Sydney-based data centre company, AirTrunk, has announced a significant $22 million bonus pool for its employees following its landmark $24 billion acquisition by US private equity giant Blackstone. Each of the company’s 330 staff members will receive a one-off bonus of $65,000 as part of the celebration of this massive deal.

The exciting news was delivered to AirTrunk's employees by founder and CEO, Robin Khuda, on Monday. Khuda highlighted the importance of recognizing the team’s efforts in making the company’s success possible, noting, “We would not have achieved what we have without them.”

This one-time bonus comes in addition to AirTrunk’s existing profit-sharing agreement, which benefits the 120 senior staff members. Moreover, employees will also receive their regular annual bonuses, further enhancing the overall reward package ahead of the festive season.

The acquisition by Blackstone marks a remarkable leap in AirTrunk’s valuation. When it was backed by Macquarie Asset Management in 2020, the company was valued at just $3 billion. The $24 billion deal is Australia’s largest acquisition of the year and catapults AirTrunk onto the global stage.

Khuda, who will maintain a substantial stake in the company valued at over $1 billion, is expected to remain as CEO. His continued leadership underscores his pivotal role in the company’s success, positioning him among Australia's wealthiest individuals.

Founded in 2016, AirTrunk has swiftly become a leader in the data centre industry, focusing on delivering large-scale solutions that provide essential storage and management of data for businesses worldwide. AirTrunk operates 11 data centres across major cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore, with prominent clients such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

The company has built a reputation for its commitment to sustainability. Its data centres are designed to be eco-friendly, minimizing energy and water consumption, which has proven attractive to both environmentally-conscious investors and clients.

This is not the first time that AirTrunk has shown its appreciation for its employees. Earlier this year, the company arranged an all-expenses-paid trip to Bali for its staff, where they participated in team-building activities, including assembling pushbikes for charity. Additionally, AirTrunk offers flexible working arrangements and “recharge days,” initiatives that have contributed to the company’s recognition as one of Australia’s top 10 best places to work, according to Great Place to Work.

These benefits, combined with the company’s culture of recognition and reward, help AirTrunk foster a positive and supportive environment for its employees.

Khuda’s journey to establishing AirTrunk was not without challenges. Born in Bangladesh, Khuda moved to Australia at the age of 18 and faced numerous hurdles in getting his business off the ground. In the early days, Khuda even resorted to dipping into his superannuation fund to fund the business. Despite considering insolvency, his persistence ultimately paid off when AirTrunk successfully launched its first data centre in 2017.