Funds management

Overview

The investment fund industry is a specialist industry providing a wide range of investment products to retail, wholesale and institutional investors. The industry is subject to specific regulatory and market requirements, with those requirements for retail purposes being subject to the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

Our investment funds team brings together specialists from the private equity, M&A, real estate, securities law, financial services regulation, corporate trust and tax practices that have the skills and experience to assist industry participants in the New Zealand investment funds market.

Our specialists advise private equity, investment management and financial firms on the formation of a wide variety of funds, including:

Buyout
Real estate
Venture capital
Infrastructure
Mezzanine
Distressed debt
Hedge
Secondary
Hybrid
Funds of funds.

We have experience assisting and representing the managers and supervisors of private equity funds, managed investment schemes, superannuation schemes and other group investment structures with their investments (both local and international), firm management, investor relations and regulatory, tax and governing document compliance issues.

We also advise brokers and financial service entities and are active in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures involving investment fund managers and others in the financial services industry.

Experience

Sector/Expertise

Banking and financial services

Work highlights

Morrison

We advised Morrison on the establishment and ongoing operations of its Public Infrastructure Partners funds, together with co-investment and bolt-on arrangements relating to such funds.

The Ministry of Economic Development

We advised the Ministry of Economic Development on the establishment of the New Zealand Fast Forward Fund.

Smartshares (a subsidiary of NZX)

We advised Smartshares on the establishment of fourteen index tracking exchange traded funds and one actively managed fund that has investment management outsourced.

Kiwibank

We advised Kiwibank on all aspects of its funds management business, including the establishment of its PIE unit trust and Kiwisaver Scheme, and its arrangements to sell managed funds provided by AMP.

Trustees Executors, New Zealand Guardian Trust and Covenant Trustee Services

We assisted Trustees Executors, New Zealand Guardian Trust and Covenant Trustee Services with the establishment and administration of a number of managed investment schemes, including NZX listed schemes.

Investment bank Lewis Tucker

We advised investment bank Lewis Tucker on the establishment and ongoing operation of the Forest Partners and Drylandcarbon funds.

New Zealand Assets Management

We advised New Zealand Assets Management on its managed investment schemes, including advising on its application for a manager licence under the Financial Markets Conduct Act.

Rabobank

We advised Rabobank and other registered banks on the establishment of their cash PIEs.

TSB Bank

We advised TSB Bank on the administration of its PIE fund.

Advising AXA

We advised AXA on its acquisition of Gould Wealth Management.

Superannuation fund trustees

We defended the trustees of a superannuation fund in the High Court against an action by members.

Various employers

We have advised various employers on structuring total remuneration packages in compliance with KiwiSaver requirements.

Whai Rawa

We advised Whai Rawa on the administration of its managed investment scheme.

Our team