FEDERAL SIGNAL CORP /DE/
DEF 14A, 1996-03-08
MOTOR VEHICLES & PASSENGER CAR BODIES
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<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)
                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          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 Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
                           FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
                           FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):

     /X/ $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2)
or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.

     / / $500 per each party to the  controversy  pursuant to Exchange  Act Rule
14a-6(i)(3).

     / / Fee  computed on table below per  Exchange  Act Rules  14a-6(i)(4)  and
0-11.

     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
                                  Common Stock
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
              45,373,181 shares eligible to vote on election of
                      directors and Stock Benefit Plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (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):
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (5) Total fee paid:
                                    $125.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     / / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     / / 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:
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (3) Filing party:
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     (4) Date filed:
                                Not applicable.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                              FEDERAL SIGNAL LOGO
                             1415 West 22nd Street
                           Oak Brook, Illinois 60521

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                          TO BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 1996

To the Stockholders of
  Federal Signal Corporation

     The  Annual  Meeting  of   Shareholders   of  Federal  Signal   Corporation
("Federal")  for the year 1996 will be held at the  Chicago  Marriott  Hotel-Oak
Brook, 1401 West 22nd Street, Oak Brook, Illinois, on Wednesday, April 17, 1996,
at 11:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:

          1. To elect two directors of Federal;

          2. To consider and act on a proposal to approve the Federal Signal
     Corporation Stock Benefit Plan as more fully described in the accompanying
     proxy statement; and

          3. 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 20, 1996,
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, 1995 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 8, 1996

<PAGE>

                              FEDERAL SIGNAL LOGO
                             1415 West 22nd Street
                           Oak Brook, Illinois 60521

                                  MAILING DATE
                                  ON OR ABOUT
                                 MARCH 8, 1996

                               ------------------

               PROXY STATEMENT FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                          TO BE HELD ON APRIL 17, 1996

                              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 Wednesday,  April 17,
1996,  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 20, 1996, will be entitled to vote at the meeting.  At such
record  date,  there  were  outstanding  45,373,181  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.

                                        1

<PAGE>

                         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
                               BENEFICIAL OWNERS

     The following table sets forth  information as of December 31, 1995 (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:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        AMOUNT AND
                                                                        NATURE OF
                                                                        BENEFICIAL      PERCENT OF
                                NAME                                    OWNERSHIP         CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------   ----------      ----------
<S>                                                                     <C>             <C>
Beneficial Owner of More than 5% of Federal's Common Stock:..........        None
Each Director and Five Executive Officers and Executive Officers
  and Directors as a Group:(1)
     J. Patrick Lannan, Jr., Director................................     263,166 (2)       .58%
     James A. Lovell, Jr., Director..................................      28,679 (3)       .06%
     Thomas N. McGowen, Jr., Director................................      34,666           .08%
     Walter R. Peirson, Director.....................................      27,133 (3)       .06%
     Joseph J. Ross, Director and Executive Officer..................     764,535 (3)      1.68%
     Richard R. Thomas, Director.....................................     149,191 (3)       .33%
     Henry L. Dykema, Executive Officer..............................      10,416 (3)       .02%
     Kim A. Wehrenberg, Executive Officer............................     183,823 (3)       .41%
     Richard L. Ritz, Executive Officer..............................      52,638 (3)       .12%
     Robert W. Racic, Executive Officer..............................      42,080 (3)       .09%
     All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (11 persons)....   1,585,787          3.49%
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(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) This figure includes 18,240 shares owned by Mr. Lannan's wife. Mr. Lannan
    disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to these shares. It also
    includes 18,848 shares for which he shares voting and investment power.

(3) These figures include options shares exercisable within 60 days as follows:
    Mr. Lovell, 14,025; Mr. Peirson, 5,368; Mr. Ross, 585,381; Mr. Thomas,
    4,000; Mr. Dykema, 0; Mr. Wehrenberg, 98,399; Mr. Ritz, 30,472; and Mr.
    Racic, 10,266. 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. Lovell, 0; Mr. Peirson, 0; Mr. Ross, 13,376; Mr.
    Thomas, 0; Mr. Dykema, 10,000; Mr. Wehrenberg, 5,568; Mr. Ritz, 3,344 and
    Mr. Racic, 1,627.

                                        2

<PAGE>

                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     Federal's Board of Directors consists of six directors divided into three
classes with one class term expiring each year. Mr. J. Patrick Lannan, Jr. and
James A. Lovell, Jr. are nominated as a Class III directors for election at this
Annual Meeting for a term to expire at the 1999 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 the nominees shall
not be  available  for  election,  the persons  named in the proxy will vote the
proxies  for such other  persons as the  Nominating  Committee  may  nominate as
directors  so as to provide a full board.  The  nominees  receiving  the highest
number of votes cast will be elected as directors.

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      YEAR FIRST    YEAR PRESENT            PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
                                        BECAME          TERM                  OR EMPLOYMENT FOR
            NAME               AGE     DIRECTOR       EXPIRES                LAST FIVE YEARS(1)
- ----------------------------   ---    ----------    ------------    -------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>    <C>           <C>             <C>
Nominees:
J. Patrick Lannan, Jr. .....   57        1978           1996        Mr. Lannan is President and a
                                                                         director of the Lannan Foundation for
                                                                    the support of the visual arts,
                                                                    literature and rural native American
                                                                    communities.

James A. Lovell, Jr. .......   67        1984           1996        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:
Thomas N. McGowen, Jr. .....   70        1974           1998        Mr. McGowen is an attorney. He is
                                                                    also a director of Energy West
                                                                    Corporation and Ribi Immunochem
                                                                    Research, Inc.

Richard R. Thomas...........   62        1994           1998        Mr. Thomas retired in 1994 as
                                                                    President of the Tool Group of
                                                                    Federal Signal Corporation.

Joseph J. Ross..............   50        1986           1997        Mr. Ross is Chairman, President and
                                                                    Chief Executive Officer of Federal.
                                                                    He has served as President and Chief
                                                                    Executive Officer since December,
                                                                    1987 and also became Chairman in
                                                                    February, 1990 and is a director of
                                                                    Varlen Corporation.

Walter R. Peirson...........   69        1987           1997        Mr. Peirson retired in 1989 as
                                                                    Executive Vice President and as a
                                                                    director of Amoco Corporation (a
                                                                    petroleum company) and he serves as a
                                                                    director of Consolidated Natural Gas
                                                                    Company.
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1) The information  contained in this table is based upon information furnished
    to Federal by the individuals named above.

                                        3

<PAGE>

                       BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

     Pursuant  to  its  by-laws,   Federal  has   established   standing  audit,
nominating, compensation/stock option, pension and executive committees.

     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  James A.  Lovell,  Jr.,
Chairman, J. Patrick Lannan, Jr. and Walter R. Peirson.

     The Nominating 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 Nominating Committee are Joseph J.
Ross, Chairman, and Thomas N. McGowen, Jr.

     The Compensation/Stock Option Committee reviews and recommends to the Board
of Directors policies, practices and procedures relating to compensation of
managerial employees and the establishment and administration of employee
benefit plans. The members of the Compensation/Stock Option Committee are Walter
R. Peirson, Chairman, James A. Lovell, Jr. and Thomas N. McGowen, Jr.

     The Pension  Committee  reviews and  recommends  to the Board of  Directors
policies,  practices  and  procedures  relating to  Federal's  various  pension,
savings and similar  retirement  plans and programs and to the investment of the
funds associated with these plans. The members of the Pension Committee are J.
Patrick Lannan, Jr., Chairman, and Joseph J. Ross.

     During 1995,  the Board of Directors  held a total of five 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 Thomas N.  McGowen,  Jr.,
Chairman,   Joseph  J.  Ross  and  James  A.  Lovell,   Jr.  During  1995,   the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee held four meetings; the Nominating Committee
held two meetings;  the Audit  Committee  held three  meetings;  and the Pension
Committee  met once.  No director  attended less than 75% of the meetings of the
Board and of each committee of which he was a member.

     As compensation  for services to Federal,  each director who is not also an
officer of Federal receives director's fees at a current annual rate of $20,000.
In  addition,  each  such  director  receives  additional  fees for  serving  on
committees of the Board as follows: Executive Committee chairman--$5,000,  other
members--$2,500;  Audit or Compensation/Stock Option Committee chairman--$3,500,
other  members--$2,500;   Pension  Committee  chairman--$3,500;  and  Nominating
Committee  members--$2,500.  Directors are also  reimbursed  for their  expenses
relating  to  attendance  at  meetings.  Mr.  Thomas also  received  $17,000 for
consulting for the Tool Group in 1995.  Directors may receive options in lieu of
director's  fees,  as  described  in the  stock  option  section  of this  proxy
statement.  Directors who retire as a director of Federal after attaining age 68
and meeting years of service requirements are eligible for a director retirement
benefit.  The maximum  benefit is $15,000 per year for ten years if the director
retires after age 70.

                                        4

<PAGE>

                             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 1995 fiscal year:

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                                          AWARDS
                                                                  ----------------------
                                      ANNUAL COMPENSATION         RESTRICTED      NUMBER
            NAME AND              ----------------------------      STOCK           OF        ALL OTHER
       PRINCIPAL POSITION         YEAR     SALARY      BONUS      AWARDS(1)       OPTIONS  COMPENSATION(3)
- --------------------------------  ----    --------    --------    ----------      ------   ---------------
<S>                               <C>     <C>         <C>         <C>             <C>      <C>
Joseph J. Ross..................  1995    $348,000    $334,080     $       0           0       $68,208
 Chairman, President and Chief    1994     325,000     338,000       159,375      30,000        72,104
 Executive Officer                1993     325,000     312,000       165,375      53,333        52,662

Henry L. Dykema.................  1995     182,500      95,813       258,750(2)   20,000         3,670
 Vice President and               1994           0           0             0           0             0
 Chief Financial Officer          1993           0           0             0           0             0

Kim A. Wehrenberg...............  1995     152,000     109,440             0           0        14,646
 Vice President, General          1994     145,000     113,100        75,000       7,000        13,743
 Counsel and Secretary            1993     140,000     100,800        61,425       6,667        10,469

Richard L. Ritz.................  1995     101,000      61,358             0           0        12,098
 Vice President, Controller       1994      96,000      62,275        46,875       4,000        10,365
                                  1993      90,000      54,000        35,438      13,333        12,672

Robert W. Racic.................  1995      99,000      57,544             0           0         4,500
 Vice President, Treasurer        1994      96,000      61,452        20,625       1,000         3,146
                                  1993      92,500      55,876        18,900       1,333         5,758
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1)  Stock awards generally vest 25% on each anniversary date after date of
     grant. The number and aggregate value of unvested stock awards as of
     December 31, 1995 were: for Mr. Ross 13,376 shares ($346,104), for Mr.
     Dykema 10,000 shares ($258,750), for Mr. Wehrenberg 5,568 shares
     ($144,072), for Mr. Ritz 3,344 shares ($86,526) and for Mr. Racic 1,627
     shares ($42,099). Dividends are paid at the regular rate to these people on
     the unvested shares.

(2)  Stock  awards  vest 25% on each  anniversary  date  between  the  third and
     seventh year after date of grant.

(3)  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 $4,500, $16,577, $47,131, $0; Mr.
     Dykema $2,053, $1,617, $0, $0; Mr. Wehrenberg $4,500, $4,146, $0, $6,000;
     Mr. Ritz $4,500, $398, $0, $7,200; Mr. Racic $4,500, $0, $0, $0. Of these
     officers who put part of their bonus into the Company's supplemental
     savings plan, Mr. Wehrenberg invested $109,440, Mr. Ross invested $16,577
     and Mr. Dykema invested $95,813 of their bonuses in Federal Signal stock.

                                        5

<PAGE>

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

     Federal has an  employment  agreement  with Joseph J. Ross.  The  agreement
continues until the December 31 following the employee's  65th birthday  subject
to earlier termination by either Federal or the employee. As of January 1, 1996,
termination  salary under this agreement was $375,000 for Mr Ross and the annual
salary of Mr. Ross, which is approved by the Compensation  Committee, is not set
by this  employment  agreement.  In the  discretion  of the Board of  Directors,
annual  compensation  may be  increased  during  the term of the  agreement.  If
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
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.  Mr.
Ross and Mr. Wehrenberg have change of control agreements.  In the 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 based on 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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                          GRANT DATE VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    -----------------------
                               NUMBER OF       % OF TOTAL
                              SECURITIES        OPTIONS        EXERCISE
                              UNDERLYING       GRANTED TO         OR                        GRANT DATE PRESENT
                                OPTIONS       EMPLOYEES IN    BASE PRICE    EXPIRATION       VALUE $ BASED ON
           NAME              GRANTED(#)(1)    FISCAL YEAR      ($/SH.)         DATE       BLACK-SCHOLES METHOD(2)
- --------------------------   -------------    ------------    ----------    ----------    -----------------------
<S>                          <C>              <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>
Joseph J. Ross............            0             0%           N/A           N/A                       0
Henry L. Dykema...........       20,000            48%         $ 20.375      01/01/05            $ 148,330
Kim A. Wehrenberg.........            0             0%           N/A           N/A                       0
Richard L. Ritz...........            0             0%           N/A           N/A                       0
Robert W. Racic...........            0             0%           N/A           N/A                       0
</TABLE>

- -------------------------
(1) No  SARs  were  granted.  These  options  become  25%  exercisable  on  each
    anniversary date between the third and seventh year after date of grant.

(2) The  following   assumptions  were  used  under  the  Black-Scholes  method:
    volatility .22; risk free rate of return 7.9%; dividend yield 2.5%; exercise
    period, 10 years.

                                        6

<PAGE>

                   OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END VALUE TABLE
    AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION VALUE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 NUMBER OF
                                                                                SECURITIES          VALUE OF
                                                                                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)
- ---------------------------------------   ---------------    --------------    -------------    ----------------
<S>                                       <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>
Joseph J. Ross.........................        7,028(3)         $117,094          585,381         $ 10,677,556
                                                                                   29,400              176,099
Henry L. Dykema........................            0                   0                0                    0
                                                                                   20,000              110,000
Kim A. Wehrenberg......................            0                   0           98,399            1,602,698
                                                                                    3,500               21,875
Richard L. Ritz........................            0                   0           30,472              510,872
                                                                                   15,333               88,747
Robert W. Racic........................            0                   0           10,226              140,807
                                                                                    1,667                3,125
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(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 $25.875 on December 31, 1995.

(3) Mr. Ross has a stock option exercise loan totaling $71,454, including $4,412
    of  interest in 1995 at 7.61%.  Such loans are  available  to all  employees
    participating in the Plan.

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.  Under the method of computing the annual contribution,
the Internal Revenue Service's full funding limitation  prohibits a contribution
to the plan for 1995.  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.  For
employees covered by Federal's  supplemental  pension plan, amounts in excess of
such limitations will be paid from the general funds of Federal, pursuant to the
terms of such plan. The amount of pension benefits is reduced by one-half of the
amount of available individual Social

                                        7

<PAGE>

Security benefits. Estimated credited years of service are as follows: Mr. Ross,
11.5, Mr. Dykema, 0; Mr. Wehrenberg, 8; Mr. Ritz, 10.5 and Mr. Racic, 21.75.

                               PENSION PLAN TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPENSATION                 APPROXIMATE ANNUAL STRAIGHT-LIFE ANNUITY
          FOR THE FIVE CONSECUTIVE                       PENSION UPON RETIREMENT AT 65
         CALENDAR YEARS OF THE LAST    ------------------------------------------------------------------
         TEN FOR WHICH COMPENSATION     10 YEARS      15 YEARS      20 YEARS      25 YEARS      30 YEARS
                 IS HIGHEST            OF SERVICE    OF SERVICE    OF SERVICE    OF SERVICE    OF SERVICE
        ----------------------------   ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------    ----------
        <S>                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
        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
</TABLE>

     For purposes of the  Retirement  Plan,  an employee's  compensation  is his
Annual Compensation as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table.

     Pursuant  to  Federal's  supplemental  pension  plan,  various  officers of
Federal are  entitled to pension  supplements  which have the effect of assuring
that,  regardless  of their  actual  years of  service,  if they  remain  in the
employment  of Federal  until age 65, they will receive  benefits as if they had
been continuously employed by Federal since their thirty-fourth birthday. Giving
effect to such pension  supplements,  the additional  years of service  credited
under Federal's Supplemental Retirement Plan as of December 31, 1995 to Mr. Ross
is 3 1/4 years.  The  supplemental  pension  benefit  for Mr.  Ross makes up the
difference  between his actual pension  benefit and what it would have been with
30 years of service under the 1976 plan.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The  Compensation  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 Committee uses its subjective
evaluation of these factors,  without a mechanical  weighting,  to determine the
officers'  salary  and  level of  participation  in the  bonus  plan;  Mr.  Ross
participates  at 40% of his salary and the other officers  participate at 25% to
30% of their salary.

     The Company's total return to  shareholders  has been 22% for the last five
years. Based on the excellent  performance of Mr. Ross and the entire management
team (among other items,  this excellent  performance  included  increasing cash
flow from operations 17% to $63 million, maintaining return on equity above 20%,
increasing net income by 11% and improving the Sign Group's  profitability)  and
the Company over the last several years,  the Committee  granted Mr. Ross a 7.8%
increase to $375,000 in his base salary for 1996. The Committee also approved an
average 1996 salary increase for the other four officers of 4.9%.

     The  officers'  bonuses  are tied  directly to company  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 1996.  Therefore,  if the Company's
return on capital is the same as it was in 1995, the officers' bonuses will also
be about the same for 1996.  The 1995,  bonus  target  achievement  was 89%. The
Company  as a  whole  achieved  its  operating  goals;  however,  earnings  were
adversely  affected by the  resolution  of a lawsuit  related to sign a business
which was

                                        8

<PAGE>

discontinued  in 1989 and the officers'  bonuses were reduced  accordingly.  The
other  officers'   bonuses   generally   constitute  about  40%  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.  For example,  over the last seven years the total market value of
the Company has increased  well over  five-fold  from about $200 million to more
than $1.1 billion of stockholder  value. The Performance  Graph on page 10 shows
that Federal has substantially out-performed the Standard & Poor Industrials and
companies  comparable to Federal.  In view of this performance,  and to give the
officers even greater incentive to continue to increase  shareholder  value, the
Compensation  Committee  intends to grant the officers  additional stock options
and restricted stock awards in 1996. 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.

WALTER R. PEIRSON           JAMES A. LOVELL, JR.          THOMAS N. McGOWEN, JR.

                                        9

<PAGE>
              COMPARISON FOR FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
                        FOR FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              90             91                92                 93                94               95
<S>                       <C>               <C>            <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
FEDERAL SIGNAL
CORPORATION                   100            144               162                217               215              279

S & P Industrials
   Index                      100            120               134                146               151              204

Dow Jones Industrial
Diversified Index             100            131               136                163               146              187
</TABLE>


Assumes $100 invested on December 31, 1990 in Federal Signal Corporation Common
Stock,
     S & P Industrials Index and the Dow Jones Industrial - Diversified Index. *
Total return  assumes  reinvestment  of  dividends  and is based on fiscal years
ending December 31.

                       APPROVAL OF THE STOCK BENEFIT PLAN

     On December 8, 1995, Federal's Board of Directors  unanimously approved and
adopted the Stock Benefit Plan (the  "Plan"),  as set forth as Exhibit A to this
Proxy Statement  subject to approval by Federal's  shareholders.  The purpose of
the Plan is to secure for Federal and its shareholders the benefits of incentive
compensation of management  personnel.  Under the Plan,  employees and directors
who are  responsible for Federal's  future growth and continued  success have an
opportunity  to  participate in the  appreciation  of value of Federal's  Common
Stock, which provides them with additional  incentive to work for and contribute
to such  appreciation.  The Board of Directors  believes  that  Federal's  stock
benefit plans motivate  employees to achieve the excellent  return on investment
that Federal shareholders have received over the years.

     The Omnibus  Budget  Reconciliation  Act of 1993 (the "Tax Act")  requires,
among other  things,  that  company  stock plans  include a limit on the maximum
number of shares  one person  can  receive  under the plan in order to allow the
company to take a tax  deduction  for certain  plan  compensation.  The Board of
Directors  has  determined  that it is in Federal's  best  interest to terminate
Federal's  1988 Stock  Benefit  Plan which  does not have this  limitation,  and
replace it with the new plan which  complies with the Tax Act. Upon  shareholder
approval of the new Plan, no further shares will be granted under the 1988 plan.
In addition, it has been Federal's practice to purchase treasury shares to cover
shares issued under the company's stock benefit plans

                                       10

<PAGE>

to avoid  dilution of  shareholders'  interests.  Federal  currently  intends to
continue with this stock repurchase program to avoid shareholder dilution.

     The  Plan  will be  effective  only  upon  approval  by a  majority  of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock voting at the meeting.

     A summary of the Plan is set forth below.  For a more complete  description
of the Stock Benefit Plan see Exhibit A.

     1. COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.  The Plan provides for the granting of
stock options,  stock awards and stock award units,  collectively referred to as
"Benefits," to eligible employees and directors of Federal and its subsidiaries.
As  adopted by the Board of  Directors,  an  aggregate  of  1,000,000  shares of
Federal's  treasury shares or authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock are
subject to the Plan.

     2.  ADMINISTRATION.  The Committee (the  "Committee")  responsible  for the
administration  of the Plan will be the  Compensation/Stock  Option Committee of
the Board of  Directors,  or such other  committee as may be  designated  by the
Board of Directors.  The Committee has general  authority and  discretion in the
administration and interpretation of the Plan, subject to the express provisions
thereof.  The Committee has  discretion to determine the employees to whom,  the
number of shares  and the time or times at which  Benefits  may be  granted.  In
addition,  the Committee may  prescribe the terms and  conditions  applicable to
each grant of Benefits.

     3. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BENEFITS. Benefits may be granted only to
directors of Federal or to key employees of Federal or its subsidiaries who have
administrative, managerial, supervisory, professional, scientific, engineering
or similar responsibilities.

     4.  OPTIONS.  The purchase  price of the shares of Common Stock  subject to
options granted under the Plan is determined by the Committee,  but shall not be
less than 100% of the fair  market  value on the date of the  grant  except  for
director  options or stock unit award options.  Unless the Committee  determines
otherwise,  one-half  of the total  shares  subject  to an option  shall  become
exercisable  cumulatively after the first and second anniversary dates following
the date of grant.  No option  granted  under  the Plan is  transferable  by the
optionee during his or her lifetime.  Unless the Committee determines otherwise,
an option may be exercised  only while the optionee is an employee of Federal or
its subsidiaries or, in the event of termination of employment otherwise than by
reason of death,  within the period  determined by the Committee  (but not later
than the  expiration of the term of the option).  Upon the death of an optionee,
the optionee's  personal  representative or beneficiaries may exercise an option
to the extent exercisable by the optionee,  within one year after the optionee's
death  (but not later than the  expiration  of the term of the  option).  In the
event that any option  expires or is  terminated  without being  exercised,  the
shares subject to such option (or the  unexercised  portion  thereof) will again
become available for option under the plan.

     5.  ALTERNATIVE  SETTLEMENT  METHODS.  The Plan authorizes the Committee to
permit an  optionee to  exercise  an option by the  election  of an  alternative
settlement  method  rather than by the purchase of shares of common stock at the
price set forth in the option.  The  alternative  settlement  methods  allow the
optionee  to  receive  cash or shares of  Federal  Common  Stock or  combination
thereof  having an  aggregate  value equal to (a) the excess of the value of one
share of Common Stock over the purchase  price set forth in the option times (b)
the  number of shares as to which the option is  exercised.  The  Committee  may
include in any option  granted under the Plan the right of the optionee to elect
an alternative  settlement method upon exercise of the option. At the request of
the holder of any option  granted under the Plan,  which option does not include
the right to elect an alternative settlement method, the Committee is authorized
to permit the election of an alternative  settlement method. In addition, at the
request of the holder of an option on the Common Stock of Federal,  which option
is or was granted  pursuant to any stock option or other similar plan previously
established,   the  Committee  is  authorized  to  permit  the  election  of  an
alternative  settlement method. Any election of an alternative settlement method
involving the payment of cash must be approved by the Committee. An optionee may
make all or a portion of payment upon the exercise of an option through delivery
of Federal Common Stock.  Any such  delivered  shares are valued at the New York
Stock Exchange closing price.

                                       11

<PAGE>

     6. DIRECTOR OPTIONS. Below-market options may be granted at a price equal
to the Common Stock's par value to directors of Federal in lieu of all or part
of their director's fees. The amount of a director's fees to be given up would
equal the option discount, i.e. difference between the Common stock's market
value and its par value on the date of grant. Alternative settlement rights are
not available for director's options.

     7.  STOCK  AWARDS.  Stock  awards  consist of the grant of shares of Common
Stock of Federal without any cash payment by the grantee thereof. Shares granted
as stock  awards may not be sold,  transferred,  or  otherwise  disposed  by the
grantee, except, unless otherwise determined by the Committee,  such restriction
primarily  lapses  as to  one-fourth  of the  shares  granted  as a stock  award
cumulatively on each of the first four  anniversary  dates following the date of
grant.

     8. STOCK UNIT  AWARDS.  The  Committee  is  authorized  to grant stock unit
awards such as below market  options or  performance  units to be paid in Common
Stock,  cash or  other  property  as the  Committee  may deem  appropriate.  The
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such awards.

     9.  AMENDMENT.  The Plan may be amended by the Board of  Directors,  except
that  without  the  affirmative  vote of the holders of a majority of the voting
stock of Federal,  the Board of  Directors  may not amend the Plan to extend the
period during which Benefits may be granted,  to change the  requirements  as to
the class of employees eligible to receive Benefits,  or to increase the maximum
number of shares on or for which Benefits may be granted  (except as such number
of shares may be adjusted in the event of a recapitalization, stock dividend, or
similar event).

     10. TAX CONSEQUENCES. Federal has not sought a ruling from the Internal
Revenue Service with respect to certain federal income tax consequences
pertaining to the adoption of the Plan and the Benefits granted thereunder.

     No income will be realized by an optionee, and no amount will be deductible
by Federal,  until the exercise of a nonincentive stock option granted under the
Plan.  Upon the  exercise of an option,  whether by purchase of Common  Stock or
election of an alternative settlement method, the optionee will realize ordinary
income,  measured by the difference  between the purchase price set forth in the
option and the fair market  value of the Common  Stock at the time of  exercise;
such amount will be deductible by Federal for federal  income tax purposes.  The
discounted   portion  of   directors'   options  will  be  treated  as  deferred
compensation  and will be taxable to the optionee and deductible by Federal upon
the exercise of the option. For incentive stock options, no income is recognized
upon the  grant or  exercise  of the  option,  and no amount  is  deductible  by
Federal. If the Common Stock is sold less than one year after exercise,  it will
be treated as a nonincentive stock option. If the Common Stock is sold more than
one year after  exercise,  it will be taxable  to the  optionee  but will not be
deducible by Federal.  With respect to shares granted as stock awards, no income
is  realized by the  recipient  until such  shares are  transferable  or are not
subject to a substantial  risk of  forfeiture,  unless the  recipient  otherwise
elects to realize income at an earlier date. Income realized by a recipient of a
stock award will be taxed as ordinary  income.  Federal will receive a deduction
in an amount  equal to the income  realized  by the  recipient  in the year such
income is realized by the recipient.  The taxation of stock unit awards for both
the  optionee and Federal  will depend upon the  specific  terms and  conditions
imposed by the Committee in making such grants.

                                 RECOMMENDATION

     THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT THE  SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION STOCK BENEFIT PLAN.

                             ACCOUNTING INFORMATION

     Ernst & Young has been selected by Federal to serve as its independent
public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1996. 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

                                       12

<PAGE>

appointment of the auditors is approved annually by the Board of Directors based
upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee.

                          FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     In order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 1997
Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders,  stockholder  proposals  must be  received  by
Federal on or before November 22, 1996.

                                 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

               IMPORTANT--PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD.

                                       13

<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                           FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION

                               STOCK BENEFIT PLAN

1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.

     The  purpose  of this  Stock  Benefit  Plan (the  "Plan")  is to secure for
Federal Signal Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"),  and its
stockholders the benefits of incentive  compensation of the management personnel
of the  Corporation and its  subsidiaries  and to ensure a tax deduction for the
Corporation for certain  compensation  under the Plan. By virtue of the benefits
available  under the Plan,  directors and employees who are  responsible for the
future growth and continued  success of the  Corporation  have an opportunity to
participate  in the  appreciation  in the value of the stock of the  Corporation
which  furnishes  them  with an  incentive  to work for and  contribute  to such
appreciation through the growth and success of the Corporation.  In addition, it
is generally  recognized that incentive  compensation  programs aid in retaining
and  encouraging  key  employees of ability and in  recruiting  additional  able
employees.

2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

     An aggregate  of 1,000,000  shares of Common Stock ($1.00 par value) of the
Corporation shall be subject to the Plan and such shares may be issued under the
Plan  pursuant to Stock  Options,  Stock  Awards or such other Stock Unit Awards
(collectively "Benefits") as the Committee, as defined below, in its discretion,
may  determine  and the total  number  of  Benefit  shares or units  that can be
granted under the Plan shall not exceed  1,000,000 shares except as set forth in
the next paragraph.  Such shares may be either authorized but unissued shares or
shares now or hereafter held in the treasury of the Corporation.

     In the event  that any  option  under  the Plan  expires  or is  terminated
without  being  exercised  for any reason prior to the end of the period  during
which options may be granted under the Plan, the shares  theretofore  subject to
such option,  or the unexercised  portion thereof,  shall again become available
for grant under the Plan.  In the event that any shares  granted as stock awards
or stock unit awards expire, terminate or become the property of the Corporation
pursuant to the Plan, the number of such shares shall again become available for
granting as Benefits awards under the Plan.

3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

     A. THE COMMITTEE.

     The Plan shall be administered by the  Compensation/Stock  Option Committee
of the Board of Directors or such other  committee as shall be designated by the
Board of Directors (the  "Committee").  The Committee  shall consist of not less
than two  Directors of the  Corporation,  and shall be appointed by the Board of
Directors.  Any decision or  determination  reduced to writing and signed by all
the members of the Committee  shall be fully as effective as if it had been made
by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held.  The Committee may appoint
a secretary  (who need not be a member of the Committee) and may make such rules
and regulations  for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.  No
member of the Committee  shall be liable,  in the absence of bad faith,  for any
act or omission with respect to his or her service on the Committee.  Service on
the Committee shall constitute  service as a Director of the Corporation so that
members of the Committee shall be entitled to indemnification  and reimbursement
as Directors of the Corporation.

     B. AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE.

     Subject to the express  provisions of the Plan,  the  Committee  shall have
plenary  authority,  in its discretion,  to determine the employees to whom, and
the time or times at which,  Benefits  shall be granted and the number of shares
to be subject to each Benefit provided,  however, no individual may receive more
than   100,000  of  the  shares  per  year  under  the  Plan.   In  making  such
determinations, the Committee may take into

                                       A-1

<PAGE>

account  the nature of the  services  rendered or expected to be rendered by the
respective  employees,   their  present  and  potential   contributions  to  the
Corporation's  success,  the  anticipated  number of years of effective  service
remaining and such other factors as the Committee in its  discretion  shall deem
relevant.  Subject to the express  provisions of the Plan,  the Committee  shall
also have plenary  authority  to interpret  the Plan,  to  prescribe,  amend and
rescind  rules  and  regulations  relating  to it,  to  determine  the terms and
conditions of the respective  Benefits  (which terms and conditions  need not be
the same in each  case),  to  impose  restrictions  on any  shares  issued as or
pursuant to the Benefits and to determine the manner in which such  restrictions
may be  removed,  and to make  all  other  determinations  deemed  necessary  or
advisable in  administering  the Plan. The Committee may specify in the original
terms of any  Benefit  or, if not so  specified,  shall  determine  whether  any
authorized  leave of absence or absence on military or  governmental  service or
for any other reason shall  constitute a termination  of employment for purposes
of the Plan.  The  Committee  shall have the authority to issue shares of Common
Stock or pursuant to the Benefits and to determine the consideration received by
the   Corporation  for  such  Benefits   granted   pursuant  to  the  Plan.  The
determination  of the  Committee  on the matters  referred to in this  paragraph
shall be conclusive.

     C. GRANTING DATE.

     The action of the Committee with respect to the granting of a Benefit shall
take  place on such date as a majority  of the  members  of the  Committee  at a
meeting shall make a determination with respect to the granting of a Benefit or,
in the absence of a meeting, on such date as a written designation covering such
Benefit  shall  have  been  authorized  by all  members  of the  Committee.  The
effective date of the grant of a Benefit (the "Granting Date") shall be the date
specified by the Committee in its  determination or designation  relating to the
award of such Benefit,  provided that the Committee may not designate a Granting
Date with  respect to any Benefit  which shall be earlier than the date on which
the granting of such Benefit shall have been approved by the Committee.

4. ELIGIBILITY.

     Benefits  may be granted to key  employees  (which  term shall be deemed to
include  officers)  who on the Granting  Date (or, with respect to Benefits that
are not incentive  stock options,  within 30 days  thereafter in the instance of
newly hired  employees)  (i) are in the employ of the  Corporation or one of its
then subsidiary corporations (the "subsidiaries"),  as defined in Section 425 of
the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1954,  as amended  (the  "Code"),  and (ii) have
administrative,  managerial, supervisory,  professional, scientific, engineering
or similar  responsibilities.  Below market stock options may also be granted to
any Director of the Corporation in lieu of part or all of their  Directors' fees
in accordance with Section 8 of this Plan.

5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

     A. PURCHASE PRICE AND TERMS OF OPTIONS.

     (i) The  purchase  price of the Common  Stock  under each  option  shall be
determined  by the  Committee,  but for options  granted  under Section 5 of the
Plan,  the price  shall not be less  than 100% of the fair  market  value of the
Common  Stock,  as determined  by the  Committee,  on the Granting Date for such
option.

     (ii) Options granted under this Plan may be either  Incentive Stock Options
(as defined in Section 422A of the Code) or  Non-Incentive  Stock Options (i.e.,
options which are not within the Section 422A definition).

          a.  Incentive  Stock  Options:  Subject to the  minimum  option  price
     specified in subparagraph 5(A)(i) hereof, the terms of each incentive stock
     option granted under the Plan,  which may be different in each case,  shall
     include  those terms which are  required by Section  422A of the Code,  and
     such other terms not inconsistent therewith as the Committee may determine.

          b.  Non-Incentive  Stock  Options:  Subject  to minimum  option  price
     specified in subparagraph  5(A)(i)  hereof,  the terms of each stock option
     granted under this Plan that is not an incentive stock option,  which terms
     may be different in each case, shall be determined by the Committee.

                                       A-2

<PAGE>

     B. TERM OF OPTIONS.

     The term of each option granted under the Plan shall be for a period of ten
years unless  otherwise  determined by the  Committee.  Each option shall become
exercisable,  unless  otherwise  determined by the Committee in its  discretion,
with respect to one-half the number of shares  subject  thereto  after the first
anniversary  following the Granting Date, and shall be exercisable  with respect
to all  shares  subject  thereto  after the  second  anniversary  following  the
Granting Date.

     C. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND EXERCISE.

     (i) Except as hereinafter  provided, no option granted pursuant to the Plan
may be  exercised  at any time unless the holder  thereof is then an employee of
the Corporation or of a subsidiary.  Options granted under the Plan shall not be
affected by any change of employment  so long as the grantee  continues to be an
employee  of the  Corporation  or of a  subsidiary.  Retirement  pursuant to the
Corporation's then prevailing  retirement  policies and plans shall be deemed to
be a termination of employment.

     (ii)  Unless  the  Committee  determines  otherwise,  in the  event  of the
termination of employment of a grantee of an option (otherwise than by reason of
death),  such option may be exercised  (only to the extent that the employee was
entitled to do so at the  termination of his  employment) at any time within (1)
for  options  that are not  incentive  stock  options,  (a) two years after such
termination  if such  termination  is due to  disability  (as defined in Section
105(d)(4)  of the  Code)  or  retirement  unless,  at  the  time  of  employment
termination,  the  Committee  extends the period of  exercise,  (b) three months
after such termination in all other cases,  unless such period shall be extended
by the  Committee  in its  discretion;  or (2) in the  case of  incentive  stock
options,  (a) one year  after such  termination  if such  termination  is due to
disability (as defined in Section  105(d)(4) of the Code) or such lesser time as
the  Committee  may specify  from time to time,  or (b) three  months after such
termination  in all other  cases  unless  such  period  shall be extended by the
Committee in its  discretion.  In no event shall an option be exercisable  after
the expiration date of the option.

     (iii) Unless the  Committee  determines  otherwise,  if a grantee shall die
while an employee of the  Corporation  or a  subsidiary  or within  three months
after the  termination  of  employment  of the  grantee,  an option held by such
grantee  may be  exercised  to the extent the  option  was  exercisable  by such
grantee at the date of death,  by a legatee or legatees of such option under the
grantee's   last  will,  or  by  the  grantee's   personal   representative   or
distributees,  at any time within one year after the grantee's  death,  provided
that in no event  shall the  option be  exercised  after the  expiration  of the
period of the option.

     (iv) No option granted under the Plan shall be transferable  otherwise than
by will or the law of descent and  distribution  and an option may be exercised,
during the lifetime of the grantee thereof, only by the grantee thereof.

     D. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS; ALTERNATIVE SETTLEMENT METHODS.

     (i) Subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan and the original terms
of the option,  any option granted and  exercisable  pursuant to the Plan may be
exercised  in whole or in part  from  time to  time.  Except  in the case of the
election of an alternative  settlement method as hereinafter  provided,  payment
for shares of Common Stock  purchased  shall be made in full at the time that an
option,  or any part  thereof,  is exercised.  Unless the  Committee  determines
otherwise  in its  discretion,  a grantee  holding  an option  may make all or a
portion of payment  upon  exercise  of an option  through  delivery of shares of
Common Stock of the Corporation.  Any shares so delivered shall be valued at the
closing price on the New York Stock  Exchange on the date of the exercise of the
option (or, if no such closing price is available, the value shall be determined
in such other manner as the Committee may deem appropriate).

     (ii) The Committee, in its discretion,  may provide that any option granted
pursuant  to the Plan may,  by its terms,  confer  upon the grantee the right to
elect any of the alternative  settlement  methods set forth in subparagraph (iv)
below.

     (iii) The Committee  may, in its discretion and at the request of a grantee
holding  an  option  granted  pursuant  to the Plan  that  does not by its terms
include the right to elect any of such alternative settlement

                                       A-3

<PAGE>

methods,  permit the election of any of such alternative methods by the grantee.
The Committee, in its discretion,  may at the request of the holder of an option
on the Common Stock of the Corporation,  which option is exercisable at the time
of the request and which was granted  pursuant to any stock option plan or other
similar  plan  heretofore  established  for  the  benefit  of  employees  of the
Corporation,  permit the  election  of any of such  alternative  methods by such
holder.  The authority of the Committee to permit such  elections of alternative
settlement methods shall not confer upon the grantee or holder of any option the
right to such an election.

     (iv) The alternative  settlement  methods are: (a) cash equal to the excess
of the value of one share of Common Stock over the  purchase  price set forth in
the option times the number of shares as to which the option is  exercised;  (b)
the number of full shares of Common Stock having an aggregate  value not greater
than the cash amount  calculated  under  alternative (a); (c) any combination of
cash and full shares having an aggregate  value not greater than the cash amount
calculated under  alternative (a).  Notwithstanding  the other provisions of the
Plan, election of an alternative settlement method involving the receipt of cash
shall be subject to the approval of the Committee at the time of such  election.
For purposes of determining an  alternative  settlement,  the value per share of
Common  Stock shall be the closing  price on the New York Stock  Exchange on the
date of the exercise of the option (or, if no such closing  price is  available,
the value shall be  determined  in such other manner as the  Committee  may deem
appropriate).

     (v) In the event that an option  granted or to be granted under the Plan is
not an incentive stock option under Section 422A of the Code, then the Committee
may, in its discretion,  commit the Corporation to pay to the option holder,  at
the time the  taxes or an  amount of cash  equal to the  amount  of  income  tax
payable by the  grantee as a result of the  option  exercise  and as a result of
this tax reimbursement.

     (vi) Exercise of an option in any manner,  including an exercise  involving
an election of an alternative  settlement method,  shall result in a decrease in
the number of shares which  thereafter may be available for purposes of granting
options  under  the Plan by the  number  of  shares  as to which  the  option is
exercised.

     E. MANNER OF EXERCISE.

     An option shall be exercised by giving a written notice to the Secretary of
the  Corporation  stating the number of shares of Common  Stock with  respect to
which the option is being exercised and containing such other information as the
Secretary may request,  including the election  requesting  authorization  of an
alternative settlement method.

6. STOCK AWARDS.

     A. AWARD OF SHARES.

     Stock  awards  will  consist of shares of Common  Stock of the  Corporation
issued to eligible officers.

     B. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.

     Stock awards shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee
determines to be appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions on the
sale or other  disposition of such shares.  Except as hereinafter  provided,  or
unless the Committee  determines otherwise (either at the time of the grant of a
stock award or at any time thereafter),  shares granted as stock awards pursuant
to the Plan shall not be sold, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of by
the grantee. In the event of termination of full time employment (including, but
not limited  to, the  retirement  of the  grantee)  for any reason  prior to the
termination date of any  restrictions  pertaining to the stock award, the shares
then  subject to  restrictions  shall  become the  property of the  Corporation,
provided,  however,  that the  obligation  not to  dispose  of  shares  acquired
pursuant  to a stock  award and the right of the  Corporation  to  receive  such
shares shall lapse, unless the Committee determines otherwise in its discretion,
as to one-fourth (or such other portion as the Committee  shall establish in the
stock award) of the shares received in one stock award on each of the first four
anniversary  dates following the Granting Date thereof (or on such other date(s)
as the Committee shall establish in the stock award),  and provided further that
the Committee may determine (either at the time of

                                       A-4

<PAGE>

the  grant  of a stock  award  or at any time  thereafter)  that in the  event a
grantee's employment is terminated on account of death, the permanent disability
of such grantee or upon such other conditions as the Committee may approve,  all
restrictions  remaining on shares  granted to such grantee  shall lapse and such
shares shall not become the property of the Corporation.

     All  restrictions  applicable  to any stock award shall apply to any shares
resulting from a stock dividend, stock split, or other distribution of shares of
the  Corporation  with respect to the stock award,  effective as of the Granting
Date of such stock award.

     All  restrictions  applicable  to any stock award shall lapse (1) as to all
shares  granted in such award,  in the event any tender offer subject to Section
14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor thereto, shall be
made for any of the outstanding  Common Stock of the  Corporation,  or (2) as to
any securities,  property, cash or combinations thereof received in exchange for
stock  award  shares  pursuant  to any  merger,  consolidation,  liquidation  or
dissolution of the Corporation.

7. STOCK UNIT AWARDS.

     In order to enable the  Corporation  and  Committee  to respond  quickly to
significant developments in applicable tax and other legislation and regulations
and interpretations  thereof, and to trends in executive compensation practices,
the Committee shall also be authorized to grant to participants, either alone or
in addition to other Benefits granted under the Plan,  awards of stock and other
awards  that are valued in whole or in part by  reference  to, or are  otherwise
based on Common Stock of the  Corporation  ("stock unit awards") such as phantom
stock, below market options, performance units, etc. Other stock unit awards may
be paid in Common Stock of the  Corporation,  cash or any other form of property
as the Committee shall determine.

     The  Committee  shall  determine the key employees to whom other stock unit
awards are to be made, the times at which such awards are to be made, the number
of shares to be granted pursuant to such awards and all other conditions of such
awards.  The  provisions  of the  stock  unit  awards  need not be the same with
respect to each  recipient.  The  participant  shall not be  permitted  to sell,
assign, transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the shares prior to the later of
the date on which the shares  are  issued,  or the date on which any  applicable
restriction,  performance or deferral period lapses. Stock (including securities
convertible  into  stock)  granted  pursuant  to other  stock unit awards may be
issued for no cash  consideration  or for such minimum  consideration  as may be
required by applicable law. Stock (including securities  convertible into stock)
purchased  pursuant  to  purchase  rights  granted  pursuant to other stock unit
awards may be purchased for such  consideration as the Committee shall determine
which price  shall not be less than par value of such stock or other  securities
on the date of grant.

8. DIRECTOR OPTIONS.

     Directors  of the  Corporation  may  elect to  receive  below-market  stock
options in lieu of part or all of their  Director  fees.  Such options  shall be
granted  at a price of $1.00 (par  value of the  Common  Stock)  per share.  The
number of shares to be granted  shall be  determined  by dividing  the amount of
Director  fees  (that the  Director  irrevocably  elected to take in the form of
below  market  options  instead of cash) by the fair market  value of a share of
Common Stock on the date of grant after  subtracting the $1.00 option price from
such fair market value. These options shall be 100% vested on the date of grant,
but shall not be exercisable  until six months after the date of grant. The term
of these  options  shall be for ten  years and they  shall  not be  transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and  distribution  and may only be
exercised  by the  Director,  his  guardian or legal  representative  during the
Director's lifetime.  Election of an alternative  settlement method shall not be
available for these options.

9. STOCKHOLDER AND EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

     A holder of an option shall have none of the rights of a  stockholder  with
respect to any of the shares subject to option until such shares shall be issued
upon the exercise of the option.

                                       A-5

<PAGE>

     Subject to the other  provisions of the Plan,  upon the date of issuance of
certificates  representing a stock award,  the grantee shall have all the rights
of a  stockholder  including  the  right to  receive  dividends  and to vote the
shares. However, the certificates representing such shares and any shares of the
Corporation issued with respect thereto or in exchange therefor shall be held by
the  Corporation for account of the grantee and the grantee shall deliver to the
Corporation  upon  request a stock power or powers  executed in blank,  covering
such shares. As and when restrictions lapse, the certificates  representing such
shares shall be released to the grantee.

     Nothing in the Plan or in any Benefit  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall,
in the absence of an express provision to the contrary, confer on any individual
any right to be or to  continue in the employ of the  Corporation  or any of its
subsidiaries  or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation or
any of its  subsidiaries  to terminate the  employment of any  individual at any
time.

10. ADJUSTMENTS IN COMMON STOCK.

     The aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation on which
Benefits may be granted hereunder,  the number of shares thereof covered by each
outstanding Benefit, the price per share thereof in each such Benefit may all be
approximately  adjusted,  as  the  Board  of  Directors  or  the  Committee  may
determine,  for any increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
of the  Corporation  resulting  from a subdivision  or  consolidation  of shares
whether through reorganization,  recapitalization, stock split-up or combination
of shares,  or the payment of a stock  dividend or other increase or decrease in
such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Corporation.

     Subject to any  required  action by the  stockholders,  if the  Corporation
shall be the surviving  corporation in any merger or consolidation,  any Benefit
granted hereunder shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder
of the number of shares of Common Stock  subject to the Benefit  would have been
entitled  pursuant to the merger or  consolidation.  Upon a  dissolution  of the
Corporation,  or a merger or  consolidation  in which the Corporation is not the
surviving  corporation,  every Benefit  outstanding  hereunder shall  terminate,
provided,   however,   that  in  the  case  of  such   dissolution,   merger  or
consolidation,  then  during the period  thirty days prior to the record date of
such event,  each holder of a Benefit granted  pursuant to the Plan shall have a
right to exercise the Benefit,  in whole or in part,  notwithstanding  any other
provision of the Plan or Benefit agreement.

11. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.

     Unless  the Plan shall  theretofore  have been  terminated,  the Plan shall
terminate on, and no Benefit shall be granted  hereunder after,  April 17, 2006,
provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may at any time prior to
that date terminate the Plan.

     The Board of Directors shall have complete power and authority to amend the
Plan,  provided,  however,  that except as expressly  permitted in the Plan, the
Board of Directors shall not,  without the affirmative  vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting stock of the Corporation,  increase the maximum number of
shares on which Benefits may be granted amend the formula for  determination  of
the purchase price of shares on which options may be granted,  extend the period
during which Benefits may be granted,  or amend the requirements as to the class
of employees eligible to receive Benefits.

     No  termination  or amendment  of the Plan may,  without the consent of the
holder of any outstanding Benefit, adversely affect the rights of such holder or
grantee. The termination of the Plan shall not affect restrictions applicable to
any Benefits, outstanding or existing at the time of such termination.

12. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN.

     The Plan shall  become  effective  on adoption by the Board of Directors of
the  Corporation,  and approval by the holders of a majority of the voting stock
of the Corporation.  Should such holders fail so to approve it, the Plan and all
actions taken thereunder shall be and become null and void. Any other provisions
of the Plan

                                       A-6

<PAGE>

to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  no  Benefits  granted  under the Plan may be
exercised or vested until after such stockholder approval.

13. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.

     The obligation of the  Corporation to sell or deliver shares under Benefits
granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and
regulations,  and to  such  approvals  by any  governmental  agencies  as may be
required.

                                       A-7

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 1995     1994     1993      1992      1991     1990      1989     1988     1987     1986     1985
                                ------   ------   ------    ------    ------   ------    ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
<S>                            <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Operating Results (dollars in millions):
  Net sales................... $ 816.1   $ 677.2   $ 565.2  $ 518.2   $ 466.9  $ 439.4   $398.4   $361.4   $305.8   $273.3   $264.5
  Income before income
    taxes (a)................. $  77.3   $  70.2   $  58.8  $  49.9   $  45.6  $  42.5   $ 34.6   $ 28.4   $ 23.8   $ 20.9   $ 16.3
  Income from continuing
    operations (a)(b)......... $  51.6   $  46.8   $  39.8  $  34.5   $  31.0  $  28.1   $ 22.1   $ 18.2   $ 14.5   $ 12.3   $ 11.9
  Operating margin............    11.8%     11.6%     11.3%    10.6%     10.8%    10.8%    10.6%     9.6%     8.6%     8.5%     7.2%
  Return on average common
    shareholders' equity
    (a).......................    22.0%     22.3%     21.0%    20.0%     20.0%    20.4%    18.7%    17.0%    14.5%    12.2%    13.3%
Common Stock Data
  (per share) (c):
  Income from continuing
    operations................ $  1.13   $  1.02   $  0.86  $  0.75   $  0.67  $  0.61   $ 0.48   $ 0.40   $ 0.31   $ 0.26   $ 0.26
  Cash dividends.............. $  0.50   $  0.42   $  0.36  $  0.31   $  0.27  $  0.22   $ 0.19   $ 0.16   $ 0.15   $ 0.15   $ 0.15
  Market price range:
    High...................... $25 7/8   $21 3/8   $21      $17 5/8   $15 1/4  $10 3/4   $7 1/8   $4 7/8   $4 7/8   $4 1/2   $3 3/4
    Low....................... $19 5/8   $16 7/8   $15 3/4  $12 3/8   $ 9 1/4  $ 6 1/4   $4 1/4   $3 1/2   $2 7/8   $3 1/8   $2 5/8
  Average common shares
    outstanding (in
    thousands)................  45,859    45,957    46,293   46,128    46,126   46,038   46,103   45,639   47,137   46,767   45,335
Financial Position at Year-End
  (dollars in millions):
  Working capital (d)......... $  48.8   $  53.9   $  52.8  $  49.5   $  44.9  $  42.7   $ 63.8   $ 59.5   $ 53.9   $ 52.8   $ 58.2
  Current ratio (d)...........     1.3       1.4       1.5      1.6       1.5      1.5      2.1      2.0      1.9      2.2      2.3
  Total assets................ $ 620.0   $ 521.6   $ 405.7  $ 363.7   $ 341.2  $ 295.8   $271.3   $251.1   $233.3   $191.4   $187.4
  Shareholders' equity........ $ 248.1   $ 220.3   $ 199.2  $ 179.0   $ 164.8  $ 146.4   $130.4   $115.5   $103.2   $102.4   $ 91.1
  Debt to capitalization
    ratio (d).................      29%       22%        1%       2%        1%       2%      10%      18%      22%       4%      15%
Other (dollars in millions)
  (e):
  New business................ $ 780.5   $ 700.3   $ 584.2  $ 510.3   $ 462.7  $ 467.6   $429.9   $382.4   $328.3   $276.4   $274.6
  Backlog..................... $ 251.4   $ 261.0   $ 221.8  $ 198.0   $ 203.2  $ 199.9   $171.7   $140.2   $119.2   $ 96.7   $ 93.6
  Net cash provided by
    operating activities...... $  62.9   $  53.8   $  48.8  $  40.2   $  43.9  $  48.3   $ 34.6   $ 22.5   $ 20.1   $ 22.7   $ 16.5
  Net cash (used for)
    investing activities...... $ (88.1)  $ (96.9)  $ (38.1) $ (26.9)  $ (47.8) $ (14.7)  $(24.1)  $(20.8)  $(37.7)  $(12.8)  $ (6.9)
  Net cash provided by (used
    for) financing
    activities................ $  29.9   $  45.1   $ (10.3) $ (11.2)  $   2.5  $ (34.6)  $ (8.9)  $ (3.3)  $ 17.8   $ (9.9)  $ (9.4)
  Capital expenditures........ $  15.7   $  11.1   $  10.1  $   8.8   $  12.0  $   8.3   $  9.2   $  7.3   $  6.9   $  6.3   $  6.9
  Depreciation................ $  11.8   $  10.3   $   9.2  $   8.7   $   8.2  $   7.8   $  7.9   $  7.1   $  5.5   $  5.2   $  5.3
  Employees...................   6,015     5,243     4,426    4,268     4,212    4,158    4,142    3,880    3,653    3,183    3,190
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(a) in 1995,  includes  the impact of a  nonrecurring  charge  for a  litigation
    settlement  of $6.7  million  pre-tax,  $4.2  million  after-tax or $.09 per
    share;  in 1985,  reflects  pre-tax  provisions to expense for  nonrecurring
    charges of $4.6 million

(b) in  1992,   reflects  net  cumulative  effects  of  accounting  changes  for
    postretirement  benefits  and income  taxes of  $30,000;  in 1985,  reflects
    cumulative  effect of accounting  change for  investment tax credits of $2.2
    million and after-tax provisions to expense for nonrecurring charges of $2.3
    million

(c) reflects  10% stock  dividends  each paid in 1988 and  1989,  3-for-2  stock
    splits in 1990, 1991 and 1992, and a 4-for-3 stock split  distributed  March
    1, 1994

(d) manufacturing operations only

(e) continuing operations only

                                       F-1

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    ----------------------------
                                                                        1995            1994
                                                                    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                                 <C>             <C>
Assets
  Manufacturing activities:
     Current assets
       Cash and cash equivalents.................................   $  9,350,000    $  4,605,000
       Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful
          accounts of $3,058,000 and $2,848,000, respectively....    122,913,000     107,985,000
       Inventories--Note B.......................................     97,448,000      78,899,000
       Prepaid expenses..........................................      5,763,000       4,807,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total current assets...................................    235,474,000     196,296,000
     Properties and equipment--Note C............................     78,454,000      72,838,000
     Other assets
       Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization........    146,774,000     115,306,000
       Other deferred charges and assets.........................     11,722,000       9,972,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total manufacturing assets.............................    472,424,000     394,412,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
  Financial services activities
     Lease  financing  and other  receivables,  net of  allowances  for doubtful
       accounts of $1,124,000 and $1,174,000,  respectively, and net of unearned
       finance revenue--
       Note D....................................................    147,535,000     127,188,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total assets...........................................   $619,959,000    $521,600,000
                                                                    ============    ============
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
  Manufacturing activities:
     Current liabilities
       Short-term borrowings--Note E.............................   $ 58,760,000    $ 25,222,000
       Accounts payable..........................................     53,277,000      44,918,000
       Accrued liabilities
          Compensation and withholding taxes.....................     20,949,000      19,032,000
          Other..................................................     49,559,000      45,943,000
       Income taxes--Note F......................................      4,115,000       7,263,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total current liabilities..............................    186,660,000     142,378,000
     Other liabilities
       Long-term borrowings--Note E..............................     39,702,000      34,878,000
       Deferred income taxes--Note F.............................     17,826,000      13,778,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total manufacturing liabilities........................    244,188,000     191,034,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
  Financial services activities--Borrowings--Note E..............    127,690,000     110,252,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total liabilities......................................    371,878,000     301,286,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
  Shareholders' equity--Notes I and J
     Common stock, $1 par value, 90,000,000 shares authorized,
       45,832,000 and 45,767,000 shares issued, respectively.....     45,832,000      45,767,000
     Capital in excess of par value..............................     54,464,000      53,756,000
     Retained earnings--Note E...................................    162,095,000     133,138,000
     Treasury stock, 542,000 and 395,000 shares, respectively, at
       cost......................................................    (10,949,000)     (7,880,000)
     Deferred stock awards.......................................     (1,046,000)     (1,688,000)
     Foreign currency translation adjustment.....................     (2,315,000)     (2,779,000)
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total shareholders' equity.............................    248,081,000     220,314,000
                                                                    ------------    ------------
          Total liabilities and shareholders' equity.............   $619,959,000    $521,600,000
                                                                    ============    ============
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       F-2

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      --------------------------------------------
                                                          1995            1994            1993
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Net sales..........................................   $816,127,000    $677,228,000    $565,163,000
Costs and expenses
  Cost of sales....................................    567,772,000     467,494,000     383,087,000
  Selling, general and administrative..............    152,456,000     131,466,000     118,192,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
Operating income...................................     95,899,000      78,268,000      63,884,000
Interest expense...................................    (13,359,000)     (8,499,000)     (6,136,000)
Other income (expense), net--Note L................     (5,261,000)        412,000       1,048,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
Income before income taxes.........................     77,279,000      70,181,000      58,796,000
Income taxes--Note F...............................     25,669,000      23,411,000      19,016,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
Net income.........................................   $ 51,610,000    $ 46,770,000    $ 39,780,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
                                                             $1.13           $1.02           $0.86
Net income per share...............................          =====           =====           =====
Average common shares outstanding..................     45,859,000      45,957,000      46,293,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       F-3

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                     ---------------------------------------------
                                                         1995             1994            1993
                                                     -------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                  <C>              <C>             <C>
Operating activities
  Net income......................................   $  51,610,000    $ 46,770,000    $ 39,780,000
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
     provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation...............................      11,806,000      10,302,000       9,215,000
       Amortization...............................       4,085,000       3,971,000       2,824,000
       Provision for doubtful accounts............       1,716,000       1,809,000       2,710,000
       Deferred income taxes......................       2,454,000       3,544,000        (350,000)
       Other, net.................................      (1,578,000)      1,547,000      (4,668,000)
       Changes in operating assets and liabilities
          net of effects from acquisitions of
          companies
          Accounts receivable.....................      (6,368,000)    (20,050,000)    (10,742,000)
          Inventories.............................      (6,837,000)     (4,458,000)       (400,000)
          Prepaid expenses........................        (669,000)       (108,000)       (935,000)
          Accounts payable........................       3,676,000       5,217,000       5,193,000
          Accrued liabilities.....................       4,454,000       2,713,000       3,378,000
          Income taxes............................      (1,402,000)      2,505,000       2,746,000
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
            Net cash provided by operating
               activities.........................      62,947,000      53,762,000      48,751,000
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
Investing activities
  Purchases of properties and equipment...........     (15,701,000)    (11,108,000)    (10,139,000)
  Principal extensions under lease financing
     agreements...................................    (119,833,000)    (97,988,000)    (70,470,000)
  Principal collections under lease financing
     agreements...................................      99,536,000      81,182,000      64,041,000
  Payments for purchases of companies, net of cash
     acquired.....................................     (46,611,000)    (69,563,000)    (22,869,000)
  Other, net......................................      (5,478,000)        613,000       1,378,000
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
            Net cash used for investing
               activities.........................     (88,087,000)    (96,864,000)    (38,059,000)
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
Financing activities
  Addition to short-term borrowings...............      50,970,000      59,699,000       2,542,000
  Principal payments on long-term borrowings......      (3,595,000)     (1,811,000)     (1,002,000)
  Principal extensions under long-term
     borrowings...................................       8,018,000      15,000,000       5,080,000
  Purchases of treasury stock.....................      (4,130,000)     (9,736,000)     (1,778,000)
  Cash dividends paid to shareholders.............     (21,767,000)    (18,462,000)    (15,938,000)
  Other, net......................................         389,000         441,000         757,000
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
            Net cash provided by (used for)
               financing activities...............      29,885,000      45,131,000     (10,339,000)
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents.............       4,745,000       2,029,000         353,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year....       4,605,000       2,576,000       2,223,000
                                                      ------------     -----------     -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year..........   $   9,350,000    $  4,605,000    $  2,576,000
                                                      ============     ===========     ===========
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       F-4

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A--SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION: The consolidated financial statements include
the accounts of Federal Signal Corporation and all of its subsidiaries.

     CASH EQUIVALENTS: The company considers all highly liquid investments with
a maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents.

     INVENTORIES:  Inventories  are  stated at the lower of cost or  market.  At
December  31, 1995 and 1994,  approximately  55% and 60%,  respectively,  of the
company's inventories are costed using the LIFO (last-in, first-out) method. The
remaining  portion  of the  company's  inventories  are  costed  using  the FIFO
(first-in, first-out) method.

     PROPERTIES AND DEPRECIATION: Properties and equipment are stated at cost.
Depreciation, for financial reporting purposes, is computed principally on the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

     INTANGIBLE ASSETS: Intangible assets principally consist of costs in excess
of fair values of net assets acquired in purchase transactions and are generally
being   amortized  over  forty  years.   Accumulated   amortization   aggregated
$12,718,000  and  $9,469,000  at December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  The
company makes regular  periodic  assessments to determine if factors are present
which indicate that an impairment of intangibles may exist. If factors  indicate
that an  impairment  may exist,  the  company  makes an  estimate of the related
future cash flows. The undiscounted cash flows, excluding interest, are compared
to the related book value including the intangibles. If such cash flows are less
than the book  value,  the  company  makes an  estimate of the fair value of the
related  business to  determine  the amount of  impairment  loss,  if any, to be
recorded as a reduction of the recorded intangibles.

     USE OF ESTIMATES:  The  preparation  of financial  statements in conformity
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to make
estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets and
liabilities,  disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial  statements and the reported  amounts of revenues and expenses  during
the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

     REVENUE RECOGNITION:  Substantially all of the company's sales are recorded
as products are shipped or services are rendered.  The  percentage-of-completion
method  of  accounting  is used in  certain  instances  for  custom-manufactured
products where,  due to the nature of specific  orders,  production and delivery
schedules exceed normal schedules.

     INCOME  PER  SHARE:  Income  per  share  was  computed  on the basis of the
weighted average number of common and common  equivalent  shares (dilutive stock
options) outstanding during the year.

NOTE B--INVENTORIES

     Inventories at December 31 are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1995           1994
                                                               -----------    -----------
        <S>                                                    <C>            <C>
        Finished goods......................................   $24,675,000    $20,054,000
        Work in process.....................................    32,286,000     22,355,000
        Raw materials.......................................    40,487,000     36,490,000
                                                               -----------    -----------
        Total inventories...................................   $97,448,000    $78,899,000
                                                               ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

     If the first-in,  first-out  cost method,  which  approximates  replacement
cost,  had  been  used  by  the  company,   inventories  would  have  aggregated
$106,934,000 and $88,093,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

                                       F-5

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

NOTE C--PROPERTIES AND EQUIPMENT

     A  comparative  summary of  properties  and  equipment at December 31 is as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995            1994
                                                             ------------    ------------
        <S>                                                  <C>             <C>
        Land..............................................   $  5,703,000    $  5,740,000
        Buildings and improvements........................     38,493,000      38,045,000
        Machinery and equipment...........................    120,554,000     109,841,000
        Accumulated depreciation..........................    (86,296,000)    (80,788,000)
                                                             ------------    ------------
        Total properties and equipment....................   $ 78,454,000    $ 72,838,000
                                                             ============    ============
</TABLE>

NOTE D--LEASE FINANCING AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

     As an added service to its  customers,  the company is engaged in financial
services  activities.  These activities primarily consist of providing long-term
financing for certain customers of the company's sign and vehicle operations.  A
substantial portion of the lease financing  receivables of the Vehicle Group are
due  from  municipalities.   Financing  is  provided  through  sales-type  lease
contracts with terms which range typically as follows:

       Sign-related leases......................................3-5 years
       Vehicle-related leases...................................2-8 years

     At the inception of the lease,  the company records the product sales price
and related costs and expenses of the sale.  Financing  revenues are included in
income  over the life of the lease.  The  amounts  recorded  as lease  financing
receivables   represent  amounts   equivalent  to  normal  selling  prices  less
subsequent customer payments.

     Lease  financing  and  other   receivables  will  become  due  as  follows:
$46,654,000 in 1996,  $28,167,000 in 1997,  $22,996,000 in 1998,  $17,339,000 in
1999, $11,133,000 in 2000 and $22,370,000  thereafter.  At December 31, 1995 and
1994,  unearned  finance  revenue on these  leases  aggregated  $27,378,000  and
$21,347,000, respectively.

NOTE E--DEBT

     Short-term borrowings at December 31 consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1995            1994
                                                             ------------    ------------
        <S>                                                  <C>             <C>
        Commercial paper..................................   $ 26,779,000
        Notes payable.....................................    157,040,000    $134,289,000
        Current maturities of long-term debt..............      2,631,000       1,185,000
                                                             ------------    ------------
        Total short-term borrowings.......................   $186,450,000    $135,474,000
                                                             ============    ============
</TABLE>

                                       F-6

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     Long-term borrowings at December 31 consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         1995           1994
                                                                      -----------    -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>            <C>
4.25% unsecured note payable in quarterly installments ending in
  2001.............................................................   $ 6,871,000
7.59% unsecured note payable in 2001 ($4,000,000) and 2002
  ($8,000,000).....................................................    12,000,000    $12,000,000
7.99% unsecured note payable in 2004...............................    15,000,000     15,000,000
6.58% unsecured discounted notes payable in annual installments of
  $1,000,000 ending in 2001........................................     5,094,000      5,769,000
Other..............................................................     3,368,000      3,294,000
                                                                      -----------    -----------
                                                                       42,333,000     36,063,000
Less current maturities............................................     2,631,000      1,185,000
                                                                      -----------    -----------
Total long-term borrowings.........................................   $39,702,000    $34,878,000
                                                                      ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

     Aggregate  maturities of long-term debt amount to approximately  $2,631,000
in  1996,  $5,033,000  in  1997,  $2,122,000  in  1998,  $1,898,000  in 1999 and
$1,848,000 in 2000. The company  believes that the fair values of borrowings are
not substantially different from recorded amounts.

     The  7.59%  and  7.99%  notes  contain  various  restrictions  relating  to
maintenance of minimum working capital, payments of cash dividends, purchases of
the company's stock, and principal and interest of any subordinated debt. All of
the  company's  retained  earnings  at  December  31,  1995  were  free  of  any
restrictions.

     The company paid interest of  $13,411,000  in 1995,  $6,943,000 in 1994 and
$5,437,000 in 1993.  Weighted  average  interest rates on short-term  borrowings
were  5.6% and 5.8% at  December  31,  1995 and 1994,  respectively.  See Note H
regarding the company's utilization of derivative financial instruments relating
to outstanding debt.

     At December 31, 1995, the company had unused credit lines of  $100,000,000,
which expire on June 20, 1998.  Commitment  fees,  paid in lieu of  compensating
balances, were insignificant.

NOTE F--INCOME TAXES

     The provisions for income taxes consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1995           1994           1993
                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------
        <S>                                        <C>            <C>            <C>
        CURRENT:
          Federal and foreign...................   $20,922,000    $17,775,000    $17,200,000
          State and local.......................     2,293,000      2,092,000      1,946,000
                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                    23,215,000     19,867,000     19,146,000
        DEFERRED (CREDIT):
          Federal and foreign...................     2,201,000      3,333,000       (226,000)
          State and local.......................       253,000        211,000       (124,000)
                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                     2,454,000      3,544,000       (350,000)
          Enacted rate change effect on deferred
             liabilities........................                                     220,000
                                                   -----------    -----------    -----------
        Total income taxes......................   $25,669,000    $23,411,000    $19,016,000
                                                   ===========    ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

                                       F-7

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     Differences between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective
income tax rate are summarized below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       1995    1994    1993
                                                                       ----    ----    ----
        <S>                                                            <C>     <C>     <C>
        Statutory federal income tax rate...........................   35.0%   35.0%   35.0%
        State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit..............    2.1     2.1     2.0
        Tax-exempt interest.........................................   (2.8)   (2.6)   (3.0)
        Enacted rate change effect on deferred liabilities..........                     .4
        Other, net..................................................   (1.1)   (1.1)   (2.1)
                                                                       ----    ----    ----
        Effective income tax rate...................................   33.2%   33.4%   32.3%
                                                                       ====    ====    ====
</TABLE>

     The company had net current  deferred income tax benefits of $2,956,000 and
$1,362,000  recorded  in the  balance  sheet at  December  31,  1995  and  1994,
respectively.  The company paid income taxes of $24,940,000 in 1995, $17,735,000
in 1994 and $16,938,000 in 1993.

     Deferred tax liabilities  (assets)  comprised the following at December 31,
1995:  Depreciation and  amortization--$17,065,000;  revenue recognized on lease
financing  receivables and custom manufacturing  contracts--$5,768,000;  accrued
expenses  deductible  in  future  periods--$(8,844,000);   and  other  $881,000.
Deferred tax liabilities  (assets) comprised the following at December 31, 1994:
Depreciation  and   amortization--$14,296,000;   revenue   recognized  on  lease
financing  receivables and custom manufacturing  contracts--$8,143,000;  accrued
expenses deductible in future periods--$(9,283,000); and other $(740,000).

NOTE G -- POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

     The  company  and its  subsidiaries  sponsor  a number of  defined  benefit
retirement plans covering certain of its salaried employees and hourly employees
not covered by plans under  collective  bargaining  agreements.  Benefits  under
these plans are primarily based on final average  compensation as defined within
the provisions of the individual  plans.  The company's  policy is to contribute
amounts  sufficient to meet the minimum funding  requirements of applicable laws
and  regulations.  Plan  assets  consist  principally  of a broadly  diversified
portfolio of equity securities,  corporate and U.S.  Government  obligations and
guaranteed-return  insurance contracts. The company also participates in several
multiemployer retirement plans which provide benefits to employees under certain
collective bargaining agreements.

     Pension expense is summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1995           1994           1993
                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
<S>                                                      <C>            <C>            <C>
Company-sponsored plans
  Service cost........................................   $ 1,452,000    $ 1,687,000    $ 1,511,000
  Interest cost.......................................     2,864,000      2,437,000      2,290,000
  Return on plan assets...............................    (9,054,000)       581,000     (6,428,000)
  Other amortization and deferral.....................     3,664,000     (5,521,000)     1,943,000
                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
                                                          (1,074,000)      (816,000)      (684,000)
Multiemployer plans...................................       465,000        337,000        561,000
                                                         -----------    -----------    -----------
Total pension expense (credit)........................   $  (609,000)   $  (479,000)   $  (123,000)
                                                         ===========    ===========    ===========
</TABLE>

                                       F-8

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     The following summarizes the funded status of the  company-sponsored  plans
at December 31, 1995 and 1994 and the major  assumptions used to determine these
amounts.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             PLANS IN WHICH
                                                                       --------------------------
                                                                       PLAN ASSETS    ABO EXCEEDS
                                                                       EXCEED ABO     PLAN ASSETS
                                                                       -----------    -----------
                                                                                  1995
                                                                       --------------------------
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C>
Actuarial present value of:
  Vested benefit obligation.........................................   $27,427,000    $5,214,000
  Nonvested benefits................................................     1,565,000       120,000
                                                                       -----------    ----------
Accumulated benefit obligation (ABO)................................   $28,992,000    $5,334,000
                                                                       ===========    ==========
Actuarial present value of projected benefit obligation.............   $38,803,000    $5,334,000
Plan assets at market value.........................................    46,010,000     4,733,000
                                                                       -----------    ----------
Plan assets in excess of (less than) projected benefit obligation...     7,207,000      (601,000)
Unrecognized net obligation at January 1, 1995......................    (2,618,000)      379,000
Unrecognized net experience (gain) loss.............................    (3,363,000)      387,000
                                                                       -----------    ----------
Net pension asset...................................................   $ 1,226,000    $  165,000
                                                                       ===========    ==========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         1994
                                                                      -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>
Actuarial present value of:
  Vested benefit obligation........................................   $21,904,000
  Nonvested benefits...............................................     1,746,000
                                                                      -----------
Accumulated benefit obligation.....................................   $23,650,000
                                                                      ===========
Actuarial present value of projected benefit obligation............   $31,072,000
Plan assets at market value........................................    43,318,000
                                                                      -----------
Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation..............    12,246,000
Unrecognized net obligation at January 1, 1994.....................    (2,270,000)
Unrecognized net experience (gain).................................    (9,660,000)
                                                                      -----------
Net pension asset..................................................   $   316,000
                                                                      ===========
</TABLE>

     The following  significant  assumptions  were used in  determining  pension
costs for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       1995    1994    1993
                                                                       ----    ----    ----
        <S>                                                            <C>     <C>     <C>
        Discount rate...............................................   8.9%    7.6%    8.5%
        Rate of increase in compensation levels.....................     5%      4%      5%
        Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets............    11%     11%     11%
</TABLE>

     The weighted  average  discount  rates used in  determining  the  actuarial
present value of all pension obligations at December 31, 1995 and 1994 were 7.2%
and 8.9%, respectively.

     The company also  sponsors a number of defined  contribution  pension plans
covering  a majority  of its  employees.  Participation  in the plans is at each
employee's  election.  Company  contributions  to  these  plans  are  based on a
percentage  of  employee  contributions.  The  cost of  these  plans,  including
acquisitions  made during the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1995,  was
$2,975,000 in 1995, $2,900,000 in 1994 and $2,160,000 in 1993.

     The company also  provides  certain  medical,  dental and life  benefits to
certain  eligible retired  employees.  These benefits are funded when the claims
are incurred. Participants generally become eligible for these

                                       F-9

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

benefits at age 60 after completing at least fifteen years of service.  The plan
provides for the payment of specified percentages of medical and dental expenses
reduced by any  deductible and payments made by other primary group coverage and
government  programs.  The corporation will continue to reduce the percentage of
the cost of  benefits  that it will pay since  the  company's  future  costs are
limited to 150% of the 1992 cost. Accumulated postretirement benefit liabilities
of $2,461,000 and $2,341,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively,  were
fully  accrued.  The net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  costs have not been
significant during the three-year period ended December 31, 1995.

NOTE H--DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     The company enters into agreements  (derivative  financial  instruments) to
manage the risks  associated with certain  aspects of its business.  The company
does not actively  trade such  instruments  nor enter into such  agreements  for
speculative  purposes.  The company principally utilizes two types of derivative
financial instruments:  1) interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk,
and 2) foreign currency  forward  exchange  contracts to manage risks associated
with sales and purchase commitments denominated in foreign currencies.

     At  December  31,  1995,  the  company had two  agreements  with  financial
institutions to swap interest rates.  One agreement,  the purpose of which is to
convert  variable rate  short-term  debt to a fixed rate, is based on a notional
amount of $125  million  and expires in 1997.  The company  pays a fixed rate of
interest of 5.47% and receives the  three-month  London  Interbank  Offered Rate
(LIBOR).  The other  agreement is based on a notional  amount of $10 million and
also expires in 1997.  The  agreement  provides  that the company will receive a
fixed rate of interest at 5.08% and will pay  interest  at the  six-month  LIBOR
with a  maximum  floating  rate of  7.50%  for the  last  twelve  months  of the
agreement.  At December 31, 1994,  the company had similar  swap  agreements  on
notional  amounts  totalling $15 million.  The  differential  between the amount
received and the amount paid is accrued as interest  rates change and recognized
as  an  adjustment  to  interest  expense;  the  related  amount  payable  to or
receivable from the  counterparties is included in accrued  liabilities or other
assets.  The  estimated  cost to  terminate  these  agreements  was $237,000 and
$500,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

     At December 31, 1995,  the company had foreign  currency  forward  exchange
contracts designated and effective as hedges which become due in various amounts
and at various dates through 1997  totalling  $17,800,000.  At December 31, 1994
such contracts totalled $3,000,000.  All such contracts at December 31, 1995 and
1994 were for the purpose of hedging purchase or sales  commitments.  Unrealized
gains and losses on the forward  exchange  contracts  are  deferred  and will be
recognized  in  income  in the  same  period  as  the  hedged  transaction.  The
differences  between the contract values and the fair values were  insignificant
at December 31, 1995 and 1994.

NOTE I--STOCK OPTIONS AND AWARDS

     The company's stock benefit plan,  approved by the company's  shareholders,
authorizes the grant of up to 2,737,500 (as adjusted for subsequent stock splits
and dividends)  benefit shares or units to key employees and directors until May
1998. This excludes shares which were issued under  predecessor  plans.  Benefit
shares or units include stock options,  both incentive and non-incentive,  stock
awards and other stock units.

     Stock options are primarily  granted at the fair market value of the shares
on the date of grant and become  exercisable  one year after  grant at a rate of
one-half  annually and are exercisable in full on the second  anniversary  date.
All options and rights must be exercised within ten years from date of grant. At
the company's discretion,  vested stock option holders are permitted to elect an
alternative  settlement  method in lieu of purchasing common stock at the option
price.  The  alternative  settlement  method  permits  the  employee to receive,
without  payment to the company,  cash,  shares of common stock or a combination
thereof  equal to the  excess of market  value of common  stock  over the option
purchase price.

                                      F-10

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     The company has elected to follow  Accounting  Principles Board Opinion No.
25,  "Accounting  for Stock  Issued  to  Employees"  (APB 25).  Under APB 25, no
compensation  expense is recognized when the exercise price of the stock options
equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant.

     Changes in outstanding shares under option during 1995 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 OPTION         OPTION
                                                                 SHARES       PRICE RANGE
                                                                ---------    -------------
<S>                                                            <C>           <C>
        Outstanding at December 31, 1994.....................   1,815,132    $ 3.21-$20.63
        Granted..............................................      41,363    $20.13-$24.38
        Canceled or expired..................................      (8,802)   $11.17-$20.63
        Exercised............................................     (55,666)   $ 3.21-$20.38
                                                                ---------    -------------
        Outstanding at December 31, 1995.....................   1,792,027    $ 3.33-$24.38
                                                                =========    =============
        Exercisable at December 31, 1995.....................   1,615,212    $ 3.33-$20.63
                                                                =========    =============
</TABLE>

     Stock award shares are granted to employees  at no cost.  Awards  primarily
vest at the rate of 25%  annually  commencing  one year  from the date of award,
provided the recipient is still employed by the company on the vesting date. The
cost of stock  awards,  based on the fair market value at the date of grant,  is
being charged to expense over the four-year vesting period.

     Available for future grant were 383,389 and 425,950 benefit shares or units
at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

NOTE J--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

     The company has 90,000,000  authorized shares of common stock, $1 par value
and 800,000 authorized and unissued shares of preference stock, $1 par value.

                                      F-11

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     The  changes in  shareholders'  equity  for each of the three  years in the
period ended December 31, 1995 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               FOREIGN
                                      COMMON       CAPITAL IN                                   DEFERRED      CURRENCY
                                       STOCK       EXCESS OF       RETAINED       TREASURY        STOCK      TRANSLATION
                                     PAR VALUE     PAR VALUE       EARNINGS        STOCK         AWARDS      ADJUSTMENT
                                    -----------   ------------   ------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                 <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>
Balance at December 31, 1992--
  34,478,000 shares issued........  $34,478,000   $ 71,422,000   $ 82,160,000   $ (5,227,000)  $(1,941,000)  $(1,912,000)
Net income........................                                 39,780,000
Cash dividends declared...........                                (16,469,000)
Exercise of stock options:
  Cash proceeds...................       86,000        438,000
  Exchange of shares..............      155,000        938,000                    (1,093,000)
Stock awards granted..............       30,000        659,000                                    (689,000)
Stock awards canceled.............       (2,000)       (57,000)                                     59,000
Tax benefits related to stock
  compensation plans..............                   1,562,000
Retirement of treasury stock......      (81,000)    (1,929,000)                    2,010,000
Purchases of 99,000 shares of
  treasury stock..................                                                (2,689,000)
4-for-3 stock split, 11,072,000
  shares issued...................   11,072,000    (18,988,000)                    7,916,000
Amortization of deferred stock
  awards..........................                                                                 856,000
Foreign currency translation
  adjustment......................                                                                            (2,419,000)
Other.............................                                                  (917,000)
                                    -----------   ------------   ------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Balance at December 31, 1993--
  45,738,000 shares issued........   45,738,000     54,045,000    105,471,000        --         (1,715,000)   (4,331,000)
Net income........................                                 46,770,000
Cash dividends declared...........                                (19,103,000)
Exercise of stock options:
  Cash proceeds...................       67,000        393,000
  Exchange of shares..............        6,000         21,000                       (27,000)
Stock awards granted..............       43,000        770,000                                    (813,000)
Stock awards canceled.............       (4,000)       (59,000)                                     63,000
Tax benefits related to stock
  compensation plans..............                     206,000
Retirement of treasury stock......      (12,000)      (213,000)                      225,000
Purchases of 466,000 shares of
  treasury stock..................                                                (9,339,000)
Shares purchased subsequent to
  December 31, 1993 used to effect
  4-for-3 stock split.............      (71,000)    (1,387,000)                    1,458,000
Amortization of deferred stock
  awards..........................                                                                 777,000
Foreign currency translation
  adjustment......................                                                                             1,552,000
Other.............................                     (20,000)                     (197,000)
                                    -----------   ------------   ------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Balance at December 31, 1994--
  45,767,000 shares issued........   45,767,000     53,756,000    133,138,000     (7,880,000)   (1,688,000)   (2,779,000)
Net income........................                                 51,610,000
Cash dividends declared...........                                (22,653,000)
Exercise of stock options:
  Cash proceeds...................       42,000        312,000
  Exchange of shares..............       14,000         38,000                       (52,000)
Stock awards granted..............       10,000        192,000                                    (202,000)
Tax benefits related to stock
  compensation plans..............                     247,000
Retirement of treasury stock......      (19,000)      (437,000)                      456,000
Purchases of 147,000 shares of
  treasury stock..................                                                (3,068,000)
Amortization of deferred stock
  awards..........................                                                                 844,000
Foreign currency translation
  adjustment......................                                                                               464,000
Other.............................       18,000        356,000                      (405,000)
                                    -----------   ------------   ------------   ------------   -----------   -----------
Balance at December 31, 1995--
  45,832,000 shares issued........  $45,832,000   $ 54,464,000   $162,095,000   $(10,949,000)  $(1,046,000)  $(2,315,000)
                                    ===========   ============   ============   ============   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

                                      F-12

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     In June 1988, the company declared a dividend distribution of one preferred
share purchase right on each share of common stock outstanding on and after July
5, 1988.  The rights are not  exercisable  until the rights  distribution  date,
defined as the earlier of: 1) the tenth day following a public announcement that
a person or group of affiliated or associated  persons  acquired or obtained the
right to acquire  beneficial  ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding common
stock or 2) the tenth day  following  the  commencement  or  announcement  of an
intention to make a tender offer or exchange  offer,  the  consummation of which
would result in the beneficial  ownership by a person or group of 30% or more of
such  outstanding  common shares.  Each right,  when  exercisable,  entitles the
holder to purchase  from the company  one  one-hundredth  of a share of Series A
Preferred  stock of the  company  at a price of $90 per one  one-hundredth  of a
preferred  share,  subject to adjustment.  The company is entitled to redeem the
rights at $.10 per right, payable in cash or common shares, at any time prior to
the  expiration  of twenty days  following  the public  announcement  that a 20%
position  has been  acquired.  In the event that the  company is  acquired  in a
merger  or  other  business  combination  transaction  or  50%  or  more  of its
consolidated  assets or earning power is sold,  proper provision will be made so
that each holder of a right will thereafter have the right to receive,  upon the
exercise thereof at the then current  exercise price of a right,  that number of
shares  of  common  stock  of the  acquiring  company  which at the time of such
transaction  would have a market  value of two times the  exercise  price of the
right. The rights expire on July 5, 1998 unless earlier redeemed by the company.
Until  exercised,  the  holder  of a right,  as such,  will  have no rights as a
shareholder,  including,  without  limitation,  the right to vote or to  receive
dividends.

NOTE K--ACQUISITIONS

     During the three-year  period ended December 31, 1995, the company made the
following  acquisitions,  principally  all for cash. In August 1995, the company
acquired  the net  operating  assets  of  Bronto  Skylift  Oy Ab  ("Bronto"),  a
Finland-based manufacturer of truck-mounted aerial access platforms for the fire
and industrial markets. In December 1995, the company acquired the assets of the
Target Tech brand of warning lights from Dominion Automotive Industries.  Target
Tech,  located in Kent,  Washington,  manufactures  amber signaling products for
construction  and access  vehicles.  In addition to Bronto and Target Tech,  the
company also made some small Safety Products Group acquisitions during the year.
As a result of all the 1995  acquisitions,  the company  recorded  approximately
$12.7  million of working  capital,  $25.5 million of fixed and other assets and
$33.3  million of costs in excess of fair values.  The assigned  values of these
acquisitions  are based on  preliminary  estimates.  In June 1994,  the  company
acquired the  principal  operating  assets and assumed the  principal  operating
liabilities of Peabody Myers Corporation ("Vactor"). Vactor is an Illinois-based
manufacturer of municipal  combination catch basin/sewer cleaning vacuum trucks.
In May 1994, the company acquired the principal operating assets and assumed the
principal   operating   liabilities  of  Justrite   Manufacturing   Company,  an
Illinois-based  manufacturer of safety equipment for the storage,  transfer, use
and  disposal of  flammable  and  hazardous  materials.  As a result of the 1994
acquisitions,  the  company  recorded  approximately  $9.9  million  of  working
capital,  $10.3  million of fixed and other assets and $49.6 million of costs in
excess of fair  values.  In March 1993,  the company  acquired  the  outstanding
shares of Guzzler Manufacturing,  Inc., an Alabama-based  manufacturer of vacuum
loader  vehicles.  As  a  result  of  this  acquisition,  the  company  recorded
approximately  $6.0 million of working capital,  $6.1 million of fixed and other
assets, $.8 million of debt assumed and $12.7 million of costs in excess of fair
values.

     All of the  acquisitions  in the three-year  period ended December 31, 1995
have been accounted for as purchases.  Accordingly, the results of operations of
the acquired  companies  have been  included in the  consolidated  statements of
income from the effective dates of the acquisitions.  Assuming the 1995 and 1994
acquisitions   occurred  on  January  1,  1994,   the  company   estimates  that
consolidated  net sales would have been  increased  5% and 13% in 1995 and 1994,
respectively,  while net income would have decreased 5% in 1995 and increased 3%
in 1994.

                                      F-13

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

NOTE L -- LITIGATION SETTLEMENT

     On December 29, 1995, the company settled a lawsuit with  Duravision,  Inc.
and  Manufacturers  Product  Research  Group of  North  America,  Inc.  for $6.7
million.  As a result of the  settlement,  the company  recorded a net after-tax
charge to income of $4.2 million,  or $0.09 per share.  The charge,  included in
other  income and  expense,  was  recorded  in the fourth  quarter of 1995.  The
resolution  of this case will have no effect on the company's  future  operating
performance as it involved a discontinued  product line. The company is actively
seeking recoveries from its original trial counsel.

NOTE M--SEGMENT INFORMATION

     The principal  activities of the company's primary industry segments are as
follows:

     SAFETY PRODUCTS GROUP: The Safety Products Group produces: a variety of
visual and audible warning and signal devices; paging, local signaling, and
building security, parking and access control systems; and equipment for
storage, transfer, use and disposal of flammable and hazardous materials. The
group's products are sold primarily to industrial, municipal and government
customers.

     SIGN  GROUP:  The Sign Group  manufactures  for sale or lease  illuminated,
non-illuminated   and  electronic   advertising  sign  displays   primarily  for
commercial  and  industrial  markets.  It also enters into  contracts to provide
maintenance  service  for  the  signs  it  manufactures  as  well  as for  signs
manufactured by others.

     TOOL GROUP: The Tool Group manufactures a variety of perishable tools which
include die  components for the metal stamping  industry,  a large  selection of
precision metal products for nonstamping  needs and a line of precision  cutting
and  deep  grooving  tools.  The  group's  products  are sold  predominately  to
industrial markets.

     VEHICLE  GROUP:  The  Vehicle  Group  manufactures:  chassis;  fire  trucks
including Class A pumpers,  mini-pumpers  and tankers;  airport and other rescue
vehicles,  aerial  access  platforms,  ambulances  and aerial ladder  trucks;  a
variety of self-propelled  street cleaning vehicles;  vacuum loader vehicles and
municipal  catch  basin/sewer  cleaning  vacuum trucks.  The Vehicle Group sells
primarily to municipal  customers,  volunteer  fire  departments  and government
customers.

     Total revenue by business segment reflects sales to unaffiliated customers,
as reported in the company's consolidated statements of income. Operating income
includes all costs and expenses  directly  related to the segment  involved.  In
determining  operating  income,  neither  corporate  nor interest  expenses were
included. Business segment depreciation expense, identifiable assets and capital
expenditures relate to those assets that are utilized by the respective business
segment.  Corporate  assets consist  principally  of cash and cash  equivalents,
notes and other receivables and fixed assets.

     Foreign  sales,   including  export  and  foreign  operations,   aggregated
$188,094,000  in 1995,  $129,896,000 in 1994 and  $113,210,000  in 1993.  Export
sales  aggregated  $85,241,000 in 1995,  $67,341,000 in 1994 and  $59,324,000 in
1993.

                                      F-14

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

     A summary of the company's operations by geographic area for the three-year
period ended December 31, 1995 is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          1995            1994            1993
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
UNITED STATES
  Net sales........................................   $713,274,000    $614,673,000    $511,277,000
  Operating income.................................     92,929,000      76,190,000      62,977,000
  Identifiable assets..............................    515,725,000     463,621,000     353,172,000

ALL FOREIGN (principally Europe, Canada and Japan)
  Net sales........................................   $102,853,000    $ 62,555,000    $ 53,886,000
  Operating income.................................      2,970,000       2,078,000         907,000
  Identifiable assets..............................    104,234,000      57,979,000      52,532,000
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      --------------------------------------------
                                                          1995            1994            1993
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>
Net sales
  Safety Products..................................   $160,669,000    $135,424,000    $104,927,000
  Sign.............................................     71,170,000      66,090,000      58,550,000
  Tool.............................................    131,776,000     121,657,000     111,879,000
  Vehicle..........................................    452,512,000     354,057,000     289,807,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
     Total net sales...............................   $816,127,000    $677,228,000    $565,163,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
Operating income
  Safety Products..................................   $ 28,931,000    $ 23,313,000    $ 16,159,000
  Sign.............................................      6,131,000       3,988,000       1,169,000
  Tool.............................................     28,454,000      23,475,000      23,273,000
  Vehicle..........................................     39,191,000      33,531,000      30,289,000
  Corporate expense................................     (6,808,000)     (6,039,000)     (7,006,000)
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
     Total operating income........................     95,899,000      78,268,000      63,884,000
Interest expense...................................    (13,359,000)     (8,499,000)     (6,136,000)
Other income.......................................     (5,261,000)        412,000       1,048,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
Income before income taxes.........................   $ 77,279,000    $ 70,181,000    $ 58,796,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
Depreciation
  Safety Products..................................   $  3,348,000    $  2,693,000    $  1,757,000
  Sign.............................................      1,341,000       1,400,000       1,684,000
  Tool.............................................      2,740,000       2,386,000       2,313,000
  Vehicle..........................................      4,336,000       3,772,000       3,412,000
  Corporate........................................         41,000          51,000          49,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
     Total depreciation............................   $ 11,806,000    $ 10,302,000    $  9,215,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

                                      F-15

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                      --------------------------------------------
                                                          1995            1994            1993
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                                   <C>             <C>             <C>
Identifiable assets
  Manufacturing activities
     Safety Products...............................   $124,765,000    $ 98,438,000    $ 51,092,000
     Sign..........................................     22,303,000      26,771,000      24,480,000
     Tool..........................................     71,312,000      66,729,000      62,035,000
     Vehicle.......................................    244,581,000     192,436,000     142,158,000
     Corporate.....................................      9,463,000      10,038,000      15,359,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
       Total manufacturing activities..............    472,424,000     394,412,000     295,124,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
  Financial services activities
     Sign..........................................     18,715,000      13,836,000      17,282,000
     Vehicle.......................................    128,820,000     113,352,000      93,298,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
       Total financial services activities.........    147,535,000     127,188,000     110,580,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
     Total identifiable assets.....................   $619,959,000    $521,600,000    $405,704,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
Capital expenditures
  Safety Products..................................   $  3,173,000    $  2,409,000    $  2,675,000
  Sign.............................................      1,454,000       1,218,000         988,000
  Tool.............................................      7,104,000       4,200,000       2,614,000
  Vehicle..........................................      3,958,000       3,245,000       3,848,000
  Corporate........................................         12,000          36,000          14,000
                                                      ------------    ------------    ------------
     Total capital expenditures....................   $ 15,701,000    $ 11,108,000    $ 10,139,000
                                                      ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

NOTE N -- SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1995                                            1994
                           -------------------------------------------     -------------------------------------------
                            MARCH       JUNE     SEPTEMBER    DECEMBER      MARCH       JUNE     SEPTEMBER    DECEMBER
                              31         30         30           31           31         30         30           31
                           --------   --------   ---------    --------     --------   --------   ---------    --------
                                               (IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                        <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
Net sales................  $187,132   $199,355   $ 207,880    $221,760     $138,106   $164,001   $ 181,283    $193,838
Gross margin.............    56,863     61,297      62,813      67,382       42,891     51,751      55,415      59,677
Net income...............    10,793     14,479      14,629      11,709(a)     8,156     12,396      12,436      13,782
Per share data:
  Net income.............       .24        .32         .32         .26(a)       .18        .27         .27         .30
  Dividends paid.........       .13        .13         .13         .13          .11        .11         .11         .11
  Market price range
    High.................    21 7/8         23      24 1/8      25 7/8       21 3/8     20 3/8      20 5/8          21
    Low..................    19 5/8     20 3/8      21 1/8      21 3/8       19 1/4     16 7/8          17      17 3/4
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(a) Includes after-tax charge for litigation  settlement of $4.2 million or $.09
    per share (see Note L).

                                      F-16

<PAGE>

REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
  of Federal Signal Corporation

     We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets of Federal
Signal  Corporation  and  subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and the
related  consolidated  statements of income and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1995. These financial  statements are the
responsibility of the company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

     We conducted  our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

     In our opinion,  the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects,  the consolidated financial position of Federal Signal
Corporation  and  subsidiaries  as of  December  31,  1995  and  1994,  and  the
consolidated  results of their  operations  and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, in conformity  with generally
accepted accounting principles.

                                                               Ernst & Young LLP

Chicago, Illinois
January 23, 1996

                                      F-17

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                FINANCIAL REVIEW

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     Federal Signal  Corporation  again achieved record levels of net sales, net
income and earnings per share in 1995 despite a nonrecurring  charge to earnings
of $4.2 million ($.09 per share)  recorded in the fourth  quarter  relating to a
litigation  settlement.  Net sales increased to $816.1 million,  21% higher than
1994's $677.2 million. Operating income increased 23% from $78.3 million in 1994
to $95.9  million in 1995.  Net  income,  which was  adversely  affected  by the
nonrecurring  charge,  increased 10% to $51.6 million in 1995 from $46.8 million
in 1994.  These increases follow 1994's increases of 20% in sales and 18% in net
income.  Net income per share for 1995 increased 11% to $1.13 per share compared
to $1.02 in 1994 and $.86 per share in 1993.

     The 1995 sales  increase  of 21%  resulted  from  volume  increases  of 20%
(including  4%  resulting  from the  acquisition  of Bronto in August) and price
increases  of 1%.  Domestic  sales  increased  15% in 1995 while  foreign  sales
increased 45%.  Excluding  Bronto,  foreign sales  increased 22%.  Foreign sales
accounted for 23% of the company's  total sales in 1995 compared to 19% of total
sales in 1994.

     The 1995  sales  increases  follow  a 20%  increase  in sales in 1994.  The
increase in sales in 1994  resulted from volume  increases of 19%  (including 8%
from the acquisitions of Justrite  Manufacturing in May and Vactor Manufacturing
in June 1994) and price  increases  of 1%.  Excluding  the sales of Justrite and
Vactor in 1994, domestic sales were 12% above 1993 while foreign sales increased
8%.

     Operating  margins  have  increased  from  10.8%  in 1991 to 11.8% in 1995,
despite generally declining gross profit margins as the following table shows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1995      1994      1993      1992      1991
                                                     -----     -----     -----     -----     -----
                                                                  (PERCENT OF SALES)
<S>                                                  <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Net sales.........................................   100.0%    100.0%    100.0%    100.0%    100.0%
Cost of sales.....................................    69.6      69.0      67.8      68.2      67.9
                                                     -----     -----     -----     -----     -----
Gross profit margin...............................    30.4      31.0      32.2      31.8      32.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses......    18.6      19.4      20.9      21.2      21.3
                                                     -----     -----     -----     -----     -----
Operating margin..................................    11.8%     11.6%     11.3%     10.6%     10.8%
                                                     =====     =====     =====     =====     =====
</TABLE>

     Gross profit margins have generally  declined  principally  due to sales of
the Vehicle Group increasing faster than sales of the other groups.  The Vehicle
Group normally  experiences higher cost of sales percentages but lower operating
expense  percentages than the other groups.  This trend temporarily  reversed in
1993 due to improving gross margins of three of the company's four groups,  most
notably Safety  Products and Sign. Due to the  reorganization  costs incurred in
1992 for newly  acquired  businesses  and  certain  costs  incurred  at Ravo for
development and other operational  changes,  the percentage of selling,  general
and administrative expenses did not decline in 1992 as rapidly as normally would
be expected.  In 1993 through 1995,  however,  reductions  in the  percentage of
selling,  general and  administrative  costs did occur.  These  reductions are a
result of: 1) higher  sales with fixed  costs  being  spread  over those  higher
sales, 2) the increasing  percentage of Vehicle Group sales to total sales,  and
3) operational  improvements  made,  particularly in the Sign Group.  All of the
company's groups continue to work toward reducing their costs.

     Because of the varied nature of its operations, the company recognizes that
changes in operating income as a percentage of net sales on a consolidated basis
may sometimes  distort its real operating  performance.  In order to monitor the
operating  performance of its operations,  the company utilizes various methods,
one of which is  return  on net  assets.  Return on net  assets  is  defined  as
operating  income  divided by the  identifiable  net assets  (total  assets of a
business unit less its accounts payable and accrued liabilities).

     The company  acquires  businesses which meet the company's growth and other
strategic  objectives.  In large part as a result of intangible  assets  arising
from acquisitions,  it is anticipated that businesses acquired will not generate
the same  levels of  returns as the  company's  other  businesses  for some time
following their

                                      F-18

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         FINANCIAL REVIEW--(CONTINUED)

respective  acquisition.   However,  the  company's  strategies  include  making
constant  improvements  in all of its  businesses.  The company has improved its
return on net assets of its  existing  businesses  over the years by  increasing
operating margins and net asset turnover.  In 1995, the company's  manufacturing
operations  again  achieved a strong  return on net assets.  The 28% achieved in
1995 compares  favorably to the 29% achieved by its manufacturing  operations in
1994 when  considering  that the reduction  occurred due to the impact of recent
acquisitions.  Excluding recent acquisitions,  the company's return increased by
1% in 1995 over 1994.

     Interest  expense  increased  $4.9 million in 1995 following an increase of
$2.4  million in 1994.  The  increase  in 1995 was the  result of  substantially
increased  borrowings  caused largely by three  factors:  1)  approximately  $31
million incurred due to acquisitions of companies for cash during the first nine
months of 1995, 2) a $20.3 million  increase in financial  services assets which
occurred during the year, and 3) additional  repurchases of the company's common
stock. In addition,  weighted  average  interest rates on short-term  borrowings
experienced  in 1995  were  6.0%  compared  to 4.5% in  1994.  Interest  expense
increased  $2.4  million  in 1994  principally  due to  higher  interest  rates,
increased  borrowings  required to fund the purchases of Justrite  Manufacturing
and Vactor Manufacturing and increases in financial services assets in 1994.

     The company's  effective tax rate of 33.2% in 1995  decreased from the 1994
rate of 33.4% and increased from the 1993 of 32.3%. The decrease in 1995 results
from tax-exempt  interest  income becoming a higher  percentage of the company's
total income. The increase in 1994 was largely due to: 1) the fact that the 1993
rate  included  the  impact  of  favorable  tax  return  audit  results,  and 2)
tax-exempt interest income was a lower percentage of the company's total income.

     At the end of 1995, the company  changed its assumptions for discount rates
used in determining  the actuarial  present values of accumulated  and projected
benefit  obligations  for its  postretirement  plans  from  8.9% to  7.2%.  This
decrease  resulted from the lower interest rate environment being experienced at
the end of 1995.  The company  also  reduced its  projected  rate of increase in
compensation  and increased its projected  rate of return on plan assets each by
1% to be more in line with its long-term expectations.  The company expects that
the changes in assumptions will not have a significant impact on 1996 results of
operations.

     Certain of the company's  businesses  are  susceptible to the influences of
seasonal buying or delivery  patterns.  The company's  businesses  which tend to
have lower sales in the first calendar  quarter  compared to other quarters as a
result of these influences are signage, street sweeping,  outdoor warning, other
municipal emergency signal products,  parking systems and aerial access platform
manufacturing operations.

GROUP OPERATIONS

     Domestic  markets  were  generally  stronger  in 1995  for all  four of the
company's  groups.  As  mentioned   previously,   foreign  sales  increased  22%
(excluding  acquisitions)  in 1995.  The  Safety  Products  and  Vehicle  groups
achieved  much higher  foreign  sales in 1995.  For the third year in a row, all
four groups achieved increases in both sales and earnings.

  Safety Products

     Safety  Products Group sales increased 19% in 1995 resulting from increased
sales at Signal Products and VAMA and the full-year impact of Justrite (acquired
in May 1994).  Domestic  sales were up 18% while  foreign sales  increased  19%.
Earnings  increased  24% in 1995.  For the ninth  consecutive  year,  the Safety
Products Group's  operating  margin  increased.  Cost reductions,  the impact of
recent  new  product  sales,  and  increased   penetration  of  foreign  markets
contributed  to  the  group's  improved  results.  The  group's  return  on  net
manufacturing  assets was 32% in 1995 compared to 33% in 1994. As noted earlier,
the  company's  strategy  includes the  acquisition  of companies  which may not
initially  produce returns at levels of its existing  businesses.  Excluding the
dilutive  impact of Justrite which was acquired in mid-1994,  the group's return
on net manufacturing assets increased from 44% in 1994 to 45% in 1995.

                                      F-19

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         FINANCIAL REVIEW--(CONTINUED)

  Sign

     The Sign  Group  achieved a sales  increase  of 8% with  operating  profits
increasing 54% from $4.0 million in 1994 to $6.1 million in 1995. The group made
substantial  internal  improvements  in  1995  and  improved  its  profitability
significantly  over that of recent years. The group's  operating margin improved
in 1995 for the fourth year in a row. The increase in profitability resulted not
only from the higher  sales  level  achieved  but also from  productivity  gains
brought about by improved plant operations and business  processes.  As a result
of these improvements,  the group's return on net manufacturing assets increased
from 17% in 1994 to 26% in 1995.

  Tool

     In 1995, the Tool Group achieved an 8% increase in sales and a 21% increase
in income.  Domestic  sales  increased 6% in 1995 while foreign sales  increased
18%.  The  group's  results in 1994 were  adversely  affected  by the impacts of
nonrecurring  charges  associated  with  the  move  of  certain  die  components
operations and the revaluation of certain carbide  inventories.  The group's die
components and precision  parts business and cutting tool business both improved
strongly in 1995.  Favorable growth in domestic markets,  improved  efficiencies
and plant  utilization  and strong foreign sales all  contributed to the group's
results.  As a result,  the group's return on net manufacturing  assets improved
from 43% in 1994 to 49% in 1995.

  Vehicle

     Earnings for the Vehicle Group increased 17% in 1995 on a sales increase of
28%.  Excluding  the effects of Bronto which was acquired in August 1995,  sales
would have increased approximately 20% while earnings would have increased about
14%.  Domestic sales  increased 18% in 1995 and foreign sales increased 62% (26%
excluding Bronto).  All of the group's businesses  achieved strong foreign sales
gains in 1995. The group's return on net manufacturing  assets declined from 22%
in 1994 to 18% in 1995. The principal cause of the decline was the effect of the
acquisition  of Bronto in  mid-1995  and the full year  effect of Vactor in 1995
which was purchased in mid-1994.  Excluding the impacts of these businesses, the
return on net manufacturing assets remained about even in 1995 compared to 1994.

FINANCIAL SERVICES ACTIVITIES

     The company  maintains a large  investment  ($147.5 million at December 31,
1995) in lease financing and other receivables  which are generated  principally
by its vehicle  operations  with the balance  generated by its sign  operations.
These assets  continued to be  conservatively  leveraged in accordance  with the
company's stated financial  objectives for these assets for the five-year period
ending December 31, 1995 (see further  discussion in Financial Position and Cash
Flow).

     Financial  services assets have repayment terms generally  ranging from two
to eight years.  The increases in these assets resulted from increasing sales of
the Vehicle Group as well as continuing  greater  acceptance by customers of the
benefits of using the company as their source of financing vehicle purchases.

FINANCIAL POSITION AND CASH FLOW

     The company emphasizes generating strong cash flows from operations. During
1995, cash flow from operations  increased to a level of $62.9 million  compared
to $53.8  million in 1994 and $48.8  million in 1993.  The increase in cash flow
from operations during this period is largely attributable to increases in sales
as well as the improvement in the company's  operating margin. As expected,  the
company's operating working capital (accounts receivable, inventory and accounts
payable)  as a  percent  of  sales  did  not  change  significantly  during  the
three-year  period  ending  1995.  Nevertheless,  the  company  expects  further
improvement in its operating

                                      F-20

<PAGE>

                  FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                         FINANCIAL REVIEW--(CONTINUED)

cash flow as it continues to focus aggressively on its efficiencies and costs as
well as its working capital management.

     During the 1991-1995 period, the company has utilized its strong cash flows
from operations to: 1) fund in whole or in part strategic acquisitions of
companies operating in markets related to those already served by the company;
2) purchase increasing amounts of equipment principally to provide for further
cost reductions and increased productive capacity for the future as well as
tooling for new products; 3) increase its investment in financial services
activities; 4) pay increasing amounts in cash dividends to shareholders; and 5)
repurchase a small percentage of its outstanding common stock each year.

     Cash flows for the five-year period ending December 31, 1995 are summarized
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  1995      1994      1993      1992      1991
                                                 ------    ------    ------    ------    ------
                                                                 (IN MILLIONS)
        <S>                                      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
        Cash provided by (used for):
          Operating activities................   $ 62.9    $ 53.8    $ 48.8    $ 40.2    $ 43.9
          Investing activities................    (88.1)    (96.9)    (38.1)    (26.9)    (47.8)
          Financing activities................     29.9      45.1     (10.3)    (11.2)      2.5
</TABLE>

     In order to show the distinct  characteristics of the company's  investment
in its  manufacturing  activities and its  investment in its financial  services
activities,  the company has presented  separately  these  investments and their
related  liabilities.  Each of these two types of  activities  are  supported by
different percentages of debt and equity.

     One of the company's financial objectives is to maintain a strong financial
position.   The  company   defines  its  goal  as  normally  having  a  debt  to
capitalization  ratio  of 30% or  less  for  its  manufacturing  operations.  At
December 31, 1995 and 1994, the company's debt to  capitalization  ratios of its
manufacturing  operations were 29% and 22%,  respectively.  The increase in this
ratio occurred  largely due to the 1995  acquisitions  of Bronto and Target Tech
for cash.  The company also  believes that its  financial  assets,  due to their
overall quality,  are capable of sustaining a leverage ratio of 87%. At December
31, 1995 and 1994, the company's debt to capitalization ratios for its financial
services  activities were 87%. The company intends to maintain this leverage for
its  financial  activities  in the  future  and at the  same  time  fulfill  its
financial  objective with respect to its  manufacturing  debt to  capitalization
ratio.  These  intentions are consistent with its investment grade credit rating
obtained in connection with its commercial paper program.

     As  indicated  earlier,  substantial  effort is  focused on  improving  the
utilization of the company's  working capital.  The company's  current ratio for
its  manufacturing  operations  was 1.3 at December 31, 1995 and 1.4 at December
31, 1994.  These ratios are slightly lower than those in prior years as a result
of reduced  working  capital needs for  receivables and inventories and improved
management  of cash  disbursements  as well as increased  short-term  debt.  The
company anticipates that its financial resources and major sources of liquidity,
including  cash flow from  operations,  will continue to be adequate to meet its
operating and capital needs in addition to its financial commitments.

                                      F-21

<PAGE>

PROXY                 FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION                    PROXY
            1415 W. 22ND STREET, OAK BROOK, ILLINOIS 60521

      PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON APRIL 17, 1996
     THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joseph J. Ross and Kim A.  Wehrenberg,  or  either of them,  with full  power of
substitution,  are  hereby  authorized  to vote the  shares of  Common  Stock of
Federal Signal Corporation which the undersigned is entitled to vote at the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders  to be held at the Chicago  Marriott Hotel -- Oak
Brook, 1401 West 22nd Street on Wednesday,  April 17, 1996 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 come before the meeting.

UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN
PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.

                                           / / Check here for address change
                                               New Address: _________________

                                               ------------------------------

                                               ------------------------------

(Continued and TO BE SIGNED on the reverse side.)

<PAGE>

                 FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION
PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY.   / /


THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH SPECIFICATIONS MADE. IF NO CHOICES
ARE INDICATED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED
FOR THE NOMINEES LISTED IN PROPOSAL 1 AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>     <C>       <C>

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS       FOR   WITHHOLD   FOR ALL (Except Nominee(s) written below)
  Nominees: James A.
   Lovell Jr. and              / /     / /       / /    _____________________________
   J. Patrick Lannan, Jr.

2. Approving the Stock         FOR   AGAINST    ABSTAIN
   Benefit Plan.               / /     / /        / /

                                    PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS
                                    PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED
                                    ENVELOPE.

                                    Date: ___________________________, 1996

                                    Signature(s) __________________________

                                    ---------------------------------------
                                    Please sign exactly as name appears  hereon.
                                    Joint   owners   should  each  sign.   Where
                                    applicable,  indicate  official  position or
                                    representative capacity.
</TABLE>


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                                             5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
REGISTRANT'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                          1000
       
<S>                                                                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                         YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                     DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                                                          DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                                                                9350
<SECURITIES>                                                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                       125971
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                          3058 <F1>
<INVENTORY>                                                                          97448
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                    235474 <F1>
<PP&E>                                                                              164750
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                       86296
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                      619959
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                               186660 <F1>
<BONDS>                                                                              39702
                                                                    0
                                                                              0
<COMMON>                                                                             45832
<OTHER-SE>                                                                          202249
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                        619959
<SALES>                                                                             816127
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                    816127
<CGS>                                                                               567772
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                       567772
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                      5261
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                   13359
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                      77279
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                         25669
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                  51610
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                         51610
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                            1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                                            1.12
<FN>
<F1>MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS ONLY
</FN>
        


</TABLE>


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