Microsoft highlights transformation and future opportunity at annual shareholder meeting

REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Speaking to shareholders at Microsoft Corp.'s annual meeting today, Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer highlighted the company's new products, financial performance, future opportunities, and continued progress in its devices and services transformation.

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"Last year at this meeting, I talked about the fundamental shift underway at Microsoft, from a company that expresses its software creativity directly in software, to a company that expresses its creativity in software through a family of devices and services," Ballmer said.  "Our leadership team and the board of directors have spent a lot of time over the past year working on this strategy, and honing a differentiated point of view in terms of the high-value experiences that we really can bring to life that make people more productive."

Ballmer noted the wave of new products available now and in the coming weeks, including Xbox One, new Windows 8.1 PCs and tablets, Surface 2, and a number of new Nokia devices. He also outlined the company's momentum in consumer services such as Skype, Office 365 and Bing, and its continued success in delivering first-class enterprise services. In doing so, Ballmer described the significant opportunities enabled by the company's focus on enabling high-value activities delivered through a family of devices and services."

"I'm confident that we have the right strategy in place," Ballmer said.  "We have the financial assets that allow us to take the risks and the bold bets to invest in new areas that will lead to transformation of how people work and live -- and economic success for Microsoft.  And we do all that on a foundation of world-class people, world-class talent, who will drive this next generation of world-changing technology.

Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood said Microsoft delivered record revenues last year, and was off to a strong start this year. "Our enterprise business continues to be very strong, despite a macro environment that some of our peers and competitors have characterized as tough," Hood said. "At the same time, we are making meaningful progress in our consumer business."

"Our company is focused, and delivering. And we're doing so as we strategically position ourselves for the future," Hood added.

The following proposals were acted on by the company's shareholders at the shareholder meeting:

• Elected nine directors to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders. All director nominees received a vote of more than 90 percent of votes cast.
• Approved the material terms of the performance goals under the Executive Officer Incentive Plan with a vote of 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 the company's independent auditor, with a vote of more than 98 percent of votes cast.

Microsoft's board of directors consists of Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft chief executive officer; Dina Dublon, former chief financial officer of JPMorgan Chase; William H. Gates, Microsoft chairman; Maria M. Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College; Stephen J. Luczo, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Seagate Technology PLC; David F. Marquardt, general partner at August Capital; Charles H. Noski, former vice chairman of Bank of America Corp.; Dr. Helmut Panke, former chairman of the board of management at BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG; and John W. Thompson, chief executive officer of Virtual Instruments. Seven of the nine board members are independent of Microsoft, which is consistent with the requirement in the company's governance guidelines that a substantial majority be independent.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.