Cincinnati Bell 2011 Annual Report Download - page 20

Abstentions are counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. If a routine
matter is to be voted upon, broker non-votes are also counted as present for the purpose of determining the
presence of a quorum. Since there is a routine matter to be voted upon this year, broker non-votes will be counted
for determining the existence of a quorum.
Q: Who will count the votes?
A: A representative of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) will tabulate the votes and act as
the Inspector of Elections.
Q: Is my vote confidential?
A: Proxy instructions, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual shareholders are handled in a
manner that protects voting privacy. Your vote will not be disclosed either within the Company or to third parties
except (i) as necessary to meet applicable legal requirements, (ii) to allow for the tabulation of votes and
certification of the vote, or (iii) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation by the Board. Occasionally,
shareholders provide written comments on their proxy card, which are forwarded to the Company’s management.
Q: Who will bear the cost of soliciting votes for the meeting?
A: The Company is making this solicitation and will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing,
mailing and distributing the proxy materials. If you choose to access the proxy materials and/or vote via the
internet, you are responsible for any internet access charges you may incur. In addition to the costs of mailing the
proxy materials, the Company may also incur costs to provide additional copies of these proxy materials (if
requested) and for its directors, officers and employees to solicit proxies or votes in person, by telephone or by
electronic communication. Our directors, officers and employees will not receive any additional compensation
for such activities. We have hired Georgeson Inc. to solicit proxies for $10,500 plus expenses. We have also
hired Broadridge for a fee of approximately $10,000 plus expenses to assist us in facilitating the voting of
proxies over the internet and serving as the Inspector of Elections. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and
other nominees for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy and solicitation materials to
shareholders.
Q: What percentage of the Company’s issued and outstanding voting shares do our directors and
executive officers beneficially own?
A: Our directors and executive officers owned approximately 6% of our voting shares as of the Record
Date.
Q: Do any of our shareholders hold more than 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of any class of the
Company’s voting stock?
A: As of the Record Date or an earlier date, if indicated, each of the following entities (together with their
affiliates) indicated that it held more than 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company:
Blackrock, Inc., GAMCO Investors, Inc. and affiliates, Pinnacle Associates, LTD, The Vanguard Group, Inc.,
and Wells Fargo and Company. See page 36 for more details on the number of shares owned and percentage
ownership as of the Record Date or an earlier date, if indicated.
Q: What is householding?
A: Householding is a process that allows the Company to reduce costs and increase efficiencies by mailing
only one copy of Company communications to multiple shareholders who reside at the same household mailing
address. If you and other shareholders at the same household mailing address are currently receiving only one
copy of Company communications but would like to receive separate copies or are currently receiving multiple
copies of Company communications but would like to participate in our householding program, please see the
instructions on page 72.
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