Overseas Investment Act: Update on Urgent Changes
Issues covered include: emergency notification regime, national interest" test, call-in power, "benefit to New Zealand" test, OIO application
Description
Recently announced changes to the Overseas Investment Act will bring in emergency measures intended to mitigate the economic effects of Covid-19 and barriers to foreign investment in New Zealand, alongside some enduring changes to how investments are assessed by the Overseas Investment Office.
Attend and earn 1 CPD hour
Christina will cover:
- The emergency notification regime covering many transactions not currently within the scope of the OIO regime
- The new “national interest” test and call-in power
- Changes to the “benefit to New Zealand” test
- Steps being taken to cut red tape and streamline the OIO application process
Presented by Christina Lefever, Special Counsel, Duncan Cotterill
Learning Objective: Gain a critical update of the Overseas Investment Act and the OIO Regime.
Presenters
Christina specialises in corporate and commercial law with a particular focus on overseas investment, structuring, acquisitions and corporate finance. Her experience with the Overseas investment Act consent process includes involvement in over 40 Overseas Investment Office (OIO) applications, primarily in the agricultural sector (including farming, forestry and horticulture), and she is a member of the OIO’s Legal Reference Group. Along with a comprehensive knowledge of the Overseas Investment Act and Regulations, Christina understands the practicalities associated with the application process (including applications for variations and exemptions) and the key issues that clients face. Christina has a detailed knowledge of the recent legislative changes that impacted residential housing and forestry and has prepared OIO applications under a number of the new legislative tests.