---
title: "Prosus to buy Latin American online travel agency Despegar.com for $1.7-bn"
description: "In a bold bid to conquer Latin America’s travel scene, Dutch tech titan Prosus NV is shelling out a cool $1.7 billion for Despegar.com, sending Despegar shares soaring 32% in premarket trading."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-12-24-prosus-to-buy-latin-american-online-travel-agency-despegar-com-for-1-7-bn/"
published: "2024-12-24T10:29:51"
updated: "2024-12-24T10:32:34"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 195
---

# Prosus to buy Latin American online travel agency Despegar.com for $1.7-bn

> In a bold bid to conquer Latin America’s travel scene, Dutch tech titan Prosus NV is shelling out a cool $1.7 billion for Despegar.com, sending Despegar shares soaring 32% in premarket trading.

By Reuters · Published 24 December 2024, 12:29 SAST · Updated 24 December 2024, 12:32 SAST

## Key points
- In a bold move to conquer the Latin American travel market, Dutch tech titan Prosus is shelling out $1.7 billion for Despegar.com, proving that when it comes to online travel, they’re ready to take off—premium price and all.
- Dutch tech investor Prosus NV is set to acquire Latin American travel agency Despegar.com for approximately $1.7 billion in cash.
- The deal values Despegar shares at $19.50, reflecting a 33% premium over the previous closing price.
- Despegar's stock surged about 32% in premarket trading following the announcement.
- The acquisition aims to enhance synergies with Prosus's existing Latin American businesses, including iFood and Sympla.

## Content

Dutch technology investor Prosus NV said on Monday it would buy Latin America-focused online travel agency Despegar.com Corp for about $1.7 billion in cash, as it looks to expand its services across Latin America.

Prosus, majority-owned by South Africa's Naspers, said it would pay $19.50 per Despegar share, which is a premium of about 33% to the stock's closing price on Friday.

Despegar.com's shares jumped about 32% in premarket trading.

Prosus said it plans to create synergies between Despegar, which operates in more than 19 Latin American markets, and its other regional businesses such as food delivery platform iFood and events platform Sympla.

E-commerce is one of Amsterdam-listed Prosus' main areas of investments. It has a portfolio that includes food delivery firm Delivery Hero online marketplaces such as OLX, educational software firms such as SkillSoft and Stack Overflow, and payments companies such as India-focused PayU.

Founded in Argentina in 1999, Despegar is one of Latin America's largest online tourism platforms and has been affected by high inflation in Argentina and currency depreciation against the U.S. dollar in key markets Brazil and Mexico.

The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.**DM**