Over the past few years St. Louis based Stifel Nicolaus & Co. has faced a number of problem with regulators as well as actions filed by disgruntled customers, including:
- In 2014, Stifel Nicolaus was fined $60,000 by the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve securities regulator’s allegations that the improperly sold Puerto Rico junk bonds to retail investors by selling bonds below the minimum $100,000 denomination established by the issuer.
- In February 2017, a FINRA arbitration panel in Dallas, Texas, awarded two former elderly customers over $117,000 for losses suffered as a result of having invested in Puerto Rico municipal bonds. Follow this link to the FINRA record of Stifel Nicolaus broker Robert Kyle Ratcliff. FINRA Case 15-03427, June and Perry Burns v Stifel Nicolaus.
Puerto Rico Debt Crisis
In early 2014, various credit rating agencies downgraded the debt of Puerto Rico to non investment grade, better known as junk status or speculative grade. This downgrade triggered acceleration clauses requiring the repayment of some debt within months, rather than years.
Puerto Rico has over $70 billion of outstanding debt, with a debt to GDP ratio of about 68%. While about $30 billion (42%) of Puerto Rico’s debt is owned by residents of Puerto Rico, the larger portion is owned by non-residents, primarily residents of the continental United States.
Investors who have suffered losses on Puerto Rico’s bonds purchased from a broker employed by Stifel Nicolaus & Co. may be able to recover damages through FINRA arbitration.
Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL, and Austin, TX, provides representation to investors nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.
Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.
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