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South African billionaire Koos Bekker, celebrated for his tech foresight and strategic investments, has seen a significant rise in his stake in Naspers, Africa’s largest listed company. This increase, exceeding $36 million, is tied to the recent performance of the conglomerate’s shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
Bekker’s recent gains are directly attributable to the surge in Naspers’ share price on the JSE. Over the past 25 days, the company’s stock has risen materially, boosting the value of Bekker’s stake by R693.77 million ($36.76 million). This follows a period of losses for Bekker, as his Naspers holding declined by $34.4 million between Feb. 12 and March 4.
Naspers’ shares soar 13.95 percent, crossing $30-billion market cap milestone
Naspers, a South African multinational specializing in internet, technology, and media, boasts a diversified portfolio spanning online retail, publishing, and venture capital. The company has a presence across five continents and serves over two billion customers.
In recent times, Planet42, a pioneering South African rent-to-buy startup backed by Naspers, the global internet group partly owned by South African billionaire Koos Bekker, recently secured R300 million ($16 million) in funding from Standard Bank Group.
Naspers’ shares on the JSE have surged 13.95 percent in recent times, climbing from R2,946.52 ($156.14) on March 5 to R3,357.55 ($177.92). This surge propelled the group’s market capitalization above $30 billion, generating significant returns for shareholders.
Naspers Architect Bekker’s wealth rises with recent surge in share price
Koos Bekker, a top figure in South Africa’s business landscape, is credited with transforming Naspers from a newspaper publisher into a top player in e-commerce and cable TV. Though his stake in Naspers is a relatively modest 0.85 percent, translating to 1,687,887 ordinary shares, Bekker’s influence on the company remains substantial.
The recent surge in Naspers’ share price has added R693.77 million ($36.7 million) to the market value of Bekker’s holding, which climbed from R4.97 billion ($263.55 million) on March 5 to R5.66 billion ($300.31 million). This further cements Bekker’s status as a leading South African business figure and a top investor on the JSE.
