equilibrium may exist.

Keywords: mutual fund family, fund of funds, social connections, information flows

JEL Classification: G23