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Key Points
- Prosus plans nearly $20 billion investment to bolster Europe’s tech ecosystem, focusing on growth in AI and other high-potential sectors.
- Amid Tencent stock struggles, Prosus pivots to Europe, selling non-core assets and acquiring Despegar for $1.7 billion to refocus on strategic growth.
- CEO Fabricio Bloisi emphasizes boosting Europe’s tech ecosystem, highlighting the continent’s potential to rival U.S. advancements in AI and innovation.
Prosus N.V., the global internet group chaired by South African billionaire Koos Bekker, has revealed plans to invest nearly $20 billion in Europe. The company, which holds a diverse portfolio spanning fintech, social media, edtech, and food delivery, is doubling down on growth opportunities in the region.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Prosus CEO Fabricio Bloisi emphasized the urgency of bolstering Europe’s competitiveness in the tech space. “We need to invest substantially more here to keep Europe in the race rather than watching from the sidelines,” Bloisi said during a Bloomberg TV interview on Thursday. “Our ecosystem in Europe is poised for growth, and we’re ready to back it with significant investment.”
This strategic pivot comes amid headwinds from Prosus’s notable stake in Tencent, China’s largest gaming company. The company’s 24.3 percent holding in Tencent has taken a hit, with the Chinese tech giant’s stock dropping over 6 percent in 2025. The decline follows the U.S. government’s designation of Tencent as a Chinese military company, a move that spurred tensions between the two global superpowers.
Prosus eyes European tech expansion
Since stepping into the dual role of CEO for both Amsterdam-based Prosus and its South African parent, Naspers, in July 2024, Bloisi has sought to reshape the company’s global narrative.
Under the leadership of Koos Bekker, who famously led a $34 million investment in Tencent in 2001—now valued at over $460 billion—Prosus has built a reputation for strategic bets on promising ventures. The company has steadily expanded its European footprint, with significant stakes in companies like Germany’s Delivery Hero SE.
With Bloisi at the helm, investors are optimistic about Prosus’s potential to emerge as a leader in the global tech space. His renewed focus on Europe coincides with broader calls for the continent to respond more decisively to advances in artificial intelligence.
“In Davos last year, the concern was about moving too fast on AI,” Bloisi said. “Now, the narrative has shifted. The U.S. is determined to outpace everyone.” He cited the Trump administration’s recent moves, including the rescission of AI safety measures introduced under Biden and a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle.
Strategic sales for core business focus
Prosus is stepping up efforts to build partnerships that bolster AI infrastructure in Europe. “Prosus’s play is not China,” said Bloisi. “Prosus’s play is a shareholder of a Chinese company. But where we invest and where we want to grow is in Europe, India, Latin America, Africa, and that’s where we are investing.”
To streamline its operations and focus on core areas, Prosus has been shedding non-core assets. In September 2024, Prosus sold its stake in Trip.com for $743 million, part of a move to scale back on less strategic investments and redirect resources toward higher-growth opportunities.
In December 2024, Prosus made a bold move with a $1.7 billion acquisition of Despegar, Latin America’s largest online travel agency. This acquisition is a major step forward in Prosus’s expansion plans for the region.
At $19.5 per share, the deal represents a 33 percent premium to Despegar’s December 20 closing price and a 34 percent premium to its 90-day volume-weighted average price, reflecting Prosus’s commitment to strengthening its global footprint.
