Investors continue to get more more bad news on GWG Holdings Inc. (GWGH). GWG filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas (case number 22-90032) on April 21, 2022. Investors are facing massive losses and filed a GWG Holdings lawsuit “FINRA” claim to recover losses for alleged suitability issues.
The company reported approximately $2.1 billion in total liabilities. For investors owning GWG L Bonds, preferred stock, or common stock (NASDAQ: GWGH), the recent declines in value and the bankruptcy could be devasting because it may mean they have or will incur investment losses on the value of those securities investments.
Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A. is looking to speak to investors that lost funds by buying GWG L Bonds and are worried following GWG Holding’s insolvency. Our firm currently represents investors who have filed claims against brokerages. GWG L Bond and GWG preferred stock investors are encouraged to contact our experienced investment fraud lawyer for a confidential and free consultation at 1-800-856-3352.
Quick Facts on GWG Holdings
- On April 21, 2022, the corporation filed for bankruptcy in Texas.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been looking into it since October 2020. The probe was publicized by GWG in November last year, roughly a year since the initial subpoena was issued.
- GWG Holdings’ corporate structure is convoluted and confusing. All of the company’s assets are held by affiliates who haven’t filed for bankruptcy.
- In December 2021, GWG’s accountants quit.
- The company has declared in regulatory filings with SEC that it will be unable to make interest payments to bond owners unless it keeps raising new capital. These assertions raise major doubts regarding GWG’s business practices.
- GWG L Bonds are considered to be high-risk assets. The bonds had no credit rating and were not covered by insurance.
- Investors have the right to sue the salesperson who sold GWG L Bonds. Suing for lost capital, interest, plus attorney’s costs is one option for investors.
GWG failed to make January 15, 2022, GWG Holdings L Bonds principal and interest payments of $3.25 million and $10.35 million, respectively. These failed payments signaled some other significant issues at GWG. As a result, investors are looking at potential lawsuits and FINRA arbitration claims as possible avenues for investment loss recovery for GWG L Bonds and GWG Preferred stock.
Recover Your Losses – GWG Holdings Lawsuit (FINRA Claim)
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Haselkorn & Thibaut, P.A., is currently investigating GWG Holdings investments in stocks, preferred stocks, GWG Holdings L bonds, as well as financial services firm and broker dealers that sold these investments (GWG L Bonds & GWG Preferred Stock) to retail investor customers.
Investors can call 1-888-614-9356 for a fast, friendly, free consultation that will clarify how GWG’s bankruptcy action impacts their individual investment loss recovery options including securities fraud lawsuits, class actions, or potential FINRA claims.
Following the early 2022 missed payments, understandably many financial advisors fielded immediate client inquiries and concerns. Initially, many financial advisors downplayed the issue, isolating it to a temporary issue only impacting GWG L Bond holders and noting that there was a purported grace period of 30 days for payment after becoming due, and while the missed payment was in fact considered a default, investors should not worry as it could still be addressed and possibly cured in the near term and was not effecting other securities issued by GWG.
As more time passed, along with the grace period expiration, investor fears came to fruition with more negative news and now most recently GWG’s bankruptcy filing. How the bankruptcy filing impacts GWG investors is an open issue, but on the surface, it would appear that GWG L bond investors are not in great shape and real losses are likely to result. In addition, GWG holders of common and preferred stock should be concerned as well, as they are lower on the ladder compared to bond holders.
GWG’s bankruptcy filing confirmed what had been recently rumored that GWG had significant cash flows and potential liquidation or restructuring alternatives were apparently the most viable option. In its bankruptcy filing, GWG appears to blame some or all its challenges on investigations conducted by the SEC concerning its sales practices. While that remains unclear, most investors are not concerned with the blame game as much as they are concerned with their investment losses.
As per GWG’s filings with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) on 18th January, the decreased volume of sales of its L Bonds led to a shortage of capital being raised which resulted in a shortage of available cash. At that time, GWG Holdings Inc. has also indicated that the timely filing of the Annual Return of Form 10-K is also jeopardized as the accounting firm entrusted with the job has declined to offer itself for reappointment. This delay could also result in the sale of L Bonds being voluntarily suspended, and that was even before the grace period noted above had expired.L Bond sales were suspended.
Many investors are now concerned not just about the missed interest payments of L bonds, but also about the potential loss of investment principal as well due to the bankruptcy. Some investors have already decided to take action, and are finding that one avenue of a potential recovery of investment losses appears to be a securities arbitration claim against the final advisor and/or firm that sold them the investments. These claims are typically administered through the Financial Regulatory Authority (typically referred to as a FINRA claim).
The nature of these types of claims often centers on the lack of due diligence efforts by the firm, the lack of proper supervision by the firm, or sales practice issues related to the manner in which the investment was marketed by the firm and pitched by the financial advisor to the investor. Alternative investments have strict compliance rules for brokerage firms because they are illiquid investments. L Bonds would be considered alternative investments.
For example, if the investor was mistakenly led to believe they were purchasing safe, conservative income-producing securities that were low risk, and, they are only now finding out these were in fact riskier investments and may in some cases be sold in an inappropriate manner, those are claims that can be addressed more quickly, efficiently and confidentially, often on an expedited basis (and with no depositions or extensive discovery or motion practice).
GWG Holdings Investigation
News sources are reporting that several law offices are considering filing class action lawsuits against GWG Holdings L Bonds. As of today, we have not seen a class period, lead plaintiff deadline, or significant progress made.
It is alleged by investors that the GWG L Bond sales were not suitable to many investors. They seek to recover losses with GWGH investments (GWG L Bonds or Preferred Stock) may not see any recovery for years.
Many investors are filing FINRA complaints, and securities arbitration, for GWG L Bond sales. With over 50 years of experience, we have found that investors prefer this option over a traditional security fraud lawsuit because it is often faster and larger amounts for loss recovery. Please contact our experienced investment loss recovery lawyers at 1-888-614-9356 for a free consultation.
GWG Holdings Complaints – FINRA Arbitration & Legal Options
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) requires brokers to ensure that a recommended investment meets the requirements of the customer, due diligence has been done and all risks are highlighted. Failure to do so, or supervise representatives doing so, could expose the firm to recovery claims by customers losing money on account of such a sale. FINRA makes available dispute resolution through an arbitration mechanism for the same.
GWG Holdings investors have many options to recover losses. One of the most ways is through FINRA arbitration. It is typically faster and easier than traditional lawsuits.
Haselkorn & Thibaut, a national investment fraud law firm that has offices in Florida, New York, Arizona, Texas, and North Carolina, is investigating several cases against brokerage firms that pertain to improper selling of L Bonds and other high-risk investments, to investors.
If you have concerns about your investment in GWG L Bonds or other alternative investments, we encourage you to reach out to our investment lawyers for a free initial discussion. You can reach us for a free consultation by calling 1-888-902-6872.
GWG Holdings Financial Services Company Financials and Financial Data
GWG Holdings Inc balance sheet includes tangible assets in the form of the fair value receivable of life insurance policies, as well as policy benefits, if any, which amount to $794.7 million. Cash, including restricted cash, is valued at $67.7 million and its investments in alternative assets at $226.1 million.
Against this, they had $327.7 million worth of senior credit outstanding, along with outstanding L Bonds valued at $1.552 billion. This indicates an imbalance with liabilities significantly exceeding the value of tangible, realizable assets.
What are L Bonds?
The short answer is that a L bond is an “unrated life insurance bond” (meaning a credit company has not rated it) in which the sales were used to finance the purchase and premium payments of life insurance settlement purchased in the secondary market.
The GWG brochure says, “An investment in the L Bonds involves significant risks, including the risk of losing your entire investment, and may be considered speculative. Importantly, we maintain a senior borrowing arrangement that subordinates the right to payment on, and shared collateral securing, the L Bonds to our senior secured lender.”
An L Bond is an alternative investment. The holder stands to earn a high yield for bearing the risk of default on the underlying insurance policy premium being defaulted. It is an unrated security the purpose of which is to finance the premium payments as well as the purchase of life insurance settlement contracts purchased in the secondary market, as also mentioned on Investopedia.
GWG Holdings is in the business of selling alternative investment products to finance its life insurance asset portfolio. These life insurance assets are offered as investments with the potential to earn attractive returns for holders as compared to assets that are linked to the stock and bond markets. However, the higher risk, though implicit in most investments, may not always be highlighted by brokers while making a sale.
GWG Holdings FAQ
What is going on with GWG Holdings?
The answer is that GWG Holdings Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy On April 2022 in the Southern District of Texas (case number 22-90032). There is not currently any payments made to GWG L Bond investors and several have filed lawsuits.
Is GWG in Trouble
The short answer is that GWG is very serious financial trouble and has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. GWG Holdings is currently unable to pay its creditors. The company has also stated that it will not be able to file its Annual Report on Form 10K.
What are the risks of L Bonds?
The answer is that most financial advisors would consider L bonds to be very risky and not suitable for most investors. L Bonds are highly illiquid and speculative because there is high-risk insurance policy premiums or benefits that may not be paid. Investors owning L Bonds are
What is GWG Holdings’ current status?
GWG Holdings declared Chapter 11 insolvency in the United States Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court on April 20, 2022. L Bond owners are unsure exactly, if anything, whether they shall recover as a result of the insolvency.
What are your thoughts on GWG Holdings’ bankruptcy?
It is worrying that GWG L Bond buyers might receive little or no compensation in case of bankruptcy. The following evidence supports this position:
1. GWG Holding’s accountants stepped down in 2021, with the company’s audited financials still out of date;
2. The company has been under investigation by the SEC for over a year;
3. GWG Holdings has huge debts, with other creditors having priority over the L Bond investors;
4. GWG Holdings’ business structure is suspicious and complicated; and
5. All of the company’s assets are held through other companies.
What transpired on April 21, 2022, on the hearing’s first day?
On April 21, 2022, a preliminary hearing was held on the company’s bankruptcy. The Judge expressed worry about GWG’s complicated corporate structure throughout that session. On April 22, 2022, a headline on the Wall Street Journal read, “GWG Wins $10 Million Bankruptcy Lifeline Despite Judge’s Concerns.”
Where can one find the bankruptcy docket for GWG Holdings?
The claims adjudicator is Donlin Recano. GWG Holdings’ insolvency court documents are available on their website.
How will investors recoup their cash if they get nothing after GWG Holding’s bankruptcy?
In similar instances, investors frequently initiate litigation against other parties who could be legally liable for monetary damages. For example, one can sue the brokerage business that sold GWG L Bonds to them in arbitration. However, the MDF Law office takes these claims on a conditional basis, which means they don’t get paid unless they get money for their clients.
Were GWG L Bonds a low-risk investment?
No. Despite their attractive promotion, L Bonds were high-risk investments. According to a prospectus for the bonds, the company indicated that investing in the L Bonds is speculative and bears considerable risk, including the possibility of losing the entire investment. Moreover, unlike many other typical bonds, the L Bonds were neither insured nor credit-rated through any credit agency (such as S&P or Moody’s). Worse, these L Bonds were placed below the company’s other creditors. In the case of insolvency, other creditors are likely to be paid first, followed by L Bond buyers.
What occurs to my money if I submit an arbitration claim?
The dispute will be brought against the firm that sold you the investment. They will fund the cost of the settlement, but not GWG Holdings. You will retain possession of the L Bond and will not relinquish it. You would also remain eligible for GWG Holdings’ insolvency payment.
How does Haselkorn & Thibaut get paid?
We plan for the worst-case scenario. It implies that our attorney costs are only paid once we have successfully recovered your money. It is calculated as the ratio of the amount recovered on behalf of the client. You would never pay us from your own wallet.
Does Haselkorn & Thibaut represent GWG L Bond investors?
Yes, Haselkorn & Thibaut currently represents GWG L Bond and preferred stock investors. We are currently offering a free, fast and private consultation for investors to review their loss recovery options.
Is it better for me to wait and see what will happen with the insolvency?
No, waiting may jeopardize your future potential to reclaim funds. This is not a good plan.
Is your firm pursuing a class lawsuit?
We are handling individual arbitration proceedings, not class actions. eYou agreed to address any legal disputes via arbitration before FINRA as part of the terms and conditions in the user agreement with brokerage businesses. The adjudication process is equivalent to a lawsuit, although it is less complicated and time-consuming.
What is the duration of the arbitration process?
The average length of a FINRA arbitration hearing is one to one and a half years.
Why Your Financial Advisor or Wealth Manager Could Be to Blame
Financial advisors must give an “appropriate” investment suggestion for their clients, according to FINRA. Therefore, brokers are responsible for conducting thorough research to evaluate if an asset is “appropriate” and in clients’ best interest. At its most basic level, this analysis must confirm that an asset is appropriate for the offer to an investor, irrespective of tolerance for risk. L Bonds did not meet this criterion, in our opinion. As a result, there were signs of deception in the sale, and it should not have been offered.
Advisors should also guarantee that their assets are in line with a client’s appetite for risk, financial plans, personal wealth, and performing due diligence. Investors can sue their money manager accountable for capital losses if they do not follow certain regulatory rules. As a result, buyers with a limited appetite for risk or who required liquidity were unlikely to be interested in GWG L Bonds.
You might be entitled to a settlement if you could respond YES to one of the questions below:
· Did you believe the L Bonds were insured?
· Did you have a moderate or conservative appetite for risk?
· Were you unaware of the risk the L Bonds posed, including the potential risk of losing the entire investment?
GWG Holdings News & GWG L Bonds News
We are currently investing the actions and building a time of events for GWG Holdings Inc. This is what we currently have.
December 2019
An amendment was filed by the company that related to the Debt Coverage Ratio in the indenture and a related transaction.
February 2020
GWG Holdings Inc announced a partnership agreement that The Beneficient Company Group, L.P. (BEN) entered into with the Chairman and CEO of GWG, Jon Sabes. According to the statement, this would result in a significant expansion of the strategic partnership between GWG and BEN, and that “the expanded partnership enhances and accelerates one of the most innovative service and liquidity providers in the rapidly growing alternative asset industry,” through a series of transactions.
GWG also announced a delay in its annual report filing for 2018, apparently caused by the reverse merger transaction with BEN leading to the fair valuation of the life policies not being completed in time, apart from the accounting issues pertaining to certain balance sheet items.
The strategic partnership had been launched with a transaction that was completed on the 28th of December, 2018. The prior transaction resulted in GWG being the holder of 86% of ‘common partnership units’ of BEN, apart from commercial loans receivable worth $193 million.
GWG, on its part, issued 27 million (approximately) shares of its common stock and L Bonds of a value of $367 million to a few trusts from whom the ‘common partnership units’ of BEN were purchased.
The outcome is that 79% of the common stock, and the corresponding voting rights, which amount to voting control, will rest with the seller trusts. BEN, on its part, will hold 7.6% along with proportionate voting rights.
March 2020
Revised trust charter applications were apparently submitted by BEN on 6th February, to the Texas Department of Banking. The Department was understood to be actively reviewing and considering the submissions.
Having already closed a number of transactions, as and when trust charters are issued, BEN is understood to be looking to expand its operations significantly.
Compared to a net loss of $18.9 million in the first quarter of 2019, the company reported a net loss of $49.4 million in the same period in 2020.
Before control changed on the 31st of December, 2019, the investment GWG made in BEN was classified as an equity investment. The 2020 first-quarter results, for the first time, included the results of BEN. The company also advised that its future focus was to move away from the acquisition of new life insurance policy business and towards the BEN investment. The existing life insurance portfolio would, however, continue to be actively managed.
The company, as part of this strategy, has ended its Life Care Exchange program that had been set up for policy purchases.
July 2020
The company issued a press release on 15th May noting its continued capital expansion despite the impact of and uncertainty due to the Covid-19 onset. It clarified that it continued to receive policy benefits, receive and pay income and dividends and meet its operating obligations.
According to filings to SEC, BEN, on 15th May, is reported to have signed a Term Sheet with its lender amending subordinated as well as senior credit arrangements. A key change was that of extending to 10th April 2021 the maturity date of both loans, including a transfer to GWG, or a subsidiary of GWG, pursuant to BEN’s trust company charters being issued by the Texas Department of Banking. The term sheet was subject to definitive agreements being executed after discussion and negotiation, as well as the closing conditions being satisfied.
August 2021
An announcement by GWG indicated that the annual report issued for 2019, reports for the first three quarters of 2020, as well as some other financial statements, “should no longer be relied upon.”
What was this determination based on?
This, apparently, was based on consultations with the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant (SEC OCA). This led to GWG deciding to move to consolidate the financials of its trusts who are the holders of the secondary alternate assets for which loan financing had been provided by GWG, as one of its core offerings, with its own financial statements.
The annual report for the year ended December 2020 had not been filed. The 10-Q form for the first quarter had also not been filed. The explanation offered was that GWG had undertaken an exercise of restatement of the financials for 2019 as well as for the first three quarters of 2020 and that it was “unable at this point to estimate when those restatements will be complete.”
Clarifying that “these restatements do not arise from or cause any negative changes in the Company’s operations, the underlying economics attributable to the Company or its subsidiaries, the terms of the Company’s existing assets, or its expected prospects for future business.” GWG stated that all obligations under its L Bonds and preferred equity would continue to be serviced. Further, it was working on strategies to bolster its cash position.
Failure to file the 2020 annual report in time led to GWG suspending the L Bonds offering, following which several board members are understood to have resigned in Q2 of 2021.
This is not considered attorney advertising and the law offices of Haselkorn & Thibaut announce that investors with substantial losses have the opportunity to lead the securities fraud complaints against GWG Holdings, Inc. (“GWGH” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GWGH). All applicable law and ethical rules apply.HT Law group.
