South Africa and global insurance, financial institutions, banking and general law know–how
This blog was co-authored by Adrienne Hendricks, candidate attorney at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa
In August 2024, the High Court held that a bank was entitled to enforce the suretyship and mortgage bond granted in its favour, for purposes of an enrichment claim which arose in connection with a void and unenforceable loan agreement. …
On 23 February 2023, the Loan Market Association (LMA) announced the publication of updated Green Loan Principles (GLPs), together with supporting guidance documents, produced in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) and the Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA). The intention behind the updated…
From a reputational and corporate governance perspective, green and sustainable activity both gain favour with shareholders and investors (particularly those who place emphasis on investment with a positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact). Green Loans and Sustainability Linked Loans have distinctive characteristics which should influence the type of loan offering borrowers consider.…
What are Green Loans?
Green loans are loan instruments made available exclusively to finance or re-finance, wholly or partly, new or existing eligible Green Projects, according to the Loan Market Association’s Green Loan Principles (the GLPs). There are no specific qualifying criteria for a “Green Project” but indicative categories set out in the GLPs…
What are Green bonds?
Green bonds (also referred to as Climate Bonds) are like typical bonds but their distinguishing feature is that the proceeds of the bond are ring-fenced and exclusively allocated to support “green projects” aimed at mitigating climate change and promoting energy efficiency, pollution prevention, sustainable agriculture, clean transport, and the cultivation of…
The court in Firstrand Bank Limited v Barreiro reconfirmed that there is no general ‘prejudice principle’ which holds that a debtor or surety is released from their obligations to a creditor if the creditor does anything that prejudices them. The court reiterated that a surety can be released, either wholly or in part, from their…
There have been calls for the JSE to amend its Listings Requirements to allow listed companies to issue shares more quickly in times of crisis ‘without interference from shareholders’.
The JSE’s regulatory framework already provides listed companies with various capital raising methods, including some expedited methods. Having to obtain shareholder approval is an important…
The JSE has amended its Listings Requirements in the past few years by introducing alternative methods of raising capital and measures aimed at expediting traditional methods. The JSE is aware that, in times of crisis, listed companies may need to raise capital at short notice. Delays in the raising of capital, particularly those caused by…
Voluntary business rescue applications filed with CIPC during 24 March to 30 April 2020 will be processed by CIPC to reflect the dates on which they were filed. These applications do not have to be resubmitted. Similarly, the appointment of business rescue practitioners that were filed with CIPC during 24 March to 30 April 2020…
On 27 March 2020, the last of the three major ratings agencies announced its downgrade of South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to ‘Ba1’. This downgrade rendered South Africa’s sovereign credit rating as non-investment grade. On 3 April 2020, two of the three major ratings agencies downgraded the major South African banks’ credit ratings to ‘BB’…
