Dutch lithography machine manufacturer ASML is set to distribute a one-time bonus of 20,000 euros (approximately $22,862) to its global employees as the company achieved record sales driven by the demand for artificial intelligence.
In a statement sent via email on Friday, ASML announced its plan to award employees with stocks valued at 20,000 euros, effective starting January 1, 2027, with the incentive valid for employees who remain with the company throughout this period.
ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, is the most valuable company in Europe and the only manufacturer of precision lithography machines, crucial for producing advanced semiconductors.
On Wednesday, ASML raised its annual sales forecast for the second time and introduced plans to expand production to meet the demands of artificial intelligence. By 2028, ASML aims to increase production by 30% annually, requiring a significant workforce.
Currently, ASML has 44,500 employees globally, with 23,500 working at its headquarters.
A spokesperson for ASML mentioned that the condition of the bonus is that employees must still be employed on January 1, 2030.
“However, the specific terms of the plan are still to be determined. For instance, whether employees hired after February 1, 2027, would also qualify is still under discussion. Therefore, we cannot disclose how much funding the company will allocate at this time,” the spokesperson stated.
Incentivizing employees with stock options is seen as an effective method to retain talent. Employees often feel more connected to the company when they can directly benefit from its performance. Furthermore, stock incentives are sometimes referred to as “golden handcuffs” because it becomes challenging and costly for competitors to poach employees. If the stocks are not redeemed, competitors would have to pay a high price, or else employees would lose a significant amount.
If the stock price continues its current upward trend, ASML employees can amass substantial wealth through the 20,000 euros worth of stocks from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2030. Since 2026, ASML’s stock price has surged over 66%, making it one of the top-performing stocks on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX). This means that the stock incentive has appreciated to 33,200 euros within just six months.
Nevertheless, ASML is currently implementing a restructuring plan announced in January, aiming to streamline management levels and bureaucratic structures. The company plans to cut 1,700 jobs but has already reduced 1,000 positions.
Prior to this, chip manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in South Korea have also awarded bonuses to employees to meet the growing demand for products driven by global artificial intelligence development.
Many companies benefitting most from significant investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure are facing pressure to share more profits with their employees. TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) pledged in May to increase profit sharing by an average of over 30% this year.
The news of ASML preparing to reward its employees with bonuses was first reported by the Dutch newspaper “Eindhoven Daily.”