South African billionaire cashes out about $136 million in Naspers and Prosus shares

South African billionaire and media tycoon Koos Bekker has sold shares in Naspers and its European-listed arm, Prosus, worth roughly $136 million, according to regulatory filings released this week.

• South African billionaire Koos Bekker has sold Naspers and Prosus shares worth about $136 million.
• The sales were executed over three trading days in mid-December 2025, according to regulatory filings.
• Proceeds will fund hospitality property developments in South Africa, the UK, and Italy.
• Despite the sale, Bekker retains roughly 90 percent of his holdings and remains chairman of both companies.

The disclosures show that a family trust linked to Bekker, who chairs both companies, disposed of shares over three trading days between December 17 and 19, 2025.

The proceeds are being channelled into property development projects at hospitality venues owned by the Bekker family in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

In the first leg of the transaction, the trust sold 792,800 Naspers N ordinary shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, raising about R860.5 million, which translates to roughly $46 million at prevailing exchange rates.

Most of the sales took place on December 17 and 18, when more than 780,000 shares were sold at volume-weighted average prices just above R1,084 per share. A smaller batch was sold on December 19 at a higher average price.

A much larger disposal occurred at Prosus, the Amsterdam-listed global consumer internet investor that holds Naspers’ most valuable assets, including its stake in Tencent.

Over the same three-day period, the trust sold 1,556,807 Prosus shares on the open market for about €81.7 million, or roughly $90 million.

Filings show that 395,911 Prosus shares were sold on December 17 at an average price of €52.52, followed by 729,223 shares on December 18 at €51.92, and a further 431,673 shares on December 19 at €53.46.

Both Naspers and Prosus stressed that the transactions were undertaken to fund the construction and refurbishment of hospitality properties linked to the family trust. The companies also moved to reassure investors that the sales do not signal a shift in Bekker’s long-term commitment.

Notably, the trust retained about 90 percent of its shareholding in both companies before the disposals, meaning Bekker remains one of the most influential shareholders in both groups.

The transactions were disclosed in line with JSE and European market regulations, which require directors and senior insiders to report significant dealings in company shares.

For African and global investors alike, the move underscores how even high-profile founders can rebalance their wealth, without fundamentally altering their strategic grip on flagship companies.