(a) A broker-dealer, agent or investment adviser may obtain an initial or renewal registration by filing with the commissioner an application, together with a consent to service of process pursuant to subsection (g), section four hundred fourteen, article four of this chapter. The application shall contain whatever information the commissioner by rule requires concerning matters such as: (1) The applicant’s firm and place of organization; (2) the applicant’s proposed method of doing business; (3) the qualifications and business history of the applicant and in the case of a broker-dealer or investment adviser, the qualifications and business history of any partner, officer or director, any person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions or any person, directly or indirectly, controlling the broker-dealer or investment adviser and, in the case of an investment adviser, the qualifications and business history of any employee; (4) any injunction or administrative order or conviction of a misdemeanor involving a security or any aspect of the securities business and any conviction of a felony; and (5) subject to the limitations of §15(h)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the applicant’s financial condition and history. The commissioner may by rule or order require an applicant for initial registration to publish an announcement of the application as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code and the publication area or areas for the publication shall be specified by the commissioner. If no denial order is in effect and no proceeding is pending under section two hundred four of this article, registration becomes effective at noon of the thirtieth day after an application is filed. The commissioner may by rule or order specify an earlier effective date and he or she may by order defer the effective date until noon of the thirtieth day after the filing of any amendment to an application. Registration of a broker-dealer automatically constitutes registration of any agent who is a partner, officer or director, or a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions, as designated by the broker-dealer in writing to the commissioner and approved in writing by the commissioner. Registration of an investment adviser automatically constitutes registration of any investment adviser representative who is a partner, officer or director or a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions as designated by the investment adviser in writing to the commissioner and approved in writing by the commissioner.
(b) Except with respect to federal-covered advisers whose only clients are those described in paragraphs (A) and (B), subdivision (3), subsection (c), section two hundred one of this article, a federal-covered adviser shall file with the commissioner, prior to acting as a federal-covered adviser in this state, such documents as have been filed with the securities and exchange commissioner as the commissioner, by rule or order, may require along with notice filing fees under subsection (c) of this section.
(c) Every applicant for initial or renewal registration shall pay a filing fee of $300 in the case of a broker-dealer and the agent of an issuer, $66 in the case of an agent, $200 in the case of an investment adviser and $75 for each investment adviser representative. When an application is denied or withdrawn, the commissioner shall retain all of the fee.
(d) A registered broker-dealer or investment adviser may file an application for registration of a successor, whether or not the successor is then in existence, for the unexpired portion of the year. A filing fee of $24 shall be paid.
(e) The commissioner may, by rule or order, require a minimum capital for registered broker-dealers, subject to the limitations of Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and establish minimum financial requirements for investment advisers, subject to the limitations of Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which may include different requirements for those investment advisers who maintain custody of clients’ funds or securities or who have discretionary authority over same and those investment advisers who do not.
(f) The commissioner may, by rule or order, require registered broker-dealers, agents and investment advisers who have custody of or discretionary authority over client funds or securities to post surety bonds in amounts as the commissioner may prescribe, by rule or order, subject to the limitations of Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (for broker-dealers) and Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (for investment advisers), up to $25,000 and may determine their conditions. Any appropriate deposit of cash or securities shall be accepted in lieu of any bond so required. No bond may be required of any registrant whose net capital or, in the case of an investment adviser, whose minimum financial requirements, which may be defined by rule, exceeds the amounts required by the commissioner. Every bond shall provide for suit thereon by any person who has a cause of action under section four hundred ten, article four of this chapter and, if the commissioner by rule or order requires, by any person who has a cause of action not arising under this chapter. Every bond shall provide that no suit may be maintained to enforce any liability on the bond unless brought within the time limitations set forth in subsection (e), section four hundred ten, article four of this chapter.
(g) Every applicant whether registered under this chapter or not, shall pay a $60 fee for each name or address change.
(h) Every broker-dealer and investment advisor registered under this chapter shall pay an annual $60 fee for each branch office located in West Virginia.
(i) Each agent, representative and associated person of a broker-dealer or investment advisor when applying for an initial license under this section or changing employers shall pay a compliance assessment of $30. Each agent, representative and associated person, when applying for a renewal license under this section, shall pay a compliance assessment of $12. The West Virginia State Legislature reserves the right to adjust the fees set forth in this section once every four years in an amount reflecting the percentage increase in the cost of administering this article from the amount of such costs on the effective date of this article.