Annual Report 2021
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Dear shareholders, colleagues, customers, and partners:
As I write this, people and organizations everywhere continue to struggle with the uncertainty of a pandemic that
continues to cause so much suffering. And yet, as I reflect on what has been a very challenging year for so many—one
that will be forever remembered as a heartbreaking chapter in our history—I find reasons to be hopeful.
Our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more has never been more
urgent or more needed. And every day this past year, I have had the privilege to see it in action, as customers of every
size, in every industry, in every part of the world use our platforms and tools to help address their own challenges and
opportunities as well as those of their communities and society at-large.
I have had the honor to see how the hard work and commitment of Microsoft’s employees, the ingenuity of our partners,
the trust of our customers, and the support of our shareholders translate into strong results. In fiscal year 2021, we
delivered $168 billion in revenue, up 18 percent year-over-year. Operating income grew 32 percent to $70 billion. And we
continue to create successful new franchises. LinkedIn and our security business both passed $10 billion in annual
revenue for the first time.
OUR OPPORTUNITY
For all the disruption and suffering that the pandemic has wrought on our lives and our communities, it has also been the
catalyst for an unprecedented digital transformation that is driving massive technological and societal shifts that are
creating important new opportunities for our customers and for Microsoft.
Tech as a percentage of total GDP will double from 5 to 10 percent by 2030. But the most notable thing is what will
happen to the other 90 percent. Digital transformation that was projected to happen over the next 10 years is happening
today.
Microsoft was built for this moment. Our goal is to foster innovation that generates new ecosystems of inventors, partners,
developers, creators, changemakers, public servants, frontline workers, and knowledge workers who, together, drive the
engines of growth and opportunity in ways that benefit everyone.
Today, it is exciting to see how our platforms and tools are enabling people and organizations to achieve remarkable
things that would have been unimaginable even a few years ago.
Here are just a few examples:
• NASA’s Mars mission achieved a milestone in space exploration when the small robotic helicopter Ingenuity
completed the first powered flight on another planet—a feat that would not have been possible without 12,000
developers on GitHub who contributed code to the open source software that powered the flight.
• When a 1,300-foot ship blocked the Suez Canal and disrupted global shipping, our partner Blue Yonder used
Microsoft AI technologies to help its customers find alternate sources for more than $500 million worth of
products and parts affected by the delay.
• Team Rubicon—a nonprofit organization that responds to humanitarian crises around the world—set up 169
COVID-19 response sites across the United States in just 30 days, using Dynamics 365 to manage the
deployment of thousands of volunteers.
• Surgeons at Mt. Sinai Health System in New York and Kyabirwa Surgical Centre in Uganda have together
performed more than 500 surgeries using mixed reality technology that enables doctors in New York to provide
annotated recommendations that appear in the field of vision of their Ugandan colleagues—even though they
are thousands of miles apart.
• Anheuser-Busch InBev—the world’s largest brewer—used Azure Digital Twins to create a comprehensive
digital model of its breweries and supply chain. Synchronized with its physical environment, this model
replicates the complex relationships between natural ingredients and the brewing process, enabling
brewmasters to make adjustments based on real-time conditions.
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Across our solution areas, we are delivering platforms and tools that expand our opportunity to help organizations around
the world build their own tech intensity.
Applications and Infrastructure
Computing architecture is undergoing radical transformation as the number of connected devices and the volume of data
generated at the edge increase dramatically. With more than 60 datacenter regions—including 15 new regions added this
year on five continents—we are delivering faster access to data and cloud services while addressing critical data
residency requirements.
This year, we expanded our hybrid capabilities to enable organizations to build, manage, and deploy applications
anywhere. With Azure Arc, customers can deploy Azure data services on-premises, at the edge, or in multicloud
environments. Azure Space is extending Azure capabilities through worldwide satellite-based connectivity. And with Azure
for Operators, we provide telecom operators and enterprises with the ultra-low latency cloud computing power at the edge
needed for breakthrough scenarios like precision inventory tracking at ports and production lines that automatically adjust
to changing demand.
We are also at the forefront of the enterprise metaverse, a new infrastructure layer made possible through the
convergence of the digital and physical worlds. By combining the Internet of Things, AI, and mixed reality, this platform
layer enables the creation of rich digital twin simulations of real-world processes, places, and things so organizations can
monitor complex systems in real time, interact within them using mixed reality, and run simulations to model, analyze, and
predict performance.
Data and AI
No asset is more strategic than data. In the next three years, we’ll create more data than we did in the past 10. But our
ability to make sense of data is growing more difficult as the volume, velocity, and variety expand. The leading indicator of
digital transformation success can be measured by an organization’s ability to build predictive and analytical power.
We offer organizations the ability to ensure their data is being used only for their benefit. Azure Synapse brings together
data integration, data warehousing, and big data analytics so organizations can query data on their own terms at any
scale. And, new Azure Purview offers organizations comprehensive data management and governance to map all their
data, whether it resides on-premises, in the cloud, or in software as a service (SaaS) applications.
And we continue to bring rich AI capabilities directly into the data stack as large-scale models become powerful platforms
in their own right. During the past year, our partner OpenAI achieved dramatic advances training models like GPT-3—the
largest and most advanced language model in the world—on our Azure AI supercomputer. We exclusively licensed GPT-
3, allowing us to leverage its technical innovations to deliver advanced AI solutions for our customers, as well as create
new solutions that harness the power of advanced natural language generation.
Developer Tools
As organizations focus on creating their own technology solutions, they will need standardized tools to modernize existing
apps and build new ones.
To address this, we provide a complete chain of software development tools across every cloud and client platform. From
Visual Studio to GitHub, we deliver the best tools for moving quickly from idea to code and from code to the cloud. Visual
Studio has more than 25 million monthly users, and GitHub is home to over 65 million developers who use it to build, ship,
and maintain their software.
At the platform as a service (PaaS) level, new Azure Communication Services enable developers to integrate rich
communications APIs into their applications using the same infrastructure that powers Microsoft Teams.
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With Azure Mixed Reality Services, digital information can be represented within the context of the three-dimensional
world we live in. And Microsoft Mesh enables developers to build immersive, multiuser, cross-platform mixed reality apps.
It transforms how people connect holographically with others in a natural way.
And, finally, our comprehensive portfolio of AI tools, frameworks, and infrastructure enables developers to build solutions
that comprehend speech, make predictions, provide insights, and support decision-making.
Power Platform
Application development is moving beyond professional developers and into the hands of citizen developers—everyone
from domain experts, to designers, marketers, salespeople, customer service professionals, teachers, students, and
others.
In the same way that Office revolutionized productivity for knowledge workers, Power Platform—which has over 16 million
monthly users—is transforming application development so that anyone can automate workflows, create apps, build
virtual agents, and analyze data.
Business Applications
Every organization is looking to digitize their end-to-end operations—from sales and customer service to supply chain
management—so they can rapidly adapt to changing market dynamics.
With Dynamics 365, we’re building a new generation of business applications to meet this challenge. New integrations
between Dynamics 365 and Teams enable everyone across an organization to view and collaborate on customer records
seamlessly within Teams, and to meet, chat, and collaborate within Dynamics 365.
More broadly, we are leading the way with solutions tailored to the needs of key industries. During the past year, we
introduced industry clouds for financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofits, and retail that make it easier for
organizations to take advantage of the full power of our tech stack and to utilize new, industry-specific customizations that
improve time to value, increase agility, and lower costs.
AI is technology’s most important priority, and healthcare is its most urgent application. And with our pending acquisition
of Nuance Communications, we’ll provide ambient clinical intelligence capabilities for healthcare organizations that
improve the patient experience and reduce the overwhelming burden of work that physicians struggle with today.
LinkedIn
In our rapidly changing digital economy, people need a platform where they can acquire new skills, expand their networks,
and connect with employers. The strong success of LinkedIn is a clear indicator of how important this is. In the five years
since Microsoft acquired LinkedIn, revenue has nearly tripled and growth has accelerated.
Today, LinkedIn has more than 774 million members and is a leader in B2B advertising, professional hiring, corporate
learning, and sales intelligence. From LinkedIn profiles within Office, to LinkedIn Learning courses within Microsoft Viva,
and LinkedIn Sales Navigator leads within Dynamics 365, we continue to bring the power of LinkedIn and Microsoft
together to transform how people learn, sell, and connect.
Modern Work
The rise of hybrid work will be one of the most profound changes to the way people work in more than a century. To
navigate it, organizations will need to embrace flexibility across their entire operating model, including the ways people
work, the places they inhabit, and how they manage business process.
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Our approach to hybrid work starts with Teams—the only all-in-one solution that supports meetings, calls, chat,
collaboration, and business process automation in day-to-day workflow. Over the past year, we introduced hundreds of
new features, from new presenter modes to new inclusive meeting experiences, that make it easy for everyone to be full
participants in meetings, whether they’re joining from home, the office, a conference room, or a factory floor. Nearly
250 million people use Teams every month.
In this new hybrid work environment, having a digital employee experience platform will be key to business success. This
is why we introduced Microsoft Viva, which brings the information, resources, and support employees need to stay
connected to each other and their company’s mission directly into the flow of work.
The past year has also made clear how essential PCs are to work, learning, and life at home. With Windows 11—the
biggest update to our operating system in a decade—we’re reimagining everything from the platform to the store to help
people and organizations be more productive, connected, and secure, and to build a more open ecosystem for developers
and creators. With every new generation of Windows, we also unlock the next generation of hardware innovation across
our ecosystem. And I’m excited to see new PCs from Surface and our OEM ecosystem ship with Windows 11 this holiday
season that include the latest innovations in touch, pen, and voice, as well as new breakthroughs in both accessibility and
sustainability.
And with Windows 365, we are creating a new category: the cloud PC. By bringing the operating system to the cloud,
we’re enabling organizations to stream the full Windows experience to their employees’ personal or corporate device with
just a few clicks. This will give organizations greater flexibility and a more secure way to empower employees to be
productive and connected, regardless of their location.
Security
The threat landscape has never been more complex or challenging, and security has never been more critical for our
customers or society as a whole. In response, we will invest $20 billion over the next five years to advance our security
solutions. Our goal is to help every organization strengthen its security capabilities through a Zero Trust architecture built
on our comprehensive solutions that span identity, security, compliance, and device management across all clouds and
platforms.
Beyond our products, our operational security posture and threat intelligence help customers defend themselves. Last
year, we intercepted 30 billion email threats and 31 billion authentication attacks. And as I write this, we are tracking more
than 140 groups that pose an active threat to global cybersecurity.
Gaming
Three billion people around the world play games, which makes gaming the largest category in the entertainment industry.
We are expanding our opportunity to reach every one of them.
With Xbox Game Pass, we are transforming how people discover, connect, and engage with games. Great content drives
Game Pass’ growth, and our acquisition this year of ZeniMax Media adds some of the world’s most iconic franchises to
the service. We also continue to lead in the fast-growing cloud gaming market. Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on
PCs, as well as phones and tablets, and later this year will come to the console.
Introduced in November 2020, the new Xbox Series S and X are our fastest-selling consoles ever. And we continue to
expand our opportunity in the creator economy by adding new ways for players to build and monetize their creations in
many of our most popular games.
OUR PURPOSE
As we pursue the opportunities ahead, we also recognize our increased responsibility in a world that will require much
more from technology to address its most pressing challenges. To help people and organizations everywhere achieve
more, we are focused on four interconnected pillars.
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Support inclusive economic opportunity
At Microsoft, we believe that the economic growth we help drive must reach every person, community, and country. This
starts with access to broadband. The pandemic has underscored that without it, people lack access to education,
healthcare, economic opportunity, and more. We are continuing our efforts to extend broadband access to millions of
people in rural and underserved communities in the United States and around the globe. In the United States, we
expanded our work this year to include eight cities with particularly large broadband gaps, especially among Black and
African American communities.
We must also continue to increase access to digital skills. In June 2020, with tens of millions of people displaced from
their jobs due to the pandemic, we brought resources together from across Microsoft, inclusive of LinkedIn and GitHub, to
help 25 million people connect to the digital skills for in-demand roles. Together with our partners, we have reached more
than 47 million people to date, across 250 countries, but the work doesn’t stop there. We’re helping companies make
250,000 skills-based hires this year—ensuring those who learn digital skills can convert them into jobs and opportunity.
For example, through LinkedIn’s new Skills Path pilot, we’re providing tools to help businesses source job candidates in a
more equitable way—based on their proven proficiencies.
To build a more inclusive economy, we also have a responsibility to help close the Disability Divide, which impacts more
than 1 billion people with disabilities around the world. That’s why in April we announced a new five-year commitment to
spur the development of accessible technology, expand opportunities for people with disabilities in the workforce, and
build a more inclusive workplace.
And we continue to make our technology affordable and accessible to nonprofit organizations around the world. This year,
we provided $2.5 billion in donated and discounted products and services to help 295,000 nonprofits better serve their
communities. Our employees donated an additional $214 million (including the company match) to the organizations and
causes they care about.
Protect fundamental rights
We support the fundamental rights of all people. This year, we made progress in our work to address racial injustice and
inequity. We released our first annual Racial Equity Initiative: Strengthening Our Communities report, which focuses on
justice reform, affordable broadband, skills and education, and support for community-based nonprofits. And we continue
to improve the representation of our ecosystem by engaging with diverse suppliers, financial institutions, and channel
partners. While we’re proud of our progress, we know we have much more work to do to help our communities, increase
representation, and strengthen our culture of inclusion to influence broader, systemic change.
We must also protect the institutions and processes of democracy. Through our Democracy Forward Program, we’re
working across sectors to safeguard electoral processes and defend against disinformation. And to preserve and protect
journalism, we’re helping strengthen local news ecosystems, restore trust in news, and provide cybersecurity and legal
security for journalists.
Finally, we continue to stand up for human rights, which includes taking action to prevent modern slavery and human
trafficking in our business and supply chain and supporting humanitarian action and emergency response. Last year, we
mobilized resources to respond to the Beirut explosion, hurricanes in Central America, wildfires in the United States, and
more. To date, we’ve committed cash, technology, and other resources with a value of more than $410 million to support
ongoing COVID-19 response efforts.
Commit to a sustainable future
While the pandemic has been the defining issue of the past year-and-a-half, climate change is the challenge of our
lifetime. And as a global technology company, we have a particular responsibility to do our part. In January, we released
our first annual sustainability report, sharing our progress toward becoming carbon negative, zero waste,
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and water positive by 2030. In fiscal year 2020, Microsoft reduced its carbon emissions by 587,000 metric tons and
purchased the removal of 1.3 million metric tons of carbon. We are building a Planetary Computer to help manage and
protect Earth’s natural systems. And we have made a commitment to match 100 percent of our electricity consumption
with zero carbon energy purchases 100 percent of the time by 2030.
We also know that solving the carbon problem will require new technology and partnerships. This is why we launched the
Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability—to create a new business process category that will help every organization measure,
report, and reduce their environmental impact. It’s also why we’re making direct investments through our $1 billion Climate
Innovation Fund to help organizations accelerate the development of solutions for carbon reduction and removal
technology.
Earn trust
We want our customers and partners to build their own digital capability and become independent with us, not dependent
on us. This is not possible without trust. For Microsoft, trust is built on privacy, security, digital safety, the responsible use
of AI, and transparency.
Our approach to privacy begins with the belief that people have a right to own their personal data and that companies
have a responsibility to collect and use personal data responsibly. This is why we were the first major tech company to
support GDPR—the EU’s privacy law that is the standard for privacy legislation around the world—and why we are strong
advocates for passage of comprehensive federal privacy legislation in the United States.
It extends to our investments in security, and our belief that the public and private sectors—including tech companies—
must be transparent so we can work together on a coordinated global response.
How we develop and use AI is also a critical component of trust. To ensure our AI technologies are used responsibly and
to avoid unintended consequences, we take a principled approach built on fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and
security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability. Our Office of Responsible AI ensures that we put these
principles into practice, and our Responsible AI Resources Center shares guidelines and tools to help our customers and
the developer community do the same.
Finally, we believe transparency is the foundation of trust, so we continue to offer clear information on how we run our
business and work with customers and partners. Our CSR Reports Hub provides detailed information on law enforcement
access to data, our environmental data, our political activities, our workforce demographics, and our human rights work.
No one company, industry, or country can solve these challenges alone. While our own actions are important, our most
critical contribution will come from sharing our learnings and helping other organizations achieve their own goals for a
better future too.
OUR CULTURE
Ultimately, our culture will determine the lengths of what we will achieve. We aspire to create a culture where employees
are encouraged to be curious, to experiment, and to share things they learn. This is why we put so much emphasis over
the past few years on building a culture that centers on our commitment to a growth mindset.
This growth mindset served us well during the past year of crisis, disruption, and transformation. It drives our passion to
obsess about our customers, and to learn about and from them. It has helped us become more empathetic toward our
colleagues and enabled us to work together as a team—as One Microsoft. And it underlies our approach to diversity and
inclusion.
We know that as we become more representative of the communities where we live and work, and the people around the
world who we aspire to serve, we become better at helping everyone on the planet achieve more.
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Diversity and inclusion continues to be a core priority for every employee at Microsoft and is incorporated into our
performance and career development approach. To accelerate the inclusion journey for employees, as well as our
ecosystem, we hosted Include 2021, a global event focused on diversity and inclusion, and continue to invest in shared
understanding by publishing resources and learnings broadly. And in the first year of our commitment to address inequity
and racial injustice, we are well on our way to doubling the number of Black and African American, Hispanic, and Latinx
employees in leadership positions at Microsoft in the United States by 2025.
Care is the new currency for every leader, and we’ve built a new framework to help our managers strengthen their teams
and deliver success through empowerment and accountability. Our managers strive to model our culture and values in
their actions, to coach their teams to define objectives and adapt and learn, and to care deeply for their employees,
seeking to understand their capabilities, ambitions, and invest in their growth.
***
Although it may be difficult to imagine in this time of immeasurable hardship and deep uncertainty, I see boundless
possibility ahead. I am encouraged because of the power of you, our shareholders, our employees, our partners, our
customers, and everyone who has continued to work hard to make the world a better place in the face of constraints. And
if we continue to pursue our mission, I am certain that we will collectively achieve so much more together.
I couldn’t be more optimistic.
Satya Nadella
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
October 12, 2021
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, DIVIDENDS, AND STOCK PERFORMANCE
SHARE REPURCHASES AND DIVIDENDS
Share Repurchases
On September 20, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing up to $40.0 billion in
share repurchases. This share repurchase program commenced in December 2016 and was completed in February 2020.
On September 18, 2019, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing up to $40.0 billion in
share repurchases. This share repurchase program commenced in February 2020, following completion of the program
approved on September 20, 2016, has no expiration date, and may be terminated at any time. As of June 30, 2021,
$8.7 billion remained of this $40.0 billion share repurchase program.
We repurchased the following shares of common stock under the share repurchase programs:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Total
Shares
25
27
25
24
101
Amount
2021
$ 5,270
5,750
5,750
6,200
$ 22,970
Shares
Amount
2020
Shares
29
32
37
28
126
$ 4,000
4,600
6,000
5,088
$ 19,688
24
57
36
33
150
Amount
2019
$ 2,600
6,100
3,899
4,200
$ 16,799
Shares repurchased during fiscal year 2021 and the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 were under the share repurchase
program approved on September 18, 2019. Shares repurchased during the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 were under
the share repurchase programs approved on both September 20, 2016 and September 18, 2019. All other shares
repurchased were under the share repurchase program approved on September 20, 2016. The above table excludes
shares repurchased to settle employee tax withholding related to the vesting of stock awards of $4.4 billion, $3.3 billion,
and $2.7 billion for fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. All share repurchases were made using cash
resources.
Dividends
Our Board of Directors declared the following dividends:
Declaration Date
Fiscal Year 2021
September 15, 2020
December 2, 2020
March 16, 2021
June 16, 2021
Total
Fiscal Year 2020
September 18, 2019
December 4, 2019
March 9, 2020
June 17, 2020
Total
Record Date
Payment Date
Dividend
Per Share
Amount
(In millions)
March 11, 2021 0.56
June 10, 2021 0.56
August 19, 2021 September 9, 2021 0.56
November 19, 2020 December 10, 2020 $ 0.56 $ 4,230
4,221
February 18, 2021
4,214
May 20, 2021
4,211
$ 2.24 $ 16,876
November 21, 2019 December 12, 2019 $ 0.51 $ 3,886
3,876
February 20, 2020
3,865
May 21, 2020
3,856
March 12, 2020 0.51
June 11, 2020 0.51
August 20, 2020 September 10, 2020 0.51
$ 2.04 $ 15,483
The dividend declared on June 16, 2021 was included in other current liabilities as of June 30, 2021.
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STOCK PERFORMANCE
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Microsoft Corporation, the S&P 500 Index
and the NASDAQ Computer Index
Microsoft Corporation
S&P 500
NASDAQ Computer
6/16
100.00
100.00
100.00
6/17
138.05
117.90
138.60
6/18
201.33
134.84
182.60
6/19
277.97
148.89
198.89
6/20
427.51
160.06
289.40
6/21
574.61
225.36
440.62
* $100 invested on 6/30/16 in stock or index, including reinvestment of dividends. Fiscal year ending June 30.
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Note About Forward-Looking Statements
This report includes estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating
results that are ―forward-looking statements‖ within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking
statements may appear throughout this report, including the following sections: ―Business‖, and ―Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations‖. These forward-looking statements generally
are identified by the words ―believe,‖ ―project,‖ ―expect,‖ ―anticipate,‖ ―estimate,‖ ―intend,‖ ―strategy,‖ ―future,‖ ―opportunity,‖
―plan,‖ ―may,‖ ―should,‖ ―will,‖ ―would,‖ ―will be,‖ ―will continue,‖ ―will likely result,‖ and similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause
actual results to differ materially. We describe risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ
materially in ―Risk Factors,‖ ―Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,‖
and ―Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk‖ in our fiscal year 2021 Form 10-K. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We
undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information,
future events, or otherwise.
BUSINESS
GENERAL
Embracing Our Future
Microsoft is a technology company whose mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to
achieve more. We strive to create local opportunity, growth, and impact in every country around the world. Our platforms
and tools help drive small business productivity, large business competitiveness, and public-sector efficiency. They also
support new startups, improve educational and health outcomes, and empower human ingenuity.
We bring technology and products together into experiences and solutions that unlock value for our customers. Our
ecosystem of customers and partners has stepped up to help people and organizations in every country use technology to
be resilient and transform during the most trying of circumstances. Amid rapid change we’ve witnessed technology
empower telehealth, remote manufacturing, and new ways of working from home and serving customers. These
capabilities have relied on the public cloud, which is built on the investments we have made over time.
We are living in the new era of the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge, which is being sharpened by rapid advances in
distributed computing, ambient intelligence, and multidevice experiences. This means the places we go and the things we
interact with will increasingly become digitized, creating new opportunities and new breakthroughs. In the next phase of
innovation, computing is more powerful and ubiquitous from the cloud to the edge. Artificial intelligence (―AI‖) capabilities
are rapidly advancing, fueled by data and knowledge of the world. Physical and virtual worlds are coming together with
the Internet of Things (―IoT‖) and mixed reality to create richer experiences that understand the context surrounding
people, the things they use, the places they go, and their activities and relationships. A person’s experience with
technology spans a multitude of devices and has become increasingly more natural and multi-sensory with voice, ink, and
gaze interactions.
What We Offer
Founded in 1975, we develop and support software, services, devices, and solutions that deliver new value for customers
and help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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We offer an array of services, including cloud-based solutions that provide customers with software, services, platforms,
and content, and we provide solution support and consulting services. We also deliver relevant online advertising to a
global audience.
Our products include operating systems, cross-device productivity applications, server applications, business solution
applications, desktop and server management tools, software development tools, and video games. We also design and
sell devices, including PCs, tablets, gaming and entertainment consoles, other intelligent devices, and related
accessories.
The Ambitions That Drive Us
To achieve our vision, our research and development efforts focus on three interconnected ambitions:
• Reinvent productivity and business processes.
• Build the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge platform.
• Create more personal computing.
Reinvent Productivity and Business Processes
At Microsoft, we’re providing technology and resources to help our customers navigate a remote environment. We’re
seeing our family of products play key roles in the ways the world is continuing to work, learn, and connect.
Our growth depends on securely delivering continuous innovation and advancing our leading productivity and
collaboration tools and services, including Office, Dynamics, and LinkedIn. Microsoft 365 brings together Office 365,
Windows, and Enterprise Mobility + Security to help organizations empower their employees with AI-backed tools that
unlock creativity, increase teamwork, and fuel innovation, all the while enabling compliance coverage and data protection.
Microsoft Teams is enabling rapid digital transformation by giving people a single tool to chat, call, meet, and collaborate.
Microsoft Viva is an employee experience platform that brings together communications, knowledge, learning, resources,
and insights powered by Microsoft 365. Microsoft Relationship Sales solution brings together LinkedIn Sales Navigator
and Dynamics to transform business to business sales through social selling. Dynamics 365 for Talent with LinkedIn
Recruiter and Learning gives human resource professionals a complete solution to compete for talent. Microsoft Power
Platform empowers employees to build custom applications, automate workflow, and analyze data no matter their
technical expertise.
These scenarios represent a move to unlock creativity and discover new habits, while simplifying security and
management. Organizations of all sizes have digitized business-critical functions, redefining what they can expect from
their business applications. This creates an opportunity to reach new customers and increase usage and engagement
with existing customers.
Build the Intelligent Cloud and Intelligent Edge Platform
In the new remote world, companies have accelerated their own digital transformation to empower their employees,
optimize their operations, engage customers, and in some cases, change the very core of their products and services.
Partnering with organizations on their digital transformation during this period is one of our largest opportunities and we
are uniquely positioned to become the strategic digital transformation platform and partner of choice; their success is our
success.
Our strategy requires continued investment in datacenters and other hybrid and edge infrastructure to support our
services. Azure is a trusted cloud with comprehensive compliance coverage and AI-based security built in.
Our cloud business benefits from three economies of scale: datacenters that deploy computational resources at
significantly lower cost per unit than smaller ones; datacenters that coordinate and aggregate diverse customer,
geographic, and application demand patterns, improving the utilization of computing, storage, and network resources; and
multi-tenancy locations that lower application maintenance labor costs.
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The Microsoft Cloud is the most comprehensive and trusted cloud, providing the best integration across the technology
stack while offering openness, improving time to value, reducing costs, and increasing agility. Being a global-scale cloud,
Azure uniquely offers hybrid consistency, developer productivity, AI capabilities, and trusted security and compliance. We
see more emerging use cases and needs for compute and security at the edge and are accelerating our innovation across
the spectrum of intelligent edge devices, from IoT sensors to gateway devices and edge hardware to build, manage, and
secure edge workloads. With Azure Stack, organizations can extend Azure into their own datacenters to create a
consistent stack across the public cloud and the intelligent edge. Our hybrid infrastructure consistency spans security,
compliance, identity, and management, helping to support the real-world needs and evolving regulatory requirements of
commercial customers and enterprises. Azure Arc simplifies governance and management by delivering a consistent
multi-cloud and on-premises management platform. Security, compliance, identity, and management underlie our entire
tech stack. We offer integrated, end-to-end capabilities to protect people and organizations. In April 2021, we entered into
a definitive agreement to acquire Nuance Communications, Inc., a cloud and AI software provider with healthcare and
enterprise AI experience. The acquisition will build on our industry-specific cloud offerings.
We are accelerating our development of mixed reality solutions with new Azure services and devices. Microsoft Mesh
enables presence and shared experiences from anywhere through mixed reality applications. The opportunity to merge
the physical and digital worlds, when combined with the power of Azure cloud services, unlocks the potential for entirely
new workloads and experiences which we believe will shape the next era of computing.
The ability to convert data into AI drives our competitive advantage. Azure SQL Database makes it possible for customers
to take SQL Server from their on-premises datacenter to a fully managed instance in the cloud to utilize built-in AI. Azure
Synapse Analytics, a limitless analytics service, brings together data integration, enterprise data warehousing, and big
data analytics for immediate business intelligence and machine learning needs. We are accelerating adoption of AI
innovations from research to products. Our innovation helps every developer be an AI developer, with approachable new
tools from Azure Machine Learning Studio for creating simple machine learning models, to the powerful Azure Machine
Learning Workbench for the most advanced AI modeling and data science. From GitHub to Visual Studio, we provide a
developer tool chain for everyone, no matter the technical experience, across all platforms, whether Azure, Windows, or
any other cloud or client platform.
Create More Personal Computing
We strive to make computing more personal by putting people at the core of the experience, enabling them to interact with
technology in more intuitive, engaging, and dynamic ways. Microsoft 365 is empowering people and organizations to be
productive and secure as they adapt to more fluid ways of working and learning. The PC has been mission-critical across
work, school, and life to sustain productivity in a remote everything world.
Windows 10 serves the enterprise as the most secure and productive operating system. It empowers people with AI-first
interfaces ranging from voice-activated commands through Cortana, inking, immersive 3D content storytelling, and mixed
reality experiences. Our ambition for Windows 10 monetization opportunities includes gaming, services, subscriptions,
and search advertising. In June 2021, Microsoft announced the next generation of Windows – Windows 11. Windows 11
builds on the strengths of productivity, versatility, and security on Windows 10 today and adds in new experiences that
include powerful task switching tools like new snap layouts, snap groups, and desktops; new ways to stay connected
through chat; the information you want at your fingertips; and more. Windows also plays a critical role in fueling our cloud
business and Microsoft 365 strategy, and it powers the growing range of devices on the ―intelligent edge.‖
Microsoft Edge is our fast and secure browser that helps protect your data, with built-in shopping tools designed to save
you time and money. Organizational tools such as Collections, Vertical Tabs, and Immersive Reader help you make the
most of your time while browsing, streaming, searching, sharing, and more.
We are committed to designing and marketing first-party devices to help drive innovation, create new device categories,
and stimulate demand in the Windows ecosystem. The Surface family includes Surface Book 3, Surface Laptop Go,
Surface Go 2, Surface Pro 7, Surface Laptop 4, Surface Pro X, Surface Studio 2, and Surface Duo.
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To expand usage and deepen engagement, we continue to invest in content, community, and cloud services as we
pursue the expansive opportunity in the gaming industry. We have broadened our approach to how we think about
gaming end-to-end, from the way games are created and distributed to how they are played, including cloud gaming so
players can stream across PC, console, and mobile. We have a strong position with our large and growing highly engaged
community of gamers, including the March 2021 acquisition of ZeniMax Media Inc., the parent company of Bethesda
Softworks LLC, one of the largest, privately held game developers and publishers in the world. Xbox Game Pass is a
community with access to a curated library of over 100 first- and third-party console and PC titles. Xbox Cloud Gaming is
Microsoft’s game streaming technology that is complementary to our console hardware and gives fans the ultimate choice
to play the games they want, with the people they want, on the devices they want.
Our Future Opportunity
In a time of great disruption and uncertainty, customers are looking to us to accelerate their own digital transformations as
software and cloud computing play a huge role across every industry and around the world. We continue to develop
complete, intelligent solutions for our customers that empower people to stay productive and collaborate, while
safeguarding businesses and simplifying IT management. Our goal is to lead the industry in several distinct areas of
technology over the long-term, which we expect will translate to sustained growth. We are investing significant resources
in:
• Transforming the workplace to deliver new modern, modular business applications to improve how people
communicate, collaborate, learn, work, play, and interact with one another.
• Building and running cloud-based services in ways that unleash new experiences and opportunities for
businesses and individuals.
• Applying AI to drive insights and act on our customer’s behalf by understanding and interpreting their needs
using natural methods of communication.
• Using Windows to fuel our cloud business, grow our share of the PC market, and drive increased
engagement with our services like Microsoft 365 Consumer, Teams, Edge, Bing, Xbox Game Pass, and
more.
• Tackling security from all angles with our integrated, end-to-end solutions spanning security, compliance,
•
identity, and management, across all clouds and platforms.
Inventing new gaming experiences that bring people together around their shared love for games on any
devices and pushing the boundaries of innovation with console and PC gaming by creating the next wave of
entertainment.
Our future growth depends on our ability to transcend current product category definitions, business models, and sales
motions. We have the opportunity to redefine what customers and partners can expect and are working to deliver new
solutions that reflect the best of Microsoft.
COVID-19
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a pandemic. The COVID-19
pandemic continues to have widespread and unpredictable impacts on global society, economies, financial markets, and
business practices, and continues to impact our business operations, including our employees, customers, partners, and
communities. Refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further
discussion regarding the impact of COVID-19 on our fiscal year 2021 financial results. The extent to which the COVID-19
pandemic impacts our business going forward will depend on numerous evolving factors we cannot reliably predict. Refer
to Risk Factors in our fiscal year 2021 Form 10-K for a discussion of these factors and other risks.
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Corporate Social Responsibility
Commitment to Sustainability
We work to ensure that technology is inclusive, trusted, and increases sustainability. We are accelerating progress toward
a more sustainable future by reducing our environmental footprint, advancing research, helping our customers build
sustainable solutions, and advocating for policies that benefit the environment. In January 2020, we announced a bold
commitment and detailed plan to be carbon negative by 2030, and to remove from the environment by 2050 all the carbon
we have emitted since our founding in 1975. This included a commitment to invest $1 billion over four years in new
technologies and innovative climate solutions. We built on this pledge by adding commitments to be water positive by
2030, zero waste by 2030, and to protect ecosystems by developing a Planetary Computer. We also help our suppliers
and customers around the world use Microsoft technology to reduce their own carbon footprint.
In January 2021, we announced that in fiscal year 2020 we reduced Microsoft’s carbon emissions by 586,683 metric tons.
We purchased the removal of 1.3 million metric tons of carbon from 26 projects around the world. Furthermore, we shared
a commitment to transparency by subjecting the data in our annual sustainability report to third-party review and to
accountability by including progress on sustainability goals as a factor in determining executive pay.
The investments we make in sustainability carry through to our products, services, and devices. We design our devices,
from Surface to Xbox, to minimize their impact on the environment. Our cloud and AI services and datacenters help
businesses cut energy consumption, reduce physical footprints, and design sustainable products. We also pledged a
$50 million investment in AI for Earth to accelerate innovation by putting AI in the hands of those working to directly
address sustainability challenges. We are committed to playing our part to help accelerate the world’s transition to a more
economically and environmentally sustainable future for us all.
Addressing Racial Injustice and Inequity
Our future opportunity depends on reaching and empowering all communities, and we are committed to taking action to
help address racial injustice and inequity. With significant input from employees and leaders who are members of the
Black and African American community, our senior leadership team and board of directors announced in June 2020 that
we had developed a set of actions to help improve the lived experience at Microsoft and drive change in the communities
in which we live and work. These efforts include increasing our representation and strengthening our culture of inclusion
by doubling the number of Black and African American people managers, senior individual contributors, and senior
leaders in the United States by 2025; evolving our ecosystem with our supply chain, banking partners, and partner
ecosystem; and strengthening our communities by using data, technology, and partnerships to help address racial
injustice and inequities of the Black and African American communities in the U.S. and improve the safety and wellbeing
of our employees and their communities.
Over the last year, we have collaborated with partners and worked within neighborhoods and communities to launch and
scale a number of projects and programs including: expanding our existing justice reform work with a five-year, $50 million
sustained effort, expanding access to affordable broadband and devices for Black and African American communities and
key institutions that support them in major urban centers, expanding access to skills and education to support Black and
African American students and adults to succeed in the digital economy, and increasing technology support for nonprofits
that provide critical services to Black and African American communities.
We have more than doubled our percentage share of transaction volume with Black- and African American-owned
financial institutions and increased our deposits with Black- and African American-owned minority depository institutions,
enabling increased funds into local communities. Additionally, we have seen growth in our Black- and African American-
owned supplier base and in Black- and African American-owned technology partners in the Microsoft Partner Network,
and we launched the Black Channel Partner Alliance community to support partners onboarding to the Microsoft Cloud
and to unlock partner benefits for co-selling with Microsoft.
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We acknowledge we have more work ahead of us to address racial injustice and inequity, and are applying many of the
programs above to help other underrepresented communities.
Investing in Digital Skills
With a continued focus on digital transformation, Microsoft is helping to ensure that no one is left behind, particularly as
economies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We announced in June 2020 that we are expanding access to the
digital skills that have become increasingly vital to many of the world’s jobs, and especially to individuals hardest hit by
recent job losses. Our skills initiative brings together learning resources, certification opportunities, and job-seeker tools
from LinkedIn, GitHub, and Microsoft Learn, and is built on data insights drawn from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph. We also
invested $20 million in key non-profit partnerships through Microsoft Philanthropies to help people from underserved
communities that are often excluded by the digital economy.
Over 42 million people across every continent have accessed free training through our skills initiative. The effort
surpassed its initial goals and has been expanded with a new emphasis on connecting learners with jobs that help put
their new training to use and connecting employers with skilled job seekers they might not find in traditional networks.
Overview
HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES
Microsoft aims to recruit, develop, and retain diverse, world-changing talent. To foster their and our success, we seek to
create an environment where people can do their best work – a place where they can proudly be their authentic selves,
guided by our values, and where they know their needs can be met. We strive to maximize the potential of our human
capital resources by creating a respectful, rewarding, and inclusive work environment that enables our global employees
to create products and services that further our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to
achieve more.
As of June 30, 2021, we employed approximately 181,000 people on a full-time basis, 103,000 in the U.S. and 78,000
internationally. Of the total employed people, 67,000 were in operations, including manufacturing, distribution, product
support, and consulting services; 60,000 were in product research and development; 40,000 were in sales and marketing;
and 14,000 were in general and administration. Certain of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements.
Our Culture
Microsoft’s culture is grounded in the growth mindset. This means everyone is on a continuous journey to learn and grow.
We believe potential can be nurtured and is not pre-determined, and we should always be learning and curious – trying
new things without fear of failure. We identified four attributes that allow growth mindset to flourish:
• Obsessing over what matters to our customers.
• Becoming more diverse and inclusive in everything we do.
• Operating as one company, One Microsoft, instead of multiple siloed businesses.
• Making a difference in the lives of each other, our customers, and the world around us.
Our employee listening systems enable us to gather feedback directly from our workforce to inform our programs and
employee needs globally. 88% of employees globally participated in our fiscal year 2021 MS Poll engagement survey,
which covers a variety of topics such as inclusion, pay and benefits, and learning and development. Throughout the fiscal
year, we also collect nearly 75,000 Daily Pulse employee survey responses. During fiscal year 2021, our Daily Pulse
surveys gave us invaluable insights into ways we could support employees through the COVID-19 pandemic and
addressing racial injustice. In addition to poll and pulse surveys, we gain insights through onboarding and exit surveys,
internal Yammer channels, employee Q&A sessions, and AskHR Service support.
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Diversity and Inclusion
At Microsoft we have an inherently inclusive mission: to empower every person and every organization on the planet to
achieve more. We think of diversity and inclusion as core to our business model, informing our actions to impact
economies and people around the world. There are billions of people who want to achieve more, but have a different set
of circumstances, abilities, and backgrounds that often limit access to opportunity and achievement. The better we
represent that diversity inside Microsoft, the more effectively we can innovate for those we seek to empower.
We strive to include others by holding ourselves accountable for diversity, driving global systemic change in our workplace
and workforce, and creating an inclusive work environment. Through this commitment we can allow everyone the chance
to be their authentic selves and do their best work every day. We support multiple highly active Employee Resource
Groups for women, families, racial and ethnic minorities, military, people with disabilities, or who identify as LGBTQI+,
where employees can go for support, networking, and community-building. As described in our 2020 Proxy Statement,
annual performance and compensation reviews of our senior leadership team include an evaluation of their contributions
to employee culture and diversity. To ensure accountability over time, we publicly disclose our progress on a multitude of
workforce metrics including:
• Detailed breakdowns of gender, racial, and ethnic minority representation in our employee population, with
data by job types, levels, and segments of our business.
• Our EEO-1 report (equal employment opportunity).
• Disability representation.
Total Rewards
We develop dynamic, sustainable, and strategic programs with the goal of providing a highly differentiated portfolio to
attract, reward, and retain top talent and enable our employees to do their best work. These programs reinforce our
culture and values such as collaboration and growth mindset. Managers evaluate and recommend rewards based on, for
example, how well we leverage the work of others and contribute to the success of our colleagues. We monitor pay equity
and career progress across multiple dimensions.
As part of our effort to promote a One Microsoft and inclusive culture, we expanded stock eligibility to all Microsoft
employees as part of our annual rewards process. This includes all non-exempt and exempt employees and equivalents
across the globe including business support professionals and datacenter and retail employees.
Pay Equity
In our 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Report, we reported that all racial and ethnic minority employees in the U.S. combined
earn $1.006 for every $1.000 earned by their white counterparts, that women in the U.S. earn $1.001 for every $1.000
earned by their counterparts in the U.S. who are men, and women in the U.S. plus our ten other largest employee
geographies (Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, and United Kingdom) combined
earn $1.000 for every $1.000 by men in these countries. Our intended result is a global performance and development
approach that fosters our culture, and competitive compensation that ensures equitable pay by role while supporting pay
for performance.
Wellness and Safety
Microsoft is committed to supporting our employees’ well-being and safety while they are at work and in their personal
lives.
We took a wide variety of measures to protect the health and well-being of our employees, suppliers, and customers
during the COVID-19 pandemic. We made substantial modifications to employee travel policies and implemented office
closures so non-essential employees could work remotely. We continued to pay hourly service providers such
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as cleaning and reception staff who may have otherwise been furloughed. We implemented a global Paid Pandemic
School and Childcare Closure Leave to support working parents, added wellbeing days for those who needed to take time
off for mental health and wellness, implemented on-demand COVID-19 testing and vaccinations on our Redmond,
Washington campus, and extended full medical plan coverage for coronavirus testing, treatment, and telehealth services.
We also expanded existing programs such as our Microsoft CARES Employee Assistance Program and family backup
care.
In addition to the extraordinary steps and programs relating to COVID-19, our comprehensive benefits package includes
many physical, emotional, and financial wellness programs including counseling through the Microsoft CARES Employee
Assistance Program, flexible fitness benefits, savings and investment tools, adoption assistance, and back-up care for
children and elders. Finally, our Occupational Health and Safety program helps ensure employees can stay safe while
they are working.
Learning and Development
Our growth mindset culture begins with valuing learning over knowing – seeking out new ideas, driving innovation,
embracing challenges, learning from failure, and improving over time. To support this culture, we offer a wide range of
learning and development opportunities. We believe learning can be more than formal instruction, and our learning
philosophy focuses on providing the right learning, at the right time, in the right way. Opportunities include:
• Personalized, integrated, and relevant views of all learning opportunities on our internal learning portal, our
•
external learning portal MS Learn, and LinkedIn Learning that is available to all employees worldwide.
In-the-classroom learning, learning ―pods,‖ our early-in-career Aspire program, and manager excellence
communities.
• On-the-job ―stretch‖ and advancement opportunities.
• Managers holding conversations about employees’ career and development plans, coaching on career
opportunities, and programs like mentoring and sponsorship.
• Customized manager learning to build people manager capabilities and similar learning solutions to build
leadership skills for all employees including differentiated leadership development programs.
• New employee orientation covering a range of topics including company values, culture, and Standards of
Business Conduct, as well as ongoing onboarding program.
Our employees embrace the growth mindset and take advantage of the formal learning opportunities as well as thousands
of informal and on-the-job learning opportunities. In terms of formal on-line learning solutions, in fiscal year 2021 our
employees completed over 5 million courses, averaging over 18 hours per employee. Given our focus on understanding
core company beliefs and compliance topics, all employees complete required learning programs like Standards of
Business Conduct, Privacy, Unconscious Bias, and preventing harassment courses. Our corporate learning portal has
over 100,000 average monthly active users. All of our approximately 23,000 people managers must complete between
25-30 hours of required manager capability and excellence training and are assigned ongoing required training each year.
In addition, all employees complete skills training based on the profession they are in each year.
New Ways of Working
The global pandemic has accelerated our capabilities and culture with respect to flexible work. Microsoft has introduced a
Hybrid Workplace Flexibility Guide to better support managers and employees as they adapt to new ways of working that
shift paradigms, embrace flexibility, promote inclusion, and drive innovation. Our ongoing survey data shows employees
value the flexibility related to work location, work site, and work hours, and while many indicate they intend to return to a
worksite once conditions permit, they also intend to adjust hours or spend some portions of workweeks working remotely.
We are focused on building capabilities to support a variety of workstyles where individuals, teams, and our business can
be successful.
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OPERATING SEGMENTS
We operate our business and report our financial performance using three segments: Productivity and Business
Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. Our segments provide management with a comprehensive
financial view of our key businesses. The segments enable the alignment of strategies and objectives across the
development, sales, marketing, and services organizations, and they provide a framework for timely and rational
allocation of resources within businesses.
Additional information on our operating segments and geographic and product information is contained in Note 19 –
Segment Information and Geographic Data of the Notes to Financial Statements.
Our reportable segments are described below.
Productivity and Business Processes
Our Productivity and Business Processes segment consists of products and services in our portfolio of productivity,
communication, and information services, spanning a variety of devices and platforms. This segment primarily comprises:
• Office Commercial (Office 365 subscriptions, the Office 365 portion of Microsoft 365 Commercial
subscriptions, and Office licensed on-premises), comprising Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams,
Office 365 Security and Compliance, and Skype for Business.
• Office Consumer, including Microsoft 365 Consumer subscriptions and Office licensed on-premises, and
•
Office Consumer Services, including Skype, Outlook.com, and OneDrive.
LinkedIn, including Talent Solutions, Marketing Solutions, Premium Subscriptions, Sales Solutions, and
Learning Solutions.
• Dynamics business solutions, including Dynamics 365, comprising a set of intelligent, cloud-based
applications across ERP, CRM, Customer Insights, Power Apps, and Power Automate; and on-premises ERP
and CRM applications.
Office Commercial
Office Commercial is designed to increase personal, team, and organizational productivity through a range of products
and services. Growth depends on our ability to reach new users in new markets such as frontline workers, small and
medium businesses, and growth markets, as well as add value to our core product and service offerings to span
productivity categories such as communication, collaboration, analytics, security, and compliance. Office Commercial
revenue is mainly affected by a combination of continued installed base growth and average revenue per user expansion,
as well as the continued shift from Office licensed on-premises to Office 365.
Office Consumer
Office Consumer is designed to increase personal productivity through a range of products and services. Growth depends
on our ability to reach new users, add value to our core product set, and continue to expand our product and service
offerings into new markets. Office Consumer revenue is mainly affected by the percentage of customers that buy Office
with their new devices and the continued shift from Office licensed on-premises to Microsoft 365 Consumer subscriptions.
Office Consumer Services revenue is mainly affected by the demand for communication and storage through Skype,
Outlook.com, and OneDrive, which is largely driven by subscriptions, advertising, and the sale of minutes.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful and transforms the way
companies hire, market, sell, and learn. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global
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workforce through the ongoing development of the world’s first Economic Graph, a digital representation of the global
economy. In addition to LinkedIn’s free services, LinkedIn offers monetized solutions: Talent Solutions, Marketing
Solutions, Premium Subscriptions, Sales Solutions, and Learning Solutions. Talent Solutions provide insights for
workforce planning and tools to hire, nurture, and develop talent. Marketing Solutions help companies reach, engage, and
convert their audiences at scale. Premium Subscriptions enables professionals to manage their professional identity, grow
their network, and connect with talent through additional services like premium search. Sales Solutions help companies
strengthen customer relationships, empower teams with digital selling tools, and acquire new opportunities. Finally,
Learning Solutions, including Glint, help businesses close critical skills gaps in times where companies are having to do
more with existing talent. LinkedIn has over 750 million members and has offices around the globe. Growth will depend on
our ability to increase the number of LinkedIn members and our ability to continue offering services that provide value for
our members and increase their engagement. LinkedIn revenue is mainly affected by demand from enterprises and
professional organizations for subscriptions to Talent Solutions, Learning Solutions, Sales Solutions, and Premium
Subscriptions offerings, as well as member engagement and the quality of the sponsored content delivered to those
members to drive Marketing Solutions.
Dynamics
Dynamics provides cloud-based and on-premises business solutions for financial management, enterprise resource
planning (―ERP‖), customer relationship management (―CRM‖), supply chain management, and other application
development platforms for small and medium businesses, large organizations, and divisions of global enterprises.
Dynamics revenue is driven by the number of users licensed and applications consumed, expansion of average revenue
per user, and the continued shift to Dynamics 365, a unified set of cloud-based intelligent business applications, including
Power Apps and Power Automate.
Competition
Competitors to Office include software and global application vendors, such as Apple, Cisco Systems, Facebook, Google,
IBM, Okta, Proofpoint, Slack, Symantec, Zoom, and numerous web-based and mobile application competitors as well as
local application developers. Apple distributes versions of its pre-installed application software, such as email and
calendar products, through its PCs, tablets, and phones. Cisco Systems is using its position in enterprise communications
equipment to grow its unified communications business. Google provides a hosted messaging and productivity suite.
Slack provides teamwork and collaboration software. Zoom offers videoconferencing and cloud phone solutions. Skype
for Business and Skype also compete with a variety of instant messaging, voice, and video communication providers,
ranging from start-ups to established enterprises. Okta, Proofpoint, and Symantec provide security solutions across email
security, information protection, identity, and governance. Web-based offerings competing with individual applications
have also positioned themselves as alternatives to our products and services. We compete by providing powerful, flexible,
secure, integrated industry-specific, and easy-to-use productivity and collaboration tools and services that create
comprehensive solutions and work well with technologies our customers already have both on-premises or in the cloud.
LinkedIn faces competition from online professional networks, recruiting companies, talent management companies, and
larger companies that are focusing on talent management and human resource services; job boards; traditional recruiting
firms; and companies that provide learning and development products and services. Marketing Solutions competes with
online and offline outlets that generate revenue from advertisers and marketers, and Sales Solutions competes with online
and offline outlets for companies with lead generation and customer intelligence and insights.
Dynamics competes with cloud-based and on-premises business solution providers such as Oracle, Salesforce.com, and
SAP.
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Intelligent Cloud
Our Intelligent Cloud segment consists of our public, private, and hybrid server products and cloud services that can
power modern business and developers. This segment primarily comprises:
• Server products and cloud services, including Azure; SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio, System
Center, and related Client Access Licenses (―CALs‖); and GitHub.
• Enterprise Services, including Premier Support Services and Microsoft Consulting Services.
Server Products and Cloud Services
Azure is a comprehensive set of cloud services that offer developers, IT professionals, and enterprises freedom to build,
deploy, and manage applications on any platform or device. Customers can use Azure through our global network of
datacenters for computing, networking, storage, mobile and web application services, AI, IoT, cognitive services, and
machine learning. Azure enables customers to devote more resources to development and use of applications that benefit
their organizations, rather than managing on-premises hardware and software. Azure revenue is mainly affected by
infrastructure-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service consumption-based services, and per user-based services such as
Enterprise Mobility + Security.
Our server products are designed to make IT professionals, developers, and their systems more productive and efficient.
Server software is integrated server infrastructure and middleware designed to support software applications built on the
Windows Server operating system. This includes the server platform, database, business intelligence, storage,
management and operations, virtualization, service-oriented architecture platform, security, and identity software. We also
license standalone and software development lifecycle tools for software architects, developers, testers, and project
managers. GitHub provides a collaboration platform and code hosting service for developers. Server products revenue is
mainly affected by purchases through volume licensing programs, licenses sold to original equipment manufacturers
(―OEM‖), and retail packaged products. CALs provide access rights to certain server products, including SQL Server and
Windows Server, and revenue is reported along with the associated server product.
Enterprise Services
Enterprise Services, including Premier Support Services and Microsoft Consulting Services, assist customers in
developing, deploying, and managing Microsoft server and desktop solutions and provide training and certification to
developers and IT professionals on various Microsoft products.
Competition
Azure faces diverse competition from companies such as Amazon, Google, IBM, Oracle, VMware, and open source
offerings. Our Enterprise Mobility + Security offerings also compete with products from a range of competitors including
identity vendors, security solution vendors, and numerous other security point solution vendors. Azure’s competitive
advantage includes enabling a hybrid cloud, allowing deployment of existing datacenters with our public cloud into a
single, cohesive infrastructure, and the ability to run at a scale that meets the needs of businesses of all sizes and
complexities. We believe our cloud’s global scale, coupled with our broad portfolio of identity and security solutions, allows
us to effectively solve complex cybersecurity challenges for our customers and differentiates us from the competition.
Our server products face competition from a wide variety of server operating systems and applications offered by
companies with a range of market approaches. Vertically integrated computer manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard,
IBM, and Oracle offer their own versions of the Unix operating system preinstalled on server hardware. Nearly all
computer manufacturers offer server hardware for the Linux operating system and many contribute to Linux operating
system development. The competitive position of Linux has also benefited from the large number of compatible
applications now produced by many commercial and non-commercial software developers. A number of companies, such
as Red Hat, supply versions of Linux.
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We compete to provide enterprise-wide computing solutions and point solutions with numerous commercial software
vendors that offer solutions and middleware technology platforms, software applications for connectivity (both Internet and
intranet), security, hosting, database, and e-business servers. IBM and Oracle lead a group of companies focused on the
Java Platform Enterprise Edition that competes with our enterprise-wide computing solutions. Commercial competitors for
our server applications for PC-based distributed client-server environments include CA Technologies, IBM, and Oracle.
Our web application platform software competes with open source software such as Apache, Linux, MySQL, and PHP. In
middleware, we compete against Java vendors.
Our database, business intelligence, and data warehousing solutions offerings compete with products from IBM, Oracle,
SAP, and other companies. Our system management solutions compete with server management and server
virtualization platform providers, such as BMC, CA Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and VMware. Our products for
software developers compete against offerings from Adobe, IBM, Oracle, and other companies, and also against open-
source projects, including Eclipse (sponsored by CA Technologies, IBM, Oracle, and SAP), PHP, and Ruby on Rails.
We believe our server products provide customers with advantages in performance, total costs of ownership, and
productivity by delivering superior applications, development tools, compatibility with a broad base of hardware and
software applications, security, and manageability.
Our Enterprise Services business competes with a wide range of companies that provide strategy and business planning,
application development, and infrastructure services, including multinational consulting firms and small niche businesses
focused on specific technologies.
More Personal Computing
Our More Personal Computing segment consists of products and services that put customers at the center of the
experience with our technology. This segment primarily comprises:
• Windows, including Windows OEM licensing (―Windows OEM‖) and other non-volume licensing of the
Windows operating system; Windows Commercial, comprising volume licensing of the Windows operating
system, Windows cloud services, and other Windows commercial offerings; patent licensing; Windows IoT;
and MSN advertising.
• Devices, including Surface and PC accessories.
• Gaming, including Xbox hardware and Xbox content and services, comprising digital transactions, Xbox
Game Pass and other subscriptions, video games, third-party video game royalties, cloud services, and
advertising.
• Search advertising.
Windows
The Windows operating system is designed to deliver a more personal computing experience for users by enabling
consistency of experience, applications, and information across their devices. Windows OEM revenue is impacted
significantly by the number of Windows operating system licenses purchased by OEMs, which they pre-install on the
devices they sell. In addition to computing device market volume, Windows OEM revenue is impacted by:
• The mix of computing devices based on form factor and screen size.
• Differences in device market demand between developed markets and growth markets.
• Attachment of Windows to devices shipped.
• Customer mix between consumer, small and medium businesses, and large enterprises.
• Changes in inventory levels in the OEM channel.
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• Pricing changes and promotions, pricing variation that occurs when the mix of devices manufactured shifts
from local and regional system builders to large multinational OEMs, and different pricing of Windows
versions licensed.
• Constraints in the supply chain of device components.
• Piracy.
Windows Commercial revenue, which includes volume licensing of the Windows operating system and Windows cloud
services such as Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection, is affected mainly by the demand from commercial
customers for volume licensing and Software Assurance (―SA‖), as well as advanced security offerings. Windows
Commercial revenue often reflects the number of information workers in a licensed enterprise and is relatively
independent of the number of PCs sold in a given year.
Patent licensing includes our programs to license patents we own for use across a broad array of technology areas,
including mobile devices and cloud offerings.
Windows IoT extends the power of Windows and the cloud to intelligent systems by delivering specialized operating
systems, tools, and services for use in embedded devices.
MSN advertising includes both native and display ads.
Devices
We design and sell devices, including Surface and PC accessories. Our devices are designed to enable people and
organizations to connect to the people and content that matter most using Windows and integrated Microsoft products and
services. Surface is designed to help organizations, students, and consumers be more productive. Growth in Devices is
dependent on total PC shipments, the ability to attract new customers, our product roadmap, and expanding into new
categories.
Gaming
Our gaming platform is designed to provide a variety of entertainment through a unique combination of content,
community, and cloud. Our exclusive game content is created through Xbox Game Studios, a collection of first-party
studios creating iconic and differentiated gaming experiences. We continue to invest in new gaming studios and content to
expand our IP roadmap and leverage new content creators. These unique gaming experiences are the cornerstone of
Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service and gaming community with access to a curated library of over 100 first- and
third-party console and PC titles.
The gamer remains at the heart of the Xbox ecosystem. We continue to open new opportunities for gamers to engage
both on- and off-console with both the launch of Xbox Cloud Gaming, our game streaming service, and continued
investment in gaming hardware. Xbox Cloud Gaming utilizes Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology to allow direct and on-
demand streaming of games to PCs, consoles, and mobile devices, enabling gamers to take their favorites games with
them and play on the device most convenient to them.
Xbox enables people to connect and share online gaming experiences that are accessible on Xbox consoles, Windows-
enabled devices, and other devices. Xbox is designed to benefit users by providing access to a network of certified
applications and services and to benefit our developer and partner ecosystems by providing access to a large customer
base. Xbox revenue is mainly affected by subscriptions and sales of first- and third-party content, as well as advertising.
Growth of our Gaming business is determined by the overall active user base through Xbox enabled content, availability
of games, providing exclusive game content that gamers seek, the computational power and reliability of the devices used
to access our content and services, and the ability to create new experiences through first-party content creators.
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Search Advertising
Our Search business, including Bing and Microsoft Advertising, is designed to deliver relevant online advertising to a
global audience. We have several partnerships with other companies, including Verizon Media Group, through which we
provide and monetize search queries. Growth depends on our ability to attract new users, understand intent, and match
intent with relevant content and advertiser offerings.
Competition
Windows faces competition from various software products and from alternative platforms and devices, mainly from Apple
and Google. We believe Windows competes effectively by giving customers choice, value, flexibility, security, an easy-to-
use interface, and compatibility with a broad range of hardware and software applications, including those that enable
productivity.
Devices face competition from various computer, tablet, and hardware manufacturers who offer a unique combination of
high-quality industrial design and innovative technologies across various price points. These manufacturers, many of
which are also current or potential partners and customers, include Apple and our Windows OEMs.
Xbox and our cloud gaming services face competition from various online gaming ecosystems and game streaming
services, including those operated by Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Tencent. We also compete with other
providers of entertainment services such as video streaming platforms. Our gaming platform competes with console
platforms from Nintendo and Sony, both of which have a large, established base of customers. We believe our gaming
platform is effectively positioned against, and uniquely differentiated from, competitive products and services based on
significant innovation in hardware architecture, user interface, developer tools, online gaming and entertainment services,
and continued strong exclusive content from our own first-party game franchises as well as other digital content offerings.
Our search business competes with Google and a wide array of websites, social platforms like Facebook, and portals that
provide content and online offerings to end users.
OPERATIONS
We have operations centers that support operations in their regions, including customer contract and order processing,
credit and collections, information processing, and vendor management and logistics. The regional center in Ireland
supports the European, Middle Eastern, and African region; the center in Singapore supports the Japan, India, Greater
China, and Asia-Pacific region; and the centers in Fargo, North Dakota, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Puerto Rico, Redmond,
Washington, and Reno, Nevada support Latin America and North America. In addition to the operations centers, we also
operate datacenters throughout the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia, as well as in the Middle East and Africa.
To serve the needs of customers around the world and to improve the quality and usability of products in international
markets, we localize many of our products to reflect local languages and conventions. Localizing a product may require
modifying the user interface, altering dialog boxes, and translating text.
Our devices are primarily manufactured by third-party contract manufacturers. For the majority of our products, we have
the ability to use other manufacturers if a current vendor becomes unavailable or unable to meet our requirements.
However, some of our products contain certain components for which there are very few qualified suppliers. For these
components, we have limited near-term flexibility to use other manufacturers if a current vendor becomes unavailable or is
unable to meet our requirements. Extended disruptions at these suppliers could lead to a similar disruption in our ability to
manufacture devices on time to meet consumer demand.
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Product and Service Development, and Intellectual Property
We develop most of our products and services internally through the following engineering groups.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
• Cloud and AI, focuses on making IT professionals, developers, and their systems more productive and
efficient through development of cloud infrastructure, server, database, CRM, ERP, management and
development tools, AI cognitive services, and other business process applications and services for
enterprises.
• Experiences and Devices, focuses on instilling a unifying product ethos across our end-user experiences and
devices, including Office, Windows, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Surface.
• AI and Research, focuses on our AI innovations and other forward-looking research and development efforts
spanning infrastructure, services, applications, and search.
LinkedIn, focuses on our services that transform the way customers hire, market, sell, and learn.
•
• Gaming, focuses on developing hardware, content, and services across a large range of platforms to help
grow our user base through game experiences and social interaction.
Internal development allows us to maintain competitive advantages that come from product differentiation and closer
technical control over our products and services. It also gives us the freedom to decide which modifications and
enhancements are most important and when they should be implemented. We strive to obtain information as early as
possible about changing usage patterns and hardware advances that may affect software and hardware design. Before
releasing new software platforms, and as we make significant modifications to existing platforms, we provide application
vendors with a range of resources and guidelines for development, training, and testing. Generally, we also create product
documentation internally.
We protect our intellectual property investments in a variety of ways. We work actively in the U.S. and internationally to
ensure the enforcement of copyright, trademark, trade secret, and other protections that apply to our software and
hardware products, services, business plans, and branding. We are a leader among technology companies in pursuing
patents and currently have a portfolio of over 65,000 U.S. and international patents issued and over 21,000 pending
worldwide. While we employ much of our internally-developed intellectual property exclusively in our products and
services, we also engage in outbound licensing of specific patented technologies that are incorporated into licensees’
products. From time to time, we enter into broader cross-license agreements with other technology companies covering
entire groups of patents. We may also purchase or license technology that we incorporate into our products and services.
At times, we make select intellectual property broadly available at no or low cost to achieve a strategic objective, such as
promoting industry standards, advancing interoperability, supporting societal and/or environmental efforts, or attracting
and enabling our external development community. Our increasing engagement with open source software will also cause
us to license our intellectual property rights broadly in certain situations.
While it may be necessary in the future to seek or renew licenses relating to various aspects of our products, services,
and business methods, we believe, based upon past experience and industry practice, such licenses generally can be
obtained on commercially reasonable terms. We believe our continuing research and product development are not
materially dependent on any single license or other agreement with a third party relating to the development of our
products.
Investing in the Future
Our success is based on our ability to create new and compelling products, services, and experiences for our users, to
initiate and embrace disruptive technology trends, to enter new geographic and product markets, and to drive broad
adoption of our products and services. We invest in a range of emerging technology trends and breakthroughs that we
believe offer significant opportunities to deliver value to our customers and growth for the Company. Based on
25
our assessment of key technology trends, we maintain our long-term commitment to research and development across a
wide spectrum of technologies, tools, and platforms spanning digital work and life experiences, cloud computing, AI,
devices, and operating systems.
While our main product research and development facilities are located in Redmond, Washington, we also operate
research and development facilities in other parts of the U.S. and around the world. This global approach helps us remain
competitive in local markets and enables us to continue to attract top talent from across the world.
In addition to our main research and development operations, we also operate Microsoft Research. Microsoft Research is
one of the world’s largest corporate research organizations and works in close collaboration with top universities around
the world to advance the state-of-the-art in computer science and a broad range of other disciplines, providing us a unique
perspective on future trends and contributing to our innovation.
We generally fund research at the corporate level to ensure that we are looking beyond immediate product considerations
to opportunities further in the future. We also fund research and development activities at the operating segment level.
Much of our segment level research and development is coordinated with other segments and leveraged across the
Company. We plan to continue to make significant investments in a broad range of research and development efforts.
DISTRIBUTION, SALES, AND MARKETING
We market and distribute our products and services through the following channels: OEMs, direct, and distributors and
resellers. Our sales force performs a variety of functions, including working directly with commercial enterprises and
public-sector organizations worldwide to identify and meet their technology and digital transformation requirements;
managing OEM relationships; and supporting system integrators, independent software vendors, and other partners who
engage directly with our customers to perform sales, consulting, and fulfillment functions for our products and services.
OEMs
We distribute our products and services through OEMs that pre-install our software on new devices and servers they sell.
The largest component of the OEM business is the Windows operating system pre-installed on devices. OEMs also sell
devices pre-installed with other Microsoft products and services, including applications such as Office and the capability to
subscribe to Office 365.
There are two broad categories of OEMs. The largest category of OEMs are direct OEMs as our relationship with them is
managed through a direct agreement between Microsoft and the OEM. We have distribution agreements covering one or
more of our products with virtually all the multinational OEMs, including Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and with many
regional and local OEMs. The second broad category of OEMs are system builders consisting of lower-volume PC
manufacturers, which source Microsoft software for pre-installation and local redistribution primarily through the Microsoft
distributor channel rather than through a direct agreement or relationship with Microsoft.
Direct
Many organizations that license our products and services transact directly with us through Enterprise Agreements and
Enterprise Services contracts, with sales support from system integrators, independent software vendors, web agencies,
and partners that advise organizations on licensing our products and services (―Enterprise Agreement Software Advisors‖
or ―ESA‖). Microsoft offers direct sales programs targeted to reach small, medium, and corporate customers, in addition to
those offered through the reseller channel. A large network of partner advisors support many of these sales.
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We also sell commercial and consumer products and services directly to customers, such as cloud services, search, and
gaming, through our digital marketplaces and online stores. In fiscal year 2021, we closed our Microsoft Store physical
locations and opened our Microsoft Experience Centers. Microsoft Experience Centers are designed to facilitate deeper
engagement with our partners and customers across industries.
Distributors and Resellers
Organizations also license our products and services indirectly, primarily through licensing solution partners (―LSP‖),
distributors, value-added resellers (―VAR‖), and retailers. Although each type of reselling partner may reach organizations
of all sizes, LSPs are primarily engaged with large organizations, distributors resell primarily to VARs, and VARs typically
reach small and medium organizations. ESAs are also typically authorized as LSPs and operate as resellers for our other
volume licensing programs. Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider is our main partner program for reselling cloud services.
We distribute our retail packaged products primarily through independent non-exclusive distributors, authorized
replicators, resellers, and retail outlets. Individual consumers obtain these products primarily through retail outlets. We
distribute our devices through third-party retailers. We have a network of field sales representatives and field support
personnel that solicit orders from distributors and resellers, and provide product training and sales support.
Our Dynamics business solutions are also licensed to enterprises through a global network of channel partners providing
vertical solutions and specialized services.
LICENSING OPTIONS
We offer options for organizations that want to purchase our cloud services, on-premises software, and SA. We license
software to organizations under volume licensing agreements to allow the customer to acquire multiple licenses of
products and services instead of having to acquire separate licenses through retail channels. We use different programs
designed to provide flexibility for organizations of various sizes. While these programs may differ in various parts of the
world, generally they include those discussed below.
SA conveys rights to new software and upgrades for perpetual licenses released over the contract period. It also provides
support, tools, training, and other licensing benefits to help customers deploy and use software efficiently. SA is included
with certain volume licensing agreements and is an optional purchase with others.
Volume Licensing Programs
Enterprise Agreement
Enterprise Agreements offer large organizations a manageable volume licensing program that gives them the flexibility to
buy cloud services and software licenses under one agreement. Enterprise Agreements are designed for medium or large
organizations that want to license cloud services and on-premises software organization-wide over a three-year period.
Organizations can elect to purchase perpetual licenses or subscribe to licenses. SA is included.
Microsoft Product and Services Agreement
Microsoft Product and Services Agreements are designed for medium and large organizations that want to license cloud
services and on-premises software as needed, with no organization-wide commitment, under a single, non-expiring
agreement. Organizations purchase perpetual licenses or subscribe to licenses. SA is optional for customers that
purchase perpetual licenses.
Open
Open agreements are a simple, cost-effective way to acquire the latest Microsoft technology. Open agreements are
designed for small and medium organizations that want to license cloud services and on-premises software over a
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one- to three-year period. Under the Open agreements, organizations purchase perpetual licenses and SA is optional.
Under Open Value agreements, organizations can elect to purchase perpetual licenses or subscribe to licenses and SA is
included.
Select Plus
Select Plus agreements are designed for government and academic organizations to acquire on-premises licenses at any
affiliate or department level, while realizing advantages as one organization. Organizations purchase perpetual licenses
and SA is optional.
Microsoft Online Subscription Agreement
Microsoft Online Subscription Agreements are designed for small and medium organizations that want to subscribe to,
activate, provision, and maintain cloud services seamlessly and directly via the web. The agreement allows customers to
acquire monthly or annual subscriptions for cloud-based services.
Partner Programs
The Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider program offers customers an easy way to license the cloud services they need in
combination with the value-added services offered by their systems integrator, managed services provider, or cloud
reseller partner. Partners in this program can easily package their own products and services to directly provision,
manage, and support their customer subscriptions.
The Microsoft Services Provider License Agreement allows hosting service providers and independent software vendors
who want to license eligible Microsoft software products to provide software services and hosted applications to their end
customers. Partners license software over a three-year period and are billed monthly based on consumption.
The Independent Software Vendor Royalty program enables partners to integrate Microsoft products into other
applications and then license the unified business solution to their end users.
CUSTOMERS
Our customers include individual consumers, small and medium organizations, large global enterprises, public-sector
institutions, Internet service providers, application developers, and OEMs. Our practice is to ship our products promptly
upon receipt of purchase orders from customers; consequently, backlog is not significant.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Our Internet address is www.microsoft.com. At our Investor Relations website, www.microsoft.com/investor, we make
available free of charge a variety of information for investors. Our goal is to maintain the Investor Relations website as a
portal through which investors can easily find or navigate to pertinent information about us, including:
• Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any
amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file that material with
or furnish it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (―SEC‖) at www.sec.gov.
Information on our business strategies, financial results, and metrics for investors.
•
• Announcements of investor conferences, speeches, and events at which our executives talk about our
product, service, and competitive strategies. Archives of these events are also available.
• Press releases on quarterly earnings, product and service announcements, legal developments, and
international news.
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• Corporate governance information including our articles of incorporation, bylaws, governance guidelines,
committee charters, codes of conduct and ethics, global corporate social responsibility initiatives, and other
governance-related policies.
• Other news and announcements that we may post from time to time that investors might find useful or
interesting.
• Opportunities to sign up for email alerts to have information pushed in real time.
We publish a variety of reports and resources related to our Corporate Social Responsibility programs and progress on
our Reports hub website, www.microsoft.com/corporate-responsibility/reports-hub, including reports on sustainability,
responsible sourcing, accessibility, digital trust, and public policy engagement.
The information found on these websites is not part of, or incorporated by reference into, this or any other report we file
with, or furnish to, the SEC. In addition to these channels, we use social media to communicate to the public. It is possible
that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material to investors. We encourage investors, the
media, and others interested in Microsoft to review the information we post on the social media channels listed on our
Investor Relations website.
29
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (―MD&A‖) is
intended to help the reader understand the results of operations and financial condition of Microsoft Corporation. MD&A is
provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and the
accompanying Notes to Financial Statements. This section generally discusses the results of our operations for the year
ended June 30, 2021 compared to the year ended June 30, 2020. For a discussion of the year ended June 30, 2020
compared to the year ended June 30, 2019, please refer to, ―Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations‖ in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2020.
OVERVIEW
Microsoft is a technology company whose mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to
achieve more. We strive to create local opportunity, growth, and impact in every country around the world. Our platforms
and tools help drive small business productivity, large business competitiveness, and public-sector efficiency. They also
support new startups, improve educational and health outcomes, and empower human ingenuity.
We generate revenue by offering a wide range of cloud-based and other services to people and businesses; licensing and
supporting an array of software products; designing, manufacturing, and selling devices; and delivering relevant online
advertising to a global audience. Our most significant expenses are related to compensating employees; designing,
manufacturing, marketing, and selling our products and services; datacenter costs in support of our cloud-based services;
and income taxes.
As the world continues to respond to COVID-19, we are working to do our part by ensuring the safety of our employees,
striving to protect the health and well-being of the communities in which we operate, and providing technology and
resources to our customers to help them do their best work while remote.
Highlights from fiscal year 2021 compared with fiscal year 2020 included:
• Commercial cloud revenue increased 34% to $69.1 billion.
• Office Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 13% driven by Office 365 Commercial
growth of 22%.
• Office Consumer products and cloud services revenue increased 10% and Microsoft 365 Consumer
subscribers increased to 51.9 million.
LinkedIn revenue increased 27%.
•
• Dynamics products and cloud services revenue increased 25% driven by Dynamics 365 growth of 43%.
• Server products and cloud services revenue increased 27% driven by Azure growth of 50%.
• Windows original equipment manufacturer licensing (―Windows OEM‖) revenue increased slightly.
• Windows Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 14%.
• Xbox content and services revenue increased 23%.
• Search advertising revenue, excluding traffic acquisition costs, increased 13%.
• Surface revenue increased 5%.
On March 9, 2021, we completed our acquisition of ZeniMax Media Inc. (―ZeniMax‖), the parent company of Bethesda
Softworks LLC, for a total purchase price of $8.1 billion, consisting primarily of cash. The purchase price included
$768 million of cash and cash equivalents acquired. The financial results of ZeniMax have been included in
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our consolidated financial statements since the date of the acquisition. ZeniMax is reported as part of our More Personal
Computing segment. Refer to Note 8 – Business Combinations of the Notes to Financial Statements for further
discussion.
Industry Trends
Our industry is dynamic and highly competitive, with frequent changes in both technologies and business models. Each
industry shift is an opportunity to conceive new products, new technologies, or new ideas that can further transform the
industry and our business. At Microsoft, we push the boundaries of what is possible through a broad range of research
and development activities that seek to identify and address the changing demands of customers and users, industry
trends, and competitive forces.
Economic Conditions, Challenges, and Risks
The markets for software, devices, and cloud-based services are dynamic and highly competitive. Our competitors are
developing new software and devices, while also deploying competing cloud-based services for consumers and
businesses. The devices and form factors customers prefer evolve rapidly, and influence how users access services in
the cloud, and in some cases, the user’s choice of which suite of cloud-based services to use. We must continue to evolve
and adapt over an extended time in pace with this changing environment. The investments we are making in infrastructure
and devices will continue to increase our operating costs and may decrease our operating margins.
Our success is highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain qualified employees. We hire a mix of university and
industry talent worldwide. We compete for talented individuals globally by offering an exceptional working environment,
broad customer reach, scale in resources, the ability to grow one’s career across many different products and businesses,
and competitive compensation and benefits. Aggregate demand for our software, services, and devices is correlated to
global macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, which remain dynamic.
Our devices are primarily manufactured by third-party contract manufacturers, some of which contain certain components
for which there are very few qualified suppliers. For these components, we have limited near-term flexibility to use other
manufacturers if a current vendor becomes unavailable or is unable to meet our requirements. Extended disruptions at
these suppliers could lead to a similar disruption in our ability to manufacture devices on time to meet consumer demand.
Our international operations provide a significant portion of our total revenue and expenses. Many of these revenue and
expenses are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As a result, changes in foreign exchange rates may
significantly affect revenue and expenses. Weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to certain foreign currencies increased
reported revenue and did not have a material impact on reported expenses from our international operations in fiscal year
2021.
Refer to Risk Factors in our fiscal year 2021 Form 10-K for a discussion of these factors and other risks.
COVID-19
In fiscal year 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact our business operations and financial results. Cloud
usage and demand benefited as customers accelerate their digital transformation priorities. Our consumer businesses
also benefited from the remote environment, with continued demand for PCs and productivity tools, as well as strong
engagement across our Gaming platform. We saw improvement in customer advertising spend and savings in operating
expenses related to COVID-19, but experienced weakness in transactional licensing. The COVID-19 pandemic may
continue to impact our business operations and financial operating results, and there is uncertainty in the nature and
degree of its continued effects over time. Refer to Risk Factors in our fiscal year 2021 Form 10-K for a discussion of these
factors and other risks.
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Seasonality
Our revenue fluctuates quarterly and is generally higher in the second and fourth quarters of our fiscal year. Second
quarter revenue is driven by corporate year-end spending trends in our major markets and holiday season spending by
consumers, and fourth quarter revenue is driven by the volume of multi-year on-premises contracts executed during the
period.
Change in Accounting Estimate
In July 2020, we completed an assessment of the useful lives of our server and network equipment and determined we
should increase the estimated useful life of server equipment from three years to four years and increase the estimated
useful life of network equipment from two years to four years. This change in accounting estimate was effective beginning
fiscal year 2021. Based on the carrying amount of server and network equipment included in property and equipment, net
as of June 30, 2020, the effect of this change in estimate for fiscal year 2021 was an increase in operating income of
$2.7 billion and net income of $2.3 billion, or $0.30 per both basic and diluted share.
Reportable Segments
We report our financial performance based on the following segments: Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent
Cloud, and More Personal Computing. The segment amounts included in MD&A are presented on a basis consistent with
our internal management reporting. All differences between our internal management reporting basis and accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America (―GAAP‖), along with certain corporate-level and other
activity, are included in Corporate and Other.
Additional information on our reportable segments is contained in Note 19 – Segment Information and Geographic Data of
the Notes to Financial Statements.
Metrics
We use metrics in assessing the performance of our business and to make informed decisions regarding the allocation of
resources. We disclose metrics to enable investors to evaluate progress against our ambitions, provide transparency into
performance trends, and reflect the continued evolution of our products and services. Our commercial and other business
metrics are fundamentally connected based on how customers use our products and services. The metrics are disclosed
in the MD&A or the Notes to Financial Statements. Financial metrics are calculated based on GAAP results and growth
comparisons relate to the corresponding period of last fiscal year.
Commercial
Our commercial business primarily consists of Server products and cloud services, Office Commercial, Windows
Commercial, the commercial portion of LinkedIn, Enterprise Services, and Dynamics. Our commercial metrics allow
management and investors to assess the overall health of our commercial business and include leading indicators of
future performance.
Commercial remaining performance obligation
Commercial cloud revenue
Commercial cloud gross margin percentage
Commercial portion of revenue allocated to remaining performance
obligations, which includes unearned revenue and amounts that will
be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods
Revenue from our commercial cloud business, which includes
Azure, Office 365 Commercial, the commercial portion of LinkedIn,
Dynamics 365, and other commercial cloud properties
Gross margin percentage for our commercial cloud business
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Productivity and Business Processes and Intelligent Cloud
Metrics related to our Productivity and Business Processes and Intelligent Cloud segments assess the health of our core
businesses within these segments. The metrics reflect our cloud and on-premises product strategies and trends.
Office Commercial products and cloud services
revenue growth
Office Consumer products and cloud services
revenue growth
Office 365 Commercial seat growth
Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers
Dynamics products and cloud services revenue
growth
LinkedIn revenue growth
Server products and cloud services revenue
growth
More Personal Computing
Revenue from Office Commercial products and cloud services
(Office 365 subscriptions, the Office 365 portion of Microsoft 365
Commercial subscriptions, and Office
licensed on-premises),
comprising Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Office
365 Security and Compliance, and Skype for Business
Revenue from Office Consumer products and cloud services,
including Microsoft 365 Consumer subscriptions and Office licensed
on-premises
The number of Office 365 Commercial seats at end of period where
seats are paid users covered by an Office 365 Commercial
subscription
The number of Microsoft 365 Consumer (formerly Office 365
Consumer) subscribers at end of period
Revenue from Dynamics products and cloud services, including
intelligent, cloud-based
Dynamics 365, comprising a set of
applications across ERP, CRM, Customer Insights, Power Apps,
and Power Automate; and on-premises ERP and CRM applications
Revenue from LinkedIn, including Talent Solutions, Marketing
Solutions, Premium Subscriptions, Sales Solutions, and Learning
Solutions
Revenue from Server products and cloud services, including Azure;
SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and
related Client Access Licenses (―CALs‖); and GitHub
Metrics related to our More Personal Computing segment assess the performance of key lines of business within this
segment. These metrics provide strategic product insights which allow us to assess the performance across our
commercial and consumer businesses. As we have diversity of target audiences and sales motions within the Windows
business, we monitor metrics that are reflective of those varying motions.
Windows OEM Pro revenue growth
Windows OEM non-Pro revenue growth
Windows Commercial products and cloud
services revenue growth
Surface revenue
Xbox content and services revenue growth
Revenue from sales of Windows Pro licenses sold through the OEM
channel, which primarily addresses demand in the commercial
market
Revenue from sales of Windows non-Pro licenses sold through the
OEM channel, which primarily addresses demand in the consumer
market
Revenue from Windows Commercial products and cloud services,
comprising volume licensing of the Windows operating system,
Windows cloud services, and other Windows commercial offerings
Revenue from Surface devices and accessories
Revenue from Xbox content and services, comprising digital
transactions, Xbox Game Pass and other subscriptions, video
games, third-party video game royalties, cloud services, and
advertising
33
Search advertising revenue, excluding TAC,
growth
Revenue from search advertising excluding traffic acquisition costs
(―TAC‖) paid to Bing Ads network publishers
SUMMARY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except percentages and per share amounts)
Revenue
Gross margin
Operating income
Net income
Diluted earnings per share
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP)
2021
2020
Percentage
Change
$ 168,088 $ 143,015
115,856
96,937
69,916
52,959
61,271
44,281
8.05
5.76
60,651
7.97
44,281
5.76
18%
20%
32%
38%
40%
37%
38%
Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share (―EPS‖) are non-GAAP financial measures which exclude
tax benefits related to an India Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes in fiscal year 2021. Refer to the Non-GAAP
Financial Measures section below for a reconciliation of our financial results reported in accordance with GAAP to non-
GAAP financial results. See Note 12 – Income Taxes of the Notes to Financial Statements for further discussion.
Revenue increased $25.1 billion or 18% driven by growth across each of our segments. Intelligent Cloud revenue
increased driven by Azure. Productivity and Business Processes revenue increased driven by Office 365 Commercial and
LinkedIn. More Personal Computing revenue increased driven by Gaming.
Cost of revenue increased $6.2 billion or 13% driven by growth in commercial cloud and Gaming, offset in part by a
reduction in depreciation expense due to the change in estimated useful lives of our server and network equipment.
Gross margin increased $18.9 billion or 20% driven by growth across each of our segments and the change in estimated
useful lives of our server and network equipment. Gross margin percentage increased with the change in estimated useful
lives of our server and network equipment. Excluding this impact, gross margin percentage decreased slightly driven by
gross margin percentage reduction in More Personal Computing. Commercial cloud gross margin percentage increased 4
points to 71% driven by gross margin percentage improvement in Azure and the change in estimated useful lives of our
server and network equipment, offset in part by sales mix shift to Azure.
Operating expenses increased $2.0 billion or 4% driven by investments in cloud engineering and commercial sales, offset
in part by savings related to COVID-19 across each of our segments, prior year charges associated with the closing of our
Microsoft Store physical locations, and a reduction in bad debt expense.
Key changes in operating expenses were:
• Research and development expenses increased $1.4 billion or 8% driven by investments in cloud
engineering.
• Sales and marketing expenses increased $519 million or 3% driven by investments in commercial sales,
offset in part by a reduction in bad debt expense. Sales and marketing included an unfavorable foreign
currency impact of 2%.
• General and administrative expenses were relatively unchanged, driven by prior year charges associated with
the closing of our Microsoft Store physical locations, offset in part by an increase in certain employee-related
expenses and business taxes.
Operating income increased $17.0 billion or 32% driven by growth across each of our segments and the change in
estimated useful lives of our server and network equipment.
34
Current year net income and diluted EPS were positively impacted by the tax benefit related to the India Supreme Court
decision on withholding taxes, which resulted in an increase to net income and diluted EPS of $620 million and $0.08,
respectively.
Revenue, gross margin, and operating income included a favorable foreign currency impact of 3%, 3%, and 4%,
respectively.
SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except percentages)
Revenue
Productivity and Business Processes
Intelligent Cloud
More Personal Computing
Total
Operating Income
Productivity and Business Processes
Intelligent Cloud
More Personal Computing
Total
Reportable Segments
Productivity and Business Processes
Revenue increased $7.5 billion or 16%.
2021
2020
Percentage
Change
$ 53,915 $ 46,398
60,080 48,366
54,093 48,251
$ 168,088 $ 143,015
$ 24,351 $ 18,724
26,126 18,324
19,439 15,911
$ 69,916 $ 52,959
16%
24%
12%
18%
30%
43%
22%
32%
• Office Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased $4.0 billion or 13%. Office 365
Commercial revenue grew 22% driven by seat growth of 17% and higher revenue per user. Office
Commercial products revenue declined 23% driven by continued customer shift to cloud offerings and
transactional weakness.
• Office Consumer products and cloud services revenue increased $474 million or 10% driven by Microsoft 365
Consumer subscription revenue, on a strong prior year comparable that benefited from transactional strength
in Japan. Microsoft 365 Consumer subscribers increased 22% to 51.9 million.
LinkedIn revenue increased $2.2 billion or 27% driven by advertising demand in our Marketing Solutions
business.
•
• Dynamics products and cloud services revenue increased 25% driven by Dynamics 365 growth of 43%.
Operating income increased $5.6 billion or 30%.
• Gross margin increased $6.5 billion or 18% driven by growth in Office 365 Commercial and LinkedIn, and the
change in estimated useful lives of our server and network equipment. Gross margin percentage increased
with the change in estimated useful lives of our server and network equipment. Excluding this impact, gross
margin percentage decreased slightly driven by a sales mix shift to cloud offerings, on a low prior year
comparable impacted by increased usage.
• Operating expenses increased $839 million or 5% driven by investments in commercial sales, cloud
engineering, and LinkedIn.
Revenue, gross margin, and operating income included a favorable foreign currency impact of 2%, 3%, and 4%,
respectively.
35
Intelligent Cloud
Revenue increased $11.7 billion or 24%.
• Server products and cloud services revenue increased $11.2 billion or 27% driven by Azure. Azure revenue
grew 50% due to growth in our consumption-based services. Server products revenue increased 6% driven
by hybrid and premium solutions, on a strong prior year comparable that benefited from demand related to
SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 end of support.
• Enterprise Services revenue increased $534 million or 8% driven by growth in Premier Support Services.
Operating income increased $7.8 billion or 43%.
• Gross margin increased $9.7 billion or 29% driven by growth in Azure and the change in estimated useful
lives of our server and network equipment. Gross margin percentage increased with the change in estimated
useful lives of our server and network equipment. Excluding this impact, gross margin percentage was
relatively unchanged driven by gross margin percentage improvement in Azure, offset in part by sales mix
shift to Azure.
• Operating expenses increased $1.9 billion or 12% driven by investments in Azure.
Revenue, gross margin, and operating income included a favorable foreign currency impact of 2%, 3%, and 4%,
respectively.
More Personal Computing
Revenue increased $5.8 billion or 12%.
• Windows revenue increased $933 million or 4% driven by growth in Windows Commercial. Windows
Commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 14% driven by demand for Microsoft 365.
Windows OEM revenue increased slightly driven by consumer PC demand, on a strong prior year OEM Pro
comparable that benefited from Windows 7 end of support. Windows OEM Pro revenue decreased 9% and
Windows OEM non-Pro revenue grew 21%.
• Gaming revenue increased $3.8 billion or 33% driven by growth in Xbox content and services and Xbox
hardware. Xbox content and services revenue increased $2.3 billion or 23% driven by growth in third-party
titles, Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, and first-party titles. Xbox hardware revenue increased 92% driven by
higher price of consoles sold due to the Xbox Series X|S launches.
• Search advertising revenue increased $788 million or 10%. Search advertising revenue excluding traffic
acquisition costs increased 13% driven by higher revenue per search and search volume.
• Surface revenue increased $302 million or 5%.
Operating income increased $3.5 billion or 22%.
• Gross margin increased $2.8 billion or 10% driven by growth in Windows, Gaming, and Search advertising.
Gross margin percentage decreased driven by sales mix shift to Gaming hardware.
• Operating expenses decreased $752 million or 6% driven by prior year charges associated with the closing of
our Microsoft Store physical locations and reductions in retail store expenses and marketing, offset in part by
investments in Gaming.
Gross margin and operating income included a favorable foreign currency impact of 2% and 3%, respectively.
36
OPERATING EXPENSES
Research and Development
(In millions, except percentages)
Research and development
As a percent of revenue
2021
2020
Percentage
Change
$ 20,716 $ 19,269
12% 13%
8%
(1)ppt
Research and development expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, and other
headcount-related expenses associated with product development. Research and development expenses also include
third-party development and programming costs, localization costs incurred to translate software for international markets,
and the amortization of purchased software code and services content.
Research and development expenses increased $1.4 billion or 8% driven by investments in cloud engineering.
Sales and Marketing
(In millions, except percentages)
Sales and marketing
As a percent of revenue
2021
2020
Percentage
Change
$ 20,117 $ 19,598
12% 14%
3%
(2)ppt
Sales and marketing expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, and other
headcount-related expenses associated with sales and marketing personnel, and the costs of advertising, promotions,
trade shows, seminars, and other programs.
Sales and marketing expenses increased $519 million or 3% driven by investments in commercial sales, offset in part by
a reduction in bad debt expense. Sales and marketing included an unfavorable foreign currency impact of 2%.
General and Administrative
(In millions, except percentages)
General and administrative
As a percent of revenue
2021
2020
Percentage
Change
$ 5,107 $ 5,111
3% 4%
0%
(1)ppt
General and administrative expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, severance
expense, and other headcount-related expenses associated with finance, legal, facilities, certain human resources and
other administrative personnel, certain taxes, and legal and other administrative fees.
General and administrative expenses were relatively unchanged, driven by prior year charges associated with the closing
of our Microsoft Store physical locations, offset in part by an increase in certain employee-related expenses and business
taxes.
37
The components of other income (expense), net were as follows:
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Interest and dividends income
Interest expense
Net recognized gains on investments
Net gains on derivatives
Net gains (losses) on foreign currency remeasurements
Other, net
Total
2021
2020
$ 2,131 $ 2,680
(2,346)
(2,591 )
1,232
32
17
187
54
(191 )
98
(40 )
$ 1,186 $
77
We use derivative instruments to manage risks related to foreign currencies, equity prices, interest rates, and credit;
enhance investment returns; and facilitate portfolio diversification. Gains and losses from changes in fair values of
derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are primarily recognized in other income (expense), net.
Interest and dividends income decreased due to lower yields on fixed-income securities. Interest expense decreased due
to a decrease in outstanding long-term debt due to debt maturities. Net recognized gains on investments increased due to
higher gains on equity securities. Net gains on derivatives decreased due to lower gains on foreign currency contracts.
Effective Tax Rate
INCOME TAXES
Our effective tax rate for fiscal years 2021 and 2020 was 14% and 17%, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax
rate was primarily due to tax benefits from a decision by the India Supreme Court on withholding taxes in the case of
Engineering Analysis Centre of Excellence Private Limited vs The Commissioner of Income Tax, an agreement between
the U.S. and India tax authorities related to transfer pricing, final Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (―TCJA‖) regulations, and an
increase in tax benefits relating to stock-based compensation.
We have historically paid India withholding taxes on software sales through distributor withholding and tax audit
assessments in India. In March 2021, the India Supreme Court ruled favorably for companies in 86 separate appeals,
some dating back to 2012, holding that software sales are not subject to India withholding taxes. Although we were not a
party to the appeals, our software sales in India were determined to be not subject to withholding taxes. Therefore, we
recorded a net income tax benefit of $620 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 to reflect the results of the India
Supreme Court decision impacting fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2016.
Our effective tax rate was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate, primarily due to earnings taxed at lower rates in
foreign jurisdictions resulting from producing and distributing our products and services through our foreign regional
operations centers in Ireland and Puerto Rico, tax benefits relating to stock-based compensation, and tax benefits from
the India Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes.
The mix of income before income taxes between the U.S. and foreign countries impacted our effective tax rate as a result
of the geographic distribution of, and customer demand for, our products and services. In fiscal year 2021, our U.S.
income before income taxes was $35.0 billion and our foreign income before income taxes was $36.1 billion. In fiscal year
2020, our U.S. income before income taxes was $24.1 billion and our foreign income before income taxes was
$28.9 billion.
Uncertain Tax Positions
We settled a portion of the Internal Revenue Service (―IRS‖) audit for tax years 2004 to 2006 in fiscal year 2011. In
February 2012, the IRS withdrew its 2011 Revenue Agents Report related to unresolved issues for tax years 2004 to
38
2006 and reopened the audit phase of the examination. We also settled a portion of the IRS audit for tax years 2007 to
2009 in fiscal year 2016, and a portion of the IRS audit for tax years 2010 to 2013 in fiscal year 2018. In the second
quarter of fiscal year 2021, we settled an additional portion of the IRS audits for tax years 2004 to 2013 and made a
payment of $1.7 billion, including tax and interest. We remain under audit for tax years 2004 to 2017.
As of June 30, 2021, the primary unresolved issues for the IRS audits relate to transfer pricing, which could have a
material impact in our consolidated financial statements when the matters are resolved. We believe our allowances for
income tax contingencies are adequate. We have not received a proposed assessment for the unresolved key transfer
pricing issues and do not expect a final resolution of these issues in the next 12 months. Based on the information
currently available, we do not anticipate a significant increase or decrease to our tax contingencies for these issues within
the next 12 months.
We are subject to income tax in many jurisdictions outside the U.S. Our operations in certain jurisdictions remain subject
to examination for tax years 1996 to 2020, some of which are currently under audit by local tax authorities. The resolution
of each of these audits is not expected to be material to our consolidated financial statements.
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures which exclude the tax benefits related
to the India Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes in fiscal year 2021. We believe these non-GAAP measures aid
investors by providing additional insight into our operational performance and help clarify trends affecting our business.
For comparability of reporting, management considers non-GAAP measures in conjunction with GAAP financial results in
evaluating business performance. These non-GAAP financial measures presented should not be considered a substitute
for, or superior to, the measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
The following table reconciles our financial results reported in accordance with GAAP to non-GAAP financial results:
(In millions, except percentages and per share amounts)
Net income
Net income tax benefit related to India Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes
Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)
Diluted earnings per share
Net income tax benefit related to India Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP)
*
Not meaningful.
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Investments
FINANCIAL CONDITION
2021
(620)
2020
$ 61,271 $ 44,281
0
$ 60,651 $ 44,281
5.76
0
5.76
8.05 $
(0.08)
7.97 $
$
$
Percentage
Change
38%
*
37%
40%
*
38%
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $130.3 billion and $136.5 billion as of June 30, 2021 and
2020. Equity investments were $6.0 billion and $3.0 billion as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Our short-term
investments are primarily intended to facilitate liquidity and capital preservation. They consist predominantly of highly
liquid investment-grade fixed-income securities, diversified among industries and individual issuers. The investments are
predominantly U.S. dollar-denominated securities, but also include foreign currency-denominated securities to diversify
risk. Our fixed-income investments are exposed to interest rate risk and credit risk. The credit risk and average maturity of
our fixed-income portfolio are managed to achieve economic returns that correlate to certain fixed-income indices. The
settlement risk related to these investments is insignificant given that the short-term investments held are primarily highly
liquid investment-grade fixed-income securities.
39
Valuation
In general, and where applicable, we use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities to determine the
fair value of our financial instruments. This pricing methodology applies to our Level 1 investments, such as U.S.
government securities, common and preferred stock, and mutual funds. If quoted prices in active markets for identical
assets or liabilities are not available to determine fair value, then we use quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities or
inputs other than the quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly. This pricing methodology applies to our
Level 2 investments, such as commercial paper, certificates of deposit, U.S. agency securities, foreign government bonds,
mortgage- and asset-backed securities, corporate notes and bonds, and municipal securities. Level 3 investments are
valued using internally-developed models with unobservable inputs. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a
recurring basis using unobservable inputs are an immaterial portion of our portfolio.
A majority of our investments are priced by pricing vendors and are generally Level 1 or Level 2 investments as these
vendors either provide a quoted market price in an active market or use observable inputs for their pricing without
applying significant adjustments. Broker pricing is used mainly when a quoted price is not available, the investment is not
priced by our pricing vendors, or when a broker price is more reflective of fair values in the market in which the investment
trades. Our broker-priced investments are generally classified as Level 2 investments because the broker prices these
investments based on similar assets without applying significant adjustments. In addition, all our broker-priced
investments have a sufficient level of trading volume to demonstrate that the fair values used are appropriate for these
investments. Our fair value processes include controls that are designed to ensure appropriate fair values are recorded.
These controls include model validation, review of key model inputs, analysis of period-over-period fluctuations, and
independent recalculation of prices where appropriate.
Cash Flows
Cash from operations increased $16.1 billion to $76.7 billion for fiscal year 2021, mainly due to an increase in cash
received from customers, offset in part by an increase in cash paid to suppliers and employees. Cash used in financing
increased $2.5 billion to $48.5 billion for fiscal year 2021, mainly due to a $4.4 billion increase in common stock
repurchases and a $1.4 billion increase in dividends paid, offset in part by a $1.8 billion decrease in repayments of debt
and a $1.7 billion decrease in cash premium paid on debt exchange. Cash used in investing increased $15.4 billion to
$27.6 billion for fiscal year 2021, mainly due to a $6.4 billion increase in cash used for acquisitions of companies, net of
cash acquired, and purchases of intangible and other assets, a $5.2 billion increase in additions to property and
equipment, and a $4.1 billion decrease in cash from net investment purchases, sales, and maturities.
Debt
We issue debt to take advantage of favorable pricing and liquidity in the debt markets, reflecting our credit rating and the
low interest rate environment. The proceeds of these issuances were or will be used for general corporate purposes,
which may include, among other things, funding for working capital, capital expenditures, repurchases of capital stock,
acquisitions, and repayment of existing debt. In March 2021 and June 2020, we exchanged a portion of our existing debt
at a premium for cash and new debt with longer maturities to take advantage of favorable financing rates in the debt
markets, reflecting our credit rating and the low interest rate environment. Refer to Note 11 – Debt of the Notes to
Financial Statements for further discussion.
Unearned Revenue
Unearned revenue comprises mainly unearned revenue related to volume licensing programs, which may include
Software Assurance (―SA‖) and cloud services. Unearned revenue is generally invoiced annually at the beginning of each
contract period for multi-year agreements and recognized ratably over the coverage period. Unearned revenue also
includes payments for other offerings for which we have been paid in advance and earn the revenue when we transfer
control of the product or service. Refer to Note 1 – Accounting Policies of the Notes to Financial Statements for further
discussion.
40
The following table outlines the expected future recognition of unearned revenue as of June 30, 2021:
(In millions)
Three Months Ending
September 30, 2021
December 31, 2021
March 31, 2022
June 30, 2022
Thereafter
Total
$ 15,922
12,646
8,786
4,171
2,616
$ 44,141
If our customers choose to license cloud-based versions of our products and services rather than licensing transaction-
based products and services, the associated revenue will shift from being recognized at the time of the transaction to
being recognized over the subscription period or upon consumption, as applicable.
Share Repurchases
During fiscal years 2021 and 2020, we repurchased 101 million shares and 126 million shares of our common stock for
$23.0 billion and $19.7 billion, respectively, through our share repurchase programs. All repurchases were made using
cash resources. Refer to Note 16 – Stockholders’ Equity of the Notes to Financial Statements for further discussion.
Dividends
Refer to Note 16 – Stockholders’ Equity of the Notes to Financial Statements for further discussion.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We provide indemnifications of varying scope and size to certain customers against claims of intellectual property
infringement made by third parties arising from the use of our products and certain other matters. Additionally, we have
agreed to cover damages resulting from breaches of certain security and privacy commitments in our cloud business. In
evaluating estimated losses on these obligations, we consider factors such as the degree of probability of an unfavorable
outcome and our ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss. These obligations did not have a material
impact in our consolidated financial statements during the periods presented.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes the payments due by fiscal year for our outstanding contractual obligations as of June 30,
2021:
(In millions)
Long-term debt: (a)
Principal payments
Interest payments
Construction commitments (b)
Operating leases, including imputed interest (c)
Finance leases, including imputed interest (c)
Transition tax (d)
Purchase commitments (e)
Other long-term liabilities (f)
Total
2022
2023-2024
2025-2026
Thereafter
Total
0
529
$ 8,075 $ 8,000 $ 5,250 $ 42,585 $ 63,910
1,628 2,847 2,438 17,320 24,233
8,927
9,456
2,801 4,956 3,469 6,747 17,973
1,341 3,256 3,774 14,096 22,467
1,427 4,105 8,030
0 13,562
270 31,553
446
29,129 1,708
696
263
68
365
$ 53,328 $ 25,766 $ 23,475 $ 81,281 $ 183,850
0
0
41
(a) Refer to Note 11 – Debt of the Notes to Financial Statements.
(b) Refer to Note 7 – Property and Equipment of the Notes to Financial Statements.
(c) Refer to Note 14 – Leases of the Notes to Financial Statements.
(d) Refer to Note 12 – Income Taxes of the Notes to Financial Statements.
(e) Amounts represent purchase commitments, including open purchase orders and take-or-pay contracts that are not
presented as construction commitments above.
(f) We have excluded long-term tax contingencies, other tax liabilities, and deferred income taxes of $14.6 billion from
the amounts presented as the timing of these obligations is uncertain. We have also excluded unearned revenue
and non-cash items.
Other Planned Uses of Capital
On April 11, 2021, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nuance Communications, Inc. (―Nuance‖) for $56.00
per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $19.7 billion, inclusive of Nuance’s net debt. The acquisition has been
approved by Nuance’s shareholders, and we expect it to close by the end of calendar year 2021, subject to the
satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
We will continue to invest in sales, marketing, product support infrastructure, and existing and advanced areas of
technology, as well as continue making acquisitions that align with our business strategy. Additions to property and
equipment will continue, including new facilities, datacenters, and computer systems for research and development, sales
and marketing, support, and administrative staff. We expect capital expenditures to increase in coming years to support
growth in our cloud offerings. We have operating and finance leases for datacenters, corporate offices, research and
development facilities, Microsoft Experience Centers, and certain equipment. We have not engaged in any related party
transactions or arrangements with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are reasonably likely to materially affect
liquidity or the availability of capital resources.
Liquidity
As a result of the TCJA, we are required to pay a one-time transition tax on deferred foreign income not previously subject
to U.S. income tax. Under the TCJA, the transition tax is payable in interest-free installments over eight years, with 8%
due in each of the first five years, 15% in year six, 20% in year seven, and 25% in year eight. We have paid transition tax
of $4.7 billion, which included $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2021. The remaining transition tax of $13.6 billion is payable over
the next five years with a final payment in fiscal year 2026.
We expect existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, cash flows from operations, and access to capital
markets to continue to be sufficient to fund our operating activities and cash commitments for investing and financing
activities, such as dividends, share repurchases, debt maturities, material capital expenditures, and the transition tax
related to the TCJA, for at least the next 12 months and thereafter for the foreseeable future.
Refer to Note 1 – Accounting Policies of the Notes to Financial Statements for further discussion.
RECENT ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparing
consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s
application of accounting policies, as well as uncertainty in the current economic environment due to COVID-19. Critical
accounting policies for us include revenue recognition, impairment of investment securities, goodwill, research and
development costs, contingencies, income taxes, and inventories.
42
Revenue Recognition
Our contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer.
Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for
separately versus together may require significant judgment. When a cloud-based service includes both on-premises
software licenses and cloud services, judgment is required to determine whether the software license is considered
distinct and accounted for separately, or not distinct and accounted for together with the cloud service and recognized
over time. Certain cloud services, primarily Office 365, depend on a significant level of integration, interdependency, and
interrelation between the desktop applications and cloud services, and are accounted for together as one performance
obligation. Revenue from Office 365 is recognized ratably over the period in which the cloud services are provided.
Judgment is required to determine the stand-alone selling price (―SSP‖) for each distinct performance obligation. We use
a single amount to estimate SSP for items that are not sold separately, including on-premises licenses sold with SA or
software updates provided at no additional charge. We use a range of amounts to estimate SSP when we sell each of the
products and services separately and need to determine whether there is a discount to be allocated based on the relative
SSP of the various products and services.
In instances where SSP is not directly observable, such as when we do not sell the product or service separately, we
determine the SSP using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs. We typically have
more than one SSP for individual products and services due to the stratification of those products and services by
customers and circumstances. In these instances, we may use information such as the size of the customer and
geographic region in determining the SSP.
Due to the various benefits from and the nature of our SA program, judgment is required to assess the pattern of delivery,
including the exercise pattern of certain benefits across our portfolio of customers.
Our products are generally sold with a right of return, we may provide other credits or incentives, and in certain instances
we estimate customer usage of our products and services, which are accounted for as variable consideration when
determining the amount of revenue to recognize. Returns and credits are estimated at contract inception and updated at
the end of each reporting period if additional information becomes available. Changes to our estimated variable
consideration were not material for the periods presented.
Impairment of Investment Securities
We review debt investments quarterly for credit losses and impairment. If the cost of an investment exceeds its fair value,
we evaluate, among other factors, general market conditions, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, and the extent to
which the fair value is less than cost. This determination requires significant judgment. In making this judgment, we
employ a systematic methodology that considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential
impairment of our investments. In addition, we consider specific adverse conditions related to the financial health of, and
business outlook for, the investee. If we have plans to sell the security or it is more likely than not that we will be required
to sell the security before recovery, then a decline in fair value below cost is recorded as an impairment charge in other
income (expense), net and a new cost basis in the investment is established. If market, industry, and/or investee
conditions deteriorate, we may incur future impairments.
Equity investments without readily determinable fair values are written down to fair value if a qualitative assessment
indicates that the investment is impaired and the fair value of the investment is less than carrying value. We perform a
qualitative assessment on a periodic basis. We are required to estimate the fair value of the investment to determine the
amount of the impairment loss. Once an investment is determined to be impaired, an impairment charge is recorded in
other income (expense), net.
Goodwill
We allocate goodwill to reporting units based on the reporting unit expected to benefit from the business combination. We
evaluate our reporting units on an annual basis and, if necessary, reassign goodwill using a relative
43
fair value allocation approach. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level
below an operating segment) on an annual basis (May 1 for us) and between annual tests if an event occurs or
circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.
These events or circumstances could include a significant change in the business climate, legal factors, operating
performance indicators, competition, or sale or disposition of a significant portion of a reporting unit.
Application of the goodwill impairment test requires judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assignment of
assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of goodwill to reporting units, and determination of the fair value of
each reporting unit. The fair value of each reporting unit is estimated primarily through the use of a discounted cash flow
methodology. This analysis requires significant judgments, including estimation of future cash flows, which is dependent
on internal forecasts, estimation of the long-term rate of growth for our business, estimation of the useful life over which
cash flows will occur, and determination of our weighted average cost of capital.
The estimates used to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit change from year to year based on operating results,
market conditions, and other factors. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could materially affect the
determination of fair value and goodwill impairment for each reporting unit.
Research and Development Costs
Costs incurred internally in researching and developing a computer software product are charged to expense until
technological feasibility has been established for the product. Once technological feasibility is established, software costs
are capitalized until the product is available for general release to customers. Judgment is required in determining when
technological feasibility of a product is established. We have determined that technological feasibility for our software
products is reached after all high-risk development issues have been resolved through coding and testing. Generally, this
occurs shortly before the products are released to production. The amortization of these costs is included in cost of
revenue over the estimated life of the products.
Legal and Other Contingencies
The outcomes of legal proceedings and claims brought against us are subject to significant uncertainty. An estimated loss
from a loss contingency such as a legal proceeding or claim is accrued by a charge to income if it is probable that an
asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In
determining whether a loss should be accrued we evaluate, among other factors, the degree of probability of an
unfavorable outcome and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss. Changes in these factors could
materially impact our consolidated financial statements.
Income Taxes
The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current
year, and deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in an
entity’s financial statements or tax returns. We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more
likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical
merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on
the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Accounting literature
also provides guidance on derecognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of deferred income tax assets
and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, and income tax disclosures. Judgment is
required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial
statements or tax returns. Variations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact our
consolidated financial statements.
The TCJA significantly changes existing U.S. tax law and includes numerous provisions that affect our business. Refer to
Note 12 – Income Taxes of the Notes to Financial Statements for further discussion.
44
Inventories
Inventories are stated at average cost, subject to the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost includes materials, labor,
and manufacturing overhead related to the purchase and production of inventories. Net realizable value is the estimated
selling price less estimated costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. We regularly review inventory quantities on
hand, future purchase commitments with our suppliers, and the estimated utility of our inventory. These reviews include
analysis of demand forecasts, product life cycle status, product development plans, current sales levels, pricing strategy,
and component cost trends. If our review indicates a reduction in utility below carrying value, we reduce our inventory to a
new cost basis through a charge to cost of revenue.
45
STATEMENT OF MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Management is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and related information that are
presented in this report. The consolidated financial statements, which include amounts based on management’s estimates
and judgments, have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
The Company designs and maintains accounting and internal control systems to provide reasonable assurance at
reasonable cost that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, and that the financial
records are reliable for preparing consolidated financial statements and maintaining accountability for assets. These
systems are augmented by written policies, an organizational structure providing division of responsibilities, careful
selection and training of qualified personnel, and a program of internal audits.
The Company engaged Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, to audit and render an
opinion on the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the
standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
The Board of Directors, through its Audit Committee, consisting solely of independent directors of the Company, meets
periodically with management, internal auditors, and our independent registered public accounting firm to ensure that
each is meeting its responsibilities and to discuss matters concerning internal controls and financial reporting. Deloitte &
Touche LLP and the internal auditors each have full and free access to the Audit Committee.
Satya Nadella
Chief Executive Officer
Amy E. Hood
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Alice L. Jolla
Corporate Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
46
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
RISKS
We are exposed to economic risk from foreign exchange rates, interest rates, credit risk, and equity prices. We use
derivatives instruments to manage these risks, however, they may still impact our consolidated financial statements.
Foreign Currencies
Certain forecasted transactions, assets, and liabilities are exposed to foreign currency risk. We monitor our foreign
currency exposures daily to maximize the economic effectiveness of our foreign currency positions, including hedges.
Principal currency exposures include the Euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Canadian dollar, and Australian dollar.
Interest Rate
Securities held in our fixed-income portfolio are subject to different interest rate risks based on their maturities. We
manage the average maturity of the fixed-income portfolio to achieve economic returns that correlate to certain global
fixed-income indices.
Credit
Our fixed-income portfolio is diversified and consists primarily of investment-grade securities. We manage credit
exposures relative to broad-based indices and to facilitate portfolio diversification.
Equity
Securities held in our equity investments portfolio are subject to price risk.
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
The following table sets forth the potential loss in future earnings or fair values, including associated derivatives, resulting
from hypothetical changes in relevant market rates or prices:
(In millions)
Risk Categories
Foreign currency – Revenue
Foreign currency – Investments
Interest rate
Credit
Equity
Hypothetical Change
10% decrease in foreign exchange rates
10% decrease in foreign exchange rates
100 basis point increase in U.S. treasury
interest rates
100 basis point increase in credit spreads
10% decrease in equity market prices
June 30,
2021
Impact
$ (6,756) Earnings
(136) Fair Value
(3,511) Fair Value
(309) Fair Value
(602) Earnings
47
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INCOME STATEMENTS
2021
2020
2019
$ 71,074 $ 68,041 $ 66,069
74,974 59,774
97,014
168,088
143,015 125,843
18,219
16,017 16,273
34,013
30,061 26,637
52,232
46,078 42,910
115,856
96,937 82,933
20,716
19,269 16,876
20,117
19,598 18,213
5,107
5,111 4,885
69,916
52,959 42,959
1,186
77
729
71,102
43,688
53,036
9,831
8,755 4,448
$ 61,271 $ 44,281 $ 39,240
$
$
8.12
8.05
$
$
5.82 $
5.76 $
5.11
5.06
7,547
7,608
7,610
7,683
7,673
7,753
(In millions, except per share amounts)
Year Ended June 30,
Revenue:
Product
Service and other
Total revenue
Cost of revenue:
Product
Service and other
Total cost of revenue
Gross margin
Research and development
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Operating income
Other income, net
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
Net income
Earnings per share:
Basic
Diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
Diluted
Refer to accompanying notes.
48
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENTS
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net change related to derivatives
Net change related to investments
Translation adjustments and other
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income
Refer to accompanying notes.
2021
2020
2019
$ 61,271 $ 44,281 $ 39,240
19
(2,266 )
873
(1,374 )
(173 )
2,405
(318 )
1,914
$ 59,897 $ 47,807 $ 41,154
(38)
3,990
(426)
3,526
49
BALANCE SHEETS
2021
2020
(In millions)
June 30,
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $751 and $788
Inventories
Other current assets
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $51,351 and $43,197
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Equity investments
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net
Other long-term assets
Total assets
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Current portion of long-term debt
Accrued compensation
Short-term income taxes
Short-term unearned revenue
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt
Long-term income taxes
Long-term unearned revenue
Deferred income taxes
Operating lease liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock and paid-in capital – shares authorized 24,000; outstanding 7,519 and 7,571
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Total stockholders’ equity
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Refer to accompanying notes.
50
2,636
$ 14,224 $ 13,576
116,110 122,951
130,334 136,527
38,043 32,011
1,895
13,393 11,482
184,406 181,915
59,715 44,151
11,088
8,753
5,984
2,965
49,711 43,351
7,038
15,075 13,138
$ 333,779 $ 301,311
7,800
8,072
10,057
2,174
$ 15,163 $ 12,530
3,749
7,874
2,130
41,525 36,000
11,666 10,027
88,657 72,310
50,074 59,578
27,190 29,432
3,180
204
7,671
13,427 10,632
191,791 183,007
2,616
198
9,629
1,822
83,111 80,552
57,055 34,566
3,186
141,988 118,304
$ 333,779 $ 301,311
CASH FLOWS STATEMENTS
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Operations
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operations:
Depreciation, amortization, and other
Stock-based compensation expense
Net recognized gains on investments and derivatives
Deferred income taxes
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other current assets
Other long-term assets
Accounts payable
Unearned revenue
Income taxes
Other current liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Net cash from operations
Financing
Cash premium on debt exchange
Repayments of debt
Common stock issued
Common stock repurchased
Common stock cash dividends paid
Other, net
Net cash used in financing
Investing
Additions to property and equipment
Acquisition of companies, net of cash acquired, and purchases of intangible and other
assets
Purchases of investments
Maturities of investments
Sales of investments
Other, net
Net cash used in investing
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
Refer to accompanying notes.
2021
2020
2019
$ 61,271 $ 44,281 $ 39,240
11,686 12,796 11,682
6,118 5,289 4,652
(792)
(6,463)
(1,249)
(150)
(219)
11
(6,481)
(737)
(932)
(3,459)
(2,812)
(2,577)
597
168
(1,718)
(2,330)
(1,834)
(1,037)
2,798 3,018
232
4,633 2,212 4,462
(3,631) 2,929
4,149 1,346 1,419
1,402 1,348
591
76,740 60,675 52,185
(2,309)
(1,754)
(3,750)
(3,417)
(5,518)
0
(4,000)
1,693 1,343 1,142
(27,385) (22,968) (19,543)
(16,521) (15,137) (13,811)
(675)
(48,486) (46,031) (36,887)
(769)
(334)
(20,622) (15,441) (13,925)
(922)
(8,909)
(2,521)
(1,241)
(2,388)
(62,924) (77,190) (57,697)
51,792 66,449 20,043
14,008 17,721 38,194
0
(27,577) (12,223) (15,773)
(115)
(590)
13,576 11,356 11,946
$ 14,224 $ 13,576 $ 11,356
(29)
(201)
648 2,220
51
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY STATEMENTS
(In millions, except per share amounts)
Year Ended June 30,
Common stock and paid-in capital
Balance, beginning of period
Common stock issued
Common stock repurchased
Stock-based compensation expense
Other, net
Balance, end of period
Retained earnings
Balance, beginning of period
Net income
Common stock cash dividends
Common stock repurchased
Cumulative effect of accounting changes
Balance, end of period
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Balance, beginning of period
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes
Balance, end of period
Total stockholders’ equity
2021
2020
2019
(5,539)
$ 80,552 $ 78,520 $ 71,223
1,963 1,343 6,829
(4,195)
6,118 5,289 4,652
11
83,111 80,552 78,520
(4,599)
(1)
17
34,566 24,150 13,682
61,271 44,281 39,240
(14,103)
(15,346)
677
57,055 34,566 24,150
(16,871)
(21,879)
(15,483)
(18,382)
(32)
0
(340)
3,186
(2,187)
(1,374) 3,526 1,914
10
0
(67)
1,822 3,186
(340)
$ 141,988 $ 118,304 $ 102,330
Cash dividends declared per common share
$
2.24 $
2.04 $
1.84
Refer to accompanying notes.
52
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting Principles
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America (―GAAP‖).
We have recast certain prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. The recast of these prior
period amounts had no impact on our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated income statements, or consolidated
cash flows statements.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Microsoft Corporation and its subsidiaries. Intercompany
transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Estimates and Assumptions
Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Examples of estimates and assumptions include: for revenue
recognition, determining the nature and timing of satisfaction of performance obligations, and determining the standalone
selling price (―SSP‖) of performance obligations, variable consideration, and other obligations such as product returns and
refunds; loss contingencies; product warranties; the fair value of and/or potential impairment of goodwill and intangible
assets for our reporting units; product life cycles; useful lives of our tangible and intangible assets; allowances for doubtful
accounts; the market value of, and demand for, our inventory; stock-based compensation forfeiture rates; when
technological feasibility is achieved for our products; the potential outcome of uncertain tax positions that have been
recognized in our consolidated financial statements or tax returns; and determining the timing and amount of impairments
for investments. Actual results and outcomes may differ from management’s estimates and assumptions due to risks and
uncertainties, including uncertainty in the current economic environment due to COVID-19.
In July 2020, we completed an assessment of the useful lives of our server and network equipment and determined we
should increase the estimated useful life of server equipment from three years to four years and increase the estimated
useful life of network equipment from two years to four years. This change in accounting estimate was effective beginning
fiscal year 2021. Based on the carrying amount of server and network equipment included in property and equipment, net
as of June 30, 2020, the effect of this change in estimate for fiscal year 2021 was an increase in operating income of
$2.7 billion and net income of $2.3 billion, or $0.30 per both basic and diluted share.
Foreign Currencies
Assets and liabilities recorded in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date.
Revenue and expenses are translated at average rates of exchange prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments
resulting from this process are recorded to other comprehensive income.
Revenue
Product Revenue and Service and Other Revenue
Product revenue includes sales from operating systems, cross-device productivity applications, server applications,
business solution applications, desktop and server management tools, software development tools, video games, and
hardware such as PCs, tablets, gaming and entertainment consoles, other intelligent devices, and related accessories.
53
Service and other revenue includes sales from cloud-based solutions that provide customers with software, services,
platforms, and content such as Office 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, and Xbox; solution support; and consulting services.
Service and other revenue also includes sales from online advertising and LinkedIn.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount that reflects
the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. We enter into contracts that can
include various combinations of products and services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as
separate performance obligations. Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from
customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities.
Nature of Products and Services
Licenses for on-premises software provide the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available
to the customer. Customers may purchase perpetual licenses or subscribe to licenses, which provide customers with the
same functionality and differ mainly in the duration over which the customer benefits from the software. Revenue from
distinct on-premises licenses is recognized upfront at the point in time when the software is made available to the
customer. In cases where we allocate revenue to software updates, primarily because the updates are provided at no
additional charge, revenue is recognized as the updates are provided, which is generally ratably over the estimated life of
the related device or license.
Certain volume licensing programs, including Enterprise Agreements, include on-premises licenses combined with
Software Assurance (―SA‖). SA conveys rights to new software and upgrades released over the contract period and
provides support, tools, and training to help customers deploy and use products more efficiently. On-premises licenses
are considered distinct performance obligations when sold with SA. Revenue allocated to SA is generally recognized
ratably over the contract period as customers simultaneously consume and receive benefits, given that SA comprises
distinct performance obligations that are satisfied over time.
Cloud services, which allow customers to use hosted software over the contract period without taking possession of the
software, are provided on either a subscription or consumption basis. Revenue related to cloud services provided on a
subscription basis is recognized ratably over the contract period. Revenue related to cloud services provided on a
consumption basis, such as the amount of storage used in a period, is recognized based on the customer utilization of
such resources. When cloud services require a significant level of integration and interdependency with software and the
individual components are not considered distinct, all revenue is recognized over the period in which the cloud services
are provided.
Revenue from search advertising is recognized when the advertisement appears in the search results or when the action
necessary to earn the revenue has been completed. Revenue from consulting services is recognized as services are
provided.
Our hardware is generally highly dependent on, and interrelated with, the underlying operating system and cannot
function without the operating system. In these cases, the hardware and software license are accounted for as a single
performance obligation and revenue is recognized at the point in time when ownership is transferred to resellers or
directly to end customers through retail stores and online marketplaces.
Refer to Note 19 – Segment Information and Geographic Data for further information, including revenue by significant
product and service offering.
Significant Judgments
Our contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer.
Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be
54
accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. When a cloud-based service includes both on-
premises software licenses and cloud services, judgment is required to determine whether the software license is
considered distinct and accounted for separately, or not distinct and accounted for together with the cloud service and
recognized over time. Certain cloud services, primarily Office 365, depend on a significant level of integration,
interdependency, and interrelation between the desktop applications and cloud services, and are accounted for together
as one performance obligation. Revenue from Office 365 is recognized ratably over the period in which the cloud services
are provided.
Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation. We use a single amount to estimate
SSP for items that are not sold separately, including on-premises licenses sold with SA or software updates provided at
no additional charge. We use a range of amounts to estimate SSP when we sell each of the products and services
separately and need to determine whether there is a discount to be allocated based on the relative SSP of the various
products and services.
In instances where SSP is not directly observable, such as when we do not sell the product or service separately, we
determine the SSP using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs. We typically have
more than one SSP for individual products and services due to the stratification of those products and services by
customers and circumstances. In these instances, we may use information such as the size of the customer and
geographic region in determining the SSP.
Due to the various benefits from and the nature of our SA program, judgment is required to assess the pattern of delivery,
including the exercise pattern of certain benefits across our portfolio of customers.
Our products are generally sold with a right of return, we may provide other credits or incentives, and in certain instances
we estimate customer usage of our products and services, which are accounted for as variable consideration when
determining the amount of revenue to recognize. Returns and credits are estimated at contract inception and updated at
the end of each reporting period if additional information becomes available. Changes to our estimated variable
consideration were not material for the periods presented.
Contract Balances and Other Receivables
Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record a receivable when revenue
is recognized prior to invoicing, or unearned revenue when revenue is recognized subsequent to invoicing. For multi-year
agreements, we generally invoice customers annually at the beginning of each annual coverage period. We record a
receivable related to revenue recognized for multi-year on-premises licenses as we have an unconditional right to invoice
and receive payment in the future related to those licenses.
Unearned revenue comprises mainly unearned revenue related to volume licensing programs, which may include SA and
cloud services. Unearned revenue is generally invoiced annually at the beginning of each contract period for multi-year
agreements and recognized ratably over the coverage period. Unearned revenue also includes payments for consulting
services to be performed in the future, LinkedIn subscriptions, Office 365 subscriptions, Xbox subscriptions, Windows 10
post-delivery support, Dynamics business solutions, and other offerings for which we have been paid in advance and earn
the revenue when we transfer control of the product or service.
Refer to Note 13 – Unearned Revenue for further information, including unearned revenue by segment and changes in
unearned revenue during the period.
Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30
to 60 days. In instances where the timing of revenue recognition differs from the timing of invoicing, we have determined
our contracts generally do not include a significant financing component. The primary purpose of our invoicing terms is to
provide customers with simplified and predictable ways of purchasing our products and services, not to receive financing
from our customers or to provide customers with financing. Examples include invoicing at the beginning of a subscription
term with revenue recognized ratably over the contract period, and multi-year on-premises licenses that are invoiced
annually with revenue recognized upfront.
55
As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, other receivables due from suppliers were $965 million and $442 million, respectively, and
are included in accounts receivable, net in our consolidated balance sheets.
As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, long-term accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, was $3.4 billion and
$2.7 billion, respectively, and is included in other long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects our best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable
balance. We determine the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience, and other currently
available evidence.
Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts was as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Balance, beginning of period
Charged to costs and other
Write-offs
Balance, end of period
Allowance for doubtful accounts included in our consolidated balance sheets:
(In millions)
June 30,
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
Other long-term assets
Total
2021
$ 816
234
(252)
$ 798
2020
$ 434
560
(178)
$ 816
2019
$ 397
153
(116)
$ 434
2021
$ 751
47
$ 798
2020
$ 788
28
$ 816
2019
$ 411
23
$ 434
We record financing receivables when we offer certain of our customers the option to acquire our software products and
services offerings through a financing program in a limited number of countries. As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, our
financing receivables, net were $4.4 billion and $5.2 billion, respectively, for short-term and long-term financing
receivables, which are included in other current assets and other long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheets. We
record an allowance to cover expected losses based on troubled accounts, historical experience, and other currently
available evidence.
Assets Recognized from Costs to Obtain a Contract with a Customer
We recognize an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those
costs to be longer than one year. We have determined that certain sales incentive programs meet the requirements to be
capitalized. Total capitalized costs to obtain a contract were immaterial during the periods presented and are included in
other current and long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheets.
We apply a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract with a customer when the
amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs include our internal sales force compensation
program and certain partner sales incentive programs as we have determined annual compensation is commensurate
with annual sales activities.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue includes: manufacturing and distribution costs for products sold and programs licensed; operating costs
related to product support service centers and product distribution centers; costs incurred to include software on PCs sold
by original equipment manufacturers (―OEM‖), to drive traffic to our websites, and to acquire online advertising space;
costs incurred to support and maintain online products and services, including datacenter costs
56
and royalties; warranty costs; inventory valuation adjustments; costs associated with the delivery of consulting services;
and the amortization of capitalized software development costs. Capitalized software development costs are amortized
over the estimated lives of the products.
Product Warranty
We provide for the estimated costs of fulfilling our obligations under hardware and software warranties at the time the
related revenue is recognized. For hardware warranties, we estimate the costs based on historical and projected product
failure rates, historical and projected repair costs, and knowledge of specific product failures (if any). The specific
hardware warranty terms and conditions vary depending upon the product sold and the country in which we do business,
but generally include parts and labor over a period generally ranging from 90 days to three years. For software warranties,
we estimate the costs to provide bug fixes, such as security patches, over the estimated life of the software. We regularly
reevaluate our estimates to assess the adequacy of the recorded warranty liabilities and adjust the amounts as
necessary.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, and other
headcount-related expenses associated with product development. Research and development expenses also include
third-party development and programming costs, localization costs incurred to translate software for international markets,
and the amortization of purchased software code and services content. Such costs related to software development are
included in research and development expense until the point that technological feasibility is reached, which for our
software products, is generally shortly before the products are released to production. Once technological feasibility is
reached, such costs are capitalized and amortized to cost of revenue over the estimated lives of the products.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses include payroll, employee benefits, stock-based compensation expense, and other
headcount-related expenses associated with sales and marketing personnel, and the costs of advertising, promotions,
trade shows, seminars, and other programs. Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was
$1.5 billion, $1.6 billion, and $1.6 billion in fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
Compensation cost for stock awards, which include restricted stock units (―RSUs‖) and performance stock units (―PSUs‖),
is measured at the fair value on the grant date and recognized as expense, net of estimated forfeitures, over the related
service or performance period. The fair value of stock awards is based on the quoted price of our common stock on the
grant date less the present value of expected dividends not received during the vesting period. We measure the fair value
of PSUs using a Monte Carlo valuation model. Compensation cost for RSUs is recognized using the straight-line method
and for PSUs is recognized using the accelerated method.
Compensation expense for the employee stock purchase plan (―ESPP‖) is measured as the discount the employee is
entitled to upon purchase and is recognized in the period of purchase.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense includes U.S. and international income taxes, and interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions.
Certain income and expenses are not reported in tax returns and financial statements in the same year. The tax effect of
such temporary differences is reported as deferred income taxes. Deferred tax assets are reported net of a valuation
allowance when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. All deferred income taxes are classified as
long-term in our consolidated balance sheets.
57
Financial Instruments
Investments
We consider all highly liquid interest-earning investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to
be cash equivalents. The fair values of these investments approximate their carrying values. In general, investments with
original maturities of greater than three months and remaining maturities of less than one year are classified as short-term
investments. Investments with maturities beyond one year may be classified as short-term based on their highly liquid
nature and because such marketable securities represent the investment of cash that is available for current operations.
Debt investments are classified as available-for-sale and realized gains and losses are recorded using the specific
identification method. Changes in fair value, excluding credit losses and impairments, are recorded in other
comprehensive income. Fair value is calculated based on publicly available market information or other estimates
determined by management. If the cost of an investment exceeds its fair value, we evaluate, among other factors, general
market conditions, credit quality of debt instrument issuers, and the extent to which the fair value is less than cost. To
determine credit losses, we employ a systematic methodology that considers available quantitative and qualitative
evidence. In addition, we consider specific adverse conditions related to the financial health of, and business outlook for,
the investee. If we have plans to sell the security or it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security
before recovery, then a decline in fair value below cost is recorded as an impairment charge in other income (expense),
net and a new cost basis in the investment is established. If market, industry, and/or investee conditions deteriorate, we
may incur future impairments.
Equity investments with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value. Equity investments without readily
determinable fair values are measured using the equity method or measured at cost with adjustments for observable
changes in price or impairments (referred to as the measurement alternative). We perform a qualitative assessment on a
periodic basis and recognize an impairment if there are sufficient indicators that the fair value of the investment is less
than carrying value. Changes in value are recorded in other income (expense), net.
Derivatives
Derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value. The accounting for
changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation.
For derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges, gains and losses are recognized in other income (expense),
net with offsetting gains and losses on the hedged items. Gains and losses representing hedge components excluded
from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in other income (expense), net.
For derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges, gains and losses are initially reported as a component of
other comprehensive income and subsequently recognized in earnings with the corresponding hedged item. Gains and
losses representing hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in earnings.
For derivative instruments that are not designated as hedges, gains and losses from changes in fair values are primarily
recognized in other income (expense), net.
Fair Value Measurements
We account for certain assets and liabilities at fair value. The hierarchy below lists three levels of fair value based on the
extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market. We categorize each of our fair value
measurements in one of these three levels based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement
in its entirety. These levels are:
•
Level 1 – inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Our
Level 1 investments include U.S. government securities, common and preferred stock, and mutual funds. Our
Level 1 derivative assets and liabilities include those actively traded on exchanges.
58
•
•
Level 2 – inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for
identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques (e.g. the
Black-Scholes model) for which all significant inputs are observable in the market or can be corroborated by
observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Where applicable, these
models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based
observable inputs including interest rate curves, credit spreads, foreign exchange rates, and forward and spot
prices for currencies. Our Level 2 investments include commercial paper, certificates of deposit, U.S. agency
securities, foreign government bonds, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, corporate notes and bonds,
and municipal securities. Our Level 2 derivative assets and liabilities primarily include certain over-the-
counter option and swap contracts.
Level 3 – inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that
market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using
model-based techniques, including option pricing models and discounted cash flow models. Our Level 3
assets and liabilities include investments in corporate notes and bonds, municipal securities, and goodwill
and intangible assets, when they are recorded at fair value due to an impairment charge. Unobservable
inputs used in the models are significant to the fair values of the assets and liabilities.
We measure equity investments without readily determinable fair values on a nonrecurring basis. The fair values of these
investments are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available, and may include quoted
market prices, market comparables, and discounted cash flow projections.
Our other current financial assets and current financial liabilities have fair values that approximate their carrying values.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at average cost, subject to the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost includes materials, labor,
and manufacturing overhead related to the purchase and production of inventories. Net realizable value is the estimated
selling price less estimated costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. We regularly review inventory quantities on
hand, future purchase commitments with our suppliers, and the estimated utility of our inventory. If our review indicates a
reduction in utility below carrying value, we reduce our inventory to a new cost basis through a charge to cost of revenue.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, and depreciated using the straight-line method
over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. The estimated useful lives of our property and
equipment are generally as follows: computer software developed or acquired for internal use, three to seven years;
computer equipment, two to four years; buildings and improvements, five to 15 years; leasehold improvements, three to
20 years; and furniture and equipment, one to 10 years. Land is not depreciated.
Leases
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use
(―ROU‖) assets, other current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases
are included in property and equipment, other current liabilities, and other long-term liabilities in our consolidated balance
sheets.
ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation
to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at
commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not
provide an implicit rate, we generally use our incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest
59
for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments at commencement date. The operating lease ROU
asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to
extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease
payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are generally accounted for separately. For
certain equipment leases, such as vehicles, we account for the lease and non-lease components as a single lease
component. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, we apply a portfolio approach to effectively account for the
operating lease ROU assets and liabilities.
Goodwill
Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment)
on an annual basis (May 1 for us) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more
likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value.
Intangible Assets
Our intangible assets are subject to amortization and are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated
period of benefit, ranging from one to 20 years. We evaluate the recoverability of intangible assets periodically by taking
into account events or circumstances that may warrant revised estimates of useful lives or that indicate the asset may be
impaired.
Recent Accounting Guidance
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses
In June 2016, the FASB issued a new standard to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology under current GAAP
with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and
supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. We adopted the standard effective July 1, 2020. We use a
forward-looking expected credit loss model for accounts receivable, loans, and other financial instruments. Credit losses
relating to available-for-sale debt securities are recorded through an allowance for credit losses rather than as a reduction
in the amortized cost basis of the securities. We applied a modified retrospective approach through a cumulative-effect
adjustment to retained earnings as of the effective date to align our credit loss methodology with the new standard. The
adoption of the standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
Accounting for Income Taxes
In December 2019, the FASB issued a new standard to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The guidance eliminates
certain exceptions related to the approach for intraperiod tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in
an interim period, and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences related to changes in
ownership of equity method investments and foreign subsidiaries. The guidance also simplifies aspects of accounting for
franchise taxes and enacted changes in tax laws or rates, and clarifies the accounting for transactions that result in a
step-up in the tax basis of goodwill. The standard will be effective for us beginning July 1, 2021. We have completed our
assessment and concluded that adoption of the new standard will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
60
NOTE 2 — EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share (―EPS‖) is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock
outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common
stock plus the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method.
Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and stock awards.
The components of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:
(In millions, except earnings per share)
Year Ended June 30,
Net income available for common shareholders (A)
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock (B)
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards
Common stock and common stock equivalents (C)
Earnings Per Share
Basic (A/B)
Diluted (A/C)
2021
$ 61,271
7,547
61
7,608
2020
$ 44,281
7,610
73
7,683
2019
$ 39,240
7,673
80
7,753
$
$
8.12
8.05
$
$
5.82
5.76
$
$
5.11
5.06
Anti-dilutive stock-based awards excluded from the calculations of diluted EPS were immaterial during the periods
presented.
The components of other income (expense), net were as follows:
NOTE 3 — OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Interest and dividends income
Interest expense
Net recognized gains on investments
Net gains on derivatives
Net gains (losses) on foreign currency remeasurements
Other, net
Total
Net Recognized Gains (Losses) on Investments
Net recognized gains (losses) on debt investments were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities
Impairments and allowance for credit losses
Total
2021
2,131 $
(2,346 )
1,232
17
54
98
1,186 $
2020
2019
2,680 $ 2,762
(2,686)
(2,591 )
648
32
144
187
(82)
(191 )
(57)
(40 )
729
77 $
2021
105 $
(40 )
(2 )
63 $
2020
50
(37)
(17)
(4)
$
$
2019
12
(93)
(16)
(97)
$
$
$
$
61
Net recognized gains (losses) on equity investments were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Net realized gains on investments sold
Net unrealized gains on investments still held
Impairments of investments
Total
Investment Components
The components of investments were as follows:
NOTE 4 — INVESTMENTS
2021
123
$
1,057
(11)
$ 1,169
2020
83
69
(116 )
36
$
$
2019
276
479
(10)
745
$
$
Fair Value
Level
Adjusted
Cost Basis
Unrealized
Gains
Unrealized
Losses
Recorded
Basis
Cash
and Cash
Equivalents
Short-term
Investments
Equity
Investments
0 $
0
(111)
0
(2)
4,316 $ 1,331 $
3,615 2,920
2,985 $
695
94,385 1,500 92,885
809
5,995
809
6,220
0
225
(6)
(9)
0
0
(7)
3,458
8,683
63
371
88
(135) $ 122,008 $ 5,976 $ 116,032 $
3,458
8,683
63
371
88
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$
$
606
0 $
976 $
1,582 $
0 5,378
0
5,378
0 $ 5,984
6,960 $
976 $
0
0 $
7,272 $ 7,272 $
0
78
0
$ 136,318 $ 14,224 $ 116,110 $ 5,984
78
$
(In millions)
June 30, 2021
Changes in Fair Value Recorded in
Other Comprehensive Income
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
U.S. government securities
U.S. agency securities
Foreign government bonds
Mortgage- and asset-backed
securities
Corporate notes and bonds
Corporate notes and bonds
Municipal securities
Municipal securities
4,316 $
3,615
0 $
Level 2 $
0
Level 2
Level 1 90,664 3,832
2
Level 2
9
Level 2
807
6,213
Level 2
Level 2
Level 3
Level 2
Level 3
3,442
8,443
63
308
95
22
249
0
63
0
Total debt investments
$ 117,966 $ 4,177 $
Changes in Fair Value Recorded in
Net Income
Equity investments
Equity investments
Level 1
Other
Total equity investments
Cash
Derivatives, net (a)
Total
62
(In millions)
June 30, 2020
Changes in Fair Value Recorded in
Other Comprehensive Income
Commercial paper
Certificates of deposit
U.S. government securities
U.S. agency securities
Foreign government bonds
Mortgage- and asset-backed
securities
Corporate notes and bonds
Corporate notes and bonds
Municipal securities
Municipal securities
Total debt investments
Fair Value
Level
Adjusted
Cost Basis
Unrealized
Gains
Unrealized
Losses
Recorded
Basis
Cash
and Cash
Equivalents
Short-term
Investments
Equity
Investments
4,687 $
2,898
1 $
Level 2 $
Level 2
0
Level 1 92,067 6,495
2
Level 2
6
Level 2
2,439
6,982
0 $
0
(1)
0
(3)
4,688 $ 1,618 $
2,898 1,646
3,070 $
1,252
98,561 3,168 95,393
1,992
6,984
2,441
6,985
449
1
Level 2
Level 2
Level 3
Level 2
Level 3
4,865
8,500
58
313
91
4,900
8,810
58
366
91
$ 122,900 $ 6,929 $ (31) $ 129,798 $ 6,882 $ 122,916 $
4,900
8,810
58
366
91
41
327
0
57
0
(6)
(17)
0
(4)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Changes in Fair Value Recorded in
Net Income
Equity investments
Equity investments
Level 1
Other
Total equity investments
Cash
Derivatives, net (a)
Total
$
$
0 $
414
784 $
1,198 $
0 2,551
0
2,551
0 $ 2,965
3,749 $
784 $
0
0 $
5,910 $ 5,910 $
0
35
0
$ 139,492 $ 13,576 $ 122,951 $ 2,965
35
$
(a) Refer to Note 5 – Derivatives for further information on the fair value of our derivative instruments.
Equity investments presented as ―Other‖ in the tables above include investments without readily determinable fair values
measured using the equity method or measured at cost with adjustments for observable changes in price or impairments,
and investments measured at fair value using net asset value as a practical expedient which are not categorized in the fair
value hierarchy. As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, equity investments without readily determinable fair values measured at
cost with adjustments for observable changes in price or impairments were $3.3 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively.
63
Unrealized Losses on Debt Investments
Debt investments with continuous unrealized losses for less than 12 months and 12 months or greater and their related
fair values were as follows:
(In millions)
June 30, 2021
U.S. government and agency securities
Foreign government bonds
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Corporate notes and bonds
Municipal securities
Total
(In millions)
June 30, 2020
U.S. government and agency securities
Foreign government bonds
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities
Corporate notes and bonds
Municipal securities
Total
Less than 12 Months
Unrealized
Fair Value
Losses Fair Value
12 Months or Greater
Unrealized
Losses
Total
Fair Value
Total
Unrealized
Losses
$ 5,294 $ (111) $
3,148
1,211
1,678
58
0
5
87
34
1
$ 11,389 $ (132) $ 127
(1)
(5)
(8)
(7)
$ 0
(1)
(1)
(1)
0
(3)
$
$ 5,294 $
3,153
1,298
1,712
59
$ 11,516 $
(111)
(2)
(6)
(9)
(7)
(135)
Less than 12 Months
Unrealized
Fair Value
Losses Fair Value
12 Months or Greater
Unrealized
Losses
Total
Fair Value
Total
Unrealized
Losses
$ 2,323 $
500
1,014
649
66
$ 4,552 $
(1) $
(3)
(6)
(17)
(4)
(31) $
0 $
0
0
0
0
0 $
0 $ 2,323 $
0
500
0 1,014
649
0
66
0
0 $ 4,552 $
(1)
(3)
(6)
(17)
(4)
(31)
Unrealized losses from fixed-income securities are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. Management does
not believe any remaining unrealized losses represent impairments based on our evaluation of available evidence.
Debt Investment Maturities
(In millions)
June 30, 2021
Due in one year or less
Due after one year through five years
Due after five years through 10 years
Due after 10 years
Total
Adjusted
Cost Basis
Estimated
Fair Value
$ 22,612 $ 22,676
67,541 70,315
25,212 26,327
2,690
$ 117,966 $ 122,008
2,601
NOTE 5 — DERIVATIVES
We use derivative instruments to manage risks related to foreign currencies, interest rates, equity prices, and credit; to
enhance investment returns; and to facilitate portfolio diversification. Our objectives for holding derivatives include
reducing, eliminating, and efficiently managing the economic impact of these exposures as effectively as possible. Our
derivative programs include strategies that both qualify and do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.
Foreign Currencies
Certain forecasted transactions, assets, and liabilities are exposed to foreign currency risk. We monitor our foreign
currency exposures daily to maximize the economic effectiveness of our foreign currency hedge positions.
64
Foreign currency risks related to certain non-U.S. dollar-denominated investments are hedged using foreign exchange
forward contracts that are designated as fair value hedging instruments. Foreign currency risks related to certain Euro-
denominated debt are hedged using foreign exchange forward contracts that are designated as cash flow hedging
instruments.
In the past, option and forward contracts were used to hedge a portion of forecasted international revenue and were
designated as cash flow hedging instruments. Principal currencies hedged included the Euro, Japanese yen, British
pound, Canadian dollar, and Australian dollar.
Certain options and forwards not designated as hedging instruments are also used to manage the variability in foreign
exchange rates on certain balance sheet amounts and to manage other foreign currency exposures.
Interest Rate
Interest rate risks related to certain fixed-rate debt are hedged using interest rate swaps that are designated as fair value
hedging instruments to effectively convert the fixed interest rates to floating interest rates.
Securities held in our fixed-income portfolio are subject to different interest rate risks based on their maturities. We
manage the average maturity of our fixed-income portfolio to achieve economic returns that correlate to certain broad-
based fixed-income indices using exchange-traded option and futures contracts and over-the-counter swap and option
contracts. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are included in ―Other contracts‖ in the tables
below.
Equity
Securities held in our equity investments portfolio are subject to market price risk. At times, we may hold options, futures,
and swap contracts. These contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are included in ―Other contracts‖ in
the tables below.
Credit
Our fixed-income portfolio is diversified and consists primarily of investment-grade securities. We use credit default swap
contracts to manage credit exposures relative to broad-based indices and to facilitate portfolio diversification. These
contracts are not designated as hedging instruments and are included in ―Other contracts‖ in the tables below.
Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features
Certain of our counterparty agreements for derivative instruments contain provisions that require our issued and
outstanding long-term unsecured debt to maintain an investment grade credit rating and require us to maintain minimum
liquidity of $1.0 billion. To the extent we fail to meet these requirements, we will be required to post collateral, similar to
the standard convention related to over-the-counter derivatives. As of June 30, 2021, our long-term unsecured debt rating
was AAA, and cash investments were in excess of $1.0 billion. As a result, no collateral was required to be posted.
65
The following table presents the notional amounts of our outstanding derivative instruments measured in U.S. dollar
equivalents:
(In millions)
Designated as Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts purchased
Foreign exchange contracts sold
Interest rate contracts purchased
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts purchased
Foreign exchange contracts sold
Other contracts purchased
Other contracts sold
Fair Values of Derivative Instruments
The following table presents our derivative instruments:
(In millions)
Designated as Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts
Interest rate contracts
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts
Other contracts
Gross amounts of derivatives
Gross amounts of derivatives offset in the balance sheet
Cash collateral received
Net amounts of derivatives
Reported as
Short-term investments
Other current assets
Other long-term assets
Other current liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Total
June 30,
2021
June 30,
2020
635 $
$
6,081
1,247
635
6,754
1,295
14,223 11,896
23,391 15,595
2,456
1,844
763
757
Derivative
Assets
Derivative
Liabilities
June 30,
2021
Derivative
Assets
Derivative
Liabilities
June 30,
2020
$
76 $
40
(8) $
0
44 $
93
(54)
0
227
56
399
(141)
0
$ 258 $
245
18
400
(291)
(36)
(335)
142
(42)
(235) $ 246 $
(154)
0
(334)
(11)
(399)
158
(154)
(395)
35 $
78 $
$
137
43
0
0
0
0
0
(334)
(61)
$ 258 $ (235) $ 246 $ (395)
0 $
0
0
(182)
(53)
199
12
0
0
Gross derivative assets and liabilities subject to legally enforceable master netting agreements for which we have elected
to offset were $395 million and $335 million, respectively, as of June 30, 2021, and $399 million and $399 million,
respectively, as of June 30, 2020.
66
The following table presents the fair value of our derivatives instruments on a gross basis:
(In millions)
June 30, 2021
Derivative assets
Derivative liabilities
June 30, 2020
Derivative assets
Derivative liabilities
Level 1
Level 2 Level 3
Total
$ 0
0
$ 396 $ 3
(335) 0
$ 399
(335 )
1 398 1
0 (399) 0
400
(399 )
Gains (losses) on derivative instruments recognized in our consolidated income statements were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Designated as Fair Value Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts
Derivatives
Hedged items
Excluded from effectiveness
assessment
Interest rate contracts
Derivatives
Hedged items
Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts
Amount reclassified from
accumulated other comprehensive
income
Excluded from effectiveness
assessment
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts
Other contracts
2021
Other
Income
(Expense),
Net
Revenue
Revenue
$
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
$ 193
(188)
$
30
(37)
53
17
0
27
9
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2020
Other
Income
(Expense),
Net
1
$
3
139
93
(93)
0
0
(123)
50
2019
Other
Income
(Expense),
Net
$ (130)
130
168
0
0
0
0
(97)
38
Revenue
$
0
0
0
0
0
341
(64)
0
0
Gains (losses), net of tax, on derivative instruments recognized in our consolidated comprehensive income statements
were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
Foreign exchange contracts
Included in effectiveness assessment
2021
2020
2019
$ 34
$ (38)
$ 159
67
The components of inventories were as follows:
NOTE 6 — INVENTORIES
(In millions)
June 30,
Raw materials
Work in process
Finished goods
Total
The components of property and equipment were as follows:
NOTE 7 — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
2021
2020
$ 1,190 $
700
79
83
1,367 1,112
$ 2,636 $ 1,895
(In millions)
June 30,
Land
Buildings and improvements
Leasehold improvements
Computer equipment and software
Furniture and equipment
Total, at cost
Accumulated depreciation
Total, net
2021
2020
3,660 $ 1,823
$
43,928 33,995
6,884 5,487
51,250 41,261
5,344 4,782
111,066 87,348
(43,197)
$ 59,715 $ 44,151
(51,351)
During fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, depreciation expense was $9.3 billion, $10.7 billion, and $9.7 billion,
respectively. Depreciation expense declined in fiscal year 2021 due to the change in estimated useful lives of our server
and network equipment. We have committed $9.5 billion for the construction of new buildings, building improvements, and
leasehold improvements as of June 30, 2021.
During fiscal year 2020, we recorded an impairment charge of $186 million to Property and Equipment, primarily to
leasehold improvements, due to the closing of our Microsoft Store physical locations.
ZeniMax Media Inc.
NOTE 8 — BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
On March 9, 2021, we completed our acquisition of ZeniMax Media Inc. (―ZeniMax‖), the parent company of Bethesda
Softworks LLC (―Bethesda‖), for a total purchase price of $8.1 billion, consisting primarily of cash. The purchase price
included $768 million of cash and cash equivalents acquired. Bethesda is one of the largest, privately held game
developers and publishers in the world, and brings a broad portfolio of games, technology, and talent to Xbox. The
financial results of ZeniMax have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the date of the acquisition.
ZeniMax is reported as part of our More Personal Computing segment.
The purchase price allocation as of the date of acquisition was based on a preliminary valuation and is subject to revision
as more detailed analyses are completed and additional information about the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities
assumed becomes available.
68
The major classes of assets and liabilities to which we have preliminarily allocated the purchase price were as follows:
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Other assets
Other liabilities
Total
768
$
5,469
1,968
139
(223)
$ 8,121
Goodwill was assigned to our More Personal Computing segment. The goodwill was primarily attributed to increased
synergies that are expected to be achieved from the integration of ZeniMax. None of the goodwill is expected to be
deductible for income tax purposes.
Following are details of the purchase price allocated to the intangible assets acquired:
(In millions)
Technology-based
Marketing-related
Total
GitHub, Inc.
Amount
Weighted
Average Life
$ 1,341
627
$ 1,968
4 years
11 years
6 years
On October 25, 2018, we acquired GitHub, Inc. (―GitHub‖), a software development platform, in a $7.5 billion stock
transaction (inclusive of total cash payments of $1.3 billion in respect of vested GitHub equity awards and an indemnity
escrow). The acquisition is expected to empower developers to achieve more at every stage of the development lifecycle,
accelerate enterprise use of GitHub, and bring Microsoft’s developer tools and services to new audiences. The financial
results of GitHub have been included in our consolidated financial statements since the date of the acquisition. GitHub is
reported as part of our Intelligent Cloud segment.
The allocation of the purchase price to goodwill was completed as of June 30, 2019. The major classes of assets and
liabilities to which we allocated the purchase price were as follows:
(In millions)
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Other assets
Other liabilities
Total
234
$
5,497
1,267
143
(217)
$ 6,924
The goodwill recognized in connection with the acquisition is primarily attributable to anticipated synergies from future
growth and is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. We assigned the goodwill to our Intelligent Cloud segment.
69
Following are the details of the purchase price allocated to the intangible assets acquired:
(In millions)
Customer-related
Technology-based
Marketing-related
Contract-based
Total
Amount
648
$
447
170
2
$ 1,267
Weighted
Average Life
8 years
5 years
10 years
2 years
7 years
Transactions recognized separately from the purchase price allocation were approximately $600 million, primarily related
to equity awards recognized as expense over the related service period.
Nuance Communications, Inc.
On April 11, 2021, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Nuance Communications, Inc. (―Nuance‖) for $56.00
per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $19.7 billion, inclusive of Nuance’s net debt. Nuance is a cloud and artificial
intelligence (―AI‖) software provider with healthcare and enterprise AI experience, and the acquisition will build on our
industry-specific cloud offerings. The acquisition has been approved by Nuance’s shareholders, and we expect it to close
by the end of calendar year 2021, subject to the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing
conditions.
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows:
NOTE 9 — GOODWILL
(In millions)
Productivity and Business Processes
Intelligent Cloud
More Personal Computing
Total
June 30,
June 30,
2019 Acquisitions
2020 Acquisitions
0
$ 24,277 $
505
11,351
5,556 (a)
6,398
$ 42,026 $ 1,454 $ (129) $ 43,351 $ 6,061
Other
(94) $ 24,190 $
(5) 12,697
(30) 6,464
1,351
96
7 $
Other
June 30,
2021
$ 127 $ 24,317
13,256
118 (a) 12,138
$ 299 $ 49,711
54
(a)
Includes goodwill of $5.5 billion related to ZeniMax. See Note 8 – Business Combinations for further information.
The measurement periods for the valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed end as soon as information on the
facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition dates becomes available, but do not exceed 12 months.
Adjustments in purchase price allocations may require a change in the amounts allocated to goodwill during the periods in
which the adjustments are determined.
Any change in the goodwill amounts resulting from foreign currency translations and purchase accounting adjustments
are presented as ―Other‖ in the table above. Also included in ―Other‖ are business dispositions and transfers between
segments due to reorganizations, as applicable.
Goodwill Impairment
We test goodwill for impairment annually on May 1 at the reporting unit level, primarily using a discounted cash flow
methodology with a peer-based, risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital. We believe use of a discounted cash flow
approach is the most reliable indicator of the fair values of the businesses.
No instances of impairment were identified in our May 1, 2021, May 1, 2020, or May 1, 2019 tests. As of June 30, 2021
and 2020, accumulated goodwill impairment was $11.3 billion.
70
The components of intangible assets, all of which are finite-lived, were as follows:
NOTE 10 — INTANGIBLE ASSETS
(In millions)
June 30,
Technology-based
Customer-related
Marketing-related
Contract-based
Total
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
$
$
9,779
4,958
4,792
446
(7,007)
(2,859)
(1,878)
(431)
$ 19,975 (a) $ (12,175)
Gross
Carrying
Amount
Accumulated
Amortization
Net Carrying
Amount
2021
$ 2,772 $ 8,160 $ (6,381)
2,099 4,967
(2,320)
2,914 4,158
(1,588)
(432)
474
$ 7,800 $ 17,759 $ (10,721)
15
Net Carrying
Amount
2020
$ 1,779
2,647
2,570
42
$ 7,038
(a)
Includes intangible assets of $2.0 billion related to ZeniMax. See Note 8 – Business Combinations for further
information.
No material impairments of intangible assets were identified during fiscal years 2021, 2020, or 2019. We estimate that we
have no significant residual value related to our intangible assets.
The components of intangible assets acquired during the periods presented were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Technology-based
Customer-related
Marketing-related
Contract-based
Total
Weighted
Weighted
Average Life
Amount
2021
$ 1,628
Average Life Amount
2020
4 years $ 531 6 years
5 years
303
2 years
2
0 years
0
5 years $ 836
5 years
96 4 years
625 6 years
10 3 years
$ 2,359
Intangible assets amortization expense was $1.6 billion, $1.6 billion, and $1.9 billion for fiscal years 2021, 2020, and
2019, respectively.
The following table outlines the estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets held as of June 30,
2021:
(In millions)
Year Ending June 30,
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total
$ 1,683
1,722
1,415
755
498
1,727
$ 7,800
71
The components of debt were as follows:
NOTE 11 — DEBT
(In millions, issuance by calendar year)
2009 issuance of $3.8 billion (a)
2010 issuance of $4.8 billion (a)
2011 issuance of $2.3 billion (a)
2012 issuance of $2.3 billion (a)
2013 issuance of $5.2 billion (a)
2013 issuance of €4.1 billion
2015 issuance of $23.8 billion (a)
2016 issuance of $19.8 billion (a)
2017 issuance of $17.0 billion (a)
2020 issuance of $10.0 billion (a)
2021 issuance of $8.2 billion (a)
Total face value
Unamortized discount and issuance costs
Hedge fair value adjustments (b)
Premium on debt exchange (a)
Total debt
Current portion of long-term debt
Long-term debt
Maturities
(calendar year)
2039
2040
2041
Stated Interest
Rate
5.20%
4.50%
5.30%
Effective Interest
Rate
5.24% $
4.57%
5.36%
June 30,
June 30,
2020
2021
520 $
559
486 1,571
718 1,270
2022–2042 2.13%–3.50% 2.24%–3.57% 1,204 1,650
2023–2043 2.38%–4.88% 2.47%–4.92% 2,814 2,919
2021–2033 2.13%–3.13% 2.23%–3.22% 4,803 4,549
2022–2055 2.38%–4.75% 2.47%–4.78% 12,305 15,549
2021–2056 1.55%–3.95% 1.64%–4.03% 12,180 16,955
2022–2057 2.40%–4.50% 2.52%–4.53% 10,695 12,385
2050–2060 2.53%–2.68% 2.53%–2.68% 10,000 10,000
2052–2062 2.92%–3.04% 2.92%–3.04% 8,185
0
63,910 67,407
(554)
93
(3,619)
58,146 63,327
(3,749)
$ 50,074 $ 59,578
(511)
40
(5,293)
(8,072)
(a)
In March 2021 and June 2020, we exchanged a portion of our existing debt at a premium for cash and new debt with
longer maturities. The premiums are amortized over the terms of the new debt.
(b) Refer to Note 5 – Derivatives for further information on the interest rate swaps related to fixed-rate debt.
As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, the estimated fair value of long-term debt, including the current portion, was $70.0 billion
and $77.1 billion, respectively. The estimated fair values are based on Level 2 inputs.
Debt in the table above is comprised of senior unsecured obligations and ranks equally with our other outstanding
obligations. Interest is paid semi-annually, except for the Euro-denominated debt, which is paid annually. Cash paid for
interest on our debt for fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019 was $2.0 billion, $2.4 billion, and $2.4 billion, respectively.
The following table outlines maturities of our long-term debt, including the current portion, as of June 30, 2021:
(In millions)
Year Ending June 30,
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total
72
$ 8,075
2,750
5,250
2,250
3,000
42,585
$ 63,910
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
NOTE 12 — INCOME TAXES
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (―TCJA‖) was enacted into law, which significantly changed existing
U.S. tax law and included numerous provisions that affect our business. We recorded a provisional net charge of $13.7
billion related to the enactment of the TCJA in fiscal year 2018 and adjusted the provisional net charge by recording
additional tax expense of $157 million in fiscal year 2019 pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 118.
In fiscal year 2019, in response to the TCJA and recently issued regulations, we transferred certain intangible properties
held by our foreign subsidiaries to the U.S. and Ireland. The transfers of intangible properties resulted in a $2.6 billion net
income tax benefit recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019, as the value of future tax deductions exceeded the
current tax liability from foreign jurisdictions and U.S. global intangible low-taxed income (―GILTI‖) tax.
Provision for Income Taxes
The components of the provision for income taxes were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Current Taxes
U.S. federal
U.S. state and local
Foreign
Current taxes
Deferred Taxes
U.S. federal
U.S. state and local
Foreign
Deferred taxes
Provision for income taxes
U.S. and foreign components of income before income taxes were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
U.S.
Foreign
Income before income taxes
2021
2020
2019
$ 3,285 $ 3,537 $ 4,718
1,229
662
5,467 4,444 5,531
$ 9,981 $ 8,744 $ 10,911
763
$
25 $
(204)
29
(150) $
58 $ (5,647)
(1,010)
(6)
(41)
194
11 $ (6,463)
$
$ 9,831 $ 8,755 $ 4,448
2021
2020
2019
$ 34,972 $ 24,116 $ 15,799
36,130 28,920 27,889
$ 71,102 $ 53,036 $ 43,688
73
Effective Tax Rate
The items accounting for the difference between income taxes computed at the U.S. federal statutory rate and our
effective rate were as follows:
Year Ended June 30,
Federal statutory rate
Effect of:
Foreign earnings taxed at lower rates
Impact of the enactment of the TCJA
Impact of intangible property transfers
Foreign-derived intangible income deduction
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Research and development credit
Excess tax benefits relating to stock-based compensation
Interest, net
Other reconciling items, net
Effective rate
2021
2019
2020
21.0% 21.0% 21.0%
0%
0%
(2.7)% (3.7)% (4.1)%
0% 0.4%
0% (5.9)%
(1.3)% (1.1)% (1.4)%
1.4% 1.3% 0.7%
(0.9)% (1.1)% (1.1)%
(2.4)% (2.2)% (2.2)%
0.5% 1.0% 1.0%
(1.8)% 1.3% 1.8%
13.8% 16.5% 10.2%
We have historically paid India withholding taxes on software sales through distributor withholding and tax audit
assessments in India. In March 2021, the India Supreme Court ruled favorably in the case of Engineering Analysis Centre
of Excellence Private Limited vs The Commissioner of Income Tax for companies in 86 separate appeals, some dating
back to 2012, holding that software sales are not subject to India withholding taxes. Although we were not a party to the
appeals, our software sales in India were determined to be not subject to withholding taxes. Therefore, we recorded a net
income tax benefit of $620 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 to reflect the results of the India Supreme Court
decision impacting fiscal year 1996 through fiscal year 2016.
The decrease from the federal statutory rate in fiscal year 2021 is primarily due to earnings taxed at lower rates in foreign
jurisdictions resulting from producing and distributing our products and services through our foreign regional operations
centers in Ireland and Puerto Rico, tax benefits relating to stock-based compensation, and tax benefits from the India
Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes. The decrease from the federal statutory rate in fiscal year 2020 is primarily
due to earnings taxed at lower rates in foreign jurisdictions resulting from producing and distributing our products and
services through our foreign regional operations centers in Ireland and Puerto Rico, and tax benefits relating to stock-
based compensation. The decrease from the federal statutory rate in fiscal year 2019 is primarily due to a $2.6 billion net
income tax benefit related to intangible property transfers, and earnings taxed at lower rates in foreign jurisdictions
resulting from producing and distributing our products and services through our foreign regional operations centers in
Ireland, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. In fiscal year 2021 and 2020, our foreign regional operating centers in Ireland and
Puerto Rico, which are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. rate, generated 82% and 86% of our foreign income before tax.
In fiscal years 2019, our foreign regional operating centers in Ireland, Singapore, and Puerto Rico, which are taxed at
rates lower than the U.S. rate, generated 82% of our foreign income before tax, respectively. Other reconciling items, net
consists primarily of tax credits and GILTI tax, and in fiscal year 2021, includes tax benefits from the India Supreme Court
decision on withholding taxes. In fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, there were no individually significant other reconciling
items.
The decrease in our effective tax rate for fiscal year 2021 compared to fiscal year 2020 was primarily due to tax benefits
from the India Supreme Court decision on withholding taxes, an agreement between the U.S. and India tax authorities
related to transfer pricing, final TCJA regulations, and an increase in tax benefits relating to stock-based compensation.
The increase in our effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020 compared to fiscal year 2019 was primarily due to a $2.6 billion
net income tax benefit in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019 related to intangible property transfers.
74
The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
(In millions)
June 30,
Deferred Income Tax Assets
Stock-based compensation expense
Accruals, reserves, and other expenses
Loss and credit carryforwards
Amortization
Leasing liabilities
Unearned revenue
Other
Deferred income tax assets
Less valuation allowance
Deferred income tax assets, net of valuation allowance
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities
Book/tax basis differences in investments and debt
Leasing assets
Depreciation
Deferred GILTI tax liabilities
Other
Deferred income tax liabilities
Net deferred income tax assets
Reported As
Other long-term assets
Long-term deferred income tax liabilities
Net deferred income tax assets
2021
2020
$
502 $
461
2,960 2,721
1,090
865
6,346 6,737
4,060 3,025
2,659 1,553
543
354
18,160 15,716
(755)
$ 17,391 $ 14,961
(769)
$
(2,605) $ (2,642)
(3,834)
(2,817)
(1,010)
(376)
(2,815)
(2,581)
(144)
(344)
$ (10,408) $ (8,760)
6,983 $ 6,201
$
$
$
7,181 $ 6,405
(198)
(204)
6,983 $ 6,201
Deferred income tax balances reflect the effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities and their tax bases and are stated at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid or
recovered.
As of June 30, 2021, we had federal, state, and foreign net operating loss carryforwards of $304 million, $1.3 billion, and
$2.0 billion, respectively. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards will expire in various years from fiscal
2022 through 2041, if not utilized. The majority of our foreign net operating loss carryforwards do not expire. Certain
acquired net operating loss carryforwards are subject to an annual limitation but are expected to be realized with the
exception of those which have a valuation allowance.
The valuation allowance disclosed in the table above relates to the foreign net operating loss carryforwards and other net
deferred tax assets that may not be realized. In fiscal year 2020, we removed $2.0 billion of foreign net operating losses
and corresponding valuation allowances as a result of the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary. There was no impact to our
consolidated financial statements.
Income taxes paid, net of refunds, were $13.4 billion, $12.5 billion, and $8.4 billion in fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019,
respectively.
Uncertain Tax Positions
Gross unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, were
$14.6 billion, $13.8 billion, and $13.1 billion, respectively, which were primarily included in long-term income taxes in
75
our consolidated balance sheets. If recognized, the resulting tax benefit would affect our effective tax rates for fiscal years
2021, 2020, and 2019 by $12.5 billion, $12.1 billion, and $12.0 billion, respectively.
As of June 30, 2021, 2020, and 2019, we had accrued interest expense related to uncertain tax positions of $4.3 billion,
$4.0 billion, and $3.4 billion, respectively, net of income tax benefits. The provision for income taxes for fiscal years 2021,
2020, and 2019 included interest expense related to uncertain tax positions of $274 million, $579 million, and $515 million,
respectively, net of income tax benefits.
The aggregate changes in the gross unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Beginning unrecognized tax benefits
Decreases related to settlements
Increases for tax positions related to the current year
Increases for tax positions related to prior years
Decreases for tax positions related to prior years
Decreases due to lapsed statutes of limitations
Ending unrecognized tax benefits
2020
2021
2019
$ 13,792 $ 13,146 $ 11,961
(31)
(316)
647 2,106
508
366
(1,113)
(331)
0
(5)
$ 14,550 $ 13,792 $ 13,146
(195)
790
461
(297)
(1)
We settled a portion of the Internal Revenue Service (―IRS‖) audit for tax years 2004 to 2006 in fiscal year 2011. In
February 2012, the IRS withdrew its 2011 Revenue Agents Report related to unresolved issues for tax years 2004 to 2006
and reopened the audit phase of the examination. We also settled a portion of the IRS audit for tax years 2007 to 2009 in
fiscal year 2016, and a portion of the IRS audit for tax years 2010 to 2013 in fiscal year 2018. In the second quarter of
fiscal year 2021, we settled an additional portion of the IRS audits for tax years 2004 to 2013 and made a payment of
$1.7 billion, including tax and interest. We remain under audit for tax years 2004 to 2017.
As of June 30, 2021, the primary unresolved issues for the IRS audits relate to transfer pricing, which could have a
material impact in our consolidated financial statements when the matters are resolved. We believe our allowances for
income tax contingencies are adequate. We have not received a proposed assessment for the unresolved key transfer
pricing issues and do not expect a final resolution of these issues in the next 12 months. Based on the information
currently available, we do not anticipate a significant increase or decrease to our tax contingencies for these issues within
the next 12 months.
We are subject to income tax in many jurisdictions outside the U.S. Our operations in certain jurisdictions remain subject
to examination for tax years 1996 to 2020, some of which are currently under audit by local tax authorities. The resolution
of each of these audits is not expected to be material to our consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 13 — UNEARNED REVENUE
Unearned revenue by segment was as follows:
(In millions)
June 30,
Productivity and Business Processes
Intelligent Cloud
More Personal Computing
Total
2021
2020
$ 22,120 $ 18,643
17,710 16,620
4,311 3,917
$ 44,141 $ 39,180
76
Changes in unearned revenue were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30, 2021
Balance, beginning of period
Deferral of revenue
Recognition of unearned revenue
Balance, end of period
$ 39,180
94,565
(89,604)
$ 44,141
Revenue allocated to remaining performance obligations, which includes unearned revenue and amounts that will be
invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods, was $146 billion as of June 30, 2021, of which $141 billion is
related to the commercial portion of revenue. We expect to recognize approximately 50% of this revenue over the next 12
months and the remainder thereafter.
NOTE 14 — LEASES
We have operating and finance leases for datacenters, corporate offices, research and development facilities, Microsoft
Experience Centers, and certain equipment. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 15 years, some of which
include options to extend the leases for up to 5 years, and some of which include options to terminate the leases within 1
year.
The components of lease expense were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Operating lease cost
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assets
Interest on lease liabilities
Total finance lease cost
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Operating cash flows from finance leases
Financing cash flows from finance leases
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases
Finance leases
2021
2019
$ 2,127 $ 2,043 $ 1,707
2020
$
921 $
386
$ 1,307 $
611 $
336
947 $
370
247
617
2021
2020
2019
$ 2,052 $ 1,829 $ 1,670
386 336 247
648 409 221
4,380 3,677 2,303
3,290 3,467 2,532
77
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
(In millions, except lease term and discount rate)
June 30,
Operating Leases
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Other current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities
Total operating lease liabilities
Finance Leases
Property and equipment, at cost
Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
Other current liabilities
Other long-term liabilities
Total finance lease liabilities
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term
Operating leases
Finance leases
Weighted Average Discount Rate
Operating leases
Finance leases
The following table outlines maturities of our lease liabilities as of June 30, 2021:
(In millions)
Year Ending June 30,
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Thereafter
Total lease payments
Less imputed interest
Total
2021
2020
$ 11,088 $ 8,753
1,962 $ 1,616
$
9,629
7,671
$ 11,591 $ 9,287
(2,306)
$ 14,107 $ 10,371
(1,385)
$ 11,801 $ 8,986
791 $
540
$
11,750
8,956
$ 12,541 $ 9,496
8 years
8 years
12 years 13 years
2.2%
3.4%
2.7%
3.9%
Operating
Leases
Finance
Leases
$ 2,125 $ 1,179
1,954 1,198
1,751 1,211
1,463 1,537
1,133 1,220
4,111 8,856
12,537 15,201
(2,660)
$ 11,591 $ 12,541
(946)
As of June 30, 2021, we have additional operating and finance leases, primarily for datacenters, that have not yet
commenced of $5.4 billion and $7.3 billion, respectively. These operating and finance leases will commence between
fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2026 with lease terms of 1 year to 15 years.
During fiscal year 2020, we recorded an impairment charge of $161 million to operating lease right-of-use assets due to
the closing of our Microsoft Store physical locations.
78
Patent and Intellectual Property Claims
NOTE 15 — CONTINGENCIES
There were 63 patent infringement cases pending against Microsoft as of June 30, 2021, none of which are material
individually or in aggregate.
Antitrust, Unfair Competition, and Overcharge Class Actions
Antitrust and unfair competition class action lawsuits were filed against us in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec,
Canada. All three have been certified on behalf of Canadian indirect purchasers who acquired licenses for Microsoft
operating system software and/or productivity application software between 1998 and 2010.
The trial of the British Columbia action commenced in May 2016. Following a mediation, the parties agreed to a global
settlement of all three Canadian actions and submitted the proposed settlement agreement to the courts in all three
jurisdictions for approval. The final settlement and form of notice have been approved by the courts in British Columbia,
Ontario, and Quebec. The ten-month claims period commenced on November 23, 2020 and will close on September 23,
2021.
Other Antitrust Litigation and Claims
China State Administration for Market Regulation Investigation
In 2014, Microsoft was informed that China’s State Agency for Market Regulation (―SAMR‖) (formerly State Administration
for Industry and Commerce) had begun a formal investigation relating to China’s Anti-Monopoly Law, and the SAMR
conducted onsite inspections of Microsoft offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. In 2019, the SAMR
presented preliminary views as to certain possible violations of China’s Anti-Monopoly Law.
Product-Related Litigation
U.S. Cell Phone Litigation
Microsoft Mobile Oy, a subsidiary of Microsoft, along with other handset manufacturers and network operators, is a
defendant in 46 lawsuits, including 45 lawsuits filed in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia by individual plaintiffs
who allege that radio emissions from cellular handsets caused their brain tumors and other adverse health effects. We
assumed responsibility for these claims in our agreement to acquire Nokia’s Devices and Services business and have
been substituted for the Nokia defendants. Nine of these cases were filed in 2002 and are consolidated for certain pre-trial
proceedings; the remaining cases are stayed. In a separate 2009 decision, the Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia held that adverse health effect claims arising from the use of cellular handsets that operate within the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission radio frequency emission guidelines (―FCC Guidelines‖) are pre-empted by federal
law. The plaintiffs allege that their handsets either operated outside the FCC Guidelines or were manufactured before the
FCC Guidelines went into effect. The lawsuits also allege an industry-wide conspiracy to manipulate the science and
testing around emission guidelines.
In 2013, the defendants in the consolidated cases moved to exclude the plaintiffs’ expert evidence of general causation on
the basis of flawed scientific methodologies. In 2014, the trial court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’
motion to exclude the plaintiffs’ general causation experts. The defendants filed an interlocutory appeal to the District of
Columbia Court of Appeals challenging the standard for evaluating expert scientific evidence. In October 2016, the Court
of Appeals issued its decision adopting the standard advocated by the defendants and remanding the cases to the trial
court for further proceedings under that standard. The plaintiffs have filed supplemental expert evidence, portions of which
the defendants have moved to strike. In August 2018, the trial court issued an order striking portions of the plaintiffs’
expert reports. A hearing on general causation is scheduled for January and February of 2022.
79
Other Contingencies
We also are subject to a variety of other claims and suits that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of our
business. Although management currently believes that resolving claims against us, individually or in aggregate, will not
have a material adverse impact in our consolidated financial statements, these matters are subject to inherent
uncertainties and management’s view of these matters may change in the future.
As of June 30, 2021, we accrued aggregate legal liabilities of $339 million. While we intend to defend these matters
vigorously, adverse outcomes that we estimate could reach approximately $500 million in aggregate beyond recorded
amounts are reasonably possible. Were unfavorable final outcomes to occur, there exists the possibility of a material
adverse impact in our consolidated financial statements for the period in which the effects become reasonably estimable.
NOTE 16 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Shares Outstanding
Shares of common stock outstanding were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Balance, beginning of year
Issued
Repurchased
Balance, end of year
Share Repurchases
2021
2019
2020
7,571 7,643 7,677
54 116
(101) (126) (150)
7,519 7,571 7,643
49
On September 20, 2016, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing up to $40.0 billion in
share repurchases. This share repurchase program commenced in December 2016 and was completed in February 2020.
On September 18, 2019, our Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program authorizing up to $40.0 billion in
share repurchases. This share repurchase program commenced in February 2020, following completion of the program
approved on September 20, 2016, has no expiration date, and may be terminated at any time. As of June 30, 2021,
$8.7 billion remained of this $40.0 billion share repurchase program.
We repurchased the following shares of common stock under the share repurchase programs:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Total
Shares
Amount Shares
Amount Shares
2021
25 $ 5,270
27 5,750
25 5,750
24 6,200
101 $ 22,970
2020
29 $ 4,000
32 4,600
37 6,000
28 5,088
126 $ 19,688
Amount
2019
24 $ 2,600
57 6,100
36 3,899
33 4,200
150 $ 16,799
Shares repurchased during fiscal year 2021 and the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 were under the share repurchase
program approved on September 18, 2019. Shares repurchased during the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 were under
the share repurchase programs approved on both September 20, 2016 and September 18, 2019. All other shares
repurchased were under the share repurchase program approved on September 20, 2016. The above table excludes
shares repurchased to settle employee tax withholding related to the vesting of stock awards of $4.4 billion, $3.3 billion,
and $2.7 billion for fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. All share repurchases were made using cash
resources.
80
Dividends
Our Board of Directors declared the following dividends:
Declaration Date
Fiscal Year 2021
September 15, 2020
December 2, 2020
March 16, 2021
June 16, 2021
Total
Fiscal Year 2020
September 18, 2019
December 4, 2019
March 9, 2020
June 17, 2020
Total
Dividend
Per Share
Record Date
Payment Date
Amount
(In millions)
November 19, 2020 December 10, 2020 $ 0.56 $ 4,230
March 11, 2021 0.56 4,221
February 18, 2021
June 10, 2021 0.56 4,214
May 20, 2021
August 19, 2021 September 9, 2021 0.56 4,211
$ 2.24 $ 16,876
November 21, 2019 December 12, 2019 $ 0.51 $ 3,886
March 12, 2020 0.51 3,876
February 20, 2020
June 11, 2020 0.51 3,865
May 21, 2020
August 20, 2020 September 10, 2020 0.51 3,856
$ 2.04 $ 15,483
The dividend declared on June 16, 2021 was included in other current liabilities as of June 30, 2021.
NOTE 17 — ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The following table summarizes the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Derivatives
Balance, beginning of period
Unrealized gains (losses), net of tax of $9, $(10), and $2
Reclassification adjustments for gains included in earnings
Tax expense included in provision for income taxes
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
$
Net change related to derivatives, net of tax of $7, $(10), and $(6)
Balance, end of period
Investments
Balance, beginning of period
Unrealized gains (losses), net of tax of $(589), $1,057, and $616
Reclassification adjustments for (gains) losses included in other income (expense), net
Tax expense (benefit) included in provision for income taxes
$
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Net change related to investments, net of tax of $(602), $1,058, and $635
Cumulative effect of accounting changes
Balance, end of period
Translation Adjustments and Other
Balance, beginning of period
Translation adjustments and other, net of tax effects of $(9), $1, and $(1)
Balance, end of period
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), end of period
2021
2020
2019
(38) $
34
(17)
2
(15)
19
(19) $
0 $
(38)
0
0
0
(38)
(38) $
173
160
(341)
8
(333)
(173)
0
(63)
13
(50)
$ 5,478 $ 1,488 $
(850)
(2,216) 3,987 2,331
93
(19)
74
(2,266) 3,990 2,405
(67)
$ 3,222 $ 5,478 $ 1,488
4
(1)
3
10
0
873
$ (2,254) $ (1,828) $ (1,510)
(318)
$ (1,381) $ (2,254) $ (1,828)
$ 1,822 $ 3,186 $
(340)
(426)
81
NOTE 18 — EMPLOYEE STOCK AND SAVINGS PLANS
We grant stock-based compensation to employees and directors. As of June 30, 2021, an aggregate of 251 million shares
were authorized for future grant under our stock plans. Awards that expire or are canceled without delivery of shares
generally become available for issuance under the plans. We issue new shares of Microsoft common stock to satisfy
vesting of awards granted under our stock plans. We also have an ESPP for all eligible employees.
Stock-based compensation expense and related income tax benefits were as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Stock-based compensation expense
Income tax benefits related to stock-based compensation
Stock Plans
2020
2021
2019
$ 6,118 $ 5,289 $ 4,652
1,065 938 816
Stock awards entitle the holder to receive shares of Microsoft common stock as the award vests. Stock awards generally
vest over a service period of four years or five years.
Executive Incentive Plan
Under the Executive Incentive Plan, the Compensation Committee approves stock awards to executive officers and
certain senior executives. RSUs generally vest ratably over a service period of four years. PSUs generally vest over a
performance period of three years. The number of shares the PSU holder receives is based on the extent to which the
corresponding performance goals have been achieved.
Activity for All Stock Plans
The fair value of stock awards was estimated on the date of grant using the following assumptions:
Year Ended June 30,
Dividends per share (quarterly amounts)
Interest rates
2021
2020
2019
0.51 – 0.56 $ 0.46 – 0.51 $
0.42 – 0.46
$
0.01% – 1.5% 0.1% – 2.2% 1.8% – 3.1%
During fiscal year 2021, the following activity occurred under our stock plans:
Stock Awards
Nonvested balance, beginning of year
Granted (a)
Vested
Forfeited
Nonvested balance, end of year
Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Shares
(In millions)
126
40
(58 )
(8 )
100
$ 105.23
221.13
99.41
129.92
$ 152.51
(a)
Includes 2 million of PSUs granted at target and performance adjustments above target levels for fiscal years 2021,
2020, and 2019.
82
As of June 30, 2021, there was approximately $12.0 billion of total unrecognized compensation costs related to stock
awards. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of three years. The weighted
average grant-date fair value of stock awards granted was $221.13, $140.49, and $107.02 for fiscal years 2021, 2020,
and 2019, respectively. The fair value of stock awards vested was $13.4 billion, $10.1 billion, and $8.7 billion, for fiscal
years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
We have an ESPP for all eligible employees. Shares of our common stock may be purchased by employees at three-
month intervals at 90% of the fair market value on the last trading day of each three-month period. Employees may
purchase shares having a value not exceeding 15% of their gross compensation during an offering period. Under the
terms of the ESPP that were approved in 2012, the plan will terminate on December 31, 2022. We intend to request
shareholder approval for a successor ESPP with a January 1, 2022 effective date and ten-year expiration of
December 31, 2031 at our 2021 Annual Shareholders Meeting. No additional shares will be requested at this meeting.
Employees purchased the following shares during the periods presented:
(Shares in millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Shares purchased
Average price per share
2021
8
$ 207.88
2020
9
$ 142.22
2019
11
$ 104.85
As of June 30, 2021, 88 million shares of our common stock were reserved for future issuance through the ESPP.
Savings Plan
We have savings plans in the U.S. that qualify under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, and a number of
savings plans in international locations. Eligible U.S. employees may contribute a portion of their salary into the savings
plans, subject to certain limitations. We contribute fifty cents for each dollar a participant contributes into the plans, with a
maximum employer contribution of 50% of the IRS contribution limit for the calendar year. Employer-funded retirement
benefits for all plans were $1.2 billion, $1.0 billion, and $877 million in fiscal years 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, and
were expensed as contributed.
NOTE 19 — SEGMENT INFORMATION AND GEOGRAPHIC DATA
In its operation of the business, management, including our chief operating decision maker, who is also our Chief
Executive Officer, reviews certain financial information, including segmented internal profit and loss statements prepared
on a basis not consistent with GAAP. During the periods presented, we reported our financial performance based on the
following segments: Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing.
Our reportable segments are described below.
Productivity and Business Processes
Our Productivity and Business Processes segment consists of products and services in our portfolio of productivity,
communication, and information services, spanning a variety of devices and platforms. This segment primarily comprises:
• Office Commercial (Office 365 subscriptions, the Office 365 portion of Microsoft 365 Commercial
subscriptions, and Office licensed on-premises), comprising Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams,
Office 365 Security and Compliance, and Skype for Business.
• Office Consumer, including Microsoft 365 Consumer subscriptions and Office licensed on-premises, and
•
Office Consumer Services, including Skype, Outlook.com, and OneDrive.
LinkedIn, including Talent Solutions, Marketing Solutions, Premium Subscriptions, Sales Solutions, and
Learning Solutions.
• Dynamics business solutions, including Dynamics 365, comprising a set of intelligent, cloud-based
applications across ERP, CRM, Customer Insights, Power Apps, and Power Automate; and on-premises ERP
and CRM applications.
83
Intelligent Cloud
Our Intelligent Cloud segment consists of our public, private, and hybrid server products and cloud services that can
power modern business and developers. This segment primarily comprises:
• Server products and cloud services, including Azure; SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio, System
Center, and related Client Access Licenses (―CALs‖); and GitHub.
• Enterprise Services, including Premier Support Services and Microsoft Consulting Services.
More Personal Computing
Our More Personal Computing segment consists of products and services that put customers at the center of the
experience with our technology. This segment primarily comprises:
• Windows, including Windows OEM licensing and other non-volume licensing of the Windows operating
system; Windows Commercial, comprising volume licensing of the Windows operating system, Windows
cloud services, and other Windows commercial offerings; patent licensing; Windows Internet of Things; and
MSN advertising.
• Devices, including Surface and PC accessories.
• Gaming, including Xbox hardware and Xbox content and services, comprising digital transactions, Xbox
Game Pass and other subscriptions, video games, third-party video game royalties, cloud services, and
advertising.
• Search advertising.
Revenue and costs are generally directly attributed to our segments. However, due to the integrated structure of our
business, certain revenue recognized and costs incurred by one segment may benefit other segments. Revenue from
certain contracts is allocated among the segments based on the relative value of the underlying products and services,
which can include allocation based on actual prices charged, prices when sold separately, or estimated costs plus a profit
margin. Cost of revenue is allocated in certain cases based on a relative revenue methodology. Operating expenses that
are allocated primarily include those relating to marketing of products and services from which multiple segments benefit
and are generally allocated based on relative gross margin.
In addition, certain costs incurred at a corporate level that are identifiable and that benefit our segments are allocated to
them. These allocated costs include legal, including settlements and fines, information technology, human resources,
finance, excise taxes, field selling, shared facilities services, and customer service and support. Each allocation is
measured differently based on the specific facts and circumstances of the costs being allocated. Certain corporate-level
activity is not allocated to our segments.
Segment revenue and operating income were as follows during the periods presented:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Revenue
Productivity and Business Processes
Intelligent Cloud
More Personal Computing
Total
Operating Income
Productivity and Business Processes
Intelligent Cloud
More Personal Computing
Total
84
2021
2020
2019
$
53,915 $
60,080
54,093
46,398 $ 41,160
48,366 38,985
48,251 45,698
$ 168,088 $ 143,015 $ 125,843
$
$
24,351 $
26,126
19,439
69,916 $
18,724 $ 16,219
18,324 13,920
15,911 12,820
52,959 $ 42,959
No sales to an individual customer or country other than the United States accounted for more than 10% of revenue for
fiscal years 2021, 2020, or 2019. Revenue, classified by the major geographic areas in which our customers were located,
was as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
United States (a)
Other countries
Total
2021
$ 83,953
84,135
$ 168,088
2020
2019
$ 73,160 $ 64,199
69,855 61,644
$ 143,015 $ 125,843
(a)
Includes billings to OEMs and certain multinational organizations because of the nature of these businesses and the
impracticability of determining the geographic source of the revenue.
Revenue from external customers, classified by significant product and service offerings, was as follows:
(In millions)
Year Ended June 30,
Server products and cloud services
Office products and cloud services
Windows
Gaming
LinkedIn
Search advertising
Enterprise Services
Devices
Other
Total
2021
$ 52,589
39,872
23,227
15,370
10,289
8,528
6,943
6,791
4,479
$ 168,088
$
2020
2019
41,379 $ 32,622
31,769
35,316
20,395
22,294
11,386
11,575
6,754
8,077
7,628
7,740
6,124
6,409
6,095
6,457
3,070
3,768
$ 143,015 $ 125,843
Our commercial cloud revenue, which includes Azure, Office 365 Commercial, the commercial portion of LinkedIn,
Dynamics 365, and other commercial cloud properties, was $69.1 billion, $51.7 billion and $38.1 billion in fiscal years
2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively. These amounts are primarily included in Server products and cloud services, Office
products and cloud services, and LinkedIn in the table above.
Assets are not allocated to segments for internal reporting presentations. A portion of amortization and depreciation is
included with various other costs in an overhead allocation to each segment. It is impracticable for us to separately
identify the amount of amortization and depreciation by segment that is included in the measure of segment profit or loss.
Long-lived assets, excluding financial instruments and tax assets, classified by the location of the controlling statutory
company and with countries over 10% of the total shown separately, were as follows:
(In millions)
June 30,
United States
Ireland
Other countries
Total
2021
$ 76,153
13,303
38,858
$ 128,314
2020
2019
$ 60,789 $ 55,252
12,958
12,734
29,770
25,422
$ 103,293 $ 93,632
85
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Microsoft Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Microsoft Corporation and subsidiaries (the
―Company‖) as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, cash
flows, and stockholders’ equity, for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, and the related notes
(collectively referred to as the ―financial statements‖). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2021, based on criteria
established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission and our report dated July 29, 2021, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the
PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities
laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material
misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those
risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements
that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or
disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex
judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements,
taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the
critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
86
Revenue Recognition — Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised products or services to customers in an amount
that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. The Company
offers customers the ability to acquire multiple licenses of software products and services, including cloud-based services,
in its customer agreements through its volume licensing programs.
Significant judgment is exercised by the Company in determining revenue recognition for these customer agreements,
and includes the following:
• Determination of whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be
accounted for separately versus together, such as software licenses and related services that are sold with cloud-
based services.
• The pattern of delivery (i.e., timing of when revenue is recognized) for each distinct performance obligation.
•
Identification and treatment of contract terms that may impact the timing and amount of revenue recognized (e.g.,
variable consideration, optional purchases, and free services).
• Determination of stand-alone selling prices for each distinct performance obligation and for products and services that
are not sold separately.
Given these factors and due to the volume of transactions, the related audit effort in evaluating management’s judgments
in determining revenue recognition for these customer agreements was extensive and required a high degree of auditor
judgment.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our principal audit procedures related to the Company’s revenue recognition for these customer agreements included the
following:
• We tested the effectiveness of controls related to the identification of distinct performance obligations, the
determination of the timing of revenue recognition, and the estimation of variable consideration.
• We evaluated management’s significant accounting policies related
reasonableness.
to
these customer agreements
for
• We selected a sample of customer agreements and performed the following procedures:
- Obtained and read contract source documents for each selection, including master agreements, and other documents
that were part of the agreement.
- Tested management’s identification and treatment of contract terms.
- Assessed the terms in the customer agreement and evaluated the appropriateness of management’s application of
their accounting policies, along with their use of estimates, in the determination of revenue recognition conclusions.
• We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s estimate of stand-alone selling prices for products and services
that are not sold separately.
• We tested the mathematical accuracy of management’s calculations of revenue and the associated timing of revenue
recognized in the financial statements.
87
Income Taxes — Uncertain Tax Positions — Refer to Note 12 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company’s long-term income taxes liability includes uncertain tax positions related to transfer pricing issues that
remain unresolved with the Internal Revenue Service (―IRS‖). The Company remains under IRS audit, or subject to IRS
audit, for tax years subsequent to 2003. While the Company has settled a portion of the IRS audits, resolution of the
remaining matters could have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Conclusions on recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions involve significant estimates and management
judgment and include complex considerations of the Internal Revenue Code, related regulations, tax case laws, and prior-
year audit settlements. Given the complexity and the subjective nature of the transfer pricing issues that remain
unresolved with the IRS, evaluating management’s estimates relating to their determination of uncertain tax positions
required extensive audit effort and a high degree of auditor judgment, including involvement of our tax specialists.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our principal audit procedures to evaluate management’s estimates of uncertain tax positions related to unresolved
transfer pricing issues included the following:
• We evaluated the appropriateness and consistency of management’s methods and assumptions used in the
identification, recognition, measurement, and disclosure of uncertain tax positions, which included testing the
effectiveness of the related internal controls.
• We read and evaluated management’s documentation, including relevant accounting policies and information
obtained by management from outside tax specialists, that detailed the basis of the uncertain tax positions.
• We tested the reasonableness of management’s judgments regarding the future resolution of the uncertain tax
positions, including an evaluation of the technical merits of the uncertain tax positions.
• For those uncertain tax positions that had not been effectively settled, we evaluated whether management had
appropriately considered new information that could significantly change the recognition, measurement or disclosure
of the uncertain tax positions.
• We evaluated the reasonableness of management’s estimates by considering how tax law, including statutes,
regulations and case law, impacted management’s judgments.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Seattle, Washington
July 29, 2021
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1983.
88
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange
Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the
Company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
our financial reporting for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes maintaining records that in reasonable detail
accurately and fairly reflect our transactions; providing reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary
for preparation of our consolidated financial statements; providing reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of
company assets are made in accordance with management authorization; and providing reasonable assurance that
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of company assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements would be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control
over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our consolidated financial
statements would be prevented or detected.
Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the
framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting was effective as of June 30, 2021. There were no changes in our internal control over financial
reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited our internal control over financial
reporting as of June 30, 2021; their report follows.
89
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Microsoft Corporation
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Microsoft Corporation and subsidiaries (the ―Company‖) as
of June 30, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained,
in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2021, based on the criteria
established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements and the related notes (collectively referred to as the ―financial
statements‖) as of and for the year ended June 30, 2021, of the Company and our report dated July 29, 2021, expressed
an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Report of
Management on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB
and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was
maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial
reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also,
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may
deteriorate.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Seattle, Washington
July 29, 2021
90
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF MICROSOFT CORPORATION
DIRECTORS
Satya Nadella
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Microsoft Corporation
Sandra E. Peterson 2,3
Operating Partner,
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
Reid G. Hoffman
General Partner, Greylock Partners
Penny S. Pritzker 4
Founder and Chairman,
PSP Partners
John W. Thompson 3,4
Lead Independent Director,
Microsoft Corporation
Emma N. Walmsley 2,4
Chief Executive Officer,
GlaxoSmithKline
Hugh F. Johnston 1
Vice Chairman and Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer,
PepsiCo
Charles W. Scharf 2,3
Chief Executive Officer and
President, Wells Fargo & Company
Padmasree Warrior 2
Founder, Chief Executive Officer and
President, Fable Group Inc.
Teri L. List 1,3
Former Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, Gap, Inc.
John W. Stanton 1,4
Founder and Chairman, Trilogy
Partnerships
Board Committees
1. Audit Committee
2. Compensation Committee
3. Governance and Nominating Committee
4. Regulatory and Public Policy Committee
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Satya Nadella
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Amy E. Hood
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Judson Althoff
Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Bradford L. Smith
President and Vice Chair
Christopher C. Capossela
Executive Vice President, Marketing and Consumer
Business, and Chief Marketing Officer
Christopher D. Young
Executive Vice President, Business
Development, Strategy, and Ventures
Kathleen T. Hogan
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
91
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Investor Relations
You can contact Microsoft Investor Relations at any time
to order financial documents such as annual reports and
Form 10-Ks free of charge.
Call us toll-free at (800) 285-7772 or outside the United
States, call (425) 706-4400. We can be contacted
between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
to answer investment oriented questions about Microsoft.
For access to additional financial information, visit the
Investor Relations website online at:
www.microsoft.com/investor
Our e-mail is msft@microsoft.com
Our mailing address is:
Investor Relations
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, Washington 98052-6399
Attending the Annual Meeting
The 2021 Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held as
a virtual-only meeting. Any shareholder can join the
Annual Meeting, while shareholders of record as of
September 30, 2021, will be able to vote and submit
questions during the meeting.
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Time: 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time
Virtual Shareholder Meeting:
www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/MSFT21
Submit Your Question
We invite you to submit any questions via the proxy voting
site at www.proxyvote.com. We will include as many of
your questions as possible during the Q&A session of the
meeting and will provide answers to questions on the
Microsoft Investor Relations website under the Annual
Meeting page.
92
Registered Shareholder Services
Computershare, our transfer agent, can help you with a
variety of shareholder related services including:
•
•
•
•
Change of address
Lost stock certificates
Transfer of stock to another person
Additional administrative services
Computershare also administers a direct stock purchase
plan and a dividend reinvestment program for the
company.
Contact Computershare directly to find out more about
these services and programs at 800-285-7772, option 1,
or visit online at:
https://www.computershare.com/Microsoft
You can e-mail the transfer agent at:
web.queries@computershare.com
You can also send mail to the transfer agent at:
Computershare
P.O. Box 505000
Louisville, KY 40233-5000
Shareholders can sign up for electronic alerts to access
the annual report and proxy statement online. The service
gets you the information you need faster and also gives
you the power and convenience of online proxy voting. To
sign up for this free service, visit the Annual Report site on
the Investor Relations website at:
http://www.microsoft.com/investor/AnnualReports/default.
aspx
(ESG)/Corporate
Environmental, Social, Governance
Social Responsibility (CSR)
Many of our shareholders are increasingly focused on the
importance of the effective engagement and action on
ESG topics. To meet the expectations of our stakeholders
and to and maintain their trust, we are committed to
conducting our business in ways that are principled,
transparent, and accountable and we have made a broad
range of environmental and social commitments. From our
CEO and Senior Leadership Team and throughout our
organization, people at Microsoft are working to conduct
our business in principled ways that make a significant
positive impact on important global issues. Microsoft’s
feedback, and
Board of Directors provides
oversight across a broad range of environmental and
social matters. In particular, among the responsibilities of
the Board’s Regulatory and Public Policy Committee is to
the Board and
review and provide guidance
management about the Company’s policies and programs
that relate to CSR.
insight,
to
For more about Microsoft’s CSR commitments and
performance, please visit:
www.microsoft.com/transparency.
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