KEY POINTS:
The new chairman of NZX takes the reins at a challenging juncture in the New Zealand stock exchange's history, but remains optimistic about its long term prospects.
Mergers and acquisitions law specialist Andrew Harmos was confirmed as chairman yesterday, replacing Simon Allen. Harmos has been on the board since 2002.
Market commentators say the NZX is facing a huge challenge as its main board continues to lose major companies while experiencing a lack of up-and-coming smaller listings. The total value of shares on the main board traded in August also fell 22 per cent from a year earlier.
Harmos said it was a difficult period internationally for capital markets, and New Zealand was no different.
"The important thing is that we maintain confidence in our markets and that we maintain the right policy settings to encourage growth and investment."
But he took heart in the opportunities still untapped.
"We have reason for optimism in terms of growth of listings. We're dramatically under-represented on our market by the things that actually drive our economy. Our markets don't reflect the strength of our rural sector, the strength and opportunities inherent in our infrastructure sector.
"We've got a strong and growing debt market and there are a lot of opportunities for future debt offerings and issuances, both at a local body, government level and SOE level as debt issuers."
Harmos said the ability to access public markets for capital and the removal of "redemption risk" in co-operative structures remained drawcards to a listing.
The growth of KiwiSaver also means more funds are available for investment, and the listed sector was a natural mechanism for companies wanting to tap into those funds, he said.
He does not see a polarity between his day job and that of his role at the NZX.
"There would certainly be nothing more pleasing than to see M&A activity driven by New Zealand businesses wanting to grow. But M&A activity will be there, and it will represent a normal ebb and flow."
CV
* Andrew Harmos was a partner at Russell McVeagh for 16 years.
* He set up corporate legal advisory and transactional firm Harmos Horton Lusk in 2002.
* The firm has been involved in a number of high-profile New Zealand mergers and acquisition transactions.
