As a publicly registered, non-traded REIT, numerous retail investors were solicited by a financial advisor to invest in NorthStar Healthcare. Unfortunately, customers who purchased shares through the IPO upon the recommendation of a broker may, in some instances, have been uninformed of the complex nature of the investment, including its high upfront commissions and fees (as set forth in its prospectus, NorthStar Healthcare charged investors a selling commission of up to 7% of gross offering proceeds, a dealer-manager fee of up to 3%, and an acquisition fee of 2.25% for properties acquired by the REIT).
Furthermore, as a non-traded REIT, NorthStar Healthcare is illiquid in nature. Investors seeking liquidity have limited options at their disposal in the event that they wish to exit their investment position in the near term. Briefly, investors seeking liquidity may: (i) seek to redeem their shares directly with the sponsor (it is worth noting that NorthStar is “not obligated to repurchase shares” under its Share Repurchase Program), or (ii) be presented with limited, market-driven opportunities to tender their shares to a third party professional investment firm (typically at a disadvantageous price), or finally, (iii) seek to sell their shares on a limited secondary market specializing in creating a market for illiquid securities.
Any investment program recommended by a broker which includes any significant concentration of illiquid investments, including non-traded REITs, business development companies (BDCs), or private placement offerings, is likely unsuitable for the average, retail investor. Recently, shares of NorthStar Healthcare were trading on a secondary platform at a bid-ask spread of $5.30 – $5.50 per share. For investors who acquired their shares though the IPO at $10 per share, such disadvantageous pricing suggests investors who sell on such a secondary market will sustain considerable losses of approximately 45% on their investment, excluding distributions.
The attorneys at Law Office of Christopher J. Gray, P.C. have significant experience representing investors in connection with complex non-conventional investments, including non-traded REITs and BDCs. Investors may contact us via the contact form on this website, by telephone at (866) 966-9598, or by e-mail at newcases@investorlawyers.net for a no-cost, confidential consultation. Attorneys at the firm are admitted in New York and Wisconsin and various federal courts around the country, and handle cases nationwide (in cooperation with attorneys located in those states if required by applicable rules).