[dropcap]N[/dropcap]aspers has awarded CEO Bob Van Dijk US$10.4m in long-term share options as Africa’s biggest company by market value seeks to boost its global Internet businesses amid declining profit at the sub-Saharan Africa pay-television operation.
The incentive comes on top of a salary of $2.2m in pay and bonuses for the most recent fiscal year to March, the Cape Town-based company said in its annual report published Friday.
Chief investment officer Mark Sorour received $2.6m, including a $1.2m bonus based on his deal-making success, which included the sale Polish online business Allegro for $3.3bn.
The pay awards correspond with a year in which Naspers earnings increased by 41% to $1.8bn, driven by the performance of Chinese Internet company Tencent Holdings.
Naspers executives met with investors in the US and London last month about a planned bond issue to help repay debt and pursue further acquisition targets as the company seeks more fast-growing investments.
Naspers shares gained 0.6% to R2 806.25 in Johannesburg on Friday, extending the year’s gains to 39%. The stock is the year’s best performer on the FTSE/JSE Africa Top 40 Index. — (c) 2017 Bloomberg LP
