In response to the incentive trend of "AI bull stocks", ASML will distribute a big red envelope of 20,000 euros to all employees
As the latest example of a company benefiting from the "AI craze" launching employee incentive policies, lithography machine manufacturer ASML will issue equity incentives equivalent to 20,000 euros to global employees. It is reported that ASML announced this policy through an internal email to all employees, and the company plans to grant share awards on January 1 next year. The bonus comes with conditions: Employees must stay at the company until at least January 1, 2030, before their shares can vest and be sold. ASML has approximately 44,500 employees worldwide, and this one-time incentive is worth nearly 900 million euros.
As the latest example of a company benefiting from the "AI craze" launching employee incentive policies, lithography machine manufacturer ASML will issue equity incentives equivalent to 20,000 euros to global employees. It is reported that ASML announced this policy through an internal email to all employees, and the company plans to grant share awards on January 1 next year. The bonus comes with conditions: Employees must stay at the company until at least January 1, 2030, before their shares can vest and be sold. ASML has approximately 44,500 employees worldwide, and this one-time incentive is worth nearly 900 million euros. A company spokesperson responded to the media saying: "This stock incentive plan is designed to recognize the hard work of employees, but more importantly, it is to prepare for the work that will be carried out in the coming years." ASML announced its latest financial report on Wednesday, with net sales in the second quarter of 9.33 billion euros and net profit of 2.9 billion euros, both significantly better than analysts' expectations. The company also raised its annual sales forecast for the second time this year, with the latest guidance of 43 to 45 billion euros, far exceeding analysts' prior expectations of 39.3 billion euros. The company also announced plans to increase production, including increasing the production capacity of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to "65 units this year, an increase of 30% next year, and studying an increase of 30% the year after that" to meet the large number of orders that have been scheduled until 2028. In addition to existing customers such as TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix, the Terafab chip manufacturing project of the world's richest man Musk will also contribute significant incremental orders to ASML. Thanks to the AI investment wave, ASML's shares have risen by more than 60% this year. The latest closing market value in the European market on Friday was 590.3 billion euros, still the European listed company with the highest market value. Layoff plans pending For some ASML employees, this 20,000-euro incentive is likely to be just a number in the mail. The company announced at the beginning of the year that although its performance in 2025 would reach a record high, it would still eliminate 1,700 positions, mainly in management positions in the information technology department. It is reported that the reason for the layoffs is that the company's current organizational structure is too complex, which affects the efficiency of core business advancement. Since then, ASML and the union have been negotiating for several months and reached an agreement in June. The company will not carry out compulsory layoffs until May 1, 2027, and will first try to relocate redundant employees to other internal positions. (