Summary Profile
Johan is a Director in the firm's Corporate and Commercial practice and specialises in projects requiring legal services mainly in fields of Financial Services Regulation including Banking, Securities and Exchanges; Mergers and Acquisitions; Taxation; Structured and Project Finance.
Career
Johan was admitted as an Attorney in 1985 and became a partner of a major Johannesburg law firm in the same year. In 1994 he joined Hofmeyr (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) as Director before leaving to join Gensec Bank in 1998.
Johan rejoined the firm as a Director in 2004, after five years as the General Manager: Special Projects of Gensec Bank. Until its restructuring, Gensec Bank was an investment bank in the Sanlam Group specialising as a wholesale provider of financial engineering solutions in the capital markets. While at Gensec, Johan was Chairman of the Bank's Credit Forum as well as the New Deal Committee where new, risky or large financial products and transactions are considered prior to implementation. He is one of the pioneers in establishing debt securitisation and credit derivative techniques in the South African banking sector.
Johan has made significant contributions to the process of transformation in South Africa in recent years, particularly in the field of land reform. After the 1994 democratic elections, the ministries of Housing and Land affairs commissioned him to overhaul South Africa's planning and tenure frameworks in order to expedite development and cut through the apartheid mosaic of former racial zones. This resulted in the adoption of the Development Facilitation Act by Parliament in 1996. He served as a Commissioner on the Development and Planning Commission established by the Minister of Land Affairs under that Act.
Education/Qualifications
BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
Year of admission: 1985
Experience
- Represented Genbel Securities Ltd in its acquisition of Sanlam Asset Management
- Served as a Commissioner on the Development and Planning Commission established by the Minister of Land Affairs under the Development Facilitation Act by Parliament in 1996
- Representing Industrial Development Corporation Ltd in disposal and vendor funding of its Kumba shares in the restructuring of Kumba into Kumba Iron Ore and Exxaro
- Representing Sun International in its takeover of Real Africa Holdings Ltd
- Representing Barnard Jacobs Mellet Corporate Finance as bookrunner in the clawback offer and specific equity issue by Metorex
- Representing Remgro Ltd in its acquisition of shares in various companies, including PG Glass and Rainbow Chickens
- Representing Vodacom in its BEE transaction involving the acquisition by BEE parties of shares valued at approximately R7 billion
- Lead attorney in South Africa representing Richemont in the restructuring of the Richemont Group involving the splitting of Richemont Depositary Receipts previously listed on the JSE into two new Depositary Receipts in Reinet Investments S.A. and Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA listed on the JSE; a partial capital reduction of Reinet involving the distribution by Reinet of its indirect shareholding in British American Tobacco inter alia to Reinet Depositary Receipt holders on the JSE (the value of the distribution in South African being approximately R30 billion); and the South African listing on the JSE of Warrant Receipts as part of a rights issue by Reinet in Luxembourg
- Lead attorney representing Remgro Ltd in South Africa in the 2008 Remgro Restructuring, which included the distribution (valued at approximately R50 billion) of 90% of Remgro's indirect shareholding in British American Tobacco plc as well as Depositary Receipts in Reinet Investments S.A. to shareholders of Remgro
Accolades/Achievements
- Chambers Global Guide, 2009 and 2010 recommends Johan Latsky in Corporate/ M&A and comments (in 2010): Johan Latsky leads many of the top deals and is valued for "his thorough analysis of every aspect of the transaction"
- IFLR1000 Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms 2010 lists Johan as a Leading Lawyer in Mergers and Acquisitions
- World Finance: 201 Legal Awards Johan Latsky is named Best Individual Lawyer, South Africa
- Practical Law Company (PLC) Which Lawyer 2010 endorses Johan Latsky as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A.
- Practical Law Company PLC Which Lawyer? 2008 and 2009 recommends Johan Latsky as a 'practitioner with an extensive array of knowledge in many sectors and valuable experience of banking, securitisation, land and infrastructure' for Corporate and M&A
- Best Lawyers International 2009 and 2010. Johan is listed as a 'best lawyer' in Corporate and in Mergers and Acquisitions
- Chambers Global Guide 2008 - 2009 ranks Johan highly in Banking and Finance saying 'Johan Latsky's experience continues to raise his profile. Interviewees value his "broad knowledge, competence and commercial outlook." His proficiency in tax matters is also noted."
- Who's Who Legal - The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2008 and 2009 and 2010 and The International Who's Who of Banking Lawyers 2008, 2009 and 2010: Johan Latsky has been selected as being among 442 of the world's leading Banking lawyers.
