Investor Lawyers Blog
Summit Healthcare REIT Inc. (“Summit”), a publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust, has recommended to shareholders that they reject a third-party tender offer by MacKenzie Realty Capital to purchase shares for $1.34 a share. The REIT estimates its net asset value per share as $2.53, and therefore says that the $1.34 a share offer is lower than fair value. Summit’s most recent estimated net asset value per share is $2.53, as of December 31, 2016.
As a publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”), Summit was permitted to sell securities to the investing public at large, including numerous unsophisticated investors who bought shares upon the recommendation of a broker or financial advisor. Unfortunately for many non-traded REIT investors, they may not have been properly informed by their financial advisor or broker of the complexities and risks associated with investing in non-traded REITs.
One of the more readily-apparent investment risks with non-traded REITs are their high up-front commissions (usually at least 7-10%), in addition to certain due diligence and administrative fees (that can range anywhere from 1-3%). These fees act as an immediate ‘drag’ on any investment and can compound losses. Further, another significant and less readily-apparent risk associated with non-traded REITs has to do with liquidity. Unlike traditional stocks and certain publicly- traded REITs, non-traded REITs do not trade on a national securities exchange, leaving investors with limited options if they wish to sell their shares after the initial purchase- especially if the issuer is not redeeming shares.