In 2012, one of the largest non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) – Inland American Real Estate – was the target of a Securities and Exchange (SEC) nonpublic, fact-finding investigation as part of an effort to determine whether it had violated certain federal securities laws. Now, Inland American could be in line for a merger or listing of its shares, according to a story reported last Friday in Investment News.
In a letter to shareholders, Inland American stated that, “In connection with our board’s review of an additional liquidity option for our stockholders, this letter serves as notice that we are suspending our current share repurchase program, which is available to stockholders in the event of death or for stockholders that have a ‘qualifying disability’ or are confined to a ‘long-term care facility…”
As reported in the Investment News story, Inland American has had its share of issues over the years, many of them tied to the 2008 financial crisis. Launched in 2005, Inland American was among a group of large non-traded REITs that suffered in the wake of fallen commercial real estate prices. Originally sold to investors by brokers at $10 per share, the REIT’s most recent estimated per share valuation at the end of December was $6.94 per share.
Stay tuned.