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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75080</law_id><section_number>13.1-501</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>12.1-20</reference><reference>13.1-561.1</reference><reference>13.1-775.1</reference><reference>13.1-936.1</reference><reference>2.2-2752</reference><reference>2.2-3101</reference><reference>2.2-4508</reference><reference>30-101</reference><reference>30-103</reference><reference>38.2-5016</reference><reference>38.2-6016</reference><reference>55.1-1976</reference><reference>55.1-2159</reference><reference>55.1-2218</reference><reference>56-231.43</reference><reference>58.1-2030</reference><reference>58.1-4100</reference><reference>59.1-199</reference><reference>59.1-263</reference><reference>59.1-321</reference><reference>59.1-92.20</reference><reference>59.1-95.1</reference><reference>6.2-1013</reference><reference>6.2-1100</reference><reference>6.2-1536</reference><reference>63.2-1931</reference><reference>64.2-2003</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Securities Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Definitions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> When used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Agent</span>&#x201D;  means any individual who, as a director, officer, partner, associate, employee or <span class="dictionary">sales</span> representative of a <span class="dictionary">broker-dealer</span> or <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>, effects or undertakes to effect <span class="dictionary">sales</span> of securities, otherwise than on behalf of (i) an <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> either offering a security exempted by subdivision 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, or 10 of subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Exemptions" href="/13.1-514/">13.1-514</a> or effecting a transaction with a &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">qualified purchaser</span>&#x201D;  as defined by the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> Securities and Exchange <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or (ii) a <span class="dictionary">broker-dealer</span> effecting in this Commonwealth transactions limited to those transactions described in &#xA7;&#xA0;15(h)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Broker-dealer</span>&#x201D;  means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> engaged in the business of selling any type of security other than an interest or unit in a condominium as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/55.1-2000/">55.1-2000</a> or <span class="dictionary">cooperative housing corporation</span> for the account of others or for his own account otherwise than with or through a <span class="dictionary">broker-dealer</span> or <span class="dictionary">agent</span>, but does not include an <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> or an <span class="dictionary">agent</span>. A bank or trust subsidiary formed under Article 3 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/6.2-1047/">6.2-1047</a> et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 6.2 shall not be considered to be a <span class="dictionary">broker-dealer</span> because the bank or trust subsidiary formed under Article 3 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/6.2-1047/">6.2-1047</a> et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 6.2 engages in any one or more of the activities specified in subparagraph (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (viii), (ix) or (x) of &#xA7;&#xA0;3(a)(4)(B) or in &#xA7;&#xA0;3(a)(5)(C) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 under the conditions described in connection with such <span class="dictionary">laws</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x201D;  means the <span class="dictionary">State</span> Corporation <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Control</span>&#x201D;  means the <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a <span class="dictionary">person</span>, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, or otherwise.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Cooperative housing corporation</span>&#x201D;  means a corporation in which each member is entitled, solely by reason of his membership in the corporation, to occupy for dwelling purposes a house or an apartment in a building owned or leased or to be owned or leased by the corporation or to purchase a dwelling constructed or to be constructed by the corporation. The corporation shall not be or intend to be engaged in any business or activity other than the ownership, leasing, management, or construction of residential properties for its members, except to the extent that such business or activity is incidental to the ownership, leasing, management, or construction of residential properties. The securities of the corporation shall be issued only in connection with the <span class="dictionary">sale</span> or lease of dwelling units to <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are or thereupon become members of the corporation and shall be transferable by the purchasers only in connection with the transfer of such dwelling units or leases to other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are or thereupon become members.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federal covered advisor</span>&#x201D;  means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is registered or required to be registered under &#xA7;&#xA0;203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as an &#x201C;investment adviser.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federal covered security</span>&#x201D;  means any security described as a &#x201C;covered security&#x201D; in &#xA7;&#xA0;18 of the Securities Act of 1933.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Guaranteed</span>&#x201D;  means <span class="dictionary">guaranteed</span> as to payment of principal, interest or dividends.
			&#x201C;Investment advisor&#x201D;  means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who, for compensation, engages in the business of advising others, either directly or through publications or writings, as to the value of securities or as to the advisability of investing in, purchasing, or selling securities, or who, for compensation and as part of a regular business, <span class="dictionary">issues</span> or promulgates analyses or reports concerning securities. Investment advisor also includes financial planners and other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who, as an integral component of other financially related services, provide the foregoing investment advisory services to others for compensation and as a part of a business or who hold themselves out as providing the foregoing investment advisory services to others for compensation. &#x201C;Investment advisor&#x201D; does not include (i) an <span class="dictionary">investment advisor representative</span>; (ii) a bank, a bank holding company as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 which is not an investment company, a trust subsidiary organized under Article 3 (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/6.2-1047/">6.2-1047</a> et seq.) of Chapter 10 of Title 6.2, a savings institution, a credit union, or a trust company; (iii) a lawyer, accountant, engineer, or teacher whose performance of these services is solely incidental to the practice of his profession; (iv) a <span class="dictionary">broker-dealer</span> or his <span class="dictionary">agent</span> whose performance of these services is solely incidental to the conduct of his business as a <span class="dictionary">broker-dealer</span> and who receives no special compensation for them; (v) a publisher of any newspaper, news column, newsletter, news magazine, or business or financial publication or service, whether communicated in hard copy form, or by electronic means, or otherwise, that does not consist of the rendering of advice on the basis of the specific situation of each client; (vi) any <span class="dictionary">person</span> that is a <span class="dictionary">federal covered advisor</span>; or (vii) such other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> not within the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> of this definition, as the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may designate by rule or determine by <span class="dictionary">order</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Official interpretations" href="/13.1-525/">13.1-525</a>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Investment advisor representative</span>&#x201D;  means any partner, officer, director of, or a <span class="dictionary">person</span> occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, or other individual, except clerical or ministerial personnel, who is employed by or associated with (a) an investment advisor registered or required to be registered under this chapter and who does any of the following: (i) makes any recommendations or otherwise renders advice regarding securities, (ii) manages accounts or portfolios of clients, (iii) determines which recommendations or advice regarding securities should be given, (iv) prepares reports or analyses concerning securities, (v) solicits, <span class="dictionary">offers</span> or negotiates for the <span class="dictionary">sale</span> of or <span class="dictionary">sells</span> investment advisory services, or (vi) supervises employees who perform any of the foregoing; or (b) a <span class="dictionary">federal covered advisor</span>, subject to the limitations of &#xA7;&#xA0;203 A of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may designate by rule or <span class="dictionary">order</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Investment advisor representative</span>&#x201D; does not include such other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> employed by or associated with either an investment advisor or a <span class="dictionary">federal covered advisor</span> not within the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> of this definition as the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may designate by rule or determine by <span class="dictionary">order</span> pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Official interpretations" href="/13.1-525/">13.1-525</a>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Issuer</span>&#x201D;  means any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who <span class="dictionary">issues</span> or proposes to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a security, except that: <a id="paragraph-269676" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> With respect to certificates of deposit, voting trust certificates or <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> trust certificates, and with respect to certificates of interest or shares in an unincorporated investment trust not having a board of directors or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> performing similar functions, or of the fixed, restricted management or unit type, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">issuer</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">person</span> or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> performing the acts and assuming the duties of manager; <a id="paragraph-269677" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> With respect to equipment trust certificates or like securities, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">issuer</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">person</span> by whom the equipment is or is to be used; <a id="paragraph-269678" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> With respect to oil, gas or other mineral leases, rights or royalties or interests therein, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">issuer</span>&#x201D; means the owner of any such lease, right, royalty or interest (whether whole or fractional) who creates financial interests therein for the purpose of offering to more than five <span class="dictionary">persons</span>.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Nonissuer distribution</span>&#x201D;  means any transaction not directly or indirectly for the benefit of the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Offer</span>&#x201D;  includes every attempt or <span class="dictionary">offer</span> to dispose of, or solicitation of an <span class="dictionary">offer</span> to buy, a security or interest in a security for value.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Person</span>&#x201D;  means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an unincorporated association, a government, a subdivision of a government, or a trust in which the interests of the beneficiaries are evidenced by securities.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Sale</span>&#x201D;  or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">sell</span>&#x201D;  includes every <span class="dictionary">contract</span> of <span class="dictionary">sale</span> of, <span class="dictionary">contract</span> to <span class="dictionary">sell</span>, or <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of, a security or interest in a security for value.
				&#x201C;Securities Act of 1933,&#x201D; &#x201C;Securities Exchange Act of 1934,&#x201D; &#x201C;Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,&#x201D; &#x201C;Investment Advisers Act of 1940,&#x201D; and &#x201C;Investment Company Act of 1940&#x2033;  mean the federal <span class="dictionary">statutes</span> of those names as now or hereafter amended.
				&#x201C;Security&#x201D;  means any note; stock; treasury stock; <span class="dictionary">bond</span>; debenture; <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of indebtedness; certificate of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement; <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> trust certificate; preorganization certificate of subscription; transferable share; investment <span class="dictionary">contract</span>; voting-trust certificate; certificate of deposit for a security; oil, gas or other mineral lease, right or royalty, or any interest therein; or, in general, any interest or instrument commonly known as a &#x201C;security,&#x201D; or any certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing. However, this definition shall not apply to any insurance policy, endowment policy, annuity <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, variable annuity <span class="dictionary">contract</span> or any <span class="dictionary">contract</span> or agreement in relation to and in consequence of any such policy or <span class="dictionary">contract</span>, issued by an insurance company subject to the supervision or <span class="dictionary">control</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>&#x2019;s Bureau of Insurance when the form of such policy or <span class="dictionary">contract</span> has been duly filed with the Bureau as now or hereafter required by <span class="dictionary">law</span>.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">State</span>&#x201D;  means any <span class="dictionary">state</span>, territory or <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. <a id="paragraph-269679" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> For the purposes of Article 4 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Registration requirement; exemptions" href="/13.1-507/">13.1-507</a> et seq.) of this chapter, the terms defined in this section shall not include negotiations or agreements between the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> and any underwriter or among underwriters; or any transaction by the pledgee of a security unless made directly or indirectly for the benefit of the <span class="dictionary">issuer</span>. <a id="paragraph-269680" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Any security given or delivered with, or as a bonus on account of, any purchase of securities or any other thing shall be deemed to constitute part of the subject of the purchase and to have been offered and sold for value. <a id="paragraph-269681" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">sale</span> or <span class="dictionary">offer</span> of a warrant or right to purchase or subscribe to another security of the same <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> or of another <span class="dictionary">person</span>, and every <span class="dictionary">sale</span> or <span class="dictionary">offer</span>, of a security which gives the holder thereof a present or future right or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to convert the security into another security of the same <span class="dictionary">issuer</span> or of another <span class="dictionary">person</span>, shall be deemed to include an <span class="dictionary">offer</span> of such other security. <a id="paragraph-269682" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-501/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 13-106; 1956, c. 428; 1966, c. 186; 1974, cc. 409, 479; 1975, c. 75; 1976, c. 229; 1987, c. 678; 1988, c. 536; 1990, c. 5; 1991, cc. 223, 418; 1992, c. 19; 1997, c. 279; 1998, c. 22; 2001, c. 722.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
