Olwethu Gusha
Biography
Overview
Olwethu is an associate in the Firm's Global Debt Finance Practice Group in Johannesburg.
He has experience in acquisition and leveraged financing, structured trade and commodity financing with a particular focus on emerging markets, property financing, preference share funding, debt restructuring and other forms of debt finance transactions, including corporate debt.
Olwethu has acted for local and international clients, including major South African corporate clients, banks, development finance institutions and international financial institutions.
Experience
Represented Nedbank Limited on the ZAR3 billion bridge facility advanced to Northam Platinum Limited (Northam), to be used by Northam for general corporate and other purposes.
Represented a group of lenders in connection with secured funding up to c. ZAR2.3 billion to a subsidiary of Blue Label Telecoms, a JSE listed company, as part of the recapitalisation of Cell C, a leading JSE listed telecoms service provider. Blue Label Telecoms is a 45% shareholder in Cell C.
Represented Nedbank Limited and Absa Bank Limited in connection with ZAR2 billion term and revolving credit facilities, as well as US$350 million term and revolving credit facilities to be provided to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited to be utilised towards refinancing existing indebtedness; and other corporate expenses.*
Represented Barak Fund Limited in connection with US$13.4 million term and revolving credit facilities to be provided to a Mauritian borrower to be utilised towards (i) refinancing existing indebtedness; (ii) funding the acquisition of mining equipment; and (iii) funding the borrower's working capital requirements.*
Represented a Namibian lender in connection with a Namibian law governed N$102 million term facility to be provided to a Namibia borrower, to be utilised towards the acquisition of shares in a special purpose vehicle incorporated for the construction of two solar plants.*
Represented Investec Bank Limited in connection with (i) a intra-day bridge loan facility; and (ii) a ZAR100 million term loan facility to be provided to a South African borrower to be utilised towards the acquisition of a business.*
Represented SA Taxi Finance Holdings Proprietary Limited in connection with ZAR2 billion in preference shares issued to the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Futuregrowth Asset Management Proprietary Limited.*
Represented the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Absa Bank Limited, Investec Bank Limited and FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) in connection with a ZAR5 billion bridge loan facility provided to Omnia Group Proprietary Limited.*
Represented the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Absa Bank Limited, Investec Bank Limited and FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) in connection with ZAR6.5 billion in term, revolving and borrowing base facilities to be provided to Omnia Group Proprietary Limited.*
Represented Investec Bank Limited in connection with ZAR185 million in term and working capital facilities to be provided to a South African borrower to be utilised towards refinancing existing indebtedness and the borrower's capital expenditure (to be done through the issue of a Euro denominated letter of credit by the lender).*
Represented a Luxembourg company in connection with a Euro denominated term loan facility to be provided to a Luxembourg borrower, and to be utilised towards the acquisition of real estate in Germany.*
Represented Absa Bank Limited, Nedbank Limited and FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) in connection with a US$129 million prepayment facility provided to Trafigura PTE Ltd.*
Represented the Standard Bank of South Africa, FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its FNB division), and the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa in connection with facilities provided to TWK Agri Proprietary Limited, TWK Investment Limited and TWK Agriculture Holdings Proprietary Limited.*
Represented FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) in connection facilities provided to Vukile Property Fund Limited.*
Represented Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund S.A in connection with a multicurrency revolving credit facility provided to Vantage Netherlands B.V. and utilised towards the financing of commodities and receivables.*
Represented Absa Bank Limited, Investec Bank Limited and Ninety One SA Proprietary Limited in connection with senior and mezzanine finance facilities provided to Enviroserv Waste Management Proprietary Limited.*
Represented Rand-Asia Finance Proprietary Limited in connection with commodity and receivable financing facilities provided to a South African borrower.*
*Denotes experience prior to joining the Firm
