Pedro Pestana gives 120 staff R74m after selling his company

Pedro Pestana, founder of tech firm Marosa, shared a portion of his own sale proceeds with every single employee after closing a major deal
All 120 staff members received a payment, including those who had only recently joined the company
The emotional announcement was captured on video, showing the moment workers learned what their boss had done for them

Pedro Pestana shares R74m with 120 staff after R2.07bn sale of Marosa — Pedro Pestano shared his comapny's profits with his employees. Image: Pedro Pestano/LinkedIn
Source: Getty Images

Pedro Pestana, the founder of Spanish technology firm Marosa, made headlines after choosing to share a portion of his own earnings from the sale of his company with every member of his team.

After agreeing to sell Marosa to multinational corporation Wolters Kluwer for approximately R2.07 billion (€112 million), Pestana set aside R74 million (almost €4 million) from his personal share of the deal and distributed it among his 120 employees.

A reward built on loyalty

The gesture was not limited to long-serving staff. Pestana made sure everyone on the team received something, regardless of how recently they had joined.

Some employees had been with Pestana for nine years, growing alongside the company from its earliest days as a startup based in Vigo, Spain. He acknowledged those individuals specifically, saying they had "placed their trust in Marosa back when almost everything still remained to be done."

Still, he insisted a minimum payment be guaranteed for every staff member, ensuring no one was left out. Pestana said:

"Marosa was built through the hard work of many people. Sharing the proceeds from the sale is a way to acknowledge that contribution and to give back to the team a portion of what they helped create."

The moment employees found out

The announcement was made once the acquisition was finalised. Employees were called forward in order of their length of service until the entire team had gathered. The moment was filmed, with organisers describing the "reactions of surprise, the applause, and the hugs" that followed.

Marosa specialises in technology that helps businesses manage VAT compliance, electronic invoicing, and tax responsibilities across international markets. The company had doubled its revenue in under three years before the August 2026 deal was concluded.

Under the agreement, Marosa will become part of Wolters Kluwer's Corporate Performance and ESG division, while retaining its headquarters in Vigo. All 120 employees, including Pestana himself, will join the multinational group.

Pestana also spoke about why he chose to make his decision public, hoping it might prompt other business owners to do the same. He said:

"Every company and every transaction is different. I would like someone who is preparing to sell their own company to learn about this experience and consider whether they could do something similar with their own team."

Pedro Pestana gives 120 staff R74m after selling his company

A reward built on loyalty

The moment employees found out

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