Recap from Microsoft’s annual shareholders meeting

Posted by John Seethoff
Deputy General Counsel & Vice President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft

I want to thank the Microsoft’s shareholders who attended or voted at this year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Nearly 84 percent of outstanding shares were voted. Microsoft shareholders:

• Elected nine directors to serve on the Board of Directors until the next annual meeting. All director nominees received more than 90 percent of votes cast.

• Approved the material terms of the performance goals under the Executive Officer Incentive Plan with more than 97 percent of votes cast.

• Approved, on an advisory basis, the fiscal year 2013 compensation of the company’s named executive officers. The advisory measure received more than 95 percent of votes cast.

• Ratified the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Microsoft’s independent auditor for fiscal year 2014, with more than 98 percent of votes cast.

More information about these proposals can be found in Microsoft’s Proxy Statement. A replay of the annual meeting is available via webcast on our Investor Relations site, which also contains a detailed breakdown of the vote results. The meeting also included a presentation by Chairman Bill Gates on the Board’s progress in identifying a successor CEO.

Shareholders trying out new products before the 2013 Annual Shareholder Meeting.

For the second consecutive year, shareholders who were unable to attend the meeting in person were able to vote online via a virtual shareholder meeting. The virtual shareholder meeting creates an avenue for all of our shareholders to provide input to our Board and management. Over the past several months, our directors have reached out to investors and have spoken or met with investors holding nearly 30 percent of our shares to answer questions and discuss the Company’s One Microsoft strategy. The Board plans to continue this dialogue in the future. Our Board of Directors and management welcome thoughtful feedback and discussion on corporate governance matters. At any time, Microsoft shareholders may communicate directly with the Board of Directors, any committee of the Board, or any individual director by e-mailing us at askboard@microsoft.com.

For additional information about corporate governance at Microsoft, please click here.