Microsoft’s Shareholder Meeting to Address Proposal for Bitcoin Investment

Microsoft Faces Shareholder Proposal to Invest in Bitcoin at Annual Meeting

As the year comes to an end, Microsoft is gearing up for its annual shareholder meeting on December 10th. Among the list of “voting items” for shareholders is a proposal to diversify Microsoft’s assets and increase shareholder value by investing in Bitcoin, according to a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

The proposal, titled “Assessment of Investing in Bitcoin,” argues that Microsoft’s current investment in corporate bonds is barely outpacing inflation rates and suggests that the company should consider diversifying its assets with Bitcoin, which is seen as an excellent hedge against inflation.

However, Microsoft’s board of directors is urging shareholders to vote against the proposal, stating that the company’s management already carefully considers investment decisions, including the potential for investing in Bitcoin. The board believes that Microsoft has strong processes in place to manage and diversify its corporate treasury for the long-term benefit of shareholders.

The proposal was put forth by The National Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, which suggests that Microsoft should evaluate the benefits of holding at least 1% of its assets in Bitcoin. This recommendation comes as MicroStrategy, another tech company, has seen success with its strategic pivot towards Bitcoin investment, leading to a surge in its stock price.

While MicroStrategy’s stock has surged 250% over the past year, Microsoft’s stock has seen a more modest 16% increase. It will be interesting to see how shareholders vote on the proposal at the upcoming meeting and whether Microsoft will follow in the footsteps of MicroStrategy in embracing Bitcoin as an investment opportunity.