Form 4: Microsoft Director Emma Walmsley Reports Stock Unit Acquisition and Updates Power of Attorney

Microsoft director Emma Walmsley acquired 150.581 restricted stock units and updated her power of attorney for SEC filings.

Summary

• Emma Walmsley, a director at Microsoft, reported the acquisition of 150.581 restricted stock units.
• These restricted stock units are fully vested and represent a contingent right to receive one share of Microsoft common stock each.
• The shares will be delivered to Ms. Walmsley five years after her separation from the Board of Directors.
• Ms. Walmsley also updated her power of attorney, revoking the previous one and granting authority to several individuals to execute and file SEC forms on her behalf.
• The power of attorney is effective immediately upon filing with the Securities Exchange Commission.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reflects standard corporate governance and compensation practices, indicating a neutral to slightly positive sentiment due to the alignment of interests between the director and the company.

Positives

• The acquisition of restricted stock units indicates continued alignment of interests between the director and the company.
• The vesting of the restricted stock units suggests a long-term commitment from the director.

Future Outlook

The shares underlying the restricted stock units will be delivered to Ms. Walmsley five years after her separation from the Board of Directors.

Industry Context

This is a routine filing related to director compensation and governance practices, common among publicly traded companies.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The granting of restricted stock units is a common practice for compensating directors in large technology companies like Microsoft.
• Similar filings are regularly made by directors and officers of companies such as Apple, Google, and Amazon, reflecting standard compensation and reporting practices.
• The use of a power of attorney for SEC filings is also a standard practice to streamline the reporting process.

Corporate Governance

Stakeholder Impact

• The acquisition of restricted stock units aligns the director's interests with those of shareholders.
• The updated power of attorney ensures compliance with SEC reporting requirements.

Next Steps

• Delivery of the shares underlying the restricted stock units will occur five years after Ms. Walmsley's separation from the Board of Directors.
• The updated power of attorney will be used for future SEC filings related to Ms. Walmsley's transactions in Microsoft securities.

Key Dates

Keywords

Microsoft, Director, Emma Walmsley, Restricted Stock Units, SEC Form 4, Power of Attorney, Beneficial Ownership, Stock Acquisition, Corporate Governance