Microsoft and Sir Elton John Unite in Battle Against HIV/AIDS

REDMOND, Wash., April 24, 2002 — To generate awareness and raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention, Microsoft Corp. today announced the MSN® Money Celebrity Market Challenge featuring Sir Elton John. Consumers can log on to CNBC on MSN Money and learn how to improve their stock-picking skills while taking part in a virtual portfolio contest that supports global education about one of the worlds deadliest diseases.

On behalf of each participant, Microsoft is donating 50 cents* to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Established by Chairman Sir Elton John in 1992, the foundation is an international nonprofit organization funding HIV/AIDS prevention education programs and direct patient services worldwide.

“Im excited to be the featured contestant in the MSN Market Challenge and look forward to testing my stock-picking skills,”
Sir Elton John said.
“The Elton John AIDS Foundation greatly appreciates Microsofts support in the campaign to spread awareness and raise money in the fight against HIV/AIDS.”

Beginning today through May 14, consumers can register for the MSN Money Celebrity Market Challenge at http://msnchallenge.com/ and select four stocks for their contest portfolio, which will compete against those chosen by Sir Elton John and other participants. The winner, to be announced the first week of June, will receive a trip for two, including airfare, hotel accommodations and $500 in spending money, to the 10th Annual All-Star Smash Hits charity tennis event hosted by Elton John and Billie Jean King.** The tournament, scheduled to take place in Philadelphia in December 2002, features several of the worlds top tennis players; the winners trip includes admission to a live auction attended by Elton John, Billie Jean King and the tournament participants.

“The MSN Money Celebrity Market Challenge is a risk-free and fun way for consumers to experiment with online stock-picking while becoming familiar with the Internets assortment of useful financial resources and tools,”
said Chris Jolley, director of marketing for the Financial Products Group at Microsoft.
“Microsoft is honored to help the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the crusade to advance HIV/AIDS education and funding, and encourages everyone to partake in the challenge.”

Useful Investing Tools and Tips

CNBC on MSN Money provides consumers with a comprehensive selection of convenient, easy-to-use tools to help them research and evaluate new investment opportunities. The Investment section offers the following:

  • CNBC content available exclusively online at MSN Money, enabling investors to access highly regarded investing news and commentary from the most popular financial cable news network in the world

  • Award-winning investing tools, such as the StockScouter stock-rating system, Research Wizard and Stock Screener, which help consumers research specific stocks and evaluate their performance potential

  • MSN Stock List to track virtual holdings any time, any place throughout MSN

  • MSN Messenger Service stock alerts to inform users whenever a stock rises above or falls below a certain price threshold

About CNBC on MSN Money

CNBC on MSN Money, located exclusively on MSN, is a complete online personal finance service that combines the award-winning finance tools and content from Microsoft, the worldwide leader in software, with exclusive investment news and analysis from CNBC, the worlds most popular financial cable news network. CNBC on MSN Money empowers consumers to easily complete a wide range of everyday financial tasks, such as paying bills, viewing account balances, tracking investments, planning for retirement and staying informed on the latest financial news — in one convenient place online, any time, any place.

CNBC on MSN Money enables people at all levels of experience to take control of and feel comfortable with their finances, helping them make smart financial decisions. Leading industry publications, including Barrons, Forbes Magazine, Money magazine, PC Magazine and PC World Magazine, consistently applaud the sophisticated personal finance tools and information from Microsoft. The service is available at http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp , or by visiting MSN.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

* Total donation not to exceed $250,000 over the course of all MSN Money Celebrity Market Challenges featuring Sir Elton John.

** No purchase necessary. Open only to U.S. residents 18 years or older. Game runs May 15-29. For a complete list of rules, see Web site.

Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. Journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team for additional assistance.

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