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Peter Hesseling

Director

Peter Hesseling is a Director of our Corporate & Commercial practice and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Peter has extensive experience in capital markets transactions, local and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity transactions, company law, REITs, corporate restructuring, transaction structuring, black economic empowerment, the investment industry (including the design and implementation of fund structures for various asset classes), various types of financing, selected areas of tax law, and insolvency law.

+27 (0)21 405 6009
peter.hesseling@cdhlegal.comCape Town
Peter Hesseling

About Peter

About Peter

Peter began his career in 1993 as a Candidate Attorney at Herbsteins (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) and became a Director in 1997. Before completing his articles, Peter trained in the South African Navy (where he served as a legal officer) and resided and worked in the Netherlands.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BCom LLB, University of Stellenbosch
  • Hdip (Tax), University of Cape Town
  • Diploma in Insolvency Law
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 1995
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

About Peter

Peter began his career in 1993 as a Candidate Attorney at Herbsteins (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) and became a Director in 1997. Before completing his articles, Peter trained in the South African Navy (where he served as a legal officer) and resided and worked in the Netherlands.

Credentials

Education

  • BCom LLB, University of Stellenbosch
  • Hdip (Tax), University of Cape Town
  • Diploma in Insolvency Law
  • Year of admission as an attorney: 1995
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Experience

Distell Group

Advised Distell Group Limited on the restructuring of its multi-tiered ownership structure, and the listing of New Distell on the JSE.

Vikule Properties

Advised Vikule Properties on its acquisition of a large Spanish property portfolio, and a related equity capital raise by way of an accellerated book-build offering.

Sea Harvest Group

Advised Sea Harvest Group Limited on its JSE listing and IPO.

Old Mutual Private Equity

Acted as legal adviser to Old Mutual Private Equity in relation to its investment in Medhold.

Standard Bank and Java Capital

Acted as legal advisor to the joint bookrunners (Standard Bank and Java Capital) in relation to the structuring, IPO and JSE listing of the property portfolio owned by Liberty Life, as a collective investment scheme in property under the name Liberty Two Degrees.

South African IPO and JSE

Acted as legal advisor to South African IPO and JSE inward listing of Echo Polish Properties N.V., a polish property fund promoted by Redefine Properties Limited.

Equity capital

Acted, either for the relevant book-runner or issuer, on numerous local and international equity capital raisings by way of private placings or accelerated book-builds (ABB), including those undertaken by Vukile, Mediclinic, Grindrod, Emira Property Fund, PSG, Redefine, Redefine International, Equites, Echo Polish Properties,  and Accelerate.

NEPI

Acted as South African legal advisor to New Europe Property Investments plc (NEPI) and a Newco in relation to the merger of NEPI and Rockcastle Global Real Estate Company Limited into a new entity referred to as Newco, and the listing of Newco shares on the JSE.

Mediclinic International Limited

Acted as South African legal advisor to Mediclinic International Limited in relation to the reverse take-over by Mediclinic of London listed Al Noor Hospitals plc and the inward listing of Al Noor plc (renamed Mediclinic International plc) on the JSE.

African Bank Limited.

Advised certain bondholders with respect to the curatorship and subsequent restructuring of African Bank Limited.

Redefine Properties Limited

Advised Redefine Properties Limited on all legal aspects of the various transactions and processes which culminated in its effective acquisition of Fountainhead Property Trust (a collective investment scheme in property (PUT)), including all aspects of various competing proposals submitted by Growthpoint, the acquisition of a material interest in the units of Fountainhead, and the eventual acquisition of the property portfolio of Fountainhead.

Protea Hotel Group

Advised Protea Hotel Group and its African subsidiaries on their amalgamation with Marriott International.

Arcelik

Advised Arcelik (a Turkish multi-national group) on its acquisition of Defy pursuant to an auction process.

Ethos Private Equity

Advised Ethos Private Equity and Holdsport on the IPO of Holdsport.

Old Mutual

Advised Old Mutual on its acquisition of Macquarie's interests in African Infrastructure Managers.

Medi-Clinic International

Advised Medi-Clinic International in relation to its international expansion, specifically its acquisitions in the United Arab Emirates and in Switzerland.

Distell Group Limited

Advised Distell Group Limited in relation to its international expansion, specifically its acquisitions in the UK and its ventures in Africa.

Capital and Regional Properties

Acted as legal advisor to Capital and Regional Properties plc, in relation to its inward listing on the JSE.

Private equity consortium

Advised a private equity consortium including Rand Merchant Bank, Old Mutual, Brimstone Investment Corporation and Mvelaphanda Group in the leveraged buy-out of JSE listed Afrox Healthcare (now Life Healthcare) pursuant to an auction process.

Brimstone Investment Corporation

Advised Brimstone Investment Corporation in relation to its black economic empowerment transactions with Old Mutual Group plc and Nedbank.

Rembrandt Group

Acted for Rembrandt Group in the restructuring of the Rembrandt Group to form Remgro and Venfin, and the listing of Venfin on the JSE.

Spearhead

Advised Spearhead in relation to its conversion from a collection of private property syndicates to a JSE listed property loan stock company (PLS) and its simultaneous IPO.

Brimstone Investment Corporation

Advised in the creation, structuring and subsequent JSE listings of Brimstone Investment Corporation and Cape Empowerment Trust, two prominent BEE companies.

News

Director removals: Is there any reason to give reasons?
Corporate & Commercial Law

Director removals: Is there any reason to give reasons?

Navigating the inconsistencies in the manner in which our courts and regulators apply the law regarding director removals at the instance of the shareholders.
Does the market sometimes not know best? Determining the “fair value” of publicly traded shares when a dissenting shareholder exercises its appraisal rights
Corporate & Commercial Law

Does the market sometimes not know best? Determining the “fair value” of publicly traded shares when a dissenting shareholder exercises its appraisal rights

In line with international trends, it is now commonplace for South African companies wishing to undertake major corporate actions to have to contend with minority shareholders seeking...
Take-private transaction roadmap: Getting your delisting transaction off the ground and across the line
Corporate & Commercial Law

Take-private transaction roadmap: Getting your delisting transaction off the ground and across the line

Today’s market is primed for take-private transactions. Private equity funds and similar investment houses are sitting on committed funds they’ve been reluctant to deploy in uncertain...
COVID-19 Corporate & Commercial Legal Considerations Webinar | 9 April 2020: More answers to your questions
Corporate & Commercial Law

COVID-19 Corporate & Commercial Legal Considerations Webinar | 9 April 2020: More answers to your questions

Since early 2020, the world has been confronted with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly since early March 2020, many countries have requested or enforced social distancing,...
Claiming “COVID-19 made me do it” simply isn’t good enough when deciding to defer or cancel the declaration or payment of a dividend
Corporate & Commercial Law

Claiming “COVID-19 made me do it” simply isn’t good enough when deciding to defer or cancel the declaration or payment of a dividend

The national lock-down and the international effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have wreaked havoc on companies’ cash flows and have in many cases made it very difficult to predict their...

All articles by Peter

Market recognition

  • The Legal 500 EMEA series 2019-2023 listed Peter in commercial, corporate and M&A. He was also recommended for banking & finance in 2022. In 2008 and 2009 rated Peter as "Outstanding" by peers who considered him to be on top of his game and recommended him Tier 2 for established Corporate/Commercial team.
  • Chambers Global 2017 - 2023 ranks Peter Band 2 in Corporate/M&A. In 2023 Peter was ranked Band 3 for Capital Markets: Equity. Chambers Global 2016 ranked Peter Band 4 within Corporate/M&Aand Chambers Global 2014 and 2015 ranked Peter Band 5 within Corporate/M&A. "Peter is highly regarded among peers. He led the firm's work for Distell Group, advising on the South African aspects of its acquisition of Burn Stewart Distilleries."
  • Who’s Who Legal 2019 ranked Peter as a leading lawyer in M&A and Governance. Who's Who Legal 2017 named Peter as a leading lawyer for Capital Markets. In 2010 and 2011 it selected Peter Hesseling as being among the world's leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers.
  • International Law Office (ILO) Client Choice Awards 2013 and 2014 named Peter the exclusive winner of the General Corporate category in South Africa.
  • Practical Law CompanyPLC Which Lawyer 2011 and 2012 endorsed Peter as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A.
  • IFLR1000 2018 - 2022 recommended Peter as a highly regarded lawyer for restructuring & insolvency and mergers & acquisition

Market recognition

  • The Legal 500 EMEA series 2019-2023 listed Peter in commercial, corporate and M&A. He was also recommended for banking & finance in 2022. In 2008 and 2009 rated Peter as "Outstanding" by peers who considered him to be on top of his game and recommended him Tier 2 for established Corporate/Commercial team.
  • Chambers Global 2017 - 2023 ranks Peter Band 2 in Corporate/M&A. In 2023 Peter was ranked Band 3 for Capital Markets: Equity. Chambers Global 2016 ranked Peter Band 4 within Corporate/M&Aand Chambers Global 2014 and 2015 ranked Peter Band 5 within Corporate/M&A. "Peter is highly regarded among peers. He led the firm's work for Distell Group, advising on the South African aspects of its acquisition of Burn Stewart Distilleries."
  • Who’s Who Legal 2019 ranked Peter as a leading lawyer in M&A and Governance. Who's Who Legal 2017 named Peter as a leading lawyer for Capital Markets. In 2010 and 2011 it selected Peter Hesseling as being among the world's leading Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyers.
  • International Law Office (ILO) Client Choice Awards 2013 and 2014 named Peter the exclusive winner of the General Corporate category in South Africa.
  • Practical Law CompanyPLC Which Lawyer 2011 and 2012 endorsed Peter as a Leading Lawyer in Corporate/M&A.
  • IFLR1000 2018 - 2022 recommended Peter as a highly regarded lawyer for restructuring & insolvency and mergers & acquisition

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