Casper van Heerden is a partner in our Johannesburg office Banking and Finance Department.

He 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.

He is consistently rated in the top tier of South African Capital Markets lawyers by both Chambers Global and IFLR1000 and is a member of the JSE Ltd’s Advisory Committee (Bond Market).

He has B.Proc, LLB and LLM degrees from the University of the Free State.

Relevant 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.

 

Signature Matters

• Santam Limited
• JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
• Hospitality Property Fund
• Hospitality Property Fund’s DMTN Programme
• Sibanye Gold’s USD 1 Billion Rights Offering and USD 1 Billion Bond Offering to Finance Stillwater Mining Acquisition

Awards

• Chambers and Partners consistently ranked Casper in Band 1 for 2015 – 2020 ranked Casper van Heerden in Band 1 for Capital Markets: Debt, for the past six consecutive years (2015 to 2021).
• IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Casper as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for Debt Capital Markets for the past four consecutive years (2018 to 2021) 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.

Casper van Heerden remains one of the pre-eminent debt capital markets lawyers in the country. He is sought out for his advice on the establishment of note programmes and on the domestic and cross-border issuance of secured and unsecured notes. Commentators find him to be “very knowledgeable, practical and approachable.” – Chambers and Partners 2020

Casper van Heerden is an esteemed DCM practitioner with wide-ranging experience, including domestic and global note programmes, corporate bond issues and securitisations. Interviewees highlight his “top-notch expertise,” while others state: “Casper’s work is excellent; he’s quick and super sharp,” adding that “he manages the process really well and knows it like the back of his hand.” – Chambers and Partners 2019

Casper van Heerden heads the debt capital markets team. He has wide-ranging experience of note programmes and amendments, convertible bond issuances and rights offers. Clients value his advice very highly. One source said: “He’s very good at identifying what we can and can’t do.” Another source praised his efficiency, adding that “he’s exactly what you need in a legal adviser.” -Chambers and Partners 2018

“Casper van Heerden has broad debt capital markets expertise, encompassing MTN programmes, commercial paper programmes, high-yield issuances and securitisations. One interviewee observed: “He is exceptionally dedicated to the project in hand – very measured and focused. Given the nature of our transaction, his calm demeanour was very helpful.” Another source praised his familiarity with the needs of international financial institutions, noting: “It was clear to me that he was used to working with very sophisticated clients.” – Chambers and Partners 2017

“Clients say that Casper van Heerden “provides a fantastic service and takes care of everything.” He earns significant praise from commentators for his expertise in handling debt capital market transactions.” – Chambers and Partners 2016

“Casper is a well-known expert who orientates himself towards the business activities of his clients. He is solution driven and innovates to find practical, even-handed solutions.” – IFLR1000 2016