AKC
03/03/2015 10:29
WAV/RULE
NOT PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 1029 HRS Auckland Council
WAV/RULE: AKC: AKC - Waiver from NZX Debt Market Listing Rule 3.2.1(d)
NZX Regulation Decision
Auckland Council (AKC)
Application for a waiver from NZX Debt Market Listing Rule 3.2.1(d)
3 March 2015
Waiver from NZX Debt Market Listing Rule 3.2.1(d)
Decision
1. On the condition set out in paragraph 2 below, and on the basis that the
information provided by AKC is complete and accurate in all material
respects, NZX Regulation ("NZXR") grants AKC a waiver from NZX Debt Market
Listing Rule ("Rule") 3.2.1(d) to the extent that this Rule requires that the
Trust Deed issued by AKC shall provide that a meeting of Security holders
shall be called on a requisition in writing signed by holders of not less
than 10% of the amount of the Securities for the time being outstanding.
2. The waiver in paragraph 1 above is provided on the condition that the
Trust Deed shall provide that a meeting of Security holders shall be called
on a requisition in writing signed by holders of not less than 5% of the
nominal value of the Securities for the time being outstanding.
3. The material information on which this decision is based is set out in
Appendix One to this decision. This waiver will not apply if that information
is not, or ceases to be, full and accurate in all material respects.
4. Rule 3.2.1(d) to which this decision relates is set out in Appendix Two.
Reasons
5. In coming to the decision to provide the waiver set out in paragraph 1
above, NZXR has considered that:
a. the Trust Deed currently complies with Rule 3.2.1(d), by providing that a
meeting of Security holders shall be called on a requisition in writing
signed by holders of not less than 10% of Securities outstanding. The
Threshold in Rule 3.2.1(d) aligns with the Threshold prescribed under clause
3(1) of Schedule 15 to the Securities Regulations;
b. the Securities Regulations were revoked on 1 December 2014, by section
5(o) of the Financial Markets (Repeals and Amendments) Act 2013. Section
120(1)(b) of the FMCA now requires that a meeting of a class of debt security
holders must be called by an Issuer on the written request of holders of no
less than 5% of the nominal value of the debt securities on issue in that
class;
c. while the Securities Regulations still apply to those Issuers continuing
to comply with the Securities Act Regime up until 30 November 2016, the FMC
Regime will apply to those Issuers who choose to transition to the new regime
prior to 30 November 2016. AKC intends to transition to the FMC Regime and
has selected an effective date of 18 March 2015;
d. under the Rules, and but for a waiver, Issuers who have transitioned to
the FMC Regime would need to provide in their trust deed a greater threshold
than the Threshold permitted by the legislation; and
e. the legislative change to the Threshold affords a greater level of
protection to investors. As AKC is transitioning to the FMC Regime, NZXR
considers that it is appropriate that AKC should be able to amend its Trust
Deed to align with the Threshold in the FMC Regime, without breaching the
Rules.
Confidentiality
6. AKC has requested that the application for a waiver from Rule 3.2.1(d) and
NZXR's decision be kept confidential until the amendment documents to the
Master Trust Deed are executed and lodged with the registrar.
7. In accordance with Footnote 1 to Rule 1.11.2, NZXR grants AKC's request.
Appendix One
1. Auckland Council ("AKC") is a Listed Issuer with the Securities Quoted on
the NZX Debt Market ("NZDX"). These Securities include the AKC020 Bonds,
AKC040 Bonds, AKC050 Bonds, AKC060 Bonds and AKC070 Bonds.
2. The terms and conditions of the AKC060 Bonds and the AKC070 Bonds are
contained in the master trust deed between AKC and Trustees Executors Limited
(the "Trustee") dated 27 September 2012 ("Master Trust Deed") as modified and
supplemented by a supplemental trust deed (no. 1) dated 27 September 2012
(together the "Trust Deed").
3. AKC and the Trustee propose to amend the Trust Deed to reflect and comply
with the requirements of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 ("FMCA") and
Financial Markets Conduct Regulations 2014 (together the "FMC Regime"), as
well as making certain other tidy-up amendments.
4. As part of these broader amendments, AKC and the Trustee intend to amend
the percentage of Security holders able to requisition, in writing, a meeting
of Security holders (the "Threshold") specified in clause 1.2 of Schedule 2
of the Master Trust Deed, AKC intends to amend clause 1.2 of Schedule 2 to
set the Threshold at not less than 5% of the nominal value of the debt
securities on issue in that class.
5. This proposed amendment reflects the change to the Threshold prescribed
under the FMC Regime, from the previous requirement under the Securities Act
1978 ("Securities Act Regime").
6. Section 120(1)(b) of the FMCA requires that a meeting of a class of
holders of a debt security must be called by the issuer on the written
request of holders of the debt securities that have a combined nominal value
of no less than 5% of the nominal value of the debt securities on issue in
that class. This provision replaces clause 3(1) Schedule 15 of the
Securities Regulations 2009 ("Securities Regulations"), which deemed trust
deeds to contain a clause that persons holding not less than one-tenth in
nominal value of the issued debt securities to which the deed relates.
7. AKC has selected an effective date for the purposes of the FMC Regime of
18 March 2015 ("Effective Date"). The amendments to the Trust Deed will not
come into effect until AKC's Effective Date, to ensure compliance with
existing legislation in the interim.
8. These amendments will be made under the relevant amendment mechanisms
contained in the Trust Deed, and the proposed amendments are of a nature that
do not require bondholder consent.
Appendix Two
Rule 3.2.1
Every Trust Deed governing Debt Securities shall provide that:
...
(d) a meeting of Security holders shall be called on a requisition in writing
signed by holders of not less than 10% of the amount of the Securities for
the time being outstanding; and
End CA:00261390 For:AKC Type:WAV/RULE Time:2015-03-03 10:29:34
