(Yicai Global) Feb. 9 -- Chinese internet giant Tencent Holdings gave year-end bonuses of 100 shares each, worth about HKD73,650 (USD9,500), to most of its staff.

Tencent rewarded employees who made special contributions to the company over the year, the Shenzhen-based firm told the Paper yesterday.

Based on yesterday’s closing price, 100 shares of Tencent [HKG: 0700] are worth HKD73,650. Its stock price rose 0.5 percent today to end at HKD740.50 (USD95.52).

Tencent did not disclose the number of employees to receive the reward, but some revealed on Maimai, China’s version of LinkedIn, that all staff members who joined before Dec. 15 last year had received the bonus.

Staff devoted themselves to fighting the Covid-19 pandemic with science and technology last year, helping industries accelerate their digital transformation while promoting economic recovery, Tencent said.

The last time the company handed out stock as staff bonuses was in November 2016 when the gaming and social media giant celebrated its 18th anniversary. Each gift was 300 shares, while the stock price hovered around HKD200 at that time. 

Editor: Emmi Laine