Because of the recent decline in value of KBS Real Estate Investment Trust I, investment fraud lawyers are investigating claims on behalf of investors who suffered significant losses as a result of their investments. Full-service brokerage firms who sold this particular REIT could be held responsible for investor losses.
In April, investors of KBS REIT were informed that the value of KBS REIT had declined to $5.16 per share from $7.32 per share. While this represents a 29 percent decline since the last value cut of the REIT’s shares, it also represents a decline of nearly 50 percent since the original investment offering at $10 per share. The reduction in share price has resulted in significant losses for investors but, according to securities fraud attorneys, investors may be able to recover losses through securities arbitration.
KBS is a non-traded Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). According to investment fraud lawyers, REITs typically carry a high commission which motivates brokers to make the recommendation to investors despite the investment’s unsuitability. The commission on a non-traded REIT is often as high as 15 percent. Non-traded REITs, such as the KBS REIT, carry a relatively high dividend or high interest, making them attractive to investors. However, non-traded REITs are inherently risky and illiquid, which limits access of funds to investors. For more information on REITs, see the previous blog post, “FINRA Investor Alert: Public Non-Traded REITs.”
Prior to recommending an investment to a client, brokers and firms are required to perform the necessary due diligence to establish whether the investment is suitable for the client given their age, investment objectives and risk tolerance. If you believe your broker or brokerage firm made an unsuitable recommendation of KBS REIT due to its inherently risky nature, and you suffered losses as a result of the recent decline in value of KBS, you may have a valid FINRA securities arbitration claim. To find out more about your legal rights and options, contact a securities fraud attorney at The Law Office of Christopher J. Gray at (866) 966-9598 for a no-cost, confidential consultation.