ValueAct Capital has acquired a $2bn stake in Microsoft, which helped software major’s shares to climb to a seven-month high.
Upon the announcement, Microsoft’s shares increased by 4.8% to $31.18, marking a 16% rise in stock during 2013, putting it on track for its best performance for the year since 2009.
Microsoft spokeswoman said in a statement that the company’s board and management welcome the perspectives of shareholders.
"We are committed to enhancing value for all shareholders, and will continue to take actions that we believe will enable us to achieve this objective," spokeswoman said.
Microsoft develops web-based versions of Office applications including Word, Outlook and PowerPoint, in addition to an application for Apple computers.
Microsoft has been criticised over the past decade, mainly for falling behind Apple and Google in the transformation toward mobile computing.
ValueAct usually holds stakes in few firms and it recently supported the sale of Gardner Denver to private-equity firm KKR for about $3.75bn.
