DEF 14A
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c67779def14a.txt
DEFINITIVE NOTICE AND PROXY
SCHEDULE 14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
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Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary proxy statement. [ ] Confidential, for use of the
Commission only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2)).
[X] Definitive proxy statement.
[ ] Definitive additional materials.
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Section 240.14a-12
Federal Signal Corporation
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
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[FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION LOGO]
1415 WEST 22ND STREET
OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS 60523
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 18, 2002
To the Stockholders of
Federal Signal Corporation
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Federal Signal Corporation
("Federal") for the year 2002 will be held at the Marriott Hotel-Oak Brook, 1401
West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois, on Thursday, April 18, 2002, at 11:00
a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect three directors of Federal; and
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business, February 21, 2002,
as the record date for determining the holders of Common Stock of Federal
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
A copy of Federal's Financial Statements and its Annual Report for the year
ended December 31, 2001 and a Proxy Statement accompany this notice.
IMPORTANT! TO ASSURE THAT YOUR SHARES ARE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING,
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE
PROVIDED.
NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF THE PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
By order of the Board of Directors
KIM A. WEHRENBERG
Secretary
March 15, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
General Information......................................... 1
Voting Securities........................................... 1
Certain Beneficial Owners................................... 2
Election of Directors....................................... 2
Board of Directors and Committees........................... 4
Executive Compensation...................................... 5
Compensation and Benefits Committee Report.................. 7
Audit Committee Report...................................... 9
Accounting Information...................................... 10
Future Shareholder Proposals................................ 10
Other Business.............................................. 10
[FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION LOGO]
1415 WEST 22ND STREET
OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS 60523
MAILING DATE
ON OR ABOUT
MARCH 15, 2002
------------------------
PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 18, 2002
GENERAL INFORMATION
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Federal Signal Corporation ("Federal") for
use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Thursday, April 18,
2002, and any adjournment thereof. Costs of solicitation will be borne by
Federal. Following the original solicitation of proxies by mail, certain
officers and regular employees of Federal may solicit proxies by correspondence,
telephone, telegraph, or in person, but without extra compensation. Federal will
reimburse brokers and other nominee holders for their reasonable expenses
incurred in forwarding the proxy materials to the beneficial owners.
Each proxy solicited herewith will be voted as to each matter as the
stockholder directs thereon, but in the absence of such directions it will be
voted for the nominees specified herein. Any proxy solicited herewith may be
revoked by the stockholder at any time prior to the voting thereof, but a
revocation will not be effective until satisfactory evidence thereof has been
received by the Secretary of Federal.
VOTING SECURITIES
The holders of record of the Common Stock of Federal at the close of
business on February 21, 2002, will be entitled to vote at the meeting. At such
record date, there were outstanding 45,099,378 shares of Common Stock. A
majority of the outstanding shares will constitute a quorum at the meeting.
Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted to determine if a quorum is
present. Abstentions are counted as votes cast, whereas broker non-votes are not
counted as votes cast for determining whether a proposition has been approved.
Each stockholder of record will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common
Stock standing in the name of the holder on the books of Federal on the record
date. A plurality of votes cast at the meeting is required for the election of
directors and approval of a majority of shares entitled to vote is required for
all other matters submitted to shareholders for a vote.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2001 (unless
otherwise noted) with respect to (i) any person who is known to Federal to be
the beneficial owner of more than 5% of Federal's Common Stock, which is
Federal's only class of outstanding voting securities, and (ii) each director,
and all directors and officers as a group:
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL PERCENT OF
NAME OWNERSHIP(2) CLASS
---- ------------ ----------
Beneficial Owner of More than 5% of Federal's Common Stock:
Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC....... 3,900,000 8.60%
Each Director and Five Executive Officers and Executive
Officers and Directors as a Group:(1)
Charles R. Campbell, Director.......................... 52,637 .10%
James C. Janning, Director............................. 10,000 .02%
Paul W. Jones, Director................................ 13,243 .03%
James A. Lovell, Jr., Director......................... 38,075 .08%
Walden W. O'Dell, Director............................. 0 .00%
Joseph J. Ross, Director and Executive Officer......... 1,063,581 2.36%
Richard R. Thomas, Director............................ 118,848 .26%
Andrew E. Graves, Executive Officer.................... 20,583 .05%
Henry L. Dykema, Executive Officer..................... 111,295 .24%
Richard G. Gibb, Executive Officer..................... 291,590 .66%
Kim A. Wehrenberg, Executive Officer................... 269,950 .56%
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (15
persons)............................................. 2,214,985 4.90%
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(1) The information contained in this table is based upon information furnished
to Federal by the individuals named above. Except as set forth in the
following footnotes, each director claims sole voting and investment power
with respect to these shares.
(2) These figures include options shares exercisable within 60 days as follows:
Mr. Campbell, 5,000; Mr. Lovell, 10,708; Mr. Jones, 9,243; Mr. Ross,
333,333; Mr. Dykema, 57,500; Mr. Wehrenberg, 64,500; Mr. Graves, 0; and Mr.
Gibb, 90,000. These figures also include stock award shares pursuant to
Federal's Stock Benefit Plan which are subject to certain restrictions under
the plan, as follows: Mr. Ross, 27,500; Mr. Dykema, 3,250; Mr. Wehrenberg,
6,375; Mr. Graves, 20,000; and Mr. Gibb, 9,750.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Federal's Board of Directors consists of seven directors divided into three
classes with one class term expiring each year. Messrs. Charles R. Campbell,
Paul W. Jones and James A. Lovell, Jr. are nominated as Class II directors for
election at this Annual Meeting for a term to expire at the 2005 Annual Meeting
or until their successors are elected and qualified.
The accompanying proxy card permits a stockholder to direct whether his or
her shares are to be voted for or withheld from the vote for the nominees. Each
proxy will be voted as the stockholder directs thereon; however, if no such
direction is given, it is the present intention of the persons named in the
proxy card to vote such proxies for the election of the above-named nominees as
directors. If on account of death or unforeseen contingencies a nominee shall
not be available for election, the persons named in the proxy will vote the
proxies for such other person(s) as the Nominating Committee may nominate as
directors so as to provide a full board. The three nominees receiving the
highest number of votes cast will be elected as directors.
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Information regarding the nominees for election and the directors
continuing in office is set forth below:
YEAR FIRST YEAR PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
BECAME TERM OR EMPLOYMENT FOR
NAME AGE DIRECTOR EXPIRES LAST FIVE YEARS(1)
---- --- ---------- ------------ --------------------
NOMINEES:
Charles R. Campbell..... 62 1998 2002 Mr. Campbell is a principal in The Everest Group,
a management consulting firm, and was Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial and Administrative
Officer of Federal Signal Corporation from 1985 to
1995. He is a director of Home Products
International, Inc., a houseware products company.
Paul W. Jones........... 53 1998 2002 Mr. Jones has been Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of U.S. Can Company since April,
1998 and was President and Chief Executive Officer
of Greenfield Industries, Inc., a tool
manufacturer, from 1989 to 1998. Mr. Jones is a
director of Regal Beloit Corporation, a
manufacturer of power transmission components and
perishable cutting tools.
James A. Lovell, Jr. ... 73 1984 2002 Mr. Lovell is President of Lovell Communications,
a consulting company. He retired in 1990 as
Executive Vice President, Corporate Staff and as a
director of Centel Corporation, a
telecommunications company.
CONTINUING DIRECTORS:
James C. Janning........ 54 1999 2003 Mr. Janning is Group President of Harbour Group
Ltd, a diversified holding company and has held
various executive positions at Harbour Group since
1987. Mr. Janning is also a director of Menasha
Corp., a manufacturing and printing company, and a
director and Chairman of Menasha Forest Products
Corp., a forestry business.
Walden W. O'Dell........ 56 2001 2004 Mr. O'Dell has been Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Diebold, Incorporated, a
provider of integrated self-service delivery
systems, security solutions and services, since
2000 and President and CEO since 1999. Previously,
he was Group Vice President, Tool Group and
President of Ridge Tool Division, Emerson;
President, Liebert Corporation (a subsidiary of
Emerson), a manufacturer of electrical,
electromechanical and electronic products and
systems.
Joseph J. Ross.......... 56 1986 2003 Mr. Ross is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Federal. He also served as President and Chief
Executive Officer from December, 1987 until
February, 2001. He is a director of Quanex
Corporation, a manufacturer of engineered
materials.
Richard R. Thomas....... 68 1994 2004 Mr. Thomas retired in 1994 as President of the
Tool Group of Federal Signal Corporation.
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(1) The information contained in this table is based upon information furnished
to Federal by the individuals named above.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES
Pursuant to its by-laws, Federal has established standing audit, corporate
governance, compensation and benefits and executive committees.
The Board of Directors has adopted a Charter for the Audit Committee which
includes the following duties. The Audit Committee reviews and recommends to the
Board of Directors internal accounting and financial controls, auditing
practices and procedures and accounting principles to be employed in the
preparation of Federal's financial statements and the review of financial
statements by independent public accountants. The Audit Committee also makes
recommendations concerning the engagement of independent public accountants to
audit the annual financial statements and the scope of the audit to be
undertaken by such accountants. In addition, the Audit Committee considers the
performance of non-audit services by such accountants, including the effect
which the performance of such non-audit services may have upon the independence
of the accountants. The by-laws prohibit a director who is also an employee of
Federal from serving on the Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee
are Charles Campbell, Chairman, James Janning and Richard Thomas.
The Corporate Governance Committee evaluates and recommends to the Board of
Directors candidates for election or re-election as directors. No determination
has been made regarding the consideration of or procedure for the recommendation
of nominees by stockholders. The members of the Corporate Governance Committee
are James Lovell, Jr., Chairman, Paul Jones and Charles Campbell.
The Compensation and Benefits Committee reviews and recommends to the Board
of Directors policies, practices and procedures relating to compensation of
managerial employees and the establishment, investment of funds, and
administration of employee benefit plans. The members of the Compensation and
Benefits Committee are Paul Jones, Chairman, James Janning and Walden O'Dell.
During 2001, the Board of Directors held a total of six meetings and the
Executive Committee of the Board, which generally exercises the power and
authority of the Board in the intervals between full board meetings, held one
meeting. The members of the Executive Committee are Joseph Ross, Chairman, James
Lovell, Jr. and Richard Thomas. During 2001, the Compensation and Benefits
Committee held five meetings; the Corporate Governance Committee held four
meetings and the Audit Committee held three meetings. No director attended less
than 75% of the meetings of the Board and of each committee of which he was a
member.
Directors who are not officers of Federal receive the following
compensation. Director and committee fees for Mr. Lovell are $40,500 and 2,000
stock options. He is also eligible for a retirement benefit of $15,000 per year
for up to 10 years after retirement. The pension plan was replaced by stock
option grants for all other directors. Messrs. Campbell, Janning, Jones, O'Dell
and Thomas receive an annual retainer of $29,500 and $1,000 per Board meeting
fees. They also received an initial grant of 5,000 shares of stock options, plus
4,000 shares of options per year. All directors may elect to receive stock
options in lieu of cash fees as described in the Stock Benefit Plan. Directors
are also reimbursed for their expenses relating to attendance at meetings.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following is the Summary Compensation Table for the Chief Executive
Officer and four other top executive officers of Federal for compensation earned
during the 2001 fiscal year:
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS
ANNUAL COMPENSATION --------------------
---------------------------------------- RESTRICTED NUMBER
OTHER ANNUAL STOCK OF ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION AWARDS(1) OPTIONS COMPENSATION(2)
--------------------------- ---- -------- ------- ------------ ---------- ------- ---------------
Joseph J. Ross................ 2001 $550,000 123,833 0 $418,200 80,000 $46,172
Chairman and Chief 2000 479,250 341,000 0 239,063 0 39,431
Executive Officer 1999 417,000 0 0 547,500 60,000 21,325
Andrew E. Graves.............. 2001 298,000 80,467 $100,000(3) 405,000 70,000 12,669
President and Chief
Operating Officer
Richard G. Gibb............... 2001 218,000 14,478 0 83,640 10,000 14,100
Executive Vice President 2000 213,000 75,420 0 159,375 0 15,430
1999 208,000 0 0 191,625 20,000 19,458
Henry L. Dykema............... 2001 212,000 27,844 0 0 10,000 5,100
Vice President and 2000 212,000 95,471 0 79,688 0 6,399
Chief Financial Officer 1999 204,000 74,358 0 82,125 16,000 8,351
Kim A. Wehrenberg............. 2001 192,000 38,894 0 83,640 10,000 7,407
Vice President, General 2000 178,000 68,708 0 79,688 0 15,556
Counsel and Secretary 1999 171,000 66,177 0 95,812 16,000 11,140
------------
(1) Stock awards generally vest 25% on each anniversary date after the date of
grant. The number and aggregate value of unvested stock awards as of
December 31, 2001 were: for Mr. Ross 27,500 shares ($612,425), for Mr.
Dykema 3,250 shares ($72,378), for Mr. Gibb 9,750 shares ($217,133), for Mr.
Wehrenberg 6,375 shares ($141,971) and for Mr. Graves 20,000 shares
($445,400). Dividends are paid at the regular rate to these people on the
unvested shares.
(2) This compensation consists of the Company-matching contribution under
Federal's 401(k) savings plan in which most employees participate and
supplemental savings and retirement plans and auto allowance, which break
out as follows, respectively: Mr. Ross $5,100, $19,128, $19,069, $0; Mr.
Dykema $5,100, $0, $0, $0; Mr. Wehrenberg $5,100, $2,307, $0, $0; Mr. Graves
$2,550, $1,948, $7,321, $850; Mr. Gibb $5,100, $0, $0, $9,000.
(3) Mr. Graves received a one-time payment of $100,000 pursuant to his initial
employment on February 1, 2001.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
Federal has employment agreements with Messrs. Joseph J. Ross and Andrew E.
Graves. The agreements continue until the December 31 following the employee's
65th birthday subject to earlier termination by either Federal or the employee.
As of February 8, 2002, the termination salary under these agreements was
$570,000 for Mr. Ross and $340,000 for Mr. Graves and the annual salaries of Mr.
Ross and Mr. Graves, which are approved by the Compensation and Benefits
Committee, are not set by these employment agreements. In the discretion of the
Board of Directors, annual compensation may be increased during the term of
these agreements. If these employees are terminated by Federal under
circumstances not involving cause, Federal would be obligated to pay in monthly
installments an amount equal to the then applicable salary for one year, or, if
less, the amount of minimum salary payable through the December 31 following
such employee's 65th birthday. In the event of death of these employees prior to
termination of employment, the employee's estate is entitled to receive in
monthly installments an amount equal to one year's minimum compensation. Messrs.
Ross, Graves and Wehrenberg have change of control agreements. In the
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event Federal is subject to a "change of control" (as specifically defined), the
agreements permit the employee to elect to terminate employment during a
specified period and to receive termination payments calculated as if Federal
had terminated employment without cause, except that such payment shall be
equivalent to three years' W-2 compensation rather than one. Upon termination of
employment for any reason, each employee is obligated not to engage in specified
competitive activities for a period of three years.
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
GRANT DATE
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS VALUE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
UNDERLYING OPTIONS
GRANTED 4/18/01 AT % OF TOTAL GRANT DATE
$20.91 PER SHARE OPTIONS PRESENT VALUE
EXERCISE OR BASE GRANTED TO $ BASED ON
PRICE AND EXPIRE EMPLOYEES IN BLACK-SCHOLES
4/18/11 VESTING FISCAL YEAR METHOD(2)
-------------------- ------- ------------ -------------
Joseph J. Ross............................ 80,000 3 15 $426,400
Andrew E. Graves.......................... 70,000(3) 4 13 360,900
Richard G. Gibb........................... 10,000 3 2 53,300
Henry L. Dykema........................... 10,000 3 2 53,300
Kim A. Wehrenberg......................... 10,000 3 2 53,300
------------
(1) No SARs were granted.
(2) The following assumptions were used under the Black-Scholes method:
Volatility .28; risk free rate of return 4.4%; dividend yield 3.5%; expected
life 8 years.
(3) Granted 1/25/01 at $20.25.
OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION VALUE
NUMBER OF SECUR- VALUE OF
ITIES UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
FY-END (#) FY-END ($)
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($)(1) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE(2)
---- --------------- --------------- ---------------- ----------------
Joseph J. Ross....................... 50,000 $410,625 333,000 $751,139
130,000 295,025
Andrew E. Graves..................... 0 0 0 0
70,000 141,400
Richard G. Gibb...................... 25,000 270,313 90,000 208,072
25,000 106,713
Henry L. Dykema...................... 0 0 57,500 84,720
12,000 74,490
Kim A. Wehrenberg.................... 17,000 183,642 64,500 170,107
22,000 88,090
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(1) Market value of underlying securities at exercise, minus the exercise or
base price.
(2) "Spread" calculated by subtracting the exercise or base price from the
closing stock price of $22.27 on December 31, 2001.
(3) Mr. Ross has stock option exercise loans totaling $2,630,896.20, including
$7,478.52 of interest. $124,910.04 of interest accrued in 2001 at rates
ranging from 6.01% to 3.93% on the loans to Mr. Ross.
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RETIREMENT PLANS
Federal's Retirement Plan provides retirement benefits for salaried and
hourly employees including officers. Contributions are made on an actuarial
group basis, and no specific amount of contributions is set aside for any
individual participant. The following table sets forth the approximate annual
pension benefit based on years of service and compensation, but does not reflect
dollar limitations under the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which limits the
annual benefits which may be paid from a tax qualified retirement plan. Mr. Ross
is covered by Federal's supplemental pension plans; amounts in excess of the
qualified plan limitations will be paid from the general funds of Federal,
pursuant to the terms of the supplemental plans. The amount of pension benefits
is reduced by one-half of the amount of available individual Social Security
benefits. Estimated credited years of service are as follows: Mr. Ross, 17.5,
Mr. Dykema, 6; Mr. Wehrenberg, 14; Mr. Graves, 0; and Mr. Gibb, 25.2.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
AVERAGE ANNUAL
COMPENSATION FOR
THE FIVE CONSECUTIVE
CALENDAR YEARS OF APPROXIMATE ANNUAL STRAIGHT-LIFE ANNUITY
THE LAST TEN FOR PENSION UPON RETIREMENT AT 65
WHICH --------------------------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION IS 10 YEARS 15 YEARS 20 YEARS 25 YEARS 30 YEARS
HIGHEST OF SERVICE OF SERVICE OF SERVICE OF SERVICE OF SERVICE
-------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
$300,000................................ $ 50,000 $ 75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000
400,000................................ 66,667 100,000 133,334 166,167 200,000
500,000................................ 83,334 125,000 166,667 208,334 250,000
600,000................................ 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000
700,000................................ 116,667 175,000 233,333 291,667 350,000
800,000................................ 133,333 200,000 266,667 333,334 400,000
900,000................................ 150,000 225,000 300,000 375,000 450,000
The maximum benefit under the qualified Retirement Plan is $100,000 less
one-half of social security payments. For purposes of the Retirement Plan, an
employee's compensation is his Annual Compensation as set forth in the Summary
Compensation Table.
In addition to a maximum of $100,000 under the qualified plan, Mr. Ross may
be entitled to the amounts set forth in the table above in excess of $100,000
pursuant to the supplemental pension plan. Mr. Ross may also be entitled to an
additional supplemental retirement payment equal to 20% of his cash compensation
for the last calendar year before retirement after age 55, to be paid each year
for 15 years after he retires.
Also, pursuant to Federal's supplemental pension plans, Mr. Ross may be
entitled to a pension supplement which has the effect of assuring that,
regardless of his actual years of service, if he remains in the employment of
Federal until age 65, he will receive benefits as if he had been continuously
employed by Federal since his thirty-fourth birthday. Giving effect to this
pension supplement, the additional years of service credited under Federal's
Supplemental Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2001 to Mr. Ross is 3.25 years.
The supplemental pension benefits for Mr. Ross make up the difference between
his actual pension benefits and what they would have been with 30 years of
service and for amounts in excess of the $100,000 qualified plan limit. Mr.
Graves' pension supplement may entitle him to a total benefit equal to 55% of
his compensation at age 65 and would include 7.1 years of additional credited
service.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board of Directors consists
of three independent outside directors. The Committee meets without the Chief
Executive Officer present to evaluate his performance and establish his
compensation. Compensation for Federal's executive officers consists of three
major components: salary, bonus and stock options/awards. The officers'
compensation is based on the individual's skill level, years of experience, job
duties and the individual's and Company's performance. The
7
Committee uses its subjective evaluation of these factors, without a mechanical
weighting, to determine the officer's salary and level of participation in the
bonus plan; Mr. Ross participates at 60% of his salary and the other officers
participate at 30% to 40% of their salary.
The Company's total return to shareholders was over 17% in 2001 and the
Company's total return to shareholders has been flat over the last five years.
The Company's earnings from continuing operations excluding restructuring costs
in 2001 compared to 2000 were down 10%. Mr. Ross received a salary increase of
3.5% to $570,000 for 2002 and the other two officers not retiring received an
average salary increase of 4% for 2002. Mr. Ross received a bonus for 2001 of
$123,833 based on the performance of Mr. Ross and the Company in 2001.
The officers' bonuses are tied directly to the Company's financial
performance. Bonus targets are established for the officers based on their level
of responsibility. The amount of bonus to which an officer is entitled is based
on Federal's pre-tax profits (before extraordinary items, interest on long-term
debt and bonus payments) as a percentage of Federal's average stockholders'
equity plus average long-term debt, as well as on goals for growth of the
Company. The officers' bonus targets remain the same for 2002. The 2001 bonus
target achievement was 10% of plan. The other four officers' bonuses constituted
about 15% of their cash compensation.
The third major component of the officers' compensation consists of stock
options and awards. This is long-term compensation which provides value to the
officers based on the increased market value of the Company for all
stockholders. The Performance Graph on page 9 shows that Federal outperformed
the Standard & Poor Industrials and the Dow Jones Industrial-Diversified Index
in the years 2000 and 2001, but has underperformed for certain longer periods of
time. To give the officers an incentive to increase shareholder value and to
compensate them in accordance with such increases in shareholder value, the
Compensation and Benefits Committee generally grants to the officers on an
annual basis additional stock options and restricted stock awards. The
compensation officers receive from stock options and awards is down because of
the performance of the Company's stock price. The Committee subjectively
determines the number of shares to be granted and there is no mechanical
relationship between the number of options and restricted share awards to be
granted, nor is there a mechanical relationship to prior grants.
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that compensation in
excess of $1.0 million paid to the chief executive officer and the four most
highly compensated executive officers of a public company will generally be
non-deductible for federal income tax purposes, subject to certain exceptions.
The Committee intends to structure compensation arrangements in a manner that
will avoid the deduction limitations imposed by Section 162(m) in appropriate
circumstances. However, the Committee believes that it is important and
necessary that the Committee retain the right and flexibility to provide and
revise compensation arrangements, such as base salary and cash bonus incentive
opportunities, that may not qualify under Section 162(m) if, in the Committee's
view, such arrangements are in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders.
JAMES C. JANNING PAUL W. JONES WALDEN W. O'DELL
8
COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
FOR FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
(GRAPH)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSC 100 86 112 69 87 103
S&P Industrials 100 131 175 223 187 165
S&P Midcap 100 132 157 180 212 211
Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1996 in Federal Signal Corporation Common
Stock (FSC), S&P Industrials Index and the S&P 400 Midcap Index (S&P Midcap).
* Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and is based on fiscal years
ending December 31.
ONE YEAR TOTAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT
(ASSUMING $100 INVESTED ON DECEMBER 31, 2000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 % change
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FSC 100 118 18%
S&P Industrials 100 88 -12%
S&P Midcap 100 100 0%
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors is currently
comprised of three directors, none of whom are officers or employees of the
Company. All members are "independent" under rules recently adopted by the New
York Stock Exchange. The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for
the Audit Committee, which was included as Exhibit A to last year's proxy
statement. In accordance with its written charter, the Audit Committee assists
the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for monitoring the integrity of the
accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the Company. In
addition, for each fiscal year, the Audit Committee selects independent public
accountants to audit the financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries, subject to approval of the Board of Directors. In fulfilling its
oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed the audited financial
statements in the Annual Report with
9
management including a discussion of the quality, not just the acceptability, of
the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments, and the
clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, who are responsible
for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial
statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgments as to
the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Company's accounting principles
and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Committee under
generally accepted auditing standards. In addition, the Committee has discussed
with the independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and the
Company including the matters in the written disclosures required by the
Independence Standards Board and considered the compatibility of non-audit
services with the auditors' independence.
The Committee discussed with the Company's internal and independent
auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee
meets with the internal and independent auditors, with and without management
present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the
Company's internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company's financial
reporting.
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee
recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the
audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2001 for filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
CHARLES R. CAMPBELL JAMES C. JANNING RICHARD R. THOMAS
ACCOUNTING INFORMATION
Ernst & Young has been selected by Federal to serve as its independent
public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002. A
representative of that firm will be present at the Annual Meeting with the
opportunity to make a statement if he desires to do so and to respond to
questions of stockholders. The appointment of the auditors is approved annually
by the Board of Directors based upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee.
ERNST & YOUNG FEES FOR AUDIT SERVICES IN 2001 WERE $485,000 AND THEIR FEES FOR
ALL OTHER SERVICES IN 2001 INCLUDED $66,000 OF AUDIT-RELATED FEES AND $206,000
OF NON-AUDIT FEES, SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF WHICH WAS RELATED TO INCOME TAX ADVISING
AND COMPLIANCE SERVICES.
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
In order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2003
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, stockholder proposals must be received by
Federal on or before November 23, 2002.
OTHER BUSINESS
As of the date hereof, the foregoing is the only business which management
intends to present, or is aware that others will present, at the meeting. If any
other proper business should be presented to the meeting, the proxies will be
voted in respect thereof in accordance with the discretion and judgment of the
person or persons voting the proxies.
By order of the Board of Directors
KIM A. WEHRENBERG
Secretary
Federal Signal Corporation
10
FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
1415 W. 22ND STREET, OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS 60523
P PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON APRIL 18, 2002
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R
Joseph J. Ross and Kim A. Wehrenberg, or either of them, with full
O power of substitution, are hereby authorized to vote the shares of
Common Stock of Federal Signal Corporation which the undersigned is
X entitled to vote at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held
at the Marriott Hotel-Oak Brook, 1401 W. 22nd Street, Oak Brook,
Y Illinois on Thursday, April 18, 2002 at 11:00 a.m., and at all
adjournments thereof, as indicated on this card for the proposal
described in the Notice and Proxy Statement for such meeting and in
their discretion on other matters which may properly come before the
meeting.
UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES
LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1.
1. Nominees for Directors: [ ] Check here for address change.
01) Charles R. Campbell
02) Paul W. Jones New Address: __________________
03) James A. Lovell, Jr.
_______________________________
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.) _______________________________
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* FOLD AND DETACH HERE *
5887
PLEASE MARK YOUR
[ X ] VOTES AS IN THIS
EXAMPLE.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS MADE. IF NO
CHOICE IS INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN
PROPOSAL 1.
FOR WITHHELD
ALL FOR ALL
1. Election of Change of Address/
Directors [ ] [ ] Comments on Reverse Side. [ ]
(See Reverse)
For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s):
__________________________________
Please sign exactly as name appears
hereon. Joint owners should each
sign. Where applicable, indicate
official position or representative
capacity.
___________________________________
___________________________________
SIGNATURE(S) DATE
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* FOLD AND DETACH HERE *
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY
USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.