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Chantél Van Zyl

Senior Associate

Email

chantel.vanzyl@aoshearman.com

Phone

+27 10 597 9891

Offices

Johannesburg

V-CARD
Chantel advises on contractual and regulatory matters relating to a wide range of debt finance products on domestic and cross-border transactions with a particular focus on corporate lending, trade finance, leveraged finance and development agency finance in developing markets.

She also has experience in projects and infrastructure finance and debt restructurings. She works with major international and domestic clients, including commercial and investment banks, development finance agencies, investors, funds and companies.

Chantel has 10 years of experience advising on complex debt transactions in Europe and across the African continent or clients in a wide range of industries, including in the mining, infrastructure, financial institutions, pharmaceutical, real estate, energy and consumer goods industries.

Experience

Representative matters

The Arrangers (Standard Bank South Africa, Stanbic Kenya and Stanbic Uganda) and Lenders (Stanbic Kenya, Stanbic Uganda, British International Investment, Lion's Head, Nithio, SunFunder, FMO, IFC and DFC) on USD202 million equivalent local currency and US Dollar receivables-based secured syndicated credit facilities provided to M-KOPA Kenya Limited and M-KOPA Uganda Limited, respectively, and related security and guarantees from affiliated companies incorporated in Delaware, United States and the United Kingdom.

The Arrangers and Lenders (Standard Bank South Africa, Stanbic Nigeria and Stanbic Ghana) on two local currency and USD receivables-based secured syndicated credit facilities to be provided to M-KOPA Nigeria Limited and M-KOPA Ghana Limited, respectively (each guaranteed by M-KOPA Holdings Limited and M-KOPA LLC).An international group of petroleum companies on a USD 84 million multi-currency borrowing base credit facility for the group’s operating companies in Ghana supported by a guarantee from the international parent company and local law security granted over receivables and commodities in Ghana.

An international development finance institution on USD 100 million equivalent multi-currency loan to a Tanzanian bank to support or expand its working capital and trade-related lending program.

Sibanye Stillwater Limited and certain of its subsidiaries (an international gold and platinum metals mining group) on refinancing of the group's USD 600 million English law governed syndicated revolving credit facility and ZAR 5.5 billion South African law governed syndicated revolving credit facility (previous firm experience).

Aspen Pharmaceuticals Group on a EUR 600 million term loan facility from the International Finance Corporation, Deutsche Investitions- Und Entwicklungsgesellschaft MBH (DEG), Société De Promotion Et De Participation Pour La Coopération Économique (Proparco) S.A. and United States International Development Finance Corporation as lenders (previous firm experience).

An international syndicate of lenders in relation to USD 1.43 billion credit facilities provided to Ziraat Bank, Turkey (previous firm experience).

A South African treasury company on a ZAR 750 million bilateral term loan facility with a South African investment bank (previous firm experience).

Pro bono

Assisting Consortium for Street Children with research and drafting of a guide on the rights of children living on the street without guardians in various countries.

Volunteering as a legal assistant with a charity providing free legal aid to Greek Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Lesvos.

Advising indigent individuals in relation to administration of deceased estates.

Contributing to the development of standardised contract documentation and guides designed to streamline project development and finance processes for small solar energy projects coordinated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and Terrawatt Initiative (TWI).

Contributed to the World Bank's publication on Doing Business across the globe on South African company and commercial law.

Published Work

  • C van Zyl and Ashlin Perumall, (2021) South Africa: Regulation of payment services for card transactions, South Africa: Lexology
  • Kiera Whyte, C van Zyl and Lodewyk Meyer (2020) South African Mining Companies: What Comes First – the Production or the Purchase?, South Africa: Financial Markets Journal
  • C van Zyl and Rui Lopes, (2018) Is South Africa ready for a state-owned bank?, South Africa: Financial Markets Journal
  • C van Zyl and Jen Stolp, (2017) Green energy, currency snippets, South Africa: Without Prejudice
  • C van Zyl and Anneen de Jay (2014) World Bank - Doing Business Guide, South Africa: World Bank
  • C van Zyl and Patrick Bracher (2012), Enforcing arbitration in South Africa, Without Prejudice

Speaking Engagements

  • Specialist interviewee, eNCA news television: regarding the establishment of a state owned bank in South Africa, January 2019
  • Specialist interviewee, 702 Radio "The Money Show" regarding the establishment of a state owned bank in South Africa, 16 January 2019

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Law Society of South Africa

Recognition

“Chantel van Zyl has good commercial understanding of transactions and is technically sound; she never misses any details.”
EMEA Legal 500, 2022

Awards

  • Global Trade Review's Best Deals of 2022 for advising Aspen Group in relation to funding provided to it by several development finance institutions to support Covid-19 vaccine production in South Africa, 2022

Qualifications

Admissions

High Court of South Africa, March 2014 (attorney)

Academic

Bachelors of Accounting and Law (BAcc, LLB), University of Stellenbosch, 2011

International Summer Programme in International Commercial Law, Bucerius Höheschule (Germany), 2010

Languages

Afrikaans, English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.