Pay, perks, equity: China’s AI, chip firms lead way in offering rewards to lock in talent

Companies are rolling out an unprecedented wave of stock grants amid fierce domestic headhunting and an intensifying US-China tech race

Which company is the most generous? The answer depends on whether generosity is measured by total shares granted, individual fortune-making, or how far down the rewards extend to employees. Here’s a breakdown across sectors.

AI chipmaker Cambricon Technologies is the latest to deliver massive windfalls to employees. Earlier this week, it unlocked nearly 600,000 shares for 124 core staff – yielding an average stock value of 5.57 million yuan (US$828,000) per person, based on its share price on announcement day.

It also rolled out a 5 million share grant last month for 944 employees under its recent incentive plan through 2028, covering 85.3 per cent of its total workforce.

In a recent vesting cycle, 99 key personnel – including senior executives, mid-level managers and core technical staff – were allocated 2.48 million shares. Based on its stock price on the announcement day in April, average yield exceeded 26 million yuan per person.

If inclusivity is the measure, semiconductor equipment maker Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment China, known as AMEC, may be the most generous. Its latest restricted stock plan, unveiled in March, covers more than 97 per cent of its total workforce.