Separately, Microsoft also said Tuesday that Netflix CEO Reed Hastings won't be seeking reelection as an outside board member at the company's annual general meeting.

The proxy statement did not give a reason for Hastings' departure. In a press release, Ballmer praised Hastings' tenure on the board.

Microsoft shareholders will vote on nine nominations for the company's board. They are Bill Gates, chairman; Steve Ballmer, CEO; Dina Dublon, former chief financial officer of JPMorgan Chase; Maria Klawe, president of Harvey Mudd College; Stephen Luczo, chairman, president and CEO of Seagate Technology; David F. Marquardt, general partner of August Capital; Charles Noski, former vice chairman of Bank of America; Dr. Helmut Panke, former chairman of the board of management at BMW; and John Thompson, CEO of Virtual Instruments.

The IDG News Service