Russell McVeagh
New Zealand seeking to grow forestry debt instruments
Financing solutions and adaptation to climate change is stoking capital-markets innovation around the world. In New Zealand, increasing forest cover is key to meeting Paris Agreement targets – and local market participants are keen to germinate a specialised financing instrument to support progress.
Robust and evolving
Australian Securitisation 2019 took place in Sydney on 18 and 19 November with market-leading commentary on the evolution of the securitisation market, including collateral, lending regulation and benchmark reforms. The Australian securitisation market is poised to enter the next decade in robust shape, reflected by a record registration for and attendance at the Australian Securitisation Forum’s annual conference.
Give and take
New Zealand’s domestic banks have clarity on their new capital requirements following the conclusion of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ)’s consultation in early December. The RBNZ gave some concessions on eligible instruments and timeframe but market commentators still believe the new regime will have a greater impost than the regulator foresees.
New Zealand looks forward
The seventh annual KangaNews New Zealand DCM Summit took place in Auckland on 22 August at a fascinating juncture for the local debt market. Discussion focused on forthcoming changes to bank-capital requirements and the finalisation of a bank securitisation regime locally, the global context of trade wars, the low interest-rate environment and major capital-market upheaval.
Climate change initiatives in New Zealand
More than a year into the coalition government’s term in office in New Zealand and the Green Party’s influence on the administration is beginning to be felt. Guy Lethbridge, partner at Russell McVeagh in Wellington, discusses government and private-sector initiatives designed to support New Zealand’s transition to a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.
Breaking new ground in New Zealand
In November 2018, the first-ever KangaNews-Westpac New Zealand Sustainable Finance Summit took place in Auckland. The event brought together participants from across the New Zealand capital market including corporate entities, institutional investors and government to enhance dialogue about market-led solutions to the challenges posed by transition to a sustainable environmental and social future.
