July 2020 – July 2021: Tony was Project Manager
for Genesis Energy’s strategic review of its
46% stake in the Kupe oil and gas field. The project
management role included (i) coordinating the process
across Genesis Energy’s internal team in different
parts of the business, plus external advisers (legal,
financial and technical); (ii) reporting to a governance
group (CEO, CFO, COO and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer);
and (iii) providing strategy advice to the company’s
CFO.
November 2016 – May 2017, Tony was Programme
Manager for Genesis Energy’s acquisition of
Nova Energy’s LPG business for $192 million.
The transaction included a process letter agreed with
Nova (on transaction and process parameters), a sale
and purchase agreement, a transition services agreement,
a gas supply agreement, a $225 million hybrid bond
offer, and an option to acquire Nova’s shares
in Liquigas.
The project management role included: (i) coordinating
the transaction across Genesis Energy’s team
of around 30 people in different parts of the business,
plus external advisers (legal, financial and operational);
(ii) reporting to a steering committee (CEO, CFO and
two executive general managers), and to the company’s
due diligence committee; and (iii) providing commercial
and strategy advice to the company’s CEO and
CFO.
October – November 2016, Tony
was Project Manager for Genesis Energy’s acquisition
of NZ Oil and Gas’ 15% interest in the Kupe
oil and gas field for $168 million. This project management
role included (i) coordinating the transaction across
the Genesis Energy team and with the company’s
advisers, (ii) reporting to the company’s due
diligence committee, and (iii) providing advice to
the company’s CEO and CFO.
May 2013 to April 2014, Tony was the Project Manager
for the Company of the IPO by which the Crown sold
49% of its shares in Genesis Energy for $736 million
to overseas and New Zealand institutions, and the
New Zealand public. This project management role included
(i) coordinating the transaction within the Genesis
Energy team, and between the Company, the Crown’s
Joint Lead Managers and other advisers; (ii) supporting
the CEO; and (iii) assisting with strategic issues.
The project also involved developing a new short form
investment statement, in consultation with the Financial
Markets Authority.
July 2011 to May 2013, Tony advised
the CEO of Genesis
Energy on key strategic issues; and assisted the
company with its preparations for the sale of 49%
of the Crown’s shares and related scoping and
IPO processes.
Tony also led the Crown team responsible
for corporatising and deregulating the NZ Apple and Pear
Board (ENZA),the NZ Kiwifruit Board (ZESPRI), and the NZ
Dairy Board. Tony’s role in leading this restructuring
described more fully in Producer
Board Project Team
Companies Act and Governance
As a company and commercial lawyer, Tony
advised a range of boards on their duties and obligations
as directors.
Tony was heavily involved in settling
key aspects of the current Companies Act 1992 through an
officials group addressing differences of policy and drafting
between the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economic Development,
Treasury and Parliamentary Counsel.
Tony has given advice on the constitution
of various organisations, including for example the constitution
proposed for Meat and Wool New Zealand.
Tony was invited to address the 8th International
Conference on Corporate Governance in London in September
2007
Contract analysis and negotiations
Thales Group is a large Anglo-French electronics
multi-national. Tony worked in its legal team on commercial
transactions with parties in the USA, UK, India and the
Middle East, preparing:
- Requests for tender
- Partnership agreements, and
- Equipment supply contracts
Tony helped the Thales Group to resolve
a major contractual dispute with EDS in relation to
an electronics supply agreement in the United States.
Tony acted as Special
Adviser to the Secretary of Defence in a successful
resolution of major warranty issues relating to a $500m
contract between the Crown and BAE Systems for the purchase
of seven new naval ships, which involved a complex range
of technologies and relationships.
Review investment
proposals
In early 2007, Tony was engaged by the
Government to review a NZ
Defence Forces proposal to invest in new satellite communication
services at a reported cost of $100m.
Commerce Act and Securities Act
Tony was closely involved in ensuring
that Commerce Act requirements could be satisfied:
- In forming the New Zealand electricity
market (NZEM), and
- Under a proposed 'mega-merger' of New Zealand's dairy
co-operatives.
Tony has also been involved in two reviews
of the Commerce Act, including its approach to vertically
integrated natural monopolies.
Tony was also closely involved in various
significant changes to the Securities Act and Securities
Regulations
Co-operatives
As leader of the Producer
Board Project Team , and subsequently as an adviser
to various industry parties, Tony has been closely
involved in analysing and re-organising supplier marketing
co-operatives, including the NZ Dairy, Apple + Pear
Board, Kiwifruit, Meat, Wool, Pork, Hops, and Raspberry
Boards, all of which were operated under a co-operative
philosophy.
Many of those boards have restructured
to become co-operatives. Tony has written extensively on
New Zealand’s largest company, Fonterra and the dairy
industry.
Tony was invited to present to an
international workshop in February 2007, organised
by the Global Corporate Governance Forum - an organisation
established by the World Bank and the OCED. The London
workshop focused on governance issues facing co-operatives,
particularly in developing countries. Tony presented
on “Renewal
of Co-operatives – Traditional to New Generation”
Industry facilitation
Transpower - Grid Planning
In 2010, Tony facilitated various workshops
for Transpower’s Systems Operation division in relation
to its organisational structure and strategy.
In late 2009, Tony facilitated an industry
workshop for Transpower on its T2040 strategy.
In August 2008 and January 2009, Tony
facilitated workshops for Transpower’s Grid Investment
division in relation to its organisational strategy.
Tony assisted Transpower in its review
of various internal and external processes that needed to
come together to make efficient investment decisions in
relation to the national transmission grid, including approvals
from Transpower’s board, the Electricity Commission,
local authorities, and land owners. Transpower’s review
included internal workshops, and consultation with stakeholders
Transpower’s
grid upgrade proposals: In mid-2007, Tony assisted Transpower
in planning and managing stakeholder workshops on various
grid investment proposals, in particular for North Auckland
and Northland, Waitaki to Christchurch, and the HVDC Pole
1 retirement or replacement.
Telecommunications
– Unbundling
Telecommunications:
Local loop unbundling (2006-08) - Tony led two working
parties established by the telecommunications industry to
develop technical and operational rules for the implementation
of ‘local loop unbundling’ and ‘naked
DSL’ in New Zealand
Electricity
market development
Market
Development Advisory Group (November 2018 – present):
Tony chairs the Electricity Authority’s wholesale
market development advisory group, which comprises key people
from a cross-section of electricity market participants.
Tony was the principal author of the following reports for
MDAG’s review of the “high standard of trading
conduct” provisions of the Electricity Code 2010:
Hedge
Market Development Group (2004-06): Tony successfully
chaired a group of senior executives to agree on a package
of measures to improve the market for instruments used in
managing electricity spot and basis price risks.
Model
electricity retail contracts : Tony successfully
chaired this group of industry executives and consumer representatives
in developing a draft set of model electricity retail contracts
(before the formation of the Electricity Commission)
