Securities fraud attorneys are currently investigating claims on behalf of investors who suffered significant losses as a result of their investments in Cypress Leasing private placements. Based in San Francisco, California, Cypress Financial Corporation is an equipment leasing company. The company’s website states that Cypress’s investments are in long-lived core equipment assets and that these assets are vital to the energy, industrial and transportation sectors.
Private placements have been offered by Cypress Leasing, which were then offered and sold by certain broker-dealers registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Reportedly, the market decline of 2008 impacted the equipment leasing business and, as a result, many of the Cypress Leasing private placements may have experienced a decline in value. It is believed that the following offerings are included in these criteria:
- CypressEquipment Fund 13
- CypressEquipment Fund 14
- CypressEquipment Fund 15
- CypressEquipment Fund 16
- CypressEquipment Fund 17
- CypressEquipment Fund VII
- CypressEquipment Fund VIII
- CypressEquipment Fund IX
- CypressEquipment Fund X
- CypressEquipment Fund XI
- CypressEquipment Fund XII
- CypressGrowth Fund
According to securities arbitration lawyers, private placements allow smaller companies to use the sale of debt securities or equities to raise capital without it becoming necessary for them to register these securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because these investments are typically more complicated and carry more risk than other traditional investments, they are usually only suitable for sophisticated, high-net-worth investors.
Securities fraud attorneys say that because the creation and sale of private placements often carry high commissions, these investments continue to be pushed by brokerage firms despite the fact that they may be unsuitable for investors. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority rules have established that brokers and firms have an obligation to fully disclose all the risks of a given investment when making recommendations, and those recommendations must be suitable for the individual investor receiving the recommendation given their age, investment objectives and risk tolerance.
If you suffered significant losses as a result of your investment in Cypress Leasing private placements, or another private placement, you may have a valid securities arbitration claim. To find out more about your legal rights and options, contact a securities arbitration lawyer at The Law Office of Christopher J. Gray at (866) 966-9598 for a no-cost, confidential consultation.