Bianca Janse van Vuuren

CA (SA), CFA

Sector highlights

  • ICT: large telecoms/satellite deals
  • Renewable Energy: 140MW wind farm (R3.3bn) (deal approved, bid unsuccessful)
  • Automotive/Industrial: $760M OEM project, plant expansions
  • Tourism: multi-site hotel developments with complex equity

Number, size of deals

  • 35+ transactions across diverse sectors (ICT, Energy, Auto, Tourism)
  • Deal sizes from R1.5m to $760m
  • Core South Africa presence with significant Pan-African experience

Structuring across a range of instruments

  • Structured and negotiated senior, mezzanine, equity, and subordinated debt
  • Managed complex debt instruments and co-investment stakes

Leadership & execution

  • Team lead on multiple transactions, driving deals to financial close
  • Managed intricate due diligence (insolvency, currency risk)
  • High success rate: majority of deals approved and disbursed

ICT & Telecoms

Satellite project

Satellite failure — insurance proceeds to syndicate lenders.

Role: Team Lead
Instruments: Review of CTA & standstill agreement, $ denominated facility
Size: $250m
Outcome: Successful exit, insurance payout
ICT, Africa

Telecoms operator

Start-up telecoms operator in Africa.

Role: Financial
Instruments: $15m non-ECA tranche
Size: $320m project size
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, Africa

POS equipment manufacturer

Revolving credit facility (POS manufacturing/services).

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 10.5m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

Last mile dark fibre, enterprises

Last mile dark fibre provider, start-up funding. IDC equity stake negotiated.

Role: Financial, marketing
Size: ZAR 10m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

E-Waste facility

Start-up e-waste facility (Durban). Debt + equity. IDC equity stake secured.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 10.6m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

Electrical services contractor

Revolver and guarantee for electrical services contractor.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 110m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

ICT equipment distributor

Expansion funding.

Role: Team Leader
Instruments: Guarantee, revolving credit
Size: ZAR 15m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

Contractor, telecoms

Contractor in telecoms sector, delivering inside-premises work.

Role: Financial and team leader
Instruments: Structuring of DFD TES Women Fund. Complex due diligence (creditors/insolvency)
Size: ZAR 2.5m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

National long-distance fibre project

New national long-distance fibre (term sheet stage).

Role: Financial
Instruments: Project finance term sheet (RMB, Nedbank)
Size: ZAR 2.5bn
Outcome: Term sheet stage
ICT, SA

ICT services company

Guarantee and revolver for ICT services company.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 25.8m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

ICT services company

Guarantee and revolver for ICT services company.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 65.9m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

Last mile dark fibre, enterprises

Last mile dark fibre provider, expansion funding.

Role: Technical, financial structuring
Instruments: Convertible preference shares
Size: ZAR 49m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

Telecoms operator

2nd fixed line operator. Restructure of preference shares.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Capital restructure, thin cap issue
Size: ZAR 700m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
ICT, SA

Data Centre project

Project scoping.

Role: Team lead
Instruments: IDC internal project budget (hours)
Outcome: Project scoping approved
ICT, SA

Automotive & Industrial

OEM Automotive Manufacturer (IDZ)

Chinese OEM project, pre-feasibility.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Equity, debt
Size: USD 760m
Outcome: In progress when I left IDC
Automotive, SA

Trucking company

Expansion capital.

Role: Team Lead
Instruments: Debt
Size: ZAR 10m
Outcome: Financial close achieved
Automotive, SA

Automotive car parts manufacturer

Tier 1 auto parts supplier to a major OEM, expansion capital.

Role: Team Lead
Instruments: Mezzanine, debt
Size: ZAR 65m
Outcome: Financial close achieved
Automotive, SA

Chemicals & Manufacturing

Cosmetics manufacturer

Expansion of cosmetics manufacturing (new factory).

Role: Technical
Instruments: Loan
Size: ZAR 17m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Chemicals, SA

Chemicals manufacturing business

Expansion of cosmetics manufacturing (new factory).

Role: Technical
Size: ZAR 6.5m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Chemicals, SA

Furniture manufacturer

Expansion funding (furniture manufacturer).

Role: Marketing
Size: ZAR 15m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Wood & Forestry, SA

Clothing manufacturer

Clothing manufacturer expansion (capex funding).

Role: Financial
Instruments: Suspensive sale, working capital
Size: ZAR 3m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Textiles, SA

Energy & Construction

140 MW Renewable Energy

Wind farm close to Port Elizabeth.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Complex project finance, B-BBEE funding, EPC negotiations, syndication
Size: ZAR 3.3bn
Outcome: Deal approved, unsuccessful round 3 bid
Green Industries, SA

Construction company

Revolving credit facility for construction company.

Role: Team leader
Instruments: Revolving credit
Size: ZAR 13m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Construction, SA

Tourism & Hospitality

Guesthouse — Rumsig

Start-up guesthouse in Rumsig.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 1.5m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Tourism accommodation — Drakensberg

Refurbishment.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 1.7m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Game lodge — Nelspruit

Refurbishment of game lodge.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 11.2m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Backpackers — Cape Town

Start-up backpackers in Cape Town.

Role: Team leader and marketing
Size: ZAR 2.5m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Guesthouse — George

New build guest house (George, Western Cape).

Role: Marketing
Size: ZAR 3.45m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Business hotel — Eastern Cape

New build hotel.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Loan, preference shares, IDC equity stake
Size: ZAR 34.2m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Adventure tourism — Langebaan

New tourism facility. Equity, quasi-equity + debt.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Equity stake + subordinated loan
Size: ZAR 35m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Listed hotel group

Refurbishment funding.

Role: Technical
Size: ZAR 36m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Hotel — Johannesburg CBD

New build business hotel. Debt + preference shares.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Structuring of preference shares
Size: ZAR 36.8m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Accommodation — Elgin

New build accommodation, Elgin, Western Cape.

Role: Team leader
Size: ZAR 4.9m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Guesthouse — Pretoria

New build guest house / rowing facility.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 5.7m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Guesthouse — Centurion

Expansion of existing guesthouse.

Role: Financial
Size: ZAR 8.7m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA

Hotel group — Zimbabwe

Refurbishment funding.

Role: Financial
Instruments: Complex issues (Zim dollarisation)
Size: R85,930,000 ($ facility)
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, Africa

Hotel group — Nigeria

New build business hotel.

Role: Financial
Instruments: PRI premium issues, offshore escrow
Size: $11m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, Africa

Business hotel — Polokwane

New build business hotel.

Role: Technical
Size: ZAR 98.2m
Outcome: Deal approved, first disbursement
Tourism, SA