Syndicators looking to raise capital from investors in Virginia should be aware of Virginia’s Blue Sky Laws. These laws regulate the securities industry within the state and understanding the basics of Virginia‘s blue sky laws will help you make smart business decisions about how you put together an offer and protect yourself from potential legal trouble.

 

What are Blue Sky Laws in General? 

The purpose of securities laws is to protect investors. There are two levels of regulatory agencies that provide that protection: the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and each state’s security regulation agency.

Federal law has severely restricted the states’ abilities to review or restrict sales of most securities when offered through a Federal regulation (such as syndication of a Reg D offering). The states do, however, often require a notice be filed with them along with the appropriate fee, conduct investigations, and bring fraud actions if necessary in order to protect those domiciled in their states.

When everything takes place within the state, then Virginia’s Blue Sky Rules apply. 

 

What if I Need to Notify Virginia about my Regulation D Syndication?

Here are the basic facts you need to know about giving notice to Virginia about your Reg D Rule 506b or 506c offer:

Filing fee – Fixed

New notice – $250

Late fee for late filings – None

 

What are Virginia’s Blue Sky Laws?

VA ST § 13.1-507 Registration requirement; exemptions

VA ST § 13.1-514 Exemptions

VA ST § 13.1-514.1 Exemption of certain securities by order of Commission

VA ST § 13.1-514.2 Primacy of Virginia law to be maintained

VA ST § 13.1-525 Official interpretations

 

What are Virginia’s securities laws exemptions?

Governmental entities; certain foreign governments including Canada; Financial institutions: banks, savings banks, trust companies, savings and loan, credit unions, industrial loan associations, consumer finance companies etc.; Cooperative associations; Approved foreign issuers; Other entities: railroads, common carriers, public service companies and insurance companies; Listed stock exchange securities etc.; Current transaction commercial paper; Employee benefit plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an attorney from Virginia then to put together an offering?

That depends. If the offering you are putting together is under Regulation D and not one of the Virginia-specific Blue Sky Laws (as discussed above), then probably not. 

For example, if you needed a real estate syndication attorney to put together a private placement memorandum for a multifamily deal in Virginia Beach, Virginia, that was going to be offered in different states, and you didn’t need counsel on questions related to Virginia laws, then chances are a licensed syndication lawyer would be able to help. They could even put together the entity for you and write the operating agreement, they just couldn’t provide you counsel on the specific laws of Virginia and how they may or may not pertain to your offer.

However, if you were putting together a private placement memorandum for a development project in Chesapeake, Virginia, all of the investors were from Virginia, and you wanted to use one of Virginia’s Blue Sky Laws above as an exception to registration, then you would need to work with someone licensed in Virginia.

 

Is it ok if the real estate syndication attorney, licensed outside of Virginia, looks over my purchase contract?

They can look, but they can’t give you advice as it pertains to Virginia. For example, Tilden Moschetti, Esq, syndication attorney for the Moschetti Syndication Law Group, will look, if asked, about the contract underlying your purchase contract in Arlington, Virginia, but makes it clear that he can give business consulting advice (discussion on price and broad deal points like the length of time until closing), but cannot speak to any specific term as he is not licensed there.