Alex Cullinan

Local Partner, Johannesburg

Biography

Overview

Alex is a Local Partner in the Global Debt Finance practice. She specialises in cross-border financings, syndicated lending and restructuring transactions.

Alex is dual-qualified in English and South African law, and has a broad experience in both the African and European markets. Her regular clients include the major South African banks and corporates, as well as a number of international financial institutions.

Bars and Courts
High Court of South Africa
Member of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, Gauteng
England and Wales
Education
LLB
University of Cape Town
LLM
University of Cape Town
Languages
English

Experience

Alex's experience includes:

General Lending

Representation of Investec Bank Limited in connection with certain amendments to its existing preference share funding transaction with Irusad (RF) Proprietary Limited and the Trustees for the Time Being of the Dasuri Trust.

Representation of Standard Bank (South Africa) as arranger and underwriter in respect of the ZAR2.7bn senior facilities and ZAR1.2bn equity bridge facility to be provided to Oceana Group Limited.

Representation of Rand Merchant Bank and Standard Bank (South Africa) as mandated lead arrangers, underwriters, bookrunners and original lenders in connection with ZAR4.852bn Senior Secured Term Loan and Working Capital Facilities for Virgin Active South Africa (Pty) Ltd to refinance existing indebtedness of the Virgin Active South Africa Group.

Representation of Absa Bank (Corporate and Investment) (South Africa) in connection with a ZAR1.5bn revolving credit facility for Woolworths (Pty) Ltd.

Representation of Investec on the refinancing of a ZAR300m facility for Lucky Star Limited.

Representation of Virgin Active South Africa Proprietary Limited on amendments to the South African Loan Facilities Agreement.

Representation of Rand Merchant Bank on the preparation of release documents for the repurchase of Primedia shares.

Representation of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited on amendments to the existing ZAR10bn Senior Facilities Agreement for Woolworths Limited.

Representation of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Nedbank Limited as Mandated Lead Arrangers on a ZAR3,5bn Credit Facility for Imperial Holdings Limited and a ZAR7bn Credit Facility for MOTUS Group Limited.

Representation of BMCE Bank International PLC on a EUR35m syndicated term loan facility agreement for Mota-Engil Engenharia E Construção África, S.A.

Representation of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division) on a USD21,747m development and term facilities provided to Krystal Investments Limited for the financing of the development and construction of an office and retail centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Representation of Telia Company AB (publ) in connection with the refinancing of its 2010 and 2014 revolving credit facilities.

Representation of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Limited in connection with a EUR750m revolving credit facility for Urenco Limited.

Representation of Citi and Deutsche Bank (UK) in connection with an EUR1bn facility for Japan Tobacco.

Representation of KONE Corporation as borrower in connection with EUR800m facility provided by Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Nordea Bank Finland plc as arrangers.

Representation of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Limited and other arrangers in connection with a GBP600m facility for the London Stock Exchange Group plc.

Representation of TEO LT AB as borrower in connection with EUR150m facility with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) as agent.

Representation of Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi on a US$750m facility agreement with LSEG plc.

Representation of JPMorgan Chase Bank and Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft as Mandated Lead Arrangers on a EUR350m Revolving Credit Facility for Imperial Holdings Limited.

Representation of Gemcorp Capital LLP on a USD35m loan to Caldera Energy Holdings Limited for the construction costs of an oil refinery in Liberia.

Acquisition Finance

Representation of Goldman Sachs in connection with the US$13.3 billion financing of the London Stock Exchange Plc's acquisition of Refinitiv

Representation of Standard Bank (South Africa) as Mandated Lead Arranger, Underwriter and Bookrunner in connection with the acquisition by Famous Brands Limited of GBK Restaurants Limited.

Representation of Rand Merchant Bank (South Africa) in financing the acquisition by Steinhoff of Pepkor. This was the largest ever acquisition deal in the South African market.

Representation of Rand Merchant Bank and Absa Bank (South Africa) as arrangers in connection with the funding of a ZAR4.65bn BEE acquisition transaction for Belelani Capital (Pty) Ltd.

Representation of Rand Merchant Bank on a Revolving Credit Facility provided to Capitalworks Private Equity SP GP Proprietary Limited to cater an acquisition facility.

Representation of Intesa Sanpaolo (London Branch) in respect of two real estate acquisition (2015 and 2016) facilities provided to Oly Development Limited and Oly Development 3 Limited.

Representation of Gemcorp Capital (as lender) on the extension of its existing USD12.5m acquisition financing facility for Sacoil Holdings.

Representation of Life Healthcare Group Holdings on its GBP600m acquisition of Alliance Medical Group.

Refinancing and Restructuring

Representation of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division), FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division), Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited, Momentum Asset Management Proprietary Limited, Nedbank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division) and Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited (acting through Old Mutual Specialised Finance Proprietary Limited) in connection with the refinancing of various existing facilities for Attacq Retail Fund Proprietary Limited and Lynnwood Bridge Office Park Proprietary Limited.

Representation of Lenders in connection with the restructuring of the Drydocks World LLC (Dubai).

Representation of Akbank T.A.S., Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S., Turkiye Isbankasi A.S. and Deutsche Bank, London Branch on the US$5 billion financial restructuring of Ojer Telekomünikasyon A.Ş. which held a controlling stake in the Turkish telecommunications company Türk Telekomünikasyon A.Ş. This was the largest restructuring transactions in Turkish history.

Representation of Jumo World Limited in connection with its US$30 million refinancing and internal restructuring.

Representation of FirstRand Bank Limited (acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division) and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited in connection with the circa. ZAR6 billion refinancing of Virgin Active South Africa Proprietary Limited.