(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to forbid the existence or operation of labor, agricultural or horticultural organizations, instituted for the purposes of mutual help, and not having capital stock or conducted for profit, or to forbid or restrain individual members of such organizations from lawfully carrying out the legitimate objects thereof; nor shall such organizations or the members thereof be held or construed to be illegal combinations or agreements in restraint of trade under this chapter.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to forbid any conduct or arrangement required by any statute of this State or of the United States, nor any conduct or arrangement approved or required by a regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this State or of the United States.
(c) Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, activity of the following shall not be construed as a violation of this chapter:
(1) Any public utility, to the extent that such activity is subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission, the State or federal Department of Transportation, the Federal Power Commission, the Federal Communications Commission or the Interstate Commerce Commission;
(2) Any person to the extent that such activity is subject to regulation by the Insurance Commissioner of this State or is authorized by the Insurance Code or any other law of this State, including the making of or participating in joint underwriting or joint reinsurance arrangements;
(3) A nonprofit corporation, trust or organization established exclusively for religious or charitable purposes, or for both purposes, to the extent that the activity is a religious or charitable activity;
(4) A security dealer who is licensed by this State or who is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers or a member of a national securities exchange registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq.], in the course of the business of offering, selling, buying and selling, or otherwise trading in or underwriting, securities as an agent, broker or principal, or the activity of a registered national securities exchange, including the establishment of commission rates and schedules of charges, to the extent that such activity is subject to regulation under the laws of this State or the United States; or
(5) Any state or national banking association or savings and loan association, or any other lending institution, to the extent that such activity is regulated or supervised by the banking laws or savings and loan laws of this State or the United States.