Windstream 2011 Annual Report Download - page 7

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WINDSTREAM CORPORATION
4001 Rodney Parham Road
Little Rock, Arkansas 72212
Telephone: (501) 748-7000
www.windstream.com
PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of
Windstream Corporation (“Windstream”) to be used at its 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting
will be held at the Capital Hotel, 111 West Markham, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 on Wednesday, May 9, 2012
at 11:00 a.m. (local time).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Internet Availability of Proxy Materials ................................................... 2
Voting Information ................................................................... 2
Proposal No. 1 - Election of Directors .................................................... 4
Board and Board Committee Matters ..................................................... 8
Stock Ownership Guidelines ............................................................ 11
Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers ...................................... 13
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners ........................................... 14
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation ................................. 15
Audit Committee Report ............................................................... 16
Management Compensation ............................................................ 17
Compensation Discussion and Analysis ............................................... 17
Compensation of Directors ......................................................... 25
Compensation of Named Executive Officers ........................................... 26
Information on Plan-Based Awards .................................................. 28
Pension Benefits ................................................................. 30
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation ............................................... 32
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change-in-Control .............................. 33
Clawback Policy ................................................................. 37
Risks Presented by Windstream’s Compensation Programs ................................ 38
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation ............................. 38
Proposal No. 2 - Approval of Windstream’s Performance Incentive Compensation Plan ............. 39
Proposal No. 3 - Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation .................................. 43
Proposal No. 4 – Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditors .......................... 45
Proposal No. 5 - Stockholder Proposal – Ban on Accelerated Vesting of Stock .................... 45
Proposal No. 6 - Stockholder Proposal - Transparency And Accountability In Corporate Spending On
Political Activities .................................................................. 48
Stockholder Proposals for 2013 Annual Meeting ............................................ 50
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions ............................................. 51
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance ................................... 52
Annual Report ....................................................................... 52
Audit and Non-Audit Fees .............................................................. 53
Other Matters ........................................................................ 53
Appendix A - Windstream Performance Incentive Compensation Plan ........................... A-1