my $dbh = DBI->connect('DBI:mysql:foo','foo','foo') 
          or die "Connect Error: $DBI::errstr";

my $count_sth = $dbh->prepare("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM company_info;") 
                or die "Prepare Count Error: $DBI::errstr\n";

$count_sth->execute() 
           or die "Execute Count Error: $DBI::errstr\n";

print $count_sth->fetchrow;

$count_sth->finish;
$dbh->disconnect;