UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
þ		Preliminary Proxy Statement
o		Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
o		Definitive Proxy Statement
o		Definitive Additional Materials
o		Soliciting Material Pursuant to §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):
þ		No fee required.
o		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:
o		Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
o		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:

     

PRELIMINARY COPY

          , 2009

 

Dear fellow stockholder,

 

You are cordially invited to attend the Federal Signal Corporation 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The meeting will be held on          ,          , 2009, at   a.m., local time, at          .

 

Details regarding admission to the meeting and the business to be conducted are more fully described in the accompanying notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.

 

At this year’s Annual Meeting, you will be asked to vote on the election of directors and the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP’s appointment as Federal Signal’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2009.

 

We hope you will be able to attend the meeting, but if you cannot do so, it is important that your shares be represented. We urge you to read the proxy statement carefully, and to use the WHITE proxy card to vote for the Board of Director’s nominees by telephone or Internet, or by signing, dating, and returning the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. Instructions are on the WHITE proxy card.

 

You should know that Warren B. Kanders has notified us that he intends to nominate three nominees, including himself, in opposition to the Board’s recommended nominees for director.

 

We strongly urge you to vote for the nominees proposed by the Board by using the enclosed WHITE proxy card and not to return any proxy card sent to you by Mr. Kanders. If you have previously returned a proxy card sent to you by Mr. Kanders, you can revoke it by using the WHITE proxy card to vote by telephone or Internet, or by signing, dating and returning our Company’s WHITE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Only your last-dated proxy will count.

 

Thank you for your continued support of our Company.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

William H. Osborne

President and Chief Executive Officer

1415 West 22nd Street

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

 

Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held on          , 2009

 

To the Stockholders of

Federal Signal Corporation:

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Federal Signal Corporation for the year 2009 will be held at the           on          ,          , 2009, at   a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

 

 

The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 3, 2009 as the record date for the meeting. This means that if you owned shares of our common stock on that date, you are entitled to receive this notice, and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of the meeting. In order to be admitted to the meeting, you must be a Federal Signal stockholder or hold a proxy. If you are not a registered holder, you should bring proof of stock ownership.

 

A copy of our Annual Report to our stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2008, a proxy statement and a WHITE proxy card accompany this notice.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the nominees for director proposed by the Board and FOR the approval of the independent registered public accounting firm, using the WHITE proxy card.

 

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held on          , 2009
The following materials, also included with this Notice, are available to be viewed, downloaded, and printed, at no charge, by accessing the following Internet address: http://www.federalsignal.com
1. Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and
2. 2008 Annual Report to Stockholders

* * * Important Note * * *

 

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! Whether or not you expect to attend the meeting, you are urged to vote as promptly as possible in one of the following ways:

 

 

Instructions for voting are contained on the enclosed WHITE proxy card. If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares of our common stock, please call Innisfree M&A Incorporated, which is assisting us, toll-free at (877) 800-5186 (Banks and brokers may call collect at (212) 750-5833).

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

Jennifer L. Sherman
Corporate Secretary

 

          , 2009

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

1415 West 22nd Street

Oak Brook, Illinois 60523

 

Proxy Statement for Annual Meeting of Stockholders

To Be Held on          , 2009

 

The Board of Directors of Federal Signal Corporation is furnishing this proxy statement to you in order to solicit your proxy for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the           on          ,               , 2009 at   a.m., local time, and any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) of such meeting. The purpose of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders is:

 

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” JAMES E. GOODWIN, WILLIAM H. OSBORNE AND JOSEPH R. WRIGHT USING THE WHITE PROXY CARD.

 

 

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2009 USING THE WHITE PROXY CARD.

 

 

This proxy statement and the accompanying WHITE proxy card were first mailed to stockholders on or about               , 2009.

 

You may vote on the above matters in the following ways:

 

 

You will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting only if you held shares of our common stock of record at the close of business on March 3, 2009, the “record date.” You will be entitled to one vote for each share you owned on the record date for each of three directorships to be elected and on each other matter presented at the meeting. On the record date, there were 47,592,751 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

 

Our By-Laws provide that a majority of the outstanding shares, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of determining if a quorum is present, we will count all proxies designated as “withholding authority” to vote for a nominee or nominees or “abstaining” from any proposal, as well as “broker non-votes,” as shares represented at the Annual Meeting and counted toward establishing the presence of a quorum. In the event that there are not sufficient votes for a quorum or to approve the items of business at the time

of the Annual Meeting, our Company reserves the right to adjourn or postpone the Annual Meeting in order to permit our Company to solicit additional proxies.

 

You can direct how your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting by signing, dating and returning the enclosed WHITE proxy card. If you return a WHITE proxy card, but no specific voting instructions are given with respect to a proposal, your shares will be voted “for” each of the three nominees named on the WHITE proxy card and “for” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent auditors for 2009, as applicable.

 

If you hold your shares in more than one account, you will receive a WHITE proxy card for each account. To ensure that all of your shares are voted, please vote by telephone or Internet for each account, or sign, date and return a WHITE proxy card for each account in the postage-paid envelope provided.

 

We have received a notice from Warren B. Kanders, a stockholder of our Company, that he intends to nominate at the Annual Meeting, and to solicit proxies in favor of, his own slate of three nominees for election to your Board of Directors as Class I directors. As a result, you may receive proxy solicitation materials from Mr. Kanders, including a proxy statement and alternate proxy card. To ensure stockholders have our Company’s latest proxy information and materials to vote, the Board expects to conduct multiple mailings prior to the date of the Annual Meeting, each of which will include a WHITE proxy card regardless of whether or not you have previously voted. Only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU NOT TO SIGN OR RETURN ANY PROXY CARD SENT TO YOU BY MR. KANDERS. Even if you have previously signed a proxy card sent by Mr. Kanders, you have every right to change your vote by using your WHITE proxy card to vote by telephone or Internet, or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted. We urge you to disregard any proxy card sent to you by Mr. Kanders.

 

The Board of Directors has NOT endorsed Mr. Kanders’ nominations and urges you to vote “FOR” the Board’s nominees for director using the WHITE proxy card TODAY. Please do not return any proxy card sent to you by Mr. Kanders even as a protest vote.

 

Under the rules that govern brokers who have record ownership of shares that they hold in Street-name for clients who beneficially own such shares, a broker may vote such shares in its discretion on “routine” matters if the broker has not received voting instructions from its client, but a broker cannot exercise its own discretion to vote such shares on certain “non-routine” matters absent voting instructions from its client. When a broker votes a client’s shares on some but not all of the proposals presented at the meeting, each non-routine proposal for which the broker cannot vote because it has not received a voting instruction from the client is referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

 

If Mr. Kanders solicits proxies, then each of the proposals will be considered a “non-routine” matter for any brokerage accounts solicited by Mr. Kanders. Thus, if your shares are held through a broker and Mr. Kanders provides you with proxy solicitation materials through your broker and you do not provide instructions to your broker as to how your shares are to be voted in the election of directors, your broker would not be able to vote your shares on any of the proposals after the time Mr. Kanders commences that solicitation.

 

If Mr. Kanders does not solicit proxies, each of the proposals will be a routine matter, and a broker will be permitted to vote its client’s shares in the broker’s discretion absent instructions from its client.

 

We urge you to provide instructions to your broker to ensure that your votes will be counted on these important matters. If Mr. Kanders solicits proxies to elect one or more of his nominees to our Board of Directors, and a broker cannot vote a client’s shares because the broker has not received voting instructions from the client on any of the proposals presented at this meeting, then such client’s shares will not be voted in person or by proxy and will not count for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. You should vote your shares by following the instructions provided on the WHITE proxy card and returning your WHITE proxy card to your broker to ensure that a WHITE proxy card is voted on your behalf.

 

Our By-Laws provide that, in an uncontested election, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if a quorum is present and if the votes cast “for” such nominee’s election exceed the “withhold” votes cast against such

nominee’s election. In addition, our Corporate Governance Guidelines include a director resignation policy that requires each director nominee, prior to each election of directors at an annual meeting, to submit to the Board an irrevocable letter of resignation from the Board which will become effective if that director does not receive the necessary votes and the Board determines to accept such resignation. In such circumstances, the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee will evaluate and make a recommendation to the Board with respect to the submitted resignation. The Board will take action on the recommendation within 180 days following the stockholders’ meeting at which the election occurred. In such circumstances, we will publicly disclose the Board’s decision including, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting a resignation.

 

The majority voting standard does not apply, however, if the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected. Our By-Laws provide that in such circumstances, directors will instead be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Because the number of nominees timely nominated for election at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the meeting, the election of directors at the Annual Meeting is a contested election. As a result, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, meaning that the three (3) nominees receiving the most votes will be elected. Shares cannot be voted for more than three (3) nominees for the election of directors at the Annual Meeting, and only one vote per share may be cast for a given nominee. If you return more than one proxy card, only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted.

 

Only votes cast “FOR” a nominee will be counted at the Annual Meeting. Unless indicated otherwise by your WHITE proxy card, if you vote using a WHITE proxy card, your shares will be voted “FOR” the three (3) nominees recommended by the Board of Directors and named in this proxy statement. Stockholder instructions on the accompanying WHITE proxy card to withhold authority to vote for one or more of the nominees, and abstentions, will result in those nominees receiving fewer “FOR” votes but will not count against a nominee’s election.

 

If Mr. Kanders were to withdraw his nomination of three nominees for director prior to the election of Class I directors at the Annual Meeting, then the election would be uncontested and the majority voting standard described above would apply.

 

The proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2009 will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively at the Annual Meeting for approval. An abstention will not count as a vote cast against these matters.

 

On March 3, 2009, our 401(k) Plan, which is called the Federal Signal Corporation Retirement Savings Plan, held 1,347,493 shares of our common stock in the name of Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, as trustee of the 401(k) Plan. If you are a participant in the 401(k) Plan, you may instruct Vanguard how to vote shares of common stock credited to your 401(k) Plan account by indicating your instructions on your WHITE proxy card and returning it by          , 2009. A properly executed proxy card will be voted by Vanguard as directed. If no proper voting direction is received, Vanguard, in its capacity as the 401(k) Plan Trustee, will vote your shares held in the 401(k) Plan in the same proportion as votes received from other participants in the 401(k) Plan.

 

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by:

 

 

The Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for annual reports and proxy statements with respect to two or more stockholders sharing the same address by delivering a single annual report and/or proxy statement addressed to those stockholders. This process, which is commonly referred to as “householding,” potentially provides extra convenience for stockholders and cost savings for companies. We and some brokers may household annual reports

and proxy materials, delivering a single annual report and/or proxy statement to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders.

 

Once you have received notice from your broker or us that they or we will be householding materials to your address, householding may continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent. You may request to receive at any time a separate copy of our annual report or proxy statement, by sending a written request to Federal Signal Corporation, 1415 West 22nd Street, Suite 1100, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or call 630-954-2008.

 

If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive a separate annual report and/or proxy statement in the future, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or us if you hold registered shares. You can notify us by sending a written request to Federal Signal Corporation, 1415 W. 22nd Street, Suite 1100, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or call the number above. If, at any time, you and another stockholder sharing the same address wish to participate in householding and prefer to receive a single copy of our Annual Report and/or proxy statement, please notify your broker if your shares are held in a brokerage account or us if you hold registered shares. You can notify us by sending a written request to Federal Signal Corporation, 1415 West 22nd Street, Suite 1100, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or call the number above.

 

We will bear all costs relating to our solicitation of proxies. We have retained the services of Innisfree M&A Incorporated to solicit proxies for the Annual Meeting for a fee not to exceed $           and agreed to reimburse them for certain expenses. Innisfree M&A Incorporated will employ approximately   people for the solicitation. As discussed above, Mr. Kanders has indicated that he will nominate three directors to stand for election at the Annual Meeting. As a result, we have and will continue to incur substantial additional costs in connection with the Annual Meeting. Increased costs will include increased fees of outside counsel and public relations advisors, increased printing and mailing costs for additional solicitation materials, including the reimbursement of reasonable expenses of banks, brokerage houses and other agents incurred in forwarding solicitation materials to beneficial owners as described above, and the costs of retaining an independent inspector of election. We estimate that the aggregate cost (exclusive of litigation, if any) to us for the solicitation of proxies will be approximately $          , of which approximately $           has been incurred to date. The additional costs do not include the costs represented by the regular salaries and wages of our employees and officers.

 

Appendix A to this proxy statement sets forth certain information relating to our directors, nominees and executive officers who may be soliciting proxies on our behalf. These persons will not receive any additional compensation for assisting in the solicitation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the solicitation.

 

If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed WHITE proxy card, please contact the firm assisting us with the solicitation of proxies:

 

INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED
STOCKHOLDERS MAY CALL TOLL-FREE: (877) 800-5186
(BANKS AND BROKERS MAY CALL COLLECT: (212) 750-5833)

 

The following table sets forth information as of March 3, 2009 with respect to beneficial ownership of our common stock by:

 

 

 

 

Our Company’s Board of Directors consists of ten directors divided into three classes. Classes I and II each consist of three members and Class III consists of four members. Each class is elected for a term of three years and the classes together are staggered so that one class term expires each year.

 

James E. Goodwin, William H. Osborne and Joseph R. Wright have been nominated by our Board of Directors as a Class I director for election at the Annual Meeting for a term of three years to expire at the 2012 Annual Meeting or until his successor is elected and qualified. Mr. Osborne has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since September 15, 2008, and Messrs. Goodwin and Wright are current directors standing for re-election. All of the nominees have been recommended for nomination by the Board of Directors acting on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists solely of independent members of the Board of Directors. Current Class I director James C. Janning is not standing for reelection at the Annual Meeting.

 

Unless you withhold authority to vote for the election of directors, your WHITE proxy card will be voted “FOR” the election of Messrs. Goodwin, Osborne and Wright. Each of the nominees has consented to serve if elected. If any of the nominees should decline or be unable to serve as a director, the persons named in the accompanying WHITE proxy card will vote in accordance with their best judgment. We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unwilling or unable to serve. However, if any nominee is not available for election, the Board may name a substitute nominee for whom votes will be cast.

 

Pursuant to our By-Laws, in an uncontested election, a nominee for director shall be elected to the Board if a quorum is present and if the votes cast “for” such nominee’s election exceed the “withhold” votes cast against such nominee’s election. The majority voting standard does not apply, however, if the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected. Our By-Laws provide that in such circumstances, directors will instead be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Because the number of nominees timely nominated for election at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the meeting, the election of directors at the Annual Meeting is a contested election. As a result, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting, meaning that the three (3) nominees receiving the most votes will be elected. Shares cannot be voted for more than three (3) nominees for the election of directors at the Annual Meeting, and only one vote per share may be cast for a given nominee. If you return more than one proxy card, only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted.

 

Our Board believes that the re-election of Messrs. Goodwin and Wright, and the election of Mr. Osborne, our President and Chief Executive Officer, will further the best interests of all of our stockholders, as opposed to the election of the nominees proposed by Mr. Kanders.

 

Our Board urges you to vote to elect Messrs. Goodwin, Osborne and Wright as Class I directors by marking, signing, dating and returning the enclosed WHITE proxy card only and not to sign or return any proxy card provided by Mr. Kanders.

 

Information regarding the Board-recommended nominees for election and the directors continuing in office is set forth below:

 

 

 

 

Each of Messrs. Martin and Wright was appointed to the Board in 2008 pursuant to the terms of a Settlement Agreement, dated March 12, 2008, between the Company and certain stockholders of the Company, including RCG Starboard Advisors, LLC, Ramius, LLC and certain entities and individuals affiliated with them (such stockholders collectively, the “Ramius Group”). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and as of the date thereof, the Board appointed Mr. Martin as a Class I director to fill the then existing vacancy on the Board. The Company also agreed to

increase the size of the Board from nine to ten directors effective as of the date of the Company’s 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. To fill the new position resulting from the increase in the size of the Board, the Company nominated Mr. Martin for election at the 2008 Annual Meeting as a Class III director for a three-year term expiring at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2011. Following the 2008 Annual Meeting and pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Ramius Group recommended, and on April 23, 2008 the Board appointed, Mr. Wright to fill the vacancy in Class I on the Board resulting from the election of Mr. Martin as a Class III director at the 2008 Annual Meeting. The Settlement Agreement was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2008.

 

 

The Board of Directors has determined that all of our directors and all of the Board-recommended nominees for director, other than Mr. Osborne, qualify as independent. In making this determination, the Board of Directors considered the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and reviewed information provided by the directors and nominees in questionnaires and other certifications concerning the relationships that we may have with each director or nominee (including each director’s immediate family members and other associates), including any charitable contributions that we may have made in the past and/or continue to make to organizations with which such director or nominee is affiliated.

 

During 2008, our Board of Directors held a total of thirteen meetings. The Compensation and Benefits Committee held seven meetings; the Nominating and Governance Committee held five meetings; the Audit Committee held seven meetings; and the Executive Committee held no meetings. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require each director to regularly attend meetings of the Board of Directors and all Board Committees upon which the director serves. Each director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board and of each Committee of which he or she was a member. In addition, all of our directors attended our 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Pursuant to our By-Laws, we have established standing Audit, Nominating and Governance, Compensation and Benefits, and Executive Committees. Descriptions of our standing committees follow:

 

Audit Committee  The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for monitoring:

 

 

In fulfilling its role, the Audit Committee reviews the design and operation of internal control processes and the manner in which we control our major financial risk exposures. The Audit Committee has direct and regular access to our financial executives, including the Vice President of Internal Audit and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, the Audit Committee has direct and regular access to the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has the sole authority to appoint or replace our independent registered public accounting firm, and is directly responsible for overseeing the work of and determining the appropriate compensation for our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee considers and approves the performance of non-audit services by our independent registered public accounting firm, taking into consideration the effect that the performance of these services may have upon the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee are independent as defined under the applicable New York Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission rules. The members of the Audit Committee are Charles R. Campbell (Chairman), Robert M. Gerrity, James E. Goodwin, Robert S. Hamada and Dennis J. Martin. James C. Janning was a member of the Audit Committee until April 21, 2008 when he was replaced by Mr. Martin, who joined our Board in March 2008. Mr. Goodwin joined the Audit

Committee on October 27, 2008, after he resigned from service as our interim President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Campbell qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. None of the Audit Committee members serves on more than three public companies’ audit committees (including our Company).

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Charter for the Audit Committee to comply with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.federalsignal.com.

 

Nominating and Governance Committee  The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for recommending guidelines to the Board of Directors for corporate governance, including the structure and function of our Board of Directors, its Committees and the management of our Company, as well as identification and recommendation to the Board of Directors of candidates to be elected as directors. The Committee also advises the Board of Directors as to appropriate compensation for serving as a member of our Board of Directors.

 

Stockholders may recommend individuals for the Nominating and Governance Committee to consider as potential directors by giving written notice to our Corporate Secretary at least 90 days but not more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting, along with the specific information required by our By-Laws, including, but not limited to, the name and address of the nominee; the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the stockholder (including associated persons) nominating such nominee; and a consent by the nominee to serve as a director if elected that would be required for a nominee under the Securities and Exchange Commission rules. If you would like to receive a copy of the provisions of our By-Laws setting forth all of these requirements, you should write to our executive offices, Attn: Corporate Secretary. The Nominating and Governance Committee has not adopted any specific procedures for considering the recommendation of director nominees by stockholders, but will consider stockholder nominees for new directorship on the same basis as other nominees.

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee has set no specific minimum qualification for a nominee to the Board of Directors although under our revised Corporate Governance Guidelines, no person may stand for election as a director after attaining age 72 without a waiver from the Board. Generally, in evaluating a director candidate, the Nominating and Governance Committee considers the current make-up of the Board of Directors, the skills and business experience of the particular nominee, and the potential value the nominee would add to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of our Nominating and Governance Committee are independent as defined under the applicable New York Stock Exchange rules. The members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are Robert S. Hamada (Chairman), James C. Janning, Robert M. Gerrity, Brenda L. Reichelderfer and James E. Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin joined the Nominating and Governance Committee on October 27, 2008, shortly after he resigned from service as our interim President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Charter for the Nominating and Governance Committee to comply with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.federalsignal.com.

 

Compensation and Benefits Committee  The Compensation and Benefits Committee is responsible for the establishment and oversight of our Company’s compensation and benefits philosophy. With respect to our executive officers, the Compensation and Benefits Committee has the authority to establish the objectives of compensation, to determine the components of compensation, and to establish and evaluate performance goals. The functions of the Compensation and Benefits Committee are further described in this proxy statement under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning at page 16. The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of our Compensation and Benefits Committee are independent as defined under the applicable New York Stock Exchange rules. The members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee are John McCartney (Chairman), James C. Janning, Paul W. Jones, Brenda L. Reichelderfer and Joseph R. Wright. Mr. Campbell was a member of the Compensation and Benefits Committee until April 21, 2008 when he was replaced by Mr. Janning. Mr. Wright joined the Compensation and Benefits Committee in connection with his appointment to the Board in April 2008.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a Charter for the Compensation and Benefits Committee to comply with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.federalsignal.com.

 

Executive Committee  The Executive Committee generally exercises the power and authority of the Board in the intervals between full Board meetings. The members of the Executive Committee are James C. Janning

(Chairman), Charles R. Campbell, Robert S. Hamada and John McCartney. Mr. Goodwin was a member and chaired this committee until October 27, 2008, when Mr. Janning was appointed Chairman.

 

The following table sets forth information concerning compensation earned by our non-employee directors in fiscal year 2008. Mr. Goodwin was appointed the interim President and Chief Executive Officer of our Company on December 11, 2007 and served in that capacity until September 15, 2008. Mr. Goodwin, while serving as our interim President and Chief Executive Officer, did not receive compensation as an independent director. With the appointment of Mr. Osborne as our new President and Chief Executive Officer beginning September 15, 2008, Mr. Goodwin resumed receiving independent director compensation. Mr. Goodwin’s compensation as an executive officer for 2008 is disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table for executive officers.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation in Fiscal Year 2008

 

 

 

 

The Nominating and Governance Committee of our Board of Directors advises our Board on the annual compensation for our non-employee directors. In order to set competitive compensation for our non-employee directors, our Nominating and Governance Committee may consult third party advisors, generally available source material, proxy statements and data from peer companies.

 

Our non-employee directors receive both cash and equity compensation as detailed below. Our Chairman, based on his key role and time commitment, receives additional compensation in cash and equity on a per diem basis for other time spent on Board matters.

 

Pursuant to our director stock ownership program, each non-employee director who does not own shares of our common stock equal in value to at least three times the annual retainer paid to non-employee directors is required to receive at least 50% of annual fees earned in any given year in stock.

 

 

Cash Compensation of Our Non-Employee Directors(1)
January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2008

 

 

 

 

Effective January 1, 2009, our Board, after considering the current challenging economic conditions, reduced the cash fees payable to the directors as noted below.

 

Cash Compensation of Our Non-Employee Directors(1)
Effective January 1, 2009

 

 

 

Upon appointment or election to our Board, each non-employee director receives an initial stock option grant to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock, all of which vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Mr. Martin, elected to our Board on March 12, 2008, received his initial stock option grant on March 12, 2008 at an exercise price of $12.39 per share, the closing stock price of our common stock on the date of grant. Mr. Wright, elected to our Board on April 23, 2008, received his initial stock option grant for 5,000 shares on April 23, 2008 at an exercise price of $13.81 per share.

 

 

 

The common stock awards for service as a director were made on the date of our 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, April 22, 2008. Pursuant to our Director Compensation Policy, the number of shares of the common stock awarded was determined by dividing the amount of the award by the closing market price of our common stock on the date of grant which was $13.85 per share. Accordingly, for 2008, each non-employee director (excluding the Chairman) on the date of our Annual Meeting of Stockholders received a common stock award of 4,333 shares and the Chairman received a common stock award of 5,416 shares.

 

We are committed to good corporate governance. We believe that the foundation of our corporate governance is the independence of our directors, responsible corporate citizenship, and a commitment to the interests of our stockholders. In accordance with the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines as well as charters for the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Audit Committee. These guidelines and charters, as well as our Business Conduct Policies and a Code of Ethics applicable to our Chief Executive Officer and our senior financial officers, are available for review on our website at http://www.federalsignal.com. In addition, these guidelines, charters and polices (including the Code of Ethics) are available in print to any stockholder who requests them in writing from our Corporate Secretary at the address provided below. We timely submitted our annual certification by the Chief Executive Officer to the New York Stock Exchange within 30 days of our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2008. The certification stated our compliance with the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance listing standards without qualification.

 

The non-employee directors of the Board meet in executive session without management, as appropriate. The Chairman of the Board of Directors presides over executive sessions. Directors may be contacted as a group, by Committee or individually, and the presiding director or the non-employee directors as a group may be contacted on an anonymous and/or confidential basis by addressing a letter to Federal Signal Corporation, 1415 West 22nd Street, Suite 1100, Oak Brook, IL 60523, Attn: Corporate Secretary. All such letters will be forwarded to the directors. We encourage our directors to attend the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. All of our directors attended the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

There were no compensation committee interlocks or insider participation on the part of the members of our Compensation and Benefits Committee. The members and functions of our Compensation and Benefits Committee are set forth above under “Committees of the Board of Directors.”

 

During the year ended December 31, 2008, it was determined that none of our directors, Board-proposed nominees for director, executive officers, stockholders owning more than 5% of our common stock, or immediate family members of any such persons engaged in a transaction with us in which such director, nominee for director, executive officer, stockholder owning more than 5% of our common stock, or immediate family member of such persons had a direct or indirect material interest which required disclosure under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules.

We maintain various policies and procedures relating to the review, approval or ratification of transactions in which our Company is a participant and in which any of our directors, executive officers, 5% stockholders (if any) or their family members have a direct or indirect material interest. Our Company Policies for Business Conduct, which are available on our website at http://www.federalsignal.com, prohibit our directors and employees, including our executive officers, and in some cases, their family members, from engaging in specified activities without prior written consent. These activities typically relate to situations where a director, executive officer or employee, and in some cases, an immediate family member, may have significant financial or business interests in another company competing with or doing business with our Company, or who stands to benefit in some way from such a relationship or activity. Specifically, our Company Policies for Business Conduct include prohibitions against the following: receiving or giving gifts or prizes above a nominal value from or to customers or suppliers; working for a customer or supplier or engaging in outside profit making activities in any area of business in which our Company operates; representing any outside commercial interest during normal business hours or when traveling on Company business; lending or borrowing money from individuals affiliated with an entity with whom the Company conducts business; owning any part of any customer’s or supplier’s business (excluding routine investments in publicly traded companies); using Company property, information or positions for improper personal gain or benefit; and engaging in Company business with any entity in which a family member has an executive position or a significant financial interest unless approved in advance. Since all types of prohibited transactions can not be listed, we encourage our employees to seek advice before proceeding if there is any doubt regarding the appropriateness of an arrangement under our Company Policies for Business Conduct.

 

Pursuant to our Company Policies for Business Conduct and the Audit Committee Charter, the Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel implement our Company Policy for Business Conduct, and the Audit Committee reviews, approves, ratifies and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding related person transactions.

 

Additionally, each year we require our directors and executive officers to complete a questionnaire which identifies, among other things, any transactions or potential transactions with our Company in which a director or an executive officer or one of their family members or associated entities has an interest. We also require that directors and executive officers notify our Corporate Secretary of any changes during the course of the year to the information provided in the annual questionnaire as soon as possible.

 

We believe that the foregoing policies and procedures collectively ensure that all related person transactions requiring disclosure under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules are appropriately reviewed.

 

Presented below is a summary of our 2008 business highlights, which provides context for our 2008 pay actions and changes thus far to our 2009 executive compensation program.

 

2008 Executive Compensation Program Highlights

 

2008 was a year of important change for our Company. Despite facing unprecedented economic conditions, including an extremely challenging municipal market, our Board of Directors and our management team undertook a series of actions that we believe will position our Company for sustainable and profitable growth and enhance stockholder value.

 

In 2008, we disposed of underperforming assets, including the cyclical and nonstrategic Tool business and the unprofitable E-ONE, Inc. business, and liquidated its municipal leasing portfolio. In addition, we completed a sale leaseback for two of our manufacturing facilities and captured a large after-tax gain, benefiting from the utilization of capital loss carryforwards. The proceeds from these actions were used to enhance liquidity and strengthen the balance sheet. We reduced debt by approximately $150 million, or approximately 35%, from December 31, 2007 to December 21, 2008. As of December 31, 2008, our net debt was approximately $245 million.

 

We also took steps to improve our cost structure. In November 2008, we announced a planned reduction of salaried personnel related costs. This built upon the procurement and selling, general and administrative expense savings initiatives that were also enacted throughout 2008.

 

In 2008, the Company took measures to achieve what it believes is a more focused business portfolio, a leaner capital structure and enhanced financial flexibility. Today, we believe we have leadership positions in most markets, strong brands, an increasing global presence and a strong installed base of customers.

A number of actions were taken in 2008, including the following:

 

 

Executive Compensation Program Modifications in 2009

 

For 2009, our Company continues to manage our executive compensation program under difficult market conditions. To date, we have made the following decisions with respect to our executive compensation program:

 

 

Our executive compensation and benefits programs are designed to drive and reinforce our business goals and strategies for success in the marketplace and to enable growth, thus motivating management to maximize total stockholder return. As a key component of our executive compensation system, we have adopted a financial performance based philosophy which includes individual objectives designed to develop an efficient culture that emphasizes entrepreneurship, innovation, teamwork, and creativity, and rewards employees who think and act like owners. This program also encourages collaboration and the maximization of long-term stockholder value, which in turn supports the attraction, motivation, and retention of the best global talent. Our executive compensation philosophy can be summarized as follows:

 

 

Our Compensation and Benefits Committee establishes and oversees our general compensation and benefits philosophy, and approves compensation and benefits for our executive officers. Specifically, our Compensation and Benefits Committee is charged in its charter with the authority and responsibility to:

 

 

The President and Chief Executive Officer annually reviews the performance of each executive officer. Recommendations based on these reviews, including those with respect to base salary adjustments, annual incentives and long-term incentives, are presented to the Compensation and Benefits Committee. The Compensation and Benefits Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying any recommended adjustments or awards to these executive officers. The compensation of the President and Chief Executive Officer is determined by the Compensation and Benefits Committee, meeting in executive session without the President and Chief Executive Officer present.

 

Compensation levels for our executives are compared to the compensation paid to executives at the peer companies specified below. The market for experienced talent is highly competitive. We aim to attract and retain the most highly qualified executives to manage our business functions. In doing so, we draw upon a pool of talent that is

highly sought after by large and established companies. We draw upon a market that is global in scope. Our recently hired President and Chief Executive Officer was the president of Ford Motor Company, Australia and our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer was the chief financial officer of the Sun-Times Media Group, Inc. We recognize that we compete for candidates based upon several criteria, including competitive compensation, potential for future growth and success, culture and Company values. In order to develop a compensation plan which would succeed in attracting the best global talent, the Compensation and Benefits Committee engaged Hewitt Associates, an outside global human resources consulting firm, to formulate a market-competitive pay package in connection with our search for a chief executive officer. The Compensation and Benefits Committee referred to December 2007 reports prepared by Hewitt Associates with respect to market data and other information contained in such reports when reviewing compensation matters. In making compensation decisions, the Compensation and Benefits Committee compares each element of compensation against a peer group of publicly traded manufacturing companies. The comparator group, which is periodically updated by the Compensation and Benefits Committee, consists of companies against which we believe we compete for talent. The companies currently comprising the comparator group are:

 

 

Because of the large variance in size among the companies comprising the comparator group, regression analysis is used to adjust the compensation data for differences in revenues. This adjusted data is used as the basis of comparison between our Company and the companies in the comparator group.

 

We also use published survey data to supplement the determination of competitive levels of compensation in the marketplace.

 

Our compensation program consists of five components: base salary, annual cash incentives, long-term equity incentives, retirement and health and welfare benefits, and perquisites and other personal benefits. Our programs balance individual, business unit and Company-wide goals and achievements.

 

Base Salaries

 

Base salary levels for our executive officers, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, are based primarily on external market data and on the individual performance of each executive officer during the previous year. Base salaries are targeted to be at the 50th percentile of competitive market data. In 2008, actual base salaries for named executive officers ranged from 92% to 111% of market midpoint targets. In addition to the executive’s individual performance, the Compensation and Benefits Committee also considers the following factors in setting base salaries and in recommending annual base salary adjustments: the executive’s current base salary relative to the targeted level, the executive’s level of responsibility, the executive’s prior experience and the executive’s breadth of knowledge. However, in light of general macroeconomic conditions, for 2009, there were no increases to base salaries awarded to the named executive officers. Mr. Osborne voluntarily elected a 5% reduction of base pay beginning in 2009.

Annual Cash Incentive Payments

 

Economic Value Program

 

From 2005 through 2008, annual cash incentive payments have been based exclusively on objective measures of financial performance that relate to the year-over-year increase in Economic Value. Annual cash bonuses to the named executive officers are paid under our management incentive plan. The threshold, target and maximum levels of bonus payable are determined based on the Economic Value of our Company. We believe that Economic Value is tied to the creation of stockholder value because it encompasses both earnings growth and efficient use of capital. Economic Value is the net amount of value earned or lost on an investment after deducting the cost of holding that investment. The underlying rationale for utilizing an Economic Value program for annual cash incentive compensation is to align management and employee interests with the interests of our stockholders. Typically, annual cash incentive payments are approved in February and paid in a lump sum in March.

 

Economic Value is calculated by using three key inputs:

 

 

Economic Value is calculated by subtracting a Capital Charge from Net Operating Profit after Tax. The Capital Charge is derived by multiplying the Cost of Capital by the Average Capital Employed.

 

We previously retained Shareholder Value Advisors, a financial and compensation consulting firm, to assist in developing Economic Value improvement goals for our Company and for each of the key operating units of our Company. The targeted Economic Value improvement goals were established based on the estimated improvement needed to give investors a Cost of Capital return on the market value of our Company or business unit. The Economic Value improvement “value multiples” (the estimated investor wealth gains per $1 of Economic Value improvement) used in deriving the improvement goals were based on statistical models of peer company data.

 

For 2008, the target incentive compensation awards for all executive officers were set at 100% of the Economic Value improvement goal for the business unit or our Company, with threshold set at 50% of the target goals and maximum set at 200% of the target goals.

 

The incentive compensation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel is based on the achievement of Economic Value goals which have been set for our Company as a whole. The incentive compensation for our other named executive officers have threshold, target and maximum Economic Value goals for their respective business groups and for our Company as a whole, with their aggregate annual incentive award weighted at 70% for achievement of their individual business group goals and 30% for our Company goals. This weighting encourages executives to collaborate across business groups and functions in order to achieve business objectives at the enterprise level as well as in their own business group.

 

The achievement of the threshold, target and maximum Economic Value goals results in a cash incentive award equal to a pre-set percentage of the executive’s base salary. The target percentages of base salary to be paid out upon the achievement of various levels of Economic Value are determined based on competitive market data for each executive position. Economic Value results that fall in between the threshold, target and maximum goals are extrapolated from those points to determine the actual cash incentive award for the executive. In 2008, the target annual cash incentive percentage for the interim President and Chief Executive Officer was set at 95% of his base salary and the target annual cash incentive percentage for Mr. Osborne was set at 90%, to be paid, in each case, on a

pro-rata basis for 2008 service. The target annual cash incentive for our other named executive officers ranged from 55% to 60% of their respective base salaries.

 

In order to support the achievement of long-term goals, executives are given the opportunity to carry forward the unmet portion of their maximum annual incentive opportunity. One-half of the difference between the maximum opportunity and the actual incentive earned for a particular year can be re-earned over each of the next two years if our Company or the related business group achieves an Economic Value amount for the subsequent year that is at or above target for that year and the result is above the relative level of Economic Value attained by our Company or the business group during the initial year. Any carry forward opportunity that is not earned in either of the two immediately subsequent years is forfeited by the executive officer.

 

In June of 2008, based on the difficult environment faced by our Company, including management changes, divestitures and cost-cutting initiatives, the Compensation and Benefits Committee amended our Company’s management incentive plan for fiscal year 2008 to provide an opportunity for participants to receive a bonus if our Company or the primary business group to which the participant was assigned failed to achieve its threshold Economic Value goal. In the event that our Company or the business group failed to meet its threshold Economic Value goal, the participant would still be eligible to receive up to 20% of his or her target bonus for the year based upon two components of the Company’s existing annual performance review process (the ratings of competencies and the achievement of the participant’s individual performance objectives for the year).

 

In connection with this new bonus opportunity, our Company utilized its existing annual performance review process including competency evaluation and the individual performance objectives previously set in the first quarter of 2008. The competencies are determined based upon executive level and evaluated once annually by such named executive officer’s manager, except in the case of the interim President and Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Executive Officer, whose competencies are reviewed by the Compensation and Benefits Committee. The individual performance objectives were derived for each participant and approved by his or her manager, except, again, in the case of the interim President and Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Executive Officer, whose individual performance objectives were approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee. These individual objectives are specifically tailored to the participant’s job duties and include such things as the achievement of planned transactions and financial goals, the management of functional responsibilities within pre-established budgeted amounts, the resolution of particular projects within the participant’s job responsibilities, successful implementation of growth strategies, achievement of strategic goals such as consolidations, acquisitions or divestitures, product or division launches, technology transitions, cost reductions, and successful procurement programs.

 

Also effective for the 2008 plan year, the Compensation and Benefits Committee authorized an amendment to the management incentive program under which the annual incentive awards earned by any executive officer, including the named executive officers in our Company’s proxy statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, will be subject to a possible reduction of up to 20% of the amount earned under the management incentive program in the sole and absolute discretion of the Compensation and Benefits Committee.

 

Short Term Incentive Bonus Plan

 

Upon review of research provided by Hewitt Associates, the Compensation and Benefits Committee has replaced the Economic Value incentive program beginning with the 2009 fiscal year. The new program, the Short Term Incentive Bonus Plan (STIP), will determine bonuses based upon the achievement of both financial measures and individual objectives. Financial measures will be based upon earnings and cash flows at our Company, business group and division levels, depending upon the position of the participant within our Company. Bonus compensation under the STIP will link to our Company’s annual operating plan with 50% based on earnings and 20% based on cash flow measures determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The remaining 30% will be based on individual objectives with 21% based on performance goal ratings and 9% based on competency ratings as measured by a numeric score received in the annual performance review process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Compensation and Benefits Committee retains complete discretion with respect to the STIP. Furthermore, the Compensation and Benefits Committee approves all awards to named executive officers.

 

Over the course of several months during 2008, the Compensation and Benefits Committee undertook a review of the Company’s Economic Value program. The Compensation and Benefits Committee received input from the Board of Directors, Hewitt Associates, its outside compensation consultants, and management. In addition, it reviewed external market data. The Compensation and Benefits Committee decided to implement a new short term

incentive bonus plan. This decision was based on number of factors including the complexity of the Economic Value program, the desire to add individual performance objectives and competencies to the bonus program, and establishment of a program tied to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The STIP will focus on specific milestones as well as individual objectives which will allow us to reward outstanding individuals with a bonus even in years where our overall financial performance may be low. The Compensation and Benefits Committee believes that rewarding employees upon the successful achievement of individual objectives should increase individual accountability and encourage excellence. The STIP is based upon goals that are easily understood and can be modified each year to reflect our current business plan and market conditions. Payments under the STIP are expected to be approved in February of each year and paid in a lump sum in March.

 

At our Company level, the 50% earnings component will be based on consolidated income before income taxes. As tax adjustments are largely impacted by external factors outside of the control of the participants, the Compensation and Benefits Committee determined that tax adjustments should not factor into the calculation. Our Company’s cash flow financial measure, weighted at 20%, will be based on consolidated net cash provided from continuing operations as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. At the business group level, the 50% earnings component will be based on earnings before interest and taxes thereby excluding taxes and debt, neither of which are generally impacted by participants at this level. The business group cash flow measure, weighted at 20%, will be based on average primary working capital as a percentage of sales (the sum of accounts receivable and inventory less accounts payable and customer deposits divided by net sales for the year).

 

The incentive compensation under the STIP for our President and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel is based 70% on the achievement of our Company financial measures and 30% on individual performance measures. The incentive compensation for our other named executive officers is based on the achievement of our Company and business group financial measures weighted 28% for achievement of Company goals, 42% for achievement of applicable business group goals, and 30% for achievement of individual performance measures. The Compensation and Benefits Committee believes that this weighting encourages executives to collaborate across business groups and functions in order to achieve business objectives at the enterprise level as well as in their own business group. The incentive compensation for our executives is based on threshold, target and maximum goals for business groups and for our Company as a whole.

 

The achievement of the threshold, target and maximum goals results in a cash incentive award equal to a pre-set percentage of the executive’s base salary. The target percentages of base salary to be paid out upon the achievement of various levels of goal achievement are determined based on competitive market data for each executive position. Results that fall in between the threshold, target and maximum goals are extrapolated from those points to determine the actual cash incentive award for the executive. Performance goals under the STIP are expected to be determined in the first quarter of 2009.

 

Payments under the STIP are subject to a “clawback” policy under which our Company will require, to the extent practicable, upon the occurrence of specified events, a named executive officer to repay a portion of his or her performance bonus payment plus a reasonable rate of interest. The clawback policy is triggered by (i) an accounting restatement or a determination by our Board that the performance results were materially inaccurate and (ii) a determination that the amount of such performance-based bonus would have been less than the amount previously paid to such named executive officer taking into account the restated financial results or otherwise corrected performance results.

 

Long-Term Equity Incentives

 

Equity ownership plays a key role in aligning the interests of executives with our stockholders. A further purpose of our long-term incentive plan is to provide a means through which our Company may attract the best talent to become our employees, to encourage our employees to engage in the business strategy and success of our Company, and to provide a retention tool through vesting requirements for executives. Accordingly, the Compensation and Benefits Committee has granted equity awards to our executives on an annual basis under our long-term incentive plans. Equity grants are also periodically made to new employees and to existing employees in connection with promotions. In order to ensure continued ownership of the equity granted under the long-term incentive grants, we have instituted stock ownership guidelines for our executive officers as discussed below under the caption “Stock Ownership Guidelines for Executive Officers.”

 

Beginning with the 2008 annual awards, the Compensation and Benefits Committee revised the structure of the long-term equity incentive program such that the awards consist of three components: an option to purchase shares of our common stock, a restricted stock award, and a performance-based restricted stock award. The overall

value of the long-term incentive award has been allocated one-third to each of the three components. The Compensation and Benefits Committee believes that this mix of equity awards will further align each executive’s goals with the intermediate and long-term goals of our stockholders. The award provides an incentive to the executive to drive long-term performance over the vesting and payment periods embedded in the award.

 

Options vest in equal installments over a three-year period. These options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units vest in full on the third anniversary of the date of grant and are valued using the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant. These awards are subject to forfeiture and cancellation if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated prior to vesting.

 

The overall value of the 2008 long-term equity incentive awards was targeted for the named executive officers at the 35th percentile of the value of long-term incentives paid to comparable executives at companies in the comparator group. The decision to target the 2008 award at the 35th percentile instead of the 50th percentile used in prior years was based upon our relatively weak financial performance during 2007. The 2008 equity incentive awards were granted under a long-term incentive plan which was approved by our stockholders in 2005.

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee may grant other equity incentives, on a case-by-case basis, as deemed appropriate. For example, the Compensation and Benefits Committee may award restricted stock units to our employees, international executives in particular, in substitution for one or more components of the standard grant described above to promote long-term performance and employee retention. Award value and type of grant will take into account applicable law, administrative issues and competitive market data for the specific country at issue.

 

The performance-based restricted stock award is tied to the achievement of a pre-determined three-year relative performance metric approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee based upon relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR). The formula to determine TSR is set forth below.

 

     Change in Stock Price plus dividends paid over the performance period

Beginning Stock Price

 

 

At the conclusion of the performance period, our Company’s TSR is calculated for that period and compared to the TSR achieved by the publicly-traded companies included in our comparator group. Our Company’s percentile rank is then assigned based on its relative TSR achievement. At the end of the three-year performance period, each executive officer will be awarded shares, if any, as a percentage of the pre-determined target shares for that executive ranging from 0% to 200% determined by our percentile rank. For the three-year performance period 2008 to 2010, the TSR achieved for the first performance year, 2008, was negative 0.25 which was in the 75th percentile of the comparator group.

 

Unvested options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock awards are subject to forfeiture and cancellation if the executive officer’s employment is terminated prior to vesting other than by reason of death, disability or change in control. Upon a change in control, unvested options, shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock awards fully vest.

 

Retirement and Health and Welfare Benefits

 

We recognize that our employees are the driving force behind the profitable growth of our Company and that our ability to sustain our success is dependent on each individual’s well being. To that end we offer a competitive package of Company-sponsored health and welfare benefits to all eligible employees including our executive officers.

 

 

For 2007 through 2009, executives who participated in our 401(k) Retirement Plan-Elgin Sweeper Company or in our now frozen defined benefit plan (the FSC Retirement Plan) are eligible to receive a supplemental transitional contribution to our new Retirement Savings Plan and Savings Restoration Plan equal to 1% to 2% of their salary based on age and service as of December 31, 2006.

 

Upon a voluntary employee deferral, the non-qualified Savings Restoration Plan restores Company contributions limited under the Internal Revenue Code through a notional Company contribution and notional earnings from investments. Certain executives also continue to participate in defined benefit plans that have been frozen for age and service effective December 31, 2006, and will be frozen for wage increases effective December 31, 2016. Effective December 31, 2006, the profit sharing component of the 401(k) Retirement Plan-Elgin Sweeper Company was terminated. Under both the Savings Restoration Plan and the Retirement Savings Plan, based upon their age and years of service, Stephanie K. Kushner, our former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Peter R. Guile, President of former subsidiary E-ONE, Inc., Jennifer L. Sherman, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel, and Mark D. Weber, President, Environmental Solutions Group, received a supplemental transitional contribution equal to 2% of their eligible compensation in 2008.

 

 

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

 

We provide executives with perquisites and other personal benefits that the Compensation and Benefits Committee feels are reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation program to better enable us to attract and retain the best talent for key executive positions. The Compensation and Benefits Committee periodically reviews the levels of perquisites provided. Perquisites provided may include:

 

 

The specific compensation decisions made for each of the named executives for 2008 and year-to-date in 2009 reflect our management’s and our Compensation and Benefits Committee’s assessments of performance against market benchmarks, performance relative to Company and business group financial and operational measurements, and achievement of individual performance objectives. Our compensation actions for our named executive officers are summarized below.

 

With respect to the terms of employment of Messrs. Osborne and Barker, the final compensatory arrangements for Mr. Goodwin, our former interim President and Chief Executive Officer; Ms. Kushner, our former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Mr. Guile, President of E-ONE, Inc., a business divested in August, 2008, please also see the section titled “Executive Compensation in the Last Fiscal Year” under the heading “Additional Information About the Compensation Paid to the Named Executive Officers” beginning on page 33 of this proxy statement.

 

Base Salary

 

Mr. James E. Goodwin, a Company director since 2005, served as our interim President and Chief Executive Officer from December 11, 2007 through September 15, 2008. During his service as an interim officer, Mr. Goodwin’s annual base salary was $700,000.

 

On September 15, 2008, our Board of Directors appointed William H. Osborne as the President and Chief Executive Officer of our Company. Mr. Osborne’s initial annual base salary was $650,000. Mr. Osborne’s

compensation, including his base salary, was determined by the Compensation and Benefits Committee based upon a report prepared by Hewitt Associates, an outside global human resources consulting firm, in connection with our executive search for a CEO.

 

In determining base salary increases, the Compensation and Benefits Committee reviews performance, level of responsibility and actual salary as compared to the targeted level (50th percentile) of the comparator group. In January 2008, the Compensation and Benefits Committee set the base salary of our former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Stephanie K. Kushner, at $338,700, which represented an increase of 2.5% from her prior year’s base salary of $330,460. Effective December 10, 2009, Ms. Kushner’s service as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer ended and William G. Barker, III, was appointed as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Barker’s initial base salary was set at $325,000 per year. Mr. Barker’s base salary was determined based upon a review of his pay history, experience and comparable positions in the comparator group.

 

The base salary of David R. McConnaughey, our Safety and Securities Systems Group President, was raised to $328,000 during 2008, an increase of 2.5% from his 2007 base pay of $320,000. The base salary of Peter R. Guile, President of our former subsidiary, E-ONE, Inc., was raised to $247,200 during 2008, an increase of 3.0% from his 2007 annual base salary of $240,000. The base salary of Jennifer L. Sherman, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and General Counsel, was raised to $279,231 during 2008, an increase of 2.5% from her 2007 base pay of $272,420. The base salary of our Environmental Solutions Group President, Mark D. Weber, was raised to $305,784 during 2008, an increase of 6.0% from his 2007 base pay of $288,475.

 

In February 2009, the Compensation and Benefits Committee determined that there would be no base salary increases in 2009 for our named executive officers. In fact, Mr. Osborne voluntarily elected to take a 5% base pay reduction from $650,000 to $617,500 effective January 1, 2009. The Compensation and Benefits Committee’s decision was based in part on general macroeconomic conditions, our overall financial position and as part of a cost savings initiative.

 

Annual Cash Incentive Payments — Economic Value Program

 

In 2008, the Economic Value target for our Company was negative $8.4 million. The Economic Value targets for the four main business groups were as follows: $16.9 million for Safety and Security Systems, negative $15.8 million for Fire Rescue, $3.5 million for Environmental Solutions and negative $3.6 million for Tool. In 2008, our Company and each of the four business groups failed to meet their applicable 2008 Economic Value thresholds. Accordingly, each of the named executive officers (excluding Ms. Kushner and Mr. Guile as a result of their departures from our Company) was eligible to receive up to 20% of his or her 2008 target bonus based upon the achievement of the performance objectives for the year.

 

The target bonuses for Messrs. Goodwin, Osborne, and Barker and Ms. Sherman were based entirely on the performance of our Company as a whole. For each of Messrs. McConnaughey and Weber, 30% of their respective target bonuses was based on the performance of our Company as a whole, and the remaining 70% was based on the performance of their respective business group. Mr. Barker, who joined our Company in December 2008, was eligible to receive a 2008 annual cash incentive payment pro-rated based on hire date.

The 2008 annual incentive bonuses paid to our other named executive officers (excluding Ms. Kushner and Mr. Guile who were not eligible to receive an annual incentive bonus for 2008 as a result of their departures) were as follows:

 

 

 

These discretionary bonus payments were based on a numeric rating received during the annual performance review process. Participants who earned a score greater than 2.74 out of a possible score of 5 received the full bonus payment. Each of the Named Executive Officers received a score greater than 2.74 and, accordingly, each such named executive officer received the full 20% bonus opportunity.

 

Long-Term Equity Incentives

 

In connection with his appointment as interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Goodwin received an option to purchase 50,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $11.84 per share, the closing price of our common stock on December 11, 2007, the date of grant. Mr. Goodwin also received an award of 20,000 shares of restricted stock of our Company on December 11, 2007. These options and restricted shares became fully vested and exercisable on Mr. Goodwin’s last day as our interim President and Chief Executive Officer (i.e., September 15, 2008). Considering his interim status, Mr. Goodwin did not receive additional equity awards in 2008.

 

For equity awards granted to Messrs. Osborne and Barker in 2008 upon appointment as executive officers of our Company, please see the section titled “Executive Compensation in the Last Fiscal Year” under the heading “Additional Information About the Compensation Paid to the Named Executive Officers” beginning on page 33 of this proxy statement.

 

In February 2008, the Compensation and Benefits Committee granted equity incentive awards based on the 35th percentile target level to the other named executive officers as follows:

 

 

All unvested stock options, restricted stock awards and performance shares held by Ms. Kushner and Mr. Guile were forfeited in connection with their departures. Ms. Kushner has until March 30, 2009 to exercise previously vested stock option awards. Mr. Guile’s right to exercise vested stock option awards expired November 14, 2008.

 

In February 2009, the Compensation and Benefits Committee granted equity incentive awards in the form of 40% stock options, 30% restricted stock and 30% performance shares as specified below. The Compensation and Benefits Committee determined, as a result of the uncertain macroeconomic conditions, to award the same number of options in 2009 as was awarded in 2008, resulting in a slightly higher weighting of the mix of options as compared to the 2008 awards which were one third options, one third restricted stock and one third performance shares.

 

 

Perquisites and Other Benefits

 

Vehicle Allowances  In 2008, on an annualized basis, Ms. Kushner, Mr. McConnaughey, Ms. Sherman and Mr. Weber each received a vehicle allowance totaling $11,400. Mr. Guile received a vehicle allowance totaling $6,736. Messrs. Osborne and Barker received vehicle allowances of $4,025 (or $13,800 on an annualized basis per year) and $655 (or $11,400 on an annualized basis), respectively.

 

Relocation Assistance  In 2008, in connection with Mr. Osborne’s relocation from Melbourne, Australia to the greater Chicago, Illinois area, we reimbursed Mr. Osborne for relocation, temporary living and moving expenses totaling $127,151 and a related tax gross-up in the amount of $39,947. Mr. Guile received additional relocation reimbursement in the amount of $36,400 during 2008 related to his 2007 relocation, $35,100 of which was attributable to our Company’s carrying cost of Mr. Guile’s home which we expect to recoup a portion of upon the sale of the home.

 

Signing Bonus/Housing Allowance  In 2008, in connection with Mr. Osborne’s purchase of a permanent residence in the greater Chicago, Illinois area, Mr. Osborne received $500,000 as a signing bonus and housing allowance.

 

Indemnification for Repayment of Retention Bonus  In 2008, we reimbursed Mr. Osborne the amount of $263,000 for the retention bonus he was required to repay to his former employer.

 

Financial/Tax Preparation Services  Pursuant to his employment agreement, we reimbursed Mr. Osborne for the services of a financial and estate planning advisor in the amount of $7,500.

 

Our executive officers are required to acquire substantial holdings of our common stock while employed by us. Individual stock ownership targets are based on a multiple of between two and five times the executive’s base salary and executives generally have between three and seven years from the date they become subject to the stock ownership guidelines to comply with the guidelines. While serving as an interim officer, Mr. Goodwin was exempt from this policy, although he remained subject to the director stock ownership program described on page 13 of this proxy statement. Messrs. Osborne and Barker have not met their respective requirements for stock ownership and have 6.5 and 7 years, respectively, to comply. Messrs. McConnaughey and Weber have not met their requirements for stock ownership and have 4 and 2.5 years, respectively, to comply. Ms. Sherman has also not met her requirements for stock ownership and has 2 years to comply.

 

On February 20, 2009, the Board adopted a compensation policy regarding tax gross-up payments and limitations of severance benefits. This compensation policy provides, among other things:

 

 

This compensation policy will not alter the terms of any agreement or compensation or benefit plan in effect on the date of adoption of the policy.

 

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code provides that compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the chief executive officer and the other most highly compensated executive officers of a public company will generally be nondeductible for federal income tax purposes, subject to certain exceptions. The Compensation and Benefits 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 Compensation and Benefits Committee believes that it is important and necessary that the Compensation and Benefits 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 Compensation and Benefits Committee’s view, such arrangements are in the best interests of our Company and our stockholders.

 

The responsibilities of the Compensation and Benefits Committee are provided in its Charter, which has been approved by our Board of Directors.

 

In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Compensation Disclosure and Analysis included in this Report, the Compensation and Benefits Committee, among other things, has:

 

 

SUBMITTED BY THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE

 

JOHN MCCARTNEY, CHAIRMAN

 

 

Notwithstanding anything set forth in any of our previous filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part, the preceding report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any such filings.

 

The following table sets forth information concerning compensation earned during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 for James E. Goodwin, our former interim President and Chief Executive Officer, William H. Osborne, our new President and Chief Executive Officer, appointed September 15, 2008, Stephanie K. Kushner, our former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, William G. Barker, III, our new Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer appointed December 10, 2008, and the three other most highly compensated executive officers of our Company. Additionally, the table sets forth compensation information for the stated periods for Mr. Guile, who would have been among the top three highly compensated executive officers in 2008 had Mr. Guile been an executive officer as of December 31, 2008. For compensation provided to Mr. Goodwin for service as a director of our Company after his resignation as our interim President and Chief Executive Officer on September 15, 2008, please see the section titled “Information Concerning the Board of Directors” under the heading titled “Director Compensation in the Last Fiscal Year” beginning on page 12 of this proxy statement.

 

Summary Compensation Table for Fiscal Years 2006, 2007 and 2008