BusinessWeek reports that Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer plans to sell as much as $2 billion in stock to diversify his holdings and help with tax planning before the end of the year.

The transaction would mark his first stock sale in seven years, the Redmond, Washington-based company said today on its website. Ballmer held about 408 million shares before the move, which involves as many as 75 million shares, Microsoft said. At the stock’s closing price on Nov. 5, the transaction would amount to $2 billion.

  Microsoft CEO Selling as Much as $2 Billion in Stock