DEF 14A 1 c67779def14a.txt DEFINITIVE NOTICE AND PROXY SCHEDULE 14A PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. ) Filed by the registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ] 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant) 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: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [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. 1 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%
------------ (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. 2 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.
------------ (1) The information contained in this table is based upon information furnished to Federal by the individuals named above. 3 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. 4 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 5 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
------------ (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. 6 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.) _______________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * FOLD AND DETACH HERE * YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.