In October 2012, the UBS Willow Fund, a distressed debt hedge fund, informed investors that the fund would be liquidated after having sustained substantial losses. Formed in 2000, UBS Willow has suffered losses exceeding $300 million, which date back to 2007 - its net asset value (NAV) per share was down 80 percent upon UBS Willow's liquidation announcement. In December 2012, a class action lawsuit was filed against UBS Willow alleging a deviation from the fund's investment strategy. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, seeks to recover over $200 million for investors who have lost money in the fund. Meanwhile, the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. is currently investigating the broker-dealers and financial advisors that marketed and sold the product to investors. Our attorneys are researching potential claims that will hold broker-dealers and financial advisors liable for recommending UBS Willow and recover additional losses resulting from the investment.
Hedge funds are similar to mutual funds in structure. Investor money is pooled together and invested in an effort to make a positive return. However, hedge funds have more flexible investment strategies than mutual funds. Hedge funds seek to profit in all kinds of markets by utilizing strategies involving leverage, short-selling, and other speculative investment practices that are not typically used by mutual funds. Another factor that distinguishes hedge funds from mutual funds is that hedge funds are not subject to the same regulations designed to protect investors. Depending on the amount of assets in the hedge funds advised by a manager, some hedge funds may not be required to file reports with the SEC. Fortunately, hedge funds are subject to the same prohibitions against fraud as are other market participants. In addition, managers owe a fiduciary duty to the funds under management.
Broker-dealers have a duty to perform adequate due diligence, especially when offering risky investments such as hedge funds, to ensure that the investment is suitable for an individual investor's age, risk tolerance, investment experience, net worth, and investment time horizon. If broker-dealers fail to carry out this duty, they can be liable to investors for damages. In the case of UBS Willow, it is evident that financial advisors made certain misrepresentations about the product's risks and investment strategy. As a result, investors who have suffered losses are encourage to file arbitration claims to recover any losses stemming from UBS Willow.
Have you suffered losses resulting from owning shares in the UBS Willow Fund? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is actively investigating and accepting clients with valid claims against stockbrokers who misrepresented and sold the UBS Willow Fund to investors.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.