Department profile
Bowmans

Capital Markets: Debt

Global Guide 2026 : South Africa

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Bowmans

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About

Provided by Bowmans

DCM
Our Debt Capital Markets team provides a full range of services for issuers, arrangers, dealers, exchange sponsors and underwriters in offerings of debt related products, including securitisations, corporate bond issues, hybrid bond issues, credit linked note programmes, structured note programmes, high yield bond issues, domestic medium-term note programmes, euro medium-term note programmes, and inward listings. We are recognised for our expertise in domestic medium-term note programmes, inward listings, secured note programmes and secured note issuances. 


ECM
We provide a full range of services for issuers, arrangers, dealers, exchange sponsors and underwriters in offerings of related products, initial public offerings (IPOs), rights offers, inward listings and secondary offerings (including private placements), including the drafting of prospectuses, pre-listing statements and circulars, the drafting and negotiating of underwriting / placement and related agreements, legal due diligence, advice on regulatory and corporate government matters, liaising with the JSE and other regulators and the provision of required legal opinions. In recent years, the team has advised local and international global bookrunners, underwriters, and issuer clients on some of the largest and most high profile global equity capital market transactions with a South African or African connection. 

Clients (13)

  • Steinhoff Services Limited (DCM)
  • BNP Paribas Arbitrage Issuance B.V. (DCM)
  • Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (DCM)
  • International Finance Corporation (DCM)
  • Standard Bank Namibia Limited (DCM)
  • Dischem Pharmacies Limited (ECM)
  • Royal Bafokeng Platinum Limited (ECM / DCM)
  • PPC Limited (ECM)
  • The Spar Group Limited (ECM)
  • Goldman Sachs International
  • The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
  • Rand Merchant Bank
  • Nedbank

Industries (21)

  • Aerospace & Defence
  • Automobiles & Parts
  • Banking
  • Charities / Not for Profit
  • Construction & Materials
  • Energy
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Drink Producers
  • Forestry & Paper
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Media
  • Mining & Metals
  • Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
  • Real Estate Finance
  • •Real Estate
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Telecommunications
  • Utilities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Capital Markets: Debt - South Africa

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Bowmans offers a deep bench of experienced lawyers with an outstanding reputation in both debt and equity capital markets in South Africa. The team is involved in a variety of domestic and cross-border matters, and it frequently assists major regional and international financial institutions and corporates with high-value note programmes and bond issuances. The department is equally well versed in IPOs, inward listings, accelerated bookbuild share placements and black cconomic empowerment matters. The team regularly acts as counsel to bookrunners and underwriters as well as issuers, and provides counsel on regulatory developments concerning the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Bowmans advised Pick n Pay on a ZAR4 billion capital raise.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • I am very impressed with Bowmans. The firm does a phenomenal job and the team is knowledgeable, very flexible and available to us. We are very happy with their services.

    Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

  • The firm has very strong expertise and experience, deep market knowledge and a commercial approach to the advice it provides.

    Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

  • Bowmans has a very strong bench of capital markets lawyers and its partners are very hands-on, providing a lot of comfort that they are consistently giving the right advice.

    Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

  • Bowmans have a solid understanding of the matters, with good turnaround times.

    Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Casper van Heerden
    Casper van Heerden

    Casper van Heerden

    Casper van Heerden is a debt capital markets lawyer who is renowned for his expertise. With a particularly strong reputation among issuer-side entities, his impressive client portfolio features major names in manufacturing, mining and financial services.
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  • David Yuill
    David Yuill

    David Yuill

    David Yuill is highlighted for the impressive breadth he maintains in his capital markets practice, advising issuers, dealers and underwriters involved in significant capital raisings in South Africa. He also has considerable experience taking lead roles in novel transactions featuring complex regulatory and securities components.

    • David has an excellent track record, marrying very strong technical expertise with commercial acumen.

      Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

    • David is knowledgeable, responsive and quick to offer sensible and pragmatic advice.

      Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

    • David Yuill is incredibly good in his ability to convey complex issues and answers in a meaningful way.

      Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal
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  • Ezra Davids
    Ezra Davids

    Ezra Davids

    Ezra Davids is a household name in the field of equity capital markets. Alongside his market-leading M&A practice, he assists clients with the full IPO process, as well as acting on accelerated bookbuilds and private placements.

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  • Ryan Wessels
    Ryan Wessels

    Ryan Wessels

    Ryan Wessels has a respected presence in the South African equity capital markets scene, with particularly notable strength in rights issues and private placement agreements. He acts for both issuers and bookrunners, and has played a key role in international securities sales.

    • Ryan Wessels has excellent technical expertise and great client management skills.

      Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal

    • He is very good at identifying pending issues and ensuring that his clients are thinking about them well in advance so that deal timetables do not come under undue pressure.

      Capital Markets: Debt respondentGlobal
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Ranked Individuals at Bowmans (4)

South Africa

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