Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a qualified professional service provider to deliver independent financial advisory services that will support the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) corporatisation process over a period of twelve (12) months. The advisory aims to facilitate debt structuring, lender engagement, and the development of a sustainable capital structure aligned with TNPA’s long-term mandates and regulatory environment.

Scope

The scope of work includes:

• Developing a TNPA-specific debt-raising and lender engagement strategy, aligned with the buy-out structure and implementation timelines.
• Representing and supporting TNPA in engagements with Transnet, existing lenders, and potential lenders, including evaluating lender proposals for feasibility and sustainability.
• Assessing and advising on the mechanics of the buy-out, including initial and deferred payment tranches, transitional guarantees, and optimal post-separation capital structure.
• Providing support to TNPA management and the board through preparation of briefing materials, attendance at meetings, and consolidation of final advisory reports.
• Ensuring alignment of assumptions, risk assessments, and stakeholder engagement to support feasible, sustainable, and regulatory-compliant debt solutions.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for the tender include:

• Demonstrated experience in providing transaction advisory services related to debt structuring, lender engagement, and corporate restructuring within regulated infrastructure sectors, supported by reference letters.
• Provision of a comprehensive, integrated project methodology addressing all phases: debt strategy formulation, lender engagement, buy-out and capital structure advisory, governance and board support, stakeholder coordination, and final reporting.
• Qualifications of key personnel, including Chartered Accountants (CA(SA)), Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA), or equivalent, with relevant experience in infrastructure finance and debt markets.
• Clear project plan demonstrating the ability to execute all phases within the 12-month timeframe, with milestones and deliverables aligned to the scope.
• Pricing and cost structure compliant with the prescribed schedule, including detailed resource hours and rates.

Skills Requirements

The successful bidder must possess the following skills and competencies:

• Extensive experience (minimum 10-15 years) in transaction advisory, debt structuring, and lender negotiations within infrastructure or regulated sectors.
• Proven expertise in capital markets, financial modeling, and assessing debt feasibility and sustainability.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including experience in representing clients in negotiations with lenders and government entities.
• Qualified professionals with relevant certifications (CA(SA), CFA, GARP, or equivalent) and demonstrated technical competence.
• Ability to develop and implement comprehensive debt strategies, risk assessments, and governance support for complex transactions.
• Excellent project management skills, with the capacity to deliver within tight timelines and coordinate multiple stakeholder inputs.