Investigation Source (Case #USDC Northern District of California)
Girard Gibbs LLP
601 California Street
Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94108
Investigation Scope
Nationwide
Category Information
Investigation Topics
Investments
Unsuitable Investments
Product or Service
Auction Rate Securities
Injury Type
Monetary Loss
Investigation Details
Investigation and pending class action against Bank of America on behalf of investors who purchased auction rate securities from Bank of America.
Auction rate securities are also known as auction rate preferred stock; auction market preferred stock; variable rate preferred securities; money market preferred securities; auction rate bonds.
Bank of America represented to investors that auction rate securities were equivalent to cash or money market funds, were highly liquid and safe investments for short term investments. Royal Bank of Canada knew but failed to disclose material facts about auction rate securities including the fact that auction rate securities were in fact long-term financial instruments that were artificially supported and manipulated by broker-dealers thereby creating the appearance of liquidity and stability.
On February 13, 2008, 87% of all auction for auction rate securities failed. This collapse left investors holding 300 billion in auction rate securities with no means of liquidating the investments.
Defendant Details
Name (Stock Symbol)
Brief Description
Bank of America N.A. (BAC)
Bank of America N.A. is one of the largest banks in the world offering a complete menu of financial services to consumers and businesses worldwide.