Key facts
- ASML will grant approximately 44,500 employees a one-time share award.
- The award is valued at €20,000 per employee.
- Employees must remain with the company until January 1, 2030, to receive the shares.
- The shares are locked until the vesting date.
- The move aims to retain skilled labor during capacity expansion and restructuring.
ASML, a leading manufacturer of equipment for chip production, is set to offer its global workforce a one-time share award valued at €20,000 per employee. This conditional grant requires staff to remain with the company until January 1, 2030, to be eligible for the payout. The company confirmed the plan, which aims to retain skilled labor amidst strong industry demand and capacity expansion.
The move by ASML, Europe's most valuable company, aligns with similar retention strategies employed by other major semiconductor firms like Samsung Electronics, TSMC, and SK Hynix. These companies are competing for engineering talent in a booming market driven by AI demand.
ASML reported a net income of €2.92 billion on €9.3 billion in sales for the second quarter of 2026, and has raised its full-year sales forecast to between €43 billion and €45 billion. Its critical lithography tools are reportedly sold out through 2027.
The bonus offering follows a period of workforce adjustments at ASML, including 1,700 job cuts in January and a subsequent union agreement in June that prevents forced redundancies until May 2027. Management described the package as a token of appreciation and recognition of future work required.