NewsMine — cabal-elite — corporate — microsoft — Viewing Item

Microsoft to pay shareholders up to 75b Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040720/D83UONTO0.html http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040720/D83UONTO0.html Microsoft to Pay Shareholders Up to $75B Jul 20, 5:17 PM (ET) By ALLISON LINN SEATTLE (AP) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) plans to pay out a substantial chunk of its cash hoard directly to shareholders through a combination of dividends and stock buybacks totaling up to $75 billion over four years, the software maker said Tuesday, ending speculation about what it planned to do with its billions in cash reserves. The Redmond, Wash.-based company said it would pay a one-time dividend of $3 per share and would double its annual dividend to 32 cents per share. Microsoft, which has amassed cash holdings of at least $56 billion, also said it plans to buy back up to $30 billion of the company's stock over the next four years. The buyback and dividends will not affect the company's spending on research and development, executives said. "We will continue to make major investments across all our businesses and maintain our position as a leading innovator in the industry, but we can now also provide up to $75 billion in total value to shareholders over the next four years," chief executive Steve Ballmer said. Microsoft announced plans for its cash reserves after the close of markets. Shares of Microsoft closed up 37 cents at $28.32. In after-hours trading they surged more than 4 percent to $29.50. Curt Anderson, Microsoft's senior director of investor relations, said the plan is subject to shareholder approval of an amendment that would prevent employees who hold stock options or stock awards from being put at a disadvantage by the one-time payout. The special, one-time dividend is to be paid out Dec. 2 to shareholders of record on Nov. 17. Anderson said the company had not yet worked out the details of how the massive cash buyback would work if approved by shareholders at the company's annual meeting in November.

Aol joins microsoft alliance { May 30 2003 } Arrest coming blaster attack { August 29 2003 } Asian nations promote alternative to microsoft { April 3 2004 } Beijing allegedly dumps windows 2000 for linux { January 7 2000 } Bill gates meets tom ridge Bill gates says dont fear outsourcing Bonk windows security hole College kid wants apology before dropping microsoft lawsuit Eu hits microsoft with 613m fine Eu regulators to discussion commision ruling against microsoft Gates foundation invests in harmful oil companies { January 7 2007 } Gates foundation invests in harmful sub prime lenders { January 8 2007 } Goog email to compete with microsoft yahoo { April 2 2004 } Hacker hits microsoft internet server { November 6 2000 } Judge bash microsoft Lawsuit for damaged against microsoft Linux proves a winner down under { November 26 2003 } Microsoft fixes force work on veterans day { November 11 2003 } Microsoft lobbys pentagon { May 23 2002 } Microsoft pays congress { October 15 1999 } Microsoft pays social conservative ralph reed Microsoft reaches 1 6b settlement with sun Microsoft to pay shareholders up to 75b Microsoft wants google { October 31 2003 } Military microsoft contracts lax on nt security { May 6 1998 } Security report blames microsoft for security { September 24 2003 } Teekid blast author arrested Walmart snubs microsoft with new laptop Warnings against microsoft internet explorer security holes { July 12 2004 } Windows nt hackers best friend { January 11 2001 } Windows to require key for updates { July 26 2005 } Worm snarles lockheed martin Worm virus says gates fix software Files Listed: 33

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.