Document:

Microsoft Corporation 2001 Stock Plan

 Exhibit 10.1 
 MICROSOFT CORPORATION 
 2001 STOCK PLAN 

(as amended and restated effective as of August 31, 2011) 
 1. Purpose of the Plan.    The purposes of this Stock Plan are to attract and retain the best available individuals for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional
incentive to such individuals, and to promote the success of the Company’s business by aligning the financial interests of Employees and Consultants providing personal services to the Company or to any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company with
long-term shareholder value. 
 Awards granted hereunder may be Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Awards, or
SARs, at the discretion of the Board and as reflected in the terms of the Award Agreement. 
 2.
Definitions.    As used herein, the following definitions shall apply: 
 (a) “Award” shall
mean any award or benefits granted under the Plan, including Options, Stock Awards, and SARs. 
 (b) “Award Agreement”
shall mean a written or electronic agreement between the Company and the Awardee setting forth the terms of the Award. 
 (c)
“Awardee” shall mean the holder of an outstanding Award. 
 (d) “Board” shall mean (i) the Board of
Directors of the Company or (ii) both the Board and the Committee, if a Committee has been appointed in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan. 
 (e) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 
 (f)
“Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan, if one is appointed; provided, however, if the Board of Directors appoints more than one
Committee pursuant to Section 4(a), then “Committee” shall refer to the appropriate Committee, as indicated by the context of the reference. 
 (g) “Common Shares” shall mean the common shares of Microsoft Corporation. 
 (h)
“Company” shall mean Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation and any successor thereto. 
 (i)
“Consultant” shall mean any person, except an Employee, engaged by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, to render personal services to such entity, including as an advisor. 

(j) “Continuous Status as a Participant” shall mean (1) for Employees, the absence of any interruption or termination of
service as an Employee, and (2) for Consultants, the absence of any interruption, expiration, or termination of such person’s consulting or advisory relationship with the Company or the occurrence of any termination event as set forth in
such person’s Award Agreement. Continuous Status as a Participant shall not be considered interrupted (i) for an Employee in the case of sick leave, maternity leave, infant care leave, medical emergency leave, military leave, or any other
leave of absence for which Continuous Status is not considered interrupted in accordance with the Company’s policies on such matters, and (ii) for a Consultant, in the case of any temporary interruption in such person’s availability
to provide services to the Company which has been authorized in writing by a Vice President of the Company prior to its commencement. 

 (k) “Conversion Options” shall mean the Options described in Section 6(c) of
the Plan. 
 (l) “Employee” shall mean any person, including an officer, who is a common law employee of, receives
remuneration for personal services to, is reflected on the official human resources database as an employee of, and is on the payroll of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A person is on the payroll if he or she is paid from the
payroll department of the Company, or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Persons providing services to the Company, or to any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to an agreement with a staff leasing organization, temporary workers
engaged through or employed by temporary or leasing agencies, and workers who hold themselves out to the Company, Parent, or Subsidiary to which they are providing services as being independent contractors, or as being employed by or engaged through
another company while providing the services are not Employees for purposes of this Plan, whether or not such persons are, or may be reclassified by the courts, the Internal Revenue Service, the U. S. Department of Labor, or other person or entity
as, common law employees of the Company, Parent, or Subsidiary, either solely or jointly with another person or entity. 
 (m)
“Effective Date” shall mean January 1, 2001. 
 (n) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 
 (o) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean any Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. 
 (p) “Maximum Annual Participant Award”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(b). 
 (q) “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option not
intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. 
 (r) “Option” shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to
Section 6 of the Plan. 
 (s) “Parent” shall mean a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. 
 (t) “Participant” shall mean an Employee or Consultant.

 (u) “Plan” shall mean this 2001 Stock Plan, including any amendments thereto. 

(v) “Share” shall mean one Common Share, as adjusted in accordance with Section 14 of the Plan. 

(w) “SAR” shall mean a stock appreciation right awarded pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan. 

(x) “Stock Award” shall mean a grant of Shares or of a right to receive Shares or their cash equivalent (or both) pursuant to
Section 7 of the Plan. 
 (y) “Subsidiary” shall mean (i) in the case of an Incentive Stock Option a
“subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, and (ii) in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, a Stock Award or an SAR, in addition to a subsidiary corporation as
defined in (i), a limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which the Company controls 50 percent or more of the voting power or equity interests. 

 3. Shares Subject to the Plan.    Subject to the provisions of
Sections 14 and 16 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares (increased, proportionately, in the event of any stock split, stock dividend or similar event with respect to the Shares) which may be awarded and delivered under the Plan
shall not exceed the sum of (a) any Shares available for future awards, as of the Effective Date, under the Microsoft Corporation 1991 Stock Option Plan, as amended (“1991 Stock Plan”) and (b) any Shares that are represented by
awards under the 1991 Stock Plan which, after the Effective Date, are forfeited, expire, are cancelled without delivery of Shares, or otherwise result in the return of Shares to the Company, minus (c) 100,000,000 Shares (unadjusted for any
stock split or stock dividend with respect to the Shares). The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Shares. 

Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, if an Award should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised
in full, the undelivered Shares which were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Awards of Options that
are transferred to a third party pursuant to a program under which the holder of certain Options may transfer such Options to such third party in exchange for cash or other consideration, shall be removed from the Plan and the Shares subject to such
Awards shall not be available for regrant under the Plan regardless of whether the transferred Options are exercised or expire without exercise. 
 4. Administration of the Plan. 
 (a) Procedure.    The Plan shall be
administered by the Board of Directors of the Company. 
 (i) The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Committees each consisting of
not less than two members of the Board of Directors to administer the Plan on behalf of the Board of Directors, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe. Once appointed, such Committees shall continue to serve
until otherwise directed by the Board of Directors. 
 (ii) From time to time the Board of Directors may increase the size of the
Committee(s) and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, or fill vacancies however caused. 
 (iii) The Committee(s) appointed to administer the Plan on behalf of the Board of Directors may delegate its authority to administer the Plan to the extent provided in the charter for the Committee(s) or a
resolution of the Board. 
 (b) Powers of the Board.    Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall
have the authority, in its discretion: (i) to grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Awards, and SARs; (ii) to determine, in accordance with Section 11(b) of the Plan, the fair market value of the Shares;
(iii) to determine, in accordance with Section 11(a) of the Plan, the exercise price per share of Awards to be granted; (iv) to determine the Participants to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number
of Shares to be represented by each Award; (v) to interpret the Plan and the terms of Awards; (vi) to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; including the form of Award Agreement, and manner of acceptance
of an Award, (vii) to determine the terms and provisions of each Award to be granted (which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the Awardee, modify or amend any Award; (viii) to authorize conversion or substitution under the
Plan of any or all Conversion Options; (ix) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the Awardee) the vesting or exercise date of any Award; (x) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to
effectuate the grant of an Award previously granted by the Board; and (xi) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan; provided that, no consent of an Awardee is necessary under
clauses (vii) or (ix) if the modification, amendment, acceleration, or deferral, in the reasonable judgment of the Board confers a benefit on the Awardee, or is made pursuant to an adjustment in accordance with Section 14. 

 The Board may, but need not, determine that an award shall vest or be granted subject to the
satisfaction of one or more performance goals. Performance goals for awards will be determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board and will be designed to support the business strategy, and align executives’ interests with customer and
shareholder interests. For awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m), performance goals will be based on one or more of the following business criteria: sales or licensing volume, revenues,
customer satisfaction, expenses, organizational health/productivity, earnings (which includes similar measurements such as net profits, operating profits and net income, and which may be calculated before or after taxes, interest, depreciation,
amortization or taxes), margins, cash flow, shareholder return, return on equity, return on assets or return on investments, working capital, product shipments or releases, brand or product recognition or acceptance and/or stock price. These
criteria may be measured: individually, alternatively or in any combination; with respect to the Company, a subsidiary, division, business unit, product line, product or any combination of the foregoing; on an absolute basis, or relative to a
target, to a designated comparison group, to results in other periods or to other external measures; and including or excluding items that could affect the measurement, such as extraordinary or unusual and nonrecurring gains or losses, litigation or
claim judgments or settlements, material changes in tax laws, acquisitions or divestitures, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, asset write-downs, restructuring charges, or the results of discontinued operations. 

(c) Effect of Board’s Decision.    All decisions, determinations, and interpretations of the Board shall be final
and binding on all Participants and Awardees. 
 5. Eligibility. 

(a) Awards may be granted to Participants and to persons to whom offers of employment as an Employee have been extended; provided that Incentive
Stock Options may only be granted to Employees. For avoidance of doubt, directors are not eligible to participate in the Plan unless they are Employees or Consultants. 
 (b) The maximum number of Shares with respect to which an Award or Awards may be granted to any Participant in any one taxable year of the Company (the “Maximum Annual Participant Award”) shall not exceed
20,000,000 Common Shares for Options or SARs, or 5,000,000 shares for Stock Awards (increased, in both cases proportionately, in the event of any stock split, stock dividend or similar event with respect to the Shares). If an Option is in tandem
with an SAR, such that the exercise of the Option or SAR with respect to a Share cancels the tandem SAR or Option right, respectively, with respect to each Share, the tandem Option and SAR rights with respect to each Share shall be counted as
covering but one Share for purposes of the Maximum Annual Participant Award. 
 6. Options. 

(a) Each Option shall be designated in the written or electronic option agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate fair market value of the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Employee during any
calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. 
 (b) For
purposes of Section 6(a), Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the fair market value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted. 

 (c) Options converted or substituted under the Plan for any or all outstanding stock options and
stock appreciation rights held by employees, consultants, advisors or other option holders granted by entities subsequently acquired by the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company (“Conversion Options”) shall be effective as of
the close of the respective mergers into, or acquisitions of such entities by, the Company or a subsidiary or affiliate of the Company; provided that such Conversion Options may not be exercised during any periods that may be specified by the
Company immediately following the close of the merger or acquisition necessary to ensure compliance with applicable law. The Conversion Options may be Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, as determined by the Committee; provided,
however, that stock appreciation rights in the acquired entity shall only be converted to or substituted with Nonqualified Stock Options. The Conversion Options shall be options to purchase the number of Common Shares determined by multiplying the
number of shares of the acquired entity’s common stock underlying each such stock option or stock appreciation right immediately prior to the closing of such merger or acquisition by the number specified in the applicable merger or acquisition
agreement for conversion of each share of such entity’s common stock to a Common Share (the “Merger Ratio”), rounded down to the closest whole share. Such Conversion Options shall be exercisable at an exercise price per Common Share
(increased to the nearest whole cent) equal to the exercise price per share of the acquired entity’s common stock under each such stock option or stock appreciation right immediately prior to closing divided by the Merger Ratio. No fractional
Common Shares will be issued upon exercise of Conversion Options. In lieu of such issuance, the Common Shares issued pursuant to each such exercise shall be rounded to the closest whole Share. Conversion Options may be granted and exercised without
the issuance of an Award Agreement. 
 7. Stock Awards. 
 (a) Stock Awards may be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other Awards granted under the Plan. After the Committee determines that it will offer a Stock Award, it will advise the Awardee in
writing or electronically, by means of an Award Agreement, of the terms, conditions and restrictions, including vesting, if any, related to the offer, including the number of Shares that the Awardee shall be entitled to receive or purchase, the
price to be paid, if any, and, if applicable, the time within which the Awardee must accept the offer. The offer shall be accepted by execution of an Award Agreement in the manner determined by the Committee; provided that Shares may be issued to an
Awardee under a fully vested Stock Award without the issuance of an Award Agreement. 
 (b) Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the
Award Agreement shall provide for the forfeiture of the non-vested Common Shares underlying such Stock Award upon the Awardee ceasing to be a Participant. To the extent that the Awardee purchased the Shares granted under such Stock Award and any
such Shares remain non-vested at the time the Awardee ceases to be a Participant, the cessation of Participant status shall cause an immediate sale of such non-vested Shares to the Company at the original price per Common Share paid by the Awardee.

 8. SARs. 
 (a)
The Committee shall have the full power and authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to grant SARs to selected Awardees. The Committee is authorized to grant both tandem stock appreciation rights (“Tandem SARs”) and stand-alone stock
appreciation rights (“Stand-Alone SARs”) as described below. 
 (b) Tandem SARs. 

(i) Awardees may be granted a Tandem SAR, exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish, to elect between the
exercise of the underlying Section 6 Option for Common Shares or the surrender of the Option in exchange for a distribution from the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (A) the fair market value (on the Option surrender date) of
the number of Shares in which the Awardee is at the time vested under the surrendered Option (or surrendered portion thereof) over (B) the aggregate exercise price payable for such vested Shares. 

 (ii) No such Option surrender shall be effective unless it is approved by the Committee, either at
the time of the actual Option surrender or at any earlier time. If the surrender is so approved, then the distributions to which the Awardee shall become entitled under this Section 8(b) may be made in Common Shares valued at fair market value
on the Option surrender date, in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash, as the Committee shall deem appropriate. 
 (iii) If the
surrender of an Option is not approved by the Committee, then the Awardee shall retain whatever rights he or she had under the surrendered Option (or surrendered portion thereof) on the Option surrender date and may exercise such rights at any time
prior to the later of (A) five (5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (B) the last day on which the Option is otherwise exercisable in accordance with the terms of the instrument evidencing such Option, but in
no event may such rights be exercised more than ten (10) years after the date of the Option grant. 
 (c) Stand-Alone SARs.

 (i) An Awardee may be granted a Stand-Alone SAR not tied to any underlying Option under Section 6 of the Plan. The Stand-Alone SAR
shall cover a specified number of Common Shares and shall be exercisable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish. Upon exercise of the Stand-Alone SAR, the holder shall be entitled to receive a distribution from the Company
in an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate fair market value (on the exercise date) of the Common Shares underlying the exercised right over (B) the aggregate base price in effect for those Shares. 

(ii) The number of Common Shares underlying each Stand-Alone SAR and the base price in effect for those Shares shall be determined by the Committee
at the time the Stand-Alone SAR is granted. In no event, however, may the base price per Share be less than the fair market value per underlying Common Share on the grant date. 

(iii) The distribution with respect to an exercised Stand-Alone SAR may be made in Common Shares valued at fair market value on the exercise date,
in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash, as the Committee shall deem appropriate. 
 (d) The Common Shares underlying any SARs
exercised under this Section 8 shall not be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. 
 9. Term of
Plan.    The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date. It shall continue in effect until terminated under Section 17 of the Plan. 
 10. Term of Award; Limitations on Vesting and Repricing. 
 (a) The term of each Award shall be
no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant. However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns Shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power
of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be no more than five (5) years from the date of grant. 
 (b) Each Award shall vest over a period of not less than three (3) years from the date of grant, provided that Awards covering up to 50,000,000 shares (increased, proportionately, in the event of any stock
split, stock dividend or similar event) may be granted without regard to the 3-year vesting restriction; provided further, that Conversion Options and awards that are granted or vest based on performance goals or that vest in less than three
(3) years based on death, disability, or retirement shall not count toward the limit of this Section 10(b). 

 (c) No Award may be repriced, replaced, regranted through cancellation, or modified without approval
of the shareholders of the Company (except in connection with an adjustment pursuant to Section 14) if the effect would be to reduce the exercise price for the Shares underlying such Award. 

11. Exercise Price and Consideration. 
 (a) The per Share exercise price under each Award shall be such price as is determined by the Board, subject to the following: 
 (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option 
 (A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the
grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns shares representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the
fair market value per Share on the date of grant. 
 (B) granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than
100% of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant. 
 (ii) Except for Conversion Options under Section 6(c), the per Share
exercise price under a Nonqualified Stock Option or SAR shall be no less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the fair market value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing (or any other provision of the Plan), Options and
SARs that are granted to Employees who are non-exempt for purposes of the FLSA, shall satisfy the requirements for exclusion from regular rate of pay for purposes of the FLSA and shall have an exercise price that is at least eighty-five percent
(85%) of the fair market value of the underlying Shares at the time of grant; furthermore, such Options or SARs shall not be exercisable within the six (6) month period immediately following the date of grant, except, if so provided in the
Award Agreement, in the event of the Awardee’s death, disability, or retirement, upon a change in corporate control of the Company, or under such other circumstances as are permitted under the FLSA or rules and regulations thereunder.

 (iii) The maximum aggregate number of Shares underlying all Nonqualified Stock Options and SARs with a per Share exercise price of less
than fair market value on any grant date that may be granted under this Plan is 50,000,000 Shares (increased, proportionately, in the event of any stock split, or stock dividend or similar event with respect to the Shares); provided that Conversion
Options shall not count against the limit of this Section 11(a)(iii). 
 (b) The fair market value per Share shall be the closing
price per share of the Common Share on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) on the date of grant. If the Shares cease to be listed on Nasdaq, the Board shall designate an alternative method of determining the fair market value of the Shares.

 (c) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Award, including the method of payment, shall be
determined by the Board at the time of grant and may consist of cash and/or check. Payment may also be made by delivering a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company the
amount of sale proceeds necessary to pay the exercise price. If the Awardee is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the officer may, in addition, be allowed to pay all or part of the purchase price
with Shares which, as of the exercise date, the officer has owned for six (6) months or more. If the Awardee is a participant in the 1998 Microsoft Corporation Stock Option Gain And Bonus Deferral Program, he may in addition be allowed to pay
all or part of the purchase price of any deferred Option with Shares. Shares used by officers to pay the exercise price shall be valued at their fair market value on the exercise date. 

 (d) Prior to issuance of the Shares upon exercise of an Award, the Awardee shall pay any federal,
state, and local income and employment tax withholding obligations applicable to such Award. If an Awardee is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, he may elect to pay such withholding tax obligations
by having the Company withhold Shares having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld, and any Award under the Plan may permit or require that such withholding tax obligations be paid by having the Company withhold Shares having a value
equal to the amount required to be withheld. The value of the Shares to be withheld shall equal the fair market value of the Shares on the day the Award is exercised. The right of an officer to dispose of Shares to the Company in satisfaction of
withholding tax obligations shall be deemed to be approved as part of the initial grant of an Award, unless thereafter rescinded, and shall otherwise be made in compliance with Rule 16b-3 and other applicable regulations, and any Award under the
Plan may permit or require that such withholding tax obligations be paid by having the Company withhold Shares having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld. 
 12. Exercise of Award. 
 (a) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a
Shareholder.    Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Board at the time of grant, and as shall be permissible under the terms of the Plan. 

An Award may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share. 
 An Award shall be deemed to be exercised when written or electronic notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and
full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been received by the Company. Full payment may, as authorized by the Board, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 11(c) of the
Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the share certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other
rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Shares subject to the Award, notwithstanding the exercise of the Award. The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such share certificate promptly upon exercise of the Award. In the event
that the exercise of an Award is treated in part as the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and in part as the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option pursuant to Section 6(a), the Company shall issue a share certificate evidencing the Shares
treated as acquired upon the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and a separate share certificate evidencing the Shares treated as acquired upon the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, and shall identify each such certificate accordingly in
its share transfer records. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the share certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan. 

Exercise of an Award in any manner and delivery of the Shares subject to such Award shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which
thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Award, by the number of Shares as to which the Award is exercised. 
 (b) Termination of Status as a Participant.    In the event of termination of an Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant, such Awardee may exercise his or her rights under any
outstanding Awards to the extent exercisable on the date of termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement). To the extent that the Awardee was not entitled to exercise
his or her rights under such Awards at the date of such termination, or does not exercise such rights within the time specified in the individual Award Agreements, the Awards shall terminate, except as otherwise may be provided in the Award
Agreement. 
 (c) Disability of Awardee.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 12(b) above, in the
event of termination of an Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant as a result of total and permanent disability (i.e., by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which

 
can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve (12) months) (i) the Awardee is unable to engage in any substantial
gainful activity, or (ii) the Awardee has received income replacement benefits for at least three months under an accident and health plan covering Company employees: 
 (i) Any outstanding but unvested Stock Award shall become immediately vested (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement); and 
 (ii) Any outstanding Option or SAR shall vest, but only to the extent of the vesting that would have occurred had the Awardee remained in Continuous Status as a Participant for a period of twelve (12) months
after the date on which the Participant ceased performing services as a result of the total and permanent disability. An Option or SAR that is vested pursuant to this Section 12(c) must be exercised within eighteen (18) months (or such
shorter time as is specified in the grant) from the date on which the Participant ceased performing services as a result of the total and permanent disability (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option or SAR as
set forth in the Award Agreement). To the extent that the Awardee was not entitled to exercise such Option or SAR within the time specified herein, the Award shall terminate. This Section 12(c) shall only apply to a Conversion Option to the
extent provided in the Award Agreement for the Conversion Option. 
 (d) Death of Awardee.    Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 12(b) above, in the event of the death of an Awardee: 
 (i) who is at the time of death a Participant with
an outstanding Stock Award, all unvested shares under any outstanding Awards shall become immediately vested (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). Such shares may be claimed by the Awardee’s estate or by a person who acquired the
right to the shares by bequest or inheritance within twelve (12) months following the date of death. Any right to shares not claimed within twelve (12) months from the date of death shall be canceled. 

(ii) who is at the time of death a Participant with an outstanding Option or SAR, the Option or SAR will vest, but only to the extent of the
vesting that would have occurred had the Awardee continued living and remained in Continuous Status as a Participant twelve (12) months following the date of death. An Option or SAR that is vested pursuant to this Section 12(d)(i) may be
exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of death, by the Awardee’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Award by bequest or inheritance; or 

(iii) whose Option or SAR has not yet expired but whose Continuous Status as a Participant terminated prior to the date of death, the Option or SAR
may be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of death, by the Awardee’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option or SAR by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right
to exercise that had vested at the date of termination. 
 This Section 12(d) shall only apply to a Conversion Option to the extent
provided in the Award Agreement for the Conversion Option. 
 (e) Notwithstanding subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this
Section 12, the Board shall have the authority to extend the expiration date of any outstanding Option in circumstances in which it deems such action to be appropriate (provided that no such extension shall extend the term of an Award beyond
the date on which the Award would have expired if no termination of the Employee’s Continuous Status as a Participant had occurred). 

13. Non-Transferability of Awards.    An Award may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or
disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Awardee, only by the Awardee; provided that the Board may permit further transferability, on a general or
specific basis, and may impose conditions and limitations on any permitted transferability. 

 14. Adjustments to Shares Subject to the Plan.    If any change is made to
the Shares by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Shares as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, appropriate
adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities and/or the price per Share covered by outstanding Awards under the Plan, (iii) the
Maximum Annual Participant Award, (iv) the maximum aggregate number of Shares underlying all Nonqualified Stock Options and SARs with a per Share exercise price of less than fair market value on any grant date that may be granted under the
Plan, and (v) the maximum aggregate number of Shares underlying all Awards with a vesting period of less than three years. The Board may also make adjustments described in (i)-(v) of the previous sentence in the event of any distribution
of assets to shareholders other than a normal cash dividend. In determining adjustments to be made under this Section 14, the Board may take into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including (i) the restrictions of applicable
law, (ii) the potential tax consequences of an adjustment and (iii) the possibility that some Awardees might receive an adjustment and a distribution or other unintended benefit, and in light of such factors or circumstances may make
adjustments that are not uniform or proportionate among outstanding Awards, modify vesting dates, defer the delivery of stock certificates or make other equitable adjustments. Any such adjustments to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner
that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards. Adjustments, if any, and any determinations or interpretations, including any determination of whether a distribution is other than a normal cash dividend, made by the Board
shall be final, binding and conclusive. For purposes of this Section 14, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been effected without receipt of consideration. Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award. 

In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such
proposed action, unless otherwise provided by the Board. The Board may, in the exercise of its sole discretion in such instances, declare that any Award shall terminate as of a date fixed by the Board and give each Awardee the right to exercise an
Award as to all or any part of the Shares subject to an Award, including Shares as to which the Award would not otherwise be exercisable. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the
Company with or into another corporation, each Award shall be assumed or an equivalent award shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless such successor corporation does not agree
to assume the Award or to substitute an equivalent award, in which case the Board shall, in lieu of such assumption or substitution, provide for the Awardee to have the right to exercise the Award as to all of the Shares subject to Awards, including
Shares as to which the Award would not otherwise be exercisable. If the Board makes an Award fully exercisable in lieu of assumption or substitution in the event of a merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify the Awardee that the Award shall
be fully exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, and the Award will terminate upon the expiration of such period. 
 15. Time of Granting Awards.    The date of grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Company completes the corporate action relating to the grant of such Award
and all conditions to the grant have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the grant, exercise or vesting of an Award shall not defer the date of grant. Notice of a grant shall be given to each Participant to whom an Award is so granted within
a reasonable time after the determination has been made. 
 16. Substitutions and Assumptions.    The Board
shall have the right to substitute or assume Awards in connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies, provided such substitutions and assumptions are permitted by

 
Section 424 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The number of Shares reserved pursuant to Section 3 may be increased by the corresponding number of Awards assumed
and, in the case of a substitution, by the net increase in the number of Shares subject to Awards before and after the substitution. 

17. Amendment and Termination of the Plan. 
 (a) Amendment and Termination.    The Board may amend or terminate the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable (including, but not limited to amendments
which the Board deems appropriate to enhance the Company’s ability to claim deductions related to stock option exercises); provided that any increase in the number of Shares subject to the Plan, other than in connection with an adjustment under
Section 14 of the Plan, and any amendment described in Section 10(c) of the Plan, shall require approval of or ratification by the shareholders of the Company. 
 (b) Participants in Foreign Countries.    The Board shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with
provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries may operate to assure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the
Plan. 
 (c) Effect of Amendment or Termination.    Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4 and 14, any such
amendment or termination of the Plan shall not affect Awards already granted and such Awards shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Awardee and the
Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Awardee and the Company. 
 18. Conditions Upon Issuance of
Shares.    Shares shall not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law,
including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further
subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. 
 19. Reservation of
Shares.    The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. 

20. No Employment/Service Rights.    Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon any Participant the right to an Award or to
continue in service as an Employee or Consultant for any period of specific duration, or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Company (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person), or of any
Participant or Awardee, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to terminate such person’s services at any time for any reason, with or without cause. 
  

	*	 All share numbers in the Plan reflect the 2-for-1 stock split effected February 2003.Form of Executive Officer Incentive Plan Stock Award Agreement

 Exhibit 10.18 
 Stock Award Agreement 
 Executive Incentive Program 

STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT UNDER 

THE MICROSOFT CORPORATION 2001 STOCK PLAN 
 Award Number <<GrantIdentifier>> 
 1. Award of Stock
Awards.    Microsoft Corporation (hereinafter the “Company”), in the exercise of its sole discretion pursuant to the Microsoft Corporation 2001 Stock Plan (the “Plan”), does
on <<GrantDate>> (the “Award Date”) hereby award to <<FullName>> (the “Awardee”) <<SharesGrantedQuantity>> Stock Awards (“SAs”) upon the terms and
subject to the conditions hereinafter contained. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan. SAs represent the Company’s unfunded and unsecured promise to issue Common Shares at
a future date, subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. Awardee has no rights under the SAs other than the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. 

2. Vesting of SAs. 

(a) Subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan and provided that Awardee remains continuously employed through the vesting dates set
out below, the SAs shall vest as follows: 
  

					
	Vesting Date	  	Percentage
of SAs	 
	
	

		
	 [Insert Award Approval Date] (“Initial Vest Date”)
	  	 	25%	  
	 [1st 8/31 after Initial Vest Date]
	  	 	25%	  
	 [2nd 8/31 after Initial Vest Date]
	  	 	25%	  
	 [3rd 8/31 after Initial Vest Date]
	  	 	25%	  
	
	

 Vesting will not occur before the first NASDAQ Stock Market regular trading day that is on or after the applicable
vesting date above. 
 (b) Awardee agrees that the SAs subject to this agreement, and other incentive or performance-based compensation
Awardee receives or has received from the Company, shall be subject to the Company’s executive compensation recovery policy, as amended from to time. 
 (c) AWARDEE’S RIGHTS IN THE SAs SHALL BE AFFECTED, WITH REGARD TO BOTH VESTING SCHEDULE AND TERMINATION, BY LEAVES OF ABSENCE, CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED, PARTIAL DISABILITY, AND OTHER CHANGES IN
AWARDEE’S EMPLOYMENT STATUS AS PROVIDED IN THE COMPANY’S CURRENT POLICIES IN SUCH MATTERS. ACCOMPANYING THIS AWARD AGREEMENT IS A CURRENT COPY OF THE COMPANY’S POLICIES IN SUCH MATTERS. THESE POLICIES MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO
TIME WITHOUT NOTICE IN THE COMPANY’S SOLE DISCRETION, AND AWARDEE’S RIGHTS WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE POLICIES IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF ANY EMPLOYMENT STATUS CHANGE. E-MAIL “BENEFITS” FOR A COPY OF THE MOST CURRENT POLICIES AT
ANY POINT IN TIME. 

 3. Termination.    Unless terminated earlier under Section 4, 5
or 6 below, an Awardee’s rights under this Award Agreement with respect to the SAs issued under this Award Agreement shall terminate at the time such SAs are converted into Common Shares and distributed to Awardee. 

4. Termination of Awardee’s Status as a Participant.    Except as otherwise specified in Section 5, 6 and
7 below, in the event of termination of Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant (as such term is defined in Section 2(j) of the Plan), Awardee’s rights under this Award Agreement in any unvested SAs shall terminate. For
the avoidance of doubt, an Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant terminates at the time Awardee’s actual employer ceases to be the Company or a “Subsidiary” of the Company, as that term is defined in Section 2(y) of
the Plan, and except as otherwise specified in Section 5, 6 and 7 below, no person shall have any rights as an Awardee under this Award Agreement unless he or she is in Continuous Status as a Participant on the Award Date. 

5. Disability of Awardee.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 above, in the event of termination of
Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant as a result of total and permanent disability (as such term is defined in Section 12(c) of the Plan) on or after the last business day of the August immediately preceding the Award Date,
outstanding unvested shares under this SA shall become immediately vested. 
 6. Death of
Awardee.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 above, if Awardee is, at the time of death, in Continuous Status as a Participant on or after the last business day of the August immediately preceding the
Award Date, outstanding unvested SAs under the Award shall become immediately vested. 
 7. Retirement of
Awardee.    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4 above, in the event of Awardee’s Retirement, Awardee shall be treated as continuously employed through the vesting periods in Section 2(a) above. For
this purpose, “Retirement” means termination of employment with the Company or its direct and indirect subsidiaries after the earlier of (a) age 65,or (b) attaining age 55 and 15 years of Continuous Service, provided that
immediately prior to termination of employment the Awardee is employed by Microsoft (or its direct and indirect subsidiaries) in the United States 
 This Section 7 will only apply to a Retirement if (a) the Retirement occurs on or after the last business day of the August immediately preceding the Award Date, (b) Awardee executes a release in
conjunction with the Retirement in the form provided by the Company, and (c) Awardee’s employment does not terminate due to misconduct (as determined in the sole discretion of the Company’s senior corporate officer in charge of the
Human Resources department), including but not limited to misconduct in violation of Company policy and misconduct that adversely affects the Company’s interests or reputation. 

For purposes of this Section 7, “Continuous Service” means that Awardee has continuously remained an employee of the Company or its
direct and indirect subsidiaries, measured from Awardee’s “most recent hire date” as reflected in the Company records. For an Awardee who became an employee of the Company following the acquisition of his or her employer by the
Company or its direct or indirect subsidiaries, service with the acquired employer shall count toward Continuous Service, and Continuous Service shall be measured from Awardee’s acquired company hire date as reflected in the Company’s
records. 

 8. Value of Unvested SAs.    In consideration of the award of these SAs,
Awardee agrees that upon and following termination of Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant for any reason (whether or not in breach of applicable laws), and regardless of whether Awardee is terminated with or without cause, notice, or
pre-termination procedure or whether Awardee asserts or prevails on a claim that Awardee’s employment was terminable only for cause or only with notice or pre-termination procedure, any unvested SAs under this Award Agreement shall be deemed to
have a value of zero dollars ($0.00). 
 9. Conversion of SAs to Common Shares; Responsibility for Taxes. 

(a) Provided Awardee has satisfied the requirements of Section 9(b) below, on the vesting of any SAs, such vested SAs shall be converted into
an equivalent number of Common Shares that will be distributed to Awardee within 90 days after the date of the vesting event, or in the event of Awardee’s death, to Awardee’s legal representative within 90 days after date of death;
provided that SAs that vest on or before the Initial Vest Date, shall be converted into an equivalent number of Common Shares that will be distributed to Awardee (1) after the number of SAs subject to this Award Agreement is determined, and
(2) between the Initial Vest Date and the last day of the first September containing the Initial Vest Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if accelerated vesting of an SA occurs pursuant to a provision of the Plan not addressed in this Award
Agreement, distribution of the related Common Share shall not occur until the date distribution would have occurred under this Award Agreement absent such accelerated vesting. The distribution to Awardee, or in the case of Awardee’s death, to
Awardee’s legal representative, of Common Shares in respect of the vested SAs shall be evidenced by a stock certificate, appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, or other appropriate
means as determined by the Company. In the event ownership or issuance of Common Shares is not feasible due to applicable exchange controls, securities regulations, tax laws or other provisions of applicable law, as determined by the Company in
its sole discretion, Awardee, or in the event of Awardee’s death, Awardee’s legal representative, shall receive cash proceeds in an amount equal to the value of the Common Shares otherwise distributable to Awardee, as determined by the
Company in its sole discretion, net of amounts withheld in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 9(b) below. 
 (b) Regardless
of any action the Company or Awardee’s actual employer takes with respect to any or all income tax (including federal, state and local taxes), social insurance, payroll tax, payment on account, or other tax-related withholding items
(“Tax-Related Items”) that arise in connection with the SAs, Awardee acknowledges and agrees that the ultimate liability for any Tax-Related Items determined by the Company in its discretion to be legally due by Awardee, is and remains
Awardee’s responsibility. Awardee acknowledges and agrees that the Company and/or Awardee’s actual employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of
the SAs, including the grant of the SAs, the vesting of SAs, the conversion of the SAs into Common Shares or the receipt of an equivalent cash payment, the subsequent sale of any Common Shares acquired and the receipt of any dividends; and
(ii) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the SAs to reduce or eliminate Awardee’s liability for any Tax-Related Items. 

Prior to the relevant taxable or tax-withholding event, as applicable, Awardee shall pay, or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company
or to Awardee’s actual employer (in their sole discretion) to satisfy all obligations for Tax-Related Items. In this regard, Awardee authorizes the 

 
Company or Awardee’s actual employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items from Awardee’s wages or other cash compensation payable to Awardee by the Company or Awardee’s
actual employer. Alternatively, or in addition, the Company or Awardee’s actual employer may, in their sole discretion, and without notice to or authorization by Awardee, (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Common Shares to be issued
upon the vesting of SAs or other event to satisfy the withholding obligation, and/or (ii) withhold in Common Shares, provided that the Company and Awardee’s actual employer shall withhold only the amount of shares necessary to satisfy the
minimum withholding amount or such other amount determined by the Company as not resulting in negative accounting consequences for the Company. Awardee will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Common Shares subject to the SAs,
notwithstanding that a number of whole vested Common Shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items. Awardee shall pay to the Company or to Awardee’s actual employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the
Company or Awardee’s actual employer may be required to withhold as a result of Awardee’s receipt of SAs, the vesting of SAs, or the conversion of vested SAs to Common Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means described in this
paragraph. Except where applicable legal or regulatory provisions prohibit and notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the standard process for the payment of an Awardee’s Tax-Related Items shall be for the Company or
Awardee’s actual employer to withhold in Common Shares only to the amount of shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount or such other amount determined by the Company as not resulting in negative accounting consequences for the
Company. The Company may refuse to deliver Common Shares to Awardee if Awardee fails to comply with Awardee’s obligation in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this section 9. 

(c) In lieu of issuing fractional Common Shares, on the vesting of a fraction of a SA, the Company shall round the shares to the nearest whole
share and any such share that represents a fraction of a SA will be included in a subsequent vest date. 
 (d) Until the distribution to
Awardee of the Common Shares in respect of the vested SAs is evidenced by a stock certificate, appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, or other appropriate means, Awardee shall have no
right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder with respect to such Common Shares, notwithstanding the vesting of SAs. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the
date Awardee is recorded as the owner of the Common Shares, except as provided in Section 14 of the Plan. 
 (e) By accepting the
Award of SAs evidenced by this Award Agreement, Awardee agrees not to sell any of the Common Shares received on account of vested SAs at a time when applicable laws or Company policies prohibit a sale. This restriction shall apply so long as
Awardee is an Employee, Consultant or outside director of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. 
 10. Non-Transferability
of SAs.    Awardee’s right in the SAs awarded under this Award Agreement and any interest therein may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner, other than by will or by the
laws of descent or distribution. SAs shall not be subject to execution, attachment or other process. 
 11. Acknowledgment of
Nature of Plan and SAs.    In accepting the Award, Awardee acknowledges that: (a) the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature and may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the
Company at any time, as provided in the Plan; 

 (b) the Award of SAs is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right
to receive future awards of SAs or other awards, or benefits in lieu of SAs even if SAs have been awarded repeatedly in the past; 
 (c)
all decisions with respect to SAs or other future awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; 
 (d) Awardee’s
participation in the Plan is voluntary; 
 (e) the future value of the underlying Common Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with
certainty; 
 (f) if Awardee receives Common Shares, the value of such Common Shares acquired on vesting of SAs may increase or decrease
in value; 
 (g) notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan to the contrary and consistent with Section 4, above, in the
event of termination of Awardee’s Continuous Status as a Participant under circumstances where Section 7 does not apply (whether or not in breach of applicable laws), Awardee’s right to receive SAs and vest under the Plan, if any,
will terminate effective as of the date that Awardee is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under applicable law. Awardee’s right to receive Common Shares pursuant to the SAs after termination of
Continuous Status as a Participant, if any, will be calculated as of the date of termination of Awardee’s active employment and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under applicable law. The senior corporate officer in charge of
the Human Resources department shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Awardee is no longer actively employed for purposes of the award of SAs; and 
 (h) Awardee acknowledges and agrees that, regardless of whether Awardee is terminated with or without cause, notice or pre-termination procedure or whether Awardee asserts or prevails on a claim that Awardee’s
employment was terminable only for cause or only with notice or pre-termination procedure, Awardee has no right to, and will not bring any legal claim or action for, (a) any damages for any portion of the SAs that have been vested and converted
into Common Shares, or (b) termination of any unvested SAs under this Award Agreement. 
 12. No Employment
Right.    Awardee acknowledges that neither the fact of this Award of SAs nor any provision of this Award Agreement or the Plan or the policies adopted pursuant to the Plan shall confer upon Awardee any right with respect to
employment or continuation of current employment with the Company or with Awardee’s actual employer, or to employment that is not terminable at will. Awardee further acknowledges and agrees that neither the Plan nor this Award of SAs makes
Awardee’s employment with the Company or Awardee’s actual employer for any minimum or fixed period, and that such employment is subject to the mutual consent of Awardee and the Company or Awardee’s actual employer, and may be
terminated by either Awardee or the Company or Awardee’s actual employer at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without cause or notice or any kind of pre- or post-termination warning, discipline or procedure. 

13. Administration.    The authority to manage and control the operation and administration of this Award Agreement
shall be vested in the Committee (as such term is defined in Section 2(f) of the Plan), and the Committee shall have all powers and discretion with respect to this Award Agreement as it has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of
the Award Agreement by the Committee and any 

 
decision made by the Committee with respect to the Award Agreement shall be final and binding on all parties. References to the Committee in this Award Agreement shall be read to include a
reference to any delegate of the Committee acting within the scope of his or her delegation. 
 14. Plan
Governs.    Notwithstanding anything in this Award Agreement to the contrary, the terms of this Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms of the Plan, and this Award Agreement is subject to all interpretations,
amendments, rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time pursuant to the Plan. 

15. Notices.    Any written notices provided for in this Award Agreement that are sent by mail shall be deemed
received three business days after mailing, but not later than the date of actual receipt. Notices shall be directed, if to Awardee, at Awardee’s address indicated by the Company’s records and, if to the Company, at the Company’s
principal executive office. 
 16. Electronic Delivery.    The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide
to deliver any documents related to SAs awarded under the Plan or future SAs that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Awardee’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means. Awardee hereby consents to
receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company. 

17. Acknowledgment.    By Awardee’s acceptance as evidenced below, Awardee acknowledges that Awardee has
received and has read, understood and accepted all the terms, conditions and restrictions of this Award Agreement, the Plan, and the current policies referenced in Section 2(b) of this Award Agreement. Awardee understands and agrees that
this Award Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions, and restrictions stated in this Award Agreement and in the other documents referenced in the preceding sentence, as the latter may be amended from time to time in the Company’s sole
discretion. Awardee further acknowledges that Awardee must accept this Award Agreement in the manner prescribed by the Company no later than the first anniversary of the Award Date. 

18. Board Approval.    These SAs have been awarded pursuant to the Plan and accordingly this Award of SAs is
subject to approval by an authorized committee of the Board of Directors. If this Award of SAs has not already been approved, the Company agrees to submit this Award for approval as soon as practical. If such approval is not obtained, this
award is null and void. 
 19. Governing Law and Venue.    This Award Agreement shall be governed by the
laws of the State of Washington, U.S.A., without regard to Washington laws that might cause other law to govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law. The venue for any litigation related to this Award Agreement will be in King
County, Washington. 
 20. Severability.    If one or more of the provisions of this Award Agreement shall
be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions shall be deemed
null and void; however, to the extent permissible by law, any provisions that could be deemed null and void shall first be construed, interpreted or revised retroactively to permit this Award Agreement to be construed so as to foster the intent of
this Award Agreement and the Plan. 

 21. Complete Award Agreement and Amendment.    This Award Agreement
(including the policies referenced in Section 2(b)), the Notice of Receipt of Stock Awards (if any), and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between Awardee and the Company regarding SAs. Any prior agreements, commitments or
negotiations concerning these SAs are superseded. This Award Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of Awardee and the Company, without consent of any other person, provided that no consent is necessary to an amendment that in the
reasonable judgment of the Committee confers a benefit on Awardee. Awardee agrees not to rely on any oral information regarding this Award of SAs or any written materials not identified in this Section 21. 

22. Code Section 409A.    This Award Agreement shall be interpreted, operated, and administered in a manner so as
not to subject Awardee to the assessment of additional taxes or interest under Code section 409A, and this Award Agreement shall be amended as the Company, in its sole discretion, determines is necessary and appropriate to avoid the application
of any such taxes or interest. 
 EXECUTED as of the Award Date above written. 

MICROSOFT CORPORATION 
 Lisa
Brummel,
 Chief People Officer 
 AWARDEE’S ACCEPTANCE: 
 I have read and fully understood this Award Agreement and, as referenced
in Section 17 above, I accept and agree to be bound by all of the terms, conditions and restrictions contained in this Award Agreement and the other documents referenced in it. I intend to express my acceptance of the Award and this Award
Agreement by typing my name in Awardee acceptance window provided in “step 2” of the award acceptance checklist, and I further intend the typing of my name to have the same force and effect in all respects as a handwritten signature.

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