Corporate Bonds as a Choice of Financing for Swedish Real Estate Companies

Abstract: Since the last financial crisis banks have been more restrictive about lending to companies, leading to companies seeking alternative funding. In this thesis we evaluate the Swedish market for property-related lending focusing on corporate bonds. We investigate if the view on corporate bonds differ between real estate companies and banks and also the development of the Swedish market for property-related lending. The thesis is based on interviews with people in the real estate- and bank industry as well as previous research. The Swedish bond market is undeveloped but it is going through a growing stage. In Swedish history banks have played an important roll developing the Swedish economy thus the Swedish financial market is bank dominated. Because of new bank regulations after the financial crisis, the price on loans went up leading to companies seeking alternative financing. This has led to an increase in corporate bonds issued by real estate companies. There has been an increase in the number of real estate companies issuing bonds as more investors, such as funds, have entered the bond market leading to an opportunity for smaller real estate companies to successfully issue bonds.