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Virginia Administrative Code (Last Updated: January 10, 2017) |
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Title 21. Securities and Retail Franchising |
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Agency 5. State Corporation Commission, Division of Securities and Retail Franchising |
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Chapter 80. Investment Advisors |
Section 215. Exemption for certain private advisors
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A. For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
1. "Value of primary residence" means the fair market value of a person's primary residence, subtracted by the amount of debt secured by the property up to its fair market value.
2. "Private fund advisor" means an investment advisor who provides advice solely to one or more qualifying private funds.
3. "Qualifying private fund" means a private fund that meets the definition of a qualifying private fund in SEC Rule 203(m)-1, 17 CFR 275.203(m)-1.
4. "3(c)(1) fund" means a qualifying private fund that is eligible for the exclusion from the definition of an investment company under § 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, 15 USC § 80a-3(c)(1).
5. "Venture capital fund" means a private fund that meets the definition of a venture capital fund in SEC Rule 203(l)-1, 17 CFR 275.203(l)-1.
B. Subject to the additional requirements of subsection C of this section, a private fund advisor shall be exempt from the registration requirements of § 13.1-504 of the Act if the private fund advisor satisfies each of the following conditions:
1. Neither the private fund advisor nor any of its advisory affiliates are subject to a disqualification as described in Rule 262 of SEC Regulation A, 17 CFR 230.262;
2. The private fund advisor files with the commission each report and amendment thereto that an exempt reporting advisor is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to SEC Rule 204-4, 17 CFR 275.204-4; and
3. The private fund advisor pays a notice fee in the amount of $250.
C. In order to qualify for the exemption described in subsection B of this section, a private fund advisor who advises at least one (3)(c)(1) fund that is not a venture capital fund shall, in addition to satisfying each of the conditions specified in subsection B of this section, comply with the following requirements:
1. The private fund advisor shall advise only those 3(c)(1) funds (other than venture capital funds) whose outstanding securities (other than short-term paper) are beneficially owned entirely by persons who, after deducting the value of the primary residence from the person's net worth, would each meet the definition of a qualified client in SEC Rule 205-3, 17 CFR 275.205-3, at the time the securities are purchased from the issuer;
2. At the time of purchase, the private fund advisor shall disclose the following in writing to each beneficial owner of a 3(c)(1) fund that is not a venture capital fund:
a. All services, if any, to be provided to individual beneficial owners;
b. All duties, if any, the investment advisor owes to the beneficial owners; and
c. Any other material information affecting the rights or responsibilities of the beneficial owners; and
3. The private fund advisor shall obtain on an annual basis audited financial statements of each 3(c)(1) fund that is not a venture capital fund, and shall deliver a copy of such audited financial statements to each beneficial owner of the fund.
D. If a private fund advisor is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the advisor shall not be eligible for this exemption and shall comply with the notice filing requirements applicable to federal covered investment advisors in § 13.1-504 of the Act.
E. A person is exempt from the registration requirements of § 13.1-504 of the Act if he is employed by or associated with an investment advisor that is exempt from registration in this Commonwealth pursuant to this section and does not otherwise act as an investment advisor representative.
F. The report filings described in subdivision B 2 of this section shall be made electronically on IARD. A report shall be deemed filed when the report and the notice fee required by subdivision B 3 of this section are filed and accepted by IARD on the commission's behalf.
G. An investment advisor who becomes ineligible for the exemption provided by this section must comply with all applicable laws and regulations requiring registration or notice filing within 90 days from the date the investment advisor's eligibility for this exemption ceases.
H. An investment advisor to a 3(c)(1) fund (other than a venture capital fund) that has one or more beneficial owners who are not qualified clients as described in subdivision C 1 of this section is eligible for the exemption contained in subsection B of this section if the following conditions are satisfied:
1. The subject fund existed prior to May 7, 2012;
2. As of May 7, 2012, the subject fund ceases to accept beneficial owners who are not qualified clients, as described in subdivision C 1 of this section;
3. The investment advisor discloses in writing the information described in subdivision C 2 of this section to all beneficial owners of the fund; and
4. As of May 7, 2012, the investment advisor delivers audited financial statements as required by subdivision C 3 of this section.
Historical Notes
Derived from Volume 28, Issue 02, eff. September 9, 2011; amended, Volume 28, Issue 19, eff. May 7, 2012; Volume 29, Issue 20, eff. June 3, 2013.