JOHANNESBURG, Mar 27 – Prosus is considering selling a roughly 10% stake in Delivery Hero SE to Hong Kong-based Aspex Management, in a move that could significantly reshape the company’s shareholder structure.
If completed, the transaction would more than double Aspex’s stake to about 19% from 9.2%, positioning it as the largest shareholder ahead of Prosus, which currently holds a 26.8% stake.
Shares in Delivery Hero rose sharply on the news, jumping as much as 9% during Friday trading and lifting the company’s market valuation to around €5 billion ($5.8 billion).
The potential deal comes amid growing pressure on management, led by CEO Niklas Östberg, to accelerate asset sales. Aspex has previously signaled it could push for leadership changes if the company fails to move forward with divestments.
For Prosus, the stake sale could also help meet regulatory requirements set by the European Commission, which has mandated that the investor reduce its holding to below 5% by August following its acquisition of Just Eat Takeaway.com.
While discussions are ongoing, there is no certainty that a deal will be finalized. Prosus is also exploring alternative options, including additional block trades or potential sales to private equity firms or strategic investors.
The outcome of the negotiations could have significant implications for Delivery Hero’s strategic direction, particularly as activist pressure mounts for operational restructuring and portfolio optimization.
