Microsoft Awarded $951 Million of Stock Bonuses

The Redmond Company board has adopted in 2003 a compensation program for its staff members that geared from providing stock options toward offering stock grants, a move catalyzed by stagnant share price. The recent context proved fertile for Microsoft to announce the rewarding of 900 of its senior leaders, executives and managers who will be awarded an estimated $951 million of restricted stock.

Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos revealed that a part of the stock grants have vested automatically on emission while the remaining portions will do so in August 2007 and 2008.

Jeff Raikes (photo), president of the Microsoft Business Division, including the Office department was awarded 875,334 shares of restricted stock worth in excess of $7.5 million. Kevin Johnson, co-president of the Platforms & Services Division of Microsoft, including the Windows operating system department, is runner up with an award of 703,259 shares valued at $6 million.

As a part of the Shared Performance Stock Award Program, Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer, was awarded $5.4 million in restricted stock, Robbie Bach, president, Entertainment & Devices Division received $2.8 million, Brad Smith, General Counsel got $2.4 million, Lisa Brummel, Senior Vice President of Human Resources was awarded $1.5 million while Chris Liddell, Chief Financial Officer received $1.3 million.