Casper van Heerden
Partner | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9354
Overview
Casper specialises in debt capital markets including corporate bond issues, domestic medium-term note programmes (DMTN), commercial paper programmes, inward listings, global medium-term note programmes, high-yield bond issues and securitisations. Casper advises on a variety of listed and unlisted debt capital market transactions. He also advises issuers, arrangers and dealers with the establishment of, and note issuances under, DMTN programmes.
Experience
- Advised on, and assisted large corporates and banks with a variety of listed and unlisted debt capital market transactions. These include bond issues for, amongst others, the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (ZAR 2 billion), Transnet Limited (ZAR 2 billion), Barloworld Limited (ZAR 1.5 billion), Telkom Limited (ZAR 2.22 billion) and more recently South Africa’s first convertible bond issue for Aquarius Platinum Limited, which was listed on the Main Board of the JSE Limited.
- Regularly advises issuers, arrangers and dealers with the establishment of, and note issuances under, DMTN programmes. He has assisted, amongst other, the Mobile Telephone Networks Holdings (Pty) Limited (ZAR 10 billion), the Mercedes Benz South Africa (Pty) Limited (ZAR 18 billion), the SAPPI Manufacturing (Pty) Limited (ZAR 3 billion), the Transnet Limited (ZAR 18 billion) and Eskom Limited (ZAR 65 billion) with the establishment of their respective DMTN programmes, as well as the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, the City of Cape Town and Umgeni Water with their capital markets transactions.
- Acted for Calyon, through its South African branch, in establishing the first DMTN Programme in South Africa by a foreign bank. He advised African Development Bank and BNP Paribas with the inward listing of their respective programmes and has advised on various securitisation programmes, including OntheCards Investments Limited (including the restructuring thereof), Asset Backed Arbitraged Securities (Pty) Limited (ABACAS) (the latter being South Africa’s first securitisation conduit) and Freestone Finance Company (Pty) Limited securitisation programmes.
- Assisted FirstRand Bank Limited, Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Nedbank Limited with their respective EMTN programmes to provide for the new bank capital adequacy regulations for the issuance of hybrid instruments.
- Assisted Savcio Holdings (Pty) Limited with the restructuring of its high-yield bond issue.
- Assisted Transnet Limited with the establishment of its EMTN programme.
- Advised various ratings agencies in relation to debt capital markets transactions and programmes.
Awards
- Chambers Global has recognised Casper’s contribution to Capital Markets: Debt, for the past 16 years. Most recently, they ranked Casper in Band 1 (2015-2026).
- IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Casper as a Market Leader for Debt Capital Markets in 2025 and prior to that as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for seven consecutive years (2018-2024) and prior to that, as a Leading Lawyer in the same category, in 2015 and 2016.
- Casper was recognised by Who’s Who Legal 2018 for the category Capital Markets: Debt and Equity.
- Legal 500 2017 lists Casper as a Recommended Lawyer for Banking & Finance.
- Recognised by Best Lawyers 2017 for Capital Markets Law.
‘His knowledge of the debt capital markets and regulatory matters is outstanding, and his communication on all of these areas is proactive and engaging.’
‘Casper van Heerden is an exceptionally good lawyer.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2025
‘With a particularly strong reputation among issuer-side entities, Casper van Heerden’s impressive client portfolio features major names in manufacturing, mining and financial services.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘Makes himself available, deep experience of capital markets. Strong relationships of other stakeholders within DCM. Up to date on changes relevant to DCM and experience on transactions commercially and legally to look through event experience.’ – IFLR1000, 2024
‘Makes himself available, deep experience of capital markets. Strong relationships of other stakeholders within DCM. Up to date on changes relevant to DCM and experience on transactions commercially and legally to look through event experience.’ – IFLR1000, 2024
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
Education
- B.Proc, LLB and LLM degrees from the University of the Free State.
Professional Memberships
- Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
- Member of the JSE Ltd’s Advisory Committee (Bond Market).
INSIGHTS
Overview
Casper specialises in debt capital markets including corporate bond issues, domestic medium-term note programmes (DMTN), commercial paper programmes, inward listings, global medium-term note programmes, high-yield bond issues and securitisations. Casper advises on a variety of listed and unlisted debt capital market transactions. He also advises issuers, arrangers and dealers with the establishment of, and note issuances under, DMTN programmes.
Experience
- Advised on, and assisted large corporates and banks with a variety of listed and unlisted debt capital market transactions. These include bond issues for, amongst others, the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (ZAR 2 billion), Transnet Limited (ZAR 2 billion), Barloworld Limited (ZAR 1.5 billion), Telkom Limited (ZAR 2.22 billion) and more recently South Africa’s first convertible bond issue for Aquarius Platinum Limited, which was listed on the Main Board of the JSE Limited.
- Regularly advises issuers, arrangers and dealers with the establishment of, and note issuances under, DMTN programmes. He has assisted, amongst other, the Mobile Telephone Networks Holdings (Pty) Limited (ZAR 10 billion), the Mercedes Benz South Africa (Pty) Limited (ZAR 18 billion), the SAPPI Manufacturing (Pty) Limited (ZAR 3 billion), the Transnet Limited (ZAR 18 billion) and Eskom Limited (ZAR 65 billion) with the establishment of their respective DMTN programmes, as well as the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, the City of Cape Town and Umgeni Water with their capital markets transactions.
- Acted for Calyon, through its South African branch, in establishing the first DMTN Programme in South Africa by a foreign bank. He advised African Development Bank and BNP Paribas with the inward listing of their respective programmes and has advised on various securitisation programmes, including OntheCards Investments Limited (including the restructuring thereof), Asset Backed Arbitraged Securities (Pty) Limited (ABACAS) (the latter being South Africa’s first securitisation conduit) and Freestone Finance Company (Pty) Limited securitisation programmes.
- Assisted FirstRand Bank Limited, Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Nedbank Limited with their respective EMTN programmes to provide for the new bank capital adequacy regulations for the issuance of hybrid instruments.
- Assisted Savcio Holdings (Pty) Limited with the restructuring of its high-yield bond issue.
- Assisted Transnet Limited with the establishment of its EMTN programme.
- Advised various ratings agencies in relation to debt capital markets transactions and programmes.
Awards
- Chambers Global has recognised Casper’s contribution to Capital Markets: Debt, for the past 16 years. Most recently, they ranked Casper in Band 1 (2015-2026).
- IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Casper as a Market Leader for Debt Capital Markets in 2025 and prior to that as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for seven consecutive years (2018-2024) and prior to that, as a Leading Lawyer in the same category, in 2015 and 2016.
- Casper was recognised by Who’s Who Legal 2018 for the category Capital Markets: Debt and Equity.
- Legal 500 2017 lists Casper as a Recommended Lawyer for Banking & Finance.
- Recognised by Best Lawyers 2017 for Capital Markets Law.
‘His knowledge of the debt capital markets and regulatory matters is outstanding, and his communication on all of these areas is proactive and engaging.’
‘Casper van Heerden is an exceptionally good lawyer.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2025
‘With a particularly strong reputation among issuer-side entities, Casper van Heerden’s impressive client portfolio features major names in manufacturing, mining and financial services.’ – Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘Makes himself available, deep experience of capital markets. Strong relationships of other stakeholders within DCM. Up to date on changes relevant to DCM and experience on transactions commercially and legally to look through event experience.’ – IFLR1000, 2024
‘Makes himself available, deep experience of capital markets. Strong relationships of other stakeholders within DCM. Up to date on changes relevant to DCM and experience on transactions commercially and legally to look through event experience.’ – IFLR1000, 2024
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