In order to better attract and retain core talents in key positions, listed companies have different strategies. In addition to traditional methods such as employee stock ownership plans, some listed companies directly provide employees with loans for house purchases, and even interest-free!

  In this "retention war", Kaichun Co., Ltd. is the latest case.

  On the evening of May 24, Kaichun disclosed that the company's board of directors reviewed and approved the "Proposal on the Company's Provision of Loans and Financial Assistance to Employees", of which the total amount of employee loans should not exceed 8 million yuan.

  The announcement shows that the loan can be used for the purchase of real estate under the employee's name, as well as the turnover of medical expenses in the event of major illnesses and accidents of employees or close family members.

Within the repayment period stipulated in the "Loan Contract", the loan interest of the borrower is 2.9% per annum.

  The board of directors of the company believes that this move is intended to reduce the economic pressure of the company's employees, and is conducive to stabilizing the company's talent team and enhancing the cohesion of the talent team.

  2.9% annual interest rate employee housing loan

  On the evening of May 24, Kaichun announced that the company held the twenty-seventh meeting of the second board of directors on May 24, 2022, and reviewed and approved the "Proposal on the Company's Provision of Loans and Financial Assistance to Employees".

The total amount of loans used by the company for employees this time does not exceed 8 million yuan, accounting for 0.96% of the company's audited consolidated net assets in 2021.

Within the scope of this quota, the loan returned by the employee and the unused quota will be recycled for subsequent employee loan applications of the company.

  As for the purpose of the loan, the company clearly mentioned that it can be used for the purchase of real estate under the name of the company's employees and the turnover of medical expenses in the event of major illnesses and accidents of employees or close family members.

The announcement shows that the maximum loan amount that a single person can apply for is no more than 1.2 million yuan. Compared with the company's profit and asset scale, the risk is within the controllable range.

  The reason for the company's loan is also very direct, which is to retain talents.

The company stated that it is necessary to enable personnel in important positions and employees with special contributions to better live and work in peace and contentment, improve the quality of life, and improve the company's competitiveness. In order to effectively solve the living pressure of employees, further improve the construction of the employee welfare system and standardize the application of loan benefits. and executive management.

  According to the disclosure, the maximum repayment period of the borrower's loan is 5 years, and the actual repayment plan is subject to the "loan contract", which is calculated from the date when the company's finance department issues the loan.

Within the repayment period stipulated in the "Loan Contract", the loan interest of the borrower is 2.9% per annum.

  According to the announcement by the National Interbank Funding Center authorized by the People's Bank of China, on May 20, 2022, the loan market quoted interest rate (LPR) is: 1-year LPR is 3.7%, and LPR for more than 5 years is 4.45%.

  However, the loan provided by the company is not available to all employees.

  The company stated that this loan is applicable to incumbents and employees with special contributions in important positions where the company and its holding subsidiaries have formally signed labor contracts (except for related legal persons and related natural persons as stipulated in the "Shenzhen Stock Exchange GEM Stock Listing Rules") .

  In the Employee Loan Management Measures, the requirements for applicants are more detailed, including 5 conditions such as the personnel in important positions identified by the chairman and the general manager, and employees with special contributions.

  According to the management measures, if the borrower fails to pass the performance appraisal for two years after borrowing, the borrower commits serious disciplinary violations or changes the purpose of the loan without authorization, the loan will be withdrawn in advance.

  So, what if the employee leaves the job before the loan is paid off?

  According to the management measures, if the borrower resigns, the company has the right to withdraw the loan in advance. The borrower should repay the loan in time within the time limit specified by the company, and pay the company the full amount of the loan interest within the actual loan period at an annual interest rate of 2.9%. .

  Multiple factors lead to pressure on performance

  According to the data, Kaichun Co., Ltd. mainly provides comprehensive e-commerce services, supporting the current mainstream online channels, including Tmall, Taobao, JD.com, Vipshop, Xiaohongshu, and Netease Koala, providing services for new retail and cross-border e-commerce. hot stock.

  Kaichun’s financial report shows that in 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, the company’s net profit will perform poorly.

  In 2021, the company achieved revenue of 831 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 6.31%; net profit of 48.4021 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 42.79%, deducted non-net profit of 43.07 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 44.79%.

The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 1.25 yuan (tax included) to all shareholders for every 10 shares.

According to the first quarterly report of 2022, the company achieved revenue of 145 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 17.41%; net profit was -9.2892 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 164.61%.

  The company stated at the performance briefing on May 18 that the decline in performance was mainly due to the impact of the epidemic control and intensified market competition, and that most of the large-scale e-commerce festivals were concentrated in the second half of the year. Confirmed in the second half of the year, at the same time, the company's "brand comprehensive service integration construction" and "intelligent digital technology support platform construction" are currently in the stage of investment project investment.

  However, the company remains optimistic about the overall operation of this year.

The company said that this year, it will expand new customers, incubate emerging brands, and at the same time promote digital transformation and promote cross-border e-commerce operations.

The company said that this year, it will continue to strengthen the operation and management of various business segments to further improve quality and efficiency. With the resumption of work and production, the resumption of business and the market, and the gradual recovery of business, it is believed that the company's operating performance will gradually improve.

  Several listed companies provide loan benefits to employees

  Since 2022, providing loans for employees, especially providing housing loan benefits, has gradually become a "killer" for listed companies to retain talents.

  In January this year, Bafang released a management system for housing loans.

The company said that in order to stimulate the enthusiasm of core employees to work, help key employees who need to buy houses to reduce the burden of buying houses, and improve the employee welfare system, the company plans to use some of its own funds to provide loans for employees to buy houses, with a total capital pool of no more than 30 million yuan.

  The range of loans provided by Bafang shares is relatively wide, and qualified ordinary employees can also apply.

The loan amount that employees can apply for is divided into three gradients: 200,000 yuan, 300,000 yuan, and 500,000 yuan, of which 500,000 yuan is limited to middle-level and key employees.

  Bafang shares also have a strong "purchasing characteristics" for the setting of loan interest rate and loan period.

For example, if an employee applies for a loan to be used for expenses related to the first house in the city where the company is located, 200,000 yuan of the approved total loan is an interest-free loan, and the rest is interest-bearing at an annual interest rate of 5%.

The loan term shall not exceed 5 years from the date of issuance of the loan.

  In the same period, Zhuoshengwei, a leading domestic RF chip design leader, also disclosed similar benefits. The company provided 60 million yuan of interest-free loans to provide financial assistance for employees to purchase houses.

The maximum loan amount is divided into five grades: 200,000, 300,000, 400,000, 500,000, and 600,000.

  According to incomplete statistics, since March, the frequency of financial assistance from listed companies for employees to purchase houses has increased significantly. DPtech, Xinbao shares and other listed companies have disclosed corresponding matters.

  Among the above-mentioned companies, DPtech, Megmeet, Kanglong Chemical, etc. have all given generous funding plans for interest-free loans.

DPtech stated that it will provide interest-free loans with a total amount of not more than 20 million yuan for regular employees who meet certain conditions, and the loan period is 5 years.

  Megmeet's relevant plan shows that it plans to provide an interest-free loan of no more than 10 million yuan for employees other than the company's controlling shareholder, actual controller and its affiliates, and the company's directors, supervisors and senior managers and their affiliates.

The loan period is 5 years from the date of financial payment. During this period, the employee's house purchase loan is interest-free.

  Kanglong Huacheng said that it plans to use its own funds to provide a maximum of 5 years for regular employees with doctoral degrees (including those who graduated from the doctoral program of Kanglong College) and whose rank is below Vice President, who have signed labor contracts with the company and have served for one year. The interest-free housing loan subsidy, and the personal loan amount of employees does not exceed 600,000 yuan.

  Experts said that providing special housing fund support can allow more employees to enjoy this benefit.

At the same time, proper design of loan interest and application threshold can effectively motivate employees.

However, for a listed company, it is necessary to comprehensively judge whether it is appropriate in combination with its own business development and profitability, otherwise it is of little significance.

(Qiao Xiang)