Strategic Realty Trust, Inc. (“SRT”), formerly known as TNP Strategic Retail Trust, Inc. is a non-traded REIT that owns a portfolio of shopping centers. SRT has reportedly recently been the subject of a tender offer under which a third-party investor known as MacKenzie Realty Capital has offered to purchase shares for just $3.81/share. According to SEC filings, the most recent Net Asset Value for SRT estimated by the issuer was $6.27/share. SRT shares were originally sold at $10 a share to investors, meaning that most investors have likely incurred principal losses.
Over the past several years, many retail investors were steered into investing in non-traded REITs such as SRT by stockbrokers or financial advisors. Frequent selling points for non-traded REIT investments include presenting these securities as steady income-producing investments and as solid long-term investments due to their underlying investments in real estate. Some investors may not have been informed of the complexities and risks associated with non-traded REITs, including the investment’s high fees and illiquid nature.
Currently, investors who wish to sell their shares of SRT have limited options available to exit their investment position. For example, SRT suspended its share redemption program effective as of January 15, 2013. During the years ended 2013 and 2014, SRT did not redeem any shares under the redemption program. Thereafter, on April 1, 2015, SRT’s Board approved the reinstatement of the share redemption program, but only as it relates to the death or qualifying disability of the shareholder.