For answers to the most commonly asked questions read on.
If you cannot find an answer to your question, please consult us and we will answer it.


Do you intend to offer internet-voting in future?
Proxy voting via internet is now permitted. It will be possible to vote via the internet as from the 2005 AGMs.
I am a shareholder and I want to make use of the opportunities offered by the shareholders communication channel. What should I do?
If you want to receive information and to participate in proxy voting you have to register with your bank. Please click at the name of your bank at this website.
Will my address data be disclosed to the company?
No, to protect your privacy, an independent intermediary has been engaged. If you wish to use the possibility to vote, your data will of course be released to the company. But that’s the case now anyway.
Are all banks participating in the project?
All large and medium-sized banks are cooperating. If you have not received any information from your bank, contact your bank’s securities advisor.
At which bank should I register?
You need to register at the bank where you have your securities account.
What happens to my personal details?
A company that wants to send information to its shareholders notifies the banks. The banks send name and address data to a mailing house. After receiving the documents from the company, the mailing house sends it to the shareholders making use of the address data it received from the banks. After mailing, the address data will be destroyed.
Whom should I notify if my address changes?
You should notify your bank. The Communication channel itself does not keep a file of addresses
Which shareholders can participate?
All holders of a securities account with a participating financial institution in The Netherlands can participate. You will have to authorise once-only the release of your address data. This authorisation can be withdrawn by you at any time. Only those shareholders who, at a given moment, hold shares or depositary receipts for shares in the participating companies will actually receive information. So you will never receive superfluous information.
Why is the Shareholders' Communication Channel restricting itself to holders of securities accounts in The Netherlands?
For technical and practical reasons, it was decided to initially restrict the system to holders of securities accounts in The Netherlands.
Do I, as a shareholder, have any control regarding registration in the system?
Yes. Your data will not be included without your authorisation.
As a shareholder, can I also partially participate (certain associated funds, information, voting right)?
The authorisation applies to all associated funds and all options offered by the Communication Channel. For technical and practical reasons, it is not possible to limit the authorisation to certain funds.
Are there any costs to the shareholders?
The receipt of information and remote voting are free of charge..
What is the advantage of this Communication Channel to me as a shareholder?
You will receive relevant information directly and free of charge at home. Your privacy is guaranteed. You can easily vote remotely on agenda items at the general meeting of shareholders. And it will be easier to communicate with your fellow shareholders. In short, the communication with the company and between shareholders will be much easier and more direct.
As a shareholder, do I have any control over the information sent to me?
In principle, every shareholder who participates in the Communication Channel will receive the same information per company. If you sell your shares in a company, you will no longer receive information from that company. If you purchase shares in a participating company, you will receive information from that moment on.
Can I terminate the registration prematurely?
Yes, by informing your securities advisor that you are withdrawing the authorisation.
When must I be a shareholder in order to be able to vote in writing at the meeting of shareholders via the Communication Channel?
The voting forms are sent out together with the corporate information at least 15 days prior to the meeting.If you want to receive a voting form, you must be a shareholder at the registrationdate set by the company. This date is maximum 30 days prior to the meetingdate. The registrationdate may vary per company. If mailing registrationdate and registrationdate for voting do not coincide and if you did not receive a form because you were not yet a shareholder on the mailing registrationdate you can only vote at the meeting, either in person or by representation. In that case, your shares cannot be transferred up to and including the registration date.In order to be eligible to vote, you must be a shareholder on the registration date. You may find relevant dates for each company on our website, under 'Dates'.
How many shareholders are registered with the Communication channel?
It is estimated that some 200,000 shareholders are connected to the Communication channel
How does it work, proxy voting?
In a formal sense you give a proxy. The name of the proxy holder is printed on the voting instruction form. This proxy holder will cast your votes on the AGM, in line with the instructions you have given on the voting instruction form.
I have earlier given a continuous proxy to the VEB. Does that prevent me to use the proxy voting facility provided by the Communication channel?
The continous proxy you have given to the VEB takes priority if the VEB decides to make use of it. If the VEB does not use the proxy you can vote via the Communication channel. If you do not want to be in doubt if you can vote via the Communication channel you should revoke the proxy given to the VEB.
I have already sent in a voting instruction form but now want to visit the AGM in person. Is that possible?
If the registration period for the meeting is still open you can indeed visit the meeting in person with the required documentation you should receive from your bank. In that case your voting instruction form will be deleted and you can cast your votes yourself at the meeting. If you are in doubt you should contact your bank.
What exactly is the meaning of a record date?
You can vote at the meeting if you are a shareholder on the record date for the meeting. This date is maximun 30 days prior to the meeting. Consequently, you do not have to be a shareholder on the day of the meeting and your shares do not have to be blocked.
This record date for the meeting, has that anything to do with my dividend entitlement?
No, this is quite separate. For your dividend entitlement an other record date is set by the company.
How many voting instruction forms were sent out in 2004?
In 2004 a total of 195,396 voting instruction forms (vif) was sent out for 11 companies. Ahold, Heijmans and Wessanen did not offer proxy voting via the Communicationchannel in 2004. 30,354 vif's or 15.5% were returned by shareholders. The 195,396 vif's covered a total of 371,861,442 shares. 45,440,307 shares or 12.2% were voted by using the vif.
What were the numbers in previous years?
In 2001 190,386 vif's were sent out with a return of 17.2%, in 2002 165,053 with a return of 17.2% and in 2003 177.263 vif's with 15.5% returned.
Do you have numbers per company for 2008?
2008  
  Proxy's Sent Out Total voted % proxies voted Electronic votes % Voted via internet No. of shares voted No. of shares voted electronic % via Internet
AEGON 10.923 1.144 10,47% 213 18,62% 57.164.788 55.658.832 97,37%
AHOLD 18.842 2.762 14,66% 487 17,63% 68.098.824 65.888.746 96,75%
AKZO NOBEL 8.609 895 10,40% 144 16,09% 14.436.054 14.020.740 97,12%
CORPORATE EXPRESS 4.418 434 9,82% 103 23,73% 3.149.694 2.670.699 84,79%
HEIJMANS 2.442 334 13,68% 60 17,96% 1.713.531 1.552.857 90,62%
ING 22.739 1.902 8,36% 237 12,46% 113.787.892 110.451.214 97,07%
KPN 17.392 2.518 14,48% 392 15,57% 103.920.245 102.161.315 98,31%
PHILIPS 12.864 1.459 11,34% 313 21,45% 24.543.201 23.470.533 95,63%
REED ELSEVIER 5.743 721 12,55% 110 15,26% 50.655.722 49.961.689 98,63%
UNILEVER 9.849 2.321 23,57% 357 15,38% 1.788.096 333.288 18,64%
WESSANEN 3.093 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
   
TOTAL 116.914 14.490 12,39% 2.416 16,67% 439.258.047 426.169.913
Do you have numbers per company for 2009?
2009  
  Proxy's Sent Out Total voted % proxies voted Electronic votes % Voted via internet No. of shares voted No. of shares voted electronic
AEGON 13.294 1.321 9,94% 319 24,15% 57.556.073 55.818.440
AHOLD 17.773 2.308 12,99% 470 20,36% 95.203.515 93.558.167
AKZO NOBEL 5.635 801 14,21% 156 19,48% 12.794.532 12.502.558
HEIJMANS 2.207 9 0,41% 9 100,00% 143.519 143.519
ING 25.033 2.277 9,10% 706 31,01% 126.421.931 123.996.643
KPN 16.625 1.728 10,39% 362 20,95% 102.863.636 101.646.158
PHILIPS 12.469 953 7,64% 281 29,49% 47.287.342 46.569.360
REED ELSEVIER 5.528 595 10,76% 118 19,83% 96.685.330 96.138.985
UNILEVER 8.928 1.080 12,10% 262 24,26% 107.678.753 106.236.005
WESSANEN 3.342 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
   
TOTAL 110.834 11.072 9,99% 2.683 24,23% 646.634.631 636.609.835
Do you have numbers per company for 2010?
2010  
  Proxy's Sent Out Total voted % proxies voted Electronic votes % Voted via internet No. of shares voted No. of shares voted electronic
AEGON 13.095 1.137 8,68% 300 26,39% 68.006.153 66.274.818
AHOLD 16.886 2.396 14,19% 551 23,00% 111.972.773 110.152.457
AKZO NOBEL 5.476 645 11,78% 162 25,12% 22.467.392 22.211.778
HEIJMANS 3.094 242 7,82% 71 29,34% 5.069.760 417.723
ING 22.850 2.108 9,23% 611 28,98% 233.125.635 229.946.621
KPN 16.192 2.199 13,58% 457 20,78% 141.588.755 139.864.180
PHILIPS 11.417 1.573 13,78% 406 25,81% 49.961.364 48.958.682
REED ELSEVIER 5.274 468 8,87% 99 21,15% 704.762 218.147
UNILEVER 8.151 1.757 21,56% 334 19,01% 94.957.580 92.724.428
   
TOTAL 102.435 12.525 12,23% 2.991 23,88% 727.854.174 710.768.834