Olwethu Gusha
Partner | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9655
E: olwethu.gusha@bowmanslaw.com
Overview
Olwethu is an experienced transactional lawyer who specialises in leveraged and acquisition finance, which includes structuring debt for private equity deals and corporate acquisitions across multiple African jurisdictions.
He has a track record of advising major South African and international financial institutions and has worked on complex USD-denominated transactions across Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia and the DRC.
He is not only a skilled finance lawyer, but also a passionate mentor, actively committed to the development of more junior lawyers. He previously played a key role in developing a trainee mentorship programme at an international law firm’s Johannesburg office. He will be closely involved in the growth of our associates and candidate attorneys.
Experience
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
Olwethu has advised:
- A syndicate of two South African banks in connection with ZAR denominated term loan and revolving credit facilities (in an aggregate amount of ZAR 2 billion), as well as USD denominated term and revolving credit facilities (in an aggregate amount of USD 350 million) to be provided to a South African borrower in the mining sector and to be utilized towards (i) refinancing existing indebtedness; and (ii) the group’s exploration activities, feasibility costs, capital costs and other corporate expenses.*
- A South African financial institution in connection with a USD 22 million term loan facility to be provided to a Bahamian borrower to be utilised towards the acquisition of shares in a Jersey company. *
- A Cayman Islands financial institution in connection with USD 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. *
- A syndicate of four major South African banks in connection with ZAR denominated term loan, revolving and borrowing base facilities (in an aggregate amount of ZAR6,5 billion) to be provided to a JSE listed borrower to be utilized towards (i) refinancing the borrower’s existing South African indebtedness; and (ii) the borrower’s working capital requirements. *
- A Namibian lender in connection with a Namibian law governed NAD 102 million term facility to be provided to a Namibia borrower, and to be utilised towards the acquisition of shares in a special purpose vehicle incorporated for the construction of two solar plants. *
- A syndicate of four major South African banks in connection with a ZAR5 billion bridge loan facility to be provided to a JSE listed borrower to be utilised towards refinancing the borrower group’s existing South African indebtedness. *
- A major South African bank in connection with ZAR denominated term loan and working capital facilities in an aggregate amount of ZAR 185 million to be provided to a South African borrower to be utilised towards (i) refinancing existing indebtedness owed to the lender; and (ii) the borrower’s capital expenditure (to be done through the issue of a Euro denominated letter of credit by the lender).*
- A syndicate of three South African banks in connection with USD denominated revolving credit facilities in an aggregate amount USD 129 million to be provided to a Singapore borrower to be utilised towards refinancing prepayments made by the borrower for the purchase of certain commodities. *
- A major South African bank in connection with ZAR denominated term loan and revolving credit facilities in an aggregate amount of ZAR 1,2 billion to be provided to a South African borrower to be utilised towards (i) the acquisition of a business; and (ii) its working capital purposes. *
AREA OF EXPERTISE
Qualifications
Education
- LLB from the University of Cape Town.
- BA from the University of the Western Cape.
Professional Memberships
- Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
Overview
Olwethu is an experienced transactional lawyer who specialises in leveraged and acquisition finance, which includes structuring debt for private equity deals and corporate acquisitions across multiple African jurisdictions.
He has a track record of advising major South African and international financial institutions and has worked on complex USD-denominated transactions across Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia and the DRC.
He is not only a skilled finance lawyer, but also a passionate mentor, actively committed to the development of more junior lawyers. He previously played a key role in developing a trainee mentorship programme at an international law firm’s Johannesburg office. He will be closely involved in the growth of our associates and candidate attorneys.
Experience
* Indicates experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
Olwethu has advised:
- A syndicate of two South African banks in connection with ZAR denominated term loan and revolving credit facilities (in an aggregate amount of ZAR 2 billion), as well as USD denominated term and revolving credit facilities (in an aggregate amount of USD 350 million) to be provided to a South African borrower in the mining sector and to be utilized towards (i) refinancing existing indebtedness; and (ii) the group’s exploration activities, feasibility costs, capital costs and other corporate expenses.*
- A South African financial institution in connection with a USD 22 million term loan facility to be provided to a Bahamian borrower to be utilised towards the acquisition of shares in a Jersey company. *
- A Cayman Islands financial institution in connection with USD 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. *
- A syndicate of four major South African banks in connection with ZAR denominated term loan, revolving and borrowing base facilities (in an aggregate amount of ZAR6,5 billion) to be provided to a JSE listed borrower to be utilized towards (i) refinancing the borrower’s existing South African indebtedness; and (ii) the borrower’s working capital requirements. *
- A Namibian lender in connection with a Namibian law governed NAD 102 million term facility to be provided to a Namibia borrower, and to be utilised towards the acquisition of shares in a special purpose vehicle incorporated for the construction of two solar plants. *
- A syndicate of four major South African banks in connection with a ZAR5 billion bridge loan facility to be provided to a JSE listed borrower to be utilised towards refinancing the borrower group’s existing South African indebtedness. *
- A major South African bank in connection with ZAR denominated term loan and working capital facilities in an aggregate amount of ZAR 185 million to be provided to a South African borrower to be utilised towards (i) refinancing existing indebtedness owed to the lender; and (ii) the borrower’s capital expenditure (to be done through the issue of a Euro denominated letter of credit by the lender).*
- A syndicate of three South African banks in connection with USD denominated revolving credit facilities in an aggregate amount USD 129 million to be provided to a Singapore borrower to be utilised towards refinancing prepayments made by the borrower for the purchase of certain commodities. *
- A major South African bank in connection with ZAR denominated term loan and revolving credit facilities in an aggregate amount of ZAR 1,2 billion to be provided to a South African borrower to be utilised towards (i) the acquisition of a business; and (ii) its working capital purposes. *
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