Investor Lawyers Blog

ARS Failures at Brokerage Firms So Bad Even Their Own Association is Critical!

Published on: April 2, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) conjures thoughts of jack-booted cops looking to “perp-walk” those who take advantage investors. Yet, FINRA is just the new name of the National Association of Securities Dealers. The NASD was, and FINRA is, a non-profit organization of all securities dealers, with a structure similar to a country club, which fines or expels those who embarrass its membership.

Yet, even FINRA is critical of its members for mishandling auction rate securities (ARS). For example, in a press release, FINRA acknowledges that “Investors who purchase ARS are typically seeking a cash-like investment that pays a higher yield than money market mutual funds or certificates of deposit.” This confirms, despite objections by firms, that investors believed they were getting liquid instruments, not 20 to 30 year obligations or even “no maturity” preferred shares

“If you need your money in a hurry, loss of liquidity is a financial hardship,” states John Gannon, FINRA’s Senior Vice President for Investor Education. “We want investors who have been affected by the recent auction failures to know what options are available to them.”

Merrill Lynch Sues Insurer for Failing to Honor Claims Opening Door to Mysterious “Swaps” Market

Published on: April 1, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Merrill Lynch & Co. has publicly opened the door to what many believe could be an even larger problem to the credit markets than the widely publicized sub-prime mortgage debacle – the little understood and sledom discussed “swaps” market.

Perhaps the world’s most high-profile financial firm, Merrill – itself a frequent complainer about lawsuits – has filed a monster of a suit in a New York court against bond insurer Security Capital Assurance Ltd. (SCA). Merrill Lynch sued the insurer alleging it failed to honor seven contracts promising to cover losses on $3.1 billion in “credit swaps,” after which SCA filed a countersuit against Merrill for $28 million. .

Merrill claims SCA walked away from signed insurance contracts guaranteeing Merrill against losses. SCA counterclaims that Merrill broke a stipulation in one of the contracts which entitles SCA to terminate all the agreements and collect damages. (Perhaps Merrill is getting a taste of what many us have experienced: an insurance company happy to collect premiums but which later relies on a technicality to avoid payment.)

UBS Securities, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch Among Firms Subpoenaed In Massachusetts Auction-Rate Market Sales Probe

Published on: April 1, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin is subpoenaing Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith Inc., UBS Securities, and Bank of America Investments because it wants information about the companies’ involvement in selling auction-rate market securities to retail investors. The companies are all registered Massachusetts broker dealers. Galvin issued the subpoenas on behalf of the Massachusetts Securities Division.

The division wants to determine whether the firms followed proper procedures in letting Massachusetts investors know of the possibilities that their investments could become illiquid. The state is also trying to determine what role big investment banks played in causing the auctions to fail and whether the investments sold to retail investors were suitable.

Many of the investors that bought auction market securities cannot get their money because the securities are frozen. Small business owners and individual investors have been especially hurt by the failures in the auction market because of the subprime mortgage collapse.

Auction-Rate Securities to be Priced this Weekend by UBS – Others to Follow?

Published on: March 28, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

After weeks in limbo, some holding auction rate securities may gain some insight about their fate this weekend as UBS reports it will be “pricing” ARS securities in its customers’ accounts.

Brokerage firms and other financial institutions sold many ARS securities as comparable to money market funds, commercial paper and other liquid investments. Investors were later shocked to learn that the auctions “failed,” they were unable to sell securities and given little if any guidance in evaluating their situation. Many have been told their securities retain their “full value” but they would have to wait on their funds.

Perhaps realizing that this sham can go on no longer, using an internal model to value the securities, UBS will reportedly mark these down this afternoon and inform clients of such valuations via their online statements. Markdowns will apparently range from a few percentage points to more than 20%. Many believe that a portion of ARS securities are worth far less.

Court Says Investor Must Arbitrate Claims Against Broad Street Securities, Pershing LLC, and Bank of New York Mellon Over Contract Alterations

Published on: March 26, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has concluded that Mouayad Shammami, an investor that is accusing brokerage firm Broad Street Securities Inc. of fraudulently inducing him to change his investment goals, must arbitrate this dispute rather than pursue the matter through the courts.

In 2004, Shammami entered into an agreement with Broad Street stating that the brokerage firm would give him investment and management advice. Broad Street and clearing broker Pershing LLC had their own agreement between them that allowed Broad Street to ask Pershing to trade securities for Shammami. Shammami and Pershing entered into a marginal agreement in 2005, which contained a pre-dispute arbitration clause.

In 2007, Shammami filed a lawsuit alleging that Broad Street and Pershing traded securities and churned his account without honoring his stated investment goals. Pershing and its parent company Bank of New York Mellon LLC filed a motion to have the case dismissed. Per the terms of the agreement with Shammami, both firms wanted to resolve the dispute in arbitration.

W.P. Carey & Co Settles SEC Charges Over Payments of Undisclosed REIT Compensation

Published on: March 25, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

REIT Manager W.P. Carey & Co has reached a $30M settlement agreement with the SEC over antifraud charges.

According to the SEC, W.P. Carey, its ex-CFO John J. Park, and its former chief accounting officer Claude Fernandez paid $10 million in undisclosed compensation to a brokerage firm that sold real estate investment trusts (REITs). The three parties then misrepresented these moneys in periodic filings to keep the compensations secret.

These activities allegedly benefited the broker-dealer and W.P. Carey, which received larger fees as a result, including $6.4 million in reimbursements and illegal fees. Park and Fernandez are accused of using fake invoices to hide the payments and get around the regulatory limitations about compensation.

JP Morgan Chase’s Bear Stearns Acquisition Could Make The Firm Vulnerable to Lawsuits

Published on: March 24, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Following JP Morgan Chase & Co’s acquisition of Bear Stearns Companies Inc., JP Morgan Chase Chief Financial Officer Michael Cavanagh says the firm is reserving as much as $6 billion for “transaction-related costs,” including possible litigation.

Class action lawsuits could come from investors regarding corporate disclosure, as well as from employees over pension plans. Any securities lawsuits targeting Bear Stearns as the plaintiff will also go to JP Morgan Chase.

Lawsuits expected may include those related to the 1934 Securities Exchange Act Section 10(b) (a general antifraud provision) by investors that may feel that Bear Stearns did not disclose accurate information about the company’s health. Employees may sue if they believe that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) had been violated.

Too Little Too Late: Fund Compies’ Attempts to Refinance Auction Rate Preferred Securities Using Leverate or Varible Rate Securities Unlikely

Published on: March 20, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Some closed end funds which issued preferred shares in the auction rate market suggest they might obtain liquidity in Auction Rate Preferred Securities (ARPs) using leverage and Variable Rate Demand Preferred Securities. Such statements may give hope to those holding ARPs, yet we believe that these solutions unlikely create the liquidity sought.

This action by the closed-end fund companies is likely intended to benefit these companies and will not help the preferred share holders. If the goal were truly to benefit ARP holders, such action would have been initiated prior to the lock-up of the ARP market. As the broker-dealers actually increased sales to unwary investors, the fund companies were silent as risk to ARP investors grew and liquidity disappeared.

According to the Investment Company Institute, closed end fund companies manage a total of $314 billion dollars worth of assets for their common shareholder clients. Closed-end funds have borrowed about $60 billion of this total using preferred shares. The preferred shares were created to use a low rate paid to preferred holders in order to boost yield to common mutual fund shareholders. Risk to preferred shareholders could have been avoided by liquidating holdings within each respective fund when possible. This would have also greatly reduced risk to common fund shareholders by “getting them off margin.”

Wachovia Securities Analyst Comments on Bear Stearns’ Sale and Calls Merrill Lynch the “Riskiest” Investment Bank

Published on: March 19, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

In a note to investors, Wachovia Securities Analyst Doug Sipkin commented on the state of the leading Wall Street securities firms in light of the worsening global credit crisis.

Sipkin blamed the “The failure of Bear Stearns” on a “management issue” rather than a “market issue.” JP Morgan Chase & Co. recently purchased Bear Stearns, the fifth largest securities company, for $236 million-that’s $2/share-a 90% market drop in just two days. The securities firm ran out of money after clients took away funds.

Sipkin, however, reassured investors that the action taken by the Federal Reserve to reduce emergency lending rates will keep the other four big securities firms in business.

Wells Fargo Brokerage Services. FTN Financial, and Stone Youngberg Among Founders of Regional Bond Dealers Association

Published on: March 18, 2008 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

14 regional bond dealers have founded Regional Bond Dealers Association (RBDA). The purpose of the association is to tackle issues that are important to U.S. regional, fixed-income securities dealer. Issues to be examined include revising the tax code and matters affecting auction-rate securities.

Founding members are:

• Wells Fargo Brokerage Services LLC.