Private Placements

Former Customers of SagePoint Financial Broker Christopher Bice Seek More Than $2M in Damages

Published on: April 16, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Unsuitability Involving Private Placements Alleged

Our unsuitable investment fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are looking into customer complaints involving SagePoint Financial stockbroker, Christopher R. Bice.

His BrokerCheck record shows a number of pending investment fraud claims including at least two customer disputes involving private placements. The claimants are collectively seeking over $2M in damages. Bice, a Greensboro, North Carolina broker, is also an investment advisor.

Portland Investor Files $500K Private Placement Fraud Claim Against Western International Securities

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Claimant Alleges Overconcentration, Unsuitability, Failure to Supervise

A Portland, Oregon semi-retiree has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Western International Securities, Inc. and is seeking up to $500K in damages. The investor contends that a former financial advisor from the firm overconcentrated most of her retirement funds in illiquid private placements and caused her significant financial losses.

Our Portland investment fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are representing this claimant in her private placement fraud case against Western International Securities.

Intrinsic Value Partners Co-Founder and Noble Capital Markets Broker Joseph Hain Faces Misrepresentations Allegations

Published on: October 30, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Customers of Boca Raton, Florida Financial Advisor Request $700K in Damages

Two investors have filed separate Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims against Noble Capital Markets registered representative, Joseph Menachem Hain, also known as Joey Hain. Based in Boca Raton, Hain is the broker-dealer’s investment banking director. He also is the co-founder of the advisory firm, Intrinsic Value Partners.

Hain has worked in the industry for 14 years. Other firms where he used to be a broker include Paulson Investment Company, Aegis Capital Corp., Westpark Capital, Tejas Securities Group, Wynston Hill Capital, and Robotti & Co.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Claims Involving Non-traded REIT Preferred Apartment Communities

Published on: March 23, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Preferred Apartment Communities Investors Pay High Commissions

Throughout the United States, our non-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) are speaking to investors whose registered brokers or investment advisors persuaded them to invest in Preferred Apartment Communities, which is a non-traded REIT.

This investment has paid stockbrokers up to 7% commission and comes with additional fees, including around 4-5% in brokerage firm fees and offering costs.

Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas Files GPB Capital Private Placement Fraud Case Against International Assets Advisory

Published on: February 20, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Texas-Based Broker Sold GPB Private Placements To Retiree Couple

Once again, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) has filed an investor fraud claim against a broker-dealer after its financial advisor sold investments in GPB Capital Holding’s funds to customers.

This time, the brokerage firm is International Assets Advisory (IAA), LLC and the broker involved is Williams Keen Butcher who is based in Houston.

Atlas Energy’s Oil and Gas Private Placement May Not Be Such a Good Investment for Outside Investors

Published on: December 13, 2014 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Atlas Energy LP Is inviting investors to put in at least $25,000 in an oil and gas drilling partnership in Texas and other states in exchange for shared revenue from the output from the wells. Its subsidiary, Atlas Resources LLC, is seeking to raise up to $300 million by the end of the year, with the company saying it will put in up to $145 million of its own money. However, according to Reuters, a closer look at the company’s confidential offering memorandum reveals that outside investors may not end up reaping as much as they think.

The private placement venture is called Atlas Resources Series 34-2014 LP. Private placements are unregistered securities sold to a limited number of investors via brokerage firms. Brokers can only market them to accredited investors (investors that have $1 million in assets-primary residence not included-or $250,000/year income) or institutions. Because of inflation, the number of those that qualify to be able to invest in private placements has gone up and not every investor is a high-income one. There are even retirees who now qualify.

According to the Atlas memorandum, $45 million of the money raised will go to Anthem Securities, an affiliate, to pay commissions to brokerage firms. Up to $39 million will go toward purchasing drilling leases from a different affiliate. Some of the $53 million for transport and drilling equipment may also go to affiliated suppliers. $8 million is a markup for estimated equipment costs. Atlas will get $53 million for markups and fees once drilling starts. All this lowers Atlas’s exposure by at least 40%. Once revenue starts coming in, the company is entitled to 33% of this.