Virginia Law

A. The terms "investment advisor" and "federal covered advisor" do not include any person engaged in the investment advisory business whose only client is one (or more) of the following:

1. An investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

2. An insurance company licensed to transact insurance business in this Commonwealth.

3. A bank, a bank holding company as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, a trust subsidiary organized under Article 3.1 (§ 6.1-32.1 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 6.1 of the Code of Virginia, a savings institution, a credit union, or a trust company if the entity is either (i) authorized or licensed to transact such business in this Commonwealth or (ii) organized under the laws of the United States.

4. A broker-dealer so registered under the Act and under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

5. An employee benefit plan with assets of not less than $5,000,000.

6. A governmental agency or instrumentality.

B. Any investment advisor or federal covered advisor who (i) does not have a place of business located within this Commonwealth and (ii) during the preceding 12-month period has had fewer than six clients who are residents of this Commonwealth other than those listed in subsection A of this section is excluded from the registration and notice filing requirements of the Act.

C. The term "investment advisor" does not include any certified public accountant who holds a valid CPA certificate as defined by § 54.1-2000 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and who during the ordinary course of business:

1. Issues publications, writings, reports, or testimony in a court of law or in an arbitration as to the value of privately held securities in a transaction involving the purchase, sale or valuation of a business;

2. Issues publications, writings, reports or testimony in a court of law or in an arbitration as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling privately held securities in a transaction involving the purchase, sale or valuation of a business; or

3. Advises clients about the disposition or value of assets, of which ownership is evidenced by privately held securities and such assets are the subject of (i) bankruptcy, (ii) estate or gift tax planning or settlement, (iii) divorce, (iv) sale of a business, whether whole or in part, (v) employee stock option plan, or (vi) an insurance settlement.