Clients of UBS’ David Lugo Could Recover Losses

Securities fraud attorneys are currently investigating claims on behalf of the clients of UBS Financial Services Inc. and David Lugo. Lugo allegedly made unsuitable recommendations and misrepresentations of Puerto Rico municipal bonds and UBS proprietary Puerto Rico municipal bond funds.

In one claim already filed by stock fraud lawyers, the claimant, one of Lugo’s clients, seeks to recover approximately $15 million. According to the allegations in this claim and others, Lugo reportedly recommended that his clients invest significant portions of their accounts in UBS proprietary Puerto Rico municipal bond funds and Puerto Rico municipal bonds. In addition, the amount invested frequently represented large concentrations of the total net worth of the client. Reportedly, these investments were marketed and sold as low-risk and clients were told they would be paid high, tax-advantaged dividends.

Lugo’s clients also allege that they were not warned that the UBS bond funds were highly leveraged. Lugo also allegedly recommended a UBS margin account in order to borrow funds to increase his clients’ Puerto Rico municipal bond investments. While this investment strategy was highly speculative and posed a high risk of principal loss, Lugo allegedly did not warn his clients of the risks and made unsuitable recommendations.

Reportedly, UBS Financial Services offered to buy back some shares of the Puerto Rico closed-end bond funds last month, following the funds’ significant decline in value. However, the shares will be repurchased at net asset value or below and a cap has been placed on the fund to prevent any more than 25 percent of the outstanding shares to be repurchased. According to securities fraud attorneys, the buyback program may be an attempt to discourage individual arbitration claims and actual investor recovery could be much lower than the shares’ net value.

If you suffered significant losses in UBS Puerto Rico bond funds because of the unsuitable recommendations of David Lugo or another UBS representative, you may be able to recover your losses through securities arbitration. To find out more about your legal rights and options, contact a stock fraud lawyer at Law Office of Christopher J. Gray, P.C. at (866) 966-9598 or newcases@investorlawyers.netfor a no-cost, confidential consultation.