Tag Archives: GWG Holdings Inc life insurance

GWG Holdings Lawsuit Investigation Update: GWG Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Posted on by

GWG Lawsuit Investigation GWG L Bonds, Liquidity Bonds – Update on Investigation Concerned about an investment in GWG Holdings (GWGH) offerings? GWGH, a financial services firm, has been selling L Bonds since January 2012 under the name “Renewable Secured Debentures”. These debt securities were re-named “L Bonds” in January 2015 and in 2020, the company launched a new offering called the Liquidity Bond 2020, constituting secured debt of GWG Holdings, Inc. On March 31, 2021 GWG reportedly notified the SEC of its inability to file its 2020 annual report within the prescribed time period because it required additional time to complete its financial statements and related disclosures. The company received a letter on April 16, 2021 from the Nasdaq’s listing qualifications department notifying the company that it was not in compliance with a listing rule that requires the timely filing of annual financial reports, according to filings with the SEC. While the letter states that the company is required to submit a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the rule within 60 calendar days from the date of the letter, it apparently has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of GWGH’s common stock. If the plan is accepted, then it can grant GWG up to 180 calendar days from the due date of the annual report to regain compliance. The company notes that it will file its report prior to the 60-day deadline and regain compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements. GWG Holdings Inc. (GWGH) finances its portfolio of life insurance assets through the sale of alternative investment products, according to its website. Although these products are touted as offering potentially higher yields than other investment assets that are correlated with the traditional stock and bond markets, they may come at a much greater risk to investors. GWG Investment Offerings: What is an L Bond? An L bond is an alternative investment vehicle that attempts to provide a high yield for a lender in exchange for bearing the risk that an insurance policy premium or benefits may not be paid. An L bond is an unrated life insurance bond that is used to finance the purchase and premium payments of life insurance settlement contracts purchased in the secondary market. L Bonds were publicly offered and sold on a continuous basis in 2014, 2017 and again in 2020 for a total of $4 billion in principal. The most recent offering will reportedly run on a continuous basis through June 2023, according to the prospectus. The GWG L Bond prospectus notes, “An investment in the L Bonds involves significant risks, including the risk of losing your entire investment, and may be considered speculative.” GWG L bonds are illiquid investments, and the shareholders cannot sell them on the secondary market. Shareholders must wait until the bonds mature to redeem the principal amount and they cannot redeem the bond before the maturity date or the death or disability of the original policyholder. According to its prospectus, if GWG agrees to redeem the bond for any other reason, the bondholder will be charged a penalty of 6%. According to financial statements filed with the SEC in November 2020, the company warns “it may not be able to sell additional L Bonds on terms as favorable to the Company as past transactions or in quantities sufficient to fund all of the Company’s operating requirements.” Further, GWGH may not be able to obtain additional borrowing under existing debt facilities or new borrowings with other third-party lenders. GWG issues new series of “Liquidity” Bonds The company issued two new series of L bonds in December 2020 called (the “Liquidity Bonds”). The Liquidity Bonds are currently being offered and sold to accredited investors as Reg D private placement investments. The company says the Liquidity Bonds will be issued as part of the Company’s strategy to expand its exposure to a portfolio of loans collateralized by cash flows from illiquid alternative assets. Six months after the issuance date of a Liquidity Bond, the holder may elect to exchange the Liquidity Bond, (at the beginning of each month and upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company) for that number of shares of the Company’s common stock. According to Market Watch, the company’s stock closed yesterday at $6.98, down -20.68% in the past 12 months. Potential Lawsuits to Recover Investment Losses Unfortunately, many investors are not fully aware of the problems and risks associated with illiquid, high risk, private placement investments such as GWG L Bonds (Liquidity Bonds). Alternative investments are complex and inherently risky products. Compared to traditional investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, these investments are significantly more complex and often better suited for sophisticated and institutional investors. Another problem often associated with these recommendations is the high sales commissions brokers typically earn for selling them– as high as 15%. Brokers have an obligation to make investment recommendations that are consistent with their clients risk tolerance, net worth, investment objectives and experience in the market. In many cases, the high sales commission may provide some brokers with enough incentive to make unsuitable investment recommendations. Broker dealers are required to perform adequate due diligence on any investment they recommend and to ensure that all recommendations are suitable for the investor. Firms that fail to do so, may be held responsible for any losses in a FINRA arbitration claim. If you are concerned about your investment in GWG L Bonds, the securities attorneys at The White Law Group may be able to help you. Please call the offices at 888-637-5510 for a free consultation. The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois. For more information on The White Law Group and its representation of investors in FINRA arbitration claims, visit https://www.whitesecuritieslaw.com. » GWG Holdings Inc class action, GWG Holdings Inc complaint, GWG Holdings Inc debentures, GWG Holdings Inc exchange, GWG Holdings Inc information, GWG Holdings Inc investigation, GWG Holdings Inc lawsuit, GWG Holdings Inc life insurance, GWG Holdings Inc losses, GWG Holdings Inc market, GWG Holdings Inc price, GWG Holdings Inc risks, GWG Holdings Inc value, GWG Holdings investment losses, GWG L bonds, GWG L Bonds illiquid, GWG L Bonds lawsuit, GWG L Bonds recovery, GWG L Bonds Shareholders, GWG Life LLC, GWG Renewed Secured Debentures class action, Liquidity Bond, Liquidity Bonds 2020, featured by top securities fraud attorneys, The White Law GroupConcerned about investment losses involving GWG Holdings (GWGH)  L Bond offerings? 

GWGH, a financial services firm, has been selling L Bonds since January 2012 under the name “Renewable Secured Debentures”. These debt securities were re-named “L Bonds” in January 2015 and in 2020, the company launched a new offering called the Liquidity Bond 2020, constituting secured debt of GWG Holdings, Inc.

April 20, 2022 – GWG Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

According to a press release on April 20,2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This comes after the company reported in a new filing on April 1, that is would not be able to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Apparently, its independent registered public accounting firm quit in January. The company has missed numerous filing deadlines in the past.  

According to the news release, GWG and its subsidiaries, GWG Life, LLC and GWG Life USA, LLC, have filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas as part of a restructuring process. The company says it “expects restructuring to strengthen its financial position and enhance the value of its assets.” 

According to filings with the SEC on January 18, 2022, due to the decreased sales of its L Bonds, GWG did not make the January 15, 2022 interest payment of approximately $10.35 million and principal payments of approximately $3.25 million with respect to its L Bonds. If the company fails to make the payments in the next 30 days it will result in default, according to the filing. 

The company also noted that it believes that the filing of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, will likely be late as the independent registered public accounting firm it was working with declined to stand for reappointment. This would also likely result in a voluntary suspension of the sale of L Bonds. This is not the first time the company has failed to file timely financial reports.

On March 31, 2021 GWG reportedly notified the SEC of its inability to file its 2020 annual report within the prescribed time period because it required additional time to complete its financial statements and related disclosures.

The company received a letter on April 16, 2021 from the Nasdaq’s listing qualifications department notifying the company that it was not in compliance with a listing rule that requires the timely filing of annual financial reports, according to filings with the SEC.

While the letter states that the company is required to submit a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance with the rule within 60 calendar days from the date of the letter, it apparently has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of GWGH’s common stock. If the plan is accepted, then it can grant GWG up to 180 calendar days from the due date of the annual report to regain compliance.

The company notes that it will file its report prior to the 60-day deadline and regain compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements.

GWG Holdings Inc. (GWGH) finances its portfolio of life insurance assets through the sale of alternative investment products, according to its website. Although these products are touted as offering potentially higher yields than other investment assets that are correlated with the traditional stock and bond markets, they may come at a much greater risk to investors.

GWG Investment Offerings: What is an L Bond?

An L bond is an alternative investment vehicle that attempts to provide a high yield for a lender in exchange for bearing the risk that an insurance policy premium or benefits may not be paid. An L bond is an unrated life insurance bond that is used to finance the purchase and premium payments of life insurance settlement contracts purchased in the secondary market.

L Bonds were publicly offered and sold on a continuous basis in 2014, 2017 and again in 2020 for a total of $4 billion in principal. The most recent offering will reportedly run on a continuous basis through June 2023, according to the prospectus.

The GWG L Bond prospectus notes, “An investment in the L Bonds involves significant risks, including the risk of losing your entire investment, and may be considered speculative.”

GWG L bonds are illiquid investments, and the shareholders cannot sell them on the secondary market. Shareholders must wait until the bonds mature to redeem the principal amount and they cannot redeem the bond before the maturity date or the death or disability of the original policyholder. According to its prospectus, if GWG agrees to redeem the bond for any other reason, the bondholder will be charged a penalty of 6%.

The company warns “it may not be able to sell additional L Bonds on terms as favorable to the Company as past transactions or in quantities sufficient to fund all of the Company’s operating requirements,” according to financial statements filed with the SEC in November 2020. Further, GWGH may not be able to obtain additional borrowing under existing debt facilities or new borrowings with other third-party lenders.

GWG issues new series of  “Liquidity” Bonds

The company issued two new series of L bonds in December 2020 called  (the “Liquidity Bonds”). The Liquidity Bonds are currently being offered and sold to accredited investors as Reg D private placement investments. The company says the Liquidity Bonds will be issued as part of the Company’s strategy to expand its exposure to a portfolio of loans collateralized by cash flows from illiquid alternative assets. Six months after the issuance date of a Liquidity Bond, the holder may elect to exchange the Liquidity Bond, (at the beginning of each month and upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the Company) for that number of shares of the Company’s common stock.

According to Market Watch, the company’s stock closed yesterday at $6.98, down -20.68% in the past 12 months. 

Potential Lawsuits to Recover Investment Losses

Unfortunately, many investors are not fully aware of the problems and risks associated with illiquid, high risk, private placement investments such as GWG L Bonds (Liquidity Bonds).

Alternative investments are complex and inherently risky products. Compared to traditional investments, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, these investments are significantly more complex and often better suited for sophisticated and institutional investors.

Another problem often associated with these recommendations is the high sales commissions brokers typically earn for selling them– as high as 15%.  Brokers have an obligation to make investment recommendations that are consistent with their clients risk tolerance, net worth, investment objectives and experience in the market.

In many cases, the high sales commission may provide some brokers with enough incentive to make unsuitable investment recommendations.

Broker dealers are required to perform adequate due diligence on any investment they recommend and to ensure that all recommendations are suitable for the investor. Firms that fail to do so, may be held responsible for any losses in a FINRA arbitration claim.

If you are concerned about your investment in GWG L Bonds, the securities attorneys at The White Law Group may be able to help you.  Please call the offices at 888-637-5510 for a free consultation.

The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Seattle, Washington.

For more information on The White Law Group and its representation of investors in FINRA arbitration claims, visit https://www.whitesecuritieslaw.com.