Koos Bekker seeking to repeat Tencent success

Cape Town

SOUTH African billionaire Koos Bekker has spent 15 years riding the rocket of the Chinese Internet thanks to one really smart - or really lucky - investment. Now he's trying to do it again.

In 2001, Naspers Ltd, the media group he chairs, put US$32 million into a then-obscure Web company called Tencent. Its stake today is worth US$66 billion - roughly equal to Naspers' entire stock market capitalisation. To prove he's capable of more successes like Tencent, Mr Bekker is scouring the globe in search of new tech deals.

"What we've done over the years is take huge risks," Mr Bekker said over a cup of Rooibos tea in Naspers headquarters, 19 floors…