Hon Simon Power
Minister of Commerce
9 August 2011 Media Statement
Government releases draft bill on securities law
Commerce Minister Simon Power today released the draft version of a bill that stems from the comprehensive review of
securities law.
“I’m releasing this bill in draft form to ensure that decisions from this once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-write
our securities law are enduring for years to come,” Mr Power said.
“The new legislation will play a crucial role in restoring confidence in our financial markets by providing better
protections for mum and dad investors, and clearer rules for companies looking to raise capital.
“The draft bill takes into account the work of the Capital Market Development Taskforce, the effects of the global
financial crisis, and the failure of finance companies, and aims to be a one-stop shop for securities law.”
The Financial Markets (Conduct) Bill reflects Cabinet decisions announced in March and June of this year, which include:
• Replacing the requirement for issuers to prepare a prospectus and investment statement with a requirement to
prepare a single product disclosure statement tailored to retail investors.
• Licensing regimes for specific financial sector participants: fund managers, independent trustees of workplace
superannuation schemes, derivatives dealers, and peer-to-peer lenders.
• A modified liability framework for breaches of securities law, with reckless and intentional breaches resulting
in criminal liability and penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and fines of up to $1 million for individuals and
$5 million for companies.
• Civil pecuniary penalties of up to $1 million for individuals and $5 million for companies if they make
misleading statements in a product disclosure statement and advertisements. This would include celebrities if they are a
party to the contravention. Celebrities will not, however, face any liability if a product fails and they have not made
a misleading statement about it.
• Increasing the maximum period for prohibition by the FMA or Registrar of Companies of a person from managing a
company from five years to 10 years, and allowing the High Court to impose orders for an indefinite period.
• A new system to regulate securities exchanges.
Other wide-ranging reforms included in the bill cover: defining types of financial products, disclosure requirements,
exemptions from the regime, managed investment schemes, and providing the Financial Markets Authority with additional
powers.
The development of a new securities law regime largely completes the major regulatory reform programme in the financial
sector.
That programme has included the establishment of the Financial Markets Authority, the financial adviser regime, auditor
regulation, the licensing of trustees and statutory supervisors, and the prudential regulation of non-bank deposit
takers.
Copies of the draft bill can be downloaded here. Submissions are due by 6 September.
Mr Power intends to introduce the bill to Parliament before the election.
Background:
The draft exposure bill rewrites a number of pieces of legislation, including the Securities Act, the Securities Markets
Act, the Unit Trusts Act, the Superannuation Schemes Act, and the non-tax parts of the KiwiSaver Act.
New Zealand’s securities law has been amended many times since the Securities Act was enacted in 1978. The current
review provides an opportunity to rewrite the legislation in an integrated and coherent manner. Officials will continue
to work with industry during the drafting process.
Previous Government announcements on securities law can be found here.
ENDS