NEW YORK, May 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Christopher J. Gray of the Law Office of Christopher J. Gray, P.C. in New York City (newcases@investorlawyers.net) is investigating securities arbitration claims on behalf of investors who purchased shares of Inland Western Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") n/k/a Retail Properties of America.
Investors who suffered losses as a result of their investments in the Inland Western REIT may have a valid securities arbitration claim. As a result of the company's recent initial public offering, investors have for the first time had the opportunity to evaluate, at a publicly set price, the performance of their investment. Based on currently reported prices, many investors have experienced losses approaching half the value of their initial investment in Inland Western.
Many investors did not realize that they had any losses until after the recent Retail Properties of America IPO, because their Inland Western investments continued to appear on their brokerage account statements at full value or at a substantially higher value than the current price.
Inland Western REIT, also known as Retail Property of America, was initially sold as a non-traded REIT. Such non-traded REITs typically carry a high commission, which motivates some brokers to recommend them to investors despite the investment's unsuitability. The sales commission on a non-traded REIT can be as high as 15 percent. Non-traded REITs like Inland Western also often carry a relatively high dividend or high interest payments, which makes them attractive to investors. However, they are also inherently risky and illiquid -- characteristics that are sometimes left out of stockbrokers' sales presentations.
Brokerage firms that are believed to have recommended the Inland Western REIT to customers include LPL Financial, Ameriprise and ProEquities.
If you suffered losses as a result of your investment in the Inland Western REIT, you may have a valid securities arbitration claim. To find out more about your legal rights and options, contact an investment fraud lawyer at Law Office of Christopher J. Gray at (866) 966-9598 or via e-mail to newcases@investorlawyers.net for a confidential, no-cost consultation. More information concerning Inland Western and securities arbitration is also available at www.investorlawyers.net