Ryan Nelson

Ryan Nelson

Partner

Email

ryan.nelson@aoshearman.com

Phone

+27 10 597 9860

Offices

Johannesburg

V-CARD
Ryan is Head of South Africa Finance.

Ryan advises on a broad range of debt related matters, including corporate lending, acquisition finance (including public to private), leveraged finance, structured finance, real estate finance, fund finance and debt restructuring. He practices both English and South African law and is highly regarded and widely recognized as a leading banking lawyer in the markets in which he operates.

Ryan works with leading South African and international banks, international development finance institutions and private capital clients across jurisdictions and in multiple sectors including financial services, energy, real estate, mining and resources.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) on a USD30mn financing for KOKO Networks Limited. This financing involved a bespoke structure to finance carbon credit receivables.
  • Mandated Lead Arrangers on the EUR1.9bn bridge financing to Group Canal + SA in relation to the offer to acquire MultiChoice Group Limited.
  • The Arrangers (Standard Bank, Stanbic Kenya and Stanbic Uganda) and lenders (Stanbic Kenya, Stanbic Uganda, British International Investment, Lion's Head, Nithio, SunFunder, FMO, IFC and DFC) on two local currency and USD receivables-based secured syndicated credit facilities provided to M-KOPA Kenya Limited and M-KOPA Uganda Limited. This complex transaction won the Deal of the Year: Loans, IFLR Africa Awards 2024.
  • A global financial institution in relation to a structured loan funding to Eskom (guaranteed by the Republic of South Africa).
  • Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund in relation to its raise of various facilities from KfW, Allianz and Standard Bank of South Africa.

Published Work

  • Nelson. R. and Venter. C. (2023) “Lending & Secured Finance Laws and Regulations South Africa 2023 – 2024”

Recognition

“It was fantastic to work with Ryan. He was instrumental in getting the transaction to closing”
Chambers, 2024.
“Ryan is commercially focused, brilliant and responsive - all the things that clients want”
Chambers, 2023

Awards

  • Deal of the Year: Loans, IFLR Africa Awards 2024
  • Team of the Year: Southern / East African Loan, IFLR Africa Awards 2024
  • Restructuring Team of the Year, African Legal Awards 2023
  • Banking and Finance Team of the Year: Large Practice, African Legal Awards 2022

Qualifications

Admissions

England and Wales, 2015

South Africa, 2001

Academic

Bachelor of Laws, University of Cape Town, 1998

Bachelor of Commerce, University of Cape Town, 1995 

Languages

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.