Prosus NV, a major shareholder of Tencent and a leading internet investment firm, is set to acquire Despegar.com Corp (DESP, Financial), a top online travel agency in Latin America, for $1.7 billion. The offer of $19.50 per share represents a 33% premium over Despegar's closing price on December 20. Following the announcement, Despegar's stock soared over 33% in pre-market trading, later stabilizing at a 31% increase to $19.28.
Prosus is actively seeking promising global investments, aiming to double its overall value within four years. The company has sufficient cash flow to support the acquisition without reducing its stake in Tencent. Despegar, based in Argentina, is a leading online travel platform in Latin America, offering booking services for flights, hotels, car rentals, and more. This acquisition is seen as a strategic move by Prosus to tap into the growing online travel market in Latin America.