I have personal experience with US corporates issuing shares or...

I have personal experience with US corporates issuing shares or options to staff. It is completely normal practice in the US (certainly moreso than in Oz).

The issuance is intended to act like a retention bonus, so that key staff are not readily persuaded to move to another company.

The duration is not an issue or signal. In all cases I have seen, the full entitlement vests on the day any significant transaction involving the company occurs.

Really more business as usual guys, imo opinion. It would be more concerning if key staff (notably Guido and one level down) were not in some way retained with golden handcuffs.