Pedro Pestana, founder of technology firm Marosa, has distributed €4million (£3.5million) from his own share of the proceeds after selling the company for €112million (£97million) to multinational Wolters Kluwer. The gesture saw all 120 employees receive a share, with each receiving approximately £3.3m, ensuring even the newest recruits benefited.
Sharing the Rewards of Success
Pestana chose to give back to the workforce that helped build the Vigo-based startup, which specialises in VAT compliance, electronic invoicing and other tax management technology for international markets. He explained his decision, saying: "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 entrepreneur also paid tribute to early employees, some of whom have worked alongside him for nine years. He said these recruits had "placed their trust in Marosa back when almost everything still remained to be done."
A Gesture for Every Employee
Rather than limiting payments to long-serving staff, Pestana established a minimum payment for every member of the team, regardless of how long they had worked for the firm. The announcement was made after the acquisition was completed, with employees called forward according to their length of service until the whole team had assembled.
The emotional moment was captured on video, with organisers describing the "reactions of surprise, the applause, and the hugs" that followed the news.
Expansion and Future Plans
The €112million acquisition, announced in August 2026, will see Marosa become part of Wolters Kluwer's Corporate Performance and ESG division. Its headquarters will remain in Vigo, Spain, and all 120 employees, including Pestana, will join the multinational group.
The deal follows a period of rapid expansion for Marosa, which doubled its revenue in less than three years. Pestana has also explained why he wanted to make his decision public, hoping it might encourage other business owners to consider sharing the rewards of a successful sale with their teams.
"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," he said.
