Africa Digest News

South Africa’s Naspers, through its Prosus unit, has crossed a major milestone in its global growth story: a €4.1 billion acquisition of Just Eat Takeaway.com.

With 90% of shares locked in, Prosus is positioning itself as a serious rival to Delivery Hero, Uber Eats, and DoorDash, leveraging JET’s established footprint across 17 countries in Europe.

Announced back in February 2025, the deal faced a swift green light from the European Commission in August, paving the way for this near-total takeover.

As of October 2, the tender offer has been successfully completed, marking one of Prosus’ largest European acquisitions in years and highlighting Naspers’ aggressive pivot toward high-growth consumer tech amid its storied Tencent stake providing deep financial backing.

But with delisting from Euronext Amsterdam on the horizon, questions remain: does this “gamble” position Prosus as Europe’s undisputed delivery king, or is it a high-stakes bet on unproven partnerships?

The Deal in Detail: A Swift and Sweeping Victory

Prosus’ offer, priced at €13.25 per share, has drawn in over 90% acceptance, surpassing the 95% threshold needed for a squeeze-out of minority holders, though untendered shares can still join under the same terms post-closing.

This isn’t Prosus’ first activity in food delivery; the company already commands a robust portfolio including iFood in Brazil and Swiggy in India.

Folding in JET, a platform connecting consumers to over 356,000 restaurant partners, expands Prosus’ global reach, blending JET’s European strongholds (think the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands) with emerging markets elsewhere.

The enthusiasm is evident from the top. Yet, the transition won’t be without friction. Five members of JET’s supervisory board are set to exit immediately upon delisting, replaced by a Prosus-heavy trio: Bloisi himself, alongside Roberto Gandolfo and Fahd Beg.

This board overhaul signals Prosus’ intent to steer the ship decisively, but it also raises eyebrows about potential clashes in vision during integration.

Strategic Partnerships: From Fragmented Player to Continental Powerhouse?

At its core, this acquisition is Prosus’ recipe for dominance in a market projected to hit €100 billion in Europe alone by 2030, fuelled by post-pandemic habits and urban density.

JET brings not just scale, serving millions of orders weekly, but also tech muscle in AI-driven personalisation and logistics optimisation, areas where Prosus has invested heavily via its Tencent ties (Naspers holds a ~25% stake in the Chinese tech titan).

READ ALSO:Why Prosus Is Targeting France as Its Next Growth Engine

Rivalling Uber Eats? Absolutely on paper. Uber’s European operations are impressive, but Prosus-JET could leverage cross-border data flows and shared R&D to undercut on fees and delivery times.

Add in Prosus’ e-commerce chops from investments like Delivery Hero stakes, and you’ve got an ecosystem primed for “super app” ambitions; think bundled grocery, pharma, and quick commerce.

Analysts point to potential cost savings of €200-300 million annually through merged ops, per early estimates, while unlocking JET’s undervalued assets like Grubhub in the US (which Prosus may spin or integrate further).

Naspers’ war chest, strengthened by Tencent dividends exceeding $2 billion yearly, de-risks the bet. With a market cap of roughly R986 billion as of early October, the group can handle short-term volatility.

Bloisi’s track record, including scaling iFood to Latin America’s top company, lends credibility, positioning Prosus not as a mere acquirer but as a builder of “tech champions.”

Verdict: A Calculated Deal Set for Profit

Naspers’ €4.1 billion play for Just Eat Takeaway isn’t just another deal; it’s a bid to crown Prosus as Europe’s food delivery king.

With 90% control locked in and Tencent’s war chest behind it, the question now is whether integration can turn hype into market dominance.Drop your takes in the comments.

Inside Naspers:

The leadership of Naspers CEO continues to shape the company’s global strategy, especially as it expands through its various Naspers subsidiaries.

While many people often ask about the Naspers owner, the company is publicly traded and widely held by investors.

Those looking to join the team can explore opportunities via Naspers careers, while enquiries can be directed to the official Naspers contact details.

With a massive portfolio and investments, the Naspers net worth runs into billions, reinforced by its stake in Naspers Prosus, the international internet group.

Operating out of South Africa, the Naspers headquarters remains the hub of one of Africa’s largest and most influential tech-investment companies.

Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, climate change, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.