About the Panel

The Takeovers Panel announces the appointment of a new Chair and Deputy Chair of the Panel. Current Deputy Chair, Carl Blanchard, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Panel, and current Panel member, Anna Buchly, has been appointed Deputy Chair.
 
Mr Blanchard joined the Panel in 2011 and has been Deputy Chair since 2016. He is a Partner at PwC and previously held roles in direct investment at Accident Compensation Corporation, Jarden’s investment banking division and the NZ Treasury. Anna Buchly is a Partner in national law firm, Bell Gully. She has been a Panel member since 2019.
 
The appointments follow the retirement of long-standing Panel member and former Chair, Andy Coupe.
 
In welcoming the appointments, the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hon Dr David Clark acknowledged the experience and continuity that Mr Blanchard and Ms Buchly would bring to their roles.
 
“The Takeovers Panel is of critical importance where it comes to strengthening investor confidence in New Zealand’s capital markets. Both Ms Buchly and Mr Blanchard are held in high regard, and I’m confident their appointment as Chair and Deputy Chair will be well received.”
 
Mr Blanchard paid tribute to Andy Coupe’s long service to the Panel and his involvement with the regulation of takeovers and schemes of arrangement. “Andy has led the Panel through a period of considerable change. Amendments to the Companies Act in late 2014 heralded changes to how takeovers were conducted in New Zealand. Schemes of arrangement under the Companies Act are now a well understood transaction structure and have over time become more prominent. Andy helped guide the Panel as it has developed its approach to monitoring those transactions. Andy’s commitment and service to the Panel over more than 13 years is greatly appreciated.”
 
Three other Panel members, Silvana Schenone, Sacha Judd and Nathanael Starrenburg, have each had their appointments renewed. 

Media Contact
Andrew Hudson, Chief Executive
E: andrew.hudson@takeovers.govt.nz
DDI: +644 815 8452 |  M: +64 21 815401

Notes to editors

The Takeovers Panel is an independent Crown entity established under the Takeovers Act 1993. The Panel's mandate is to strengthen investor confidence in New Zealand's capital markets by enforcing the Takeovers Code. The Code ensures that all shareholders have a fair opportunity to participate in control-change transactions (such as mergers, acquisitions, takeovers and allotments) in Code companies.

For further information on the Panel, please visit www.takeovers.govt.nz