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Rocket Internet Gets Shareholders’ Approval to Raise $5Bn

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e-commerce investor Rocket Internet won shareholder approval on Tuesday to raise as much as 4.5 billion euros ($5 billion) in the next five years to invest in new ventures and increase stakes in its existing start-ups.

Europe’s largest Internet company, founded in 2007, is viewed as a potential launch pad for future stock market listings of everything from online fashion to home furnishings and personal finance.

It already has holdings in more than 100 start-ups and has big expansion plans for which it needs more cash.

The Berlin group raised 1.4 billion euros in a stock market listing in October and then just four months later tapped investors for 588 million.

The amount of capital it can now raise is equivalent to more than two thirds of its current market capitalization of around 6.4 billion euros.

Its voracious appetite for cash to fund its far-flung business investments sent its shares down to their recent lows.

They currently trade more than 10 percent below the level where its initial public offering was priced in early October last year. They were down 3.6 percent by 9.06 a.m EDT, underperforming a broadly firmer German market.

At its first annual general meeting on Tuesday, Rocket asked shareholders for permission for a possible capital increase in the next five years of more than 2.5 billion euros based on its current share price.

The company also sought approval to issue a convertible bond of up to 2 billion euros by June 2020.

The two proposals were backed by 89 percent of shareholders represented at the meeting.

Peter Kimpel, Chief Financial Officer said any new capital would be used to invest in new companies, increase stakes in existing companies, build the technology platform and make acquisitions.

So far Rocket has ploughed the bulk of the money it has raised into investments in online takeaway food and grocery delivery start-ups that it says has created the largest takeout food delivery network outside China.

Oliver Samwer, chief executive, said Rocket Internet’s focus on emerging markets should provide encouraging prospects.

“Growth won’t slow, even after 20 years of the Internet. It’s just starting,” said Samwer, who has created and sold a string of Internet companies since the peak of the dot-com era in the late 1990s. “Growth is particularly strong in our markets because they are undeveloped.”


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E-Business

NAICOM Urges Nigerian Insurers to Develop Cyber Insurance Products

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National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has urged Nigerian insurance companies to develop and introduce cyber insurance products.

NAICOM Urges Nigerian Insurers to Develop Cyber Insurance Products

This is in response to the escalating digital risks accompanying global digitalization.

This initiative aims to provide coverage against cyber threats and data breaches, ensuring that businesses and individuals are protected in the evolving digital landscape.

To facilitate this development, NAICOM is collaborating with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

This partnership seeks to promote cyber insurance and ensure compliance with Nigeria’s Data Protection Regulations, emphasising the importance of data protection training for industry practitioners.

Despite the growing threat of cybercrime, cyber insurance remains underutilised in Nigeria. Industry reports indicate that many businesses and individuals overlook the importance of cyber insurance, even as global cybercrime losses are projected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025.

NAICOM’s directive underscores the need for the insurance industry to adapt to the digital era by offering products that address contemporary risks, thereby enhancing the resilience of Nigeria’s digital economy.

 


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Google Increases Price of Google One Subscription in Nigeria

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Google has increased the price of its Google One subscription in Nigeria.

Google Increases Price of Google One Subscription in Nigeria

The tech giant, in a note to its customers, said, “Price will automatically increase to N1,900/month on 28 Mar 2025 for your Google One subscription. Cancel at any time in Google Play.”

The old price was N1,200. Google One, a cloud storage service offered by Google LLC, provides users with a centralised platform to manage their storage across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.

It added that subscribers who do not cancel their subscription will be charged automatically on the payment method they provided.


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We Are Bringing the Change in Technology Distribution – Chioma Ekeh, TD Africa MD

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Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa
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In the world of technology and entrepreneurship, few names resonate as powerfully as Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa, Africa’s leading technology distribution powerhouse.

We Are Bringing the Change Technology Distribution – Chioma Ekeh, TD Africa MD

Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa

A media-reclusive entrepreneur and quiet achiever, she has made a name for herself not with loud proclamations but through consistent actions that have shaped the trajectory of the continent’s digital economy.

She has steered the company to unprecedented heights, forging strategic partnerships with global giants such as HP, Microsoft, Apple, Starlink, IBM, Dell Technologies, Ring (by Amazon), Cisco, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Samsung, Bosch, Philips, Logitech, and Vivo.

These collaborations have not only strengthened TD Africa’s position as a market leader but have also contributed to the growth of Africa’s tech ecosystem.

At the recently held Accra Synergy Summit, a high-profile event held in Ghana that brought together top strategic partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Mrs Ekeh made a bold declaration: “We are no longer waiting for change — we are driving it. We are no longer spectators in the digital revolution — we are architects, engineers, and visionaries shaping the future.” This statement, emblematic of her visionary leadership, underscores her commitment to driving Africa’s tech renaissance.

Ekeh’s words are not mere rhetoric; they are backed by tangible achievements and a deep understanding of Africa’s digital potential. The data speaks for itself.

According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Africa’s digital economy is on track to reach $180 billion this year, with projections indicating it will soar to an astonishing $712 billion by 2050.

This growth is not just an increase in numbers — it signifies a paradigm shift in how Africa engages with technology and innovation.

With over 570 million internet users today, Africa is undergoing an unprecedented digital awakening, a number expected to double by 2030 according to the World Bank.

From financial inclusion to business automation, Africa is embracing the digital age at an accelerated pace, with 70% of global mobile money transactions already occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.

This widespread adoption is a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of African entrepreneurs and businesses.

The continent’s tech ecosystem is also attracting significant global attention. In 2022 alone, African tech startups secured over $6.5 billion in investments, a clear testament to the world’s belief in Africa’s digital future.

Ekeh’s message is clear: Africa’s future is bright but requires collective effort.

Rapid transformation does not happen in a vacuum. It is built on strategic collaborations and forward-thinking leadership.

According to Ekeh, “This renaissance is not happening in isolation. It is built on the foundation of strong partnerships. It is fuelled by collaboration — between businesses, governments, and technology enablers like TD Africa. Each of us has a role to play in ensuring that Africa doesn’t just adopt technology but creates, innovates, and leads.”

Her words serve as a rallying cry for businesses, governments, and individuals to strengthen partnerships, increase investments, and take bold steps toward excellence. “Africa is no longer just a consumer of technology. Africa is a builder. Africa is no longer following global trends. Africa is setting them. Africa is no longer waiting for the future. Africa is the future,” she concluded.

Chioma Ekeh’s leadership and vision are a testament to what can be achieved when passion, innovation, and collaboration come together.

As Africa continues its journey toward a tech-driven future, her words and actions remind us that the power to shape tomorrow lies in our hands today.

TD Africa has remained at the forefront of Africa’s tech revolution as the market leader in technology distribution.

Under Ekeh’s leadership, the company has not only expanded its portfolio of global partners but has also facilitated the seamless deployment of innovative tech solutions across various sectors.

By empowering businesses with cutting-edge technology, TD Africa is laying the groundwork for an Africa that does not just consume technology but pioneers it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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